text:
Town Square
Duveneck's thinking: Pa-the-tic
Original post made by Mimi Kugushev, Menlo Park, on May 14, 2007
It seems that we are supposed to live in a complelely antisceptic world in every way. Human feelings, contacts are verbotten. What kind of society are we inculcating? How are children supposed to learn to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors if everything is proscribed?
Even the oft-employed mandate that teachers are not allowed to comfort a child who has hurt him/herself? If a child feels left out because others are "touching" or some other inhumane, insensitive behavior, how do they learn about life and its unfortunate cruelties?
It's in the same mode as giving every child a prize just for participating. Please, get real......and have some sense of life. Life is NOT always fair. Learning to deal with it is fair.
Comments (15)
a resident of Meadow Park
on May 14, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I agree with what you said. That said, this whole affair probably happened because of the PARENTS there. I do not have any child at Duveneck, but I do have a child in elementary school in Palo Alto. I see the parents of elementary school age children on a daily basis.
My observation is that large numbers of those parents think that their child is god's gift to the world and that noone and nothing should ever so slightly bother their child or make him/her uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, they expect everybody to go out of their way to accomodate their "sensitive" children.
I have a boy who is an energetic, bouncy lad, as many boys that age are. He has never hurt anyone. Yet, some parents consider him a terrible being, just because of his energetic play...
I wouldn't be surprised if what I have observed at our school is happening at Duveneck too. I wouldn't be surprised if overly protective parents there complained to the principal about whatever energetic play was going on in the schoolyard. Hence the ridiculous happenings there. Just a guess...
a resident of College Terrace
on May 14, 2007 at 8:27 pm
"I Agree But" –
Like you, I don't know Duveneck school. But here's a report in the May 13th Palo Alto Daily from someone who does:
"Duveneck instructional aide Allen Cotten said the new emphasis has already drastically curbed playground disputes. Before the school discussion, Cotten said he had to step in daily to end fights or rough behavior.
""It was constant argumentativeness, fights over balls, a lot of bullying," he said. "Kids would come up crying sometimes.""
Boisterousness is one thing, in my book, 'a lot of bullying' quite another.
Surely, above all we all want the atmosphere of all our schools to be respectful, non-threatening and safe. If Duveneck school was seeing regular fights, tears and bullying, then I think that Principal Larry Thomas was absolutely right in feeling the need for some drastic action.
Rather than calling his work 'pathetic' perhaps the more constructive thing would be to support him in his efforts to return his community to the child- and learning-friendly environment that it has long been reputed to be.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 14, 2007 at 11:41 pm
I am not surprised to hear of bullying at Duveneck. I've consistently noticed a lot more clique-y, exclusive, taunting, bullying behavior from kids there than other neighborhood schools I'm familiar with. I've seen more times than I care to recount a kind of experimental social cruelty, not reined in by parents who are sometimes right there. I've heard the same from other moms.
This starts at home, and has to be dealt with by improving the social environment and feeling of community. Kids do not naturally know how to treat each other with respect, that's taught. NBC had a special after the Columbine tragedy which demonstrated how social environments in schools could be turned 180 degrees to the better.
I'm not painting the children at Duveneck with a broad brush. Social environments can be affected by very small numbers. Most of the kids are not like this. They deserve a more respectful environment.
This rule is a patch and will not address the underlying social reasons for the problem. Kids need to be comforted when they are hurt, this is ridiculous. NOT touching kids and preventing them a from familiarity with "good" touching gives them less discernment and fewer skills to deal with "bad" touching.
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on May 15, 2007 at 9:02 am
I support Duveneck's policy. It is correct to teach school-aged youth to have some idea of respecting others, to be aware that others exist around them, not pushing and shoving. Learn to stand reasonably quietly in a line, think of others.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 15, 2007 at 9:21 am
anonymous parent,
You are absolutely right. But teaching them to respect others has to go beyond making rules about touching. Children find other ways to bully. The underlying social environment has to be addressed.
a resident of College Terrace
on May 15, 2007 at 9:47 am
Anonymous mom -- I'm with you in feeling that, while the school was justified in its drastic intervention to end the unacceptable behaviors the Daily has reported were occurring, bullying can continue in other ways.
So can anyone from the Duveneck community tell us what the school is doing -- as a community -- to address this problem in a more fundamental way?
a resident of Mountain View
on May 15, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Banning ALL physical contact between young children to stop a small contingent from bullying? Not only is this just plain lazy, but what an absolutely horrible message to send to these kids!
a resident of Mountain View
on May 15, 2007 at 12:23 pm
The balance of my comment got cut off- forgive the multiple post.
All of my kids are either currently or were formerly enrolled in a public elementary school outside of PAUSD. I dont recall EVER seeing an incident of bullying, nor do I hear of any (and my wife and her friends are at the school enough that they'd know if it were going on). Why? I think it is because the administration sets high standards for all of the kids, and they are expected to live up to them. The sort of parents described by 'I agree but' are politely but definitively dealt with in an appropriate manner (in other words, the world doesnt come screeching to a halt whenever they open their mouths)
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 15, 2007 at 12:45 pm
I'm with Eric: it is lazy. The real issue is HOW the school goes about teaching kids to respect others. It is now May, and the school should have all these issues under control, so it's clear the school has been ineffective.
What is the school's approach to fostering emotional and social learning? What expectations does the principal have for his teachers? What professional development do they have available in this area? How well do the teachers teach the kids to respect others?
Individual schools have their own "culture," and that is something set by the principle and enabled by the teachers. I hope anonymous mom is wrong when she says the Duveneck culture is one of bullying, taunting and exclusion. If she's right, the blame doesn't belong with the kids but with the principle and teachers.
a resident of Juana Briones School
on May 15, 2007 at 1:08 pm
The PTA at our elementary school does "Anti-Bully" training of the kids every couple years. I see our school as quite safe. Not cause and effect, but maybe there is a correlation.
Maybe the PTA at Duveneck can get the same program and start teaching the kids how to deal with bullying/roughness in a productive way.
a resident of Juana Briones School
on May 15, 2007 at 1:12 pm
By the way, have to agree that saying something is "pathetic" isn't too helpful. But, gotta admire the guts it took to at least sign her name, instead of saying it anonymously!!
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 15, 2007 at 1:21 pm
When my child was at Duveneck (now in HS) there was a good deal of cliches and bullying which was not dealt with - the primary reason being a lack of adults on the field. There were at most 3 adults at lunch, often none at recess (with extra supervision in the kinder area.)
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 16, 2007 at 11:28 am
I've heard a couple of Duveneck parents complain about feeling like the other parents are clique-y and not real friendly. I don't know anything firsthand, but could any experienced Duveneck types tell me if it's a school with a community feel? I know Addison seems to have a pretty strong community. Duveneck's the only school where I've heard that sort of complaint, but it could just be those particular parents.
Ohlone? Very chummy, of course. Though I think because the tendency is to give siblings the same teachers and each stint is two years, you get sort of an inadverdant hierarchy going. I sometimes feel like there's a class of professional Ohlone parents (nice,though).
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 16, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Duevenck has between 6-8 adults on the yard during lunch, which is clearly not enough. I would also like to go on record to say that their has always been more than three adults on the playground at lunch. I'm sure it FEELS like three, but really it's more (I too have a former Duveneck grad at Paly.)
As a teacher, this time of year is really tough regardless of the school. For reasons unknown to me, children are just more aggressive this time of year and their aren't enough adults to go around and monitor every movement of every child on the playground. If this issue is really concerning to some of you, maybe you should go down to the district office and apply for the position to do lunch supervision. I don't know the new principal at Duveneck, but I do know that the Daily has a tendency to exaggerate and parents have the tendency to overreact. I'm sure the other 9 months out of the year all of the teachers at Duveneck are working diligently helping the kids problem solve, but honestly everyone is done by May and their's still several weeks to go.....Whatever works and helps the kids stay safe and the teachers sane gets my vote.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 16, 2007 at 9:40 pm
The kids do not get more aggressive at our school this time of year. In fact, I would say things are great because the kids understand what is expected of them now better than at the start of the year.
If the school yard has to have enough adults to "go around and monitor every movement of every child on the playground" in order to keep bullying behavior in check, the school needs to address the social environment that would make such a thing necessary.
Not to dismiss your observation -- this is high allergy season, and allergy causes adrenaline increase. I doubt you'd get anyone to take you seriously, but a review of major seasonal allergen exposures on campus especially from landscaping could improve the situation a lot. I've read about campuses that turned behavioral problems around in stunning ways just from removing access to junk food and improving lunch nutrition.
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CHAKULA Issue #15: CATIA Policy Advocacy Interviews
Interview with: Michel Lambert & Lina Gjerstad
Interview with: Dawit Bekele & Zerihun Zewdu
Interview with: Coura Fall & Jacques Iyok
Interview with: Jummai Umar & Hogan Ededem
Interview with: Dorothy Okello & Goretti Muriat
Interview with: Alice Wanjira, Catherine Nyaki & Brian Longwe
For nearly three years the Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa programme (CATIA) has worked towards strengthening the context for the vibrant adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Africa. The programme has been set up with nine components, each with its particular advocacy aim. Areas of intervention include low-cost wireless and satellite technology, affordable computing, ICT and broadcast policy advocacy, developing capacity to participate in global ICT decision-making processes, pushing for an African internet backbone and local content development.
One CATIA component, co-ordinated by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and APC partner Tina James, has been engaged in ICT policy advocacy in six countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya.
Work started in March 2004, and focused on supporting existing initiatives and developing the capacity of informed advocacy groups and individuals from the private sector, civil society and the media. This multi-stakeholder perspective was common to all the advocacy interventions. Focus areas, however, depended on the country context, and included Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), gender and ICTs, media capacity building, and community radio.
With the CATIA programme nearing the end of its three-year intervention, CHAKULA spoke to the country animators and project partners for the component to find out if they thought their work had made a difference…
Interviews conducted by Alan Finlay.
Only just emerging from a civil war, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has for many years proved difficult for development initiatives to work in. This is especially the case when dealing with ICTs, which many people don't consider a developmental imperative. But as the Canadian-based Alternatives has found, it is possible to get a foothold in difficult terrain. CHAKULA spoke to Michel Lambert, the Director of International Programmes at Alternatives, who was based in Kinshasa for three-years, and Lina Gjerstad, the newly-appointed ICT programme manager in Kinshasa, about their hopes and plans…
"One smaller research project just asked different organisations: 'What are you doing about ICTs?'. Our results were interesting. For example, 95% of organisations – NGOs, small businesses etc. – don't even have a computer. Amongst those that have, 50% don't have the capacity to use them."
– Michel Lambert, Director of International Programmes at Alternatives
CHAKULA: How long has Alternatives been working in the DRC?
MICHEL LAMBERT [ML]: For about six years. Alternatives was started in about 1994, and has been active in over 35 countries. We work with civil society and grassroots organisations to help them secure their economic, social and political rights. We do training, capacity building, amongst other things. We had had a longtime programme in South Africa, and then Angola. We went up through those different countries.
CHAKULA: How did you end up in the DRC?
ML: There were a lot of problems in the eastern DRC. The Canadian government was providing humanitarian funds. So we started in this area of the country. With local partners, we started working with content. There were so many organisations who needed websites. So we constructed this one Congolese civil society portal. It is a local content project. Everyone was telling us it is a stupid idea: 'They don't have a tradition of writing; no one has access to the internet' etc. Now we have 120 000 visitors a month. They are writing 3-4 articles every day. They are not all participating at the same level, but every day the portal gets something new. We decided in 2000 to open an office in Kinshasa. I'm the one who opened the office.
CHAKULA: The portal has a political agenda…
ML: Yes. The issues they raise are political issues. We have major teams working on issues like peace and human rights. What you don't see when you look at the website is that we had to build a political infrastructure behind it – to discuss ethical and editorial policies for the content. So that if someone sits and says they should separate Katanga from the rest of the country, you know, this is not supposed to be on this web. We have this policy to encourage people to publish, but it happens within a leftist political framework.
CHAKULA: How did you move from creating this important platform to where you are now?
ML: We soon realized that content was only part of the challenge. We started a project distributing computers through Computer Aid International. Still there are major issues at stake in the DRC. The word 'ICT' does not exist in any government paper. It is not written anywhere. There is no policy at all. Even in World Bank papers, the word 'internet' does not exist at all when they talk about the DRC. When we had the national consultation using the CATIA funding it was very obvious to everyone that the main problem is that there was no infrastructure. Everyone uses satellite. It is expensive. It is the only way to use the net. There is no landline. It doesn't exist. You now have some cellular phone companies giving access to certain services.
CHAKULA: And the CATIA funding helped you address this…
ML: Yes. Our CATIA work helped us realise that we could do something about it. The way of doing it was that we could sit together with the sectors that we would not traditionally work with, in the government and in the private sector. It's not something in Alternatives' genes! When I was discussing that with our other colleagues in other programmes, they said: 'What are you doing?'. We said, 'But with these people we can make something happen'.
LINA GJERSTAD [LG]: I have only been in Kinshasa for a month and a half, but the lack of both general infrastructure and ICT infrastructure was immediately apparent to me when I arrived there. The lack of awareness of the importance of ICTs at the government level is also striking. Striking because, while we are talking about development, we are really talking about reconstruction. It is a transitional government. We are coming out of a war, and we are supposed to have a presidential election at the end of July [2006]. Some fighting is still going on in the east and now I have just noticed a news piece calling for a delay in the elections. So we are not going to see a government for a minimum of six months. That means that change is going to come slowly. It is striking that the main documents guiding the reconstruction have absolutely not mention of ICTs. You talk about transport and infrastructure, you talk about electricity, but nobody is talking about ICTs.
CHAKULA: The DRC's neighbours have ICTs high on their agenda. Rwanda, for instance, was recently made the headquarters for the EASSy [submarine cable] project…
LG: There is a map I have from the regulator. You see the cabling in Rwanda, in the DRC's neighbours. In the DRC, it is a white hole. There is some cabling in Kinshasa. But when you see a map like that it is striking. There is a running gag. In French 'blanc' is white and 'trou' is hole. But put them together and you get 'troublant', which means 'troubling'. So when we were workshopping ideas for research, the white hole becomes 'troubling'.
ML: The main thing now is that we are doing research to help understand the extent of the problem. There have been two research projects. One smaller research project just asked different organisations: 'What are you doing about ICTs?'. Our results were interesting. For example, 95% of organisations – NGOs, small businesses etc. – don't even have a computer. Amongst those that have, 50% don't have the capacity to use them. The second research project is really about infrastructure. It is asking: 'How can we have a telecommunications backbone?', and what kind of open access policy should be adopted so it is not managed by one national institution that will monopolise it.
CHAKULA: Is the research being conducted together with your multi-stakeholder partners?
ML: Yes. When we started to work with CATIA we created a new forum, which is considered a civil society forum because it is an association, but it is a multi-stakeholder forum. This forum is working on the research; so it is collaborative research. It is being presented to the Congolese authorities as independent research. When we discussed it with the IDRC [International Development Research Centre], people were excited, because it is the first time they're doing something in the DRC for ages. People were a bit sceptical too, but at the same time they want to know. Most research done until now has been done by vendors and resellers, by multinationals. The Congolese government looks at their proposals, which say: 'We can give you a backbone for $1-2-billion'; and they might have the money, and they might see opportunities, because the multinationals offer infrastructure. But still it is a lot of money. We believe it can be done for much less, and we think our research will show this.
CHAKULA: How expensive is access in the DRC?
ML: It is very expensive. Megabytes which are sold for US$50 in Canada are sold for US$3000 in the DRC.
CHAKULA: As far as the CATIA intervention is concerned, what do you think has been your greatest achievement?
ML: There were many things. An important achievement for us was the involvement of the key stakeholders in the Congo. As I said, we were able to involve the government representatives and the private sector. Previously we were working only with civil society organisations interested in the issue of ICTs. For me, the national consultation, which got everyone from the different sectors around the same table, was the main issue. The policy issue was considered a side thing, because there is no physical infrastructure to regulate at the moment. We only had a few TV shows, and radio shows. The second key thing will be the results of this research. If this research is not conclusive, it won't be good. It has to be conclusive, and I am convinced it will be. Around that we will prove that all these people can work together and come with serious content, and we can make these things go further. That will be the turning point.
CHAKULA: What about the long-term sustainability of your work?
ML: The process will continue. I think funders are interested in the DRC. They want to do something, but they don't know how to get into the country. It is this black hole. The CATIA funding has only been for one year. So we came late in the process. CATIA funding was important, of course. It contributed to the meetings, the national consultation, the training on advocacy and the structures, and the first research. The IDRC funded the main research. Now they want us to do more advocacy, and popularise the research.
LG: I am coming at the end of the CATIA work. I am in Kinshasa for at least six months. That is a testament to the commitment to not having the advocacy part of the work die down.
CHAKULA: As the new ICT Programme Manager in Kinshasa, are you optimistic?
LG: I'm optimistic in the sense that because it's an historical moment, we have a chance to seize that. There will be a new government, new institutions or recreated institutions, hopefully new legislations. We will use the six months to build up support; private sector, civil society and media. One of the activities we would like to launch with APC is discussion groups. We could have one group about infrastructure and access, and another about legislation. The idea of that is to have documents ready to present to the new government when they are ready. This will support the mobilisation of parties. Will I see it in six months? No. In terms of the new government, it will be six to twelve months before we see anything.
ML: I think it is just a beginning. I might be a bit of a dreamer, but what I believe is that this research will be wonderful, and from there I am expecting that we will propose various scenarios and possibilities. We may have a chance.
To find out more about the project visit:
or (in French)
Also visit:
Or contact the CATIA animator in the DRC:
Lina Gjerstad, firstname.lastname@example.com
Promoting open source software has been the advocacy focus for CATIA in Ethiopia. CHAKULA caught up with CATIA animator Dawit Bekele, who is also the co-ordinator of the Ethiopian FOSS network EFOSSNET. Zerihun Zewdu, a member of the EFOSSNET Secretariat, joined the conversation…
"…I can say with confidence that a year and a half ago there was practically no-body who could understand what FOSS is, what the policy issues are, what the advantages are."
– Dawit Bekele, CATIA animator, Ethiopia
CHAKULA: What exactly is EFOSSNET?
DAWIT BEKELE [DB]: EFOSSNET is a network of individuals, an informal organisation. It is not really legally established. We wanted it like that because establishing it would take a long time. So we are working under the umbrella of the EITPA, the Ethiopian IT Professionals Association. Of course, the main aim of EFOSSNET is to promote the use of FOSS in Ethiopia.
CHAKULA: Why FOSS – I understand Ethiopia has many ICT challenges?
DB: Yes. There is a lot to do in the telecom area, for example. ETC [Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation] has a monopoly on everything to do with telecoms, including mobile. It is all under one single company, and I believe that the consumers are suffering from that without a doubt; even though others, especially the government, may see the situation differently. Telecoms are expensive and often unreliable. There are services we don't get that the corporation doesn't give to us. There were a lot of things to change in the telecoms sector – but I consider that a lot of it is not a doable job. CATIA's advocacy programme has preferred to work in an area where there is a good chance to succeed in the limited time available. I was interested at the time in FOSS. I requested CATIA to support advocacy in that area. So that is what we did.
CHAKULA: I have been told that you need to be careful how you go about putting your point across in the telecoms sector…
DB: Yes. And FOSS is much less controversial, so we chose it.
CHAKULA: How have you gone about your advocacy work in Ethiopia?
DB: In fact we haven't really worked on advocacy yet. Our objective was to create a fertile ground for ICT advocacy by creating the awareness that didn't exist at the time, and by creating "change agents".
CHAKULA: "Change agents"?
DB: These are champions who would be pushing FOSS policy. When EFOSSNET was established just 18 months ago we realised that policy makers and the general population knew little about FOSS. Even the first members of EFOSSNET knew very little about FOSS, since they were all mainly proprietary software users. In this situation, it was impossible for us to talk about advocacy. We needed to know more about FOSS before trying to convince others that FOSS brings opportunities for Ethiopia. So we started with internal capacity building. We had monthly seminars where we discussed one specific FOSS issue. For example, we had seminars about Linux distributions, localisation and FOSS, FOSS development etc. Once we started to be more comfortable with FOSS, we started to open up and give trainings to non-members. In particular, we had a Linux training for 31 people in February [2006] in Addis Ababa, and FOSS training for more than 100 people in three regional cities in May. Finally, in July, we had two training workshops [FOSS Pro and FOSS Office] for more than 40 and 80 people respectively.
ZERIHUN ZEWDU [ZZ]: We also distribute FOSS CDs and documents alongside the training and workshops…
DB: Yes. And we had a policy workshop where we invited as many people as possible from government organisations. The workshop was attended by more than 100 people.
CHAKULA: It sounds like you must have raised significant awareness of FOSS…
ZZ: At first hardly anybody knew about FOSS except some very technical administrators in big organisations. I think our movement contributed a lot to showing people that there is a good alternative that helps in development.
DB: I believe we have been successful, because I can say with confidence that a year and a half ago there was practically no-body who could understand what FOSS is, what the policy issues are, what the advantages are. Now, after a year and a half, after the establishment of EFOSSNET, we have quite a number of people who are interested in using FOSS and pushing the FOSS agenda. So the awareness is much higher now, thanks to the various training, seminars and meetings that we have had, not only in the capital, but in regional towns too. So I think we have achieved our goals. In EFOSSNET we have focused on not trying to do too many things. Advocacy skills have been learned, such as how to approach the media. These are things that I have personally learned and I have tried to push in EFOSSNET.
CHAKULA: And now that the CATIA funding is coming to an end?
DB: FOSS is really an interesting area for donors. We have other partners that may not help us right now financially, but we are sure that they will continue to help us with logistics. For example, UNECA has helped us with venues. The context is supportive. We are quite optimistic, even without funding, if we really work on it. In addition we believe that we also have very motivated members and we can achieve a lot even with limited or no funds. In fact, what we are trying to do is empower our members before the end of our funding cycle. Unfortunately, both CATIA and UNESCO funding expires at the same time. So we will not have money, but we want to have members who are confident and motivated. If we have these kind of members we will survive.
CHAKULA: What work lies ahead for EFOSSNET?
ZZ: In the next few years we plan to work on what we have been doing until the point where we believe that enough knowledge is available to talk about policy, to provide support and training. So our long-term plan is to see FOSS policy in Ethiopia and to have a considerable number of FOSS users.
DB: In the past we focused on internal capacity building. Before we start preaching, we needed to know the bible. So we wanted to make sure we knew the issues before we confronted people. There are hardened supporters of proprietary software out there! There are people who have based there lives on selling licences. They may consider our work as a threat, even though EFOSSNET is not against proprietary software. We have to make sure that we have answers for these people as well. So we needed to know our arguments. And I think we achieved that in the past year, and now can be more aggressive in our advocacy. I think that is what we are going to do in the future.
To find out more about the project visit:
Or contact the CATIA animator in Ethiopia:
Dawit Bekele: email@example.com
In Senegal, few journalists have access to technology for their day-to-day work, and ICTs seldom make it into the news. Which is why the CATIA intervention in that country chose to focus exclusively on developing the capacity of the media to use and write about ICTs. Now it has launched its own television show. CHAKULA spoke to CATIA's animator in Senegal, Coura Fall, and Eco journalist Jacques Iyok…
"In Senegal journalists don't have computers. Maybe one for 10-12 journalists in a company. They don't want to be in the queue, so they go to a cybercafé and send it to the editors from there." – Coura Fall, CATIA animator, Senegal
CHAKULA: What is the key ICT challenge in Senegal at the moment, do you think?
COURA FALL [CF]: The one challenge is about a new global operator which can offer telephone, internet and international access, because Sonatel has had the monopoly. The government announced a tender for the new operator in 2005. Since that day it has started to go slowly, and we don't know where it is going and when the new operator will be announced.
CHAKULA: Does Senegal have a good ICT policy in place?
CF: Some ICT policies are already done. There is, for instance, a regulatory framework in place and a commitment to a liberalised telecommunications market. The e-government programme was also launched last year. But I don't feel we have a good national strategy for ICTs. It is not written. We are trying to advocate to get things done. It is, however, in the process. ICTs are part of the growth strategy for Senegal. The government has asked a task force to work on it and come up with guidelines. I am involved in the task force.
CHAKULA: What kinds of things is the task force discussing?
CF: It is a question of working out steps specific to ICTs within the framework of the government's strategy for accelerated growth. We're asking: 'How do we make sure that ICTs profit to the maximum within the framework of the strategy?'. The task force has been set up with several sub-groups which each deal with a field in relation to ICTs, such as the business environment, the development of infrastructure and human resources.
CHAKULA: You decided to focus on developing capacity in the media for your advocacy campaign. Why did you chose to work with the media specifically?
CF: ICTs were not written about with any authority in the media, if they were written about at all. This meant that the media could not be an independent watchdog to the important changes happening in Senegal. It could also not help to bring about change in government policy. It could not put pressure on the government, or inform the people, when it came to ICTs. In our first national consultation in 2005, we invited different ICT actors from the private sector, civil society and the media. Initially we identified three priority areas: ICT access, capacity building and ICT regulation, but decided to focus on capacity building in the media. We talked together to try to understand why ICTs are not very well written about. The journalists said they don't have the understanding or knowledge about ICT policies and issues. Most don't even use ICTs in the newsroom. So we chose to reinforce their capacity, their views and understanding and knowledge about ICTs.
JACQUES IYOK [JI]: The journalists were generalists, not specialists. Sometimes they cannot even use a computer…
CF: Journalists don't have computers. Maybe one for 10-12 journalists in a company. They don't want to be in the queue. So they go to a cybercafé and send it to the editors from there. The newspapers just don't have money to pay for computers. You maybe have one with enough computers. But they don't have laptops. What they use right now is recording when they go to an event.
CHAKULA: Tell me more about the training…
CF: We work at three levels for the capacity building: Press owners, editors, and journalists. Our focus is on newspapers, radio, magazines and TV. The journalists are involved in the training. With editors we hold lunch meetings and consultations. The training focuses on theoretical issues, such as perspectives on the WSIS [World Summit on the Information Society] and on practical issues, such as creating web pages, blogs and management issues.
JI: In the last training we did, we trained them in FOSS. Now they use it to download radio programmes…
CF: One of the purposes of the training is to allow the print journalists to interact with the broadcast journalists. We have trained around 25 journalists from newspapers, magazines and radio.
CHAKULA: And besides the training?
CF: We are actively involved in creating a media space for ICT reporting. For example, Jacques is a journalist working on an advocacy plan. With him we are doing a TV show called Debatic, which is a debate about ICTs. In Senegal, we don't have a show talking about ICTs, we don't have ICT magazines. Nothing. So this is a big step. We also met an editor who decided to have one page in a magazine where we can publish and write about ICTs.
JI: We also decided to have a radio programme where we can invite all ICT experts to talk about ICT issues. We have a lot of ICT experts in Senegal who are involved in the Internet Governance Forum, for instance. Our president is very oriented to ICTs, despite the challenges we have mentioned. He created the Digital Solidarity Fund in Geneva to reduce the digital divide.
CHAKULA: Is the radio show broadcasting already, or is it still in the planning stage?
CF: We have been talking to two radio stations to do regular debate on ICT policies. The first radio show will be on Saturday 12 August 2006.
CHAKULA: What do you think your biggest achievement has been?
CF: The training has been our biggest achievement. We did the media dialogue with the regulator, the operators, and all the media. We were talking about the new global operator. It was the first time we had all these people around the same table. Before that it didn't happen. We have also created an association of journalists specialising in ICTs. This network includes some ICT experts to support and help them.
CHAKULA: And your future plans?
CF: The main plan is the TV debate. We want it to be a regular. It is for three months at the moment. We are looking for some sponsors for the show because we have to pay the broadcaster. We have some actors who are very interested, like the government and regulator, some teleco operators. With TV you can reach a lot of people. We also plan to do an ICT Caravan in Senegal. The van will have computers and a high-speed internet connection. We want to do some training with the local population, maybe some women, and also to train journalists. We have 11 regions, and we know that we have to talk to all the population. So each month we decided to go to a different city with a journalist to meet the people. We decided to stay for three days in each city. The local journalists would be there and we would discuss ICT issues.
CHAKULA: What about funding or sponsorships. Is this difficult to come by?
CF: Without APC support, getting funding will be a little difficult in Senegal. As I told you, even the newspapers don't have computers. This is also the case in some parts of the private sector. So we need to propose a good plan to donors. I think we will need funding. The corporate sector is too poor.
JI: We are searching for sponsors who will give us computers that we can offer to the journalists…
CHAKULA: How have your personally grown during the CATIA programme?
CF: Personally, this process was very beneficial for me. First of all, I feel stronger. I learned to work with different people from different countries. The way we did the reporting and monitoring helped me to be more focused on something and to do it more efficiently. Even my financial and administrative skills have improved. I think my relationship with the media has been very successful and useful. I know now that you have to be very careful about what you tell the media because they use it for their purposes! So every time I have to do a press release for them, I think this, and it is good. I have found this very empowering. I have been involved in ICTs for some time – for instance, with an ISP [Internet Service Provider] in the Ivory Coast, before the war. Then in the creation of three GSM [cellular] networks, one in Senegal, one in Ivory Coast and another in Togo. In Senegal I worked with an IT group which specializes in developing software and call centre connectivity. Now I am running my own business and have a call centre doing connectively for some companies. I am providing the US Embassy with connectivity! So I feel lucky. I feel very empowered.
To find out more about the project visit:
www.catia.sn (under construction)
Or contact the CATIA animator in Senegal:
Coura Fall: email@example.com
In a country of 130-million people, Nigeria has only one community radio and no policy on community broadcasting in place. Yet there are hopeful signs that things are changing. CHAKULA spoke to Jummai Umar, the CATIA animator in Nigeria, and ActionAid's Hogan Ededem, a project partner…
"…We believe that there has to be a framework that will guide regulations and even protect the people. This entails talking, lobbying with whomever cares to listen; no matter how little connection we see." – Jummai Umar, CATIA animator, Nigeria
CHAKULA: Why community radio in Nigeria?
JUMMAI UMAR [JU]: There are many reasons. A lot of advocacy work has been done in Nigeria to see the emergence of the country's broadcasting sector according to the African Charter on Broadcasting. We have the private broadcaster and government broadcaster, but we don't yet have community broadcasting. So the national priority advocacy issue is the creation of a community radio sector. This will be a tool for addressing the universal access problem, while striving for harmonization, collaboration and convergence at the policy development and implementation levels. We also think the rural people of Nigeria understand radio, because it is widely used. These are some of the reasons why we narrowed down on this aspect.
CHAKULA: How have you gone about lobbying for a community radio sector?
JU: We got people talking. We started with a consultation, and then started working with the policy regulators. Along the way we realised that the best way to bring about change was to bring it to the people themselves. In that line we have ActionAid as our major partner. They readily took on the campaign, situating it in their programme area called Partnership Against Poverty. This programme entails working with community-based organisations at community levels to carry on advocacy with local and state government.
CHAKULA: And how does CATIA fit in with this?
JU: The national policy formation link is provided by CATIA. We started that work in July 2004, so we have been doing it for two years. At a national level, we are working in a coalition called the Community Radio Coalition [in partnership with Panos and AMARC, who are leading the CATIA component on pro-poor broadcasting policy]. In the Coalition you have about 300 individuals and NGOs. I am facilitating the committee on policy and government engagement, which means our CATIA component is responsible for developing a policy framework. Quite a few donors want to start up pilot projects in the community. But we believe that there has to be a framework that will guide regulations and even protect the people. This entails talking, lobbying with whomever cares to listen; no matter how little connection we see.
CHAKULA: Is the Coalition only for civil society organisations?
JU: Mostly civil society; but you find that when we have training programmes or even advocacy outings you have government and private media stations, as well as officials in other non-media sectors coming. So you could say that it is a multi-stakeholder coalition – there are even small businesses, such as IT companies, and trade and professional groups involved.
CHAKULA: Can you tell me more about ActionAid's work at the grassroots level?
HOGAN EDEDEM [HE]: Sometime last year ActionAid adopted community radio as a key advocacy issue for the year. Our methodology involves empowering the community to understand their rights and to press for it. One of the tools we use in working with communities is called REFLECT. This is an empowerment methodology which uses the characteristics of communities to identify their problems and chart solutions to these problems. A number of people are trained in REFLECT. This group forms what we call the 'REFLECT circle' and works with the entire community on development issues. ActionAid is working through these circles to help the community understand what community radio is, why community radio in the first instance, and how they stand to benefit from it.
CHAKULA: Do you consider what you're doing a movement?
JU: We like to think of it as a movement. It is definitely a grassroots-oriented initiative. We want to see it evolve into a social movement. We believe that is the way to get governments to listen, because they are driven by people's aspirations for change. It will give us more leverage, than if we were just an individual organisation.
HE: Partnership Against Poverty works through a number of NGOs and CBOs in more than 68 communities in 12 states of Nigeria. There are 36 states, so it is a broad-based advocacy initiative.
CHAKULA: How successful have your efforts been, do you think?
JU: The strength in advocacy is in the process and the type of support that gets, including 'converts' to the cause. Sometime early this year the president granted a second community a radio licence. Just one; but to us this is an indication that the message is getting through. I think it is a matter of time. Even the government itself sees and understands the need for that sector to come up in relation to aspirations. The policy process can be long and tedious. But at a programme level I think it is a very big thing to bring ActionAid in. This means that our advocacy process has grown that much shorter. Although a committee has not been formed, the president has approved the formation of a committee that would recommend criteria to the government for a policy framework. These are indicators that the government is listening. The Coalition has contributed to a lot of reviews of broadcasting documents. We worked on the Radio Frequency Management document and introduced a community radio perspective to that. These documents are usually driven by the public and private sectors.
HE: The response has been encouraging, given the fact that things like this take some time. Communities are grappling with issues of survival and trying to achieve the basic rights – food, education, safe drinking water and healthcare. The need for community radio is sinking in. The indicators are coming out that the people really want the means to air their opinion, to propagate their messages, amongst themselves and beyond.
CHAKULA: What about the future?
JU: A coalition means we pool our resources; because of this the advocacy will not die. ActionAid has its methodologies for raising funds. The biggest sustainability issue for us is ActionAid agreeing to take it on! And it has. As an animator I will continue to provide support for Action Aid until the day that we wake up and we have a policy in place. Of course, if we move on it, it will evolve into other demands.
CHAKULA: And you, Jummai, what have you personally learned from this experience?
JU: I have learned a lot through this process. I have gained a lot of visibility as an individual. I have accumulated a lot of social capital. The network has grown beyond Nigeria. It has grown around the world. I have learned patience; because working within the Coalition means that you have to accommodate the idiosyncrasies of other organisations fighting for the greater good with you…
To find out more about the project visit:
Or contact the CATIA animator in Nigeria:
Jummai Umar: email@example.com
The goal of The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is to promote the use of ICTs by women's organisations in Uganda. Set up in 2000, WOUGNET has been a lead actor in ICT and gender advocacy in that country, and has engaged on several policy fronts; including bringing a gender focus to ICT policy in Uganda, open source software and WSIS. CHAKULA caught up with WOUGNET's Director, Dorothy Okello, and the organisation's ICT Programme Manager, Goretti Muriat….
"Now we are strong. Now we have an impact. It has given us a push and shown policy makers that we are serious. Now we have made a noise, and had workshops. So they know." – Goretti Muriat, WOUGNET ICT Programme Manager
CHAKULA: Tell me more about your CATIA work in Uganda…
DOROTHY OKELLO [DO]: Uganda was not a CATIA project from the beginning. WOUGNET had been involved in other components, but not in the policy advocacy component. We have only been engaged in that since about the last quarter of 2005. So it is short. Of course, our project focuses on gender and ICT policy advocacy in Uganda, and we have been very engaged with the APC on the WSIS issues. I would say since Tunis our CATIA participation has really started. In particular our activities have involved the Gender Civil Society Caucus at the WSIS.
CHAKULA: There has been a lot of criticism of WSIS. How did you find the summit?
DO: We managed to get some gender language into the WSIS documents. But now we have moved to a national focus. Our first strategy is this: We keep saying 'gender', but people don't really know how to integrate this into ICT policy. In a way you can't blame them if the documents come out without a gender perspective. It's really ignorance and the lack of a good example. So we said: 'Let's target the ICT policy makers, ICT experts, and journalists.' By the ICT experts I mean the techies. We targeted them to begin thinking about ICT issues from a gender perspective. We wanted to get them to ask: 'How do I incorporate gender into what I am doing?' So we planned to hold training workshops on gender.
CHAKULA: How did the workshops go?
DO: Well, first we needed to do gender training for our own caucus, the Uganda Women's Caucus. For this we took advantage of the presence of Natasha Primo [Director of the South African-based Women'sNet and Chairperson of APC's Executive Board] at the Africa Source conference which was held in Kalangala in January. She trained us in GEM [Gender Evaluation] methodology. We also thought that if we just started offering training for the experts, they might not want to come. So we said: 'Why not do some public promotions and then invite them?'. In March we held a public forum. It was well attended with about 80-100 participants and there was some good feedback. We had commissioned a paper, and presented the findings. We began with basic concepts, such as 'What is gender?'. In April we did the workshop. It went well in that we got some key players coming to that. For example, ICT journalists were there and we had some representation from the institutions, from a Uganda communications perspective – the ICT experts. But unlike the public forum the participation at the workshop was lower than we expected. We had targeted 40 trainees, but we got 25. We think the 25 that came were committed, but we could have had more.
CHAKULA: What sort of impact do you think you have had?
GORETTI MURIAT [GM]: I am hopeful that the ICT policy in Uganda will be gender sensitive. At the moment the policy has not been approved. It has been by cabinet, but not by law. There are chances to review it. We are going to make enough noise; so by the time they review, they will know it is not gender sensitive, and they will have to change it.
DO: I think the greatest achievement, in terms of CATIA funding, is the public forum. It enabled us to establish personal contacts. The training was also important. This enabled us to meet government and regulators. They were enthusiastic. And we were able to strengthen and build new contacts for advocacy purposes.
CHAKULA: It was important to have the focused attention that funding allowed…
DO: Yes, definitely. The CATIA funding has enabled us to move very aggressively. For example the briefing paper on ICTs presented at the forum; we had already done a smaller effort, on a volunteer basis. Now we have some funding, we can actually make it into an attractive booklet, which is easy to read and appealing.
GM: I think it has set us off; moved us from where we were to another level. While we had been involved in advocacy, we could not do as many activities as we wanted to. The CATIA funding gave us a push. With CATIA we were able to target policy makers, create awareness. The Uganda Women's Caucus was fragmented. CATIA gave it some funding to come together. If you don't have funds, you are not serious. Now we are strong. Now we have an impact. It has given us a push and shown policy makers that we are serious. Now we have made a noise, and had workshops. So they know. CATIA has helped us develop advocacy materials and positions papers on gender issues, and policies briefs and reports. We have developed materials. These are our tools.
DO: Exactly. You can see that we had the training, the public forum, the workshop. Now the Uganda Communications Commission, the regulator in our country, is hearing from us every month. This funding allows us to have something to have to reach out to them. We can set the agenda, and invite them to a public forum, rather than waiting for them.
CHAKULA: What lies ahead for you?
DO: What we are looking at this quarter is doing an evaluation of the Rural Communications Development Fund. The Fund is essentially looking at universal access, particularly targeting the rural areas where development is needed. These are defined as those counties that the national operator has identified as uneconomically viable to operate in. Under the RCDF there are various initiatives: Portals, ICT training centres, MPCCs [Multi-purpose Community Centres], and so on. We're not interested in how many telecentres have been set up, but in the utilization and uptake of the services being offered from a gender perspective. How many men, how many women and what services are being used. Often we get challenged: 'Ok, you're saying that, but where is your data to back that up?'. This will give us some data to say: 'Look, this is going on'. This kind of survey hasn't been done before in Uganda.
CHAKULA: Are you optimistic about the future?
GM: From this workshop [Goretti had just participated in a CATIA workshop in Johannesburg] the idea was raised that we should look at issues of infrastructure. The good news is that we have a new ministry and new minister. So if everything has to move we have to have an approved ICT policy first. Lucy Abrahams [the Director of the Johannesburg-based LINK Centre] said if we want things to happen, we can even advocate for an ICT policy exclusively for women. That seems like an exciting idea!
DO: We see a lot of opportunity to build on this project. I think for me personally, delinking it from everything else, it is quite a thing. It has given me excitement that all these things that we have been talking about have been possible. Now we can see all these opportunities, and can keep them growing…
To find out more about the project visit:
Or http://www.catia.ws
Or contact the CATIA animator in Uganda:
Dorothy Okello: email@example.com
The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANeT) is a multi-stakeholder network of civil society, private sector and media ICT actors. For the past two years it has been lobbying for better ICT policy in Kenya, and has grown into a formidable force in the country. Yet meeting everyone's needs in a multi-stakeholder network is not always easy. And as the network grows in power and influence, the problems can sometimes be amplified. CHAKULA asked CATIA animator Alice Wanjira, KICTNeT's National Co-ordinator Catherine Nyaki, and Kenyan businessman Brian Longwe how they hold it all together…
"Nobody is right and nobody is wrong. We only move on things that have a consensus. If we don't have a consensus then we either spend some time trying to reach consensus or we dismiss it. If people don't trust each other, they trust in the process." – Alice Wanjira, CATIA animator, Kenya
ALICE WANJIRA [AW]: We have been doing a lot of policy advocacy work over the past three years to speed up the ICT policy process. As you know, this has involved creating a multi-stakeholder network, with private sector, media and civil society working towards one common objective: To make sure we have a legal regulatory framework in which the ICT sector can thrive. We set KICTANeT up in a consultative workshop, and our process has been consultative. What we did was focus on a couple of issues we thought were important across the sectors and groups. For instance, a consumer awareness campaign was one of them. This was of common concern to all the parties. It involved a process of creating trust.
CHAKULA: Some people were sceptical about the possibility of the different groups working so effectively together…
CATHERINE NYAKI [CN]: Before we came together we were opportunistically bashing each other. We needed to get together in an environment where there were no issues, where we could just sit down together to discuss things. We needed to see how similar our goals were. We wanted the same thing, but we were going about it differently.
AW: They used to say that all they knew about civil society was these bra burning activists. They'd say: 'You people keep using big words. When I hear 'mainstreaming', it sounds to me like you are introducing a new tax'…
BRIAN LONGWE [BL]: On the other side, civil society called us bloodthirsty vampires…
CN: We called the media corrupt, and said they received little brown envelopes from politicians…
BL: Then the private sector attacked the media…
CHAKULA: Despite this initial name-calling, it has been a success. KICTANeT is now the 'official mouthpiece' of the ICT sector in Kenya. The government turns to you for answers…
CN: I think it is quite evident in Kenya that KICTANeT has had a huge impact. Right now when you say 'ICT issues' and 'ICT advocacy', immediately people think of KICTANeT. Its presence is being felt everywhere. It has been able to weave together a membership which is very representative. Apart from building strong synergies, it has helped being felt in all areas, particularly in the policy arena. It's a name which is familiar, whether it is in the media or government sectors. That's because there has been this element of trust that has been built. But it has not always been easy. There are still some difficulties.
CHAKULA: Such as?
CN: Some people, for instance, still don't fully trust the private sector on certain issues. But we are working around that. There are also still some tensions around FOSS and proprietary software.
AW: The other thing I would say is this: The unique characteristic that has helped it become a success is the emphasis on the network's looseness. The emphasis has always been on this and the equality of its members. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong. We only move on things that have a consensus. If we don't have a consensus then we either spend some time trying to reach consensus or we dismiss it. If people don't trust each other, they trust in the process. The network is able to diffuse some of these tensions and provide a neutral ground.
CHAKULA: KICTANeT is taking the lead in the review of Kenya's ICT policy document. What stage is the process at at the moment?
CN: It is in the comments stage. The draft bill was put out and it was not very well done. The government then asked KICTANeT to manage the input. This still has to be given. The actual implementation of the ICT policy will be quite a process when that gets under way.
AW: The ICT policy process has led to a medium-term strategy. An ICT board has been established. This is a group of stakeholders who is advising the ministry. There are 5-6 KICTANeT members who are on that board.
CHAKULA: Does KICTANeT's influence worry you in any way?
BL: As an individual, I have concerns. My experience in the past is that anything that can exercise power before long becomes subject to efforts to gain control and manipulate it. It could be anyone: Donors who come to promote their agendas, government imposing its agenda, or the private players pushing their angle.
CHAKULA: This kind of jostling is to be expected, but it needs to be above board…
AW: Yes. That is why we have a programme committee to ensure that no single agenda is pushed. The committee is made up of all the groups.
CN: My worry is when something looks so successful and is rapidly developing that there are a lot of expectations. Sometimes people think it is only you who can solve an issue. You can end up taking on too much.
CHAKULA: How do you manage people's expectations, given your very real limitations?
BL: One thing that has worked very well so far are the monthly planning meetings. These are open to all members and provide everyone with a chance to bring their issues or agendas to the table. There is then relatively open discussion on the issue as well as an evaluation of what is currently being done about it or whether something needs to be done by KICTANeT. This type of process ensures that no-one feels sidelined and that everyone who bring an issue gets the benefit of others' points of view.
CHAKULA: And now that the CATIA funding is coming to an end?
AW: We started thinking about sustainability a year ago. When we started our network all the members contributed. We don't depend entirely on donors. That is usually the most dangerous thing.
BL: As part of our sustainability plan, the network has had to set up a minimal legal entity in the form of a Trust, with a secretariat to run the day-to-day affairs. Of course now members in the network have put their heads together to fund these activities. So there are different forms of resources….
CHAKULA: What challenges lie ahead for the network?
BL: Now that the telecoms market is fully liberalised, the big issue is competition regulation. There is a little bit of anarchy in the market right now with over-excited players stretching the limits of their licenses and in many cases engaging in unfair competition. I think issues surrounding anti-trust, predatory pricing, cross-subsidization and market structure will be the new frontier upon which future battles shall be fought.
To find out more about the project visit:
Or contact the CATIA animator in Kenya:
Alice Wanjira: email@example.com
Chakula is a newsletter of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) – Africa ICT Policy Monitor Project aims to mobilise African Civil Society in ICT policy for development and social justice.
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text:
So where is it?
So where is it?
You have angered the Moderator gods!!
Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. MB Rule # 1
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I do have some lumber left over from previous operations and some purchased recently that I was thinking to use in building some mini matting nucs.
Last year I used some models, 4 way half frames, Apidea, Man Lake and Bee Works.
I am trying to gain from any ones experience to come up with the best design size, shape, ventilation, top bar and so on.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you Gilman


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The Spot: Foxy Shazam
We sit down with two of the wild party boy's from glam rock band Foxy Shazam to talk about life on the road, and where they stop while they're touring the U.S.
Six-piece glam rock band Foxy Shazam is currently partying their way across America on tour to promote their latest album, The Church of Rock and Roll. If you don't know the name, you've probably heard their song "Unstoppable," which was featured in the Superbowl XLIV as well as the videogame NHL 11. We caught up with front man Eric Nally and trumpet player Alex Nauth during the first leg of their tour to talk about life on the road and the party places they just can't miss in the U.S.
To keep in touch with Foxy Shazam, be sure to follow @foxyshazam on Twitter and check out their upcoming tour dates on foxyshazam.com.
Playboy.com: When you're playing gigs in America, which cities do you look forward to partying in the most?
Eric Nally: New Orleans, because we always get a hotel room and never use it. A town full of graveyards, jazz and secrets is right down Foxy's alley. Portland, Oregon, because they have the only two strip clubs we actively seek. Union Jacks is straight from a Tarantino film and Mary's is downright the classiest older burlesque you'll ever see with eyes wide shut.
Alex Nauth: Vegas.
Playboy.com: What bars and nightclubs are you sure to hit up when you're touring?
Nally: We always hit up the Rainbow Room whenever we swing through L.A. We always catch a glimpse of Ron Jeremy but we're still waiting for Lemmy [from Motörhead].
Ed's Steak House is in nowhere Pennsylvania and has a Twin Peaks vibe. We would love to tell you where it is but it's a place that finds you.
Nauth: Next to every venue there is a bar. We've been to them all and we'll be there again soon.
Playboy.com: Which city has the sexiest girls?
Nally: From the words of our forefathers: we wish they all could be California girls.
Playboy.com: What is your craziest story from the road?
Nally: We don't remember our craziest nights, but one of our second-craziest nights is getting insanely drunk and skinny-dipping in the ocean in Florida. A horrible storm came through which pushed us to move to an open swanky cigar bar, where in the basement we competed in a cornhole tournament and won against a team called "The Gray Hairs." The next morning we found out that the area we were skinny-dipping in was infested with sharks for mating season. We're lucky to be alive
Another time we finished a kick-ass show at Pops in Saint Louis, which is conveniently located between some train tracks and two strip clubs. What more could you need, right? Wrong. This was the night of the super moon and we needed more to be entertained. A train started coming past the venue and Alex hopped on. Eric, Daisy and Mat, without thinking, followed suit. The conductor saw us immediately and started to stop the train. Trains take a while to come to a complete stop so we rode for about a mile. Once the train came to a stop and the conductor was hunting down the tracks with his flashlight, the four of us jumped off and booked it for the nearby woods. We stumbled into the backyard of a college party. Everyone there was either drunk out of their minds or tripping on LSD. As we walked in the door we get handed a full bottle of Jack to pass between our pack. I think the person who handed it to us recognized us as Foxy Shazam; then again, I'm not sure, I couldn't really hear what he was saying over the music. The rest of the night consisted of keg races, existential conversations around a campfire and locking ourselves in a smoke den in the house when the cops arrived. But we made it, and it's all true.
Playboy.com: Are there any places you're looking forward to playing that you haven't been before?
Nauth: Japan. We hear their excitement is unbridled. They haven't met us yet, though.
Playboy.com: What's your first memory of Playboy magazine?
Nally: I acquired a Playboy from a friend in band class in middle school. I loved it so much but made the cardinal mistake of hiding it under my mattress. One day when I was at school, my mom decided to clean my entire room and remake the bed. She found the Playboy and wrapped it up in three, three, plastic shopping bags and left it on the edge of my bed and waited for me to come home. When I got home my dear mother made me go to my bedroom, pick up the bag and walk it outside to the trash so "your little sister won't see this smut." Needless to say, I've hid my Playboys better ever since.
Playboy.com: What albums or songs are on your tour playlist?
Nauth: Ram by Paul and Linda McCartney, Eliminator by ZZ Top and The Chronic by Dr. Dre.
Playboy.com: Who is your favorite Playmate?
Nally: Sherilyn Fenn.
Nauth: Pamela Anderson.
Playboy.com: Tell us about your current tour and upcoming tour dates. How is it going?
Nauth: We're out on the road for most of the year doing radio festivals and headlining dates across the country and possibly Europe. The shows keep getting bigger and crazier. Not much to complain about.


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Media meme o' the day: Obama's speech was much more presidential than Palin's
posted at 8:04 pm on January 13, 2011 by Allahpundit
This is a useful way to wrap up (hopefully) the coverage of Our National Conversation On Rhetoric as it's a stark example of how easily the propaganda about Palin's culpability in the shootings was accepted as a political fact of life. There are two ways a reporter could address yesterday's oratorical bookends by her and Obama. One: "Hey, isn't it insane that Palin had to give this speech? People don't normally have to point out that they're not responsible for a mass murder that they're not linked to in any way, do they?" Call that the "reality-based" approach. Two: "How silly of Palin to set up an unfavorable contrast with Obama by giving a defensive speech on a day when he's pushing uplift. Don't her advisors know anything about 'messaging'?" We'll call that the "you're badly missing the point" take. It's true as far as it goes — Palin's team should have anticipated that some viewers will naturally compare her tone to his, notwithstanding the two speeches' dramatically different circumstances — but it's also utterly banal and lazy. What's a more constructive use of a political reporter's time — pointing out to his audience the eminently apparent fact that, yes indeed, Palin's tone doesn't compare favorably to Obama's in this case? Or pointing out, in case they're not aware, that that might be because she had to respond to an endless Orwellian smear tying her to a homicidal lunatic? Accuse The One of complicity in mass murder and, I assure you, his reaction won't be sunshine and candy canes either.
The "badly missing the point" take is what I was getting at in goofing on Politico yesterday. For political media, whether any facts exist that link the right to Loughner is more or less immaterial; what matters is that the left's narrative of tying the right to Loughner exists and, as such, it's a fact of political life that should be assimilated and covered like any other. Obama's eulogizing the victims of a shooting and Palin's defending herself from the repulsive charge that she's somehow responsible for the body count, but since they both spoke on the same day, well, that's good enough for a moronic superficial horserace-type comparison. Politico:
At sunrise in the East on Wednesday, Sarah Palin demonstrated that she has little interest — or capacity — in moving beyond her brand of grievance-based politics. And at sundown in the West, Barack Obama reminded even his critics of his ability to rally disparate Americans around a message of reconciliation…
The former Alaska governor has a knack for supplying rhetoric that will delight her supporters, send her critics howling and invariably create a frenzy of coverage. But her response suggests she is capable of hitting just that one note…
But for much of the eight-minute talk she was defensive and showed little interest in doing anything other than channeling the understandable resentment of her ideological kinsmen over the blame-casting. And that won't appeal much to a political center that — even while they may not think Palin is in any way responsible for Tucson — preferred more conciliation even before the jarring attempted assassination of a member of Congress.
A homework assignment for aspiring speechwriters: Try to write an address titled "I Didn't Kill Anyone" without sounding aggrieved. More from the Times:
Ms. Palin's decision to post the video on the Internet on Wednesday morning all but invited comparisons to the president's previously announced appearance at the memorial service for those slain in Arizona.
And her choice of words — most notably the accusation that her critics were guilty of "blood libel" for the things they have said about her — made it impossible to ignore the video as merely another statement from a politician…
[W]hat could not have been more different was the tone. Where Ms. Palin was direct and forceful, Mr. Obama was soft and restrained. Where Ms. Palin was accusatory, Mr. Obama appeared to go out of his way to avoid pointing fingers or assigning blame. Where she stressed the importance of fighting for our different beliefs, he emphasized our need for unity, referring to the "American family — 300 million strong."
Nowhere in the piece does the Times explain precisely what "things they have said about her." If you read it without knowing the backstory of the past several days and the left's obsession with her crosshairs map, you might think Palin had posted a video to eulogize the victims and then inexplicably launched into a tirade against the media halfway through based on old grievances, like the Couric interview. The closest it comes to filling the reader in is to quote her denouncing "mindless finger-pointing we endured in the wake of the tragedy."
And on we go. Here's some refreshing candor from Lloyd Grove: Yes, it's unfair to compare the two speeches — but why should that stop us?
The prematurely retired Alaska governor had to serve up her remarks, really a litany of complaints against her critics and political adversaries, while seated in front of a non-working stone fireplace, apparently at her home in Wasilla—a claustrophobic setting framed by an outsize American flag.
The president got to deliver his affecting half-hour of heartfelt reflection and soulful inspiration—repeatedly interrupted by standing ovations—to an arena at the University of Arizona filled to the rafters with 14,000 mourners, notably members of his Cabinet and the Supreme Court, the governor of Arizona, the astronaut-husband of wounded Rep. Gabby Giffords, the heroes who risked their own lives to save others, the doctors and nurses who tended the injured and bleeding, and the friends and families of the six people, including a 9-year-old girl, who were killed by a gun-wielding maniac Saturday morning at a shopping center.
"At the end of the day, after listening to the president, we'll know why he's president and she never will be," said Robert Shrum.
To the speechwriters: For extra credit on your assignment, figure out a "presidential" way to explore the theme, "I Didn't Beam Homicidal Mind Control Rays into that Crazed Gunman's Brain." The big joke here, of course, is that the only "presidential" way Palin could have handled this — according to the media, I mean — would be to simply let this whole thing slide. That's what presidents do, right? Thick skin, stiff upper lip, even when their enemies are being terribly unfair to them. When it comes to politics, that's business as usual. My point this week, though, and Ace's point at his site, has been that this episode isn't business as usual. This isn't some standard "Palin's using rhetorical dog whistles for her Christian base!" attack. This is a congresswoman bleeding out of her head on the sidewalk with six bodies lying around her, one of them a little girl, and Palin being blamed for it instantly. And yet according to Keith Ellison, the proper response here should have been to validate that accusation by implication by saying, gee, yeah, I guess I should have toned it down. I'm not known for being a Palin fan (as, er, any actual Palin fan could tell you) and even I can't contain my indignation at the charge. And yet she's supposed to just mellow out and take it because political reporters who won't flatly correct the record for their readers think it's bad "optics" to do otherwise? Unbelievable.
Related Posts:
Breaking on Hot Air
'Liberals think they are tolerant but often they aren't' says…Fareed Zakaria?
Mad Dog Mattis: War with North Korea would be catastrophic. But what would it look like?
End of an era: Merkel signals that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S.
- Funeral or Campaign Rally?; Inappropriate tone at service for Tucson shooting victims « Northern Thoughts And Reflections
- Tom Brokaw commits "blood libel" against the entire state of Arizona « The New Normal
- Chicago Daily Observer » Blog Archive » In search of the real president
- When your name is "Palin," you have no right to defend yourself « Sister Toldjah
- When your name is "Palin," you have no right to defend yourself « Public Secrets
- A Final Note on Inflammatory Rhetoric « Left Coast Ledger
- Blame Righty: A condensed history | Ace Campaign
- Obama's speech was much more presidential than Palin's « b5blue's Liberal Reformation Blog
- Michelle Malkin » Blame Righty: A condensed history
- Michelle Malkin » Blame Righty impulse blows up in media faces…again
- Blame Righty impulse blows up in media faces…again | Conservatives for America
- Blame Righty impulse blows up in media faces…again | Michelle Malkin
- Blame Righty impulse blows up in media faces…again | Inspirations, dreams, humaniora
- Save us Chuck Woolery - Saving American One Trillion Dollars at a Time.


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Koya Urabe, Masaaki Noiri Announced for Krush Supernova Tournament
- Published in News
- Written by Dave Walsh
- 0
Krush has revealed the first 8 participants of the Krush -63kg Under-22 Supernova Tournament and while it may not have all of the big names that we expected, it does contain two of the best fighters that could participate in the tournament. K-1 -63kg 2011 Japan Tournament Runner-up Koya Urabe and K-1 Koshien 2009 Champion Masaaki Noiri were announced as participants and, among the 8 that have been announced, are by far the favorites in the field. Urabe has already made it to the finals of two tournaments this year, losing to Ryuji Kajiwara in the finals of the Krush tournament and to Yuta Kubo in the finals of the K-1 tournament. He just picked up a decision win over Marimo at Krush.11, as well. Noiri made it to the semifinals of his two tournaments, losing to "Kyoken" Yuji Takeuchi in the Krush tournament and Yuta Kubo in K-1.
Also announced for the tournament are:
J-Network Flyweight Champion and K-1 Koshien vet Tsukasa Fuji. An interesting choice considering he fights at 53kg, but he holds a win over Ryuya Kusakabe. Also interesting because it means Ryuya Kusakabe and Shota Takiya may compete as well.
K-1 Koshien vet and member of Team Dragon Daizo Sasaki. He went 1-3 in Koshien with losses to Ryuya Kusakabe and Ryuma Tobe.
K-1 Koshien 2010 Final 8 Sho Ogawa. Ogawa won a pair of decisions before losing to eventual finalist Hiroki Akimoto by extension round decision.
Tang Tang Fight Club's Fumiya Osawa.
RISE #6 Ranked Super Lightweight Shimpei Keita.
K-1 Koshien vet Kengo Sonoda. He went 0-2 in Koshien, losing to HIROYA and Katsuki Ishida.
The final 8 participants should be announced soon. {jcomments on}


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Town Square
Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...
Original post made by Tom Cushing, Danville, on Sep 19, 2012
Prop 30 is Gov. Brown's tax increase plan, proposed after 4-year cuts of some $__ (20 points) from the annual state budget. Recession-era collections are not keeping pace with expenditures; this referendum is made necessary by an earlier statute that requires a 2/3 legislative majority to raise taxes, which the Dems have been unable to muster in the face of unified GOP opposition. It calls for a seven-year marginal rate increase on incomes over $250K, a four-year 1/4% hike in sales tax rates -- and it earmarks those new funds (about $7B/year, give-or-take) for education and public safety.
Thus, its generally progressive nature is structured to appeal to his base, and it will undoubtedly raise the spectre Silicon Valley and Hollywood packing-up, and moving to Texas. Predictably, it is supported by public sector unions and opposed by the Howard Jarvis taxpayers organization.
Raising taxes is never easy; the task has been made harder by the State Parks Department having squirreled-away some $50 million in the face of facility closures (25 points if you know why they did it -- I have never seen an explanation). As someone who Has seen the toll taken by prior cuts on a profoundly disabled relative, I'm aware of the human costs of some other, non-tax alternatives.
Prop 31 sets-up a two-year budget cycle, requires performance goals for all state programs and provides a mechanism for local governments to opt-out of state mandated services. It is supported by the state GOP, but opposed by Dems, the Tea Party and something out of the OC called calwatchdog.com. The latter claims that the 2-year cycle is irrelevant, the goals do not require voter approval, and the opt-out tends to favor cities over 'burbs. Stay tuned.
Prop 32 would forbid both companies and unions from payroll deductions for political purposes. While I am generally in-favor of Anything that weans money away from the political process, I just have to note that the apparent balance here is somewhat attenuated by the fact that member monies are the sole source of union income, while corporations have customers to supply revenue -- perhaps that difference is what the philosopher ___ (fifteen points) had in mind when he wrote about The Law's "majestic equality?"
Finally this week, there's Prop 34, which would eliminate Capital Punishment, commute current such sentences to Life-without-Parole, and establish a $100 million fund to assist law enforcement in solving rapes and murders. That one-time amount comes close to offsetting the annual costs of maintaining the current system, according to a prominent recent study be a supporter and an opponent of the law.
The death penalty has always been popular with voters hereabouts, so sponsors as disparate as a former San Quentin Warden, the author of CA's current capital statute and the CA State Bar President have their work cut-out for them. I started these columns with a personal analysis of the issue Web Link, which I think fails both public policy and economic tests. So far ___ (twenty points) death-row convicts have been later exonerated. It will be interesting to watch the tacks taken by both supporters and opponents, this time around.
There are other significant Props this time, on other issues like human trafficking, Three-strikes, food labeling on genetically modified food-like substances, and State Senate redistricting. Those will be future RC subjects, as time and circumstance allow.
Answers: Elizabeth Emken, Republican, and Gail Lightfoot, Libertarian; $56 billion in claimed cuts; no earthly idea what they had in mind for that $50 million secret fund; Anatole France: "The law in its majestic equality forbids both rich and poor men from sleeping under bridges, begging in the street and stealing bread"; 138 exonerations, at least as of last year. How'd you do?
Note to Madame Editor: I created this column in the website blank, itself -- and only deleted the draft by accident once. Let's see if this tactic avoids the weird punctuation problem...
a resident of Danville
on Sep 19, 2012 at 11:27 am
Your column is boring...Lets talk about the A's.
a resident of San Ramon
on Sep 20, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Must union members will allow the political deductions from their paychecks (mainly because of intimidation), but there will be plenty of union money. I'm yes on 32 political paychecks, but no on 30...the new money will go to the general fund, so unions will get most, and maybe or not will trickle down to schools, and maybe down to students...but that's lot of maybes.
What I'm trying to figure out is the motive for the Obama Administration, Obama, Hillary, J. Carney, et al denying or trying to hide that the terrorists attacks in Libya, killing our Ambassador and 3 others, were PRE-planned 9-11 Anniversary terrorist attacks. Nobody believes they were because of an insensitive video. That just won't fly.
This is a huge denial or cover-up...but, why ??? Because it's inconvenient in the middle of a campaign??
On CNN tonight, a former agency offical, said 'it illustrates the administration has a LIMP mid-east policy.'.
I just don't get the denial of the obvious. There was nothing 'spontaneous' about it, as the Administration claimed. There was an assortment of military artillery! The President of Libya, CNN, and Sen. McCain all spoke of artillery within about 12 hours. Yet, a week later, Obama and Hillary are both
still saying it's because of a 15 min video...sorta like 'the devil made me do it" justification for murders.
Hope we learn the explaination before the election. It should come up in a debate. I hope they're not silenced.
a resident of San Ramon
on Sep 22, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Maybe Voter would like the Administration to ERECT a new Mid-East policy?
a resident of Alamo
on Sep 23, 2012 at 11:04 am
I'd like to inquire about the thrust of Voter's statements by requesting that he:
1 -- provide actual evidence that union payroll deductions are "mostly because of intimidation," and
2 -- tell us where that "plenty of union money" will come from, if not from the union's membership?
a resident of Alamo
on Sep 25, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Blah, blah, blah. The broken record plays again.
a resident of Danville
on Sep 27, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Roger - A "new" Mid-East policy? What is Obama's policy?? Duck and cover? The world would really like to know what our US policy is at this time; not just the United States citizens.
a resident of Danville
on Sep 28, 2012 at 10:28 am
Well, Bush's mid-east policy was pretty clear, at least at first: empire-building. And look where that got us.
a resident of San Ramon
on Oct 1, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Deductions will continue for the majority of union members (dems)...with their permission. If and when there are some who do not want to have money taken from their paychecks for politics....like maybe their children need it more than some issue or candidate, it could not be taken without their permission. (of course there would be peer pressure to play along for the cause).
YES on 32 would grant freedom for a worker to keep earnings. No on 32 means no change...keep steeling from worker's paychecks, against their will.
a resident of Alamo
on Oct 1, 2012 at 11:49 pm
When I get the right to tell companies in which I own stock to pass through to me my share of the money they spend on political purposes, I'll vote yes on Prop 32.


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forum: Food & Drink
Pages: 1 | Home » Food & Drink » Artichoke Paste
#1 Wed 22 Jun 11 4:20pm
- Member
- Member since Tue 25 Jan 11
Artichoke Paste
I have been given a pot of Artichoke paste and a pot of tuna cream / paste as part of an Italian food set. Can anyone tell me what to do with these? I have no idea!
#2 Wed 22 Jun 11 4:46pm
- Member Occupation Retired on health grounds
- From Ireland
- Member since Tue 21 Jun 11
Re: Artichoke Paste
Hi gigglebox,
in respect of the artichoke paste the most simplistic of uses for it is to simply use it as a lightly used spread on toast, bread or crackers.
On a more adventurous note it is great with meats (pork & chicken recommended) and especially sea food and I have spread it over a nice Baked Salmon Fillet before. Very Tasty!.
I seem to remember Jamie doing a nice baked salmon fillet recipe before and I am sure you could add/incorporate the artichoke paste to that.
Another great use would be to use it in a sauce to coat a nice pasta dish. How about a nice Artichoke and Bucatini Carbonara? Throw some salmon or bacon pieces in and it would be lovely!
As for the tuna cream/paste sorry never used it, but hope others have some ideas for you
Hope this helps.
Last edited by BoldKevin (Wed 22 Jun 11 4:51pm)
#3 Wed 22 Jun 11 5:11pm
- Member
- Member since Tue 25 Jan 11
Re: Artichoke Paste
Thank you so much BoldKevin - these ideas sound lovely! That really is helpful, I'll give these a go
I'd love to hear some more ideas if anyone has any too??!
#4 Mon 03 Dec 12 3:51pm
- Member
- Member since Mon 12 Nov 12
Re: Artichoke Paste
Hi gigglebox!
My name is Peisze and I am working for Jamie�s brand new YouTube channel. We really love your forum post about Artichoke paste and would love to use it. Please please get in touch with us so I can explain more about the project to you.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
#5 Tue 04 Dec 12 2:47am
- Member Occupation Chief cook and bottle-washer
- From Scotland
- Member since Mon 12 Sep 11
Re: Artichoke Paste
Yo, Charles with the hat.
Gigglebox, there's a dish called vitello tonnato which is veal covered with a sort of tuna/mayonnaise paste. I've never had it - always thought it sounded a bit crazy, but what do I know? Maybe that's something you could use the tuna paste for?
Or else just put it on sandwiches or toast. Or try using it in recipes that call for mashed anchovies? Would that work?
I've Googled about but can't find any recipes using tuna paste except for the vitello tonnato thing.
Pages: 1 | Home » Food & Drink » Artichoke Paste


text: Hello from north central PA. I have some experience with honey bees as I helped my grandfather with his 100+ colonies in my youth. However, that was over 20 years ago so I have a lot to try and remember and even more to learn. I'm in the process of ordering enough supplies to start off with 10 colonies in the spring, which I plan on starting with semi-locally purchased nucs that are acclimated to my location. I'm looking forward to joining in conversations here and learning as much as I can.