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The Future of Teacher Prep Programs
I was recently asked to contribute to a book about the future of education and what I believed to be the perfect teacher prep program. These thoughts I will present to you in three consecutive posts, broken up into key topics. This first one includes an excerpt from the book, Teacher Solutions 2030 (Teachers College Press, to be released January 2011) while the other posts will continue my thoughts on this vital topic.
My credential program was more of a necessary hoop than a valuable preparation program. My Ed Psych professor read his screenplay to us all semester long. My Methods of Math professor hadn't been in a classroom for 30 years. Additionally, the student teachers I've worked with as a mentor have themselves varied in their own abilities and instincts, with such a wide variation in what is acceptable practice, that I've begun fantasizing about the future in teacher prep programs.
So time travel with me to the year 2030 as I mull over the possibilities for a more honest and rigorous path to the classroom. Allow me some leniency here. I am not an economist. I am fantasizing about a program that can only exist in a funded world, and while my suggestions of possible funding may come from fantasy as well, they are meant to try to stir up some out-of-the-box possibilities. There are admittedly holes in my logic. My blog is sometimes my place of brainstorm, not final draft, and if you'd like, I'd love to hear your brainstorms as well.
So here we go into my fantasy land. Join me at your own risk.
The Overall Vision
Here's an excerpt from the book:
The year is 2030 and teacher recruitment and preparation look a lot different. No, we are not flying around on a jetpack like George Jetson -- but we are experiencing a variety of clinical placements for a profession that demands varied roles.
The teacher credentialing programs of the future will demand a more honest introduction to the challenges and rewards of teaching, while also more accurately predicting a candidate's future ability to teach. While today's programs are all about counting courses, the teacher recruitment and preparation programs of the future are all about finding and preparing teachers who possess the Three Cs: content, communication, and character and then testing them through performance assessments (not multiple choice tests) to see who should teach what -- and under what conditions.
By 2030, teacher-credentialing programs have become differentiated-clearly focused not only on quality but on matching the teachers they produce to the verified needs of the marketplace. They lure folks from every profession to share their knowledge with students of all levels. And while there is flexibility about the paths candidates can travel to achieve a credential, the programs have become more rigorous gatekeepers for the profession as a whole-so much so that individuals who achieve a credential no longer hear "oh, just a teacher" at parties, but appropriate awe. Hey, it's my fantasy, right?
It is actually more affordable for a candidate to seek a credential than ever before because the in-your-seat portion of the program is shorter (and available online as well as offline). The student teaching portion is treated more like a paid-apprenticeship than free help in the classroom.
The Application Process
To get into a teacher preparation program, candidates can come from an undergraduate program or a profession, yet all have gone through a rigorous application process. The requirements to gain entrance into a program should once again be driven by the 3 Cs and includes letters of recommendation, personal interview, content exams or transcripts, or a Professional Evidence Portfolio -- and answers to questions of how someone would handle particular scenarios.
Here is a sample question from a teacher preparation program application:
"Question #3. Student "A" never turns in his homework, is absent from school often, comes to class late when he does decide to show, and yet still manages to get Cs on his test. You tell him to come after school to make up some work, but the kid never shows. You've called the parent, but he or she has never returned your calls, and besides, they are the ones dropping him off late or perhaps even letting him stay at home. He's not disruptive in class, but the kids won't work with him, because they can't depend on him to keep up his share of the work. His notebook is totally empty. Have you done enough to reach this student? What can you do to help him connect to school?"style="margin-left: 20px;">
Options for Second-Career Teachers
Let's say a dad of two young kids has just been struck by lightning with the realization that he's just got to teach. He's been working in a cubical analyzing data for 10 years and it's supported his family, but he really misses using that math degree in a more social way. How does that guy make a leap to another ladder while still supporting his family?
Professional evidence can be exchanged for content area exams or transcripts. A person can create a portfolio of content expertise proof in the form of spreadsheets, business letters, company communications, and other evidence showing proficiency.
On the onset of the application process, each candidate is provided with an advisor to help guide the candidate to create a Professional Evidence Portfolio (PEP). The counselor also has the authority to deny the application if there is not enough evidence to prove content area expertise, and can advise the candidate towards appropriate options like content area exams or classes.
Teacher prep programs of the future don't lower their standards or cut corners just to allow flexibility for second career teachers; they create other paths that will allow people to find teaching later in their lives. Teaching cannot be second to some other career that didn't work out, but as an option for those who have the skills and the knowledge to impart.
So, looking at the categories in this particular post, what does your overall vision, your application process, and your options for second career teachers look like in your fantasy teacher prep program?
Stay tuned for part two: The Differentiated Credential and the Staff.
Comments (6) Sign in or register to comment Follow Subscribe to comments via RSS
You've struck to the heart of my thoughts on teacher preparation. I've said it, and have heard it said on so many occasion by several others:
"College never prepared me for ______."
"I learned more in my first year of teaching, than I did in college."
"I'm jumping through the hoops."
I've also heard from people outside the education realm that say they want to teach, but would never have the time to get their degrees. I like the idea of "in your seat" class time replaced with online learning opportunities. I've sat in several lectures lead by PowerPoint with scant class discussion. I often thought, why can't I read view this slide show on my own time, and post a discussion idea on the discussion board--when I want to?
The big question, Heather, is how are we going to get congress to bite on your great ideas?
I'm hoping that the program when viewed in its entirety will speak for itself. In later posts, you'll see ideas for The Staff, ways to Differentiate the Credential, the Curriclum/Classes, and the Apprenticeship. In this day and age when so many are insisting on a better quality of teacher, why not start with the teacher prep programs?
It costs so much more to oust an ineffective teacher than to prepare one to be effective. (Actually, I don't know how much it costs, but I'd really LIKE to think that preparation is cheaper than punishment.)
Additionally, I think it needs to become more urgent for these prep programs to be the initial gatekeepers into the profession. They should be rewarded on quality, not quantity. Again, I speak more about this in the upcoming weeks.
Thanks so much for commenting. I bet many of us have had similar experiences and should be a part of envisioning a more effective training program.
Take care,
Heather WG
I think this is a wonderful beginning to what promises to be an interesting series! I've been thinking of this matter often lately, as the product of two separate teacher ed programs that each lacked something necessary in preparing me for the classroom.
I do disagree with you on one point: "Teaching cannot be second to some other career that didn't work out, but as an option for those who have the skills and the knowledge to impart."
I came to teaching from a professional writing background, and only when I knew that I could no longer make a living from writing did I pursue credentialing after many years as a substitute teacher (and loving it.) You would think that I wanted to teach writing, but I found through the Math Methods course in my first credentialing program that I wanted to teach mathematics. It prompted me to work hard to get the content knowledge for a Master degree in teaching math.
Had I been screened out in the application process as "not suitable" for math -- and by all rights, I would have been *at that time* -- then I wouldn't be teaching middle school math, a subject that I've grown into. I also wouldn't be looking for a science endorsement.
I completely agree with you that these programs should function as gatekeepers, but maybe with the expectation that someone who is strong in one area can find additional areas in which they can excel.
Or maybe I'm jumping the gun and you'll address that in a future post!
What you are saying resonates deeply with me. I watched the movie "The Emperor's Club" again this weekend and was struck by the quote "The end depends upon the beginning." The ripple effect of inadequate/inappropriate teacher preparation programs is disastrous, in that so many kids' endings are affected by the beginnings they receive from their teachers....which depend on the beginnings they receive from their teacher preparation...you get the idea. Add that to the whole teacher performance dilemma and we're in quote a quandary. How do you know when a teacher is doing a good job? Who gets to decide?
I would love to see numerous changes to the teacher preparation program. I don't think anything can prepare a teacher for what is coming up in a classroom because each day is unpredictable. I beleive the best way to prepare teachers is to allow them to substitute teach for a little while so that they can have a full understanding of the needs of students. This would detour a lot of the teachers that are coming into the profession and quitting because their teaching or classroom management skills are inadequate. Having all of the master teachers and supervising teachers in a classroom handling most of the discipline and grading is hardly enoough to fully prepare an educator.
Has part two been posted yet? I was really interested in reading the rest of what you had to say. My cousin is a teacher in a rural town. He reads a lot and really works at it to be effective in the classroom. But as he progresses in his career, he really is faced with many challenges from other teachers (many of which are new) who do not have his work ethic. How can he help his fellow teachers, especially those whose passion for teaching is wavering?


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By The Associated Press
OXFORD — Court records say an attorney is trying to negotiate a resolution to criminal case against the former head of the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit.
Searn Lynch was fired from the Oxford Police Department in November after being charged with "doctor shopping" for prescription pain medicine.
Court records show he was arrested Nov. 19 on charges alleging that he got prescriptions from at least 17 doctors. He was released on $5,000 bond Nov. 20, the day he was fired.
Lynch's lawyer said in a filing Tuesday that he wants to delay the March 11 trial as he is "attempting to negotiate a resolution" to the case.
The trial is scheduled to take place in U.S. District Court in Oxford.

subset: commoncrawl


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Nothing Is Better Than This 1985 Ad for Walnuts Featuring Soap Legend Susan Lucci
It's 1985. You're a walnut brand looking to imbue your grocery-store products with an aura of impossible glamour. What do you do? Obviously, you hire All My Children mainstay and living legend Susan Lucci to host a "World's Richest Recipe" contest.


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Samantha Young
Fall from India Place
NAL / June 3, 2014 / $15.00 print, $7.99 digital
When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D'Alessandro five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she's ever been with. After one intense night of giving in to temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.
Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco's life—something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they're meant to be together....
But just when Marco thinks they're committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she's been hiding from him—a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again....
Welcome to On Dublin Street: The Next Generation. Okay, that's not what it's really called, but the latest book in Samantha Young's On Dublin Street Series, Fall from India Place, felt like a fabulous family reunion. India Place, however, offers us a new chapter to the Dublin Street series as it ushers in a new generation of Edinburgh residents for us to love. On top of a grown up Hannah and Marco, we now see a grown up Cole—who is working in a tattoo parlor in Scotland. You'll get a lot of time to catch up with Nate and Olivia, Jo and Cam, and Joss and Braden, but because we've had so much time with Hannah, Young has to treat her story a little different. We've seen their courtship as teenagers, but now they need to make a relationship work as adults.
The last we saw of Hannah, Marco had just broken her heart and four years later, it has a lot of mending to do. But Marco isn't the scared boy who thinks Hannah is too good for him, now he's a man (in all the best, not-skeevy ways) and he's willing to go the distance for his relationship with Hannah to work.
He set the beer down, his entire focus on me. "I want you to know that being with you that night was one of the best nights of my life."
I froze at that shocking confession, only for anger to quickly unfreeze me. "Don't you dare try to sweet-talk me with bullshit and pretty words. I just want the truth, Marco."
His features hardened. "That is the truth. You can be pissed off at me all you want, but don't question what I tell you tonight because I've never lied to you."
"For all I know."
"No, you do know. I've never lied to you, Hannah. Not once."
"Well, if that night was so amazing how come you couldn't get out there fast enough afterward? How come you left me lying there in that skeezy flat, feeling used and absolutely worthless?"
Looking pained by my question, Marco suddenly drew a hand down his face.
I waited.
"I hate myself for making you feel that way," he whispered. "I'm sorry."
The pair still has a lot of baggage though. First loves are complicated, and to make the transition after years where resentment and self-flagellation have built it, it'll be an uphill battle. But Marco has certain in his arsenal, and experiences he's more than willing to employ.
"You're crazy. You know that, right?" Joss said casually before taking a sip of a fresh cup of coffee.
"For giving up on a man who looks at you the way Marco does. I thought Braden could be all brooding and possessive with a single look, but Marco is in his own league."
My heart skipped a beat, causing an unpleasant flutter in my throat. "What?"
Liv nodded her agreement. "Hannah, the look on his face when you were talking to Dylan…oh, my God, he couldn't take his eyes off you."
"It was hot," Joss added. "Possessive. Hot."
"Tender, too. Sweet. Kind of adoring." Liv sighed.
Joss smirked. "Best. Look. Ever."
Young explores first loves and how those experiences build our future relationships and gives us a side of Dublin Street we haven't seen before. India Place is another very solid installment in the On Dublin Street series that left me begging to be adopted into this family, and desperate for Cole's story.
Learn more or pre-order a copy of Fall from India Place by Samantha Young, available June 3, 2014:
Jennifer Proffitt is a Midwest transplant to New York City. She spends most of her time reading and writing about romance, but you can follow her other adventures on Twitter @JennProffitt. She works for Heroes and Heartbreakers.


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Paul Maurice has thus far refused to sit a "name" defenceman to underline dissatisfaction with the club's poor own-zone play, but an injury to Bryan McCabe might force a change tonight in Pittsburgh.
McCabe was excused from practice with what the coach called a mild muscle strain, listing the him as "possible to probable." for the Pens. Maurice said Andy Wozniewski will return to the blue line tonight, which could bump Anton Stralman after one game. Staffan Kronwall is on the trip, as a precaution.
The Leafs' lucky string of facing six backup goalies hits the wall tonight when Marc-Andre Fleury opposes them. Fleury took over from the injured Dany Sabourin in a 6-4 win at the ACC on Oct. 13. Fleury is coming off a 1-0 win over the Rangers on Tuesday.
"We didn't get off to our best start, but the last three games (all wins), we've been working hard on team defence," Fleury said yesterday.
Rarely will Mats Sundin take exception to a media question, but he was quick to correct a TV reporter who yesterday referred to him as 37-year-old.
"I'm 36," said Sundin, who was being asked about what many consider a career-best start, 17 points in 10 games and a share of the NHL scoring lead before last night with Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg.
Sundin and Nik Antropov (12 points) are in the NHL's top 10. The last time the Leafs had someone in that elite group at season's end was Sundin with 94 points in 1996-97, putting him seventh.
The Marlies will hold their own Pink Ribbon Night for Saturday's 8 p.m. home game against Hamilton in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Marlies and Bulldogs will have a pink ribbon on their helmets. Foundation volunteers, along with Marlies' wives and girlfriends will collect cash donations ... Trying to find another way to say injured winger Darcy Tucker is "the straw that stirs the drink." Sportnet analyst and Greek food enthusiast Nick Kypreos said "he's the tzatziki on their souvlaki."


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Passageways Adds Consulting to Portal Products Lineup
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- In another sign of maturity, high-tech startup Passageways, LLC has added another service to its intranet portal business--consulting.
"With our client base approaching 100, there is significant demand for professional services projects for application integration and custom modules," says Paroon Chadha, vice president of Passageways who co-founded the company in 2003 as a CUSO of Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union.
"This completes our offering as a full-service portal provider," Chadha says.
Heading up Passageways Professional Services--the name of the new practice--is Manan Relia, who has been with Passageways from its beginning. Relia has extensive experience with biometrics and customizing Passageways' various modules and has worked on an array of software platforms, including from Summit Information Systems, eCU Technologies, Real Time Kiosks, PathWays and UC4, Chadha says.
Projects already completed include a supply order management module (presented as a browser-based "shopping cart" to end users), executive dashboards for senior managers, and customizing existing modules, including "expense reports" and "assigned tasks" for specific client needs.
Seven projects already have been completed and a dozen more have been ordered up, Relia says.
"This is a challenging assignment and the projects coming cover a wide spectrum," he says. "I'm excited about their quality and the great feedback we've been getting."
Chadha says clients so far include $2.4 billion Pennsylvania State Employees CU, $2.1 billion GTE FCU in Florida, $1 billion Georgia Telco, $681 million KeyPoint CU in California, $628 million Jeanne D'Arc CU in Massachusetts, $566 million Los Angeles FCU, $543 million Mid-Hudson Valley FCU in New York, $514 million IH Mississippi Valley CU in Illinois, $481 million Vista FCU in California, $423 million Purdue Employees FCU and $388 million Great Lakes CU in Illinois.
Georgia Telco had a supply order management module installed and found that it required little or no training by end users already familiar with using the existing Passageways portal there.
"Everything from the end user requesting supplies, managers authorizing the request and the back office fulfilling the request with multiple vendors is now managed within the portal," says Scott McCall, the Atlanta CU's vice president of IS.
He says Passageways Portal Professional Services "allows us to keep our most technical staff focused on developing applications for our data center operations while project managers work with Passageways on new portal-based developments." --email@example.com


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I'm looking at buying a new set of cookware and I was wondering something. What is the difference between the teflon coated cookware and the "anodized" cookware? I've never heard of anodized...what does it mean? TIA.
Here's an article I found about the differences in cookware cookware ...
this one is from e-opinion...
Anodized definition - An "anode" is the positive end of an electrical circuit. In the anodization process, a metal object is placed in an acid bath and an electrical current is passed through the tank. The process causes oxygen atoms to bond to the surface of the metal giving it a thin protective film and a lustrous sheen. Aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and tantalum are often anodized.
This has some good info


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Sony Responds to Yellow Light of Death Fix
The BBC's Watchdog website recently investigated the PlayStation 3's "Yellow Light of Death" (article), a problem many console owners have experienced for years. In the past, Sony has expressed its dislike for the term, saying that the flashing yellow light doesn't focus on one particular error, but any one of "a range of issues that may inevitably affect any complex item of consumer electronics."
Apparently, the YLoD problem takes place 18 to 24 months after the original purchase, conveniently six or more months after the warranty expires. Sony has acknowledged the problem, reporting that around 12,500 of the 2.5 million consoles that have been sold in the UK have had this error since March 2007. But because the consoles are failing after the warranty expires, consumers are forced to send it off to Sony and pay around $200 for a refurbished replacement delivered directly to their door, or take the console to a repair shop and have it fixed.
However, Watchdog didn't buy the "range of issues" statement and sent off sixteen consoles owned by viewers who originally complained about the error. An independent console repairer disassembled the devices and heated the motherboard in a special oven, re-heating the solder to a point where the metal could repair bad connections between the components and the circuit board. After this trick, all sixteen consoles began working again; five were later reported to malfunction again.
Was this just coincidence that this solder "reflow" fix cured the overall YLoD problem despite Sony's claim? After reading Watchdog's article, Sony fired back with a response, saying that the YLoD doesn't stem from a manufacturing problem, and actually "dogged" the site for suggesting that the basic solder reflow process "can properly be done cheaply and quickly." Sony said it was unfair to criticize the company for service charges outside the warranty. To get a better understanding of the drama, check out article and Sony's full response.
bogcottonI watched the show, all the while thinking "Wtf? They are damaging Sony's reputation due to a 0.5 percent product failure on old consoles where the xbox has a failure rate of 30 to 120 times as much."
Now a whole load of people wont buy even the new consoles after watching that show thinking, "Sony make bad quality machines and charge you to fix them".
Really irritating show.
demonhorde665where are you guys pulling this figure out off , yoru anus ? seriously one web site quotes that 360 failrate is at 54% ( but this is only ammoung THEIR site visitors that did their dumb poll) and you act like thi9er word is holy law , and apply that rate to ALL the coutry of 360's , yet soem one mentions sony's might have a problem you pull this ghosted ass .5%n figure out of teh thin air , where the fuck are your fact you bunch of fanboys ???
chirst , i'm not a fan boy i just hate seening blantant fanboyism thrown around, i knwo jsut amny fols have a ps3 die on them as a 360 and even sony said they removed the backward ps2 chips fromteh ps3 becaseu of heating issues. i knwo oen person that had a 360 croak on tehm and i know one person that had a ps3 croak on them. also has it occured to you peoepla re doging teh ps3 becasue of it's price , ??? sure the 360 may croak otu , but at elast you avhe a warrenty for 3 eyars taht covers such a issue , plus the cosnole is the cheapest on market right now , while the ps3 is teh most expensive .. jsut sayign for ever argument you pose teh other side has decent arguments as well
so pelae stopt eh fanboyism ..
MrF430I have a launch 360 with never any issues at all, I also have an 80GB PS3 that has no issues EXCEPT for the current issue of losing sync with all controllers!!! It drives me crazy! It just drops sync with every controller! I have to constantly have the controller hooked up to the system! Plus its out of warranty... Anyone know of a fix???
False_Dmitry_IIThe fact is that it does happen. They seem to be trying to pull an Apple and say that it doesn't in general, then go ahead and make people pay for what is a manufacturers defect. This is the entire point of a warranty.
Even if the RRoD happened more, Microsoft acknowledged it as a problem and extended the warranty to compensate since it was their fault to begin with. And in fact it cost them much more to do it right than it would for Sony.
d_kuhnI DID have my PS3 fail, and it was just out of warranty (cost $150 to fix), but it wasn't the (yellow light of death)... it was the "Red Blink of death" and had something to do with the Blu-Ray player.
So yes... PS3's do occasionally fail, but in the same time period I've had my 360 replaced twice (though free both times), and until Netflix came to the 360 our PS3 saw about 3x more usage.
Not sure its that as much as its the fact that Sony is not willing to take a dive for such a little cost yet MS took a dive for a giant cost even if the people didn't have a RRoD they still got the extended warranty on it.
And a one year warranty on a consumer electronic device is pretty shady to me. I think 3 years should be the minimum especially since consoles are around 5+ years.


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Activision has updated the Ghosts profiles to reveal a new member, Logan Walker. This is also the character you play as.
SOURCE: Call of Duty FB
Activision has updated the Ghosts profiles to reveal a new member, Logan Walker. This is also the character you play as.
SOURCE: Call of Duty FB
Logan, David "Hesh" and Elias. What a family!
Don't Forget about me!
Thats my Logan..
My Logan!
I remember when people thought each Ghosts member would have their first letter of their name be a letter from GHOSTS, like an acronym. Would have been neat if IW implemented that but at the same time it'd be cheesy as fuck.
I wonder if they'll show Rorke's face before the game comes out?
Hey you should label this post with "Spoilers", man.
If you read the achievments article CI put out you'd know he was the villian. If not then sorry :p
I mean I know so I said "spoilers" 😛 but anyways it's not a big deal
and Almagro.spoilers.rorke is american and is ajaxs administrative soldier.
I know everything about the canpaign
the ending is both epic and horrible elias and riley die in sincity.then logan shoots rorke in the heart .then he and hesh go in a beach but rorke returns and drags logan just like someone kidnaping a child.expecting a campaign dlc or an update to the campaign instead of ghosts 2.knowing activision i wont think it will happen.
i hope it will have a proper epic ending in the dlc update or ghosts 2.
UMM. Riley doesn't die.
did yu play it?in sin city he dies.
He doesn't die in sincity….he's in the next mission with merrick. :p
he is a legend.
it was shown in the launch trailer .he is the one who falls from an helicopter and the one hesh hits with a fire extinguisher.
were so close to release the servers went up today ughhhhh i want it and i cant wait 4 days thats so close but so far away
Is that a nigger? Cool, first time. Now i will probably know how it feels to be confronted with racism all the time.
Sorry, no lolz, try again?
dude he caucasian, if you watch one of the trailers, you'll see Logan or Hesh puting their mask on while he got his black face paint
Did it ever occur to you that he could be wearing facepaint?
That's not Logan. It's actually someone that's really close to you. Not spoiling anything. They never show his face. And they never show Logan's mask. Just sayin.
Unless you think this is Spoilers
It is Logan. Logan is given the mask after a certain event within the Campaign. You SEE him pick it up and put it on.
No you fucking don't. They never show him put on a mask or be given one. They don't even show his fucking face. I played the whole entire campaign already and I already know this.
I saw the Campaign too. Calm the fuck down. It's Logan. He does pick it up off the table after Merrick gives it to him. The mask was owned by his father and Merrick gives it to Logan after Elias' death and Riley and Merrick no longer join them on the Battlefield. He puts it on before he and Hesh exit the ship. It's like the 3rd to last or 2nd to last mission.
Never saw it.
I'll be back in a couple of hours. When I get back, I'll post th link and time.
You only see him pick up the mask if you play through the campaign on vetran
Actually you can see him put the mask on in any difficulty I should know since i played it on normal and easy to see any outcomes.
Spoiler: They defeat Rorke at the end but find out that Rorke never died and Rorke breaks Logans arm and takes him with him saying were gonna defeat the ghosts one by one. Is Logan going to be the new villain like how the feds broke down Rorke?
Did any body known hesh in Logan have a litter sister


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Chelsea and Man Utd on alert after Sam Khedira's Real Madrid outburst
CHELSEA and Manchester United target Sami Khedira has increased his chances of a January move to the Premier League by claiming he is a 'scapegoat' at Real Madrid.
Khedira was the subject of a late deadline day bid from Manchester United but eventually remained at the Bernabeu.
Chelsea have also been linked with the German international, who was signed by Jose Mourinho for Real in 2010.
And Khedira is unhappy with his situation in Madrid, claiming that he is unfairly treated by the Spanish media.
I'm not a Spanish player, I did not cost a lot of money and I am one of Mourinho's disciples
"I'm not a Spanish player, I did not cost a lot of money and I am one of Mourinho's disciples," blasted Khedira.
"I started the season on the bench or in the stands. Even if I play well, I am the scapegoat and so will not be properly valued.
Khedira also criticised the sale of former team-mate Mesut Ozil to Arsenal, which has proved a controversial move in the Spanish capital.
The midfielder also suggested that Real are not performing like a unified team under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.
"A lot of players have lamented him [Ozil] leaving, including me," Khedira added. "To lose a player with his qualities weakens the team, but we have other players of quality.
"We are not playing well. Most of the time we are over-complicating with too much individualism.
"I don't know if it is just a matter of time or if there is another problem but we are still not playing like a team."


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Live hairy crabs (Nanjing, China)
Have you ever had emerged from a stuffy, overcrowded subway car and craved a snack that's cool, crisp and soothing — something to refresh that stressed-out straphanger palate, perhaps? For when a fresh fruit smoothie or frozen yogurt just won't cut it, commuters in Nanjing, China, have the option of purchasing crustaceans — specifically live hairy crabs (scrumptious!) — from refrigerated vending machines placed throughout the city's metro stations.


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Funds from Fashion Outlets agreement to pay for sewer, drainage renovations
TOWN OF NIAGARA – The Town Board agreed Tuesday to use any additional funds from the host community agreement with the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls to help pay for sewer and drainage renovations in the Belden Center area.
Supervisor Steven Richards said any additional sales tax income that results from the expansion of the mall will be used to pay for the long-overdue work that residents have been requesting for years. Homes in the Belden Center area were flooded last year during heavy rains because of inadequate sewer design.
However, the unanimous vote was hard fought as the board members argued for nearly a half hour over the funding placement, the wording of the resolution and how the late resolution was placed on the agenda in the first place.
The entire project is estimated at up to $2.5 million, Richards said. By dedicating the outlet money to the project, the town would be able to borrow to complete the work as it did for a similar project in the Veteran Heights area, it was noted.
Councilman Charles Teixeira said although he totally supported the project, he wanted to know why wording of the resolution had changed from what the councilmen agreed to at a work session last week. By committing the outlet money to a specific project, it would limit how the money could be used. If the project were stalled for 15 years, the money could not be used for other purposes, he said. The funds should instead be placed in the capital projects budget, he added.
Richards told Councilman Marc Carpenter that the funding would continue to go toward the project every year until it was paid for.
Richards said the resolution was added by Deputy Supervisor Danny Sklarski. Teixeira and Carpenter argued that a late resolution required three board signatures, not just those of Richards and Sklarski. Richards said he would use his executive power to put the resolution on the agenda.
In addition to the project, Richards said the town is trying to get the Belden Center sewer lines directed to the Niagara County system instead of to the City of Niagara Falls.
He said backup at the city system is what caused the flooding last year. The transfer is estimated to cost about $630,000, he said.
Richards complimented Belden Center residents and the block club for being so persistent in working to solve the sewer and drainage problems.
He also told residents from the Ziblut Court and Effie Drive neighborhood that their work to control commercial development in their backyards would be successful because of their approach.
A letter sent to the board regarding a development project begun by Benderson Development "is the finest" Richards said he has ever seen. Rather than fight the project, the residents pursued a "smart development" approach and suggested solutions to problems.
The project is located on the Military Road property that was occupied by the former John's Flaming Hearth restaurant. Richards said he did not know what type of commercial development was taking place but according to previous discussions by town officials, the project is to include a national box store and at least two big name restaurants.


text:
Former Phoenix police detective gets 23-year prison term in sex case
PHOENIX (AP) — A former Phoenix police detective who pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.
The sentence imposed Monday on 47-year-old Christopher J. Wilson by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge was part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
Wilson also faces lifetime probation.
He pleaded guilty Jan. 26 to two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of attempt to commit sexual conduct with a minor.
The 13-year police veteran was charged with 10 counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
Wilson was arrested after investigators learned of an alleged sexual encounter involving underage boys.
Wilson was the Police Department's appointed outreach officer to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community.
Per the plea agreement, Judge Scott McCoy sentenced Christopher Wilson to 23 years in prison and lifetime probation w/sex offender terms.— MC Superior Court (@courtpio) February 29, 2016


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The San Francisco volcanic field contains more than 600
volcanoes, most of which are scoria (cinder) cones (hence the term 'monogenetic
field'). Many of these volcanoes erupted within the last 500,000 years (or so
we think) and bear record of the diversity of eruptive styles seen, but not
often preserved, in scoria cones. Several NAU students over the last decade
have completed senior theses in the San Francisco volcanic field, and so we
know that projects are doable and will produce results that you will take to
either a GSA or AGU meeting (funding provided of course!).
Click on any of these links to see what has been done, and
then on the "projects" link to find out what you might be doing this
summer. Just a word before you do, however. One of the themes of these
students' work is understanding how and why cones 'breach'. This means that
often, when a lava flow leaves a scoria cone, it takes a great deal of the cone
with it, and this material ends up as rafted mounds out on the flow. The
lighter areas on the SP Crater flow have rafted mounds that point to an earlier
phase of the cone's life and its phases of construction and destruction.


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Why are the Orange Marches so controversial? Er…Politics?…the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland?…Religion…Events in Northern Ireland? Where do you think I could have put this opinion? Actually, probably in all of them but I opted for the latter. I am an English atheist, christened as a Methodist: my friend in Northern Ireland is Protestant and just wants a quiet life: her sister is part of the Orange Women's Order and either wants Catholics to shut up or move back "to their part of Ireland": She's a firm loyalist. Now you know. I was in Northern Ireland recently for the 12 July marches. Anyone living outside Northern Ireland knows about the Orange Marching season: stand-offs at Drumcree; Orange parades not being able to march down the Garvaghy Road; sporadic fighting in Belfast…sometimes worse than that. That is a 'foreigner's' view of it. I went over and I saw for myself… I wanted to find out why there is so much controversy surrounding a religious event. To find that out I wanted to attend an Orange March and I also wanted to know why Orange Marches existed, so I did my research… THE HISTORY The Orange Order was founded in 1795. It was formed because Anglican Protestant farmers wanted farming land over Catholic farmers. The organisation was named as such after William of Orange who overthrew James II (if you know your history then you'll be aware that James II was Catholic) in 1689. A tenuous link, but the Anglican farmers seemed to like it. The marching season, according to many historical textbooks, celebrates Protestant victories over Catholics. So, on the face of it, the Orange marches appear to rub the noses of Catholics into the proverbial excrement, as it were. But, couldn't we also say that the days marked in diaries for Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan, are also celebrator
y of victories in war? There is a number of marches around Northern Ireland and other countries around the world, including one that is held in Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. So, somewhat nervously I went with my friend to the Ballycastle Orange March. THE MARCH On walking from the carpark, the presence of two heavily armoured RUC vans, complete with heavily bulletproofed RUC Officers, didn't really ease my nervousness. But being the open-minded and daring Englishwoman that I am, I approached the main street along the seafront with eagle-eyed scrutiny and caution. We found a perfect position to stand underneath a bus shelter, which we agreed was ideal if the weather was to turn bad (inevitably!). But I also reckoned that it might offer some protection from a 100lb-semtex bomb – to be sure, to be sure. On waiting for the distant sounding drums, whistles and bagpipes to approach we bought some standing-around fodder (consisting of crisps, chocolate and hot coffee) which gave me chance to people watch. People. Just people. Large people, small people: tall/short, young/old, people on their own and families. Not a balaclava or machinegun in sight. Normal people waiting for the start of the parade. Lined up on the edge of the pavement I don't think I stood out too much from the rest of the spectators: a woman with an English accent, wearing a Celtic cross and a Claddagh ring. They either thought I was confused: staying neutral or being typically English and doing both of the above. If that sounds bad then you should have seen the Spanish group standing next to us. I suspect that they had been conned, and thought that they'd booked a holiday to the 'nice' part of Ireland complete with green rolling hills, Guinness, Leprechauns and the Blarney Stone. If they'd stood in front of me by just one more inch though, I wouldn't have cared whom the machine gun had belonged to.
In a nutshell though, the march was musical, loud at times, colourful, organised, ceremonial and interesting. In each of the marches that are held in Northern Ireland numerous Orange Lodges march under their appropriate districts. The march in Ballycastle contained Lodges from six districts with approximately fifty Lodges in attendance. That was a lot of music to listen to and banners to read. Each lodge had its own banner and most have a band or even just a solitary Lambeg drum (which incidentally, was my reference to the loud noise at times). The banners of each Lodge were extraordinary. We're not talking handpainted scrawled or even printed banners, but handmade, crafted, embroidered banners, each depicting either a scene from the bible, the sovereign crown or William of Orange. Again, the tunes played by the varying bands were mainly hymns or Orange Order songs. The ages of the participants ranged from 5 to 95! Most wore uniforms and sashes and the more traditional men amongst them wore black bowler hats. By the time the first few lodges had walked sombrely past, I had forgotten the controversy that I had often associated with Orange Marches and was more interested in admiring the banners, appreciating the skill of the band members and watching the stream of marches progress with regimental pride. SO WHAT? I wrote at the beginning of this opinion that according to tradition the 12 July Orange Marches are a celebration of Protestant victories over Catholics. I can't wholeheartedly say that, that is incorrect, but from talking to my friends in Northern Ireland, the marches are today a tradition, and if anything is being celebrated it is the Protestant faith. Ok, I am not naïve enough to just take one point of view and take it to be gospel, but from my experience of attending the march in Ballycastle I didn't feel that I was part of a mob who wanted to intimidate or vindicate Catholics. I was glad
that I had attended a controversial event and had made my own mind up about it and that any fears I had of being labelled or feeling part of an anti-Catholic group were unfounded. Just as I would attend any festival or parade, I didn't think about its meaning but appreciated the entertainment value and respected the beliefs of others. And the re-routing of the Orange Parade from the Garvaghy Road? I used to think that it was ridiculous for the Orange Order to insist on going on their traditional route. Was it worth all of the aggravation, just for the sake of tradition? My mind has been altered by my experience in Ballycastle but not to the extent of thinking that tradition is tradition, so it should be adhered to. It's more a matter that I respect other beliefs and traditions more now, but still feel that respect is needed on both sides. Whether it's religion, race, sex, sexuality - understanding, acceptance and respect are needed.


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Courtney E.
Edison, NJ, 08823
Joined on October, 2013
Gender: Female
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EducationI attended Georgian Court University and graduated in May 2013 with high honors awards and Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.77) Upon graduation I received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Education with endorsements in Special Education and English as a Second Language
ExperienceI tutored on my college campus for 3 years in Spanish, Reading, Writing, history and ESL. I was asked to help college students succeed in these subjects.
I also privately tutor and have been for 3 years. I have experience tutoring students ranging from all grade levels, elementary, middle and high school. Currently I am tutoring a 3rd grade boy in English and Math and twin high school girls in Spanish, English and History.
I am a New jersey certified teacher of Spanish with endorsements in Special Education and English as a Second Language.
I have a passion for education! As an educator I believe in assisting students in becoming successful in the classroom and building their confidence for future higher education opportunities. I enjoy tutoring because of the one-on-one experience with students or in smaller groups. I believe that the smaller instruction allows students to ask questions and have them answered in a manner that is understandable to them. Furthermore, I am not just a "Homework Helper", I create power points, assignments, quizzes, activities, games and hand-outs to help the students I tutor. I am one of the best because I care about the student and I provide materials to not only help the student better understand the content, but to also make them one of the more advanced students in their school classroom.
HobbiesI played soccer and basketball all through my childhood and into high school. I still enjoy going to games to see my students play.
I also nanny/babysit. I have 7 years of experience caring for children in private homes.
I am working towards going back to school to study law. I love teaching and it will always be a passion of mine. However, I have a very well-rounded education and many things interest me. Thus, I want to pursue a law degree!
I enjoy arts and crafts with children. I am not a fan of TV unless it is Law and Order SVU, Family Guy or Two and a Half Men.
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Last login: Monday, December 5, 2011
Comment history
Kansas ranks last in improving numbers of children with health insurance, study says
To answer your question, Mr. Johnson, it has been the state's responsibility since Medicare and Medicaid were created several decades ago, and if we did NOT ensure our children had access to healthcare, we would be the ONLY country in the developed world NOT to do so.
December 5, 2011 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Adopting support: Couple pushing through international system for Ethiopian orphan
Thank you all for the kind wishes, they really help us through this long process.
The criticisms are legit, even though they could have been delivered with a little more tact. We first looked into adopting an American baby. Unless we want an older child, or a disable child, then in many cases we had to prove we were infertile. Since this will be our first child and we're still relatively young, we wanted a healthy baby. Next time around, God willing, we will definitely do our best to adopt an American baby.
I'm just happy, and happily surprised, that there haven't been any racist comments yet. Thanks everyone!
July 20, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KU plans to be first public university library to allow free online access to researchers' work
Kudos to KU, this is a great thing for folks without the ability to pay for a subscription to these VERY expensive journals.
June 27, 2009 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Do you support the death penalty?
What I REALLY like is that the Pro-Life voters overwhelmingly support the death penalty. Pro-Life = more death.
March 6, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Does Kansas need an equal rights amendment to its constitution?
You're exactly right, Fanghorn, speeding is the same type of infraction as unequal treatment at the hand of the law. Same as murder, too, right? Let's abolish that law. And pushing to put an extra sentence or two to cover up some loopholes in determination of equal treatment would go against Kansans' "social structure that is one of civil society's foundation stones". Nice, I live in a state where equal protection in front of the law is ANTITHETIC to the state's social structure?!? OH MY GOD! This coming, I'm sure, from a man who enjoys to patriotically yell: "FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!!!!"...(as long as that freedom is enjoyed by groups who we deem acceptable).
I do appreciate the argument that farfle makes, asking why it is needed legally....not that equal rights are against the culture of Kansas. Thank you farfle for a coherent thought. (I guess it is hard to think straight with a shotgun in one hand and Nascar on television).
And at the risk of confronting someone who may actually be joking, please tell me, consumer1, that you don't think the discrimination that your (and my) Irish-American forefathers received, although very real and and very serious, was comparable to what African-Americans have faced for the past....well, since 150 years BEFORE Kansas was even a state. Only American Indians may have had it worse. If it were up to proud Kansas Fred Phelps, he would treat gay Americans like we treated Native Americans for so long.....pushing for their extinction by violence and starvation. The kind of amendment in question may help to close loopholes that keep people like him from spreading his hate and embarrassing ~2000 years of Christianity.
Yes, Fanghorn, what I've just written has been pounded into my head for so long I don't know how to think for myself. In fact, I will stop trying. I will try to talk more like a hick, watch more NASCAR, wear more camouflauge pants, gain about 50 pounds by eating nothing but meat and potatoes (vegetables are for liberal commies, right?)....then maybe, with a little luck, my application to put a Confederate flag bumper sticker on my car will be approved.
If I make these changes, do you think I could think for myself?
February 25, 2009 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Area residents seeking jobs with Wal-Mart
Conservatives consider it a "national security issue" that we depend on foreign countries for oil, which means we should increase drilling on our own soil. So, is it not a similar national security issue that we depend on other countries to make every single product we use in society today, from clothes to computers to furniture, and pretty soon our vehicles?
The ONLY reason we still grow our food here is because of government regulations that make it financially prohibitive to do it outside of our country (it is not because we are the best at it - which we are - see the computer industry, of which Americans are the pioneers). So if the big CEOs of the agribusiness industry can't grow our food in a 3rd world country to save money, they'll bring the 3rd world here to do it on our soil (see Mexican population of Liberal, Kansas). Don't be surprised to see Wal-Mart enter the agribusiness industry in the next decade, by the way. It is very important that we all pay the same price for a Big Mac as we did in 1988.
And is Wal-Mart even an American company? If I buy fish from Japan, and that is all I sell, am I running an "American" company?
February 12, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
History museum confronts years of problems
Good comments, everyone. It is nice to see a civil discussion on here without the normal vitriol. I agree, the history of the county needs to be tied to the present, or else it doesn't mean anything to those who live here/are from here. And why are they so tied to an old bank building? The historical research and archival efforts should have some primacy over the old bank building. The preservation of history in Douglas County shouldn't be tied to the viability of a historic bank building - should be 2 separate issues.
February 10, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Theology on tap: Lawrence group gathers to discuss faith in casual atmosphere
..with conversations like that, you can count me in. Omegatron, please let me know if I am misrepresenting your thoughts: You don't want to attend a conversation about Christianity and the Bible because someone is asked to explain what they meant by "....the objective truth"? You don't want to talk about the Bible in the presence of agnostics or atheists? Yeah, I'm sure Jesus would really frown upon that sort of thing. I'm sorry if I come off like a jerk, but I'm sure many readers would be interested to see why you would want to pass on this type of conversation.
January 31, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
County commissioners suggest housing buffer for western growth
I moved here from Phoenix just a few months ago, so I don't know the history of these particular planners. This particular issue seems like a decent compromise to me. Xbusguy, we are not in a depression because of government appropriates funds to build infrastructure, geez. Goverment is definitely at fault for some of the debacle we're in, but not via development funds. Less government = more Enron.Yes, I vote for less development. The more you weaken government here in local communities, the more you strengthen big, corporate, out-of-state developers.
January 29, 2009 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Volunteers to try to gauge homeless more thoroughly
Trinity - the people doing the counting and assessing would love to take each person and put them in safe shelters. I participated in the last 2 "homeless counts" in Phoenix, Arizona, and the reason why they don't actually help them on this day is simple. Local governments can apply for funds from other organizations, including the federal government. The information they collect during this count will allow funders to see how much money Douglas County will need in the upcoming year to combat homelessness and attempt to care for these people.But it was very hard to simply count these people, and then move on to the next person, without lending a hand in any way (we were allowed to give them blankets and water, that's it).
January 25, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Previous Next
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- Letter to the editor: Take action on guns November 14, 2017 · 68 comments
- KU Student Senate, Kansas Athletics introduce basketball lottery system for low-income, first-generation students November 17, 2017 · 6 comments
- City finds some residents letting dogs run free, 'degrade' gravesites at Lawrence cemetery November 16, 2017 · 9 comments
- Letter to the editor: Insensitive image November 17, 2017 · 6 comments
- Opinion: Another appalling Trump nominee November 16, 2017 · 4 comments
- Blog: GOP slams Paul Davis for bringing Rep. Steny Hoyer to Kansas November 16, 2017 · 6 comments
- Girod defends KU's proposed housing, dining fee hikes November 16, 2017 · 3 comments
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text:
Research Topics
Richard Tranter
Country: UK
Detail Information
- The incidence and prevalence of diabetes in patients with serious mental illness in North West Wales: two cohorts, 1875-1924 & 1994-2006 comparedJoanna Le Noury
Department of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University, Bangor, Wales, LL57 2PW, UK
BMC Psychiatry 8:67. 2008....
- Prevalence and outcome of partial remission in depressionRichard Tranter
Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
J Psychiatry Neurosci 27:241-7. 2002..These symptoms are a clinically relevant state of illness, and the correct choice of initial antidepressant treatment should offer the greatest chance of achieving full remission...


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As I have previously stated, everything here is subtly different in a way that serves to slightly unnerve the foreigner. What isn't at all subtle is a Texas summer. Whose idea was it to colonize this place to start with? Who had the original desire to make their home a place that would so overtly try to kill them? The Chuck Norris of settlers, obviously. That's to say nothing of the wildlife. With an intense fear of snakes, I probably picked a bad place to move to. Nevertheless, as my column hopefully illustrates, I am a man who embraces new experiences rather than does the sensible thing. My favourite reviews have been ones in which I am totally outside of my comfort zone, be it through heat, misunderstandings or intense overeating of a sort that would be banned in Europe. America is certainly a new experience, to say nothing of Texas, and I like it here. I reckon all y'all are darn tootin'. Am I doing it right?
Read the full story: An Englishman in BBQ Sauce: an Ex-Pat Learns to Love Texas
Never before has the excited child in my brain stopped going "THIS IS LITERALLY THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED" while at a Texas barbecue restaurant. I am a changed man.
Read the full story: An Englishman in BBQ Sauce: an Ex-Pat Learns to Love Texas
I am not used to heat. It's warm in Texas. It is decidedly not warm in Britain. Here's a fact: I had never seen an air conditioning unit before moving to Texas. As soon as Britain hits 80, the entire population runs to beaches, which are often just a collection of large stones (not sand) near some ice-cold water. These are obvious and boring statements to make. Nevertheless, I feel as though this is something that anyone completely not used to heat, planning on spending several hours outside, standing up, in the middle of summer in Dallas, should probably take note of. I do not.
I relentlessly try to man up against the Texas heat. I completely refuse to submit to taking any of the necessary precautions. Water? For sissies! Shade? Who needs it! Irritability? Inevitable! Once you slap on a bit of sun cream, what's the worst that could happen? I always, without fail, spend the evening in the dark, groaning and drinking some garishly coloured sports drink. It's like a hangover, but without the fun part of the actual drinking before it to make it worthwhile.
I just wish that Texas would calm it down a bit, you know? Wow.
I can't express how long I've waited for the day when salad is simply done away with. Everyone was pretending they liked salad, and some hero stood up and said "No. No we do not like salad. It is for rabbits and dainty women. Take it away, and bring me three times as much meat as I had before." There should be a statue of this man somewhere in Texas. See the Review of Hard Eight on City of Ate
Basically, America, your bacon sucks. Well ... it doesn't suck. It's just not the optimum bacon. European bacon ... is a much better cut. It makes for a better sandwich. I think, what it is, is that American bacon serves a different function. It needs to be kind of sweet, and often an accompaniment for waffles and pancakes and maple syrup ... British bacon is, essentially, American bacon with more meat and less fat. You can't get mad about that. Right? Read also: THE OLYMPICS OF BRITISH FOOD: A USER'S GUIDE FROM A BRITISH GUY JULY 24
Broken car air con in Texas really is no joke, is it? I mean, in some countries, they'd pay you for a mobile sauna, but no one wants to be in a sauna during every trip. It gets monotonous.
Last week my dad emailed me. "As a parent the sheer amount of food you are eating in your food journalism quest is truly frightening. The way that your wife feeds you is slightly reminiscent of foie gras production, but it's not your liver that's growing." He might have a point. I'm starting to feel the same way. I am yet to be anything close to disappointed by Texan portion sizes. I think overwhelmed is a better word. By this point, I mainly miss Britain because I was much thinner in Britain. See also: An Englishman Reviews the BBQ of Off the Bone
[Dallas] appears to be some sort of tropical concrete structure full of people who drive huge cars and live only to kill me.
The latter part of that still confuses me, as I have never seen so little consideration for one's fellow man as my morning commute down Interstate 35. It may as well be Mario Kart's Rainbow Road for all the car safety others are practicing, although this time there will be no little creature on a cloud to pick the mangled remains of my vehicle up and replace them on the freeway. SMOKE, AUGUST 15
Imagine, if you will, moving 5,000 miles away, from a country where Papa John's pizza was a new arrival that was considered really quite an exotic pizza choice, to a place like Dallas where neon food advertising coats the sides of the road, and there is no freeway exit without something that will only serve to knock valuable years off your life. All these places would seem infinitely more appealing to you. They'd have an air of mystery, that irresistible "Americana" the world is so desperate to capture. Deep down, you'd know that they were places serving reheated frozen food via surly staff members in demeaning clothing, but that wouldn't stop you. You'd have to try them all. And so I have.
Really, everything I hoped about America is true. I am free to combine savoury with sweet, as long as the savoury is bacon and the sweet will kill me.
While I'm on in-car experiences (a sentence I never saw myself typing), drive-through banking? What the fuck happened there? I can't even reach the ATM from my car window, and there's no ATM inside for me to calmly use. Instead I must flail at a screen I can't see while a series of angry cars releasing fumes into the atmosphere wonder how I can possibly be taking so long. It's a nightmare of Kafkaesque proportions. I have ended up parking alongside the flippin' thing, getting out of the car and using it like a normal sodding ATM.
A taco made out of one massive Dorito? What sort of waking horror have I stumbled into?
Obviously I would prefer Dallas had much more public transport, but I've grown to accept that the current state of affairs is simply the nature of the beast, live with what we've got and count my lucky stars it's not Arlington.
When I do depart this sunbaked land, I will have campfire tales about my time in Texas that I can pass down through generations of baffled Europeans who will all strive to attain this mysterious "brisket."
For those of you who haven't ventured up into the frozen northern reaches of the metro area (it's like how I imagine life is north of The Wall in Game of Thrones, only with fewer zombies), the residents, in between snow flurries and attacks by hulking wild animals, inform me that there is the odd decent barbecue place to check out.
Let me write a note here for British people who might be confused. The State Fair of Texas is an annual event dedicated to celebrating Texas. That much may seem obvious. How Texans have chosen to celebrate Texas, though, is something more of a leap in logic. While the expected hats, boots, trucks and cowboys abound, much of the State Fair has been dedicated to the glory of deep-fried everything. You can't even begin to imagine the extent of things they've deep-fried. They've taken foods you've never heard of to start with and deep-fried them just for the sake of novelty. How placing battered food into boiling hot oil connects to the heart of Texas' self-identity isn't entirely clear to me.
A seemingly popular drink in Texas, Big Red is much like synthetic bubblegum coloured, for some reason, bright red, and then carbonated. It was horrific, like a car crash of sugar and things that shouldn't be liquified.
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The EU banned the sale of Lucky Charms and Mountain Dew when I was a child, leaving a hole in my childhood, albeit distinctly healthier teeth. Now that I live in Texas, not only is nothing off the table, I am free to eat the unhealthiest thing I can possibly imagine.
The Frito pie I am not sure about. I have no idea what was going on. It was like eating a ball of heavily flavoured earth, so I'm guessing by the texture it involved ground beef, only someone had decided to make it taste like crisps. Who had that idea first? Did someone retire off the back of that wheeze?
My vision was slightly blurred, I was having the odd tingly pain and I no longer believed in the Democrats' ability to run this country.
Praise Big Tex, may he live at your right hand forever, and praise the deep-fryer, without which Texas would have nothing to do once every fall. Most of all, thank you Texas, for all the freedom I now have to aggressively kill myself. I kind of like it here. I shall stay as long as either the U.S. government lets me, or as long as my heart keeps beating, which I suspect is not hugely long on either count.


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The Shish Mahal Indian Cuisine is a locally appreciated spot to taste authentic, fresh and thrilling flavors of Indian food in Mississauga. We have experienced Indian chefs that are expert in preparing delicious & first-rate vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian dishes by using farm fresh ingredients. Visit us for dine in or order our high-quality meals for a speedy local food delivery in Mississauga via JUSTEAT.
Our professional chefs created many artistic fusions of Indian foods by adjusting the spice level such as Appetizers, Tandoori, Non-Vegetarian, Vegetarian, Rice, Bread, Western, Accompaniments, Desserts, and Beverages. Visit us for dine in at our cozy restaurant space or order food delivery in Mississauga by placing an order via JUSTEAT from our wide array of Indian food.
Dont be shy do contact us about everything and anything, we will be glad to hear from you.


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Yes, that is true. Make sure to read our guide to where people can and cannot smoke on ships: http://cruiseline.com/bonvoyage/before-you-cruise/what-to-know/where-can-people-smoke-on-cruise-ships-
For Royal Caribbean,
Allowed: One side of the ship and the casino. Pipes and cigars are only permitted in the cigar lounge and other designated areas.
Not Allowed: Cabins including balconies, Boardwalk, Central Park, and all other public spaces.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency, and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners (travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on external web sites.


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You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image.
Being shown around the Ward St Substation by Delta general asset manager Adam Fletcher yesterday are power company chief executives Tile Leia Tuimalealiifano (left), of Samoa, and Apii Timoti, of the Cook Islands.
The executives have been in New Zealand this week studying power-generation schemes, including the Waipori Hydro and Deep Stream Hydro power stations and the Mahinerangi Wind Farm. They return to their respective countries on Saturday.


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Open Garden Squares Weekend Ride 1
Meet outside the café at the north end of the Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens
Visit some of London's 200+ secret gardens opening specially this weekend. The ride is free but a £10 ticket (available on the day) is required for entry to the gardens. More info atwww.opensquares.org/en/cycling.html.
Contact details
Rupert Gardner, 020 7629 0159, firstname.lastname@example.com


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I d like to eliminate the reflections of a HdRI image on a unique material of a scene. I am happy with the level of illumination as well with the reflexion on the other material, but not in one specific material that I would like to render without the reflects that comes from the HdRI images set up background. I tried several methods, but no one works properly. Can anybody help me?
Best Regards.


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Ask Dr. Orloff
Please help me make a decision about my career and a dream I had.
Answer: I'm glad my books have been so helpful to you. One thing for sure: you must have artistic expression in your life whether you shift your career or not. One contributor to your depression is a lack of creative expression. Starting today read those artistic biographies your dream suggested. Really enjoy them, how artists live, work, think, torment, triumph. As you are reading these the answer to your career will come. You may want to think of expanding your current career as medical writer to be more daring, artistic, and cutting edge.
Trust yourself,


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The Dance Most of All (Hardcover)
Hard to Find
A remarkable late-in-life collection, elegiac and bracing, from master poet Jack Gilbert, whose "Refusing Heaven" captivated the poetry world and won the National Book Critics Circle Award as well as the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
In these characteristically bold and nuanced poems, Gilbert looks back at the passions of a life the women, and his memories of all the stages of love; the places (Paris, Greece, Pittsburgh); the mysterious and lonely offices of poetry itself. We get illuminating glimpses of the poet's background and childhood, in poems like Going Home (his mother the daughter of sharecroppers, his father the black sheep in a family of rich Virginia merchants) and Summer at Blue Creek, North Carolina, a classic scene of pulling water from the well, sounding the depths.
The title of the collection is drawn from the startling Ovid in Tears, in which the poet figure has fallen and is carried out, muttering faintly: White stone in the white sunlight . . . Both the melody / and the symphony. The imperfect dancing / in the beautiful dance. The dance most of all. Gilbert reminds us that there is beauty to be celebrated in the imperfect a worth / to the unshapely our sweet mind founders on and at the same time there is the harrowing by mortality. Yet, without fail, he embraces the state of grief and loss as part of the dance.
The culmination of a career spanning more than half a century of American poetry, "The Dance Most of All" is a book to celebrate and to read again and again.
About the Author
Jack Gilbert was born in Pittsburgh. He is the author of "The Great Fires: Poems 1982 1992; Monolithos," which was short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize; "Views of Jeopardy," the 1962 winner of the Yale Younger Poets Prize; and "Refusing Heaven." He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts."
Praise For…
"These poems are deeply elegiac, looking back over a long life lived in the various modes one comes to associate with Gilbert: desire, love, longing, and happiness . . . For Gilbert, these poems suggest a satisfaction and peace with all he has done. For the rest of us, we may take Gilbert's final work as a guide." —The Oregonian
"The best poems here are valuable bulletins from a distant, private war fought over resources for affirmation, in which the most precious weapon is the capacity to 'say grace over / almost everything.'" —Poetry


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Girl's testimony disallowed in murder trial
By Tom Larson
Sun Tribune
Family members of a child allegedly murdered by his father took the stand in the fourth day of the man's trial on Thursday, but perhaps the most compelling -- and potentially most damning -- testimony will not be heard in the case.
Shimon Cohen and his mother, Rosalyn Cohen, testified Thursday in Stevens County District Court in Morris in the case involving the death of their nephew and grandson, five-month-old Paul Marcus Cohen, allegedly at the hands of the baby's father, Jurez LeMar Slaughter, in June 2006.
But Stevens County District Court Judge Gerald Seibel, after a somewhat unorthodox competency hearing, ruled that testimony from Paul Cohen's half-sister, McKenzie Cohen, who will be 4 in September, could not be entered into the trial record.
Slaughter, 24, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Paul Cohen, in June 2006. Prosecutors allege that Slaughter caused the severe head injuries on June 2, 2006 that ultimately led to Cohen's death on June 9, 2006 after seven days on life support.
Slaughter initially told medical personnel and law enforcement investigators that he found Cohen laying face down in a pillow on June 2, 2006 in an apartment he shared with the baby's mother, Marnie Cohen, and her daughter, McKenzie. Later, as overwhelming medical evidence indicated that several severe head injuries were the cause of Paul Cohen's death, Slaughter claimed he tripped and dropped the baby onto a footstool.
Slaughter was charged in Stevens County District Court in September 2006 and waived his right to a jury trial. Seibel will decide the case.
Shimon Cohen, the brother of Marnie Cohen, said he was working his jobs as a paramedic and Registered Nurse at North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis when he received a call that Paul Cohen was being airlifted from Morris to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis.
Shimon Cohen, 27, testified that he arrived at Children's Hospital before Marnie Cohen, Slaughter, Rosalyn Cohen and McKenzie Cohen.
At one point after Paul Cohen's arrival, Shimon Cohen testified that he was alone in the baby's hospital room with McKenzie Cohen, and that McKenzie Cohen made an unsolicited comment about what had happened to her brother. In earlier testimony, it was apparent that McKenzie Cohen had stated that Slaughter hit Paul Cohen's head on a door.
Twice the defense objected to prosecution requests that Shimon Cohen testify about what McKenzie told him. Shimon Cohen did testify that McKenzie showed "in an animated gesture what she said."
Initially, when Shimon Cohen asked the defendant what happened to the baby, Slaughter repeated his claim that he found the baby face down in a pillow. Cohen said that when his sister was informed of the head and brain injuries, she "was amazed, bewildered, lost and distraught."
The prosecution summoned McKenzie Cohen to testify, and Seibel took the somewhat unusual step of taking off his robes and meeting with McKenzie in the courtroom at a table. The girl was extremely shy and whispered her answers to several questions while holding a stuffed leopard toy.
But McKenzie, with Shimon Cohen by her side, couldn't adequately assure the court she understood what was meant by the concepts of truths and lies. She also mentioned that her brother Paul had died, leading Seibel to conclude that the case had been discussed with her. Seibel ruled McKenzie could not testify.
Rosalyn Cohen also testified about the evening of June 2, 2006, when she was summoned from her job as a Registered Nurse at a Morris rest home, to Stevens Community Medical Center, where Paul Cohen was initially taken following his injuries, with no pulse or respiration.
Rosalyn Cohen testified that at one point she touched one of her grandson's eyes - a medical technique to determine if there is brain function - and got no response. She stated that Paul Cohen's eyes were fixed and dilated, indicating either that he was dead or had a severe brain injury.
Several of Slaughter's acquaintances testified about an alleged argument between Marnie Cohen and Slaughter before Paul Cohen suffered his injuries. Medical personnel, including the flight nurse on Paul Cohen's trip to Children's Hospital, testified Thursday afternoon, and Morris Police Cpl. Jason Reed, the city's lead investigator on the case, spend several hours on the stand Thursday afternoon reviewing evidence gathered in the days following the incident.
The prosecution's case continues Friday and could be completed by Monday. The defense team indicated it could wrap up its case by the middle of next week.


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The leader of Central Bedfordshire Council writes every month for the Times & Citizen and Biggleswade Chronicle
The weekend's Remembrance Day ceremonies were an opportunity for us all to reflect on and recognise the sacrifices made by the armed forces.
The council's ongoing support for our local armed forces at RAF Henlow and Chicksands is marked in covenant which makes sure we respond collectively to the particular needs of military personnel and their families and make them feel part of our community.
One of the best ways we can honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is to do what we can to preserve the green and pleasant land that they have fought for.
The Development Strategy, now in its final draft stages, has this as one of its founding principles. We want to foster the creation of new homes and jobs in a way that respects and protects the natural environment and local heritage of which we are all proud.
The draft strategy, going before Council at the end of the month, seeks to deliver 28,700 new homes and 27,000 new jobs to meet demand across Central Bedfordshire to 2031. A number of new developments are proposed locally including employment land and a country park north east of Flitwick as well as extensions of Stratton business park in Biggleswade and the Wixams.
At the heart of our considerations is how we promote quality developments that are in keeping with their surroundings and how we build strong, vibrant healthy and inclusive communities. We need to create homes for people at all stages of their life – providing a variety of housing types and sizes to support young people trying to get on the housing ladder, growing families and an ageing population.
We need to make sure homes have good access to jobs services and facilities such as schools, healthcare and leisure and to create the transport and technological infrastructure to support new homes and businesses. While developers will fund much of this, the council is also committing money to schemes such as the Ivel Medical Centre and the A1 South Roundabout in Biggleswade to get the ball rolling.
This is a really exciting time for Central Bedfordshire, with key projects and proposals emerging that will bring major economic benefits and regeneration to the whole area. The Development Strategy ties these projects together and will help us to make the most of these exciting opportunities.
The Development Strategy will be considered by full Council on November 29 and will then go out for full public consultation in January. You can keep updated through our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/strategic-planning


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Hello! I am new to BinkyBunny and just recently got my Holland Lop rabbit 5 days ago. Her name is Mochi (I call her Mo) and she will be 6 months in September. I am not really sure when her birthday is, but I am trying to find out. She is not spayed yet, but I am going to visit the vet next month. Mo is very sweet and energetic, but also soooo cute
<--not sure if that picture will come up. She is a broken Chestnut.
That's great that you're getting her spayed! She'll be so much happier and healthier (unspayed rabbits have an 85% chance of uterine cancer), and will make a better companion to you. If you need help finding a rabbit savvy vet there are links here on BB and the House Rabbit Society also has an awesome list.
Can't wait to see the pics!
Haha thanks! I saw that attachments bar right when I clicked "done" and so, yes, I guess that would help haha.
there you goo hahaaha. that took some work.


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Dasha - you'll need to join the back of the queue. I already have a fanclub.
TJ - It's all banter - I'm sure we would get on really well in the real world. I'll Maybe give you a push up a hill at the Puffer.
Dasha - you'll need to join the back of the queue. I already have a fanclub.
TJ - It's all banter - I'm sure we would get on really well in the real world. I'll Maybe give you a push up a hill at the Puffer.
All those miles in a van & all those miles on a bike (well, last year anyway) Did you say you have kids?
**** me, where DID you find the time? Do you never sleep?
You didn't answer my earlier question either!! Can I have your autograph or what?
I knew a bloke like you once. He said his mate had made a mountain bike with 72 gears, & that was in the early 90's.
Your'e pi$$ing yourself laughing though aren't you?
I am!!
As Long as I'm number one
I shall look forward to it. I ain't gonna challenge you to a race thats for sure
You can have my autograph if you want it, but you'll have to come for a ride at Inners to get it.
And on that note I'm off to drink beer and learn some physiology.
Mail me X
Oh my Gosh, I've dribbled!
She looks underage.
Aw, gimme a break! It took me weeks to find a good chick/octopus picture...
EDIT: Or even any chick/octopus picture.
Bet its not there in the morning. You are absolutly correct tho - the thread needed octoporn
Looks around 14 to me. Take the pic down.
Oh my gosh; a sententious bullshitter!!!
What's pompous about telling someone to remove a picture?
If you asked me, it wouldn't be pompous.
Tum tee tum...
It means a pompous moraliser you F...Wit!
i have been watching this thread from afar...........
some very entertaining bickering from george and teej...........
one thing is spoiling it.
Dasha, you are a very rude young man.
Has god entered the room!? I must admit on second viewing that picture is a bit suspect!
Her nail varnish needs re-applying - scruffy cow.
Only your second viewing, Dasha? Did the first one leave you blind...?
Peregrine, you appear to have raised the average quality of posts in this thread, well done
deffo over 18 to me, not a guarantee but she looks to be receding already
Look, somebody's right...
George: how did you know it was 18k miles? I'm assuming some program (Sporttracks or similar) has the summary? Can you not just alt printscreen the summary and stick it somewhere for the doubters to see.
You can't say you don't care whether people believe you or not, you've been arguing it for nine bleedin pages...
This topic has been closed to new replies.


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A German Shepherd Dog who was adopted by a woman as a stray, has been attending the church they visited together every day since she died. The loyal dog named Ciccio was rescued by 57-year-old Maria Margherita Lochi after she found him abandoned in a field near her home in San Donaci near Brindisi, Italy.
The 7-year-old dog was her faithful companion. Locals said that Maria spent her life adopting stray animals but she was particularly close to Ciccio who would walk with her to church every day. The priest allowed Ciccio to sit and wait by Maria's feet during service.
So when she died two months ago, Ciccio joined mourners at her funeral service. He followed after Maria's coffin as it was carried into the Santa Maria Assunta church. Since then he appears at the same church, arriving when the bell rings out to mark the beginning of services, as he did for years with Maria.
According to the Daily Mail, Father Donato Panna said: ''He's there every time I celebrate Mass and is very well behaved - he doesn't make a sound, I've not heard one bark from him in all the time he has been coming in."
"He used to come to Mass with Maria and he was obviously devoted to her - I let him stay inside as he was always so well behaved and none of the other parishoners ever complained to me."
"He's still coming to Mass even after Maria's funeral, he waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly. I didn't have the heart to throw him out - I've just recently lost my own dog so I leave him there until Mass finishes and then I let him out."
Villagers have been moved by the dog's devotion and give him food and water and let him sleep in the covered area outside of the church. Father Panna said, "Everyone looks out for him and leaves food for him - although it would be nice to find a proper home for him." He is hoping to find a new home for the loyal dog.
Photos via Facebook
Ciccio died in his sleep at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. According to Maria Lochi's son, 13-year-old Tommy was taken to the veterinarian on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Italian newspapers reported that Ciccio died in order to be with Maria Margherita Lochi.
View more articles in: Community News


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Tag Archives: children's games
Wii Are Family
In college, I had a friend named Jane. She was the oldest daughter in a family of tennis players, and they all looked like her: tall and willowy, but strong as thoroughbreds, with defined muscles in their long arms and … Read More
Looking for Eddie Field
Eddie Field had ears that stuck out like mug handles from either side of his head and a face that was a constellation of freckles. He wore his hair in a Boy's Regular barber cut, cropped close to his head, … Read More
Competitive Parenting As Child's Play
If April is the cruelest month, March has to be the strangest. At least, this March: What a strange few weeks it's been. Silda Spitzer stands by Eliot; Gilligan's Mary Ann is a stoner. Then, last night, as I was … Read More


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A$AP Rocky "SVDDXNLY" Documentary – Part 2
A deeper look at the rise of A$AP Rocky.
Noisey has just shared the second installment of SVDDXNLY, their five part documentary on A$AP Rocky. The episode begins with the crew crossing the Canadian border, and profiles other members of the A$AP Mob, including A$AP Twelvyy, A$AP Lou, Chace Infinite, Geno Sims, and Hector Delgado.
Rocky explains the creative process behind his instrumental project Beauty & The Beast: Slowed Down Sessions (Chapter 1), tracks from which feature heavily throughout the segment. He also opens about his family situation, and how they went through some tough times. The segment includes cameos from Macklemore, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Bun B.
Watch the clip in the player above, and be on the lookout for part 3, dropping August 19.
In case you missed it, you can check out part 1 here.