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PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT: Moving to a Higher Level
Today's workplace, whether it be industrial, production, or services oriented, is continually attempting to improve performance, productivity, and effectiveness while trying to stay within budget and achieving its goals.
There is a plentiful array of barriers that get in the way of performance. For instance, your steady state turnover rate jumped last quarter from an expected 20% (annualized) to over 30%! Increased production line losses and late deliveries led to a slew of related problems. When trying to understand what caused all this, it's easy to look at the increase in turnover rate as the cause…….but is that really the case? Does this or other "events" happen repeatedly every 2-3 business cycles?
Under-attaining performance design and/ or expectations can be crippling.
Let's look at a recreational softball league game. One middle of the pack team has eight players who consistently show up 30 minutes before game time, ready to play. The remaining two-three typically show up two minutes before game time, or often just before the 10 minute wait time before the umpire calls a forfeit.
All the team is hoping for at this point is to be able to play……and when it starts play, the team often can't shift its focus to playing the game. When this happens in a business setting – be it personnel, technical, or organizational structure issues, longer-term organizational performance and effectiveness can decline significantly.
"Expectations and follow through . . . . . . . determine outcome and performance"
Cohesiveness and performance norms within work groups, a department, division or an organization drive their respective performance. Do you know where your team's / work group's performance norms and cohesiveness levels reside, and how do you know?
Understanding their drivers, when considered with management-employee expectations, recognition, motivation to perform, coaching, and decision making, helps leadership to take definitive steps to improve performance on the production floor, the IT department, the sales group, or the company softball team.
We at WorkPlace Cornerstone Group believe that many work groups have what it takes to improve and sustain measurable performance improvement, however aren't achieving expected performance levels. We stand ready to facilitate your organization's improved performance effort with training, coaching, and teambuilding to achieve these needed performance levels.
© Copyright 2009
WorkPlace Cornerstone Group™


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A few months ago when we wrapped up our day of sea trialing the new Beneteau Barracuda 9 in Point Richmond, I was told that Passage Yachts had received a new Beneteau Gran Turismo 38 and Gran Turismo 44 and that they were in the yard being commissioned, and that if I'm interested, they would be available in a few months for a sea trial.
That day has finally arrived and I'm excited about running around San Francisco Bay in a couple of fast cruisers that use the same air step hull technology as the Barracuda 9. The boat test article on the Barracuda 9 appeared in the February 2013 issue of Yachtsman magazine. It you missed the print article, you can read the online version at: http://yachtsmanmaga zine.com/reviews/Beneteau_Barra cuda9.html.
Arriving at Marina Village in Alameda at 0900 after a long drive in commute traffic, I'm past ready for a boat ride. Checking in at the Passage Yachts office I find my host from my Barracuda 9 test ride, Richard Mathews, waiting for me. Also joining us today is Mik Maguire from the Passage Yachts Alameda office who is planning to be onboard the camera boat with Ty Mellott.
With keys in hand, we walk around the building to the docks and see two beautiful new Beneteau Gran Turismo's just waiting for us. Having just arrived from commissioning, they are sparkling clean with almost zero hours on the meters and both boats are nestled in the basin just in front of the office, fueled and ready to go.
With the two new Gran Turismo's, and a few Beneteau sailboats shoehorned to the docks, it looks like Beneteau Basin here at Marina Village. As I'm being shown around both powerboats, we are making our plans for the day. We decide to take both the GT 38 and the GT 44 out at the same time and use one for the camera boat while doing the sea trial on the other. Then we will switch boats somewhere around San Francisco and repeat. I went on the GT 38 with Mik while Ty and Richard started out on the GT 44.
I'm getting excited as this is beginning to shape up to be a fun day on San Francisco Bay!
Stepping Aboard
When you first step aboard the GT 38 you can't help but notice the large swimstep with teak deck that flows right into the cockpit. The deck is all one level all the way up to the centerline double-wide helm seat that is raised approximately 10 inches. To the right of the helm there is a very comfortable seat for a third person set off to starboard. Beneteau has even put a well-placed stainless steel grab rail for the passenger to hold on to should the need arise.
The helm has just about every analog gauge you could want to the left of the large Simrad multi-function display that is mounted in the center of the dash and there are more analog gauges just behind. To the right of the display are the Volvo engine management displays and a selection of easy-to-get-to rocker switches that control various DC systems.
A little farther to the right I spot a joystick control just in front of the traditional electronic throttle controls. Taking a seat at the helm I find a comfortable seat with a flip-up bolster for standing at the helm. There is plenty of headroom while standing and good sightlines even with the large curving hardtop.
Looking forward I see another unique feature: one large glass windscreen with no seams and a large single center mounted wiper. Being all one piece of glass, the front windscreen allows good vision forward without the usual vertical moldings.
To aid in natural ventilation at the helm, there are opening windows to port and to starboard and a rather large electric opening sunroof overhead that is just about the full width of the hardtop. Even with the sunroof closed there was plenty of headroom for those well over 6 feet tall.
Sitting at the helm and looking aft there is a large U-shaped seating area with enough space to seat six comfortably and a high-low table in the center large enough for dining. The table mounts to the engine room hatch and has a fold-down section to provide more room for getting around.
Just in front of the settee and to port is a countertop with a cooler and storage cabinet beneath. Beneteau offers a few options for this space; you can opt for a sink or grill in the countertop, and a refrigerator in place of the cooler. To starboard there is an oversize aft-facing lounger.
Taking a walk to the foredeck is safe and easy with the fairly wide walk around side decks. When you look at the side of the GT you see that there are no grab rails along the hardtop, but Beneteau didn't forget about a safety. They have molded in a grab trough all along the top of the hardtop. Your fingers just fall naturally into the trough and you feel secure walking along the sides.
Up front we find a large sun pad fully equipped with drink holders. At the business end of the bow we find a Lewmar® windlass with remote control, instead of the traditional foot switches, concealed under a cover. Next to the windlass there is an access hatch to the chain locker. Anchoring duties look straightforward and the bow has a nice clean look to it with the cover and absent the foot switches.
Opening up the large engine room hatch I find two familiar-looking Volvo D4-300 powerplants, but something is different. Having seen the joystick at the helm I am now looking for the familiar Volvo IPS drives that should be attached to the back of the D4's, but they are not there.
Richard pops his head down into the engine room and explains to me that this boat has the Volvo duo prop stern drives with joystick control, which is a system similar to the MerCruiser Axius propulsion system I reviewed in the April 2013 edition of Yachtsman magazine.
As Richard explained, both the GT 38 and GT 44 have the air step hull where air is drawn down through tubes on either side of the hull and then exits at the keel. This hull design has been proven to provide better performance at all planing speeds, but the hull shape of the GT 38 and GT 44 does not allow for the installation of the IPS drives, so Beneteau chose to power these boats with joystick stern drives from Volvo.
Having experienced the total control the Axius system provided on a 35-foot express cruiser with 380-HP gas engines, it will be interesting to see how a 38-foot express cruiser performs with the Volvo duo prop outdrives and 300-HP diesel engines with joystick control.
One advantage of being equipped with stern drives is that there is more space in the engine room and additional space in the main cabin. At the bottom of the ladder you stare directly at a 4-KW generator forward, easily accessible primary fuel filters to the sides, and sea water strainers just aft. Also down here is the hot water heater, fixed fire extinguishing system, and twin 86-gallon molded fuel tanks pushed all the way forward.
Although a bit snug between the engines, access for checking fluids and changing filters appears to be easy. There is room for more accessories or storage, your choice.
Below Decks
Access to the cabin space is via a large companionway just to the left of the helm and down three steps. To the left in the companionway is the electrical panel and stereo control, and overhead is a large smoked glass skylight that extends over the galley.
This skylight starts at the port side of the vessel and extends nearly to the centerline between the windscreen and the helm. This is good use of space between the helm and windscreen that in other designs is wasted.
At the bottom of the steps and to port is the saloon with an L-shaped settee with high-low table; to starboard is the galley with a two-burner cooktop, sink and lots of storage. Under the cooktop is the refrigerator and above is a microwave oven.
The master stateroom is forward and through a door (not just a curtain) and has a centerline island queen with hanging lockers on both sides and several large storage drawers underneath.
The overhead hatch brings in light and air as do the windows and opening portholes on both sides. If you don't want either, there is a curtain that pulls across to block out all light.
Just aft of the saloon is another stateroom, behind a door, not a curtain, and is full beam with twin berths that can convert to a single queen if desired. There is good natural lighting in this cabin with the side window and opening porthole and an overhead opening hatch.
Aft of the galley is a wet head with mirrored cabinet doors, a porthole and overhead hatch. Both the porthole and the hatch open to bring in fresh air.
Having been through most of the boat, it was now time to fire up our Volvo diesels and see if we can maneuver out of the marina. It would be very difficult to move either of these boats out of the basin without the joystick control as the boats are shoehorned in so tight there isn't 12 inches of room to move the boat away from the dock and avoid several bow anchors reaching out to grab us as we try to get free.
Mik and I take the GT 38 out of the marina first. With Mik at the helm, I watch as he jockeys the boat fore, aft, and sideways scooting just a few feet at a time as we clear the surrounding gel coat.
Once out of the basin and at the end of the fairway, we watch as Richard maneuvers the GT 44 around the basin in ways that just don't look natural for a 44-foot boat. The amount of control with the outdrive joystick is pretty amazing, but I will reserve final judgment until we come back in 5 hours when the afternoon winds have picked up and we will be in the middle of the flood. Conditions like that always make docking in tight quarters more interesting.
After we clear the minimum wake zone of the Alameda Estuary, I power up our GT 38 to a sedate cruise of 18 knots and get a feel for the boat. You do notice immediately that the boat jumps on plane quickly even though I left the drive trim at 0 degrees and kept the trim tabs in the fully retracted position as we came on plane.
Making a few trim adjustments for best speed at 2300 RPM, the bow still felt a little high but not enough to limit visibility. Once we get out of the Estuary the camera boat passes us and heads over toward Yerba Buena Island to wait for us to make a few high-speed passes.
I bring the boat to a stop in the anchorage and prepare to make a few timed starts. Again, leaving the trim adjustments alone, our first run we are on a plane in less than 6 seconds, see our speed climbing past 28 knots in 12 seconds, and hit our wide open throttle (WOT) maximum speed of 33 knots in just under 16 seconds with the engines turning 3500 RPM.
After several more tries I wasn't able to improve on those performance numbers (more on that later), so we set up to make our first high-speed pass by the camera boat. Our GT tracks straight and true in the light chop of the Bay.
I back the power off just a bit to 3300 RPM, dropping our speed to 30.5 knots, and bring the helm hard left with just a single turn of the helm. The GT 38 leans into the turn just a smidgeon, turns smartly and carves a nice arc that looks to be around just two boat lengths in diameter. It seems that the designers hit their mark with confidence inspiring performance.
After making nearly a full circle, I snap the helm to hard right and we make another tight circle; the helm is just a bit over two turns from hard left to hard right. I center the helm as we approach our own wake and slice right through the three footers with just a few bounces and a rock steady track.
Now that the water is churned up a bit around the camera boat, it's time for another high-speed pass by the GT 44 just to be sure they get bounced around some more, I mean, to be sure Ty has all the high-speed photos he needs.
After a few more timed runs and some still beauty shots in front of the Yerba Buena Island Lighthouse, we head over to the San Francisco Ferry Terminal were we plan to take a few more photos and then trade boats; I will get on the GT 44 with Richard and Ty will move to the GT 38.
Bringing the two boats next to each other, I get another opportunity to use the joystick control. The joystick has two buttons to engage the control, one for slow speed intended for close quarters, and the other for faster movement away from the dock. With the main controls in neutral, pushing either button activates the joystick.
Using the control is intuitive and requires minimal learning; push the stick in the direction you want the boat to go, push harder to move faster, twist to make the boat twist. To disengage the joystick and use the throttles, just put the engines in forward or reverse, the helm will automatically center, and you operate the vessel with traditional propulsion.
After sterning the boats to each other, we move gear and trade boats. Richard is showing me the controls of the GT 44 and discussing the difference between this one and the GT 38.
I showed him my notes that I took on the performance running GT 38 and he offered that the boat would have gotten an additional knot to knot-and-a-half of speed if I had adjusted the trim properly. Ouch, that hurt. But I'm always willing to learn from someone with much more time behind the helm on these boats. Besides, I see an excuse to take the 38 out again for driving lessons.
Like a kid at Disneyland, that was fun, I'm ready to go again. And so we shall as we repeat the morning maneuvers on the GT 44. My report on that boat will be in a future edition of Yachtsman.
Measured performance with full fuel tanks and two persons onboard: Time to plane – less than 6 seconds; max speed – 33.5 knots burning 30 GPH total and WOT of 3500 RPM; best cruise speed – 28 knots at 3000 RPM burning 21 GPH total.
Most nautical-minded people associate Beneteau with sailing vessels. That same attention to quality that makes Beneteau sailboats so fast and seaworthy is built into the powerboats as well. The swift trawler 50 and the Barracuda 7 have been nominated European powerboat of the year.
The Gran Turismo series has a 34, 38, 44 and 49. All of these models have the air step hull and joystick sterndrives except the GT 49, which is powered with twin Volvo IPS 600's.
A few weeks ago a friend asked me now that I have some experience with the various joystick-controlled propulsion systems would I order one on my boat? After a few seconds of contemplation, the short answer is why wouldn't I? The advantages that both MerCruiser and Volvo systems offer of electric steering, the ability to add features with simple software upgrades, and the amazing ease of close-quarter maneuvering far outweigh the small additional cost, and in my mind, should make joystick control standard equipment.
If you are looking for a fast and sporty mid-size express cruiser, then you need to look at the Gran Turismo 38. For more information or to arrange for your own personal test ride, contact the Passage Yachts crew at 510/864-3000 or 510/236-2633.
Passage Yachts is the exclusive dealer for Beneteau sailboats and Beneteau powerboats in Northern California and has two locations with the Alameda location being the headquarters for the Beneteau powerboats. Check out their website at: www.passageyachts.com.
Passage Yachts
1220 Brickyard Cove Road, Suite 103
Point Richmond, CA 94801
Passage Yachts
1070 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 101
Alameda, CA 94501
Gran Turismo 38
Beneteau Gran Turismo 38
Beam 12' 2" Draft 2' 9" drive up, 3' 5" drive down Air Clearance 13' 0"
Fuel 172 gallons
Water 53 gallons
Displacement 16,199 lbs.
Power 2 Volvo D4's 300 HP
Maximum Measured Speed 35 knots

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi guys,
All the crew just want to thank you for this wonderful welcome week ! Thank you for your smile, your joy of life… Thank you to be there with us ! Don't forget to check the gallery for great memories. Parties are going to come, so be ready !
Here's some pictures of you, enjoy !


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April 12, 2018
ATLANTA – Stamps Scholars Guy Eroh (University of Georgia), Corey Matyas (Louisiana State University) and Jesse Palmer (United States Military Academy) are recipients of the 2018 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, joining six Stamps Scholars who have previously received the award.
Named in honor of US Senator Barry Goldwater, the Scholarship encourages outstanding undergraduate sophomores and juniors to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering.
Originally from Park City, Utah, Guy Eroh is concurrently pursuing a bachelor's degree in ecology and a master's degree in fisheries at the University of Georgia (UGA). His aspiration is to rebuild and sustain robust, diverse fish populations through the application of molecular genetics in the science of fisheries management. He conducted research on the cellular and ultrastructural causes of a hypopigmentation disorder in Southern right whales and hybridization in Chattahoochee bass populations. He is working on a project to investigate how varying hydrogen peroxide treatment regimens affect hatching success of walleye eggs and the growth of Saprolegnia parasitica on the eggs.
"The Goldwater Scholarship is awarded to students who show the potential to excel in the future, not simply to those who have demonstrated past accomplishments," said Eroh. "This is not lost on me, and I intend to use this award to open new doors so that I can continue developing the necessary skills to realize my goal of conserving the world's fishes."
Eroh is also a recipient of the Udall Foundation Scholarship, which provides funding to college sophomores and juniors for their work in fields related to Native American nations or the environment.
Louisiana State University (LSU) senior and Dahlonega, Georgia, native Corey Matyas is studying physics and computational mathematics. For the past two years, Matyas has been involved with undergraduate research, including participating in a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) with LSU's Center for Computation & Technology. He presented his findings at a conference last summer and was awarded a travel grant for having one of the top poster presentations. He will present at two national conferences in the fall. In addition, he co-authored two journal publications and has a first author manuscript in preparation.
He said, "I'm incredibly honored to receive the Goldwater Scholarship because it recognizes my hard work in research and provides a strong foundation for even more work to come."
Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Jesse Palmer is an honors chemical engineering major at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He works in the Multi-Functional Materials Laboratory at West Point, where he co-authored publications on his work with noble metal aerogels, which can be used to optimize catalytic reactions in batteries. He also collaborated with the Army Research Laboratories (ARL) in Adelphi, Maryland, to produce first-stage biosensors and formally presented his work at the Materials Research Society 2017 Spring Conference. He used Stamps funding to attend World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, and visit the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, to pursue his interest in water desalination.
He is also completing a minor in Eurasian studies, and represented West Point in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as part of the Foreign Academy Exchange Program. After commissioning in the Army and completing graduate school, he wants to develop batteries that enhance the energy capacity of prosthetic limbs with direct application to serving the needs of wounded veterans.
He plans to apply the Goldwater Scholarship to pursue further research in materials design as a means to optimize existing energy sources for applications in prosthetic and implanted devices.
"The Goldwater Scholarship has helped me solidify my goals of becoming a lifelong researcher, mentor, and scientist," said Palmer. "My desire to attend graduate school and lead people-oriented research projects is greatly supported by this milestone.
These Scholars join a legacy of excellence. Six previous Goldwater Scholars graduated from Georgia Tech, Mercer University, Purdue University, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, and Wake Forest University.
The Stamps Family Charitable Foundation supports scholarships to students at 40 partner universities and colleges across the country. Scholars are selected for their academic merit and leadership potential. Stamps Scholarships often cover tuition, room and board, and other expenses as well as enrichment funds used for internships, study abroad, research, and other educational and professional opportunities.
For more information, contact
Connelly Crowe
Director of Communications and Scholar Experience


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Here's the Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan on the new atmosphere in New York City*. We've felt it, too.
A moment last Monday, just after noon, in Manhattan. It's slightly overcast, not cold, a good day for walking. I'm in the 90s on Fifth heading south, enjoying the broad avenue, the trees, the wide cobblestone walkway that rings Central Park. Suddenly I realize: Something's odd here. Something's strange. It's quiet. I can hear each car go by. The traffic's not an indistinct roar. The sidewalks aren't full, as they normally are. It's like a holiday, but it's not, it's the middle of a business day in February. I thought back to two weeks before when a friend and I zoomed down Park Avenue at evening rush hour in what should have been bumper-to-bumper traffic.
This is New York five months into hard times.
One senses it, for the first time: a shift in energy. Something new has taken hold, a new air of peace, perhaps, or tentativeness. The old hustle and bustle, the wild and daily assertion of dynamism, is calmed.
And now Washington becomes the financial capital of the country, of the world. Oh, what a status shift. Oh, what a fact.
If you want to feel the bruise of what's happened, pick a neighborhood full of shops and go up and down the street. Here's Second Avenue in the 80s. A jewelry and consignment store on 84th has a new sign on the window: "We Buy Gold." Paul is at the counter, spraying the tarnish off a silver chain. How's business? "No buyin', no sellin', no nothin'. It's a joke. People scared. They're in shock." Nearby, an empty storefront, a bar that had been in business only 10 months. The sign on the window—you see it all over Manhattan now—says, "Retail Space Available." Next door, in a small beauty salon, the owner says "We're trying to survive." In September business plummeted. It's down "at least 30%," she says. July and August had been surprisingly good; her clients didn't go away on vacation. In the fall they were fired. "They lost the job, so they don't need to cut and color so much."...
Read the rest of Peggy's article at WSJ.com >
*We've taken the liberty of quoting this lengthy intro, which is actually not Peggy's point, because it so wonderfully describes the situation in our home city. We thank Dow Jones in advance for allowing us to bring it to you. You can read more of Peggy's stuff here.


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Mike Watkins proudly serves customers in Reno, NV with Police K9 . We Specialize in Police K9's, Detection K9's, Personal Protection, Basic Obedience and Problem Solving.
Coming Soon...
Reno (/rino/ REE-noh) is a city in the U.S. state of Nevada, located in the western part of the state, approximately 22 miles (35km) from Lake Tahoe. Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World", Reno is famous for its hotels and casinos and as the birthplace of Harrah's Entertainment (now known as Caesars Entertainment Corporation). It is the county seat of Washoe County, in the northwestern part of the state. The city sits in a high desert at the foot of the Sierra Nevada and its downtown area (along with Sparks) occupies a valley informally known as the Truckee Meadows. It is named after slain Union general Jesse L. Reno.
Reno is the most populous city in the state outside the Las Vegas Valley, with an estimated population of 241,445 in 2015. Reno is part of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, which consists of all of both Washoe and Storey counties and has a 2016 estimated population of 457,420.
Archaeological finds place the eastern border for the prehistoric Martis people in the Reno area.
As early as the mid 1850s a few pioneers settled in the Truckee Meadows, a relatively fertile valley through which the Truckee River made its way from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. In addition to subsistence farming, these early residents could pick up business from travelers along the California Trail, which followed the Truckee westward, before branching off towards Donner Lake, where the formidable obstacle of the Sierra Nevada began.
Learn more about Reno, NV


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Zoya Shimmer Nail PolishBy:
ZoyaSize: 14ml
Currently not in stock. Receive an email when back in.
Zoya Nail Polish in Shimmer can be best described as: A sheer light pink with plenty of glitzy gold and silver glitter. Like Glimmer, this makes a very glamorous French manicure.Finish - Metallic
How to use Zoya Shimmer Nail Polish2 coats of colour is recommended.
Ingredients in Zoya Shimmer Nail PolishZoya Nail Polishes (Lacquers) are vegan, free of toxic Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP.
Reviews for Zoya Shimmer Nail Polish
No reviews have been written for this product.


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Billions for Danish research
For the first time in many years there is now a trustworthy long-term budget for research in Denmark, with 3,2 billion DKK last year and 4,1 billion in the new budget, says Danish minister for research and innovation Helge Sander.
- In addition to the reforms we already have made in the university and research area, we now have a good opportunity to develop research and innovation further in Denmark, Sander says. With the 7,3 billion of new research funding these last two years the public research funding is slightly above the average of the EU and OECD, the minister concludes.


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Other Work
About Me
I am a one man business, based under Richmond Bridge in central Richmond on the Thames, next to Tidetables cafe.
I studied sculpture at Falmouth school of Art, graduating in 1986. My first job was as a technician at the British Council, packing artworks, framing and organising exhibitions/events like the Venice Bienalle. I went on to work for a scenic sculpture company, familiarising myself with a variety of materials and techniques such as fibreglassing, polystyrene carving, mould making and large scale constructions for film and TV. I continued to hone my skills while working for an interior design company, making and installing bespoke peices for places such as the Mirabelle restaurant, Vivienne Westwood's shop and the Irish Museum of Folklore to name a few.
I have long had an affilliation with boats, starting with a part-time job as a student on a fishing boat in Cornwall. I progressed to living on a 56 foot dutch barge in Brentford for a number of years. I have been primarily concerned with boat building and boatfitting for the last 30 years and used to help run a small boatyard on Eel Pie Island, repairing wooden craft, before moving to my present workshop under Richmond Bridge. One of my most enjoyable working moments around this time was fitting out the interior of David Gilmore's recording studio, a Victorian barge 'Astoria'.
My varied employment history and arts background has given me an excellent knowledge of working with different materials to a high standard and, where necessary, a creative approach, meaning I am able to offer skills in problem solving as well as carving, mould making, fibreglassing and carpentry. This, coupled with my love of a challenge, makes me well suited to the idiosyncrasies of boats.
I like to work closely with my clients to develop a good working relationship and complete trust, I will endeavour to listen to your needs and visions and to make them a reality.
Excellent references can be obtained if required.
Please feel free to contact me with any enquiries.
Bob Cleveland BA hons


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The Mayor of Sleaford, Coun Keith Dolby and his wife Joan are holding a charity concert at St Denys' Church.
The Mayor and Mayoress will be holding and musical evening on Saturday March 14 from 7-10pm, with music by Sleaford Concert Band led by musical director Jim McQuade, winner of last year's Sleafordian of the Year award.
Tickets are priced at £6 per person and money raised on the evening will be in aid of the Mayor's chosen charities - Autistic Children and the Town Fund.
Tickets can be purchased from the Sleaford Town Council office in Carre Street or Wilcox and Carter Jewellers, Bristol Arcade.
Contact 01529 303456 for details or email: enquir firstname.lastname@example.com


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- Don't Curse - Various Artists
- How could this possibly offend? Kool G Rap: "Even made a record on how I'm doing on my B-I-T-C-H-es"
- I can - Nas
- Great message but lots of drug and other references
- Definition - Black Star
- "Mos Def & Kweli just, make a pussy freeze up, thinking of it, ease up"
- They Reminisce Over You - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
- "We laughed all night about the hookers at the party"
- Me, Myself & I - De La Soul
- Cool message until problems are resolved with violence: "I'll calmly punch them in the 4th day of July"
- Jesus Walks - Kanye West
- Hell no
- My Philosophy - Boogie Down Productions
- Great until: "How many MCs must get dissed, before somebody says 'Don't fuck with Kris'"
- Woo-Ha!! I got you all in check - Busta Rhymes
- The chorus is: "I got that head nod shit to make you break your neck"
- Cha Cha Cha - MC Lyte
- "Well Well Well, I'll be damned"
- It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ Easy Rock
- "I like the whopper, fuck the big mac"
- Public Enemy #1 - Public Enemy
- "I'll show you my gun; my Uzi weighs a ton"
- Case of the P.T.A. - Leaders of the New School
- "What the Hell's going on"
I hate children's music, but are my kids ready for Hip Hop?...by dough
8 comments:
i am SO happy to see a post about this...my twice-daily car rides are a synthesis of all of these thoughts. my cop-out is to just plug in a thomas dvd and forget music. but...damn...i really do miss hip hop. thank you for putting this into words...ReplyDelete
I think media and politicians have done quite a brain-bleaching job on us 30-something parents...finding fault with De La Soul's "Me Myself & I?" I have no reservations on teaching my kid to knuckle up...long as it's not pre-emptive, there's no harm in such a life lesson.ReplyDelete
Another often-forgotten genre that satisfies the blog post's desire is by raising the babies on the ROOTS of hiphop, particularly if hypersensitive/hypocritical/v-chip parenting overrides the well-cultivated and fun-sounding childhoods of today's parents...think of the rollerskating classics and b-boy anthems that made 1970s/1980s NYC the most magical place on Earth.
So each time I get in my car, I have the pleasure of plugging in my iPod, pressing PLAY and warping off back in time with my 3 year old son to the sounds of my early childhood via James Brown's "Funky President"...Jimmy Castor Bunch's "It's Just Begun"...Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache" to name a select few. Of course I'm naming some usual suspects but these classics and so much more require little to no explanation and instantly brings kool-aid smiles and some serious head-nodding to my son's realm.
So how's that for a compromise...hiphop cravings are kept in check while the babies are blessed with lively instrumentation...dig it.
Ever heard of the kindie movement? (Kids +Indie). Check out Secret Agent 23 Skiddoo for some Hip-Hop for kids. No. Really.ReplyDelete
Then check out Zooglobble, Stefan Shepherd's excellent blog on all things kindie.
like Spictorious, i vote for going back to the roots. you're much more dedicated to hip hop than i am, but i hope to raise my kid on a lot of the music that informed hip hop in the first place. go back to blues, soul, and r&b. move up to jazz, disco, and then you'll have a base for whenever's right to introduce some of your favorite tracks.ReplyDelete
personally, i think most modern popular hip hop is unlistenable. i don't care to hear about a gross sense of entitlement, inconsiderate consumerism, and substance abuse. does that make me an old fart? maybe… for the most part, i don't care what people have to say in pop songs. it's been said before, and most likely more eloquently or authentically.
my kid doesn't need to know all the bebop musicians had problems with drugs and alcohol to appreciate the music. sure, james brown tried to run down some cops while high on speed. it's catchy, fun music without bad lyrics, though. miles davis' heroin habit? we can discuss that when he's ready to understand. i'm okay with all that.
now sarah will have to comb through her indie stash to find the best choices there.
i think spictorious' approach makes the most sense in terms of keeping your sanity while teaching your children to appreciate music.ReplyDelete
however, i think that parents should be careful not to shelter their children from the content of the music that fills their worlds. should they be judicious with what is shared? absolutely. but making the "forbidden fruit" so inaccessible also makes it more desirable. to prevent kids from blindly following the behaviors glorified in music, they have to be trained to think critically about them. what are the REAL consequences for women doing what nicki minaj just talked about? what really happens when its "1-8-7 on the undercover cop"? those are not easy things to talk about, but kid's exposure to sex and violence in popular culture is going to happen whether parents are ready or not. why not get in front of it by creating good intellectual habits?
Nate, jayare20k and I have said it all.ReplyDelete
It doesn't hurt to note that I've brought these impromptu lessons in music appreciation to life for my son by having him front and center with me at every old school summer park jam the 5 boroughs has to offer.
Will my son eventually find his own way to the ear-cancer that is HOT 97 and Power 105? Perhaps. But it will bore him to death because people who listen to Drake, Rick Ross or Rihanna don't know how to clap their hands and stomp their feet to "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose."
I completely get this. It's like the time I heard my 8 year old niece singing WORD FOR WORD Lady Gaga's Poker Face. No bueno.ReplyDelete
Really great post! You probably wouldn't like our music then. ;) But I think it's great to listen to music that you like and to listen to all sorts. We don't listen to kids music all the time - thankfully! I really like having them listen to 'real' music too =) There is a tonne of variety on all those iTunes radio stations but you making a playlist of 2000 that you can all agree on is Amazing!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for leaving a comment for UrbanRhetoric. We really appreciate the feedback, questions, ideas + love. Holler


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The Weekly Report
Though I had the weekend off, Mr. Doctor is away and Mrs. Doctor has just called me from a boy scout meeting to tell me that she needs to take one of the younger boys to the emergency room to have his foot looked at, and could I please put the rest of the boys to bed when she gets back?
This isn't really a problem. The boys are easy to put to bed; this is probably because I'm on the more terrifying side of the nanny spectrum, and no I won't sit in your room with you for forty minutes after I read you a book. Your parents do that because they enjoy having no time to themselves. Go to sleep.
(They always go to sleep. They know who they can play and who they can't.)
Anyway, I've already failed miserably at reading a book a week, because The Doomsday Book is surprisingly slow to read. The general premise is that time travel is available for historical scholars, and one such scholar is sent back to the incredibly dangerous Middle Ages to, you know, see what it's like. Was everyone covered in mud and dying of the plague all the time? Let's find out!
It's been an interesting book, except it's split evenly between her interesting experiences in the Middle Ages and the significantly less interesting bits where the rest of the scholars try to sort out a lot of problems in the modern day. The modern day is right outside my door, let me hear about the Black Death!
This week has been one for disguises. I did another "look like someone else" on Wednesday, but didn't post about it because it was slightly underwhelming. My eyes are blue, and this Wednesday was going to be brown hair and brown eyes, but sadly the Japanese contacts I purchased are- surprise- made to turn already brown eyes a different shade of brown, not to completely darken lighter eyes.
So instead of rich brown eyes I had watery dull eyes that looked as though I was going blind, which might have been the case if I had left the contacts in.
I very much liked this wig. It was a cross between "futuristic female from dystopian society" and "toddler funfun music band mascot".
I also spent an hour before the Halloween party on Friday running some errands in my Ms. Frizzle costume, just to see if anybody recognized me. No one recognized me.
The Dunkin' Donuts people wouldn't stop giving me Looks, though, so at least I managed that "crazy cat lady" look if nothing else.
My friends on The Facebook are getting more and more desperately political as the election time draws near, and this is interesting because my friends from Idaho are largely Conservative and my friends from the east coast are largely Liberal, and everyone's equally frenzied, but fortunately none of them can see each other's posts because I never like or comment on any of them.
This is the first presidential election I can vote in, having been sixteen the last time it came around, and I'm wondering if political fervor comes with age. Like a second puberty: One day I'll wake up and have all these strange urges to debate the merits of various candidates and to slander the opposing party on the World Wide Web.
I'm a late bloomer.


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Sharing how we're loving life and living it to the fullest!
Three boys, one dog, one chinchilla…Sometimes, you just have to STOP…and Count To Ten.
Latest posts by CountingToTen (see all)
- Raising Money for Medical Bills – July 18, 2014
- The Ultimate Travel Tote with 5-hour ENERGY® Shots #ThisIsMySecret #shop #cbias – July 14, 2014
- How Sharing a Coke and a Wagon Help a Sick Kid #ShareItForward #shop #cbias – July 10, 2014
ThisMamaMakesStuff is one of my favorite blogs to follow. Along with being super crafty, she owns "This is Me" a kid's first keepsake journal. She has an AWESOME sale going on right now….(well, until July 31st). Check it out!
Summer is the perfect time to help your children learn to journal using This is Me – a kid's first keepsake journal as seen on Design Mom, Cool Mom Picks & Smiling Green Mom. Full of creative writing and drawing prompts & designed to record the memories of one year of a child's life, it's perfect for kids as young as 3 (with a parents help) and kids as old as 9.
And with this deal, you might want to pick up a few extra for all of next year's birthday parties because it makes a gift both child and mother will love for years to come.
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***NOTE: The shipping costs for 4 or more books is $11 (up to 15). Right now, the shipping is not calculating right on the site. Please place your order, and the shipping over charge will be refunded back to you.


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|They couldn't decide on next week's book - should it be 'Paws 4 Thawt' or should it be 'Dog Gone'???
That Tweet button lets you tweet this post just like that! It's magic - here's another one (oh, go onnnnnnnn - tweet it...):
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Monday, 2 April 2012
'Paws 4 Thawt' or 'Dog Gone' - which, oh which book for next week's meeting? Corgi dilemma
7 comments:
- The Bear's Blog said...
Hi MontyandRosie,
Well, since I am a teddy bear I think it should be "Paws 4 Thawt" because it COULD have a "tail" of teddy bears involved. Giggle.
Hugs ♥
- 2 April 2012 at 06:25
- Crystal said...
I vote for paws for thought....teehee...Cute sketch
- 2 April 2012 at 07:07
- montyandrosie said...
Paws for Thawt it is!!! And we will bear with it whether it's bears or not bears. Oh, yes! Bears rule!!!
- 2 April 2012 at 07:48
We're voting for "Paws 4 Thawt" too, Corgis Rule!! And we're also for voting for Chocolate Bones and Chocolate Gravy for Monty and Rosie. Happy Easter!!
- 2 April 2012 at 12:13
Bonjour Susan,
Les corgi sont aussi mignons que les BORERES ! Beau dessin.
Elizabeth et Scott
- 3 April 2012 at 00:02
- montyandrosie said...
Yayyy!!! We'll take the chocolate bones and the chocolate gravy!!! None of that - "No, really, you shouldn't have," stuff from us. No. "Give it here, forthwith!!!"
- 3 April 2012 at 14:00
- montyandrosie said...
Thank you, Elizabeth! We have some fab Corgi friends - like Spencer and Phoebe above - who wish us chocolate bones and chocolate gravy! High-paw to you and Scott.
- 3 April 2012 at 14:02


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With the value system in our society shrinking rapidly, policy makers are now striving hard to sow its seeds in the minds of the children at a nascent stage. The UNESCO describes values as- "Values are generally long-term standards or principles that are used to judge the worth of an idea or action. They provide the criteria by which we decide whether something is good or bad, right or wrong." Going by the definition, there is no doubt that our society and education system is struggling to establish or revive human values for the betterment of the populace and ultimately the country and the world. Value education is necessarily turning out to be a part of school curriculum as one of the many subjects. However, a deeper understanding of the ancient yogic texts teaches one that yoga and value education are interlinked. In this context, besides Ashtanga, which prescribes the 8 limbs of practice for one's liberation, and certain Hatha yogic practices, both, 'asanas' and 'shuddhikriyas', for self- purification, Kriya yoga, its three components being, 'Tapas', 'Svadhyaya' and 'Ishvarpranidhana, is being looked upon as a path to develop the much- needed value system in an individual. While establishing oneself in Ashtanga yoga is the preliminary aim of a yoga practitioner, the key to it also lies in the practice of Kriya yoga. The earlier its inculcation, the better result it is bound to fetch.
Hence, for policymakers in education, it becomes of utmost relevance to introduce the principles of yoga, especially Kriya yoga in the curriculum if they have to imbibe values in students. Largely, value education strives to thrive values such as respect towards democracy, social justice, social cohesion, national integration, patriotism, building scientific temperament, respect for cultural heritage, gender equality, protection of the environment, secularism etc in students. All of these and much more values further boil down to basic values of truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non- violence which are easily achievable through the practice of yoga in general and kriya yoga in specific.
The chapter 2 of Patanjali Yoga Sutras defines Kriya yoga as "Tapahsvadhyayaesvarapranidhanani kriyayogah!". Tapa or Tapas means austerity, 'Svadhyaya' indicates self- study and 'Ishvarpranidhana' refers to surrender to the Supreme. In the context of yoga and value education, 'Tapas' would mean putting in more efforts to burn the laziness of the physical body and the laxity of the mind. Similarly, 'Svadhyaya' would involve self- study or reflection of own actions, learnings at the school, surroundings etc. The practice of 'Svadhyaya' will not only inculcate self- discipline but also provide discriminative powers to the learner. By practicing 'Ishvar pranidhana', students will develop the attitude of surrendering to elders and humbleness, a necessity today. Furthermore, they will develop acceptance and absorption towards knowledge and goodness. As a wholesome process, the practice of kriya yoga must unquestionably lead to establishing the prescribed values, laid down by different education policy- making and governing bodies.
Therefore, to resolve the crisis in value education, the inclusion of kriya yoga could go a long way in bringing in the much necessary change.


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This Japanese woman has just got married to a guy she doesn't love. She had to do it because her father wanted so. This awful Japanese groom takes more than just her last name, he takes her virginity. She struggles but he makes her get on her knees and suck his cock until he is satisfied.
Join All Japanese Pass for only 29.95$ 19.95$ This offer ends in:
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- : 12 Sep 2013
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10 of the best beaches in the Seychelles
The Seychelles have traditionally been associated with the most beautiful beaches on the planet, framed by timeless granite boulders, the Seychelles islands are atop of the world's list of romantic destinations, perfect for that lazy tropical retreat.
Here's our guide to our favourite 10 beaches you must visit whilst in the Seychelles. All the beaches in the Seychelles are open to the public so you really can explore to your heart's content.
Port Launay
Port Launay is located on Marine National Park, which is on the north-western coast of Mahé and can be reached by taking the road past Port Glaud.
This stunning beach is great for swimming and especially snorkelling here is excellent, with a wide variety of colourful fish that can be seen in and around the edges of the impressive bay.
There are often beautiful shells and corals to be found along the shoreline, but please remember this is National Park property and it is strictly prohibited to take coral and shells away.
Anse Royale
The stretch of small rock-fringed coves along the coast of Anse Royale on the southeastern coast of Mahé, from the area known as Fairyland down to the Anglican church at Anse Royale, is an enchanting place for swimming and snorkelling.
The best areas for snorkelling are around the rocks at Fairyland and up to the small island just off the coast, where there are myriad brightly coloured coral fish. The water here is enclosed behind a reef, which keeps out the larger fish and is fairly shallow.
Beau Vallon
This is Mahé's most popular resort beach with both visitors and locals alike. This sweeping bay of white sand and clear waters on the north-western coast of Mahé offers a very safe swimming area. With hotels stretched out along its sand, together with water sport and diving centres, this is the beach for those wishing to do something a little more energetic than soaking up the sun.
Beau Vallon is also very safe for children, as there are no strong currents, no rocks or corals underfoot and a lifeguard service is supplied.
Anse Lazio
Anse Lazio is the most famous beach on Praslin, and rightly so. Well worth the long winding drive from Côte d'Or, Anse Lazio can claim to be the perfect tropical paradise beach and is often listed among the world's top ten beaches. Beautifully framed by granite rocks, this dream beach has soft white sands leading gently down to calm clear waters with a gentle gradient absolutely perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The Bon Bon Plume and Le Chevalier restaurants are nearby and can provide lunch and refreshments.
Anse d'Argent
This stunning beach is reputed to be the most photographed beach in the world. With its soft white sand, clear turquoise water and huge granite boulders sculptured by the elements and time itself, it is not difficult to see why photographers and filmmakers still love to come here. The sea is sheltered by the reef, and is very calm and shallow, with only sand underfoot which makes it safe for children.
Apparently international TV ad campaigns have been shot on this beach for Bacardi Rum, Campari and Bounty Chocolate.
Petit Anse La Digue
A large beach for one named petit! This is the sister beach to Grand Anse and can be reached by walking across the rocks from Grand Anse, following the footpath. Swimming here is dangerous, but it is a secluded beach for sunbathing or picnicking.
Anse Takamaka
The crystal clear and calm waters of Anse Takamaka are ideal for swimming. The area is also a designated Marine National Park with an abundance of marine life, including turtles.
The luxury Raffles Praslin is only 500 kilometres away from this idyllic beach. The beach is a great place to relax while watching the ghost crabs running along the beachline, or observe curious stingrays, usually swimming in pairs.
Intendance Beach
Located in southern Mahé, this lovely beach offers half a mile of powder white sand and huge breakers. There is no reef so the waves are much larger than most of the other beaches around the island, making it more suitable for surfing rather than swimming at most times.
Denis Island
Denis lies 95km north of Victoria, Mahé and 45km from Bird Island, making it one of the most northerly of all the Seychelles' islands
The beaches on this tiny island are perfect. Expect an oasis of coconut palms and casuarina trees, nestling amidst a shallow lagoon of turquoise waters with sandy beaches.
Anse Coco
This pretty bay on the eastern coast of La Digue is only accessible by foot, either by taking a path from Grand Anse or in the other direction from Anse Fourmis. Because of its more sheltered aspect, this beach, unlike its neighbouring bays of Grand and Petit Anse, is safe for swimmers, but there are still some strong currents, so care does need to be taken.
Do you agree with our favourite 10? What are your favourite beaches in the Seychelles? Join in the conversation on Twitter, we're @adelto. For our favourite 10 islands in the Seychelles, click here.
Images courtesy of Seychelles Tourism Board, Gerard Larose and Raymond Sahuquet
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August 30, 2013 | Indian Ocean Seychelles Travel | View comments


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hello! we've made it to day five of the papertey ink may countdown to new stamps!! new product will be available for purchase tomorrow night, but first today is all about the mask dies. there are two shapes and lots of possibilities! on day one, i showed you two felt masks with an elastic band for wearing. felt is a great option for longer lasting masks, but sometimes paper is all you need...
you could use elastic like i did on those felt masks, probably a thinner one, or ribbon or twine. but if you have the secret agent glasses die from a few months ago, you can also use the arms to create mask glasses.
quick and easy and you don't have to punch any holes! plus, they will fold flat for including in a card.
i used one of betsy's kit papers that are designed to be cut into four card fronts for both of my mask glasses. by putting the center of the mask between two colors, i got a color block mask. cool, right?!
i decided to embellish each with a single lightening bolt (from zappy birthday) on one side in the opposite color, and add rhinestone embellishments to the other. i love how these turned out! so did my girls - the eighth grader might be snagging a pair of these to wear with her tacky day ensemble today!
the masks are also perfect for photo booth accessories! i chose four bright colors for the masks themselves, imagining a brightly colored superhero themed party.
i embellished them with various superhero and zappy birthday stamped die cuts in the same four colors, being sure to balance out the color among the masks, and then adhered them to skewer sticks. here's a close up of all four...
the various die cuts add such a fun flair - i think they'd look really cute in photo booth pics! if you're worried about durability, you could double the masks and use slightly heavier dowels. a similar idea would be to use the paper masks for a party craft activity - cut a stack in the colors of your party and give the kids markers, embellishments, etc. to decorate their very own. like i said, so many possibilities!! i still have a few ideas i didn't get to, so i'll definitely be back with them soon - i'll try to get a bonus post up tomorrow. until then, be sure to check out nichole's blog for scoop and links! and thanks so much for following along this week and leaving super comments. as usual, i've had a blast!!
:) lexi


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British Journal of Photography are returning to Free Range in 2017 to host a programme of free talks for emerging photographers. We've invited leading curators, publishers, writers, editors and agents to share their industry insights and offer practical advice on making a career in photography, alongside in-conversations with some of the UK's most exciting emerging photographic talents.
The events will take place at British Journal of Photography's dedicated pop-up space, Shop 13, at the Free Range Graduate Shows from Friday 23 June – Monday 3 July 2017.
Speaker Programme
Friday 23 June 2017 – Working in the editorial market
12pm – Max Ferguson
Photographic Director, PORT Magazine
1pm – Andrea Kurland
Editor-in-chief, Huck
2pm – Hayley Louisa Brown
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, BRICK
3pm – Francesca Allen in conversation with Maisie Skidmore (AnOther)
Monday 26 June 2017 – Breaking into the art world
12pm – Marisa Bellani
Founder & Director, Roman Road
1pm – Elizabeth Breiner
Editor & Co-Founder, nineteensixtyeight
2pm – Vivienne Gamble
Director, Seen Fifteen
3pm – Antony Cairns in conversation with Diane Smyth (BJP)
Friday 30 June 2017 – Publishing your photo-book
1pm – Jenny Lewis
2pm – Sian Davey in conversation with Hannah Watson (Trolley Books)
3pm – John Maclean in conversation with Simon Bainbridge (BJP)
Monday 3 July 2017 – Working on commercial projects and selling your images
12pm – Dominic Bell
Webber Represents
1pm – Gem Fletcher
Photographic Art Director
2pm – Hamish Crooks
Licensing Director, Magnum Photos
3pm – Jaki Jo Hannan
Senior Creative Producer, AMV BBDO


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Accessability: Text Size: Larger Smaller Layout: Reduced graphics
Impressions in delighted to be part of Field Editions, a new contemporary photography consortium selling limited edition prints in support of Northern photography.
Field Editions
Established by Impressions Gallery, Bradford, Redeye, The Photography Network, Manchester and Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, Field Editions presents exceptional - yet affordable - limited edition prints by both established and emerging contemporary photographers. Works by artists such as Rut Blees Luxemburg, John Stezaker, Eva Stenram, Karen Knorr, Murray Ballard, Broomberg & Chanarin, Daniel Meadows and Martin Parr are now available to view and buy online from £175.
Click here to read more and view available prints.
imPRINT collection
Limited edition photographs
imPRINT is an exclusive new series of limited edition original photographs made by artists on the occasion of their exhibition at Impressions. We believe buying art should be fun and simple.
Support artists
Impressions is a charity and the proceeds of sales go directly to Impressions' exhibition programme. Your purchase will help promising artists continue making new work.
Feel confident
All of the artists in this series have exhibited their work at Impressions, one of the UK's leading venues for photography. The photographs have been printed by the artists themselves or overseen by them. They are signed and numbered and each image is limited to an edition of 20. This means that only 20 prints of that particular image, in that particular size, will ever be produced.
Be original
In a glut of mass-market art reproductions, be distinctive and enhance your home or workplace with images that are out of the ordinary. An original signed photograph also makes a special and unusual gift to celebrate a wedding, birthday, or retirement.
At just £250 including VAT, imPRINT represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire work by artists whose work one day may be worth considerably more. It's a great way to start buying art. To make purchases easier, you can arrange to pay in installments under the national Own Art scheme, which makes it easy and affordable to buy and collect contemporary art. Simply pay a £25 deposit, then pay in installments to suit you over 10 months.
Framing service
We can offer a special service via our professional framer, who normally only supplies to museum and gallery clients including Impressions, the National Media Museum and Leeds Art Gallery. Your print will be hand-framed using archival (acid free) mount as per our display and will be available to collect from Impressions.
For more information, please call 01274 737843
or email email@example.com
Limited edition imPRINT
from the series Sharpe's Wood
by Liza Dracup
Impressions in delighted to be part of Field Editions, a new contemporary photography consortium selling limited edition prints in support of Northern photography.


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The hosts & producers of GovLove podcast, a podcast on local government are all at the Annual ICMA Conference in Seattle, WA! We'll be doing a quick podcast every morning during ICMA to tell y'all what's on tap for today, what we're most excited about, and how to keep in loop.
Here are some folks to follow during #icma15:
If you'll be at ICMA, meet with SeeClickFix at Booth #908! We guarentee we have your favorite candy.
Mark your calendars for SeeClickFix's partner panel with Socrata "Trends in 311: How Managers Are Using Technology to Improve Service"on Tuesday, September 29 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM. Come out join us! Bring your pressing questions on open government and favorite stories of citizen engagement.
Finally, we will all definitely see y'all at ELGL's Mixing in Perfect Harmony - ICMA networking Mixer tonightat 7pm. As y'all know, ELGL is an incredible, energetic group that we can count on to throw a fun, surprising, and fantastic event.
To keep in the loop on future GovLove episodes, subscribe below!
GovLove is hosted and produced by SeeClickFix and Engaging Local Government Leaders. ELGL is a network of local government folks with a passion for connecting, communicating and educating. Learn more about ELGL atwww.elgl.organd SeeClickFix atgov.seeclickfix.com.


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Ex-SLA Figure Sara Jane Olson to Be Released From Jail
LOS ANGELES – A saga that began in the cauldron of California's counterculture and took a dramatic turn in a quiet middle class neighborhood in Minnesota is about to come to an end.
Sara Jane Olson, a 1970s radical who became a fugitive after attempting to kill Los Angeles police officers and participating in a deadly bank robbery near Sacramento, is scheduled to be released from a California prison next week.
Her bid for freedom after serving seven years is not ending quietly.
Police leagues in Los Angeles and Minnesota are objecting to the terms of her parole, her attorneys are nervous after Olson was mistakenly released and sent back to prison a year ago, and those in her home state have conflicting views about the return of a woman with two identities — a quiet, caring community volunteer and a domestic terrorist.
Olson was freed by California corrections officials a year ago when they miscalculated her parole date. She was re-arrested five days later as she was about to board a flight to Minnesota, the state she adopted as her home during a quarter-century on the run.
"After what happened last year, I think she won't feel comfortable until she's back in Minnesota," said David Nickerson, one of her lawyers. "She is just anxious about getting out ... until she's home, until she knows it's real. She wants to be with her family."
Olson, 62, is scheduled to be released Tuesday from the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, about 150 miles southeast of San Francisco. Where she goes next has become a point of contention.
Police leagues in Los Angeles and Minnesota are objecting to having her paroled to Minnesota. Both have written to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, urging him to have Olson serve her parole in California, where her crimes were committed.
Former Los Angeles police officer John Hall was a target in one of the 1975 attempted pipe bombings by the Symbionese Liberation Army, best known for its kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst. The group planted bombs beneath two police cars, but both failed to detonate.
"That bomb should have gone off that night," Hall said. "I would have been just one of many people that would have been dead. It just brings up a lot of anger knowing that she's going to be released."
The pipe bomb, packed with nails, failed to explode as Hall and his partner pulled their cruiser away from an International House of Pancakes in Los Angeles' Hollywood Division on an August night. A similar device was found under another police car miles away.
Hall recalls a girl about 8 years old was watching from the restaurant.
"That little girl was waving at us as we drove off. If that bomb would have gone off, she would have been killed along with her family," said Hall, who served 31 years with the department. "I haven't forgiven her (Olson) in the least for what she's done and what she could have done to many more innocent people."
The SLA had a long list of high-profile crimes during the mid-1970s, including the Hearst kidnapping, assassinating Oakland Schools Superintendent Marcus Foster and the shotgun slaying of 42-year-old Myrna Opsahl. The mother of four was depositing a church collection at the Crocker National Bank near Sacramento when the group robbed it.
Olson, her red hair turned long ago to gray, was born Kathleen Ann Soliah in North Dakota and grew up in Palmdale, in the high desert north of Los Angeles.
If her release goes as planned, her attorneys say she will be paroled to her mother's house in her hometown and will have 24 hours to report to her California parole agent. Unless there is a change in her parole location, she then will be allowed to return to St. Paul with her husband, Dr. Gerald "Fred" Peterson.
The family lives among lawyers, doctors and professors in a middle class neighborhood near the banks of the Mississippi River.
"Her release of course is a great relief," Peterson said in an e-mail to The Associated Press, declining an interview. "We need to regroup in our home, and preserve our privacy as much as possible, and get our lives coordinated again. We're very happy to reunite."
Many of Olson's friends and former associates declined to comment about her release, fearing that any statements might hurt her chances of getting out on schedule.
Others said they couldn't wait to see her again, having grown to know her as a caring mother and community volunteer who hosted frequent parties at the family home.
"I'm planning on giving her a big hug when she gets back and am going to count on her to do what she did before, which was read the New York Times to the blind and volunteer in all sorts of activities to help the less fortunate," said Andy Dawkins, a longtime family friend and Democratic former state representative from St. Paul.
Not everyone will be happy to have her back. After Olson was arrested in 1999, Minneapolis gun store owner Mark Koscielski (koh-SHEL'-skee) countered supporters with bumper stickers that said "Fight Terrorism — Jail Kathleen."
Her pending release continues to draw strong emotions.
"She's a ... terrorist and she shouldn't be out of jail," Koscielski said.
Olson, then named Soliah, was in her late 20s when she joined the SLA. The small band of mostly white, college-educated children of middle-class families was started in 1973 by a black ex-convict named Donald DeFreeze.
He died with five members of the group — including Olson's best friend — in a 1974 shootout with police at their Los Angeles hideout.
Olson was in the suburban Sacramento bank when Opsahl died from a shotgun blast in the 1975 robbery that netted the SLA $15,000.
After the attempted bombings of the LAPD squad cars, she fled to a new life 1,900 miles away. She changed her name, acted in community theater, joined a church, taught English to immigrants, worked with senior citizens and raised the couple's three daughters.
She was arrested in her minivan in June 1999 on a tip from the "America's Most Wanted" television show. Supporters raised bail money selling cookbooks titled: "Serving Time: America's Most Wanted Recipes."
Jon Opsahl helped badger Sacramento prosecutors into finally filing charges against Olson and other SLA members in 2002 for the murder of his mother. He said he is glad the saga is coming to an end.
"She did her minimal time and has paid her debt to society after all these years," Opsahl said. "As far as I'm concerned, she can leave the state as soon as possible and get back to her life."


text:
Mr S's mother wanted him to remain a single parent so that she could have daily contact with her two grand-daughters (here I should point out that the only good thing that Mr S did, in her eyes that it is, was to father two girls). His arrival as a second boy was her big disappointment, but as he had been born at home she couldn't deny him as she had his brother five years earlier.
My mother had decided that I was to be her carer and companion in her old age as a dutiful daughter should. A role that she deemed I that I was eminently suitable for as a widow and a female. Indeed this role was, she considered, to be my only redeeming feature as I had failed to be the son she had so wanted forcing her to endure a second pregnancy to produce the desired son.
Well we didn't listen and selfishly put ourselves first - so 25 years ago yesterday (May 20th) we tied the knot and yesterday we revisited our honeymoon venue. With only one day we had spent what we grandly called our 'honeymoon' on a steam train. To be precise we traveled from Kidderminster to Bridgenorth and back again - First Class!
Well we couldn't replicate the journey exactly, because there isn't a First Class guard's van - which is where wheelchairs users have to travel on preserved railways - but we did have a fabulous day on the Sir Keith Park, which sadly was
a Southern engine, not a Great Western engine (:
We bought each other a silver sheep and a Pine Cone carved with a chain saw!
And despite all the dire warnings it has lasted and we are still together, so here's to the next 25 which we will both need if we are to use up our wood and wool stashes....


text:
Winter garden
School holidays now and we've been busy in the winter garden. Building sawdust paths, planting garlic in straight rows and enjoying the salvias. Good times for the peeps. Who aren't really peeps anymore.
3 comments:
The colour of the salvia is amazing it is a plant I haven't grown for years. Makes me want too again.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous7 June 2011 at 10:37
I have just stumbled across your website after reading an article in Country Style mag. Wow. You are doing exactly what I want to do.I just have to convince the 11 and 8 year old as well as hubby- not an easy task- that life seems so much simpler in Tasmania somehow. All the beautiful fresh produce, markets cold weather fruits- I could go on. Love your blog.ReplyDelete
Having just planted the garlic (finally) I can safely say there will not be many a straight line. I'm looking forward to watching garlic & broad beans grow with very little input for the next few months! Max missed your mini cupcakes at the market and came up with a about 10 outlandish reasons why you were not there.ReplyDelete


text:
Not really a recipe - I'm guestimating the quantities, be guided by your taste buds to create a flavour you like. Sometimes I don't have whole spices to hand and use ground, that works okay. Of course, you can make a much smaller amount for one or two people, or double it for your next winter party.
2 litres of cloudy apple juice
1 litre of water
1/4 cup sugar (to taste - this really depends on the sweetness of your juice, you may not need any)
1 lemon or orange or both, thinly sliced
2 slices of fresh ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
12 allspice berries
8 whole cloves
In a large saucepan combine all ingredients and simmer on a low heat, stirring occasionally for 25 minutes. Strain mixture and discard solids.
Serve in tea cups, mugs or jam jars for a hipster affect. One might be tempted to add a nip of gin and apple brandy for extra warmth. Try sipping it using a cinnamon stick as a straw - it's amazing!


text: The first UCL Historians seminar of the year will take place on 28th November at 5.30pm in the Haldane Room. Lisa Jardine, UCL's newly-appointed Professor of Renaissance Studies will give a paper entitled "1688 and all that: revisiting Christiaan Huygens' 1689 trip to London". This promises to be a very stimulating event, as well as an opportunity to welcome Professor Jardine to UCL and to meet fellow historians working in other UCL departments. For more information please contact Dr Michael Collins – firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
In 1991, the Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation encouraging communities to establish a means to coordinate services provided to children and families. East Hartford responded by forming ChildPlan, Inc. (ChildPlan), a volunteer organization comprised of municipal and community leaders who were interested in assessing and providing for the needs of its children and families. In these early years, ChildPlan was run as a volunteer organization and accomplished a series of initiatives that responded directly to the community's needs – including developing school-based health centers, family resource centers, a teen center, the wellness center, a youth advisory board, the juvenile review board, and the local prevention council. While communities responded to this legislation in different ways, East Hartford remains one of the few communities in the state that continued with its commitment. Along the way, ChildPlan has challenged itself to change to meet the needs of the community. As evidence of this, in 2003, ChildPlan incorporated and received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status, therein formalizing its growth. This change also positioned ChildPlan to not only serve as an organization that leads the collaboration to assess and provide for the needs of children in East Hartford, but also to draw new resources to the community to meet the community's emerging priorities. Now eight years into its incorporation, and celebrating its 20 year anniversary as a volunteer organization, ChildPlan is a thriving organization with a full-time Executive Director and a full-time administrative assistant that serve as staff to a robust and highly engaged Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of thirty-five community leaders, business leaders, parents, and service providers that actively use ChildPlan as their major venue to coordinate service delivery, integrate programs, collaborate with other professionals, and raise awareness of emerging issues, develop creative problem-solving, and develop a unified voice for the interests of East Hartford children and their families.
To read more about Childplan's program services and scope, please download East Hartford Mission and History.
Discovery Work
Community Demographics
Community Contacts
Donna Kehoe
860-291-1741 | email@example.com


text: Wikipedia pages produced by a business are often intended to help the reader experience a pique in interest about the company. The reader just might visit the business' website if the company to take a closer look at the product or service being sold. Yes, when you create a Wikipedia page it does have [Continue]


text: It's fair to say that although it has divided opinions, the first Formula E season was a massive success. I'm going to use this thread to rate the 10 circuits from the first season and suggest what could be done to improve the circuit. 1: Beijing - Beijing Olympic Green Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683568 Beijing is a city with a lot of history, both ancient and contemporary. Hosting a race around the Olympic area from 2008 was an inspired choice. It's designed to accommodate the traffic and people needed to host an event. That said, the roads around didn't lead to an inspiring circuit. 90 degree corners and chicanes at junctions are never going to get too much praise. Overtaking spots were not too apparent, and it only took an over-optimistic defense from Nico Prost at the final corner for the race to be memorable for anything except being pretty dull. Best corner(s): Turns 7, 8 & 9 Choosing the best corner here is like choosing which over-ripe fruit to have a bite from, there's nothing good, but one looks slightly better than the others. This chicane had a grass strip on the exit that lots of drivers tried driving over to gain time in practice, usually ending up in the wall. Location Rating: 7/10 The Birds Nest stadium was a spectacular backdrop, and is one of the few areas of the city people know, but the gloom of smog didn't help. Circuit Rating: 2/10 Uninspiring and drab. Race Rating: 4/10 There wasn't much overtaking, and the race was won and lost in the pitstop and the final corner. What needs to be done? There's not much space to do anything really, unless the circuit encroaches the Olympic Park, going off the roads. But less chicanes where possible and maybe one or two of the 90 degree corners could be opened up with a re-tarmacking of the inside of the turns. There's no easy solution without reconfiguring roads. 2: Putrajaya - Putrajaya Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683588 Putrajaya was a long wait after Beijing, but it threw up a decent race on a decent circuit in a decent location. The helicopter shots of the city were especially fantastic, and the backdrop of buildings made it a good spectacle. The first two straights seemed to have been taken right from Donington Park, and passing worked just as well. Elevation change, a tight hairpin and a good race helped to bring faith into supporters that the series might just work. Best corner(s): Turn 9 The first proper corner that Formula E raced on, quick but tight with no room for error, and varying lines perfect for overtaking into the next hairpin. Location Rating: 7/10 Most people know Kuala Lumpur, not many know Putrajaya, but it surprised me, the fancy paint across the final corner and down the first two straights surprised me. Circuit Rating: 6/10 Good overtaking spots and some proper corners, but still a lot of 90 degree corners. Race Rating: 6/10 Overtaking happened, Sam Bird dominated and there was action. What needs to be done? This is going to be a reoccurring theme, but chicanes as the first turn don't work, as too many drivers cut them. So changing that would be good, but there's not much else that can be done, especially as it worked for the rest of the race. 3: Punta Del Este - Punta Del Este Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683594 Punta Del Este is similar to Beijing in a few ways, in that it's mainly chicanes and straights, but here we find one of two proper corners and good racing. The drivers were really attacking the kerbs, and this was the first race to really highlight the weakness of the suspension, claiming the races of a few drivers - most notably robbing Jean-Eric Vergne of a podium on his debut race. Surrounded by seas and a beach, the track had a holiday feel, and it produced good racing between the chicanes. Best corner(s): Turn 13 The long right hander on the inside of turn 4 helped drivers get in the slipstream for overtaking into the next corner. Location Rating: 6/10 Punta Del Este doesn't jump to mind when thinking of Uruguay, but it was based on an old TC2000 circuit, and good weather made it look good. Circuit Rating: 6/10 Although the race was good, it is still a track of chicanes and straights. Race Rating: 8/10 Fantastic action, edge of the seat entertainment, and a crazy finish. What needs to be done? As the regeneration gets better on the cars, slowly his track can lose chicanes, but the first on is the worst, being really tight, space to cut and a very narrow exit thanks to the pit exit. 4: Buenos Aires - Puerto Madero Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683599 An absolute success, this race was one of the best single-seater races of 2014, let alone the FE season. It had everything, from great corners, long straights and more lead changes than you could keep up with. In the end, the one chicane claimed loads of victims, and turns 1 and 4 were fantastic for overtaking. A true success. Best corner(s): Turns 10, 11 & 12 This section was both crucial as they lead onto the start straight, and truly spectacular. The guys with the TV cameras nailed it and really showed these cars doing what they're supposed to do. Location Rating: 4/10 Buenos Aires yes, but it wasn't exactly in a well known bit of the city. Circuit Rating: 9/10 The turn 1 bump and having the startline and the finish line on different straights only slightly detracted from the circuit. Race Rating: 10/10 Couldn't have been much better. A slow first half and a safety car in the middle turned the second half of the race into an action packed few laps. What needs to be done? Maybe sort out the dust in turn 1 and the bump on the exit, but not much needs to be changed at all. 5: Miami - Biscayne Bay Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683612 Miami has dropped off the calendar for next season, and I have to admit that I'm quite glad. OK, the location and city were brilliant, but the track on show was pretty awful. Two sets of Four 90-degree corners does not make a good circuit, and a pit exit that forces a turn to be run under permanent yellow flags doesn't help. The track at turn 1 was too narrow for anything much to happen on the first lap, and apart from turns 5 and 6, overtaking was not really possible. Biscayne Bay has had different configurations in the past, this is the worst by a mile. Best corner(s): Turn 8 A bit like Beijing, not much to choose from, but turn 8 was tight but tricky. Location Rating: 7/10 Looked good an TV, but having a section of the track under a highway wasn't the greatest idea. Circuit Rating: 3/10 At least they avoided chicanes... Race Rating: 5/10 There was a race to be had, but it was mainly over when nobody was able to make any major moves into the first corner. What needs to be done? Perhaps returning to an old Biscayne Bay configuration? But most importantly, work out something better as a pit exit. Again, start and finish line in different places is annoying as a fan. 6: Long Beach - Long Beach Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683615 Long Beach was the third track visited that has been used before, and it is basically the Indycar circuit with a shortcut. However, the shortcut is a chicane that cuts up the long right hand sweeper of turn 1. This chicane was once again tight and useless as a first turn with another obstructing pitlane exit, but it was basically the only detractor from the track (apart from wanting it on the full layout). A good race that should stay. Best corner(s): Turn 6 The long turn through the car park is a favourite of many drivers and fans around the world. Location Rating: 9/10 Steeped in history, and the Piquet story helped a bit. Circuit Rating: 6/10 Despite the history, it is again a circuit with 90 degree corners. the track only has 7 turns, and the first chicane didn't really work at all. Will be better once the cars are allowed on the full track. Race Rating: 6/10 It was really over at turn 1, but the drivers did the circuit justice with decent scraps, and the typical last corner T-Boning. What needs to be done? Cut out the first chicane, and just have a long run from turn 7 to the current turn 3. 7: Monaco - Circuit de Monaco Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683620 Monaco is almost exactly the same as Long Beach. Historic circuit with a shortcut form turn 1 to cut out a section of the track, rejoining later in the lap. It was nice to see Monaco used differently, but it was still the same old Monaco - really really tough to overtake. Monaco without the tunnel or the Loews hairpin doesn't seem right though. Turn 1 once again fell into the "works all the time except as the first corner" category that did plague the season. Best corner(s): Piscine 1 The Formula E cars looked just as good as F1 cars through the left right flick. Location Rating: 9/10 It's Monaco. Circuit Rating: 5/10 Monaco is liked because of the history and toughness, but the rose tinted spectacles were hiding. The shortcut was nice, but it's not the same as the section it avoided. The major difference between F1 and FE cars straightline speed was highlighted a lot during onboards down the start straight. Race Rating: 4/10 Overtaking was at a premium, even with the slower cars. What needs to be done? As soon as possible, go to the full circuit. 8: Berlin - Tempelhof Airfield Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683632 Tempelhof was the first "purpose built" circuit in Formula E. The Tempelhof Airfield was a major part of Berlin's 20th Century history, until it closed in 2008. With a nice big expanse of tarmac, circuit designers had a pretty simple task. On a first look, it doesn't look like they did a good job, but the race wasn't too bad.There were good overtaking opportunities and a few good fast corners, but a section of 4 chicanes in a row was a very bad idea. Best corner(s): Turn 9 A good, quick and long turn which was crucial for a good overtaking opportunity on the long straight. Location Rating: 7/10 Tempelhof made sense as it brought minimum disruption to the city, but the TV crews let viewers down, as there weren't enough cameras which could see the cars and the location of the terminal building behind. Circuit Rating: 6/10 Apart from the final section, a good mix of straights, tricky braking points and fast corners. Race Rating: 6/10 Di Grassi's disqualification left a sour taste, but there was good action elsewhere. What needs to be done? There's infinite scope to change the track with not much happening on the airfield, so a better end to the lap is my suggestion. 9: Moscow - Moscow Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683643 A late addition to the calendar, but Moscow worked really well. It's tough to choose a better part of Moscow to put a track. The track however, was a slight let-down. From the outset, it looks brilliant, and it does have some good corners, but a bit like Suzuka, it's a drivers circuit, not a racers circuit. Turn 11 represented the only real overtaing spot, as the straights to turns 1 and 2 weren't long enough for the speed of the corners at the end, while the chicane was clumsy and easy to cut. Best corner(s): Turns 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 That section of circuit is fantastic, and much better than a 90 left that it could have been. Location Rating: 9/10 Apart from going through Red Square itself, they really nailed it. Circuit Rating: 6/10 Good track, docked a point for the start line and finish line being separated by a corner. Lack of overtaking opportunities is the major detractor. Race Rating: 5/10 A good setup was hindered by the trickiness to overtake, which did at least cause some entertainment. What needs to be done? The Paddock area next to the Kremlin could become the track and the current pit area and last corners could be the new paddock. Still have a bridge hairpin (but the other way) and have the final corner to the west of the bridge, slightly lengthening the start straight. 10: London - Battersea Park Street Circuit Circuit on Google Maps - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6683656 A blast through the trees and the bumps to finish the season. The original plan was scrapped, and chicanes were installed, but they weren't too bad. However, the circuit was plagued by horrific bumps and camber. Overtaking was made tricky by the camber, as the cars would often bottom out trying to cross it, and the less said about turn 1, the better. The drivers asked for the bump in turn 1 to be fixed a few days before the racing, but it wasn't until they were all taking off before action as taken. The trees did mean that unless there were helicopter shots, you couldn't get a perspective of London, but it was a pretty park to say the least. Best corner(s): Turn 13 Wow, what a corner. When I walked it on the Friday night, I knew it would be just about flat out for them, and the camber on the inside made it slightly banked. A quick shoutout for the 6/7 chicane, which was also flat out and amazing. Location Rating: 6/10 Battersea isn't exactly the best known park on London, but it did the job. Circuit Rating: 7/10 Overtaking opportunities were increased when turn 1 was fixed, but it was a bit too bumpy in places. Race Rating: 5/10 and 9/10 The first race was more about getting points, so didn't produce the best stuff, but race 2 was all about the championship. A rainy quali shuffled the grid and there were great moves and racing all over the pack and circuit. What needs to be done? The track is fine (although I would move turn 9 and 10 a bit closer to 8), but the surface is a problem. From the entrance to turn 17 to the exit of turn 3, the bumps are appalling. The camber into turns 8, 9 and 14 are also too much. Do you agree with me? What did you think of the tracks of the series and how would you improve them?


text:
Remove the lids from the ornaments.
Cut 2 acetate triangles to fit inside each jar. At 1/2'' from the bottom of the acetate, bend it 90°.
Choose several characters from the sticker book, varying the sizes. Attach 1 or 2 of the stickers onto each piece of the acetate.
Remove the top cap and pour in black glitter to cover the bottom of the acetate.
Replace the cap. Decorate the cap and lid by gluing on ivory ribbon trim.
Cut an 8'' section of cording and tie a loop for hanging.


text:
Every year, about 12,000 babies are born in Montana, among the 4 million babies born annually in the United States.
Like every other state, Montana has a newborn screening program. Shortly after a baby is born, between 24 and 48 hours of age, it is subjected to routine tests for 28 rare disorders that, if left untreated, could result in intellectual disability, brain damage or death.
The most important factor in these newborn screening programs is speed. The whole point of the testing is to detect disorders quickly so babies can be treated early enough to prevent tragic consequences.
There are a lot of regulations that have to be followed. If a sample is collected at less than 24 hours of age, the test must be repeated. If a test is administered on a baby that doesn't meet the weight requirement of at least 1,500 grams, that also triggers a repeat of the test.
Also, hospitals are required to send samples to the lab within 24 hours of collection, or have them picked-up and delivered by a medical courier.
One complication is that the Montana Public Health Laboratory is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, with limited hours on Saturdays. What happens to babies born on a Friday?
Well, here's what happened in Colorado, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found: Two babies born at hospitals just an hour's drive apart were both born with MCAD deficiency, a rare but treatable disorder. The baby born on Tuesday lived, and the baby born on Friday died. Because of limited lab hours, the Friday baby's blood sample wasn't picked up by courier until two days later, and the baby died at just 4 days old.
Naturally, a new parent would want to know if hospitals in Montana are performing up to snuff when their newborn's life is at stake. Right?
So, I'm sorry that I have to be the one to bring the bad news: If you want to know whether the hospital in your community is performing at the level it should be, you're out of luck. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) refuses to release the information and be held accountable.
In Great Falls Tribune v. Day (1998), a well-known right-to-know case that went all the way to the Montana Supreme Court, Justice Terry Trieweiler noted that "government operates most effectively and is most accountable when it is subject to public scrutiny." But it seems DPHHS doesn't agree.
I have been attempting to negotiate with DPHHS for the release of newborn testing information, statewide, since October 2014. I've been doing everything I can because I care about the health and welfare of Montana's children, and I want to know how our hospitals are performing compared with other hospitals around the country.
I have been stonewalled from the start and have gotten nowhere. I have made several requests. All were denied. It took DPHHS almost a month and a half just to respond to the first request. I also placed several phone calls to DPHHS Director Richard Opper and MTPHL Newborn Screening Supervisor Vicky Tiberi. None of them were returned. I had one conference call with Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Shannon McDonald and Public Information Officer Jon Ebelt, but nothing came of it.
Part of the problem is that Montana's Public Records Act is relatively weak, compared to some states. Here's why:
● There is no time limit for how long an agency can take to respond to your request.
● There is no formal appeal process, meaning that if your request gets denied, your only recourse is to file a lawsuit, which allows the agency to begin wasting taxpayer dollars.
● In other states, requesters have the option of appealing to the attorney general. In Montana, the attorney general has no such prescribed role.
● Even if you win the suit, there is no guarantee the judge will award you litigation costs and attorney's fees. However, Rep. Donald Jones, R-Billings, who sponsored House Bill 123, which just cleared the House last month, aims to change that, among other things.
The department claims that the release of newborn screening information would violate HIPAA, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as well as some sections of Montana law that deal with privacy. For almost 20 years now, government agencies have routinely used HIPAA as an excuse not to release any healthcare-related information. DPHHS is doing so again.
The privacy provisions of HIPAA mainly deal with the release of information that can be used to identify patients. That should not have been a concern in this case. I requested extremely basic and limited information with no identifiers. The information I asked for could never be used to identify a single individual.
I did not request any identifiable information, such as date of birth, gender, medical ID number, or the outcomes of the testing. I simply asked for the names of hospitals, the sample collection date, and the date those samples arrived at the lab. Confidentiality should not have been an issue.
I, like many others, just want to know if the newborn screening program in Montana
is performing at the level required by law. If we, the public, are not allowed to inspect this information, how do we know whether hospitals are succeeding or failing? How do we know whether newborn babies' lives are being put at risk, unnecessarily?
In 2008, out of 12,500 births in Montana, 17 babies were treated for a condition found as a result of newborn screening. Those 17 newborns were found to have a potentially severe or deadly condition.
It is a shame that the press and the public in Montana so often have to file lawsuits against local government agencies just to get a records request fulfilled. The cost of a single lawsuit can easily exceed $30,000. Worse yet, sometimes a local government—like the city of Billings, for instance—just might decide to sue you for simply exercising your right to request public records.
And remember, every time those who represent us behave in such an irresponsible manner, it's taxpayer money that is being wasted to hide information the public is entitled to know.
I will continue to press for the release of this information. In the meantime, if you're a parent with a child who has had a particularly good, or bad experience, with newborn screening; I would love to speak with you about it. Please visit the Montana Center for Investigative Reporting's site and fill out our contact form, or send an email to: email@example.com.
This story was written with support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism.
Follow Jeremy Chapman and the Montana Center for Investigative Reporting on Twitter.