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Hunger in America
Is there really a need for emergency food?
Unfortunately, yes. Experts say that people who don't know where their next meal is coming from are experiencing "food insecurity." And tens of millions of Americans face this situation every day.
This isn't an exaggeration. According to recent reports, 18.5% of American households are considered "food insecure." And at least 40 million U.S. residents — more than one in eight of our neighbors — actually receivedfood aid in 2009.
With our economy suffering, the demand for food assistance keeps growing.
According to Feeding America, a national organization of food banks, the number of Americans needing help with food has jumped 46% in the last three years. This includes 50% more children who need food assistance, and 64% more senior citizens.
Another study determined that 25% of all households with children are likely to experience hunger or food insecurity. And that number goes up to over 30% in households with single parents.
Think of it this way: If you're standing in a line in your community, one of the eight people around you probably hasn't had enough to eat. And if your child is in a class of 28 people, 7 of their classmates may not be sure where their next meal is coming from. It's shocking.
Why are so many of our neighbors hungry?
It's not because there's a shortage of food. Studies show that America produces twice as much food as we need in order to feed everyone in our country.
So what's the problem? Poverty.
Many of our neighbors simply can't afford to buy enough food — even when they're working. Feeding America reports that at least 1/3 of all American families who get help with food have one or more people working. In Oregon, the number is higher — 46% of food recipients are working. Many of the other recipients have lost their jobs, or simply can't find work.
The result is heartbreaking: "A growing number of people have to make difficult choices about what to spend their dwindling dollars on.," Feeding America says:
- "More than 46% of our clients report having to choose between paying for utilities or heating fuel and food."
- "39% said they had to choose between paying for rent or a mortgage and food."
- "34% report having to choose between paying for medical bills and food."
- And 35% must choose between transportation and food."
There's a silver lining. Hidden in these alarming statistics is one bit of very good news: If 60 million Americans are "food insecure," then about 250 million Americans are not.
This means that there are plenty of people who can afford to offer a little help. Not everyone, of course.…But more than enough to make a huge difference. You may be one of them.
And that's what our Palm Beach County Food Project is all about.
Next Pickup Day: Saturday, August 10th, 2019
Most Needed Items:
Non-Perishable Food
- Whole Grain Cereal
- Hearty Soups & Stews
- Canned Meat
- Canned Fruit
- Cooking Oil (Olive, Canola, Sun Flower
- Canned Tuna, Sardines, Salmon and Chicken
- Canned Beans, any kind
- Dried Beans
- Whole Grain Oatmeal
- Canned Vegetables
- Shelf Stable Milk
- Brown Rice
- Ramen Noodles
- Canned Low Sodium Soups
- Fruit Cocktail
- Jam & Jelly, Honey
- Soy Milk
- Canned Milk
- Powdered Vegetable Protein
- Whole Grain Pasta, Dried Mashed Potatoes
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Peanut Butter
Condiments & Spices
Light Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup, Salt & Pepper
Low Sodium Pull-Tab Soups and Single- Serving Meals Dried Fruit Low-sodium Single-Serving Meals Low-sodium Crackers Green Tea (regular and decaf) Chocolate Hard Candies
Non-Food Items
- Toilet Paper
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Soap


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Brunvand & Fishman Ivestigating the Impact of Scaffolds on Preservice Teacher Noticing and Learning from Video
Brunvand, S., & Fishman, B. (2006-2007). Investigating the impact of the availability of scaffolds on preservice teacher noticing and learning from video. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 35(2), 151-174.
Summary: This study investigated how different types of scaffolds (i.e. predetermined video editing effects like text prompts, hyperlinks, and voice over (thinking aloud)) impacted PST's noticing and what they learned from video. These researchers used video effects to focus PSTs on specific, predetermined salient instances in the video. They found that the impact of the scaffolds was dependent upon their alignment with the stated objectives for the use of the video.
Research Specifics:
Sample Size – 41 PSTs
Random Distribution
Science Methods Course
Data: Interviews, observations, and pre-/post- treatment lesson plan artifacts
FINDING: "The results of this investigation indicate that when scaffolds such as onscreen text prompts and teacher commentary are explicitly integrated into video they can have a significant impact on what preservice teachers notice and learn from video. It was also discovered that when scaffolds are presented in this integrated fashion they can influence how participants view videos and make decisions about what notes to record" (p. 172).
NOTE TO SELF – Video is what Schon would refer to as reflection-on-action.
Definition of Scaffolds: "In the context of this research, scaffolds are defined as the various video-editing effects that help focus attention on pre-determined segments of a video" (p. 152).
"One possible explanation for this finding is that members of the IS group were so focused on the two misconceptions highlighted in the treatment videos that they were unable to anticipate other potential problems" (p. 163). MY THOUGHTS – This is an interesting point by the authors and I think it has relevance to the work I am doing on pedagogical skills. It has implications for what happens when we "fix" (I can't think of the right word right now – it's too early on Christmas Day or this cold is really getting to me apparently, so I'm just going to write. Maybe it will come to me), "predetermine", "purposefully focus", "stage", "intentionally focus" others noticing or "professional vision" to our own "professional vision" or what we intentionally notice. Who is to say that one professional vision is more "right" or "better" or are they just different? What value would there be or should their be in novice noticing? To what extent does this relate to constructivist notions of teaching and learning or to more technical-rational notions of teaching and learning? One's belief system becomes exposed depending upon your position on this issue.
"From these results it appears that members of the IS group were influenced more significantly by the scaffolds in what they chose to record in their notes, at least as it relates to these specific strategies" (p. 167).
"These findings revealed that the IS group showed significantly more growth in their recognition of the identified strategies and misconceptions than the other two groups, a difference that could presumably be attributed to the availability of scaffolds in the videos viewed by the IS participants. In particular, the presentation of onscreen text prompts as opposed to just static text was a more effective way to draw attention to, and provide a vocabulary for, certain classroom interactions" (p. 169).
"This suggests the possibility that the presentation of certain scaffolds in the IS videos allowed members of that group to better retain what they learned and noticed from the videos and makes a strong case for the inclusion of explicit scaffolds, such as onscreen text and teacher narration, in the design of future video-based PD" (p. 169).
"A companion finding worth noticing at this point is the fact that the Integrated Scaffolds (IS) group also showed a significant decrease in the number of additional potential misconceptions students might encounter during the lever investigation. In other words, with respect to the misconceptions stated, the IS participants narrowed their focus specifically to the distance measuring and mechanical advantage problems depicted in the treatment videos and didn't anticipate many other problems beyond those" (p. 169).
"When you create scaffolds that intentionally draw attention to something, they inadvertently draw attention away from other potentially important interactions" (p. 170). MY THOUGHTS – I think this statement and the afore-noted finding is interesting because it has implications for what can happen when we intentionally focus others' noticing. We lose or forego opportunity to see what may arise if we did not intentionally focus. I also think there are instances when intentionally focusing is necessary and times where intentionally focusing my not be necessary.
"It's simply worth noting that, judging by the content of the treatment notes, the presentation of scaffolds for the IS group was more effective at getting participants to focus on and record issues surrounding the practice of teaching" (p. 171).
"Video is an effective way to provide teachers with the opportunity to observe specific classroom interactions so that they can develop their professional knowledge and witness firsthand the application of pedagogical theory in a practical setting" (p. 172).
"Channeling" and "Focusing":
Pea. R. D. (2004). The social and technological dimensions of scaffolding and related theoretical concepts for learning, education, and human activity. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 13(3), 423-451.
"Contiguity Theory"
Mayer, R., Moreno, R., Boire, M., & Vagge, S. (1999). Maximizing constructivist learning from multimedia communications by minimizing cognitive load. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91(4), 638-643.

subset: commoncrawl


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BreakingNews, Politics, Sports, Events, Entertainment, *Juicy Celebrity Gist*, Fashion & Style, Beauty Tips, Relationship, Inspiration
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Fake Ghanaian Lawyer, Timothy Yawson, Busted In Court While Defending Client (Pic)
The Weija Police last Friday arrested one Timothy Yawson, 42 for posing as a lawyer, in Ghana. The fake lawyer was defending his client in a civil case at the Weija Circuit Court when he was arrested.
According to the police, the suspect, who has been practicing the learned profession since 2016, will be put before court on Tuesday.
Yawson, who is alleged to have worked for a couple of law firms in the capital, is currently languishing in the Weija police cell pending prosecution.
The suspect failed to produce his law certificate and could not also recall the year he was called to the Bar during interrogation, according to AtinkaOnline.
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gondar to addis ababa.
'It was 20km up a steep climb, the sun was brutal, the weight of my bike nearly pulled me backwards and it took over 2 hours of continually grinding away… I loved it' – me re: blue nile gorge
So I write this from a nice hotel on our second rest day in the Ethiopian capital, Abbis Ababa. After leaving Gondar and my last blog entry we have journeyed through a vast amount of the Ethiopian countryside. It's been a rolling (understatement) landscape that has showcased the fertile lands of this country. With an apparent 80% of the workforce in the fields it makes it that bit harder to see some natural vegetation. The few seen sections of heavily wooded areas are predominantly made up of eucalypts which at times makes it hard to realize that were not back home. When utilizing them for shade the flocks of local kids seemingly emerging from nowhere quickly remind us that we're indeed in Africa.
Despite already being in the 'highlands' the thoughts of hills ending was quickly diminished. The last few days have literally been like a rollercoaster without the downhill thrills. The 'highlight' of all of this was much talked about Blue Nile gorge. It's a gorge that looks like a rip has been taken from the earth's surface, a deep rip. Gavan compared it to the Grand Canyon only more dramatic. So it started with a 20km decent which was hampered by a very rough road, perhaps made more so when the fore mentioned ripping happened. This slowed the descent down to a mere 60km/h in smooth parts (for the record we have managed to get up to 78km/h on other days). Greeting us at the bottom were some local road cyclists with actual road bikes who were on an awareness ride from their opposing cities. It was at this point I was hoping to merely swap bikes for the awaiting climb thinking that an 8kg bike might make it a tad easier than my 40kg hog. As mentioned at the top despite the difficulties I really enjoyed the climb (as with most) for the accumulation of the 2 hour rhythm of turning the pedals over, the challenge that was faced around each switchback corner, the final accomplishment and also the continual views over the gorge. The feeling of 'knocking this one over' was replayed again over the proceeding days lwhen we reached our highest point of our ride approximately 3200m. Now if only it was downhill for the next 8500kms…
So finally it was into Addis where we arrived after another 160km 'mad dash' to ensure the already unwell Gavan could have a nice hotel and some 'normal' food. For the rest of us that were feeling ok we were more than that happy to satisfy his needs. There are only so many times one can have injera (local bread) with a topping of tibs (lamb) before it gets a little repetitive and the lack of greens. Perhaps we need to work out a few more local terms besides bread, meat and rice.
So now that we've been presented with various options in the capital indulgencies have included hamburgers, fries, pizzas, milkshakes, fruit, muesli etc… It's a common theme to sway a little from the traditional offerings when available. Time has also been spent having a sauna, massage and watching movies on TV that one wouldn't normally bother with back at home. Oh also managed to check out some local churches and the national museum including the really impressive human evolution display. The display did really well of representing the countries origins in human history.
Leaving the luxurious life tomorrow it's back on the bikes to continue with the journey. Having time to relax its allowed revelations of how much we've been fortunate enough to experience in the past month whether this be visiting the now topical Tahrir Square, the Sahara or the various people we've met. Gone are the memories of hard days on the bike with the thought of a tough day on a bike in Africa certainly beating a tough day in the 'office'. The bike which at times seems to generate the hard times has allowed this journey for us all to date.
Apologies for this entry being so short but I better get back to the TV, its missing me. Looking forward to spending the next week cycling through the southern parts of Ethiopia before heading into Kenya. As always thanks for the comments and emails.


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Our daily card and channeled message: "Engages the wisdom of the Akashic Records. Reasons with a great shift and presence to the source, which assigns all that is. Receive the wisdom, and form a creation of greatest light within you, that it will emit without you." 💞
Holy shift, dear ones. Something shifted overnight, and yet it isn't done with us yet. The wringer of change continues its contractions, and moves us ever closer to a new expansion.
"Remember who you are and why a one such as you chose this playground. Affirm your true identity. Wander lost no longer." 💞
That's why we'll find the ARs helpful. They'll remind, if it's needed. And so it is! 🙌💫
Akashic Records from The Starchild Tarot * Akashic, created and published by @thestarchildtarot. ✨ (at New Hampshire)


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"Yoga is both the journey and destination of living life well. My passion is is using the practices of yoga, especially alignment based asana, pranayama, and meditation to safely open up the inner and outer worlds to deeper exploration. As a student and teacher, together we grow and evolve our understanding of ourselves and life's possibilities"
Melinda Love has been studying and teaching yoga for over 25 years. She has taught yoga from India to Maui to Florida and has studied various styles throughout her extensive career. She is 200 hour certified in the Sivananda tradition.
Julie is a native of northwest Iowa, where she owned and operated a yoga and massage studio for 6 years. She relocated to Sarasota in 2013, working in this area as a massage therapist and yoga instructor. When in Iowa, Julie left the corporate world in 2004 to become a healer. She was introduced to yoga while in massage therapy school and has always found the two modalities inseparable. She always says "I am a better massage therapist because I do yoga, and I am a better yoga instructor because I am a massage therapist." Her yoga classes are mindful and meaningful. Greater strength, flexibility and balance are the physical goals of every class and she promises meditative stillness and inspiration as well.
You will find a great mix of slow moving, focused alignment poses and vinyasa flow. Students find inner rhythm through steady breath awareness and awesome music. Come join Julie for stretching and steadiness and a unique spiritual experience.
Christy began her yoga journey 25 years ago. After many years as a practitioner she decided to pursue teaching. She did a 6 month intensive yoga training focusing on Hatha and Raja Yoga. Since then she has taken workshops and additional trainings in various branches of yoga. She has experience teaching all ages and levels of yoga.
Jane has been teaching alignment based Hatha Yoga for the past seven years in both Sarasota and Nashville. She completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2010 from Prana Yoga and Healing and furthered her studies by completing her Yin Yoga training in 2016. She enjoys combining Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga elements into her classes, including whole body relaxation and visualization into Savasana (final relaxation). Her intention is to create a class built on sequences that are realistic and accessible to all levels of students in a nurturing, non-competitive environment. Her belief is that it is the balance of effort and release that produces the best results and that accessing and directing the breath is a path to realizing those results while at the same time calming and directing the mind. She uses her knowledge of alignment, use of props, and posture mechanics to modify poses for students as needed. Jane has a degree in Mental Health from Purdue University. She has 25 years of experience in the social services field and also has a personal life coach certification from Coach University.
Janine has been practicing yoga for over 10 years after spending years in the gym with intensive workouts. She found Yoga when she was looking for something that would allow her to mentally relieve the chaos of a stressful career and balance out all the years of hard training. Finally in 2015, she decided to start giving the gift back by becoming a certified yoga instructor. She uses contemporary music during her flow with creative sequencing to keep the class fresh and accessible to any level.
Copyright © 2018 Mandala Med Spa & Yoga Shala - All Rights Reserved.


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Want unique repurposed holiday decor you can make yourself? This creative scrap wood Christmas tree is made from old fence boards and vinyl letters. I love decorating for Christmas, but I don't want my home to look like everyone else's! Inspiration for my projects can come most anywhere, but my husband and I both enjoy finding ways to repurpose… Read More
DIY Headboard from a Closet Door
Wait until you see this DIY headboard from a closet door! This clever DIY project was chalk painted and distressed into a shabby chic beauty! I'm not sure why all our DIY projects seem to take FOREVER but it could be that we're just like you and have full time jobs and family obligations and church activities and on and… Read More
5 Deck Decorating Ideas on a Budget
One of my favorite parts of summer is time spent outside on our front deck. I know my readers love learning how to decorate without spending a lot of money so here are my 5 deck decorating ideas on a budget! This year I kept waiting for my DIY hubby to ask what kind of flowers I wanted him to… Read More
DIY Centerpiece for 4th of July
With only a bit of wood and paint this rustic shabby chic DIY centerpiece for 4th of July or other patriotic occasions adds to a beautiful holiday table. As a homeschooling family of 22 years, we are only one year away from completing our journey educating our children at home. Hooray, yippee, and let's throw a party! The finish line… Read More
Trash to Treasure DIY Step Ladder Shelf
Let's play "You Know You're a DIY'er When . . ." . . . Sunday is one of your favorite days because Monday is trash day! This is the best time of the week to drive around my neighborhood looking for other people's trash that will become my next treasure! . . . Your friends text you a pic from a… Read More
Teen Boy Bedroom Makeover
The last several months have been a whirlwind. Ok, more like a hurricane. Relationships have been tested, our family has been torn apart in heart wrenching ways yet by God's grace we continue to love and support each other through the storms. Since I have shared just a bit about our youngest son I wanted to invite you into another little corner… Read More
Easy Valentine's Day Vignette
Fun tips for celebrating the holiday of love without spending a lot of money or time with an easy Valentines Day vignette filled with bargain treasures. Would it surprise you to know that the overly celebrated day of love is also one of my favorite days of the year? Why would I want to add my approval to the most cheesy,… Read More
Yard Sale Side Table Makeover
Disclosure: I was provided product by BEHR to write this post but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. (Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this post!) Y'all know I love yard sales. But did you know there are phone apps to help you map out the sales in your area? They have changed my life. The one… Read More
Chalkboard Paint Ideas for the Home
Do you like following the latest decorating trends? Or are you more like me? You kinda slide into them while you're discovering your own personal style? Some trends tend to hang around for years and some vanish before they really even get started. What does this mean for you and I? To me it means I should only grab onto… Read More
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Jon Wilkin's reign as club captain is over after three seasons at the helm but his future commitment to Saints will be as strong and dedicated as ever.
Wilkin, who joined St Helens from Hull KR in 2002 and is the longest-serving player currently on the books, will continue to bring his skill, know-how and experience to a set of players tipped by the bookmakers to be among the honours in Betfred Super League XXIII.
He has also given the thumbs-up to James Roby - his successor as skipper - and described the hooker as 'the 'best player in the club.'
The 34-year-old Yorkshire-born multi-talented star said: yesterday: "I am delighted for James and wish him all the best in his new role.
"He can also rely on my own full backing and support in a job which I know from past experience isn't always easy but can be rewarding at times."
On his own future, Wilkin is keeping his cards close to his chest and wouldn't commit himself on setting a date when he will finally hang up his boots.
It could be at the end of this season, or further down the line, but insists that he currently feels physically and mentally fit ahead of the new campaign.
"It will be my decision - and mine alone - when the time is right to retire but until then I will give my all for the club week-in and week-out," he said.
When he does call it a day, he will have a bagful of cherished memories to fall back on as one of the most decorated players in the game.
And the greatest Saints' team he had the honour of playing along side ?
"Without question our 2006 squad," said Wilkin, who excelled in his second row role which was hardly surprising when looking at the quality of players in the line-up
The squad was packed with internationals, including the likes of Paul Wellens, Jamie Lyon, Sean Long, Keiron Cunningham, Leon Pryce and skipper Paul Sculthorpe.
It was also a year Daniel Anderson's charges won the Challenge Cup Final, the League Leaders' Shield and the Old Trafford Grand Final, as well as the BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year award and Anderson taking home the Coach of the Year accolade .
Let's hope those halcyon days are just around the corner once more !


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Friday, February 27, 2009
Secret Agent Kitties: Case #1
Case File: Operation Chow Hound Mortification
Assigned Agents: Tinks (mastermind) and Carly (deceptively sweet)
Problem: Giant Black Chow Hound must be convinced of his lowly social status, apprised of his bottom-of-the-pecking-order title, and humbled beyond anyone's wildest expectations. The fact that Giant Black Chow Hound is already submissive toward us means nothing.
Solution: Both agents shall leave piles of excrement on either side of Giant Black Chow Hound's food bowl and one agent shall carefully balance atop Giant Black Chow Hound's water bowl and relieve herself at will.
Message delivered.
1 comment:
- mayberry tuesdayFebruary 28, 2009 at 7:58 AM
Oh. My. *rolls on floor laughing*ReplyDelete
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YA Scavenger Hunt - Red Team
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a c...
May has become an important month to me. In May 2003, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. In May 2004, I was pronounced "in remission...
Honestly, this is a post I never dreamed I'd write. My hands are shaky, and I'm frantically thinking through all the possible conseq...


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Three-Point Stance: Dream hires, dumpster fires and more
Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell's thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with some "pie in the sky" picks for potential job openings, rating the dumpster fires in college football and ranks the strength of each conference by its head coaches.
RELATED: Prospect pulse - Patrick Surtain | Five-star Cade Mays back on the market
1. Pie-in-the-sky candidates
Your team might have a job opening for next season and you are dreaming of a big name to not only help your program on the field but improve recruiting and bring some excitement to the masses. Here are some hires that would charge up college football, some likely and some very unlikely. Let's call them "pie in the sky" dream hires within reason, otherwise Nick Saban and Urban Meyer would be on each list. So a basis of some reality is necessary. Here goes.
Tennessee – Jon Gruden
We've heard it for what seems like a couple decades now right? If Gruden got back into coaching with the Vols, the fan base would be as happy as they've been since Tee Martin was winning a national title. This is clearly the dream hire.
Nebraska – Scott Frost
A former star player and the hottest young coach in the nation heading back home is exactly what Huskers fans want. If they don't get Frost, I won't want to be around our Red Sea Scrolls message board the day someone else is hired.
Florida – Chip Kelly
Need to fix the offense? This guy can do it. He's an offensive genius and he can recruit, albeit sometimes illegally, and bring offensive stars to The Swamp. Forget Frost or Dan Mullen, this is the dream hire.
Arkansas – Gus Malzahn
He's a local, he wouldn't be on the Hot Seat every season at Arkansas and he's a very good coach. Again this is "pie in the sky" and the chances of Arkansas luring him away from Auburn are slim to none, but why not dream if you are a Hawgs fan?
UCLA – Lane Kiffin
Wait, what? It's a better answer than Ken Norton Jr., right? I have no idea who the dream hire for UCLA would be barring Troy Aikman wanting to leave his million dollar gig as a broadcaster, so I'll make this one my dream hire. Recruiting would jump and interest in the program would quadruple. Make this happen, please.
Texas A&M – James Franklin
Since this was a dumb rumor at the beginning of the season, why not run with it? A&M couldn't do better than Franklin and he would be a dream hire for a team that hasn't won anything in forever. Oh and let's throw Jimbo Fisher in here as well, since that dumb rumor seems to be surfacing also.
2. Rating college football's dumpster fires
How often do you see someone rate the "dumpster fires" in college football? Not often, but I'll give it a shot. Here are the five programs this season who need a call to the fire department and a whole lot of man power to put out their dumpster fires.
• Tennessee – Five-star recruits are de-committing (okay, one), the team is winless in the SEC and the powers-that-be leave Butch Jones hanging out to dry to the media every week when he should have been fired weeks ago. This is a five-alarm fire and it's going to take some work to put it out.
• Florida – The coach didn't want to be there and made up allegations (allegedly) about death threats and the team has completely given up on the field. They are only below Tennessee because of the recruiting advantage of being in the state of Florida, but this fire is raging.
• Nebraska – Potential five-star recruits are de-committing (okay, one), the team can't win at home and it's clear Mike Riley isn't the answer. A home loss to Iowa will tie a home losing streak set in 1961. That's a fire.
• Florida State – Injuries have hurt, but the coaching hasn't helped and the defense, loaded with talent, just doesn't seem to care that much. There is no way they should have a losing record with that schedule and so much talent. This, however, is only a four-alarm fire and will probably be put out by next year.
• UCLA – If anyone seemed to care at UCLA, this would be an issue, but they don't seem to be bothered by how awful the football team is. With such a recruiting advantage over so many other programs, there is no way UCLA should ever have back-to-back losing seasons. But it's only a four-alarm fire because, again, no one seems to care.
3. The conference with the best coaches is ...
Which Power Five conference has the best coaches from top to bottom? Actually I thought this would be difficult, but it really wasn't as the Big Ten is the coaching king. Here are my five in order.
• Big Ten – From top to bottom, this is the easy choice. Only Mike Riley is on the hot seat and even coaches like DJ Durkin, Chris Ash and Jeff Brohm at middling to lower Big Ten programs are great fits. And with a Mount Rushmore of Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, Mark Dantonio and James Franklin, it's hard to match the Big Ten.
• ACC – The ACC has some very good coaches, led by Dabo Swinney and the depth of coaching in the conference is solid. Even last place teams like Louisville and North Carolina have solid coaches in Bobby Petrino and Larry Fedora respectively and I don't see any major hot seat candidates following this season.
• Big 12 – From new coaches like Lincoln Riley and Tom Herman to forever coaches like Gary Patterson and Bill Snyder, this league is loaded with excellence. The only reason it's below the ACC is because two coaches can be considered Hot Seat guys in Kliff Kingsbury and David Beaty.
• SEC – With so many coaches on the hot seat, you'd think the SEC would be last. Nick Saban alone keeps it out of last place and Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, Dan Mullen, Gus Malzahn and Mark Stoops have all done fine jobs. We could see as many as six new coaches in the league, but even the guys on their way out haven't been horrible.
• Pac-12 – Chris Petersen, Mike Leach, David Shaw and who else? Willie Taggart could be, but overall the conference is down when it comes to elite head coaches and guys like Todd Graham and Rich Rodriguez needed this season to save their jobs. Jim Mora has been so bad, he drags the league down by himself.


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The climax of the annual Burning Man bacchanalia in a Nevada desert was scheduled for Saturday, when the 40,000-plus attendees were to gather around the 40-foot-high man-statue and watch him burn.
Instead, the effigy went up in flames four days prematurely early Tuesday, and a San Francisco resident faces felony arson and destruction-of-property charges in connection with the crime of burning Burning Man too early.
According to Jamie Thompson, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the land on which the annual event is held, the fire broke out at 2:58 a.m. Tuesday. Eyewitnesses said flames began about 10 feet up the wooden man�s left leg. Thompson said the huge platform beneath the statue was undamaged. No injuries were reported.
Paul David Addis, 35, posted $25,632 bail and was released Tuesday afternoon from the Pershing County Jail in Lovelock, Nev., where he was booked on felony charges of arson and destruction of property and misdemeanor possession of fireworks and resisting a public officer.
Meanwhile, festival organizers pledged to rebuild the big guy in two days � in plenty of time to burn him down again Saturday as part of the 21-year-old countercultural festival held the week before Labor Day on a patch of Nevada�s Black Rock Desert.
�We have the means and the will. The event continues on schedule, and the Man will burn on Saturday night,� said Andie Grace, communications manager for Burning Man. While organizers created a perimeter around the burn scene Tuesday, festivalgoers will be allowed to visit the pavilion beneath the structure during the reconstruction.
�Before the smoke even cleared Tuesday, we were making calls to our suppliers in Reno to get more wood,� Grace told The Chronicle. �They�re making cuts on it right now.�
Thompson said about 15,000 revelers are already at the festival site, but that number is expected to more than double by the weekend. Many were on the playa, the desert�s dry lakebed, viewing the total lunar eclipse early Tuesday morning when the fire broke out, according to Burning Man organizers.
Thousands of festivalgoers streamed out onto the playa from the surrounding Black Rock City encampment to watch the spectacle, witnesses said. The fire was doused within 25 minutes.
This was not the first time the Man has required rebuilding. Festival organizers say that in 1990, the Man was accidentally cut up with a chain saw while in storage before the event. It was fully rebuilt in time to be transported to the desert and properly destroyed.
�It�s anyone�s guess why someone would do this,� Grace said. �People here are stunned.�
Matthew Puffer, a longtime Burning Man devotee who lives in Oakland, Calif., said he knew Addis from their time together in Cyberbuss, a group that attended the event several times in the 1990s.
�People have been saying for years that it would be funny to sneak up and burn the Man early in the week. But it was always just one of those things that you hear people say,� Puffer said.
Reactions on the playa, where this year�s theme for the festival is �The Green Man,� ranged Tuesday from amusement and support to frustration and anger.
�We wait all year long. This is an adults� Christmas party,� said one disappointed reveler who called herself Erica.
�I am disturbed that the Man is burnt. As I looked at it, I was going, �This can�t be happening,� � said Bob Harms of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., a seven-time burner.
�Some people were chanting, �Let him burn, let him burn!� and some were chanting, �Save the Man, save the Man!�� said Kyle Marx of Eugene, Ore.
�Someone went to a great extent to interfere with everyone else�s burn. I think, frankly, an attention whore has made a plea for attention,� said a Burning Man volunteer who goes by the name Ranger Sasquatch. �In three days, we will have this rebuilt.�


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Happy Wednesday, y'all! My family is on their way to my house soon, so I'm gonna keep this short and sweet today.
I got my Erin Condren life planner in yesterday {finally!} and I'm so obsessed with it. It's so bright and colorful, and it has everything I need for organization. Since I'm always on the go to various schools, this will help keep me on top of appointments, events and even days when our office is closed. While I love my iCalendar {we are a strictly Mac office}, sometimes I just need something written.*
Today was the first day since Sunday that I've actually gotten dressed, and I must say, it felt nice to have make-up on, even though my skin loves when I go without it! {Of course, I've showered, etc., but I'm talking full-on, make-up and hair done and wearing something other than stretchy pants and a T-shirt!}
My mom got me an awesome curling iron for Christmas and I'm really obsessed with it. My hair is super stick straight and is insanely fine and thin. AKA: It never holds curl. But this iron does magic and makes curl hold all day in my hair! I use this hairspray to hold it, which I'm also obsessed with.
Super lame story: I saw that Kyle Richards used this brand on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, so I thought, "Hey, if it's good enough for her, I'll try it!" Ha!
Post script: It is super awkward taking a picture of yourself in your bathroom mirror.
I had lunch with my former American Airlines clients today, and I've missed them so much! I definitely felt like "a lady who lunches" eating at 11:30 a.m. on a Wednesday. Ha!
Anyway, my family should be here soon, so I'm signing off to pick up around the house one last time. Have a great day! xoxo
*Note: I was not asked and/or paid for my Erin Condren review.


text:
The Observer
Lord Hutton will report shortly on the 'circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly', but is likely to regard as beyond his remit such key questions as how the September 2002 dossier appears to include several dishonest claims and whether the country was falsely led into war. It is crucial, if Lord Hutton feels unable to tackle these central issues, that a separate judicial inquiry is now set up to establish beyond doubt what the truth really is and what the implications are for Britain's governance.
On 10 February last year, five weeks before the war started, the Government's Joint Intelligence Committee gave its assessment that there was no evidence that Iraq had provided chemical or biological weapons to al-Qaeda, though in the event of an imminent regime collapse 'there would be a risk of transfer of such material'; in other words an attack on Iraq would increase the risk of terrorism. Tony Blair did not disclose this briefing before the war, and it only became known when the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee released it on 11 September.
It is quite clear that throughout 2002 both Washington and London were actively seeking, contrary to intelligence assessments, evidence to justify the case for war. Four key items were deployed for this purpose. One was almost immediately exposed as plagiarised from a student thesis more than 10 years old. The other three were documents purporting to show that Iraq had been trying to buy uranium for nuclear bombs from Niger, the claim that Iraq was able to deploy WMDs within 45 minutes, and 'evidence' from a top-level Iraqi defector that Iraq had produced several tons of the deadly nerve agent VX.
Each of these raise worrying questions of credibility which require systematic investigation by an independent inquiry. However, enough of the facts are now known to draw some important conclusions.
After months of failed requests, the International Atomic Energy Agency obtained the Niger documents from the US Government, and within a matter of hours established they were obviously forged and announced this on 7 March 2003, 10 days before the start of the war. CIA sources confirmed on 11 July that they had advised Britain to omit the Niger allegations in its September 2002 dossier. So on what justification was it included in this dossier?
Similar concerns surround the 45-minute claim. At the Hutton inquiry Dr Brian Jones from the Ministry of Defence, who described himself as 'probably the most experienced intelligence official working on WMD', said his leading chemical weapons expert was concerned he could not point to any solid evidence of production. Yet the Prime Minister's foreword in the dossier stated unequivocally that 'what I believe the assessed intelligence has established beyond doubt is that Saddam has continued to produce chemical and biological weapons'. So why was the 45-minute claim included, at the request of the Prime Minister according to Alastair Campbell?
The fourth piece of evidence was used on 25 February 2003 when Tony Blair told the House of Commons that 'it was only four years later, after the defection of Saddam's son-in-law to Jordan, that the offensive biological weapons and the full extent of the nuclear programme were discovered'. However, a week later Newsweek obtained details of Kamel's actual IAEA and Unscom debriefing. That reveals he said exactly the opposite. Does this mean that Kamel's testimony was twisted to make the case for war when its public disclosure was not anticipated?
All these questions about Iraqgate 2003 arise because, as the BBC reported on 7 July, 'members of the Foreign Affairs committee said that without full access to all the relevant papers and witnesses, nobody could resolve the row satisfactorily … The committee's inquiry is hampered by Ministers' continued refusal to allow it to see intelligence papers and question intelligence personnel'. That in a nutshell is why a full judicial inquiry is still urgently needed into why Britain went to war in Iraq.


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A Trip to the Melting Pot
I have a bit of an anniversary around this time, and decided to go to the Melting Pot to celebrate.
The Melting Pot is a chain fondue restaurant. It's a little pricey, so not something you would do very often. The food is also extremely rich. We started with a very nice spinach and artichoke cheese fondue, with bread, apples, and veggies to dip in. I had a very nice California salad to follow, then came the main course. This included lobster, fillet mignon, duck, sirloin, and chicken. For dessert, white and dark chocolate swirled together, with fruit and sweets to dip.
Afterward, we went for a nice walk around Lower Queen Anne in the warm twilight. It was a very nice evening, and the perfect way to call an end to a very stressful year.


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Mix brown sugar, basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper in small bowl. Drizzle oil over vegetables in large bowl; toss to coat well. Add seasoning mixture; toss to coat well.
Place vegetables in grill basket, grill rack or thread onto skewers.
Grill over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning occasionally.


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Another crepe-paper fog night, the universe hanging in thin translucent gray layers, each more faded and less real than the one in front, inkshadow of a cedar tree, a stone wall, the scent of the sea. I love the way the wind billows the watercolor world. And it's quiet enough to hear the waves.
I really should turn in so I can drag myself onto the bus tommorrow. Blah. Ah, what I wouldn't give for a promise to keep, or a few miles to go before I sleep.
Argh. I was about to hit post when the firetruck pulled up. Now it's all orange and flickery and smoky here. Doesn't look like there's anything I can do to help, though. Serves me right for trite Robert Frost allusions.


text: 1 Solo fra tutti - maxmex (La coda del serpente) 🐸 maxmex Pop Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio 1 Free MP3 Download Say thanks Crediting is always required, appreciated and allows artists to gain exposure. Music: Solo fra tutti - maxmex (La coda del serpente) by maxmex Source: https://soundcloud.com/maxmex/solo-fra-tutti-maxmex-la-coda-del-serpente License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Get music free for a link from https://starfrosch.com Copy Credits Name your price Standard $1.00 USD Generous $2.00 USD Monthly Flatrate Standard : $3.00 USD - monthly Generous : $9.00 USD - monthly Say thanks on Social Media × Plays5 0 License InformationYou are free to use under the following terms.Attribution: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.starfrosch is donation based. Please donate and copy the credits to your work. Thank you very much.This Royalty Free mp3 download is free like free in freedom. × Spotify SoundCloud Bndcmp #Italian songwriters #Pop; #Folk; #tape; #maxmex; #inner; #poetry; #orginal #songwriter; #canzone # #italiana; #cantautore; #folk #pop;


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Adventurer Leo Houlding's upcoming Antarctic venture is 'most hardcore yet'
Adventurer Leo Houlding is about to set off on an Antarctic expedition that will include an attempt on unclimbed peaks, as well as hauling his gear 400km.
Bankers' fines help finance rescuers' rope techniques training
Fines imposed on bankers for their misdemeanours have helped rescuers hone their skills. Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers spent the ...
Unwanted outdoor gear helps equip youngsters for Yorkshire Dales activities
Donations of unwanted outdoor gear have been put to good use by youngsters in the Yorkshire Dales. The clothing, collected by retailer Rohan as par...
'Brutal' Lakeland conditions test runners' mettle in 50th OMM event
Conditions described by organisers as 'brutal' led to a fifth of competitors retiring early from the 50th Original Mountain Marathon.
Win an ice climbing trip this winter – photography competition
Adventure travel company inversion are running a photography competition to win an ice climbing adventure to the spectacular Vall de Boí, Spain this winter.
Wear bright colours, urges rescuer, as Highland walker found after night on the hills
A rescuer has advised lost walkers to wear bright colours to help those searching for them. Donald Macrae of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team also u...
Survey shows Walkers Are Welcome status is good for towns' health and wealth
Making walkers welcome provides economic and health benefits for towns, a survey has found. Walkers Are Welcome towns can now be found across Engla...
Coastguard releases footage as injured climber winched after Skye fall
A climber was winched from a rockface after injuring herself in a fall on the Isle of Skye. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was on a sea clif...
Friends of Lake District issue statement after 'innacurate' Thirlmere zipwire post
Conservation charity the Friends of the Lake District has issued a statement on its position towards planned developments at Thirlmere.
Two teams in seven-hour Snowdon rescues as walker gets stuck on Crib Goch
Two rescue teams were involved for more than seven hours in bringing to safety walkers in difficulties on the Snowdon massif.
Deadline looms for outdoor fans to enter Kendal photography competition
Outdoor enthusiasts with an eye on a top photography prize need to get snappy to be in with a chance to win.
Injured man airlifted from Coniston fell after falling 100ft from scramble
A man was airlifted from a Lake District mountainside after falling about 100ft. A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing the man tumbl...
Rescuers use washing-up liquid to free trapped Snowdonia climber
Rescuers used their tailoring skills and copious amounts of washing-up liquid to free a climber jammed in a crack on a Snowdonia rockface.
Cairngorm team in 'brutal' stretcher carry of injured walker in eight-hour night rescue
Rescuers in the Cairngorms were forced to make a 'brutal' stretcher carry over several miles after a man suffered a serious injury in a fall.
Two Original Mountain Marathon runners rescued after suffering injuries
A runner taking part in the Original Mountain Marathon in the Lake District was rescued after injuring his ankle on the fells.
Yorkshire Dales volunteers upgrade Swinner Gill stretch of Coast to Coast path
Volunteers have upgraded a section of Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk in the Yorkshire Dales. The 220m stretch of the popular long-distance rout...
Touching the Void climber Simon Yates will deliver talk for Northumberland rescuers
The mountaineer famed for cutting the rope of his climbing partner as he dangled from an Andean mountain will deliver a talk to raise funds for a rescue team.
Ribblehead visitor centre reopens on Yorkshire Three Peaks route with virtual tour
Visitors to Ribblehead station on the route of the Yorkshire Three Peaks walk can now take a virtual journey over the area, including the renowned Ribblehead viaduct.


text: Collective action on high blood pressure in England: how can we do better? A collaborative effort is needed to reduce the burden of hypertension in England, a new Public Health England report finds. 26 Jan 2018, by Siobhan Chan Public Health England's new report aims to tackle high blood pressure by mobilising support from commissioners, healthcare professionals and the voluntary sector. A 'stronger and more focused effort' is needed to tackle the ongoing challenge of hypertension in England. That is the verdict of Associate Professor Jamie Waterall, National Lead for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, writing in a new report published this month by Public Health England (PHE). More than a quarter of adults in England have hypertension, which is linked to at least half of all heart attacks and strokes, as well as being a risk factor for chronic kidney disease, heart failure and vascular dementia. The new report, Tackling high blood pressure: an update, published on 9 January 2018, updates an action plan for hypertension first produced in 2014. It outlines what more the health system can do to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of high blood pressure. READ THE REPORT NOW The BHF contributed to both documents as members of the Blood Pressure System Leadership Board, a cross-sector committee convened by PHE that oversees a programme of work on hypertension. The update highlights recent progress with nationally implemented hypertension schemes, such as the NHS Health Check programme, the BHF's innovative blood pressure funding award programme, the BHF and PHE online heart age tool, the Stroke Association's Know your Blood Pressure campaign, and Blood Pressure UK's Know your Numbers campaign. Public Health England's updated action plan outlines what healthcare professionals can do to have the biggest impact on hypertension. Image courtesy of Public Health England. Making Every Contact Count The report is a further call to action for healthcare professionals, commissioners, government bodies, local authorities and the voluntary sector. It provides evidence-based advice and practical guidance for clinicians on early detection and management of high blood pressure. It also highlights activities that can have the greatest impact in reaching, detecting and managing 40% of adults in England with undiagnosed hypertension and the 1.6 million people who have had a diagnosis of hypertension but are not currently treated to NICE guidelines1. "This action plan requires a whole-system response if we are going to reduce the burden of this important risk factor," the report says. "It requires continued support and collective action from all levels in order to make a significant impact on the reduction of high blood pressure in England. "It is clear that a lot more can be, and needs to be, done." Read the updated action plan References 1 NHS England/Public Health England (2017) The Size of the Prize in Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention


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Traditionally buttermilk was leftover from churning butter. This buttermilk would have been made from raw milk, and thus would have naturally contained a sour lactic culture. These days raw milk is not so easily come by, so buttermilk is usually made with skim milk that is fermented with a mesophilic (room temperature loving) bacteria culture.
This means that it is REALLY easy to make buttermilk at home. The hardest part of making buttermilk is finding a good buttermilk culture to start with. In Ireland we used Cuinneog's, and in British Columbia, we use Avalon's buttermilk. You may have to experiment with a few different buttermilk brands to find something that will work for you. Alternatively, you can buy a packet of buttermilk culture online.
Buttermilk should taste sweet and cheesy when compared to yogurt and kefir. My children love to drink it straight. However, you can make thick buttermilk by following a yogurt heating process and cooling it to room temperature before culturing.Print
Traditionally buttermilk was leftover from churning butter from raw milk. These instructions explain how to make buttermilk from store bought milk.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1/2 cups 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Fermented
- 1/2 cup cultured buttermilk
- 2 cups milk (whole or skim)
- Mix buttermilk and milk in a clean glass jar.
- Screw on the lid and leave it somewhere warm for 4-12 hours.
- Store in the fridge.
- Try to re-culture within 2 weeks to keep the culture active.
- The first time you make your buttermilk, it may take a little longer to achieve a nice flavour. It will depend on the quality of your buttermilk culture. However, once you've established your culture, it should be relatively quick.
- Use buttermilk for fermented baking, making cottage cheese, or as a nice alternative to milk.
Keywords: probiotic, cultured, gluten free, easy, healthy


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Hey guess what? Two ramblings in a row!!! How did you get so lucky you ask? Mostly I have a ton of books to ramble about and I am low on ideas for other blog posts...so ramblings it is. Today is a ramble about one of my favoritist short story collections. My baby sis read it, called me and said get it, get it right now, and through the magic of ebooks The Starry Rift: Tales of New Tomorrows edited by Jonathan Strahan was purchased, read and loved. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Orange by Neil Gaiman - Another one of my favorite authors contributes this quirky, strange awesome story told entirely through answers. This is the story that made my baby sis call me and I am glad she did. The story...if you can call it that is some sort of transcript where all you get is the protagonists answers to unknown questions. It is surprisingly readable and has a great sense of humor. I love love love it.
Repair Kit by Stephen Baxter - This whole story is a bit of a deus ex machina in a tongue in cheek way. The whole story hinges on a box that can repair things by pulling them from the past. The best part is whenever the mechanic is asked to explain the way the box works, he is tells them that it is unexplainable alien technology.
Anda's Game by Cory Doctorow - Our plucky and pudgy heroine of this story shows us that anybody can choose to do the right thing. Taking MMORPG's to a whole new level this story gives us a whole lot of social commentary (without to much preaching) in the package of an ordinary girl and her ordinary family. This story has heart and that makes this story awesome.
The Dust Assassin by Ian McDonald - The biggest appeal of this one is that it is set in India. The author does a great job integrating the future with the culture, customs and religions of this fascinating country. The combination of this perfect setting and a heart wrenching, yet brilliant story make this a unique and wonderful addition to this collection.
Infestation by Garth Nix - Vampires, aliens, supersoldiers, everything a fast paced story needs. This story takes an old school baddie, vampires and turns them into supersoldiers from another planet. In the future these supersoldiers have gotten to Earth and the government allows civilians the chance to take them out...or die trying. A fun twist on the vampire hunter story.
Pinocchio by Walter Jon Williams - The last entry in this collection deals with a society where children are limited because of over crowding and the ability to switch bodies at will. The story examines what happens when you are young and basically immortal. It is also a social commentary on our celebrities, child stars, and the flash in the pan fame the Internet can bring.
What is your favorite short story genre? Is social commentary in a story good or obnoxious? What is your vision of the future? How does one write a story in only answers?


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If you enjoy being in the middle of the excitement of a game day at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but prefer premium amenities, a Loge Box is for you! Never before offered at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a Loge Box offers four seats in the heart of the crowd with a touch of luxury and comfort. There is an option to combine Loge Boxes to obtain eight or more seats (in increments of four). Each seat holder gains access to their seat through a private, premium-seating stadium entry and individual box entry. In addition, the location of the Loge Boxes on the U1 level of the west side of Bryant-Denny Stadium will feature covered seating and other amenities including access to the club lounge, premium food and beverage options, access to the in-club bar, in-box service, in-box televisions and game-day statistics. Loge Box holders also receive game-day parking in a reserved lot with the location being determined by Tide Totals priority points.
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An Open Letter to Mike Weatherley – Tory MP for Hove and Portslade
Posted by Jason in Miscellaneous Brain Chunder, Rants on July 10, 2013
Dear Sir
I know you signed yourself "Mike" but that's probably a bit familiar for now. I might get more comfortable with it later on in this letter but for now I think I ought to use your full title of Conservative Representative for Hove and Portslade. Just so everyone knows who you are.
Thank you so much for writing to me for my opinion, not once, but three times! It's nice to know that in these times of necessary austerity there's still a bit of spare cash around for headed House of Commons paper with your photo on. Do you get a prize if you use it all up?
Since you are so persistent I thought I'd do you the honour of a reply though I find the questions asked rather simple. In fact, as you are about to find out, I have more comments than could even be fitted overleaf from your simple questions. Perhaps I should have used the overleaf of all three letters I received?
So firstly. It's nice to know you are in favour of an in / out referendum on the EU in 2017. I fear, however, you may be jumping the gun a bit, a point to which I'll return later. I do wonder, however, given the proposed date how the good people of Portslade are supposed to make up their minds how they'd vote in it? We are, after all, talking about a totally hypothetical referendum in four years time. Crystal ball? Tea leaves? Perhaps Jeremy Hunt could shake some water in a mysterious way and we could all drink it and get super hero powers that allowed us to see in to the future?
Even if the referendum was tomorrow though there is nowhere near enough information supplied for me, or anyone else who isn't an MP with a party whip to stick to, to decide. Perhaps you thought it was better to send a simple letter three times than an informative one once. Or perhaps – cynical I know but bear with me – the letter sent gives you the very best chance to receive or even spin the statistics you crave.
Before I could decide such a thing I'd need to seek out a lot more information. What would be the affect be on trade agreements? Would all parties explain copiously that the European Court of Human Rights was bound by the Council of Europe and not the EU? Would I need a visa to see my dad in France? How would the farce that is port and airport immigration deal with even slower lines of people they suddenly have to check more thoroughly? Should I believe UKIP when they say there will be 29 million Bulgarians and Romanians heading here to steal my job, live on benefits and be generally smelly? And is there any chance you could explain why it is that, when discussing Europe, the right reverts to protectionism and the left to defending trade?
I fear that you will actually receive very few replies. Portslade being a working class area – but more working than shirking – most of its residents will be far too busy trying to make ends meet under your austerity regime or struggling with the shortage of Junior School places and the frankly appalling local secondary school to answer hypothetical questions about something no-one understands properly. And any who suddenly find themselves living on one of Portslade's many estates with an extra bedroom are probably saving all three of your letters to burn for heat when the winter comes round.
But, Mike (see, I said I'd get there), I think the real point is this. Democracy in this country is driven by general elections rather than referenda. As you rightly point out you don't have a majority. It is my unending hope that come 2015, you, your hopeless Chancellor and your frankly backwards Education Secretary, not to mention Call Me Dave, will be voted back to the obscurity you enjoyed in the thirteen years leading up to 2010.
Hope this helps!
Yours sincerely
*real name used on printed copy to be posted this morning.
Some Totally Made Up People's Attitudes to OFSTED Ratings
Lilliania-May Thompson is 36. She works in social care and reads The Guardian's Education section. She has considered Steiner education but couldn't afford it. Her daughter Alfafa Bean is in Year 2.
"Of course the whole thing is a scandal. I don't even know what they're rated for and they take no account of alternative means and methods of education. Who says playing all day isn't conducive to developing four year olds? Or that vegetarian only school lunches don't provide proper nutrition? These people would have them sat in rows of desks repeating their times tables by rote and getting slapped with a ruler if they dare speak out."
Reporter: "And what is the rating of Alfafa Bean's school?
"Well it's outstanding. It has been since they started inspecting I believe."
Reporter: "And how did you get her in?"
"Well I may have fiddled the council's residency records a bit."
Oliver Bastard is a commodity trader for a firm of Swiss Nazi brokers in the city, specializing in jackboot futures. He likes rugby, champagne and following Jeremy Clarkson on twitter. His son Timothy is in Year Two at Station Primary.
"Bloody good idea I say! Makes sure they're learning with the right kind of chap if you catch my drift. I didn't gazump that Web Designer for the house right next to Timmy's outstanding school for nothing you know. Now he'll be able to read and write properly before we send him off to spend his teenage years in buggery and cold showers. An entire education spent without having to speak to a fucking chav. I just wish they did Latin."
Reporter: Because it'll be useful at private school?
"No you idiot, because it makes you fucking miserable and I had to go through it."
Sara, 29, is a teacher at a satisfactory school. Her son Sam attends the nearest school to her house which has just been rated as "good". He's in reception.
"To be honest we've had so many inspections where I work and yet I'm sure we're marked down simply for being in the catchment area of Bernie Grant House over there (here she points to a burned out shell of a block of flats with an Uzi poking out of a top floor window, clearly visible from the Head's Office at her employer's, Shameless Primary). We put Sammy in to the nearest school because we don't think the OFSTED is as important as getting him and me to school on time and having some nice local friends to play with. In any case they always mark you on something different. I've literally no idea what we'll be marked on next."
Reporter: Here's Michael Gove's latest proposal.
"If you want me I'll be in the toilet weeping."
Wendy, 34, is a Stay At Home Mum who is also a qualified accountant. Husband Simon is in IT. Their son Toby is due to start school in September.
"Well we're right on the border between two good schools but when we looked at last year's admissions it was touch and go whether we'd get in either. The nearest school to us is a church school and it's outstanding but neither of us are religious and we just didn't feel right sending him there. Unfortunately we didn't quite get in either of the other two so now it looks like Toby will have to do a 3 mile return bus trip to Shameless Primary. It's not ideal but at least they've cleared out the last of the crack dealers from Bernie Grant House."
(noise of reporter choking)
Nigel, 37 lives next door to Wendy with his wife Mandy and their son Frank.
"Come in. Have a pew. And I do mean literally. They gave us that for the kitchen when we made up 60% of the collection for the new church roof. It's amazing how connected I feel to the church despite only having gone for the last year. What's that? No that isn't a Richard Dawkins book on the shelf. Get out! OUT! I need to pray."
Dave, 40, is "on benefits". He likes Special Brew, Jeremy Kyle and farting. His son Tyrone is currently excluded.
"What's an OFSTED? Whaaaaaarrrrrrp!"
Cycling Is Fun
Posted by Jason in Miscellaneous Brain Chunder on June 30, 2013
As a teenager I rode a bike all the time. From the age of 13 I did a paper round (actually most of the time I did two) and I did them on my bike. For this purpose my parents got me a red "racer" with three gears. At weekends in the summer me and my friend David would ride our bikes up in to The Downs. Sometimes just as far as Devil's Dyke to shoot our catapults but sometimes a 30 mile, hilly route all round the Sussex countryside and back again. Proper cycling. David provided the puncture repair kit and the knowledge of things like what to do if your chain fell off. I (mechanically inept) provided the company. I enjoyed it immensely.
Then I stopped doing the paper round. Not long after I was with David and attempting a right turn on a busy road when I was knocked off. I only got cuts and bruises but it was enough to put me off and before I knew it I had stopped riding my bike. Up until six months ago the only other times I had ridden a bike were when I was at my mum's place in France and I borrowed my step dad's 'sit up and beg' bike to ride round the French countryside. Like a little English vicar.
But six months ago I* decided I needed to get a bit fitter and I* also decided the best way to do this would be to get a bike and start cycling again.
*my wife
*my wife again
I asked some advice of some cycling types on twitter and then mostly ignored it by buying a bike I liked the look of. I know. But for the last few months I have been the proud owner of a hybrid bike which I have ridden as often as I can and, frankly, loved. Quite a few things have changed since I was a teenager however.
To start with it seems that the act of riding a bike has somehow become political. That somehow just by getting on it and riding I'm sticking two fingers up to Jeremy Clarkson style motoring libertarianism. As someone who doesn't enjoy driving at all I was always ambivalent in the 'motorist v cyclist' rows that would sometimes rear their heads in the pub or on message boards or twitter. Now I'm firmly in the cyclist's corner. Whether this is selfish self interest or just seeing things from a particular point of view I'm not sure.
Then there's the reputation of cyclists locally. This certainly wasn't helped when a well liked local business man was killed by a single punch from a cyclist. And while there are plenty of responsible cyclists there are also people like the guy who, on dark winter mornings, cycles the wrong way up my road with no lights or hi viz.
Meanwhile the Green Party run local council are building more cycle lanes. While I should be in favour of this as a big user of them I wouldn't want budget used on them that could be providing school places or collecting the rubbish. When I was cycling as a teenager there wasn't a single cycle lane anywhere. In short, cycling can feel controversial.
However, here is the other thing that's changed since then; thanks to the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendalton and particularly Wiggo cycling is also cool. In fact this picture of Bradley Wiggens may just be one of the coolest things ever. The cycle lanes that are there are being used more and more and even on quiet routes at odd times of the day I see plenty of fellow cyclists. This is a real Olympic legacy. People of all ages are out there, inspired to do something not because it may be good for them but because it is fun, available and part of the zeitgeist.
For me though, the best thing is how much I enjoy it. Much like when I was regularly playing football or cricket, cycling puts me 'in the zone'. I don't have to worry about office politics or making my connection at Gatwick Airport or who threw the weeble or why the carrots that were perfectly good for dinner last week are suddenly disgusting. It's just me and the bike. Perfect.
Last night I asked twitter if I should go for a ride or start on the wine early but, really, I already knew the answer. As soon as Whirlwind was in bed I saddled up and went for a ride all round Brighton and Shoreham, observing families heading home from the beach and people heading out for a Saturday night on the town. One of the last parts of the route is along a road that runs between the beach and the harbour, near the houses with the private beaches where the slebs all live. It's quiet at that time of evening and I let rip, pedalling as fast as I could. In no time at all I was overtaken with consummate ease by someone on a road bike who, frankly, left me for dead. I wonder if it was David?
P.S. I know you're all thinking 'but why the inane title'? I know I would be. Well it is, of course, a chance to post a link to this obscure song of the same name by Japanese pop band Shonen Knife. If Wiggo doesn't inspire you to start riding this certainly won't.
My Father's Day Wishlist
So Father's Day is approaching. Adverts for power tools seem to be on every thirty seconds and MoonPig.com have found themselves a wonderful new male model so that, however good your parenting, you can still feel inadequate for a whole month leading up to your special day using the simple process of aging.
It's a day that takes up the thoughts of fellow dad bloggers whether it's Alex from Dadda Cool quite rightly bemoaning the commercialisation of it all or Hapless Dad's less than serious present suggestions. As someone who has given up spirits (at least for now) and regards power tools with the same suspicion everyone else reserves for the wrong end of a Kalashnikov (I googled that to check the spelling and not to buy an AK47 by the way Mr Forensic Policeman) there is probably nothing typically blokey that you can buy me anyway. So my Father's Day wish list is not so much a list of stuff I would like to add to the house that we will shortly be packing up anyway but more a list of stuff I'd like to happen…..
- I would like the toilet flushed by my son. People have commented on my twitter avi but it hasn't been working recently. The last thing I want on my special day is to sneak upstairs for a half hour read of The Observer behind a locked door only to be greeted by a bowl of bangers and mash.
- I would like to wake up naturally after 7am. Whirlwind, please note that naturally does not include screaming at your brother, doing the Gangnam Style on your bed, yelling "I'VE DONE A POO", bouncing on my head, bouncing on Mummy's head, actually doing a poo or attempting to come downstairs and turn on CBeebies by yourself at the age of two, all at the sort of hour that would make your average postman wince.
- I would like not to see the MoonPig.com father's day advert. Or that tit that advertises Cillit Bang from the tiny aeroplane.
- I would like to be confident enough in my spelling that I don't have to google things like Kalashnikov (potentially putting me on an international terrorist watch list) or Cillit Bang (the first word of which is one typo away from getting my blog a whole different adult orientated audience).
- I would like something positive to happen at my football club and for England to win the cricket (yes I know we are in to the realms of fantasy now)
- I would like a never ending supply of pork belly that didn't actually make me fat. Just for the day.
- I would like to be able to send the kids to ACAS when they fight.
- I would like not to be old enough to remember ACAS and to be clever enough to remember if they still exist by myself. Is there actually any call for them post Thatcher? Come to think of it the last newsreader I can remember mentioning them was Kenneth Kendall.
- I would like not to be old enough to remember Kenneth Kendall.
- I would like someone to make it possible for Alex and Sid from CBeebies to have an actual fight while introducing Cloud Babies.
- I would like to go a whole day without stepping on some Lego. If I could also go to bed that night without finding Pom Bears in the sheets that would be a bonus.
- Self ironing work clothes. Actually this should be number 1.
Surely this isn't too much to ask? Happy Father's Day!
Respect, Education and the Far Right
Posted by Jason in Miscellaneous Brain Chunder on June 2, 2013
Yesterday saw small protests by far right groups the EDL and BNP and counter demonstrations. The story is not very high up in the mainstream media but it dominated my twitter timeline. A chat about it all last night with @JimmyBHAFC set me thinking.
First let's state the obvious. The EDL / BNP do not own paying respect to Drummer Rigby or any other fallen soldier for that matter. If you want to do that you can go to a memorial and leave a tribute any time you want. The far right tried to turn a fallen soldier in to a 'Princess Diana' issue. Back in the day it seemed you had to publicly outpour your grief for Princess Di (not to mention buy Candle in the Wind) or you were some kind of sick, uncaring bastard who wanted her dead. Now here's the EDL trying to say that unless you were with them you were against Drummer Rigby. They failed massively and once again were outnumbered by both protesters and the police. Good.
However it also has to be said that while I think that peaceful counter demos are fine the UAF was in danger of scoring an own goal yesterday. They do not own 'respect' either. Stand by the side and mock by all means but even fascists have a right to lay wreaths at a memorial in this country. I think it would be a worse place if they didn't.
So that's the respect part dealt with but why think about education in all this? Because, for me, politics is starting to polarise as it so often does in times of forced austerity. As the credit crunch hit initially, here in Brighton people veered left, leaving the City with a Green MP and Green led council. (This gave the City an excellent MP and terrible, incompetent joke of a council from the same political party but that's a whole other post). As further austerity has bitten, as benefit claimants continue to be demonised and as the Tory party obsesses over Europe again a significant portion of the rest of the country has veered right. UKIP support is probably at an all time high, at least in terms of poll ratings. And UKIP (or at least their spokesman) seemed quite happy yesterday to hop on the EDL bandwagon.
So we worried in our chat that this sort of ideology might become more and more attractive to the working classes. How do you stop people from making the two plus two equals five choice that you have to join the right of politics to show respect to those who fight for this country?
Education. I'm not going to beat around the bush here. The EDL may stand for English Defence League but spend just a few minutes looking at their communications on Facebook and you will see that English is not their strong point. In fact most of them can barely spell simple words. Some of them seem to think that Brighton Pavillion is a mosque (should they know different? Of course. It used to be a Royal Palace and is therefore as much part of English history and culture as fish and chips or The Sun. Plus they could have Googled it.). In short we are talking about people whose education is appalling, You could call them thick and you'd be right but that's not a good thing. As a society we've failed them.
But it isn't enough just to teach children to spell and that two plus two equals four if you ask me. Teaching of respect is equally important and something I worry Michael Gove (yes him again) does not understand in his drive for grammar tests, OFSTED inspections and Free Schools a la Toby Young. Teach a child simply to read and write without thinking and they may not know what to do with it. Teach them to think for themselves and the spelling and reading will come because they will darn well want to express themselves.
I remember when Boy came home and told me about the various festivals they had been taught about (Eid, Diwali) and being once again proud of the school he is at. They do a Nativity too though. He has a couple of Muslim children in his class who were, nevertheless, part of the Christmas concert. This is what true multiculturalism means. Not terrorism or creeping Sharia but learning about one's own culture whilst learning to respect other people's. I worry how long they will be able to do this.
When I bang on about education it's because that is one place where we really can start to make a difference. The UAF blocking the Cenotaph yesterday may have lost a few more to the far right who were heading that way anyway but surely the long game is to not have anyone heading that way in the first place. Not through indoctrination or forced political correctness but by giving everyone a fair chance to think for themselves and to discuss problems in a reasonable manner. This goes for Islamic extremism too. Islamic terrorists have been poorly educated. They are vulnerable people easily brainwashed by hate preachers. They need help to extricate themselves from hate just as much as the EDL.
Wouldn't it be great if, instead of just having plans to subject 7 year olds to high pressure grammar tests (to start SORTING THE FAILURES at 7), Mr Gove also came up with ways to prevent children, particularly from poor backgrounds, being led into worlds of crime, extremism and hopelessness?
Butlins: Great For Kids But Stuck In The Past
Posted by Jason in Miscellaneous Brain Chunder on June 1, 2013
I know some fellow Bloggers are Butlins Ambassadors. I am not but having just spent a week at Butlins Bognor Regis, in The Ocean Hotel, I thought I'd review it. After all, we did spend a fair amount of money on it.
The rooms at the Ocean are spacious, modern and comfortable. The kaleidoscope lights are a cool feature and the kids loved their Wham! and Pow! Beds and stuff boxes. The bath and showers are excellent and the bed comfy (I slept very nicely for a whole week). The wi-fi is very simple to connect. So far so good. Even better were the Butlins Butlers. A team down on the lower ground floor who, as well as taking your luggage, will book anything from a restaurant, to an activity to make you a balloon animal (Whirlwind woke me up with hers the next morning but even so…). They are friendly, funny, efficient and great with the kids.
There are a few small peeves. The kid's den doesn't have a door. On the first night this meant Whirlwind kept getting up and running round the room after which OH and I decided we'd prefer if it did have a door. Also there are only two lifts. This would be ok if check outs and ins were spread out but as they all take place on the same day you can't get in the lifts on those days – really annoying considering that everyone staying there has kids and / or elderly people in the party and a good deal of luggage. There are too many rooms for the cleaners to get round. We had gone four days before it got a 'full' service and even then they didn't change the sheets. The loo was only properly cleaned once.
Overall though probably a 7.5/10.
Certain things put me off when eating out. Among these are buffets, unseasoned meat, meanness and bad service. We got all of the above at one stage or another. Buffets fill me with dread, a cornucopia of food drying out, going cold and being sneezed on and the Ocean's buffet didn't disappoint. The breakfast was never less than lukewarm. At least on the first couple of days we could serve ourselves but after that we had to be served like prisoners causing longer queues and colder food. On two random breakfasts there are no tea spoons to stir your drinks. The butter and sugar keep moving. On the last day they run out of milk and someone is dispatched to the shop. One waiter tells us it will be 30 mins. Another 5. It was about 10. This put us off the buffet in the evenings and we tried a few places round the complex.
Of these Turner's is the most 'well heeled' – which is to say expensive. The menu is by UKIP (£12 for Cottage Pie) and on the first visit the service by Basil Fawlty. The strap line should be "Turner's – taking the 'modern' out of Modern British". When we went on the Tuesday night we weren't allowed in without using the hand sanitiser (the families either side were though) by a man who looked more like a roving manager than a waiter. He then forgot to give us a wine list or the butter that comes with the steak that was supposed to season it, leaving a bland hunk of unseasoned meat. We still go back for the last night blow out and it's much better, the girl serving us giving the best food service of the week.
Papa John's fresh pizzas were great but, once again, price very much encouraged you to have their buffet instead. Eat there all week and you'll end up the size of Rick Waller.
The Beachcomber pub does standard chain pub food well (think a good Harvester) but when we try to get a voucher for it we're told we need to give 24 hours notice. "No one mentioned that at check in" we point out to the butler. "That's because the rule changed this week."
Eventually it was explained to us that the hand sanitisers and being served by the staff were because of a suspected outbreak of a sickness bug. We met no one all week whose kid had this but plenty who'd thrown up once due to a treats, excitement and rides combo. The sanitising doesn't work anyway. For the last three days Whirlwind gets a terrible flu bug and is confined to barracks. Possibly this is because, while you have to practically suit up to eat, everywhere else germy hands are being placed on rides and in to piles of 2p pieces.
The dining packages are a rip off unless you do stick to the hotel buffet. We spent a good deal on 'overspends' and yet never really got back our initial outlay either. I would love someone from Butlins to justify why the buffet is valued at £17.50 per adult yet the adult allowances on vouchers for other venues are only £13.50?
The overall impression is of penny pinching and box ticking. 4/10.
Kids and Entertainment
This is where Butlins should score highly and I'm pleased to report they did. There are large-ish queues for some shows and for the free ones you have to get there early but they're well worth the wait if you have little ones. Both ours loved Barney and Thomas, gibbered happily about the puppet shows and boogied at the Tots Disco.
Sports were also really good (but see below). Boy did two football mornings, one a free for all and the other requiring booking and we also played family rounders. Both kids adored the pool. Whirlwind, before she got ill and despite being only 2 was on the water slides in the little pool and the bigger slide with Daddy while Boy loved the wave machine and also set a new personal best for the furthest he's swam. The go-karts were a big Boy favourite but be careful, as they're £5 a go for about 4 minutes.
The redcoats are amazing. So good with kids. In the first half of the week in particular we had two very happy children.
There is managerial stupidity even here though. Boy's second soccer session is moved to an old Astroturf pitch covered in sand and water. The pro soccer coach (who's excellent) and Ajax style drills are moved while a falconry display is held on the new state of the art soccer pitch. It's immensely frustrating and drops the mark from 10/10 to 9/10
What else?
The negative part of this review might come as a surprise as I tweeted quite positively early on in the week. However the grinding application of petty rules wears on you, especially when you're told it's to protect your child and then they get sick anyway.
It has to be said the kids mostly enjoyed themselves and that's what family holidays are about so we'd probably go back. We wouldn't buy a meal package again however. Holidaying in the UK means no airport and flight stress, again great for the kids, but for half the week the weather was awful.
As an adult going to a Butlins Hotel you need to ignore the flashy marketing, blogger tie ups and Vine posts and set your expectations to mass check in, all you can eat and lager with everything. Until you can choose whatever days you want to holiday and until managers concentrate on giving the guests a good time instead of health and safety check lists Butlins will always live in the past.
My Parenting Prejudices 2. Food Spitting…..
Posted by Jason in Humour, My Parenting Prejudices, Parenting on May 15, 2013
Perhaps the weirdest weaning method I have ever come across is that used by American actor, vegan and (IMO) nut-job Alicia Silverstone. Admittedly being a nut-job seems to be a prerequisite for Hollywood actors who, if they're not members of cults seem instead to be intent on frying their brains on alcohol and drugs or joining food groups like the raw food movement (no Woody Harrelson, just because you were in a couple of movies does not give you the right to instruct us all to forage for nuts and berries for the rest of our life).
In March 2012 Silverstone was reported to have posted a You Tube video and blog in which she is seen chewing her food and then spitting it in to the waiting mouth of her baby Bear Blu, a la mama bird. This I'm against, mainly because it sounds disgusting. Food spitting is a parenting prejudice I am happy to admit to.
But how did it come about? In fact she got the idea from her lesser known but just as rich and mad sister Mavis and her son Rodney Bear Blu though their video was never posted. Luckily I had an exclusive peek and have transcribed it for you below………..
Mavis Silverstone: Ok then Bear, er I mean Rodney, Mommy's going to make you a yummy feast!
Rodney Bear Blu: (sotto voce) You sure? That looks like you're making more of that collards drizzled with flax oil.
Mavis Silverstone: YEAH BABY!! Here we are. Miso soup, collards and radish with flax oil and grated daikon
Rodney Bear Blu: (sotto voce) Oh for fucks sake. No cheeseburger then.
Mavis Silverstone: Open wiiiide! *chews furiously* Here we go! *spits in to baby's mouth*
Rodney Bear Blu: *gags* *pukes*
Mavis Silverstone: Oh my poor wickle baby!! Are you sick honey? You want me to chew you up more daikon? It's very healing.
Rodney Bear Blu: No it isn't! It's fucking minging! You know the only thing worse than pre-chewed grated daikon? Fucking pre-sucked miso soup! You know that by the time it gets to me it just tastes of saliva right? YOUR saliva? You want that I should just cut out the middle man next time and just suck your tongue?
Mavis Silverstone: Oh…baby you can talk….and you sound a bit like a British football hooligan. How did that happen?
Rodney Bear Blu: Never mind that you sappy hippy bitch. Listen up. Stop with the pre-chewed food nonsense. I'm a baby human not a baby bird. Just get me some regular food, cut it up and give it to me on a plate so that I can tip it all over the floor like any normal baby. And also some meat would be nice. In fact anything that wasn't drizzled in flax oil would be nice. But meat please, once a week. And since I know how much that daikon costs you, you can make it wagyu beef – cooked sous vide.
Mavis Silverstone: But honey, just like my better known sister I'm a vegan!
Rodney Bear Blu: Oh yeah! Of course you are. So you definitely wouldn't want anyone going to the newspapers about your secret sausage collection would you.
Mavis Silverstone: Actually they'd probably be more interested in how you can talk like that at 10 months old but I take your point. Wagyu beef it is. Unchewed.
*stalks off to make herself some dandelion tea*


text:
What Are Comparatives? (with Examples)
What Are Comparatives? (with Examples)A comparative is the form of adjective or adverb used to compare two things.
Examples of ComparativesHere are some examples of comparatives (comparatives shaded):
- Mark is taller. (taller = comparative of the adjective tall)
- Mark listens more attentively these days. (more attentively = comparative of the adverb attentively)
- When you hire people who are smarter than you are, you prove you are smarter than they are. (R H Grant) (smarter = comparative of the adjective smart)
- Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others. (Jonathan Winters) (less likely = comparative of the adverb likely)
Forming ComparativesOften, the comparative form of an adjective or adverb can be formed by adding the suffix -er or by placing more (or less) before.
Here are some examples:
|Word Type
|add -er
|precede with more
|more quickly
|precede with less
|less quickly
However, it is a little more complicated than just adding -er or using more. The section on the right offers more detail on how to form comparatives.
Read more about forming the comparatives and superlatives of adjectives.
Read more about forming the comparatives and superlatives of adverbs.


text:
A former Ashland Police officer has pleaded guilty to federal drug and gun charges.
32-year-old Melvin "JR" Schoch Jr. pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone and possessing a firearm in during the commission of a drug crime, during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Ashland. Two other counts from a January superseding indictment were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Why'd this guy really make the count given the guilty plea?
Schoch, who was on duty with the Ashland Police at time and armed with duty weapon, admitted to entering the residence under the guise of having a search warrant.
Nice using the drug war to steal drugs from people and then sell them. Is anyone really surprised by this type of revelation?
State Sponsored Criminal: Melvin Schoch Jr.
Because the reason you go work for the state is so you can be above the law.
Barron is the owner, editor, and principal author at The Minuteman, a competitive shooter, and staff member for Boomershoot. Even in his free time he's merging his love and knowledge of computers and technology with his love of firearms.
He has a BS in electrical engineering from Washington State University. Immediately after college he went into work on embedded software and hardware for use in critical infrastructure. This included cryptographic communications equipment as well as command and control devices that were using that communications equipment. Since then he's worked on just about everything ranging from toys, phones, other critical infrastructure, and even desktop applications. Doing everything from hardware system design, to software architecture, to actually writing software that makes your athletic band do its thing.