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Shero's wisdom, innovation made Flyers into winnersby Adam Kimelman
Fred Shero is best remembered for nine words he scrawled on a blackboard in a locker room of the Spectrum in Philadelphia on a May day in 1974.
"Win together today and we will walk together forever," was the message, and his Philadelphia Flyers went out that day and beat the Boston Bruins 1-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to become the first expansion team to claim hockey's greatest prize.
Those players did more than win a championship that day; they formed a bond that still holds strong nearly 40 years later. It was a lesson few recognized at the time, but now all realize was prescient.
"All of what Freddie did we recognized later," Bob Clarke, the captain of that Flyers team, told NHL.com.Now, more than 30 years after he coached his last game and more than 20 years after his death, Shero is being recognized for his abilities behind the bench with a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Shero will be inducted Nov. 11 along with Chris Chelios, Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan and Geraldine Heaney.
After a 13-year playing career spent mostly in the minor leagues -- he played parts of three seasons with the New York Rangers between 1947 and 1950 -- Shero started coaching with the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 1958. From there he bounced around the minor leagues, winning an International Hockey League title with the St. Paul Saints in 1959-60, a Calder Cup title with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, a Rangers farm team, in 1969-70, and a Central Hockey League title with the Omaha Knights, another Rangers affiliate, in 1970-71.
That impressed Keith Allen, general manager of the Flyers, who was looking for a coach after firing Vic Stasiuk in 1971.
"I didn't know Freddie well, but I had followed his career and he had won everywhere," Allen said in the Flyers history book "Full Spectrum." "The only thing that made me wonder was why [Rangers general manager] Emile Francis had given other guys a chance [to coach the Rangers] and never given one to Freddie. But his record was so good and I'd never heard anyone say a bad word about him."
Shero brought with him to Philadelphia a different view of the game. He was one of the first coaches to embrace the emerging Soviet style of hockey, where teams attacked as five-man units. He also was the first to have an assistant coach, hiring Mike Nykoluk in 1972. He also was the first to use morning skates and the first to embrace video study.
"Freddie was the first coach to use team systems," Clarke said. "Everybody played the same way on the ice. Every player was taught the same way, even though different players had different roles. And that was way ahead of hockey's time. Nobody else ever did that. … He was by far the most progressive coach ever."
Shero was the master of getting the most out of his players, and in Philadelphia he had a tough, talented team and let those players do their thing. That meant high-end offensive play from Clarke, Bill Barber and Rick MacLeish, stone-wall goaltending from Bernie Parent, and blunt-force physicality from Dave Schultz, Andre "Moose" Dupont, Bob Kelly and Don Saleski. Shero's Flyers became the "Broad Street Bullies," beloved in Philadelphia and the scourge of the League everywhere else.
They also became one of the most successful teams of their era.
"Those were the players that he had," Shero's son, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero, told NHL.com. "It's not like he had a bunch of fighting teams in the minors. My father … he said I had guys that liked to fight so I let them fight. If he had the Montreal Canadiens it would have been different."
The Flyers missed the playoffs in Shero's first season, but in 1973 they beat the Minnesota North Stars in six games in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the franchise's first-ever postseason series victory.
The following season saw skill (four 30-goal scorers and Parent's Vezina Trophy performance in goal) and strength (Schultz's League-record 472 penalty minutes) emerge in equal parts to push the Flyers to second in the League with 50 wins and 112 points. They eliminated the Rangers to become the first expansion team to beat an Original Six franchise in a playoff series, and then defeated the Boston Bruins in six games in the Final.
It was that series that established Shero as a brilliant tactician, as his plan to give Bobby Orr the puck at all times allowed the Flyers to use the Bruins' brilliant defenseman as target practice for their forecheckers.
"When he first said it, we said do you know who Bobby Orr is? We said it was like giving a kid a stick of dynamite and telling him to go play in the street," Terry Crisp, who spent five seasons playing for Shero with the Flyers and went on to become his assistant, told NHL.com. "He said if we dump it into Dallas Smith's corner Dallas Smith gets the puck and Bobby Orr skates up the ice, gets a long pass and off he goes. … If you dumped it into Bobby Orr's corner he has to go back and get it and go the length of the ice. Bobby Orr was famous for leading the charge and then being the first back to defend it -- he was that good a skater. After six games that's a lot of mileage. It wore Bobby down, even as good as he was."
"One day we're practicing and Freddie says turn your sticks over, put your knobs on the ice. And then he says OK, let's do some drills. We're going through our usual drills with the knobs of the sticks. After 15 minutes Clarkie says to Freddie, this is ridiculous. Freddie looks at him and says yup; took one of you guys 15 minutes to come and tell me."
-- Former player and assistant Terry Crisp
In 1974-75 the Flyers won a League-high 51 games and tied the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres for most points in the League with 113. They ran through the playoffs and beat the Sabres in six games to win a second straight Stanley Cup.
The 1975-76 season saw the Flyers achieve another first. During the season two Soviet all-star teams played exhibition games against NHL teams. The Soviet clubs won six of the games and tied a seventh, but the eighth and final game saw the famed, feared Central Red Army team visit the Spectrum. On Jan. 11, 1976, the Flyers' physicality was more than the Soviets could handle and the Flyers won 4-1.
How significant was the victory? Shero called the win against the Soviets more meaningful to him than the 1974 Stanley Cup win.
"My dad always felt the Russians were the best," Ray Shero said. "If you can beat the Russians then you'd be the best. Even though you won the Stanley Cup and you're champs of the world, how do you know [you're the best]? You haven't played the Russians, so how do you know you're the best? The Red Army was recognized as the best team, best skill. They were dominating teams. … It was one of those games with the intensity and it was well-documented how they left the ice. It meant a lot."
Shero got the Flyers back to the Cup Final in 1976, but with Parent out with an injury they were swept in four games by the Canadiens. Shero's Flyers joined the Canadiens (1967-69, 1976-79), New York Islanders (1980-84) and Edmonton Oilers (1983-85) as the only franchises in the post-1967 expansion era to make it to the Stanley Cup Final in three straight seasons.
Shero resigned from the Flyers after the 1978 playoffs, capping a seven-season run that saw him go 308-151-95, and 48-35 in the playoffs. He's the winningest coach in Flyers history, and his seven seasons with the team is longer than any other coach the club has employed.
More than wins and losses was the way Shero changed the game, especially in his relationship with his players.
"What really stood out is that I never saw him raise his voice to players," Clarke said. "There were times you knew he was angry at us but never did he ever forget that his job was to coach us. So he never attacked any player personally."
When Terry Crisp retired from the NHL as a player in 1977, he immediately was hired by Fred Shero to serve as a Flyers assistant coach.
Crisp had seen all of Shero's different ways of motivating players during five seasons of playing for him, especially the famed notes he would leave for players. Some would be written on the locker room chalkboard, while others would be stuck in a player's glove or taped to his locker stall.
Now that he was on Shero's staff, Crisp said he was ready to see where Shero got all those interesting quotes from. There had to be some giant book of famous quotations Shero had at the ready in his desk, right?
"The first time we were together I said I want to see the book," Crisp, now a broadcaster for the Nashville Predators, told NHL.com. "He said what book. I said the quote book. He looks at me and says do you drink tea? I said yeah, sometimes. He says what kind of tea do you drink? He said Red Rose tea, those little tea bags, the string and that little cardboard tag on the end of it, they have them on there.
"I don't know if he made it up or he told me the truth, but they just came from a tea bag. That was Freddie."
Crisp went on to coach in the Ontario Hockey League and the American Hockey League before returning to the NHL as coach of the Calgary Flames in 1987. Two years later he had the Flames in the 1989 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens, and the night before Game 1, sitting in his office, he decided to get his former boss on the phone.
"Freddie answers the phone and I said hi Freddie, it's Crispy. I said we open the Final tomorrow in Montreal. I said, what do you think? He said that's good. He paused and said the coach who works the hardest is going to win the Cup. I hang up and I'm disappointed. But then I got to thinking. Freddie … he just told me, what are you congratulating yourself for? He said your job isn't over. Go back to the drawing board and get it done. He left it to me to figure it out."
Crisp's Flames went on to beat the Canadiens in six games, in the process making him the third man in the post-1967 expansion era to win the Cup as both a player and a coach.
-- Adam Kimelman
Shero forced the players to think for themselves and solve problems on their own.
"Freddie would give you a scenario and let you figure it out," Crisp said. "One day we're practicing and Freddie says turn your sticks over, put your knobs on the ice. And then he says OK, let's do some drills. We're going through our usual drills with the knobs of the sticks. After 15 minutes Clarkie says to Freddie, this is ridiculous. Freddie looks at him and says yup; took one of you guys 15 minutes to come and tell me. We're doing it because he told us to do it. He'd put scenarios out there and see if you came up with the solution. He didn't have to tell you what it was about. He always had you wondering, what does this mean, what are we doing. He let guys find out for themselves."
When he wasn't testing players on the ice he was making them think off of it. Shero's words prior to Game 6 on that long-ago chalkboard at the Spectrum was just the most famous of his messages.
Others included:
"When you have bacon and eggs for breakfast, the chicken makes a contribution but the pig makes a commitment."
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire."
"There are no heroic tales without heroic tails."
Players would find the messages left in a glove or a skate, or taped in a locker stall.
"I remember one he gave me," Crisp said. "I hadn't played five games in a row. One day I come in for practice and inside my stall was a note. The note said, 'They also serve those who sit and wait.' I'm tired of waiting and he knew I was getting upset. So he just gave me a reminder. Your time will come and you'll be ready."
After leaving the Flyers, Shero was hired as coach and GM of the Rangers. In his first season he guided New York to a third-place finish in the Patrick Division, but a postseason hot streak saw them beat the Flyers in five games in the quarterfinals en route to a trip to the Stanley Cup Final against the Canadiens. The Rangers won Game 1 in Montreal but lost the next four.
That first season would be as good as it got for Shero in New York. They lost to the Flyers in the second round of the 1980 playoffs, and with the team 4-13-3 after 20 games in the 1980-81 season, he was fired.
In 10 seasons as a coach Shero went 390-225-119, and his teams went to the postseason eight times in nine full seasons. He won a pair of Stanley Cup championships in four trips to the Final, and in the post-1967 expansion era he's one of 10 coaches to lead two different organizations to the Stanley Cup Final. He also won the first Jack Adams Award as the League's best coach in 1974.
He's 32nd on the all-time regular-season wins list, but 22nd in points percentage at .612. His 63 playoff wins are 13th all-time.
Shero was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1983, but beat it and went on to work on New Jersey Devils radio broadcasts and coach a team in the Netherlands in the 1987-88 season.
He returned to the Flyers in 1990 when he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. During a speech on the ice at the Spectrum he said, "I knew the day I left here that I had made a mistake." Not long after he was hired by the team as a senior advisor.
"It was something we'd never forget in terms of getting that phone call," Ray Shero said of his father's return to the Flyers. "They wanted him to come back. It was the right time. … I think he always looked at himself, and everyone always looked at him, as the coach of the Flyers, as the Flyers do."
The cancer returned later that year and Shero died Nov. 24, 1990.
Shero has been eligible for the Hall of Fame for decades, and while six other members of those championship Flyers teams already are Hall of Fame members -- Clarke, Barber, Parent, Allen, owner Ed Snider and broadcaster Gene Hart -- Shero had been left out. Until now.
Whatever the reason for his exclusion, however, there's no room for bitterness; just joy at Shero receiving this long-overdue honor.
"I think it's going to be a pretty special, emotional experience," Ray Shero said. "But I think it's more about my dad's relationships with his players … his being inducted validates some of his teams, because it was about the players and this is about people that gave him the opportunity, Ed Snider and Keith Allen, after 13 years in the minors. They were the only people to take a chance on him to coach in the National Hockey League."
Shero won with them, and now as fellow Hall of Famers they'll all walk together forever.


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Chesapeake Energyposted a jump in second-quarter profit on Monday after it sold its midstream subsidiary and said it expects to sell another $7 billion in assets during the current quarter.
After the earnings announcement, the company's shares rosein trading after the closing bell. (Click here to get the latest quotes for Chesapeake.)
The company, the nation's second biggest producer of natural gas, expects to sign three deals for its 1.5 million acres in the Permian Basin in West Texas, easing investor worry about the need for the cash-strapped company to raise funds.
Net income in the quarter was $929 million, or $1.29 per share, up from $467 million, or 68 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.
Excluding the $584 million gain from sale of its Chesapeake Midstream Partners, a $490 million gain in the value of its energy derivative positions, and other one-time items, earnings per share were 6 cents, the company said, down sharply from 76 cents a share in the year-earlier period.
Revenue increased 2 percent to $3.4 billion from $3.32 billion a year ago.
Revenue topped expectations but earnings fell short: Analysts had expected the company to report earnings excluding items of 7 cents a share on $2.44 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.

subset: commoncrawl


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The STAAR (State of Texas Assessment for Academic Readiness) rating uses different designations than the old TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test. Ratings include Met Standard and Improvement Required, with special distinctions being given in Reading/English Langange Arts, Math and Top 25 Percent Student Progress.
The district received the new rating of Met Standard, as did each of the four campuses—high school, junior high, intermediate and elementary—within the district.
"I am very happy about it," he said. "It's a tribute to the hard work of our entire staff."
The district also earned two distinctions for Academic Achievement in Mathematics, and scored in the top 25 percent of its 40-school comparison group.
The Texas Education Agency Accountability Summary for the district as a whole shows that it met 32 of 34 performance indicators, or 94 percent.
In participation rates, it scored 16 of 16, or 100 percent, and 3 of 3 indicators (100 percent). It did not met the federal limits on alternative assessments criteria, leaving it with a score of having met 51 of 54 possible, or 94 percent overall.
In summary, the district met standards on Student Achievement, Student Progress, Closing Performance Gaps and Postsecondardy Readiness.
The Elementary Campus (grades pre-K—4), which had rated Academically Unacceptable in 2011 under TAKS, met 24 of 26 performance indicators (92 percent).
In Mathematics, the Elementary campus earned distinction in mathematics, and also earned distinction in Top 25 Percent Student Progress.
The Intermediate campus (grades 5-6) met 15 of 16 performance indicators, and 12 of 12 in participation rates, for 27 of 28 possible indicators, or 96 percent.
The Intermediate campus also achieved distinction in Mathematics.
Gilmer Bruce Junior High met 29 of 29 performance indicators (100 percent), and achieved distinction in the Top 25 percent Student Progress category.
The high school met 43 of its 45 indicators (96 percent) and achieved distinction in Math and Top 25 Percent Student Progress.
Other county superintendents also had reason to smile.
The six other school districts located primarily in Upshur County also all Met Standard.
Big Sandy ISD Met Standard, as did its three campuses—high school, junior high and elementary.
The high achieved distinction in Top 25 Percent Progress, and the Junior High rated distinction in Reading/English Language Arts and Top 25 Percent Progress.
Ore City ISD Met Standard, with each of its three campuses also achieving that.
All four of Harmony ISD's campuses Met Standard. The high school achieved distinction in Reading/English Language Arts and Math. The junior high received distinction in Reading/English Language Arts and Top 25 Percent Progress.
New Diana ISD was rated Met Standard, with the high school also getting a distinction rating in Reading/English Language Arts.
Union Grove ISD was rated Met Standard, as were its junior high and elementary campuses. However, the high school was rated Improvement Required. The junior high achieved distinction in Top 25 Percent Progress, while the elementary got three Distinction awards, in Reading/ELA, Math and Top 25 Percent Progress.
Union Hill ISD was rated Met Standard, as did each of its two campuses. The high school achieved distinction in Reading/ELA, while the district's Sharon Richardson Elementary School earned distinction in three categories Reading/ELA, Math and Top 25 Percent Progress.


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Are you determined to quit procrastinating and be more productive this year? Even when you're motivated, it can be tricky to stick with it—especially once your calendar fills up with deadlines.
"Procrastination is very tough to overcome sometimes," says Torrin B., a fourth-year graduate student at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. "It's easy to dwell on how long or difficult something may be and lose motivation."
Luckily, we've got three evidence-based productivity systems to help you out. These techniques will have you getting things done more efficiently with fewer anxiety-ridden, caffeine-induced late-night study sessions. Harness their power and set yourself up for a productive year from start to finish.
1 The Zeigarnik effect
In the 1920s, psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik found that it's human nature to strive to complete a task we've already started (that's why cliffhangers in TV shows work so well—we come back because we want to know the conclusion). Zeigarnik developed her theory based on her professor's observation that servers at a busy restaurant were better at remembering a table's order before their meal was complete, but that once the check had been paid, the server no longer remembered the details of the order.
Zeigarnik tested her theory in the lab and found that the same was true in other contexts. She assigned random tasks to study participants and learned that when a person was interrupted from their task, they actually became more eager and more likely to complete it. In other words, you might have an easier time getting that assignment done if you can convince yourself to just start it, even if you walk away before it's finished. Students agree: In a Student Health 101 survey, more than 70 percent of respondents felt that just beginning a project made them more likely to come back and finish it.
Try it
Begin by setting aside just 45–60 minutes to get started on a project. Chances are you'll feel better about jumping back in and finishing the job once you've made a dent in it.
"Just getting started is the hardest part for me," says Shawna S., a second-year graduate student at Portland State University in Oregon. "If I don't start, I wander around thinking about starting. Once I actually get myself started, the anxiety of the project starts to go away."
Expert advice
Don't push projects aside for too long, says productivity expert David Allen, author of the bestselling book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (Penguin Books, 2002). "Your brain hangs on to things that are incomplete, taking up valuable 'mental real estate' that could be used for other and better things. Keep track of those things that are incomplete and review them regularly."
2 Deliberate practice
Psychologist K. Anders Ericsson found that musicians who implemented deliberate practice, or intentional practice that focuses on improving in a specific area or on a specific skill, became more successful than those who practiced without a strategy, according to a 1993 pioneer study in Psychological Review. Ericsson and other researchers also found that the same was true for university students in a 2005 study in Contemporary Educational Psychology. And it can be true for you too.
So what does deliberate practice look like for you? Think of it as "goal-oriented" studying, where you're trying to single out the specific elements you're having trouble with for improvement (whether that's understanding complex research or improving your work presentations). Basically, you come up with a plan to work on the things you're not so good at until you become better, ideally with help from a professor, supervisor, colleague, classmate, or tutor. And you keep track of how you're doing.
Try it
How can you deliberately put deliberate practice into practice? (Whoa.) Try these key factors:
- Set intentions. Make an outline of what you're going to get done. Focus on the hardest tasks first and schedule breaks every 45–50 minutes before moving on.
- Strive for improvement. And know how to measure it. Is your goal to get through a work presentation without reading your notes? Rehearse it at home until you can do it with one less flash card, then two. Keep going until you're flash card free.
- Make it reasonable and consider your skill level. If you're struggling with calculus, don't try to "catch up" all at once by joining a study group for advanced factoring. Seek out extra help or tutoring based on your individual baseline.
- Get feedback. Feedback can be intimidating; we get it. But if you want that presentation to be golden, you should practice in front of someone you trust. Did your person notice that you weren't making eye contact or were saying "um" too much? Keep practicing. If you're OK with brutal honesty, try videoing the presentation and sending it out for critiques. Go on with your brave self.
- Repeat, repeat, repeat. Got it right once? Do it again a few more times so that it becomes second nature—whether it's solving for X or speaking like a pro.
Expert advice
Focus is a key component of deliberate practice (you know, that whole deliberate part). Once you start losing it, it's time for a break. Free yourself from the books every now and then to let your brain breathe.
"You absolutely need regular breaks from intense thinking to allow your brain to regroup and refresh itself," says Allen. "Thinking engages a 'cognitive muscle' that can burn out if not given adequate rest. That means enough sleep and frequent breaks during the day to daydream, play, and think about nothing in particular."
Work full time and worry about how those frequent breaks affect your productivity levels on the job? Consider this—the makers of productivity app DeskTime analyzed their real-life data to find two "magic numbers": The highest-performing employees were those who worked for intervals of 52 minutes straight, with 17-minute breaks in between. Previous studies have shown that human ultradian rhythms (your body's natural intervals in a period of 24 hours) take 20-minute alertness dips, so the research matches up. You might not be able to control your class schedule or work hours, but back at home base, set your alarm to notify you when it's time to bust out the worm, color with your nephew, or do whatever lets your brain have some wiggle room.
3 Accountability
Do you ever find yourself sitting down with your work, ready to amaze yourself with your focus, only to spend the next hour discovering the capacities of your phone: texts you haven't responded to, Instagram pics you missed, emails that absolutely must be read right this second? You're not alone.
"When we do work in front of a computer that's connected to the internet,
especially with our phone by our side, we interrupt ourselves on average every 40 seconds," says productivity coach Chris Bailey, author of The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy (Crown Business, 2016). "This means we don't even get a minute's worth of work done before we become distracted. Try downloading a distractions-blocker app—such as Freedom or Cold Turkey—and leave your phone in the other room to do your most important work."
Try it
Research shows that when we hold ourselves accountable to something, we're better at sticking to it. Putting together an accountability chart takes only a few minutes and can help you spot time-management problems like a pro. With each work session, take note of the time frame and what you've accomplished. Be honest with yourself, even if that means realizing you've wasted 45 minutes taking BuzzFeed quizzes. (And be gentle to yourself—we like to know what kind of summer vegetable we are too. Just maybe not while finishing a project, or this article.)
If you're not satisfied with your productivity, plan the next chunk of time (say, two hours after class tomorrow) and write down exactly what you need to get done during that session.
"I use a planner to keep track of important dates and deadlines. Writing these down makes it easier for me to remember them, and it holds me accountable by seeing them every time I open my planner."
—Dalleny R., third-year student, Elgin Community College, Illinois
Here's what an accountability chart might look like for writing a short essay over the course of a day. (If your days include school + work, commuting, or caregiving, you'll probably need to break this out over the course of a few days. And of course, it's always best to review an assignment with fresh eyes at least 24 hours after you finish writing it.)
Expert advice
"Productivity is about time management, and time management is all about self-management. To manage yourself, it's also important to cut back on stress," says Yvonne Surrey, a continuing education instructor at Hostos Community College/Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development and productivity coach in New York. Here are her tricks for taking care of yourself:
- Go to bed on time and get enough sleep.
- Eat healthfully and regularly (don't skip meals).
- Exercise regularly.
- Journal.
And while you're mastering your productivity and treating yourself like the royalty you are, do us all a favor and cut down on the caffeine, suggests Bailey. Swap it for plain water. Not glamorous, but effective if you find yourself with heart palpitations from 10 too many cups of coffee. Now select a productivity system and get on with making it your best year ever. We'll do the same.
Levent G.
Third-year graduate student, Creighton University School of Pharmacy, Nebraska
"I don't know about you, but deadlines are the bane of my existence. Nothing makes me jump out of bed or break into a cold sweat more quickly than the thought of missing a due date. Trying to keep track of school, work, family, and my social life is stressful! If any of this sounds at all familiar, then you need to check out Wunderlist. This app will keep track of your to-do list, syncing it seamlessly between all your devices, giving you total peace of mind. Need Wunderlist to alert you about deadlines so you can look like a champ? Done. Want to be able to share your list and collaborate with anyone? It does that too. Best of all, Wunderlist will help you sleep sans deadline anxiety."
Like my humor, this app isn't for everyone. If you have an incredible memory and hate making lists, you can probably skip this app. But everyone else will find it very useful. Being able to do things like integrate Outlook and my messenger with Wunderlist pretty much changed my life.
Let me tell you what's not fun. It's not fun to have to make another list because you can't find the piece of paper you wrote your initial list on. What's worse is freaking out because you're "pretty sure" you've left something off the new list that was on your first list. Is this app fun like playing with a fidget spinner? No, but it is fun to not lose your list anymore. Make sense?
When I was in the car today, I thought of a few things that I needed on my to-do list. Instead of reaching for paper and a pen like I normally do, I just grabbed my phone and used the app. It was very effective.
How to be more productive [podcast]: Freakonomics
11 ways to work full time and study full time simultaneously: Cornerstone University
Improve your productivity in grad school: AAAS Science Magazine
11 quick steps to be a super productive student: Lifehack
10 habits of highly effective students: Education Corner
3 strategies to boost your productivity and efficiency as a college student: Thomas Edison State University
David Allen, productivity expert and author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (Penguin Books, 2002).
Chris Bailey, productivity coach and author of The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy (Crown Business, 2016).
Yvonne Surrey, continuing education teacher, Hostos Community College/Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development; productivity coach and speaker, Brooklyn, New York.
Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406. Retrieved from https://projects.ict.usc.edu/itw/gel/EricssonDeliberatePracticePR93.PDF
DeskTime. (2014). The secret of the 10 percent most productive people? Breaking! Retrieved from https://blog.desktime.com/2014/08/20/the-secret-of-the-10-most-productive-people-breaking/
Kupor, D. M., Reich, T., & Shiv, B. (2015). Can't finish what you started? The effect of climactic interruption on behavior. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(1), 113–119. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057740814000400
Lavie, P. (1979). Ultradian rhythms in alertness—A pupillometric study. Biological Psychology, 9(1), 49–62. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/030105117990022X
Lee, B. C., & Duffy, V. G. (2014). The effects of task interruption on human performance: A study of the systematic classification of human behavior and interruption frequency. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 25(2), 137–152. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hfm.20603/abstract
Mark, G., Gudith, D., & Klocke, U. (2008). The cost of interrupted work. Proceeding of the 26th annual CHI conference on human factors in computing systems—CHI 08. Retrieved from https://www.ics.uci.edu/~gmark/chi08-mark.pdf
Mohanty, R. (1993). The importance of accountability in managing productivity. Work Study, 42(5), 13–14. Retrieved from https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/EUM0000000002704
Pachman, M., Sweller, J., & Kalyuga, S. (2014). Effectiveness of combining worked examples and deliberate practice for high school geometry. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 28(5), 685–692. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acp.3054/full
Plant, E. A., Ericsson, K. A., Hill, L., & Asberg, K. (2005). Why study time does not predict grade point average across college students: Implications of deliberate practice for academic performance. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 30(1), 96–116. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X04000384
Seifert, C. M., & Patalano, A. L. (1991). Memory for incomplete tasks: A re-examination of the Zeigarnik effect. In Proceedings of the 13th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 114–119), Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved from https://wesscholar.wesleyan.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1286&context=div3facpubs
Student Health 101 survey, September 2017.


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Marks Pest Control is a renowned and experienced name in the field of professional pest control services. We offer the customers with all kinds of pest control services at affordable price. Our pest controllers are highly trained and experienced individuals who can handle and treat any form of pest in your property. We use the latest tools and equipment while delivering pest control. Best and effective commercial products are utilised for pest extermination and eradication.
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Commercial Pest Eradication
Are you facing pest problems in your office or shop or any other commercial property? Come to Marks Pest Control as we deliver the best range of commercial pest eradication services in Light Pass. Our prices are too good to be real and with that, we offer guaranteed results. Our commercial pest management team has handled pest problems in offices, bars, kitchens, hospitals, schools, shops, restaurants in the past two decades.
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Keep your homes pest-free – contact Marks Pest Control if you reside anywhere in Light Pass. We provide residential pest eradication solutions in all suburbs of Light Pass. Our team is expert in cleaning homes from pests and delivering:
- Rodent control
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We Cover All Areas of Light Pass
Marks Pest Control delivers exceptional pest control services in the following suburbs of Light Pass:
- Wattle Park
- Aldinga
- Skye
- Fullarton
Numerous Pest Removal Treatments
Apart from regular pest control services, Marks Pest Control offers a few specialized pest control treatments too only in Light Pass. These are beneficial for businesses like milling, manufacturing, agriculture, cargo, and shipping. These are:
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment is used to sterilize and devitalize imported and exported goods. Heat treatment does not use any toxic gases and yet control pests from grains, water hyacinth, birdseeds, Bali grass thatching, and herbs.
Fumigation is the latest pest control solution that targets certain pests that attack storage areas and stored products. Fumigation is used to get rid of mites, weevils, and moths. Fumigation is essential for businesses like shipping and cargo. To transport your shipments without the risk of contamination and to keep your consignments safe, opt for fumigation only from the experts at Marks Pest Control.
Pest Disinfection
We provide affordable pest disinfection services in all areas of Light Pass. This service targets at disinfecting your property from the pathogens left behind by pests, which can lead to various diseases. Pest disinfection leads to a healthy and safe environment.
Pre-Purchase Building Pest Inspection
There are many customers who are confused about the pest infestation at their place. They are unaware of the types of pest at their place as well as they need service or not. The pre-purchase inspection service will clear out everything. There will be no confusion at all about the kinds of pest and their population extent. This will be helpful for the service provider in preparing themselves better for the services. Call for Pre-purchase inspection service to Mark's Pest Control and get everything done.
Marks Pest Control Light Pass Rids All Kinds of Pests From Your Home
Spider Control
Spiders are frightening creatures who are actually harmless mostly and also help us by eating other insects and bugs. Spider infestation is a serious problem though which can greatly affect your health and home environment. Spiders will attract other poisonous spiders which can pose risks for you. We at Mark's Pest control will provide you with spider pest controls service in Light Pass. We use special commercial products for eradication of spiders. We will make sure that no sign of spider web is seen and remove all the webs from every part and corner of your home.
Cockroach Control
Cockroaches are very dangerous creatures which can infiltrate and infest your homes, offices and other public spaces. Cockroaches are known to carry many dangerous germs and these germs can cause many diseases and ailments. Cockroach infestation poses severe health risks and you should never ignore it, Mark's Pest control will provide complete eradication fo cockroaches effectively. We use safe and effective products for cockroach extermination. We will exterminate and eradicate all the roaches and also treat the source of infestation as well
Moth Control
Moth can also infest your property and cause damages and losses to your belongings. It is very difficult to get rid of moth infestation as there eggs and larvae are very small and can spread throughout the property. Moth infestation will compromise the home environment and also attract other insects as well. Mark's Pest control can deliver the best Moth pest control service in Light Pass. With years of experience, we can deliver complete removal of moths form your space in no time. Hire our moth control service at affordable costs and get rid of moths easily.
Flea Control
Flea is creatures that inhabit pets and animals and survive on their blood. Fleas are also known to bite humans and draw their blood as well. Not to forget that fleas will cause torment and torture to your pets. So it is advisable that you hire Mark's Pest Control for fleas pest control service in Light Pass. We will provide complete elimination of flea infestation from your homes and offices. We will also treat the pet shelter to get rid of fleas and provide complete protection from fleas.
Silverfish Control
Silverfish is a worm-like creature that moves similarly to the fish. Silverfish are strong and stubborn pests that can feast on almost anything. Old books, paper trash and clutter are common places for their infestation. Silverfish infestation can cause many losses and damages to your belongings. We at Mark's Pest Control can provide you with silverfish pest control service in Light Pass. We can inspect and check for the source of their infestation and treat it effectively. We can eradicate silverfish infestation form your home within a single day.
What All We
Marks Pest Control provides complete pest control solutions for all kinds of pests popular in Light Pass. These include:
Crawling Pests
Worried about crawling pests? We at Marks Pest Control are fully equipped to remove all kinds of crawling pests:
- Bed Bugs – Bed bugs are very commonly found in dirty beds. They feed on human blood and usually hide under cupboards, carpets, and mattresses. We have the latest techniques for complete bedbug removal.
- Cockroaches – Cockroaches are one of the most harmful crawling pests that carry disease-causing organisms. Cockroaches are easily found in homes, food facilities, and healthcare facilities. They can contaminate both foods as well as surfaces.
- Ants – Marks Pest Control Light Pass has expertise in eradicating ants from your life – be it your home or your office.
- Fleas and Ticks – Your favourite pets are carriers of fleas and ticks. These can cause serious diseases like plague and Lyme disease.
- Spiders – We provide bio-friendly spider control services because of we
understand you just hate the sight of spiders!
Flying Insects
Flying insects are riskier than the crawling ones because of their ease of movability. Our flying insects' removal services give you freedom from these pests:
- Flies – Flies breed on grime and filth. They carry disease-causing
organisms and contaminate food. We have the latest techniques to help you get rid of them.
- Mosquitoes – Dengue and malaria are considered to be synonymous with mosquitoes. Also, mosquito bites can cause rashes and other skin issues.
- Bees – Bees are harmful because their sting causes pain and even
allergic reaction. Their sting needs to be removed from the skin.
- Wasp – Have wasps build a nest in your home's premises? It could be very risky but we have got the right solutions to eliminate wasps completely.
- Moth – Moth damage clothes, carpets, upholstered furniture, and even
tapestries. Expert moth control services can help you get rid of them.
- Rats – Rats can cause dangerous diseases and thus you need to eliminate them completely. Marks Pest Control delivers guaranteed rat control services that ensure health and hygiene for you and your
- Mice – Mice have the potential to reach to your food storage areas. They even damage property in various ways. Don't let mice harm you in any way and instead call for expertise in mice control from Marks Pest Control.
Contact Us for Immediate Pest Control Results
If you wish to stay healthy and away from pests, then all you need to do is call Marks Pest Control Light Pass today.
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So what are you waiting for? Call our executives today and book an appointment. We provide all our customers with free no obligation quotes. So go ahead and call us today for costs and quotes for free.
Why Choose Marks Pest Control Light Pass?
Light Pass relies on Marks Pest Control for professional and guaranteed pest control services because:
- We are talented and experienced with 20 years of industry experience.
- We take pride in our staff comprising licensed and certified technicians.
- We are locals of Light Pass and a family-run business.
- We keep our employees updated about latest pest control trends through regular training sessions.
- We only use green methods for pest control.
- Our customer support works 24 hours and 7 days a week.
- You can ask for emergency pest control Light Pass service from Marks Pest Control.
Our Other Service Areas
Pest Control Melbourne – Protect your homes/offices from pests by choosing Marks Pest Control Melbourne.
Pest Control Brisbane – We are available in Brisbane to resolve your pest issues.
Pest Control Canberra – Located in Canberra? Marks Pest Control delivers finest pest control solutions.
Pest Control Perth – Marks Pest Control Perth covers all suburbs of Perth.
Frequently Asked Questions on Pest Control Light Pass:
Usually, it depends on the formal state of pest infestation or room temperature. Once You follow-up our pest removal treatments and if, it is done by our professionals then, it would be effective for several months. You will perceive quickly how effective our treatment was. You have to hire professional pest controllers yearly or half, yearly or monthly according to the temperature or pest infestation.
You can simply use your bed after 1 or 2 hours of bedbug treatments. Even, you should continue to use your bed after getting treatment. If the room is left empty then hiding bedbugs won't emerge from their hiding spots.
Flying beetles are a household pest that can damage your grain or eatable things in your home. Usually, they attack the lawn. To get rid of them, apply our useful pest removal treatments. You can use vinegar to remove flying beetles by spraying them. Apply pest repellent also for better result. If still, you are dealing with bottles, hire professionals. We are always available for our customers.
Location: Light Pass, SA, Australia


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Aroma Thai Foot Spa, Viman Nagar
F–67, 1st Floor, Survey No.207, Nagar Road, Viman Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra - 411014
The concept at Aromathai is very simple and clear.They provide various "convenient to indulge in" relaxation therapies, starting from your feet up to your mind, in a luxurious & pampering Thai ambiance. At Aromathai They believe that a trip to a spa for a moment of sheer indulgence and a strand of tranquility needn't be complicated nor expensive; it is to be an enjoyable moment in a well-balanced life.
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If you are looking at organizing your home, then you should be thinking of instilling floating shelves. You not only appropriately store your stuff but also do it in a very stylish and trendy way if well instilled.
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Joining Forces: The Alliance for Response Pittsburgh Disaster Preparedness Cache
Part of a good preservation plan is being prepared for natural and man-made disasters. However, many cultural heritage institutions do not have the resources, monetary or physical, to maintain the necessary supplies to deal with a disaster. To solve this problem the Pittsburgh chapter of Heritage Preservation's Alliance for Response decided to build a cache of disaster response supplies to be shared by humanities organizations in the greater Pittsburgh region, as well as hold a disaster response training workshop. Alliance for Response is a national program on cultural heritage and disaster management that works to build bridges between the cultural heritage and emergency response communities before disasters happen.
Through a Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions, the Alliance for Response Pittsburgh (AFR Pittsburgh) has built a cache of disaster response supplies housed at the University of Pittsburgh. Members of the alliance, who sign a memorandum of agreement, may draw upon supplies when needed, with the understanding that they must replenish those supplies as well. AFR Pittsburgh developed its list of supplies after reviewing a resource guide for disaster planning developed by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts and consulting with a number of individuals and groups, including the San Diego/Imperial County Libraries Disaster Response Network, and its own member organizations.
On May 4, 2012, AFR Pittsburgh held a day-long meeting explaining the purpose of the disaster supply cache and demonstrating how each of the supplies works. The accompanying training workshop focused on how to deal with water-damaged books. Thirty people attended this meeting which was held at the University of Pittsburgh's Library Resource Facility. They included representatives from some of the most important cultural and educational institutions in the region: Allegheny College, Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Chatham University, Duquesne University, Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Symphony, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Pittsburgh iSchool.
Tom Clareson, senior consultant at Lyrasis, led the disaster response workshop. Participants were taught how to set up a workstation, triage damaged items, apply basic drying techniques, and pack items for freeze-drying. Following this exercise, meeting participants discussed how they could apply the skills they had learned in a real-life scenario.
Through this workshop and the establishment of a disaster supply cache, AFR Pittsburgh is helping to ensure the preservation of important humanities collections in the greater Pittsburgh area. They include 700,000 photographs, prints, and negatives representing the history of western Pennsylvania; Andy Warhol's Time Capsules, a collection of 612 boxes that the artist curated with items that inspired his artwork and represented his everyday life; the papers of William J. Holland, an accomplished zoologist and paleontologist who served as the director of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh; and the letters of steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
For more information on the May 4th meeting and workshop, visit AFR Pittsburgh's website. Video explaining the disaster supply cache can be seen on YouTube, and more images from the workshop can be seen here. For more information on the Alliance for Response program, please visit Heritage Preservation (link no longer works).


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Donald Norman and Joel Spolsky both had their say on how you can't sell simple software. It's my turn to say they're wrong because they adopt an obnoxiously true-or-false stance based on horrible examples. The situation they're discussing is too complex to fit into a single blog post and I'm not gonna try to convince you that complexity or simplicity is better. I believe you can do both simultaneously.
I'll also explain why their observation actually does apply in open source software, but from a completely different perspective. See, I'm gonna lure you in by ranting about Joel and how he uses his piece of shit Wasabi to build a single nasty ass bug tracking product, and then waylay you with what I think.
Man I HATE Boolean Arguments
First off, before I even start talking about these guys can I please get someone to thrash the next programmer who breaks an argument down into only two possible options?
Please? Just smash his legs or something. I feel nausea being near people who use if-statements all day long and think that the whole world can be boiled down into true or false with no options. You damn robots! Wake up and start trying to flex your mind around undefinable concepts for once in your life.
Look, economics and sociology are incredibly difficult to understand. What sells as a product and whether it's simple or complex are probably completely unmeasurable. There's cultural differences, class differences, timing, presentation issues, the works. It's ridiculous to say, "Damn! They like SUVs here! Those are complex! MY GOD KOREANS LOVE COMPLEXITY 80/20! 80/20! You wrong biatch! BUY FogBugz!"
Ever seen the Korean alphabet? It's called Hangul and it is probably the most advanced alphabet humans have right now while also being simpler than most of them at the same time. It can be stacked like Chinese characters, but it's also built more like ours with an ability to construct unusual vowel sounds. Get this, it was invented in about 1443 AD and even mimicks the way the mouth is constructed. That's right, the characters actually look like how the mouth, jaw, and glottis form to make the sound. It's brilliant and a gorgeous piece of work that demonstrates how something simple can also have incredible complexity lurking under the surface.
Did you know that Hangul is so good at mimicking other language constructs that some anthropologists want to use it to record near-extinct languages? It takes an average person about 3 days to learn it, whether they speak Korean or not, and they can use it to write down their own language even if it's completely different from Korean. It's that universal. Imagine being able to get native speakers of dying languages to actually write down how their language is pronounced. Now that's power.
I'll give you a great example. I was walking around Seoul one day and drinking this soda call "Pocari Sweat" (said so in English on the side). Yeah, it says it's got sweat in it but damn it was good. I turn to a Korean woman, point at the Hangul on the side of the can, and ask in bad Korean, "Can you say this?" She reads each character of Hangul as:
"poh car ee sw et"
That's right, the English on the can was mimicked nearly exactly by the Hangul and it made no sense to her either. But, she could read it and we both said the same exact verbal noises even though we read different alphabets. She thought it was funny too.
Now, tell me that a culture which created the most advanced and yet simple of alphabets (at a time when everyone used the Chinese characters) somehow hates simplicity. Go ahead, I'll stop laughing when you finish saying it. You're wrong.
This is the first flaw in both Joel's and Don's arguments. They've made this boolean argument where all software must be simple or complex. What they've missed out on is that some systems can be both at the same time, just like Hangul. Hangul is incredibly simple and easily learned by people even if they aren't Korean. Even the Roman alphabet we use can't pull that off. Greek's not even close. Latin blows for this too. All these alphabets are just missing the necessary building blocks to encode all the sounds a human can make.
With one simple set of characters based on human physiological speech principles, the Koreans created a system that's capable enough to do what no other alphabet can pull off as easily. Its capabilies are complex, but its structure and design are simple.
Oh, but no, software must be complex or simple. No in-between, nuanced analysis or multi-faceted discussion. Nope, just two dudes blabbing about a dumb argument based on a flawed view of another culture. This is why all the big flame wars go on forever. Both sides setup obnoxious boolean arguments and argue about their points, but usually they don't realize that both of them are right or that there can be tertiary perspectives and options they haven't considered.
Only 2 Generations of Car Owners
You know why Japan is considering changing its constitution to allow them to fight a war? You see, Japan's neighbors don't like Japan too much. There's this nasty business about World War II and some things Japan has never apologized for properly. Now that North Korea has nukes the Japanese are getting their panties in a bunch. I would too. That dude Kim's quite crazy.
When the Japanese left Korea they were getting beat back by MacArthur who landed in Inchon and started kicking the shit out of them. Koreans call us "Miguks" ("beautiful nation") because when we showed up they were being decimated by the Japanese. We saved them at a time when nobody else could or would. This is and our continued occupation is the source of most Korean's love/hate relationship with us. They love us for saving them, but hate us for staying so long.
Apparently the Japanese left Korea and took an estimated 26,000 girls as "comfort women", took every tree in the country, and possibly a national treasure or ten. Take a look at pictures from right after the Korean liberation. There's barely any trees, and the few that remain are damaged soon to die. There's only a few old growth trees in South Korea because of this.
The Japanese destroyed that country and left nothing behind. Then a civil war broke out and things got even worse. It took a good many years after the establishment of the DMZ before South Koreans even had enough infrastructure to have factories. Even then they had to make roads, military equipment, and other things to support building the military to defend themselves.
Forget about SUVs, washing machines, televisions, or any of the crap Don saw on his trip. They needed to rebuild houses, farming equipment, rifles, and other basic survival goods.
What Don witnessed is the second and third generation of Koreans after WWII experiencing prosperity and novelty. Most of their parents and many of them haven't had these things before. They don't know what's crap and what's good since they haven't had much experience with it. Ever been to the grand opening of a Super Walmart? Ok, now you're getting the idea.
This isn't an insult on Korea, it's a testament to how kick ass they are. They came up from near destruction to build a massive powerhouse in the region. Koreans have enough clout in Asia to demand that the World Cup be done fairly between them and Japan. That's some serious muscle.
However, despite shipping their cars all over the world, until recently Korea had one of the highest vehicular death rates in the world. They make a ridiculous number of cars, but the populace has only been around cars about 50 years. Koreans haven't acquired as sophisticated a taste yet because it's all new to them. Everything is cool.
South Korea is also an incredibly complex country, but obviously that wasn't apparent to Don. Don never asked about reunification, Dok Island, or the Kwangju massacre because that's not discussed by Koreans unless you ask them. Don never wandered the hills near the old Hwarang schools to see all the austere Buddhist sculptures carved into the mountains. I did and I barely know jack about Korea. How does Don know they only like complex electronics from one or two products in some electronics market?
If you want a taste of what Korea will be like very soon check what this guy Ahn Sang-soo is doing with Hangul and Korean style. Simple, elegant, stylish. Some of his stuff is changing how even the west perceives typography and design. Hell, he's got the whole country covering one eye for no other reason than he thinks it's cool. He's the first person to successfully break Hangul out of its "box prison" as he calls it.
This new Korean sense of self and style is the market to hit with your software and products, not the crap people currently buy. What they're buying now is novelty, as their tastes mature they'll start to look for stylish products that fit in with the culture around them currently. They'll pay a massive premium for things that feel Korean, or hit that cultural chord that guys like Ahn Sang-soo are playing.
Sure there will be some mixing of new and old, that's normal, but it won't be shitty SUVs and washers with every feature you can imagine in plain site. It'll be simple but powerful like the rest of Korean culture.
Shove 80 Up Your Ass And Spin On The 20
I am getting tired of Joel blabbing about his one trick pony FogBugz. I've used it and it's utter total garbage. It's pain level just happens to be between Trac and a prostate exam from Dr. Edward Scissorhands so some corporations buy it. What's even more amazing is that he actually manages to sell what is basically a crappy todo list to companies and make some money on it.
Until Joel can learn enough statistics to conduct a usability study that does a task analysis comparing FogBugz to Trac for developers he can shove it. You see, FogBugz sells because it screws developers for the sake of keeping managers and bean counters happy. It's like every lame ass tool sold to management. Rather than make a time tracking or defect tracking system that developers can use they make a product that managers love. Slap a few fancy charts and reports nobody will use, present it to an accountant or desperate manager, and sold to the man in the funny hat.
Let's not stop with just that in our demands of Joel. I'd also like to request that he stop using The Pareto Principle in software discussions until there's some solid scientific experimental evidence backing it at all. When I say "scientific experimental evidence" I don't mean self-help books disguised as management guides that desperate managers like Joel Spolsky read. I mean real work from a real sociologist with a solid repeatable scientific methodology in an established experimental design form that validates The Pareto Principle is even close to possibly legit.
Here's why: it was popularized by this business guy named Joseph M. Juran based on an observation by an Italian exiled noble Vilfredo Pareto who made the observation about the distribution of wealth in 1906.
That's right, Joel is slinging 80/20 like it's truth from Cthulhu when actually it's completely made up, 100 years old, created by an aristocrat to talk about the poor he didn't like, and has no real scientific backing whatsoever. It's not a fucking rule it's a lame ass boolean logic analysis coked out managers use to justify all sorts of stupid decisions.
Using 80/20 is again another boolean algebra argument that programmers love. Everything is either "80/20" which means "simple" or it's "complex". I'm guilty of it myself in the past but no more! I banish 80/20 from my vocabulary as just more unfounded semi-religious bullshit keeping people in the software industry stupid. Enough!
Gotta Rape That One-Trick Pony
I'm gonna make a brash statement here and say that Mongrel out sells FogBugz by huge margins. First we've got Mongrel's download stats putting the download count at around 93,000 give or take a thousand or so since some folks download in weird ways. A quick survey amongst the main hosting providers using Mongrel puts the number of sites being run by Mongrel into the thousands. Just my quick IRC survey with the big adopters says about 3000 to 4000 domains. That also doesn't include all the people who use it for their development platform every day.
The number of transactions Mongrel is processing right now is down right staggering when compared with FogBugz. I know I only used FogBugz when I had to use it and that was only to keep a manager happy because he had bought it. Most people I talk to are in the same boat with that product, but people who use Mongrel generally love Mongrel…even if they hate me.
Add to this the fact that Mongrel currently powers Ruby on Rails, Nitro, IOWA, Camping, merb, a few other little frameworks, several one-off custom servers for things like file uploads and you've got a power house. What's even more impressive is I had next to no hand in getting these frameworks and projects operational other than giving advice and writing documentation. Most folks took the software and just ran with it, only asking me questions if they got stuck.
It's possible that FogBugz does way better than this. I doubt it based on what every developer who uses it says. I would laugh at any claims of sales over maybe 2000 installed paying customers. I'm seriously doubting downloads are over 93k/year. If they have over that then Joel needs to fire his sales team because that's a conversion rate that's less than 2% of downloads.
However, the real comparison comes from the size of the two software systems and what people are using them for in the real world. Mongrel powers entire companies who base their business on it as a core component. These are hosting providers, major well funded web sites, government agencies, and universities. If FogBugz went down or had a bug then most people would just keep doing their work. If Mongrel has a major bug people lose lots and lots of money very quickly.
What's amazing though (even to myself) is that Mongrel's core feature doing all the work is only about 2500 lines of C, Ruby, and Ragel code. The Ragel code is about 129 lines long, the majority of the code is Ruby with C as a close second. This simple bunch of code somehow ends up being incredibly malleable with people writing custom servers, embedding it in Amarok, basing new frameworks on it, and deploying heavy weight applications with it that I never anticipated.
Mongrel even runs fairly unaltered on Win32, any Unix derivative, AIX, Solaris, and probably systems never reported by users. I've heard rumors of people trying to get Mongrel running on cellphones. That rocks.
Joel admits to writing FogBugz in a very advanced, functional-programming dialect of Basic with closures and lambdas in order to make it work. This weird language compiles down to an insane number of other languages just so Joel can have the application run on any operating system. It's incredibly complex, but it doesn't have to be since, well, there's other better bug trackers in use today which don't require any of this. There's not much competitive advantage even because Joel admits it's not used on anything else at the company.
This is where Joel's writing about software complexity irks me to no end. He's the master of being for both sides of the boolean argument as long as that draws a crowd. When you critically take a look at his claims about how great his software and his team are you start to see that he's full of crap. Nobody I know thinks FogBugz is any good. It's junk. He admits it's complex and there's obvious single-quote escaping bugs on the PHP side. The grain of salt I take with Joel's writing could desiccate a water buffalo.
Mongrel however provides an example of a simple piece of software having hidden complex usages and power. I didn't start out intending it to run on everything and power all the Ruby web applications out there. It was just so simple and easy to use without a loss of power that people could take it and mold it to their needs. Because of this simplicity people can understand it in about a day, and with that understanding comes new uses.
That means people use Mongrel not only as-is out of the box, but also extend it for their own devious plans. Of the people I know who have FogBugz, none of them extend it farther than adding their projects through its painful interface. Even if they wanted to they probably can't because they don't have Wasabi Powers(TM) like Joel. More people "buy" and enjoy Mongrel than FogBugz. Everyone I know who uses FogBugz hates it. It's designed for managers not developers. Most of the people who use Mongrel love it, since it's not designed for Managers but rather for developers by a developer.
I'm proud of Mongrel, but don't let me fool you into thinking I believe it's perfect. Far from it since there's a few ugly pieces that are required to work around Ruby's limitations. But I'll stand by my comment that it's a way better piece of work and craftsmanship than FogBugz.
One more thing. How can a functional BASIC be advanced? C'mon. That's like Faye Dunaway getting a boob job to make her tits look 20 while her face looks 55. Just wrong man. Wrong. Let BASIC die please.
Open Source Also Backs Complexity
Now, I will admit that Mongrel is a fluke in the open source world. Joel and Don are right that people love complex software, programmers especially. I despise it and truly think that my open source efforts are meant to be demonstrations of how a simple system can be insanely effective. I'm trying my best to change the way programmers think about software away from "complex vs. simple" to an understanding of the middle way of Shibumi. I'm trying but it's hard which is probably why I get a kick out of it.
Open source software however tends to promote complex and difficult to use software in a different way. If open source software is difficult to use then you can give it away but still:
- make a killing supporting it
- write books for it
- get contracting gigs setting it up
- get gigs fixing the source for new purposes, and
- even sell commercial support licenses so people don't panick over
how shitty the code and documentation has become.
Commercial software can't seem to do this for very long, but open source can hold this stance for decades. Take a look at Apache as the prime example. I think Apache's nasty ass configuration file format has employed hundreds of thousands of system administrators by itself. The bizarre ways that modules are configured probably amounts to 1/3 the population of Estonia alone.
Open source software as a business promotes producing complex and crappy software in an effort to boost the potential for consulting gigs. I've even overheard people in the open source biz world intentionally design something with tons of complexity in order to boost consulting.
Why? Because guys like Joel and Don scream out to programmers that it's alright to make complex buggy crap that's difficult to use. "Complexity sells! Fuck the art let's make cash." Well, if that's how you want it then get ready for the Thomas Kincaid of programming to come. Slap a dab here and move that sucker on out.
How I Know About Korea
I was stationed in Korea for a 1.5 years as a soldier in the US Army and made a determined effort to explore every inch of Korea I could. I even spent a month in Thailand rather than fly back to the US. I also studied Japanese and Korean history as a hobby and martial arts for years.
While I don't even begin to think I know anything about Koreans, I sure as hell know a lot more than Don or Joel. I've been there and ate nearly every damn food they make while trying to absorb every bit of their culture I could. I studied their religions, their history, and made an effort.
You see, I found an interesting culture full of contradictions and struggling to combine its past with its future and desperately wanted to learn about them. Don saw an SUV and thought he knew some shit. He doesn't, but if he'd taken the time to figure out why this might be rather than believing his own thoughts he might have learned something.
I think the future of software is in things designed like the Korean alphabet. Deceptively simple with incredibly complex powers that you can't even begin to explore fully. The Japanese call this Shibumi, but I can't even explain that since I'm not Japanese.
It's not simple vs. complex, it's how do you merge the two in an elegant way. That's where software needs to go, and why guys like Joel and Don piss me the hell off with their boolean logic rants.
Save the if-statement for code dorks.


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|Free AARP Tax Preparation Assistance - FULL
Event Type: Adult Program
Age Group(s): Adults
Date: 2/28/2019
Start Time: 12:00 PM
End Time: 1:00 PM
Get help with your taxes this year. AARP offers this volunteer-runLibrary: Off-site (Outside the Library)
service to taxpayers with middle and low incomes, regardless of age.
REGISTER for a free one-hour appointment.
Appointments run hourly 9 a.m.−12 noon.
Registrants should bring to their appointment:
� Photo IDs for each person on the tax return
� Social Security cards for each person on the tax return
� Checkbook, for direct deposit of refunds
� Last year�s tax return
� All necessary tax documents (W2, 1099, SSA, etc.)
Other Information:
By appointment Thursday Mornings, February 2�April 11.Status: Closed
Vernon Hills Sullivan Community Center,
635 Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills
Registration opens 9 a.m. Saturday, January 5
|Please Note


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24 January 2014
On the first test flight with the 3D special camera, the scientists flew in the vicinity of the 8,091-metre-high Annapurna ( visible in the background).
Two motor gliders type Stemme S10 are available to the research team on site. The pod containing the DLR special camera system is fitted on a Stemme S10-VTX, which is provided by the FH Aachen.
This is the first time that an airborne camera system has been used in flights over this challenging region.
The Modular Aerial Camera System (MACS), a specialised apparatus developed and built by DLR, is fitted in an unpressurised instrument container mounted beneath the wing.
The pictures from MACS are used to create detailed computer images of the mountains regions the glider passes over in 3D and colour. The camera was already put to the test in a flight over the Stubai glacier in the Austrian Alps during August 2013.
The ferry flight lasted two weeks: from Europe to Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and India, ending in Nepal.
Tracking and mapping powered by: DeLorme inReach Satellite Communicator, www.inreachdelorme.com.
Time and again, Himalayan landslides and flash floods cost the lives of dozens of people in Nepal, sweeping away entire villages and infrastructure like bridges and roads. Until now, the images of this remote region have been acquired by satellites. But now, as part of a measurement campaign by the Mountain Wave Project (MWP) set to last several weeks, scientists from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), with a special focus on security research, will test an innovative camera system that takes detailed aerial images from a motorised glider. The flights at high altitude are used for validation of the developed optical sensor system. The researchers intend to use these pictures to create precise 3D models of various Nepalese regions, among other things to improve forecasts of hazards to the population. This involves close cooperation with the Nepalese authorities and an international team comprising scientists from the states bordering on the Himalayas (ICIMOD). There are flights scheduled for the Annapurna and the southern Everest region. The scientists are maintaining a blog to provide continuous reports on the events of their audacious research travels.
"We completed the first Himalaya flight with our camera on 23 January 2014," says project leader Jörg Brauchle from the DLR Institute of Optical Sensor Systems in Berlin. He is in Nepal to lead the DLR contribution to the expedition. "We shot first-class, multi-spectral images with a resolution of 20 centimetres at an altitude of 6400 metres above Khali Gandhaki Valley. The optical data provided by the camera could not be better for 3D modelling of mountainous regions." This is the first time that an airborne camera system has been used in flights over this challenging region. The expedition has moved into its basecamp in Pokhara on the outer reaches of the Annapurna region. The team has two motorised gliders of the type Stemme S10, which over the previous two weeks had flown across Europe, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and India, before touching down in Nepal. By taking part in the Nepal expedition and contributing to its results, DLR demonstrates further applications in the filed of civil protection.
A Himalayan camera that withstands extreme conditions
The Modular Airborne Camera System (MACS), a specialised apparatus developed and built by DLR, is fitted in an unpressurised instrument container mounted beneath the wing of a Stemme S10-VTX motorised glider owned by the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. The camera was already put to the test in a flight over the Stubai glacier in the Austrian Alps during August 2013. But even before this, the innovative system had to endure a very severe set of tests in a vacuum chamber and under extraordinary lighting conditions. After all, the camera is needed in particular to photograph Himalayan glaciers and rock faces from heights above 8000 metres and temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius. "To do this, we drew on the expertise the Institute has in building space cameras," says Brauchle. "The conditions in outer space are even more extreme." The imaging technology in the camera system is tailored to the specific aspects of high mountainous regions. Three camera heads, arranged facing toward each other at a lateral slant, provide a vision field of 120 degrees and permit acquisition of high-resolution images of precipitous cliff faces.
Identifying the weak points on a slope
The pictures are used to create detailed computer images of the mountains regions the glider passes over in 3D and colour. DLR has its own software to do this, which it also uses to evaluate data acquired with Earth observation satellites. It is crucial that the steep sections of the slopes are rendered with particular precision. After all, the researchers around departmental head Frank Lehmann are seeking to identify where precipitous mountainsides are at their most fragile: "Imminent landslides and rock avalanches are barely visible to the naked eye," explains Lehmann. "The 3D model allows us to integrate the images within a Geographic Information System (GIS), which permits analyses and assessments relating to possible hazards based on geological, hydrological and meteorological data."
The scientists also have their eyes on the glaciers and glacial lakes sparkling further down the valley. They are often key to making better predictions of floods occurring in lower reaches of the sweeping landscape. Seti Valley, a recent flight destination, is of particular interest to geologists and glaciologists in this respect. The river Seti is a repeat offender in bursting its banks without warning, causing flash floods. This is due to a natural dam blocking a glacial lake.
Partners in the Mountain Wave Project
"The basic idea behind the project is to exploit atmospheric mountain waves or lee waves as updrafts in a variety of mountainous regions around the world. They can lift the gliders to huge altitudes and carry them long distances," says René Heise, passionate glider pilot, meteorologist and founder of the Mountain Wave Project. On 23 November 2003, MWP set a highly publicised long-distance world record with a 'wave flight' of this kind, travelling 2138 kilometres across the Andes in a straight line. And in 2006, scientists successfully embarked on the first turbulence measurement flights over the Andes, reaching the lower stratosphere at an altitude of 12,500 metres. The insight gained during this campaign is hugely beneficial in completing MACS missions, which are highly demanding for the people and systems involved. The strong upper-level winds and downdrafts are phenomenally challenging for pilots. "Originally, the Mountain Wave Project was founded to research the wave systems in high mountainous regions and their dreaded vortex with horizontal axis of rotation, known as rotors," explains Heise. "But now we are also researching what goes on in transport from the troposphere to the stratosphere, and are analysing atmospheric turbulence, ultimately aiming to improve weather forecast systems and climate modelling." Partnering up with DLR has helped the Mountain Wave Project substantially enlarge its operations in environmental monitoring.
Last modified:31/01/2014 15:32:46


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In-house counsel are expected to be knowledgeable advocates for the corporate entity in any number of diverse areas of the law, and their responsibilities continue to expand. Many business entities prefer to have an attorney present throughout the decision-making process to flag potential legal issues rather than use outside lawyers to fix problems after they arise. Bottom line – there is an expectation that in-house attorneys will provide top-notch legal support in a more cost effective manner.
In-house lawyers work similar hours to their counterparts in private practice. Corporate attorneys do, however, report greater control over when and how those hours are worked. While corporate jobs can offer attorneys greater autonomy, the trade off is the responsibility for every legal issue that arises in the course of the business.
Having only one client leaves corporate counsel more vulnerable to mergers and acquisitions that can result in dramatic organizational restructuring. As for billable hours, the interest in the bottom line means that more pressure than ever is being applied to in-house lawyers to justify their costs.
Salary & Employment Considerations
Although not as high as large firm compensation, corporate salaries tend to be quite generous and often include perks unavailable in other employment settings. Students interested in corporate practice should recognize that entry-level attorney positions are difficult to obtain; only 11% of corporate attorneys practice in-house, while the remaining 89% are employed by private law firms. Instead, a majority of in-house lawyers are culled from private law firms and government agencies after three years (or more) of experience.
Job Seeking Tips
As a student, you can increase your chances of working in-house after gaining post-graduate experience by seeking seek part-time internships in corporate law offices to develop your familiarity with the practice. If you know the type of business you want to work for, choose a law firm or government agency that helps you learn about the area and brings you into contact with the industry.
- In-House Law Departments at the Top 500 Companies*
- Corporate Yellow Book*
- Directory of Corporate Counsel*
- Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA)
- Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA)
- DC Area In-House Legal Departments (pdf)
- Martindale
- GoInhouse Jobs
*Hard copy version available in the OCPD Resource Library


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Iran Live Coverage: The Supreme Leader's Men Launch Their Presidential Campaign
See also Iran Audio Feature: Hype & Reality from Syria to "Explosion at Nuclear Plant" --- Scott Lucas with Monocle 24 br>
Friday's Iran Live Coverage: Tehran Mayor --- Why We Are Engineering the Presidential Election
1622 GMT: Nuclear Snap Analysis. The headline from the Munich Security Conference is of a statement by US Vice President Joe Biden that Washington is ready for direct talks with Tehran and that it is past time for Tehran to negotiate seriously.
Biden's declaration has been complemented by a message from European Union foreign policy head Catherine Ashton, the lead negotiator for the 5+1 Powers. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle added that, despite the failure to resume high-level discussions, there was no reason for military action, a point echoed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Three pointss:
1. In the short-term, both Tehran and the US-European bloc are trying to lay blame for the inability to agree on talks on the other side.
2. Talks about talks will now be put on the back-burner while the Iranian regime concentrates on the Presidential election in June.
2. Most importantly, both sides are signalling that --- despite the effective suspension of diplomatic efforts --- they are ready to pick up the negotiations in the autumn.
Biden's statement follows the pointed message of Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani on Monday that there are no "red lines" against direct talks with the Americans. What's more, Larijani invoked the name of the Supreme Leader in making that statement.


text:
You are welcome to download and use the images and
information in this website for your personal use or for philatelic
publications. A reference to the source is appreciated.
Place order with confidence, this is a
secure website and once your order is processed all the information,
including your credit card info is deleted. However, if you still
prefer paying by PayPal or Moneybookers, (as well as with your Personal
Check or Money Order), please contact me at:
View the image


text:
7-Zip is a well-known file compression utility for windows.
p7zip is a ported version for linux with nearly the same capabilities.
If you want to build the new GUI, you have to pass GUI=yes to the script:
this requires an optional dependency, wxPython.
Maintained by: Heinz Wiesinger
Keywords: 7-Zip,zip,rar,compression
ChangeLog: p7zip
Download SlackBuild:
p7zip.tar.gz.asc (FAQ)
(the SlackBuild does not include the source)
|Individual Files:
| doinst.sh
| p7zip.SlackBuild
| p7zip.info
| slack-desc
© 2006-2019 SlackBuilds.org Project. All rights reserved.
Slackware® is a registered trademark of Patrick Volkerding
Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds
Web Design by WebSight Designs | Managed Hosting by OnyxLight Communications


text:
This product is out of stock
This extra-light oversized parka is functional and stylish. It has a wide, flared fit with an elastic drawstring at the waist to add shape to your silhouette. The parka is water repellent so it is ideal for wear in all kinds of weather. Pull-out hood, inset pockets.
Product name: CENA
Product code: 7021509003001
Distributed by Manifatture del Nord S.r.l. Unipersonale, with registered office in Reggio Emilia (Italia), Via Mazzacurati n. 6, 42122
100% nylon.
Wash in water at 30 °C: reduced mechanical action. Do not bleach. Iron at max. 110 °C using a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric. Do not dry clean. Do not tumble dry. Line drying in the shade.
Wear it with


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February 27, 2013— MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – It should come as no surprise that the hotel providing the most technologically sophisticated experience for guests and visitors is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. With that in mind, the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara and Blue Jeans Network, the leader in interoperable video conferencing services, have introduced high definition (HD) interoperable video conferencing services available to business travelers, hotel guests, convention visitors, and local companies in the greater Silicon Valley area.
Adjacent to the Santa Clara Convention Center, the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara is one of four Hyatt hotels in the U.S. that tests and integrates new technology with a vision of creating a high-tech hotel and business center of the future. The concept behind these "lab hotels" is to introduce technology that combines luxury, productivity, and convenience for hotel guests and visitors in order to make their visit as productive and enjoyable as possible.
Among the high-tech concepts that are being tested at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara are in-room Apple TVs, phone-charging stations, a text-based mobile concierge service, and now, on-demand video conferencing and collaboration with Blue Jeans Network.
With Blue Jeans, Hyatt Regency Santa Clara hotel guests and local businesses can utilize a new video conferencing booth located in the hotel lobby to connect to colleagues, customers, and partners at work or friends and family back home; all in a climate-controlled and soundproof mini-office. Additionally, hotel guests can access the Blue Jeans video conferencing service via tablet computers and/or laptops in guest rooms.
As the video collaboration industry continues to grow, many travelers are inconvenienced while on the road when they are unable to connect to their corporate office's video conferencing rooms easily using the tools readily available to them on the road. Using Blue Jeans at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, however, business travelers and hotel guests can easily connect back to virtually any video conferencing or telepresence system in use today. Rather than being second-class citizens in meetings on the dark end of a phone line, they can now be active and engaged video participants. Whether using a tablet or laptop computer in the hotel room, or via the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara's mini-office, video collaboration can now reach the business traveler.
Blue Jeans Network is the leading provider of interoperable video conferencing services. It is the only vendor in the world where users can connect to colleagues, customers and partners that have access to a Web browser and camera, or make use of popular business video conferencing or consumer video chat solutions from Cisco, Polycom, LifeSize, Skype, Microsoft Lync, or Google.
"We are privileged to be in the center of the world's technology mecca. What better way to provide high-caliber services to our guests than to integrate technology that is being developed right here in our backyard," said Dania Duke, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. "Blue Jeans' video conferencing service provides a business-grade executive conference room experience not only for Hyatt guests, but also for meeting planners and nearby companies hosting partners and guests. We are proud to be creating the hotel of the future."
"Our mission is to make video conferencing as easy and as pervasive as an audio call," said Stu Aaron, Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Jeans Network. "Hyatt has a vision to provide high-tech amenities that cater to busy professionals – and allow them to conduct business as if they were in their own office. It is our privilege to offer this service to Hyatt guests and visitors who need to connect with the office or the family while on the road."
Experience the vision of Hyatt's hotel of the future and test-drive the Blue Jeans video conferencing service in action on February 28, March 6 and March 7, 2013 from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Hyatt Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Parkway in Santa Clara, California.
About Blue Jeans Network
At Blue Jeans Network, our mission is to make video communications as easy and pervasive as audio communications, enabling more effective collaboration at work, at home, and on the road. Our cloud-based conferencing service makes this possible by enabling customers to connect with each other seamlessly any time, anywhere, and from practically any device. The Blue Jeans Network extends high quality video communications beyond the traditional boundaries of specialized conference rooms and into the mainstream, allowing individuals and employees throughout an enterprise to interact more effectively with each other, and with their customers, partners, suppliers, family, and friends. Blue Jeans Network is a private company headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information go to: http://bluejeans.com or follow the company @BlueJeansNet
About Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
Hyatt Regency Santa Clara combines luxury and service with a premier location. 501-guest rooms feature a Grand Bed, high-speed Internet access, deluxe amenities and sweeping views. A selection of inviting restaurants offers a variety of cuisine, from Tuscan cuisine to Sushi. Take advantage of extensive meeting facilities and 24-hour StayFit gym to make every stay at this hotel a success. With its unmatched service and ideal location - adjacent to the Convention Center, in the heart of the Silicon Valley and near California's Great America Theme Park - you'll discover why Hyatt Regency Santa Clara is the premier choice for your next visit. For more information, call 408 200 1234 or visit santaclara.hyatt.com.
Tim Smith
Element PR


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National Commander Fang A. Wong joins the Vietnam War Commemoration staff for a photo during the American Legion 94th National Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Aug. 24.
After getting an overview of the commemoration, the Legion began distributing thousands of presidential proclamations to Vietnam veterans in attendance. The proclamation was signed by President Obama on May 25 and states, in part:
In recognition of a chapter in our Nation's history that must never be forgotten, let us renew our sacred commitment to those who answered our country's call in Vietnam and those who awaited their safe return... The Federal Government will partner with local governments, private organizations, and communities across America to participate in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War – a 13-year program to honor and give thanks to a generation of proud Americans who saw our country through one of the most challenging missions we have ever faced. While no words will ever be fully worthy of their service, nor any honor truly befitting their sacrifice, let us remember that it is never too late to pay tribute to the men and women who answered the call of duty with courage and valor. Let us renew our commitment to the fullest possible accounting for those who have not returned.
"This proclamation is another sign that the veterans of the '60s and '70s are starting to be thanked for what they did in service to their country," said U.S. Army veteran John Moffitt, who served in Vietnam from 1967-1970 and received one of the proclamations.
Retired Lt. Gen. Claude M. Kicklighter, director of the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration, provided the overview of the commemoration, which kicked off on Memorial Day and concludes on Nov. 11, 2025.
"This war was a long, tough war," Kicklighter said. "Most in this audience know that. This is a chance to turn the pages of history back and right a wrong."
American Legion National Commander Fang A. Wong asked Legionnaires to support the commemoration efforts in their communities across the country.
Taken from Legion.org
©2015 Vietnam War Commemoration. All rights reserved.


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My late father-in-law, John Rains, asked me if The Tuscaloosa News was a Republican or a Democratic newspaper.
My late father-in-law, John Rains, asked me if The Tuscaloosa News was a Republican or a Democratic newspaper.
I didn't know how to answer him. I was editorial editor and a firm Democrat, but my preferences weren't always those of the newspaper. We had an editorial board with diverse opinions, freewheeling meetings and lots of discussions. We endorsed candidates and ideas associated with both of the main parties (and some that the main parties both shunned).
I knew where my father-in-law was coming from, however. He lived in Mobile but spent most of his life in Nashville, where the Tennessean, which at one time employed a young Al Gore (and his wife, Tipper), was considered a Democratic newspaper and the afternoon Banner was Republican.
In fact, the Banner's original name was The Nashville Republican Banner. (The Banner ceased publication in 1998.)
To this day, I don't know how I would answer my father-in-law's question. The Tuscaloosa News has an editorial page but no editorial editor. It publishes a fair share of conservative — OK, Republican-leaning — columnists but also some written by people with Democratic sympathies. It no longer endorses candidates. Its locally written editorials are pretty much nonpartisan.
I don't agree with some of the changes — I always thought that a newspaper's editorial pages were its heart — but then, I'm old school. And I have been retired for a few years.
It's hard to pin partisan labels on things anyway. I had a high school teacher who held that the Republicans became the Democrats and the Democrats became the Republicans.
It's really not that simple, but it is true in at least one respect. Republican President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863, but blacks later gravitated toward the Democrats. By the late 1960s, Republicans were well on their way to becoming "the white man's party."
The truth is stranger still. George Washington decried partisan politics, but the Federalist party emerged early in this country's history. It was opposed just as quickly by a second party, led by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson and called the Democrat-Republicans (what a name!).
The Democrats grew originally from that party and ... well, look it up if you're interested.
Many Democrats still revere Jefferson. I did, too, for a long time, but I'll never feel the same about him after reading Gore Vidal's novel "Burr."
Vidal's book shows, with a great deal of historical accuracy, that Jefferson was brilliant but also that he was a consummate hypocrite.
A recent issue of Smithsonian magazine bears "Burr" out. A cover story by Henry Wiencek, an American historian, editor and journalist, says Jefferson, author of the ringing endorsements of freedom in the Declaration of Independence, not only owned slaves but also knew they were being lashed to keep them in line.
To go from Jefferson to Barack Obama, from slave owner to leader of the free world, is to take an immense journey, yet we have now elected Obama to a second term.
The day after the election, I was listening to a radio program that interviewed Republican strategist Ed Rollins. He was asked what message the 2012 voters sent.
We re-elected Obama and increased the power of Democrats in the U.S. Senate. At the same time, however, we kept the U.S. House firmly in Republican hands and the GOP scored success after success at the state level.
Rollins couldn't answer the question. He needed time to digest the election results, he said.
I don't think I can help him, but I had a political dream a few days after the vote. I rarely dream of politics, but for what it's worth:
In my dream, we were in a giant football stadium and pregame ceremonies had begun. The announcer asked all Democrats to rise and sing the national anthem "Democratic style." Half of the stadium rose and sang the old song with a kind of new, rocking beat.
Then, in my dream, the announcer asked all Republicans to stand up and sing the second verse "Republican style." The other half of the stadium got to its feet and gave the anthem the glee club treatment.
Both halves sounded terrible. Just terrible.
Ben Windham is retired editorial editor of The Tuscaloosa News. His email address is firstname.lastname@example.com.