text:
KENNY SHIELS kept two plastic squirrels in his pocket as he signed his new Kilmarnock contract.
That was a nod to the club's historic crest but, more importantly for Shiels, the figures had been handed to him by daughters Lauren and Grace on a recent trip home to Northern Ireland.
And as the ink dried on his two-year deal it was clear that family is at the heart of what he's trying to achieve at Rugby Park.
At the end of a season where son Dean dazzled for Killie and midfielder Liam Kelly lost his father at Hampden following the League Cup triumph over Celtic, Shiels knows all about family values.
And as he outlined his long-term vision he revealed he wants Kilmarnock to become the "People's Club" of Scotland.
Just 40 minutes along the M77, they aren't far away from Glasgow's big two.
But Shiels believes Killie can offer a unique alternative to the Old Firm for parents – a local club free of racism, bigotry and prejudice.
The 56-year-old said: "Two years is only the first part of what I want to achieve here. It's the preliminary stage of my long-term project.
"I have enough integrity about me that I want to leave a legacy at the club. I've always been like that.
"If something happens to me, like I'm not doing my job properly for the first team, I want good stability underneath. That's important.
"It's the honest and honourable thing to do. I've worked under so many managers who haven't done that. At every club I go to I build long-term branches that will bear fruit even if I'm not there.
"The first part of it is to convince and encourage parents that this is a good place to send boys and girls – whether it be to watch the team play or to become a youth player here.
"They have to understand Kilmarnock have a great history that they should be proud of. This club is free from prejudice, racism and bigotry.
"It has so much going for it. If I can get 60 per cent of the football population in the area to support their local club it would be a fantastic achievement.
"We are a West of Scotland club with no baggage. If you're a good parent and want to bring your children up in a way where they understand values and morals then we have a local industry here where they can come and have a fun time.
"It doesn't stink of other external influences and if those parents send them to Kilmarnock it would be a good choice.
"I've been made manager of what I call the People's Club and I'm delighted to be here. The other influences which are prevalent in Scottish football could probably affect my job but I try not to get bogged down in it.
"The most important thing in life for any individual isn't to try and be better than someone else. It's to fulfil your own maximum potential. If we all do that as a family and club then we will have done everything in our control."
It has been a season mixed with glory and sadness for Kilmarnock.
Picking up silverware at Hampden for the first time in 15 years was followed by the shocking death of midfielder Kelly's dad Jack in the stand.
But that tragedy brought Shiels, his players, the supporters and an entire community closer together. And that's exactly what he wants to foster in the next couple of years.
He said: "I have to make the public know we are receptive and that there's a warmth and friendliness about this place. That's part of achieving results on the pitch, believe it or not.
"It's all part of becoming a better person. I also want the people who work for me to become better. The big part of that is the players. If we work to our principles but don't win a trophy or finish in the top six next season it might still be a successful year.
"More importantly, we want the crowds back and we want them entertained. We measure success too much by its totality on the pitch. What happens to the club and the people around it is important.
"Liam losing his dad didn't change me as a person, hopefully I'm still the same. But it can change us as a club when we become even more of a family. That can have a significant impact on how we progress.
"I want to bring better people into the club and go on in a better manner.
"I really want us to be known as the People's Club. I want us to provide for and connect with the people of Kilmarnock.
"We should use adversity and the closure of industries in our town as a vehicle to bring us together and take us forward."
Shiels admits it will be near impossible to top the campaign they have just experienced – winning a trophy and finishing seventh in the SPL.
The Rugby Park gaffer believes Killie pulled off a miracle but thinks they can build on it with him at the helm.
He said: "What we accomplished was bordering on miraculous. I had been told you don't beat the Old Firm in a final. You might beat them in the quarters or semis but not a final.
"So what our lads achieved was remarkable when you consider we had been signing them from York, Luton and Yeovil. Our achievements have been the most enormous of any Scottish club this term. A provincial, non-city club winning a trophy is unheard of in recent times.
"We can't set challenges that are above us but if we keep trying to be as good as we can then we'll have no failures."


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Recently, the city of Boston has been looking back underground — and right towards Joe McKendry's Beneath the Streets of Boston: Building America's First Subway.
In January, the PBS Documentary "The Race Underground" brought attention to America's first subway system, reflecting on the race between Boston and New York that was eventually won here in Massachusetts.
Now, as a part of the Imagine Boston 2030 campaign, Beneath The Streets of Boston has been selected to be one of the 10 children's books featured for Boston's 400th Anniversary!
While the 400th Anniversary is some time away, you can jump into celebrations early with two events coming up this Spring. Catch Joe McKendry speaking about Beneath The Streets of Boston at these public libraries around the South Shore:
- Monday, April 24th from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Hingham Public Library
- Thursday, April 27th at 7:00pm at the Weymouth Public Library
Click here for more information about Beneath the Streets of Boston or stop by any branch of the Boston Public Library to borrow a copy!


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Crusader Kings II: Rajas of India is the sixth expansion for the critically praised strategy/RPG Crusader Kings II and will focus on Eastern Persia and India. The expansion Rajas of India extends the map to the east, including the entire Indian subcontinent, and allows you to play as a Hindu, Buddhist or Jain ruler. Can you defend Dharma against foreign invaders and bring order to the subcontinent?
Source: The Publisher Website.


text:
It's no joke Easter is quickly approaching; it falls on April 1st, this year. Tulips are popping up in gardens all across town, and I've got spring-time on my mind.
March is going to be a busy month with baseball, basketball, Saint Patrick's Day and spring break. But it's not too soon to start planning your Easter Sunday menu. Perhaps you'll have brunch at your house, or a traditional southern Easter dinner after church. Anytime of day, you'll want to have a sweet treat ready to serve, even for a Sunday afternoon barbecue to mark the occasion.
Meringues make a light dessert and they just scream to be topped with fresh fruit. Making meringues is much simpler than one would think, too, and they are very cost-efficient.
There is no special equipment required to prepare meringues, just an electric mixer, and perhaps a sheet of parchment paper. I like to use a piping bag to shape the meringues but that can also be accomplished by cutting the corner off of a sturdy plastic storage bag. Or make a rustic version by spooning the egg whites onto the parchment. You really can't go wrong. Here are a few tips for making a meringue with a crisp outer shell and a slightly chewy center:
Bring eggs to room temperature before beating.
Make sure the mixing bowl and whisk are free from grease or oil.
Make sure the mixing bowl and whisk are completely dry from any moisture.
If making meringues on a rainy day, (not that we've had to worry too much about that lately) you may need to beat the egg whites a bit longer to achieve stiff peaks.
Bake them low and slow.
Meringues are elegant but easy. I love them in the spring and summer with any seasonal fresh fruit. However, frozen fruit made into a compote, or even pudding or curd and a little whipped cream will pair well with meringues.
This basic recipe for meringues can also be used to create meringue cookies. Bake them for 10 to 15 minutes longer if you wish to completely dry out the center, making it crisp all the way through. Add flavorings and coloring, even cocoa powder or chocolate chips and nuts. When I was a teenager, the first ones I ever made contained M&M's. They can be elegant and fun at the same time.
Try this classic combination of Lemon and blueberry toppings for beautiful Easter meringues. Enjoy food made fresh!
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 215 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Once the eggs are separated, let the whites rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before beginning. Set the egg yolks aside to use for the lemon curd.
Place the egg whites into a medium mixing bowl. Add cream of tartar and salt. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Slowly add the sugar, a little at a time. Once all the sugar in incorporated, increase the speed to high and beat the egg white mixture for 2 to 3, minutes.
Turn off the mixer and lift the whisk, if the egg whites are dense but the peak falls over creating soft peaks, continue beating on high for 2 to 3 minutes longer. Once you can raise the whisk and the peak is stiff, spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Placing the mixture into a study plastic storage bag will also work; cut about 1/2-inch off one corner and use this to pipe the meringues onto the parchment paper.
Pipe 12 meringues in egg-shapes or circles approximately 2-inches wide. Or, you can use a spoon to make 2-inch mounds of egg whites. Space the meringues about 1-inch apart.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes until the outer shell sounds solid when tapped.Note: If adapting this recipe to make a crispier "cookie," bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer, watching to ensure the outside does not start to turn brown. Let the meringues cool before serving. Store at room temperature in a tightly sealed container.
3 egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 to 3 lemons)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Place the egg yolks in a small saucepan and whisk in the sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add the bits of butter and continue cooking over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and mixture coats the back of the spoon.
Strain through a sieve to rid any solids that may have formed. Let cool and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Chill for at least 1 hour. If a thicker consistency is desired let chill for a minimum of 4 hours.
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Place blueberries, sugar, water and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, or until blueberries just start to break down, stirring occasionally. Let cool and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To assemble meringues, use fresh blueberries, powdered sugar and sweetened whipped cream.
Place 1 to 2 meringues onto a dessert plate. Layer on a portion of lemon curd and blueberry compote. Top with sweetened whipped cream, fresh blueberries and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired.
Makes 12 small or 6 regular servings.
ANGELINA LARUE is a food writer, recipe developer and author of "The Whole Enchilada Fresh and Nutritious Southwestern Cuisine."


text:
Leanna Lin's Wonderland ends a magical year with Dreams 'Small Art, Big Imaginations.' For this 'cash & carry' art show, Leanna Lin invited a few of her favorite artists to share works inspired by their own dreams. All artwork will be 10″ x 10″ or smaller and ready to take home upon purchase. Dreams is the perfect show for the holiday season. Gift an original piece of art to your loved one or add a new piece to your own art collection.
Participating artists include Bored Inc., CJ Metzger, Crowded Teeth, Flat Bonnie, Genevieve Santos, Janie XY, Misha Lulu, Mister Toast, Nan Lawson, Naoshi, and Tiffany Liu.
Dreams opens on Saturday, November 7 with a reception from 6-10pm. The show will run through December 24. Because this is a 'cash & carry' show, be sure to get there early for your first choice!


text: The Summer of Hiddleswift Is Over Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston have broken up By Michael Harthorne, Newser Staff Posted Sep 6, 2016 7:03 PM CDT 34 comments Comments Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston have broken up. We know. We're sorry. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Newser) – As surely as the leaves are changing their color and children are returning to school, the summer of Hiddleswift is over. People reports Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift have broken up after just three months of dating. But what a three months it was. They made the internet squee in June with photos of themselves as a couple, met each others' parents, made out in Italy, celebrated the birth of America, and had to deny their relationship wasn't a publicity stunt. While a source tells People the breakup was "amicable," the Huffington Post reports Swift had "concerns over their public image." "Tom wanted the relationship to be more public than she was comfortable with," a source tells Us Weekly. "Taylor knew the backlash that comes with public displays of affection, but Tom didn't listen to her concerns when she brought them up." And just like that it feels like the cold bleakness of winter is approaching faster than ever. (Read more Taylor Swift stories.) My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 43% Hilarious 2% Intriguing 9% Depressing 6% Brilliant 2% Scary 40% Ridiculous


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[D3D12] Resource Barriers in Multiple Command Lists
max343 replied to Funkymunky's topic in Graphics and GPU ProgrammingThis is contradictory to what some NVIDIA engineers have been telling me. The procedure I described is not one I invented on my own but rather was given to me by NVIDIA with all the remarks.
[D3D12] Resource Barriers in Multiple Command Lists
max343 replied to Funkymunky's topic in Graphics and GPU ProgrammingFor the sake of completeness, number 2 is a bit more complicated than that for the case when A writes to UAV and B reads from it (which is the more widespread way to use async compute). First things first, fences do not ensure UAV writes by themselves. In essence fence is just waiting for a counter to reach certain value, that counter is set on execution queue, while UAV writes happen elsewhere. So if you have your A (on compute queue), it most likely writes to UAV so it cannot be synchronized by a fence just like that. Second thing to get out of the way is that while the dependency A->B is quite clear, the dependency of B->A is much less clear but it's there (WAR hazard). So you need to synchronize two things, A->B and B->A. Starting from the easy one, B->A. If all B does is reading (SRV) then it's enough to use a fence to synchronize since all reads happen during or before execution. So when B finishes, the counter increments and that means you're free to write stuff to the buffer. A->B is a bit more complicated since you need to ensure UAV writes. This can be done explicitly by putting a resource barrier of UAV type on the same queue A is executing on, but before incrementing (signaling) the fence. While the actual resource transition happens on queue that B is executed on (due to limitations mentioned in "1"). Remember that buffers are created with implicitly set D3D12_RESOURCE_FLAG_ALLOW_SIMULTANEOUS_ACCESS, so that means the hardware will not prevent access to the same buffer scheduled from two different queues. You need to ensure correctness on your own.
Point inside convex polyhedron defined by planes
max343 replied to Dirk Gregorius's topic in Math and PhysicsI don't have inequalities in my solution. What I suggested disregards direction because it already assumes that the feasible region of the half spaces defines a convex polyhedron. If we'd flip one of the inequalities, the feasible region would be empty.
Point inside convex polyhedron defined by planes
max343 replied to Dirk Gregorius's topic in Math and PhysicsBut the simplex algorithm doesn't search through interior points, just through the boundary. Phase I just finds a boundary vertex of the feasible region or returns that the problem is infeasible. OP wanted something close to the centroid, this is distinctly an interior point.
Point inside convex polyhedron defined by planes
max343 replied to Dirk Gregorius's topic in Math and PhysicsI don't think that Simplex algorithm is the best choice here, since it searches for maximum on the boundary, while OP wanted some interior point.
Point inside convex polyhedron defined by planes
max343 replied to Dirk Gregorius's topic in Math and PhysicsBTW, sometimes it makes more sense to find the center of the circumscribed sphere rather than the centroid (which gives bias to clustered vertices). In this case you can do this: 1. Find x0 as I previously described. 2. Solve the weighted minimization problem with the weights: Wi = |Ni*x0-Di|
Point inside convex polyhedron defined by planes
max343 replied to Dirk Gregorius's topic in Math and PhysicsI haven't tested it, but maybe you can do this: Your plane equations are: Ni*x-Di, with Ni normalized row vectors, Di are scalars, and x is a column vector. Now minimize the sum of squared distances with respect to x: S=sum[(Ni*x-Di)^2] Obtain: x=((sum[Ni^T*Ni])^+) * sum[Di*Ni^T] I'm almost sure that the pseudo-inverse is not required (and you can take the regular inverse), because this reminds me a lot of SVD. However, this is just a hunch. EDIT: Yup, the matrix should be invertible for any closed polyhedrons. No need for pseudo-inverse.
Soft body physics
max343 replied to BrechtDebruyne's topic in Math and PhysicsI'm doubtful that introductory calculus/linear algebra is sufficient if you want rigor. All theory of deformable bodies is based on tensor calculus.
Exactly. For instance, pure scaling and translation have only three meaningful elements in them. You can use this to reduce the number of floating point operations drastically. Only thing to note is to use SIMD operations rather than scalar.
You can optimize this bit of code. All those multiplications are of specific matrices, and can be implemented in a faster way than general matrix multiplication.
Magnets behave differently than harmonic oscillators. In fact Lorentz force is much more complicated than just any restoring force. You can qualitatively understand the interaction process between two magnets by modeling them with currents in closed loops.<br />Modeling this effect with a damped harmonic oscillator is just a nasty shortcut, nothing more.
What kind of repulsing force you're interested in? In other words, what is the nature of the force depicted by the yellow arrow? If you don't really care about the nature of the force you can use damped harmonic oscillator to achieve the wanted effect. Otherwise you need to be more specific.
Best way to downscale a heightmap during runtime
max343 replied to GuyWithBeard's topic in Math and PhysicsCompletely agree. Even if the OP isn't going to use wavelets in this case, knowing even the simplest transform (Haar) gives a whole new perspective on the frequency domain.
Best way to downscale a heightmap during runtime
max343 replied to GuyWithBeard's topic in Math and PhysicsWavelet transform might work for you, but you should know that it doesn't differ from the mean by much. Linear filters are notorious for eliminating a lot of important data (mostly transitions), while all you want is to eliminate small bumps with is as little effect on the other data as possible. You should really consider non-linear filters, like the bilateral filter or the more general nlm filter. Efficient implementation of these two is a bit tricky but doable as long as you don't go wild with the filter radius. Also, don't even try to implement them in the naive way, they'll be terribly slow.
Fast sin and cos functions
max343 replied to EWClay's topic in Math and PhysicsBTW, a follow up to my previous post. I totally omitted it, but you can obtain even more precision by employing the same divide&conquer technique to the seventh degree Taylor approximation of sin(x) (essentially it's an eighth degree approximation) restricted to [-pi/2,pi/2]. Just factor the approximation into: (531.7555982144694 + x^2 * (x^2 - 32.521961561056756))*(x^2 - 9.47803843894324)*x/5040 Now perform all independent operations first. This includes computing x^2 very early and reusing it. Sadly, in this way the quadratic term (after x^2=y) cannot be factored into linear terms, but it's still quite efficient.


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Am I Called?
To be precise, a man only "knows" he is called to be a priest when he is ordained! However, there are many positive signs that can point to a vocation, and which can help a man make the decision to enter the seminary and continue along the path towards the priesthood.
What are the Signs of a Vocation?
The Lord does send signs, but we have to be careful! When we use the word 'sign' it may make us think of visions and voices. It is true that sometimes something clear and dramatic helps us, but usually God speaks to us in ordinary ways, guiding us through the events and experiences of our daily lives; through the 'ordinary' experience of our Christian faith (which of course is not at all ordinary). Deep down, it is not about signs, but about an ever-deepening personal relationship with the Lord – his love and care for me, his call, what he has created me for; and how I respond to that with the gift of my whole life. But he uses certain signs to call out to us, just as we use words and gestures when we communicate with other people. Below is a list of some of the initial 'signs' that God may be calling you to the priesthood, see if you can relate to any of them.
The idea of the priesthood keeps coming back.
In your prayer, your daydreaming, your imagination; in your reading of the gospels – you find yourself coming back to ideas about the priesthood. Some scripture passage seems to be directed at you – about the priesthood, or the call of the disciples, or service. These passages seem to stand out for you and have a kind of clarity. You hear a sermon about the priesthood, or read something, and it seems personal; as if a light comes on, or it warms your heart; or as if someone is pointing at you.
Admiration for priests you know.
You admire certain priests you have met and know. There is a goodness and holiness in their lives. You have an attraction to something they have or represent. They seem to be living a life worth living, in a way that speaks to you. You are drawn to them.
The Desire to be a Priest!
Perhaps you can't explain why, but you feel you would love to do what a priest does – to celebrate Mass, or preach, to baptize or visit the sick. Maybe you can't explain why you have this desire – you just imagine yourself as a priest and it seems to fit, even if it makes you afraid or you think it would be impossible. And this desire is different from just an ambition. We can be ambitious for the priesthood – we can turn it into a possession or an achievement: 'wouldn't it be great if…' But this is not the same as a vocation. Ambition in this sense turns the priesthood into an external possession; but a vocation is more like a deep personal desire to become what you feel you should be. There is a joy and excitement when you think about it, a sense that this is the right path, and it will lead to the place you are meant to be.
- Some people have always wanted to be a priest: they cannot remember a time when they did not have this desire; they pretended to be priests when they were a child; it seems to be a part of them.
- Some people have gradually wanted to be priests: it has grown over time, perhaps as their faith has grown; or it has come and gone, but now seems to be a bit stronger and a bit more enduring.
- Some people have always wanted NOT to be a priest: this might sound strange, but there are people who have always been fighting it, resisting, walking away, giving excuses why not; and this is because deep down they have always known it is a part of them; and at some point they realize that, in fact, people without vocations do not normally go around thinking about why they don't have a vocation!
- And some people suddenly want to be priests: they have gone through a life-changing spiritual experience; it has never occurred to them before but now it does; the priesthood is something new, sudden and unexpected, but very real and almost overpowering. This is why the Church asks new converts to have time to settle into their new Catholic life for a few years before seeking ordination.
Sense of being pulled or pushed toward the priesthood.
This can be true even if you do not seem to have any real personal desire. It is a nagging feeling that you should or could become a priest, which seems to come from nowhere, uninvited; an idea you can't get out of your mind. It might leave you cold, or even repel you – in the sense that your instincts and gut fight against it. It's as if part of you knows you should; there is an inner sense of duty, or call – even if it is reluctant.
Attraction to things associated with the priesthood.
Perhaps you do not have any explicit desires to be a priest, but you are attracted to many of the things that are involved in the life of a priest. You have a desire to serve people in different ways, or to pass on the faith, or to pray with and for others. Maybe you find less satisfaction in your work, not because it is wrong, but you feel it is not enough. You find yourself becoming more involved in the life of the parish as a reader or Eucharistic minister or catechist etc… You are giving your life in service more or helping the poor or the young. Lay people and religious also feel these pulls, but perhaps for you they are pulls to something priestly.
Inner Desire to Pray More
To take the faith more seriously. You just find that you want to pray more and to learn more about your Catholic faith. The Mass seems to mean more to you. You have become more honest about your faults and failings, and desire to go to confession more often than in the past. You are reading more about the faith, or the priesthood – it inspires you; your interest grows. Your love for Christ is growing, and your love for the Church.
Basic desire to give your life to God completely.
Of course this is true for many holy lay-people! But it can often be the beginning of a priestly vocation, even when there is no idea of the priesthood at the beginning. You are not sure why, but you have a feeling that you can't hold anything back. It is not enough for you just to work and plod along and say a few prayers and be nice to people – you want to give your whole heart, and you are not sure how or why. For some people the idea of celibacy comes to mind even before the explicit idea of priesthood, and before the Church explains how important it is – not because they dislike marriage, but because they feel called to give their life wholeheartedly to serve God and others, in a way that would be difficult within the commitments of marriage and family life. There can be a feeling that for me I couldn't be free to serve the Lord if I were married with children.
Other people affirm your vocation.
When you talk to people about the possibility of the priesthood, especially committed Catholics, they don't look as if you are mad. They affirm it, and say, 'Of course, I could have told you that years ago!' They encourage you. In other words, in the eyes of others this vocation also seems to make sense – it is not just a subjective sign for you, but it is beginning to be a more objective sign to others too.
A feeling that you are not worthy to be a priest.
This might seem like a paradox, but it can be true. Sometimes, of course, the priesthood is not right for someone, and they know this, and accept it happily. But at other times, someone may have a deep feeling that the priesthood is too much of an ideal for them, that they are not worthy, or not good enough (morally), or not capable enough. These feelings can be a sign of humility, an indication that someone has a healthy sense of their own limitations, and a high sense of the dignity of the priesthood. The feeling of unworthiness may, strangely, be a sign that someone has a true appreciation for the priesthood, and that they will be open to asking for God's help and the help of the Church. It would be worrying if someone thought the priesthood was easy; or if they thought they could achieve it through their own efforts.
Have you experienced any or all of these?
Take these opportunities to futher discern your vocation path.
Office of Vocations
Catholic Diocese of Spokane
1023 W Riverside Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
Mailing Address :
429 E. Sharp Ave.
Spokane, WA 99202


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Committee Votes to Reduce K-12 Testing
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation approved today by the Oklahoma House of Representatives Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget will reduce testing in public schools.
House Bill 3218 reduces the number of required tests to 18, including:
- One English and one math test in each grade from 3 to 8;
- Two science tests, one in grades 3-5 and one in grades 6-9;
- and four high school tests in English, math, science and U.S. history.
All of the remaining tests except for U.S. History are required by the federal government under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Tests removed include an art test, seventh-grade geography, fifth- and eighth-grade social studies and writing tests and three end-of-instruction tests.
"I agree with educators and parents that there is simply too much testing," said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. "This legislation will reduce testing and let educators do what they do best – teach their students."
The legislation requires the same tests to be used in the upcoming school year, but authorizes the state education department to look for new assessments to fulfill the federal and state requirements for the next year. The measure also removes passage of the test as a requirement for graduation and authorizes the state education department to create new graduation requirements.
"Eighteen tests is still a lot of tests," Sanders said. "By authorizing the state education department to continue working on the problem, we are leaving the door open to try to consolidate tests wherever possible and improve the assessments if a good replacement can be found."
Going into Overtime
By Rep. Mike Sanders
Oklahoma legislators continue to discuss the budget. The talks are going later into session than normal, due to the difficulty of building consensus around a way forward in such a difficult year. In particular, I am fighting against certain schemes to raise revenue such as doing away with the earned income tax credit and reducing benefits for teachers. I am also fighting against balancing the budget by cutting transportation funding.
The earned income tax credit was supported by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and by former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, yet it has somehow mistakenly seen as a "liberal" tax credit. Average Oklahomans use it and eliminating it would have a negative impact on their household finances.
While, I would prefer to get things done quickly, it is ultimately more important that they get done right. I think that for every delay we may run into on getting a budget done, a bad idea will have been shelved and a good idea put in its place.
Legislation to level the playing field between Oklahoma brick-and-mortar retailers and out-of-state vendors has been signed into law. House Bill 2531 will require online retailers that do not have a physical presence in Oklahoma to either begin voluntarily collecting sales tax at the point of consumer purchase or sending each of their consumers a notice at the end of each year stating the total amount of purchases with a reminder that sales and use tax remittance is required.
Oklahoma retailers compete on price, service and selection, but the current structure puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to taxes. Now, we will fix that problem and it should also lead to some money that will close the budget gap. The measure passed by a vote of 70-18 in the House.
I and many of my public-safety-minded colleagues were horrified in the state court of criminal appeals decision to refuse to interpret the sexual molestation of an intoxicated individual as "forcible sodomy." A colleague who is a former prosecutor immediately revamped Senate Bill 2398 to make sure the intoxication of the individual does not allow the perpetrator to have a legal loophole. We approved it quickly in the House and it is now being carried in the Senate by my good friend Sen. AJ Griffin.
Budget negotiations continue to be intense and the sticking points remain the elimination of the earned income tax credit, transportation funding, how much to bond and our knowledge that agency directors will have a lot of control over that money once we approve it. I believe government must live within its means. Doing otherwise is setting up trouble for the future. I also believe that the agency heads must look at adjusting payroll rather than cutting services when we choose to reduce their funding and put it into core services. If they do not, we will hold them accountable.
In next week's column, I hope to be able to present a budget agreement. As always, I can be reached at (405) 557-7407 or email@example.com.
Caucus Elects Speaker-Designate
By Rep. Mike Sanders
During our busy weeks of policy and budget work, state lawmakers must also regularly meet and make organizational decisions. The current leader of the House, the Speaker, is leaving due to term limits. In order to have a smooth transition, we elected the individual we want to replace him at the end of the year.
I was pleased to see the House Republican caucus elect my good friend Rep. Charles McCall as the Speaker-designate for the 56th Legislature beginning in February 2017. McCall, an Atoka banker, will be a friend to Western Oklahoma, even though he hails from the Southeast. He was first elected in 2012, after serving as Mayor of Atoka from 2005 to 2012. He understands rural districts and I look forward to working with him and having him out to our district.
A very important criminal justice bill was signed into law on May 9. Since the creation of the "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea, it has been used repeatedly to get criminals off the hook for the crimes they commit. While I do believe there are valid cases in which an individual may be in a state in which they cannot make a moral decision, I think these are few and far between. In particular, serial killers may have a clinically-defined antisocial personality disorder, which could be used to argue for a plea of "not guilty by reason of insanity." It's a black mark on justice in our state.
The new law will replace the plea with two new pleas – "guilty but with mental defect" and "not guilty by reason of mental illness." Serial killers, or more specifically, individuals with an antisocial personality disorder, would receive normal sentencing under the "guilty but with mental defect" plea, but would have the additional stipulation that they be examined by the state mental health agency and a treatment would be recommended that would be a conditional part of any probation.
The idea was proposed by Pottawatomie County District Attorney, Richard Smothermon, following a 2012 high profile murder case. East Central University student Jerrod Murray planned and kidnapped fellow classmate, Generro Sanchez, and shot him multiple times. He later confessed that he wanted to see what it felt like to kill someone. Under Oklahoma law, Murray was charged with murder but found not guilty by reason of insanity. He is now held at the Oklahoma Forensic Center, the largest inpatient behavioral health facility in the state system until a psychiatrist or other mental health professional deems it appropriate to let him out. This is simply unacceptable and will not be the kind of outcome we will see under the new law.
Another criminal justic bill was signed into law that will criminalize revenge porn – the unauthorized dissemination of intimate photos or video usually after a relationship has ended. The new law defines the crime as being of a sexual act or of a nude individual disseminated with an intent to harass, intimidate, or coerce and the knowledge that the dissemination was nonconsensual. Someone convicted of the crime can be sentenced to up to one year in a county jail, and a fine. Revenge porn is a disgusting crime and I am proud to be among those who supported its criminalization.
The budget is getting close, but there are still many issues up in the air. Transportation funding, funding for the Rural Fire Defense program and volunteer fire departments through the Oklahoma Department of Agiculture, rural common education funding, hospitals and nursing home funding are still priorities to me and I will continue to fight for them in budget negotiations.
As always, I can be reached at (405) 557-7407 or email@example.com.
Final Actions
By Rep. Mike Sanders
Already the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Mary Fallin have completed action on a number of policy issues. I told you last week about sending my repeat DUI bill to the governor. Now, I am proud to report that it has been signed into law.
House Bill 3146 creates the Impaired Driving Elimination Act (IDEA) and prohibits municipal prosecution of driving under the influence, unless a municipality has a municipal court of record. Any municipality with a population of 60,000 or more would have the option to create a court of record. Arresting municipalities would still receive a portion of the fines.
Another important measure signed into law will broaden the definition of domestic violence, giving law enforcement and prosecutors a greater ability to go after abusers. Current statute defines domestic violence as a pattern involving three or more incidents of abuse within a 12-month period. Senate Bill 1491 removes the 12-month stipulation and reduces the required incidents of abuse to two or more. I worked hard to get this passed in the House. I have no tolerance for men who would hit their spouses and most Oklahomans agree.
While many bills are being signed into law, there is a separate route for policy questions that still have kinks to work out. This period of the legislative session is known as the conference process. Bills with amendments or title stricken can be rejected and sent to conference, where a committee of House and Senate members will agree on final language and send it back to a vote in both chambers. Low-priority legislation that goes to conference often dies there, while high-priority items get the most focus.
Right now, one of those high priority bills in conference is a bill to reduce the number of state tests. House Bill 1622 would eliminate all K-12 common education tests not required by the federal government. There are currently 26 standardized tests for K-12 instruction in Oklahoma. This measure would end nine of those tests. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Conference Committee on Common Education.
Budget negotiations are intense right now. We continue to fight for core services, but, ironically, some of the biggest fights are over services with the least cost. Every year, the Oklahoma Legislature appropriates money for rural firefighters through the Rural Firefighter Defense Fund. This money is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, but with the express intent of being used for fire departments. However, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese continues to raid that money to balance his agency budget and could eliminate that funding stream this year with the cuts he will be trying to absorb. This is incredibly inappropriate and reckless when he has yet to eliminate any administrative staff position. Basically, he is choosing to keep the fat at the top, while eliminating a critical public safety service. It seems like every year, there are individuals who want to balance our budget on the back of either transportation or public safety. This is entirely unacceptable, and I will oppose it and help defeat it.
I look forward to telling you more about the progress of budget and policy discussions. As always, I can be reached at (405) 557-7407 or email@example.com.
Bill to Catch Repeat Drunk Drivers Heads to Governor
By Rep. Mike Sanders
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has completed another deadline and all proposed laws have now either been signed, sent to the governor or amended. Amended legislation returns to the chamber of origin, where amendments can be accepted or the bill can be sent to conference committee to work out disagreements over the language of the bill.
I am proud to report that a bill I authored to get repeat drunk drivers off the road is among those headed to the desk of Gov. Mary Fallin and could be signed in the next week. House Bill 3146 creates the Impaired Driving Elimination Act (IDEA) and prohibits municipal prosecution of driving under the influence, unless a municipality has a municipal court of record. Any municipality with a population of 60,000 or more would have the option to create a court of record. Arresting municipalities would still receive a portion of the fines.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 Oklahoma ranked as the 46th worst state for impaired driving deaths. We have a problem partially because when drunk drivers are arrested in municipal courts and a record of their crime does not reach district prosecutors, then he or she may be a repeat offender with a serious drug or alcohol problem who is flying under the radar. There are 354 municipal courts in Oklahoma who handle a large volume of DUI arrests, but that are not 'courts of record.'
Numbers are relevant, but being hit by a drunk driver brings the issue closer to home. My wife was hit by a drunk driver. Although she was fortunately not seriously injured, I learned that the individual who hit her was a repeat offender and it led me to look deeper into the process of repeat DUI prosecutions. What I found was a gaping hole in the number of DUIs being actually reported at the state level. No one had yet championed a solution to this critical problem through the legislative process. I was more than happy to become that legislator. This bill will protect the lives of Oklahomans. This bill is 100 percent about public safety and not money.
My drunk driving legislation was not the only public safety success this session. The House sent a domestic violence bill to the governor that has now been signed into law. Senate Bill 1491 broadens the definition of domestic violence. Current statute defines it as a pattern involving three or more incidents of abuse. This measure would make it two or more and remove a stipulation that it occur within a 12-month period.
As a rural legislator, I'm keenly aware of how vulnerable farmers and ranchers are to crime because of the isolation of large country properties. The House Rural Caucus pushed for a bill this session to deter cattle rustling, a crime that has huge negative economic consequences for its victims. House Bill 2504 also awaits the governor's signature to become law. It increases the fine for theft of livestock and implements of husbandry to three times the value of animals and machinery, not to exceed $500,000. It also gives district attorneys more options when prosecuting cattle rustlers.
I also know that most of my constituents feel strongly about the sanctity of life, so I also want to mention the progress of a bill to outlaw abortions intended to kill children who have a genetic abnormality such as Down's syndrome. House Bill 3128 was approved by the Senate, but with the title stricken, so it now returns to the House and will have to go through the conference committee process. I support this bill. Every life is a precious gift from God.
Budget talks continue between the House, Senate and governor's office. A final agreement is being discussed and vetted as we speak. These talks started late last summer and are a top priority of this Legislature. Stay tuned to more information on this as we near the end of session.
The conference committee process is often slow, so my next column will likely highlight bills being signed into law. My door is open to you. Call me at (405) 557-7407 or email@example.com.
Some Good News
By Rep. Mike Sanders
There was some good news this week in an otherwise gloomy revenue year. General Revenue Fund collections in March exceeded the estimate for the first time since July 2015. As the state's main operating fund, it is the key indicator of state government's fiscal status. It also means that it is less likely that we will see any more revenue failures in the remainder of the current fiscal year, which ends in June.
March collections of $394.2 million were $3.1 million, or 0.8 percent, above the official estimate upon which this year's budget was based. We did estimate a shortfall, so those collections are still $30.1 million, or 7.1 percent, below prior year collections. Total collections for the first nine months of FY 2016 were $3.7 billion, which is $323.8 million, or 8 percent, below the official estimate and $386.6 million, or 9.4 percent, below prior year collections.
I know that some constituents have been concerned about the increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma. While most are minor, some have caused damage to households. The Oklahoma Legislature has now sent Governor Mary Fallin a bill intended to clarify and increase the authority of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to respond to emergency situations that could have an environmental or public safety impact. House Bill 3158 allows the commission to take whatever action is necessary, without notice and hearing, to respond to an emergency. This follows on the heels of actions the governor took to increase funding to the commission and other agencies working on the earthquake problem.
The governor has signed several important bills into law. House Bill 3102 expands the number of hours an adjunct teacher can teach in Oklahoma classrooms from 90 to 270. These are teachers that have not gone through the teaching certification process, but are a necessary tool for school districts facing a teacher shortage.
Another measure signed into law was Senate Bill 1342, which modifies the Taxpayer Transparency Act. The change allows Oklahomans to see all federal funds received by state agencies and track how the monies are used.
We passed a measure on the House floor that authorizes a municipality to enter into agreements for used equipment that has been tested and certified as safe with a volunteer fire department. The measure exempts the municipality from liability for any damage caused by the use of such equipment.
Another important House bill approved by the Senate contains a budget reform. House Bill 3058 provides a process for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to reconcile all state agency revolving funds. This is an attempt to ensure excess funds to not remain in agency accounts when they might be needed in the budget process.
Finally, I always try to track child welfare reform bills. Another House Bill close to being signed into law is House Bill 2963. It provides that court approval of the affidavit disclosing all monies expended by an adoptive family during the process of adoption does not exempt a person, attorney or child placing agency from prosecution if it was fraudulent or false and specifies what constitutes reasonable fees of a child placing agency.
I look forward to telling you more about the progress of budget and policy discussions. As always, I can be reached at (405) 557-7407 or email@example.com.
Senate Approves Bill to Improve Prosecution of Repeat DUIs
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation to aid prosecutors in keeping drunk drivers off the road was approved today by the Oklahoma Senate.
House Bill 3146, by state Rep. Mike Sanders and state Sen. Greg Treat, creates the Impaired Driving Elimination Act (IDEA) and prohibits municipal prosecution of driving under the influence, unless a municipality has a municipal court of record. Any municipality with a population of 60,000 or more would have the option to create a court of record. Arresting municipalities would still receive a portion of the fines.
There are 354 municipal courts in Oklahoma who handle a large volume of DUI arrests, but that are not 'courts of record.' Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the only current municipal courts of record.
"This is an important tool for prosecutors to be able to better flag and appropriately prosecute repeat drunk drivers," said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. "The security of Oklahoma families when they are driving on our roads should always be a top priority in public safety."
"This bill closes a loophole that has put Oklahomans' lives in danger by allowing repeat drunk drivers to get multiple DUI convictions in various jurisdictions without being held accountable," said Treat, R-Oklahoma City. "There are 350 courts not of record in Oklahoma that don't report DUI convictions to a statewide database. Therefore, someone could get arrested twenty or more times in multiple jurisdictions for DUI and because those convictions aren't put on their record they're treated like a first time offender and receive only minimal punishment."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 Oklahoma ranked as the 46th worst state for impaired driving deaths and the 51st (including states and territories) for improvement over the previous 10-year period (NHTSA, 2012).
"This legislation marks a watershed in the history of impaired driving in Oklahoma," said Toby Taylor, Chairman of the Governor's Impaired Driving Prevention Advisory Council, "by creating accountability for every impaired driving arrest in Oklahoma and providing law enforcement with a much needed tool to identify those individuals who are repeat impaired driving offenders. This is a critical piece of the puzzle in our efforts to reduce the incidence of impaired driving related traffic crashes in Oklahoma."
Several legislators also praised the legislation.
"Drunk driving can result in terrible tragedy and repeat drunk drivers are among the most dangerous," said Rep. Scott Biggs, R-Chickasha, a former prosecutor. "This legislation fixes a system in which many repeat offenders were flying under the radar and allows us to catch more of them."
"It is hard to overstate what a victory this is for public safety," said state Rep. Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa. "Thousands of DUIs are falling through the cracks that could be used to get repeat offenders off the road. Congratulations to Representative Sanders and Senator Treat for working to get bipartisan support behind this legislation's passage."
"Repeat drunk drivers are individuals who are dangerous to the rest of us and who are unlikely to reform their ways without intervention," said state Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso. "This loophole needed to be closed so we can get these individuals off the road."
"This is the most significant advancement made in recent history in making our streets and highways safer from drunk or impaired drivers," said state Rep. Ben Loring, D-Miami. "It closes a huge gaping hole in the area of public safety. Representative Sanders and Senator Treat deserve credit for leading on this issue. This proposal, once signed into law, will save lives."
The legislation was approved unanimously and now proceeds to the governor's office to be signed into law.
Rep. Sanders: Canadian County Project Example of Importance of Road and Bridge Funding
OKLAHOMA CITY – A contract was awarded for asphalt resurfacing work in Canadian County, state Rep. Mike Sanders announced today.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the project will involve asphalt resurfacing on State Highway 3, about one mile south of the Kingfisher County Line in Okarche and extend south to State Highway 4 in various locations.
The State Transportation Commission awarded the nearly $460,000 contract to Schwarz Paving Co., Inc. The Oklahoma City company was the lowest of four bidders for the job.
Once construction begins, the project is estimated to be completed within one month.
"This project is one of the many reasons I continue to advocate for road and bridge funding," said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. "After years of neglect, we are very rapidly updating our infrastructure, which increases both public safety and economic activity in Western Oklahoma."
Late Stages
By Rep. Mike Sanders
Bills are now in the late stage of the legislative process. If there is disagreement or final details to be worked out, there is a chance bills will end up in a conference committee near the end of session. But otherwise, they are nearing their final leg of the process.
This week marked the deadline by which legislation must be heard in the committee of the opposition chamber. That means House committees completed their work on Senate bills. Now, we will pass bills on the floor. Once passed on the floor, those bills will either go to joint House and Senate conference committees to work out disagreements or straight to the governor.
On the Senate side, we are finally getting to see some movement on the bills we approved and sent over to them. My legislation to improve the prosecution of repeat drunk drivers in Oklahoma has passed through the Senate committee process and now awaits a vote by the full Senate. House Bill 3146, the Impaired Driving Elimination Act, will require all driving under the influence offenses to be tried in district court. This addresses the problem in which many drunk drivers are prosecuted in municipal courts that are not statutorily required to be courts of record. That means that when these drunk drivers are arrested, the record of that offense is frequently not pushed to the district attorneys. Without a record of previous convictions, these district attorneys cannot prosecute repeat offenders.
The Senate also approved two important education bills in committee. House Bill 2957 would return flexibility to local school districts in the area of teacher and leader evaluations. This bill restores local control in the evaluation of their teachers and administrators. The goal in these evaluations is higher student achievement and teacher and leader excellence. I believe this bill achieves that while removing some of the burden under the existing state model. The bill received a do pass recommendation by the Senate Education Committee and is eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.
House Bill 1622 would eliminate education tests not required by the federal government. In Oklahoma, this would eliminate three end-of-instruction tests, five middle school tests and a state art test. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade currently are required to take 26 tests throughout the course of their schooling. This bill has been scheduled for a conference committee this week in the House. By eliminating some of these tests, we can free up millions of dollars that could potentially go back into the classroom for our teachers and our kids, where it belongs.
Meanwhile, we have approved several Senate bills in committee. For example, the House Appropriation and Budget Committee approved an important measure to catch uninsured motorists. Senate Bill 359 allows law enforcement to use automated license plate readers to run those plates by the Oklahoma Insurance Department to determine if the owner is insured. If the owner does not have insurance, they will be sent a letter directing them to contact the District Attorney's Office.
We also approved a Senate bill that will make it easier to hunt and kill feral swine. It adds feral swine to the list of animals that can be hunted with a variety of hunting licenses currently available to Oklahomans. It also allows the use of vehicles and night-vision equipment to hunt feral swine.
A bill that has moved through the entire process and now heads to the governor's desk will extend the termination date for local firefighter pension and retirement boards. Senate Bill 1021 changes the termination date for local firefighter pension and retirements boards from 2000 to 2016.
It is fitting to end this column with a bill that affects firefighters as I also wanted to take this time to thanks all of the firefighters who have gone out in recent weeks to put out fires in Northern Oklahoma and specifically Blaine County. Thank you so much for all that you do to protect lives and property.
I look forward to telling you more next week. My door is always open and I can be reached at (405) 557-7407 or email@example.com.
More Major Legislation
By Rep. Mike Sanders
Last week, I told you about some of the major reforms approved by the session midpoint. This week, I want to talk about the budget and also highlight some additional legislation that we sent to the Senate.
First, budget discussions continue to include multiple scenarios and solutions, but at least one idea that has emerged and is worth mentioning is the idea of a transportation funding bond. Basically, road and bridge funding has been on the chopping block in the past several budget discussions. In order to get it off the block, we have begun discussing using a bond to fund it. With a more than $1 billion budget shortfall, a reasonable bond is one way to account for this anomaly year without sacrificing long-term transportation goals. This is still in discussion, but a plan is in the works. Transportation is a core service of government and should be treated as such.
Education is a top priority for all legislators and while we may not be able to hold it harmless, we have been working to reduce mandates and oppose ideas such as the school vouchers in such a tough budget time. Last week's supplemental funding agreement was a first step in shoring up education funding due to the revenue failures. Hopefully, we can get more accomplished and set schools on a path to get through this oil and gas downturn. In two of the last three years, we have increased common education funding and held it harmless last year. The Senate has sent us a bill to eliminate End of Instruction exams. Senate Bill 1170 authorizes each school district to certify that graduating high school students had mastered the curriculum requirements. The state board of education, higher education and CareerTech will create a list of approved assessments that would comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act and measure mastery of the state's subject matter standards. The state would pay for the exams.
Second, I want to tell you about another bond. We have committed to the idea of restoring the Oklahoma State Capitol, as it is the people's building and putting off needed repairs would just make it a more costly project in the future. House Bill 3168 would allow the state to issue up to $125 million in bonds to complete the Capitol Restoration Project, which is scheduled for a 2022 completion date. The bond would be funded by tobacco tax revenues.
Third, we approved House Bill 2962 to require coverage of autism by a wide bipartisan vote last week. I think we must balance the need for accessible health care with reigning in insurance costs. This legislation did both. It requires health-benefit plans to provide coverage for autism, but limits the yearly maximum benefit to $25,000. It does not however limit the number of visits, as the cost is the important point.
Finally, I want to talk to you about a law enforcement bill approved last week. House Bill 2864 will place the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the Department of Public Safety under one Commissioner of Public Safety. The legislation is intended to make it easier for the public to know where the buck stops in public safety and have one individual to deal with on any issues that arise. The individual law enforcement units will continue to function as in the past, but a single leader will help with the coordination and accountability that should be a part of any government agency. The title is off this bill, which means it needs to be tweaked more as it moves through the Senate. I will keep you posted on its progress.
In my next column, I will begin to tell you about some of the Senate bills coming through my committees and about the progress of House bills in the Senate. As always, I can be reached at (405) 557-7407 firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Here is something unusual. It's made of 100% sugar cane viscose, something we have never seen before. The colors are very subtle, blending easily from one to another. Ruca Multy is the name and it has 263 yards per hank. The gauge is 5.5 stitches per inch on a 4-5 needle. It would make a lovely summer top.
Take a look at these colors. Bombay is 100% mercerized cotton and has 251 yards per skein. It knits at 6 stitches per inch on a size 4 needle. I have been touching it every time I walk by it and last night at Knit Nite someone finally succommed to it. Marne started a pair of baby legwarmers and we all got to touch it in progress. The yarn is surprisingly soft and knits up nicely. It's $14.00 each and perfect for light weight projects. I can see a summer cardigan or shawl using this lovely yarn.
Don't forget to check previous blog for class schedule. Our next class will be the "Wacky Women Pin" where you can make a one-of-a-kind bauble for yourself or someone else. It's on Valentines Day so you can spread the love. Join us for this or other classes. Check out our website to see what Eve has added lately. All of our classes are listed there, including beginning crochet. Hope to see you soon.


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antony and the johnsons
does anyone like this band? Just got the download off pitchfork and i thought it was great, but i can imagine some people might hate it, and im not sure what the rest of the album will be like.
Re: antony and the johnsonsI also got the one from pitchfork....i like it but i can imagine an album full getting annoying.
Re: antony and the johnsonsShame, seems there's genuine emotion in his singing, but it could get kinda annoying
Re: antony and the johnsonsthe album is very nice indeed. his voice is so haunting & emotional, sometimes it can get a bit much but on the whole its definitely worth investing in
Re: antony and the johnsonsyeah i just bit the bullet and ordered it anyway, listened to that download three times today already.
Re: antony and the johnsonsi really like it. go to their website and get Frankenstein .... the voice sounds less annoying on there and the song is no less lovely.
Re: antony and the johnsonsWhats the web address?
Re: antony and the johnsonsanthonyandthejohnsons.com
Re: antony and the johnsonsYeah i managed to find it....actually blindingly obvious when you think about it. I kind of perfer "hope theres someone" not sure why.
Re: antony and the johnsonsmy tutor for a levels was called anthony johnson.
and he was a johnson.
as in a penis.
like in police academy.


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Hello, and welcome to the first edition of Wayback Wednesday.This will be a weekly thread in which we talk about the history of hockey. This can be anything from a historic game (USA-USSR in 1980) or series (1972 Summit Series), to a historic event that altered the NHL (Ted Lindsey forming the NHLPA). As long as it's hockey related, and historic, we're interested in it.
I thought up this thread and /u/trex20 from Reddit has agreed to help me with this and contribute content, but I would love to have more people contribute with ideas or writing as well. As this hopefully develops and evolves we'll get more feedback from the community and be able to generate better content for the community here.
For this first edition we thought we should go over some firsts for hockey. What are the first things you need to play hockey? Skates of course. But skates aren't exactly hockey-centric as they were around for thousands of years before hockey was played. Did you know the Fins invented skating? And that it's the oldest human-powered means of transportation?
Skates are of course essential to playing ice or roller hockey, but you don't need skates to play floor hockey. So what is the first thing you need to play hockey? A puck? Well, some forms of hockey use a ball. In fact, as /u/MrPennyWhistle shared with us earlier this week even the first ice hockey games were played with a ball.
There are numerous varieties of hockey played throughout the world, each with different rules and equipment but in each there is one common thing you'll need. A stick.
The first ice hockey sticks were made by the Mi'kmaq people (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi%27kmaq_people#Mic-Mac_hockey_sticks) of Nova Scotia as early as the 18th century. These native Canadians would capitalize on the growth of hockey and during the late 1800's thru the early 1900's their Mic-Mac stick would become the most popular stick in the Canada.
Now we're ready to play hockey! We have our skates, a puck and a stick. That's all you really need right? Well, in theory, you could play with just those. The game did start that way over 150 years ago. But today we know it's best to have more equipment than just that. One of the most important of which are gloves. Originally hockey players mainly wore gloves to protect their hands from the cold. Additional padding was added as the game evolved, but it was in 1931 when the first major design change in gloves happened. After Montreal Maroons star Babe Siebert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Siebert) suffered a broken thumb, trainer Bill O'Brien put a shoehorn inside Siebert's glove to provide reinforcement and protection to his thumb. This clever invention was the impetus for the reinforced fiber thumb which would become a staple on hockey gloves in the 1930's. (http://stars.nhl.com/ext/pdf/NHL_UniformBooklet.pdf)
Believe it or not, goaltenders used to use the same gloves as every other skater on the rink. That all changed though with one man that /u/trex20 will tell you about.
Emile "The Cat" Francis' on-ice NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers was not what you'd call remarkable. A mid-season call-up for in 1947, he tended for a basement-dwelling Chicago team and then moved on to Chicago to be an occasional back-up. While his play was unremarkable, he managed to become an innovator for his sport not once, but twice.
In a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Francis took the ice wearing a modified baseball mitt on his left hand. Francis felt the usual glove – the same as the ones used by forwards- didn't have enough protection, so he looked to his background in baseball to remedy the issue, later saying-
"The old goal gloves were five-fingered gloves with a little wee webbing between your forefinger and your thumb. It wasn't two inches wide, so as a result, every time you caught a puck, it caught you right in the middle of your hand. I can still feel bruises today! Because of baseball, I got a first baseman's mitt. It was a George McQuinn model made by Rawlings. He played for the New York Yankees. At training camp, I asked the trainer to take the glove to a shoemaker and have him take the cuff off an old hockey glove and sew it onto the baseball glove. I used that glove."
When Jack Adams, the Red Wings coach, saw Francis' glove during warm-ups, he protested and the refs told Francis he couldn't use the glove (which he had been using in the minors without incident). Francis, knowing there was no back-up goalie, stood his ground saying "'If I can't use this glove, you've got no game tonight! I don't have any other glove and I have no intention of using any other glove. I'm not using a forward's glove to play goal.'"
The next day the team traveled to Montréal for a game against the Canadiens and Francis met with NHL President Clarence Campbell. After an hour of questioning, Campbell declared Francis' glove legal. According to Francis, sporting goods companies began manufacturing the gloves within a month. They quickly caught on throughout the hockey world.
Francis didn't stop there though. After getting approval for his glove, he switched his efforts to other hand, having the Blackhawks trainer tape sponge rubber to his stick-hand glove. This became what we now know as the blocker.
Francis went on to have a successful career behind the bench and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category in 1982, but his influence on the game started decades earlier on the ice as a call-up for a last place team, making goaltending safer (and less painful) for goalies everywhere.
For further reading (and to see the sources I used) check out these links- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emile_Francis
and Hockey's Book of Firsts by James Duplacey
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please let us know what other firsts you think are interesting or that stand out in hockey history.
If you have a topic you'd be interested in having us research next week please PM myself or /u/trex20. Or let us know if you want to write a piece one week.


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Getty Images
In addition to No. 7, Tuesday's edition of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN will consider the best players to ever wear No. 73.
To make it work, you need to vote on the best to wear No. 73.
We've narrowed it down for you, as we always do. Pick the best three.
And then tune in at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, especially if the soccer game has become a two-nil blowout by then.


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COMEDK PGET Admit Card
Have You Applied For PGET Exam? Check Exam Dates, Status Of Hall Ticket from Here & then Download your COMEDK PGET Admit Card through this page… Students, who're going to appear in COMEDK PG Entrance Exam, may get their COMEDK PGET Hall Ticket through below segment of this page. On the Availability of COMEDK PGET Admit Card 2017, we're updating this page with latest information so stay tuned with us on our web portal.
Contenders, you may also fetch their examination hall ticket for COMEDK PGET Entrance Exam from official web portal by using online or by taking below mentioned steps. For more information about COMEDK PGET Test Admission Ticket, you may need to go through this page which is well structured by team of recruitmentresult.com, please have a look…
How to download COMEDK PGET Admit Card?
- candidates who want to download hall ticket they First of all visit the official Website of Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) that is www.comedk.org
- Select link from home page as "PGET" now from opened page hit on suitable link.
- Open it in new tab for convenience and input all the required details such as form no., registration no., date of birth etc.
- Press enter on submit button, your examination hall ticket will be displayed in front of you.
- After taking the printout of it keep it safe and you should bring this hall ticket at the time of examination.
Read Also: How to Download Admit Card?
COMEDK PGET Admit Card
Some Unknown Facts About PGET:
COMEDK PGET is a Post Graduate Medical and Dental Entrance Exam conducted by COMEDK. Through COMEDK PGET Exam, medical and dental students can apply to PG medical education institutes in Karnataka which are part of COMEDK. Key Statistics on COMEDK Institutions:
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- Aggregate Number of PG Seats – 600 + Seats
Every year organization conducts this examination for admission in medical dental program. Huge number of applicants applies every year to get admission through entrance test. This year, Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka is going to conduct exam in month of January 2017.
Check Here: COMEDK Previous Year Question Papers
Mode to check Hall ticket:
Candidates who want to get their PGET exam admit card they can download it through online mode from official website that is comedk.org or may also get it directly through below mentioned Official Link and main purpose of exam is to check ability of aspirants who want to take admission in PG medical programs.
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Candidates' selection for PG Medical Program will be done through their qualifying marks in Entrance exam followed by COMEDK PGET Counselling.
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Get Details: COMEDK Syllabus
Important Guidelines For PGET Computer Based Test:
- Countdown timer will display remaining time available to complete examination and Question Palette shown on right side of display that will demonstrate type of every question
- You can effortlessly navigate to every question by hitting on question number in Question Palette and you can mark a question for evaluation and then come back to it for saving the right option.
- You can straightforwardly navigate between multiple sections by hitting particular section shown on top bar of screen and you can analysis answering status for a Section by placing mouse over the name of the Section.
- You can analysis all the questions by Hitting on the Question Paper button and you can mix up between diverse sections or modify the optional Sections any number of times.
Check Now: Medical Entrance Exams Preparation Books
COMEDK PGET Exam Centers:
COMEDK Calendar Of Events:
|Events Name
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|Entrance exam will conduct on
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Want to Know? Tips To Create Your Own Study Guide
To directly get your COMEDK PGET Admit Card 2017, you must go to this Official Link and stay tuned with us on our web portal to get latest updates regarding the same.
Something That You Should Put An Eye On
|Medical Entrance Exams in India
|COMEDK Fee Structure
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|COMEDK College List
|COMEDK PGET Result
|How To Find Online Study Material
|COMEDK PGET Application Form
|How to Get in the Mood to Study


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Something New - My First Mini QuiltTuesday, April 05, 2011
Following from my resolution to try something new, here is the my first mini quilt. Amongst something news are:
- Diamond piecing -as I can't resist strip piecing at the best of times, I used diagonally cut strips.
- Pearl cotton quilting -wonderfully quick and so brilliant.
- Insert seams - I've lived in fear of them for years but really, they do get easier with practice. Perhaps I should have practised somewhere other than the final piece.
Also, now that I have had word that it has arrived, here is the finished quilt.
5 comments
It's gorgeous. Was it difficult to piece?ReplyDelete
Holy Moly! It is GORGEOUS! I adore the colours and the quilting and the diamonds - wow! A beautiful mini quilt. I love it.ReplyDelete
Looks terrific -- love the fabric choices, the quilting is wonderful, all around great.ReplyDelete
You know I'm a big fan of mini-quilts and this one is no exception! I am LOVING it! I really love the blue and orange together. Lucky recipient!!ReplyDelete
Wow! That's beautiful! And I love the vintage fabrics - the orange and blue look great together!ReplyDelete


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Our generation has been raised to behave between patterns of political correctness and consumerism. It takes courage to stand up. It takes courage to say that these two pillars have been sending out the wrong signals over decades. It takes courage to see that we have walked away from social learnings to focus on individual fears and competition. It takes courage to say that everything happened for a reason. It takes courage to see that it happens again.
You're free. Don't go.
« Borderline Syndrome is a unique experience for all senses. You enter a room with interactive projections that reminds you more of your last visit at the museum than a concert venue.
The absence of stage strikes you right away and you can see the musician KnoR and the audiovisual artist Mativa standing in the middle of the room in front of a big table covered with gear and shiny dots. The Musik starts to flow. The combo starts to improvise around the notion of social and natural environments towards an abstract world between noise and silence. Mativa's – Purest of All Sounds.
The audience stands between the artists and the space created by three screens. A perfect setting for participative immersion. A glowing dot and then, silence. A door opens on the next chapter of the audiovisual narrative. The movie "Don't Go" guides the crowd in a reflection on the concept of "HOME » – Is it a place with borders and a name? Or is it more like a deep rooted feeling?
KnoR moves seamlessly towards his live performance. His voice fills the room while the audience is surrounded by black matter. The artists push the limits and take the audience on a trip between audiovisual performance and electronic music. Beautiful visuals added to driving techno beats are the promise of an ecstatic build to a frenetic dance madness.
Later. Some words are exchanged at the bar, while some early adapters use their smartphones to immerse into virtual reality. »
KnoR live | electronic music & concept
Mativa | av performance "The Purest of All Sounds", visuals & interaction
Xaver Xylophon | music video & more
Optical Flow | Technical production
MUSIC – Don't Go EP – Raoul Records
Music is the message and KnoR's new EP shows how sadness can be brassed in glorious colors to spread a deep feeling of freedom. As it goes, the sweet and forgotten taste of a world without borders is brought back to life by flows of hope and righteousness. "It's Happening", as he said, and the warm blues of the opening electro song "Don't Go" is transformed in a rapidly growing and epic movement of courage infused in the dub techno anthem "Karillon". Canson's remix pushes the message forward and spreads more love in slow motion.
Don't Go EP – Pre-order: here
MOVIE – Sit back and relax
The official music video of the track "Don't Go" invites the audience to step back and think. Walking through his life KnoR questions his relationship to this place we call home.
« Home is the place where we played and laughed with friends. Home is the place where we learned to love. Home is the place where we grew up and settled. Home is not a place. It's a beautiful feeling bound to beautiful memories and lasts, as such, as long as the world is balanced.
Balance is fragile and some signs should remind us when we are leaving this steady state. Social values are traded for hollow promises and infinite growth, nature is traded for resources, time is traded for money and freedom is traded for security. Home turns into a place filled with inequalities. Home becomes a place where we share existential fears. Home becomes a place where we are easily fooled and controlled, a place with borders and a name. »
VIRTUAL REALITY and the objectivity of media – a collaboration between Mativa and Knor
The medium is the message and technological breakthroughs largely influence how we get exposed to it. As easily entertained as fooled, modern societies have seen political propaganda slowly replaced by marketing in an overwhelming media industry over the past century. As the resilience of the economic system is at stake there seems to be a strong will to reverse this process. Politicians are taking over broadcast stations and newspapers. Adding the strength of social networks to such media empire they influence the public debate, spreading irrational fears in order to wake up old ghosts.
Together, computational artist Mativa aka Matthias Moos and KnoR are moving towards the future of media and transform Mativa's audiovisual piece "The Purest of All Sounds" (2014) into a virtual hide-away where the user can escape from his fears and refrain propaganda. The cutting edge application for virtual reality platforms immerses the user in a stunning generative world where the synchronous evolution of soundscape and light allows his mind to rest in an experience of total perception. It's easy to get in but will you be able to get out?
MATIVA – http://mativa.ch/


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Spicy breakfast beans with onions, mushrooms and tomatoes! I love breakfast! I can eat breakfast for lunch and dinner! Although … More
Tag: recipe
Rendang Chicken Fried Rice
Spicy curry flavoured fried rice packed with mock chicken pieces and veggies! Being half Chinese-Malay, fried rice has a special … More
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Fragrant and fresh curry that won't leave you feeling heavy and guilty! I feel like all summer I've been in … More
Creamy Beetroot Pesto Linguine
Fresh and fragrant beetroot pesto linguine topped with flaked almonds, pine nuts and dill. Yes I know, another pasta recipe! … More
Beetroot & Dill Pesto
Fresh and aromatic beetroot pesto made with dill, lemon, raw almonds & pine nuts. So I actually made this as … More
Biscoff Swirls
Flakey puff pastry filled with swirls of Biscoff spread, crushed biscuits and roasted cashews! I have always been obsessed with … More
Belizean Burrito Salad Bowl
Coriander brown rice, chilli corn, black beans, pico de gallo, spiced tofu on a bed of salad, topped with guacamole … More
Giant Raspberry Tartine
Crunchy shortcake biscuit slices with a layer of raspberry jam, topped with fresh raspberries and raspberry sauce! These were inspired … More
Creamy Carbonara
Pasta bows with 'bacon' bits, onions and peas in a creamy carbonara sauce. One of my old favourites before I … More
Tofu, Broccoli and Quinoa Salad with a Peanut and Sesame Dressing!
Crispy tofu, broccoli, chilli and quinoa in a sesame peanut dressing, topped with a dash of spring onion and coriander!! … More
Hummus Pizza Puffs!
Roasted veggies and creamy hummus on flakey puff pastry, drizzled with sriracha sauce! This was inspired by the most amazing … More
Crunchy Bacon Bits!
Tofu bacon bits to add to pastas, salads, pizzas, sandwiches… EVERYTHING!! Salty and sweet bacon bits to fill your bacon … More
Chilli & Rosemary Hummus Linguine
Fragrant chilli, garlic and rosemary infused linguine in a creamy hummus sauce! This was inspired by my lovely aunt who … More
Classic Hummus!
Delicious homemade hummus! I don't know about you, but I am OBSESSED with hummus. I always have a tub of … More
Chocolate, Peanut Butter & Oreo Cheesecake!
Thick & creamy chocolate 'cheesecake' & peanut butter on a crumbly Oreo biscuit base. All the posts about Daiya's new … More
Chickpea 'Tuna' Mayo Pasta
Chickpea 'tuna' pasta salad with sweetcorn, pepper, spring onion and red onion. So I went through a phase of having … More
Banana Cake
Light and fluffy banana cake – need I say more! I'm a bit weird because I really hate bananas on … More
Ham, Cheese & Chive Stuffed Mushrooms
Portobello mushrooms drizzled with garlic olive oil and topped with melted cheese, ham and chives! Garlic stuffed mushrooms are one … More


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New Gorgeous Heartbeat Design!
Nurses, doctors, and anyone in--or about to be in—the medical field will love this unique pendant. The rhythm loops to form a heart representing the kindness, love, and compassion those in the medical field have for their patients.
It comes in Silver, Gold and Rose Gold.


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This past weekend, my "long run" was five miles. The week prior, I ran five miles but only broken up: three at lunchtime and two at dinner time. So, technically, I had never ran that far straight through. But I did it this past weekend, with a five minute break to choke the vomit back down my throat after just two miles. It was a good run. I finally hit a comfortable pace and stride, and once I got over that blessed three mile mark that literally has plagued me since day one, I was ok. I was fine. I was great. And honestly? I wasn't even that sore. Awesome.
I took a couple of days off, in part due to the plague in my house and one day was my rest day anyway.
So when I had to run four miles last night as part of my new increased daily mileage, I literally panicked. I tried to figure every way to get around this but had to just face it head on.
Glad I did: I did it. And ran straight through without stopping. Four miles. Boom. And then, home to crash in bed and watch "Day After Tomorrow. You know. Since I swear, our country is living out this movie with the crazy weather.
This weekend, I run SIX miles in a 10k race, right on track with my training. I have moments of self doubt, knowing what my body can do and knowing I have the potential of running more than half without stopping, but the reality is that it's going to rain, there are hills and I will undoubtedly not get sleep the night before. But I beat that little Negative Nelly down and pray for the best, knowing I'll finish it regardless if I'm fast, if I take breaks, or not.
I feel so much stronger. Like I've said before, when I think I CAN'T, I DO. :)


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I was driving to some menial errand the other day, unrestricted by any sort of deadline or pressing task. So, of course, I get aggressively cut off (and nearly trade paint with) a merging Accord that felt it had yielded for far longer than it should have. Needless to say, it got my Irish up; but, such are the slings and arrows and it's a minor infraction in the grand scheme. That would've been the end of the story, but then I saw the sign…
Annoyance turned into self-righteous fury and here I am.
I don't hate children. I don't hate parents. I try not to hate anyone. We're all pretty much the same kind of people, dealing with the same kind of errands, driving the same roads. They could've had a great reason to rush ahead of me and risk that paint swap; or they could've just been impatient. It doesn't matter. It's all about the sign.
The difference here is sympathy vs. empathy. These signs are meant to make a plea directly at your emotions. Force you to ask yourself, "Why am I getting mad?" or "Why am I cutting THEM off?" After all, THERE IS A BABY IN THAT CAR!
Whereas I would ask: Why did you cut them off to begin with?
We're all people; we all deserve the same respect that is due to the strong and meekest of our species. You should treat that Accord that cuts you off with the same reserved rationale as the Semi-truck that waves you ahead. Empathy should be THE rule of the road, and the no. 1 rule of how people should live their moral lives.
But, to ask for an ethical free pass just cause you found love in the porta-John at the Eden Jamboree and squatted out a rat-faced clone of yourself? Not happening. Be an empathetic person (as you want people to be to you) and drive reservedly, taking into consideration that other people should do the same. Don't use your child as a moral meat-shield to hide your shitty character flaws behind.
Also, there was an empty pack of Winstons on the Accord's rear deck.