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Private Schools
What surprised a lot of foreigners (including me), during the lockout was that private schools were affected at all. The reason for this was that most private schools receive funding from the state. Teachers at private schools which are financed in this way are state employees.
One thing that gets forgotten in all this is who exactly was affected. These plans were drafted to change how folkeskole schools worked. These are free of charge schools maintained by the town councils. When we talk about school reform, we usually only mention these folkeskole schools and how it has affected them. But this has also affected the private day schools, the boarding schools and the language schools.
Terms and Conditions
Historically, private schools have had different working terms and conditions than teachers in folkeskoler. This makes a lot of sense in terms of boarding schools, where teachers are on-call at different times of day and have a different set of duties and tasks. It makes some sense in terms of private day schools too, they run things differently so they perhaps need a more flexible framework.
Now, the systems are almost identical. The changes made 'for' the folkeskole reform have affected the private sector. Each private school in Denmark had a choice:- go with the default system (as in 'normalised' working hours) or negotiate a local agreement balancing the needs of the staff and management.
Local Understandings
Some schools tried the 'middle way' of not doing the default system but not signing a local agreement either. This is a risky strategy for schools because teachers are able to demand in this case, via the union, that the default system be followed. If schools try to provide terms and conditions that are worse than the default arrangement (for example, not paying staff properly for going on overnight trips. Under the default system overnight trips are completely unaffordable), then the union can demand the ministry look into it. Across the country, a lot of union time is being spent on making sure that teachers are not being required to work for free in order to make ends meet.
But what is increasingly happening is that teachers are accepting this practice for the good of the school, for the good of the students. Teachers are being asked, for example, to be on site between 8am and 3pm and the extra hour per working day is to be spent on planning at home. If the job actually requires more than that, too bad. Not the school's problem. Or teachers are given a list of duties and told their working time is 42 hours per week (we aren't paid for our weeks off, we just work longer hours in term time), and to figure it out for themselves. If they can't, too bad. Not the school's problem. The schools claim they have individual agreements with each of the staff and if the teachers can't get everything done in the time allowed then it is on the teacher.
If these teachers are anything like me, they did not go into the job so they could keep a spreadsheet detailing the hours they actually worked. They did not go into teaching so they could stop halfway through a task because they're not getting paid for it any more. They did not go into teaching so they could nickel and dime their school. Teachers also tend to be compliant with authority. They want their classes to succeed, they want their lessons to go well, they want to do the best for their students. They are not going to want to make waves and advocate for themselves.
The trouble now is that the system necessarily makes teachers have to choose between their work-life balance and their students' success. If a parent is impatient with the amount of time their child's teacher spends on preparation or other tasks, they won't get mad at a system that is not fit for purpose. They will get mad at the teacher for putting themselves first. Meanwhile, the teachers that go the other way are at greater risk of burn out due to their higher workload. (Not that a year or two with a high workload usually burns people out, you can sustain it for a little while at least. But when exactly does the workload come down after you demonstrate you can get everything done and not cost any more money?)
Private school teachers are paid less in basic pay than teachers in folkeskoler. This has been true for a long time. There is a pay supplement that must be negotiated every year that is intended to be used to bring the two salaries in line. For a long time, there was a minimum base for this supplement but before the lock-out this minimum was removed. It was never intended to be zero but it is perfectly permissible for schools to award nothing at all.
Before the lock-out, you could argue that with the two very different terms and conditions, pay could be lower. You could say that private school teachers do not work as hard or for as long as folkeskole teachers, hence the lower pay. But after the lock-out, these terms and conditions were made exactly the same. So, now the argument is that class sizes are typically smaller in private schools, hence the lower pay. But now some private schools are filling up at the expense of class sizes in the folkeskoler. Besides, a lot of the work of the teacher does not have much to do with the size of the classes. Class size affects time spent on marking, data entry and school-home contact. It's a matter of a few dozen hours a year. There is no way those hours are equivalent to a 2-4k pay hit per month. It is starting to be indefensible for private school teachers to be paid differently than those in the public sector in a lot of private schools.
What is also starting to happen is that new private schools are opening all the time because of the increased demand. Running a school is ridiculously expensive, especially in the early start up period because of low student:staff ratio. In the first year of operation, the pay supplement does not need to be negotiated, it is usually zero. After that, it must be negotiated but the answer can very well be "nothing this year, our budget won't stretch to it" and there is not much the teachers can do other than ask for outside arbitration. Many teachers just don't bother because they understand the pressure their school is under. On a school-to-school basis, this seems reasonable. No teacher wants to demand that they are paid more if it means that their workplace disappears.
You know when you're too close to a problem to see it clearly? Magicians use this to their advantage. And so it seems, do politicians. The scale of this thing is what is important. It is not about individual schools or individual salaries. More and more teachers in Denmark are private school teachers, and increasingly they are being told there is no money in the budget to pay them the same as folkeskole teachers. More and more private schools are having financial difficulties. Some go bust. Others chunter along, getting away with paying their teachers less than they would get in a public school because they are allowed to and because no one wants to make their own school go under.
Private school teachers have the same terms and conditions, often the same class sizes, sometimes more duties and responsibilities as in the public sector. But if they advocate for higher pay, they could sink their school. A higher proportion of Danish children are taught in private schools and even though the state pays the school to educate these students, if budgets can't stretch to paying the going rate in salaries, the government are not paying enough. And this is happening on an alarming scale. The shortfall in the state budget is made up with the salaries of the private school teachers.
Teachers tend to be risk averse people, they are not entrepreneurs for a reason. Having a market where workplaces regularly go bust and many people in your trade are unemployed makes workers much more pliable.
There are too many private schools, so ends can never be expected to meet. These schools ought to fail but are kept afloat by teachers playing nice and agreeing to being paid less for the same work as down the road.
As more and more teachers in Denmark are in this sector, this means the average wage for teachers in Denmark is dropping. I doubt the resolution to this will be increased wages for the public sector, somehow, I think a case will eventually be made to normalise folkeskole salaries in line with the private sector some time down the line.
Was the plan to make folkeskoler chaotic and unworkable all along or is it just a happy coincidence? Was the game plan all along to reduce the spend on education by pushing children into schools with cut-price staff?
If you look at each issue in isolation, it just looks like regular incompetence and poor planning. The change over to unlimited number of lessons, the reduction in preparation time, the mess with the 'normalisation' of hours, the inappropriate application of the public system to the private, the poor implementation of inclusion in public schools, the poor implementation of extra numeracy and literacy, the rise of the local 'understanding' as opposed to negotiated agreements, the drop in average teacher pay, the rise in numbers of private schools in financial difficulty, the rise of unacknowledged overtime, the increase in teacher illness and absence… all of this in isolation is unfortunate. But as a gestalt, this is horrifying.
Can it be all down to incompetence and a failure of forward thinking? And is that better or worse than some of these terrible outcomes for students and teachers were planned all along?


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Wearing: ASOS top (similar) /jacket (similar)/shortalls/boots (similar)/hat, Foster Grant Sunnies, FTF necklace (similar)
I have been a huge fan of overalls/shortalls for a VERY long time but never could find any plus size versions of the staple. It wasn't until one of my favorite brands ASOS curve came out with a plus size pair of overalls 2 years ago was I really able to experiment with the look on my body type…. I have been wearing the trend ever since! There are so many ways you can dress up and dress down a classic shortall and here I have gone a little unexpected with a double pop of red and heavy black statements and nude booties. The duster jacket is light weight and perfect for the transitioning weather months. To refine the look even more I am wearing with my classic cat eye sunnies.
xox Margie
Click through to shop the look!


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Prayer for the Living
O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, in Thy mercies and loving kindness Thou regardest the humble prayers of all who call upon Thee with their whole heart; incline Thine ear and hear now my prayer, offered to Thee in humility:
Be Mindful, O Lord, of Thy Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church; confirm and strengthen her, increase her and keep her in peace, and preserve her unconquerable forever.
Be mindful, O Lord, of our bishop, (your bishop's name), and of every bishop of the Orthodox Church; the priests and deacons, and all the clergy of the Church, which Thou hast established to feed the flock of Thy word; and by their prayers have mercy upon me and save me, a sinner.
Be mindful, O Lord, of all civil authorities, of our armed forces, of this city in which we reside, and of every city and the countryside; grant them peaceful times, that we, in their tranquility, may lead a calm and peaceful life in all godliness and sanctity.
Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, (their names), of my brothers and sisters, (their names), of relatives, (their names), and of my friends, (their names); grant that they may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, pardon and remission of their sins; that they may ever praise and glorify Thy Holy Name.
Be mindful, O Lord, of those who travel by land, by sea, and by air; of the old and young, the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing, the afflicted, the captives, the needy and the poor; and upon them all send forth Thy mercies, for Thou art the Giver of all good things.
Be mindful, O Lord, of me, Thy humble servant; grant me Thy grace, that I may be diligent and faithful, avoiding evil company and influence, resisting temptation; that I may lead a godly and righteous life, blameless and peaceful, ever serving Thee; that I may be accounted worthy of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
Prayer of the Optina Elders
Grant unto me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I may face all that this new day is to bring.
Grant unto me to dedicate myself completely to Thy Holy Will.
For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things.
Whatsoever tidings I may receive during the day, do Thou teach me to accept tranquilly, in the firm conviction that all eventualities fulfill Thy Holy Will.
Govern Thou my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say.
When things unforeseen occur , let me not forget that all cometh down from Thee.
Teach me to behave sincerely and rationally toward every member of my family, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to none.
Bestow upon me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in all its passing events.
Guide Thou my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love. Amen
|About us
|Active in reading the Psalter
|Praying for the dead (list of names)


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Crate and Barrel Nesting Bowls - Dyson V6 Vacuum - Monique Lhuillier Waterford Ring Holder
Kate Spade Larabee Road China - Ninja Blender
Happy Monday everyone! It's officially Spring and wedding season is upon us! I have so many lovely girlfriends getting married this year and a common question I receive (being a newlywed) is: "What should I register for?" Well you're in luck - my newlywed friend and fellow blogger, Jenna from Boston Chic Party, and I have compiled our Top 5 Favorite Wedding Registry items. These items can range from special occasion items such as my Kate Spade china to everyday items like my Ninja Blender, but they will be in my house for years to come and every time I use them I am reminded of our special day! Make sure you check out Jenna's items here!
1. Crate and Barrel Nesting Bowls: Unlike Jenna, I'm not much of a baker, but I use these nesting bowls for absolutely everything - meal prep, salad bowl, candy bowl, and my absolute favorite: the large one is the BEST popcorn bowl!
2. Dyson V6 Vacuum: When you live in 480 square feet, you don't have much room to store a heavy duty vacuum. This one is PEFECT for people living in small spaces and it gets the job done extremely well!
3. Monique Lhuillier Waterford Ring Holder: This was one of my favorite registry gifts because my grandmother gave me an amazing antique ring holder. I think of her every morning and every night as I use this gift. I chose the Monique Lhuillier Waterford Ring Holder as a look alike that you can easily register for or buy for your bride-to-be!
4. Kate Spade Larabee Road: OBSESSED. Everyone has their own china preference, but getting your man to agree upon it can be a challenge…Here's what we did: Cam chose our everyday dishes. I chose our fancy china. Win. Win.
5. Ninja Blender: This was a late registry addition thanks to my new boss. I literally make EVERYTHING in this blender. Soups, doughs, breading for chicken, and of course my go to protein shakes!
P.S. It was REALLY hard for me to narrow down my Top 5.
P.S.S A big thanks to Jenna for inspiring me to come back to the blogging world!


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« view all Jakarta Male Saunas
Rukan Kokan Permata Blok B 15-16, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14240
Reported CLOSED. Police raided this sauna – click here for more details.
The relatively new men-only Atlantis Sauna is located in one of the trendiest areas in Jakarta.
It features modern interiors and facilities including a fully-equipped 60 m² gym, 150 m² sauna, steam room, whirlpool, dark area, 16 private cabins, internet room with free WiFi and a rooftop bar.
venue: sauna (桑拿)
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last updated: 31-10-2017
"Careful with invitation party, massage / therapist, etc. It's a trap, could be police and someone just ask for money.
read the news here:
Jakie on 23-05-2017 | Problem with this review?
They just got raided
"Stay away unless you want to be detained by police up to maximum of 72 hours.....!!!!"
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Avoid Indonesia gay scene
This is for your concern. There are many other places in Asia."
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Although alternative dispute resolution bloggers are few in number, I was glad to learn this morning that our population has happily increased.
Stephen Raymond, a Toronto-based full-time mediator and arbitrator whose practice focuses on labor, employment, business, and commercial disputes, has launched Perspectives from a Mediator/Arbitrator. Stephen's blog promises to serve as "a one stop for information on current trends and ideas in the areas of ADR and mediation".
You can visit Stephen here. (Thanks to Michael Fitzgibbon at Thoughts from a Management Lawyer for the news about Stephen's blog–as well as for the kind words about Online Guide to Mediation.)
Welcome to the bloggerhood, Stephen.


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"Fifers' Day"
A lovely old custom in the Salzkammergut tourist region
The fifers meet up every year for Assumption Day on 15 August on a mountain pasture in the Salzkammergut tourist region.
The fifers
The art of playing the fife has been maintained for hundreds of years. The fife itself is a predecessor to the flute. The little wooden pipe is held up to the side like its famous sister. This instrument is brought to life again every year on a mountain pasture in the Salzkammergut tourist region. Several hundreds of traditionalists of all ages meet here, sit together in the lust green grass of the mountain pastures and play old passed down pieces: marches, folk dances or satirical "Gstanzl" songs Depending totally on the mood, simply playing what they like.
Strict rules
Only the fifers, drummers and Jew's harpists can play music until midday. Anyone who does not stick to this is asked to leave. The accordion and zither can only be unpacked in the afternoon. Traditionally it is always announced towards the end where the fifers' day will take place next year - advertising is not necessary for this beautiful custom.
The 2015 Fifers' Day - Blaa Alm
This year the musicians unpacked their instruments on the Blaa Alm. We are excited about which mountain pasture will be allowed to host the Fifers' Day in 2016. According to unconfirmed sources the Fifers' Day is supposed to take place on a mountain pasture near Bad Ischl in 2016.
You can find out where here first!
Contact the team at the Goldener Ochs and have a tailor-made offer personally put together for your holiday in the Salzkammergut tourist region. Send us a non-binding enquiry or book your holiday directly online.


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To make it easy to handle different time zones, Pierre DeRoche has released a traveller's watch that is both practical and attractive with its GMT function.
Is your suitcase packed? Your passport ready? And which watch are you going to wear on your wrist? To help you out during overseas trips, the TNT GMT Réserve de Marche 43 is the ideal timepiece to take in at a glance both the local time in the country you are visiting and the time in your home town, thanks to a second 24-hour time zone. Pierre DeRoche also had the good idea of adding a power reserve indicator to guarantee the sound operation of the mechanism. The date, meanwhile, can be read on the chapter ring via a discreet central hand.
For this new model, Pierre DeRoche has left behind the skeleton dials characterising the TNT collection in favour of opaque dials. The result? The GMT Réserve de Marche 43 highlights contrasts with its elegant black DLC steel case (43mm wide) and its highly simple sand-coloured dial. All the time information is very easy to read, while the watch looks extremely attractive on the wrist. It is ideally suited to your more casual look. And for a more discreet option to go with a business suit, Pierre DeRoche has released a version combining a titanium case with a black anthracite dial.
The precise mechanism of the watch, which is watertight down to 100m, is driven by a self-winding calibre made by Dubois Dépraz and providing 42 hours of power reserve. The second time zone can be set very simply using a monopusher. The GMT Réserve de marche 43 comes in a limited edition of 201 pieces.
Price: 13 900 CHF – 14 100 CHF (alcantara strap) pierrederoche.com
By Dan Diaconu
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As a person with mental illness, I was deeply troubled for a long time, and now I'm not. When things were not going well at all for me, I lost hope. I decided that there was "nothing left," and made several suicide attempts. One of them was an attempt at suicide by cop, where I grabbed for a police officer's gun. Post traumatic stress disorder is a biological and human reaction to horrible thing that have happened to people. I am still learning how this affects me.
I was having a little bit of a tough time one night and went for fresh air to clear my head out. I was hanging out with at Apocalypse Point, this place shown here under the Broadway Bridge. A train cop came and told me I was trespassing and asked me for ID. I told him I didn't have any because I thought I didn't have to carry ID. I tried to leave and he grabbed my stuff. I pretty much freaked out and all my past came crashing down on me like it was happening just then. All I was thinking was, "That can't happen again, I have to get out of here."
I guessed I pushed my stuff at the train cop and he started pepper spraying me and hitting me with his police baton. I ended up wrestling with him. We were still tussling when the regular city cops arrived and arrested me.
This was the first time I've ever been arrested in my whole life and they told me I was on a 24 hour hold in the jail. I was already feeling kind of symptomatic with my schizophrenia which was why I was out getting fresh air in the first place. Then they told me they weren't going to let me have my meds even though I had them in my bag with me. My meds have a bad withdrawal effect plus I knew I was going to get even more disconnected with reality as the night went on. I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep.
As the night went on, I got more and more hallucinations. Things got more and more scary. I was worried about what would happen with the charges and not knowing if I'd be charged with a misdemeanor or felony. I didn't know how much of my life I might have screwed up with my PTSD reaction. I had some really important work events coming up and I thought I might be missing them. The fear of course makes the hallucinations worse. The hallucinations are scary but it's also scary to be hallucinating.
Every time I got too scared I just stood up in the cell and started working through my poems. I worked through almost my entire repertoire that night. The performance would calm me down and help me stay focused in the present moment. The poems made me feel strong and OK again. Every time I started worrying too much, I just did more poems. The people watching me thought I was talking to voices, but I just using a tool to get through a really tough moment. It turned out I was only charged with the lowest level of misdemeanor which will go away after a year of probation. The first night was a really, long, terrible night, though.
One of my mentors who helped me through the time said, "I'm so glad you had your art to get you through that tough spot." Me too.


text: Hi there, my name is Treza and I'm a professional hairstylist with many years of experience in the Unites States and in my native country, Iran. Back at home, I trained at a very upscale salon with a select clientele and with well known hair stylists. Here in the US I went to the Marinello School and trained with Paul Mitchell teachers. I offer my services at home or wherever you are located in the Bay Area. I look forward to hearing from you!


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(CNN) -- Indicted U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens easily turned back challengers in Alaska's Republican primary, but the state's longtime representative, Don Young, was locked in a neck-and-neck battle with a GOP rival Wednesday.
Both Stevens and Young have been embroiled in controversies over congressional spending in the past two years. Stevens has pleaded not guilty to charges that he filed false Senate ethics reports.
With just under 98 percent of precincts reporting, Stevens led a field of seven with more than 63 percent of the vote, the state Division of Elections reported. The 84-year-old senator is seeking a seventh full term and will face Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the Democratic primary winner, in November.
Meanwhile, Young led Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell by fewer than 150 votes out of more than 93,000 cast in the GOP primary for the state's sole seat in the House of Representatives.
"What a night," the 18-term incumbent said in a statement. "This has been an extremely spirited and hard-fought primary, and now it appears as if we won't know the results until sometime Wednesday, at the earliest."
Young said that about 4,000 absentee ballots remain to be counted, along with votes from the outstanding precincts.
"I'm confident the final results will give us a primary victory, and we can move on to the general election," he said.
Young and Parnell, who was backed by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, each had about 45 percent of the vote. A third candidate, Gabrielle LeDoux, took a little more than 9 percent. The eventual winner will face Ethan Berkowitz, the victor in Tuesday's Democratic primary, in November.
Both Young and Stevens were backers of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," a $223 million span that would have connected the Alaskan mainland to Gravina Island, population 50. The funding "earmark" became shorthand for pork-barrel spending, and Congress later rescinded it.
In April, the Senate voted to seek a federal investigation into a 2005 highway-funding earmark that was altered between the time Congress approved the spending bill and when President Bush signed it.
The $10 million allocation was changed to put the money into building a freeway interchange in Lee County, Florida, where local business leaders contributed $40,000 in campaign funds to Young. The congressman's staff made the changes to fix a mistake in the original bill, his office said, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on the chamber's ethics committee to investigate the matter.
All About Ted Stevens • Don Young • Alaska


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|Vehicle Usage Procedures
|Policy No.:
|Facilities Planning & Management
All Western Nevada College personnel (employees, work study students, and volunteers) who are required to use a college or state vehicle when conducting college business must have a valid driver's license. In addition, they must: have the approval of their supervisor, complete the WNC Driver Acknowledgment Form and follow all the provisions of this policy.
|Initial Defensive Driving Course
|Defensive Driving Refresher Course
|The State's Risk
Management Office offers a defensive driving class in Carson City. To enroll:
Online Option: The National Safety Council offers an online defensive driving course, which can be taken in lieu of the four-hour in-class training.
Note: there is a cost associated with this option that is normally funded by the employee's department or division.
|An online defensive driving refresher course is available through the state of Nevada.
This course must be taken once every four years (after completion of the initial state of Nevada in-class session or the National Safety Council online course).
To register:
|Date Adopted
|July 1, 1983
|Dates Revised
|August 2, 2016; February 3, 2015; September 6, 2011; November 3, 2009; September 2, 2008; November 20, 2007; May 11, 2004; September 1, 1998; October 1, 1993; June 1, 1993
Memo: March 27, 1992, from Randy Waterman to Edy Anderson
NRS: Chapter 41; Chapter 42; and Chapter 336;
State Administrative Manual: 0246.0; 0250.0; 252.0; 0254.0; 256.0; and 2900


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Interview with the curator of Small-Great Objects: Anni and Josef Albers in the Americas, SPRING 2017
Pierre Chareau at the Jewish Museum, WINTER 2017
Art House: The D'Amico Studio and Archive, FALL 2016
Studio tour with Marcus Tremonto, SPRING 2016
A Landmark Show Examines Ceramics by Ettore Sottsass, FALL 2015
Interview with Sarah Herda before North American's First Architecture Biennial, Form & Function, FALL 2015
Taking Stock of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, WINTER 2016
Exhibitions at MoMA, FIT Museum, and Carpenter's Workshop Gallery; Modernism in Latin America, Form & Function, SPRING 2015
Jorn Utzon at Bruun Rasmussen, Form & Function, SUMMER 2015
Up and Coming. A profile of Joseph Becker, SFMOMA's Assistant Curator of Architecture and Design
Before PULSE New York, Helen Toomer Talks Directing and Collection
The Mid-Century French Design Market is Stronger than Ever, But What's Next?
Design in Diaspora: Pierre Jeanneret's Furniture for Chandigarh Transcends its Roots
Absurdist Science in the Futuristic Art of Thomas Chimes
Adam Silverman at Edward Cella Art + Architecture
Dominik Mersch Gallery Fosters Cross-Continental Conversations
Light Sculptor Niamh Barry Unveils Clever Plays on Form and Light
Olga de Amaral and Four Emerging Artists Explore Art-Making as Self-Discovery
Jay Sae Jung Oh Gives Lowly Materials High Concept Treatment
An Artist Duo Explores the Sinister Seduction of Online Culture
Designers to Discover at Design Miami
ArchiteXX at ADFF: On the Maker Movement and Why A Film About Michele De Lucchi?
"An UnParsonly Subject Matter": Interior Design, Environmental Activism and Social Well-Being
PUBLIC Journal, Review of "Skin Fruit" at New Museum
Excerpts from "Pocket Change: New York's Vest-Pocket Playgrounds and the Inherited Legacy of Social Reform," M.A. Thesis, Parsons The New School for Design/Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, 2012


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Hand Painted Saw for Youtuber Alfie Deyes
Using one of Alfie's own quotes and his PB logo I designed and painted this vintage saw, which now hangs in the kitchen of his Brighton home.
Checkout his vlog to see him unwrapping it: https://youtu.be/ghUYg5r07DA?t=16s
Custom Motorcycle Helmet
Commission helmet, designed and produced for a vintage motorcycle enthusiast.
Hand Lettered Football
Displaying the famous phrase for English football "The Beautiful Game". Hand lettered on a Nike full size football.
Hand Lettered Violin
This was sold in an auction to raise money for a local pre-school. Quote is from Shakespare and reads "If music be the food of love, play on"


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Journey Beta Hands-On
Can the moody, sand-surfing adventure Journey live up to the arthouse hype? Don't stop believing.
Journey comes from the makers of esteemed arty titles Flow and Flower and is well equipped to bear the burden of expectation. Like Flow and Flower, this downloadable game is a curious, meditative slice of arty game-making. It's also lovely to look at, like its forebears. Where those games verged on mood pieces, though, desert-set Journey leans further towards a more traditional story-driven adventure.
Not very much further, mind. For the most part, it still favours mood and mystery over exposition and tests of skill. But here you have a protagonist, at least, and an objective--even if you know next to nothing about either. The former is a figure in a red robe; the latter is a distant mountain, topped with a bright light. You make your way across a desert towards it, climbing up dunes and sliding down the other side, occasionally flying, occasionally wandering off course to explore a dusty ruin.
In the portion of the game currently available to beta testers, the robed protagonist treks across a sandy plain scattered with mysterious marker stones and receives visions from luminous figures conjured by similarly mysterious statues. There are hints at a story in the wordless cutscenes of those visions, but Journey has no interest in spelling anything out for you, concerning itself instead with a sense of wonder and overwhelming scale--and with it, loneliness.
That loneliness makes Journey's experimental take on multiplayer all the more effective. In your solitary wandering, from time to time you come across a fellow traveller--that is, another player. But the player won't have a username or anything else with which you could identify him or her, and you won't be able to communicate using voice or text chat. When you meet a stranger, all you can do is sing, one musical tone at a time. You don't have to interact at all--you could each just wander off again--but you stay strangers even if you do continue your journey together. Most likely, though, you will also be glad of the company. And you are encouraged to travel together--when you huddle up, you each recharge the magic scarf you use for flying.
With your magic scarf, you can boost yourself skyward and then glide back down to earth. As you make your way through the dunes, you'll find glowing fragments of scarf to add to yours--meaning your trailing, glowing scarf gets longer as you progress, and so you can fly higher and further. You'll also find fonts with which to recharge your scarf's power. These are dotted around in the sand, along with the various ruins housing mysterious statues and, later on, huge pillars, which need to be bridged by unfurling magic red banners in order to reach the other side of a valley. That's the closest Journey comes to conventional puzzles, at least in the beta, and even this seems more intended as further reason to wander around than as a brainteaser; to solve it, you need only seek out a number of banners fluttering from rocks in the valley basin and sing at them.
Journey's beautiful, desolate environments have a touch of Shadow of the Colossus about them, and the simple, quirky cel-shaded character designs look like something out of a Ghibli anime movie. The sand, meanwhile, drifts and shimmers and generally looks lovely. As far as we've seen, you'll be gently guided towards your mysterious objective, the mountain on the horizon, by gliding from landmark to landmark on a mostly empty desert plane. Though it's an expansive world, it's not exactly an open one: if you wander too far off course, you'll be blown back by desert winds.
Between the spontaneous, chat-free co-op; poignant, moody soundtrack; and gorgeous, drifty sand, we think Journey is shaping up to be something pretty special. Look out for this sand-surfing, scarf-gliding downloadable adventure later this year on PSN.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


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Elaine and Harry did not think estate planning was for them – after all, other than some life insurance, a bit of RRSP savings and the family cottage, they had little financial assets. And really, their four kids would certainly not get rich from what would be left to them.
But when Elaine and Harry met with an ADVISORS with Purpose estate specialist to ensure that their Will was current and biblically sound, they were genuinely surprised to learn that they would leave an estate valued at close to $675,000 – after a potential tax bill of around $74,000.
After considering several options Elaine and Harry chose to add a fifth child as a beneficiary to their Will - a "Child Called Charity". This option allowed them to eliminate the tax bill and leave a little over $150,000 to each child. But the real blessing came when they saw that they could leave a gift of over $135,000 to charity. Never in their life had they been able to make that kind of donation.
And when Elaine and Harry told the children how, through their Will they would continue to build God's Kingdom, the legacy they left their children was indeed priceless.
Mike and MaryAnn were a couple in their 40's who through hard work had accumulated some financial security that allowed them to live a pleasant lifestyle.
Writing a Will had not been a high priority for Mike and MaryAnn as they did not have children and so had never considered the issue of inheritance and knowing that if one of them died the other would inherit the assets was comfort enough for them. But when one of their favourite charities suggested they meet with a representative from ADVISORS with Purpose to consider how their ongoing accumulation of assets could take on more meaning now and after their deaths they responded.
Through the process of estate planning, Mike and MaryAnn learned that had they died without a Will in place, someone would have had to make decisions dealing with the increased costs and that a substantial amount of their estate would have gone to the government in taxes. With the counsel they received from the estate specialist Mike and MaryAnn made some important decisions that not only effectively wrote the government out of their Will but would generate substantial charitable gifts for the work of some of their favourite charities ensuring the long term sustainability. This brought new meaning to their money.
David and June had paid attention to preparing for retirement over many decades and with advice, had carefully tended to their registered investments. Now well into retirement, they realized that it was possible that much of that money would remain behind. They thought that it could simply be rolled over to the children but a friend said much would go the government in taxes.
While meeting with an estate specialist from ADVISORS with Purpose David and June learned that indeed registered assets can only be passed to a surviving spouse or disabled child and in the absence of either, the assets will be added into income, generating a tax liability against the estate. However, they further learned that the Canadian government will allow a charity to be named the beneficiary of registered accounts, meaning they could leave some or all of their RRSP / RRIF to charity and through the resulting donation receipt, effectively wipe out the entire tax liability. David and June decided to instruct their RRSP provider to include a charity as a secondary beneficiary.
Our partners at ADVISORS with Purpose are pleased to help you look at your many options as you plan your Will and estate.


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|Photo via Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority
We apologize for the radio silence the past few days. We traveled to Dallas last Thursday and, in an unanticipated turn of events, we fell in love with this city so we took a short hiatus to make the most out of our stay and enjoy its magic, rather than yearn for the fabulousness waiting for us back home. That said, we are looking forward to going home later today. To celebrate, we invite you to enter the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority's (MBVCA) latest photo contest which relishes in the rich history that Miami Beach has amassed in its first century of existence.
Participating is simple. All you need to do is recreate and submit one of eight vintage photos of Miami Beach pre-selected by the MBVCA before 11:59 p.m. on November 15. Our favorite of the eight photos is shown above but you can find all eight, as well as the full contest rules on the MBVCA's photo contest page. The top ten photos with the most likes will be chosen as semi-finalists and will be judged by the MBVCA judges for similarity and photo execution, clear-in focus images, creativity and originality, relevance, and overall impression to win one of these great prizes:
- First place: One (1) $500 gift card
- Second place: One (1) $250 gift card
- Third place: One (1) $100 gift card
Only five entries may be submitted per person. Open to legal U.S. residents 18 and older. For the full list of official contest rules, please visit the MBVCA photo contest page. Good luck, Miami!


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Technological advances, especially those involving electronic data storage, inevitably introduce new risks that trustees of employee benefit plans must address. Examples of data-storage media that can make participants' personal information more vulnerable than ever before include discs, flash drives and, most recently, the "cloud." Stories about improper disclosure of individuals' private information, also referred to as data "breaches," are commonplace. There are three general types of data breach:
Typically, insurance purchased by employee benefit plans does not adequately cover improper disclosure of participant private information. Cyber liability insurance is designed specifically to help protect against these exposures.
This issue of The Fiduciary Shield presents an overview of cyber liability insurance. It addresses the potential consequences of a breach and discusses the protection that can be provided by cyber liability insurance.
With the rising incidence of cyber breaches, increased regulatory enforcement and the costs associated with both, plan sponsors may wish to learn more about this insurance and consider whether adding this protection to their insurance portfolio makes sense. A sidebar in this issue of The Fiduciary Shield lists questions for plan sponsors to address before seeking a quote for cyber liability insurance.
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The Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM develops solutions to increase the safety, availability, and lifespan of components and systems ranging from microelectronic devices to power plant components. The Institute develops concepts to make optimum use of new materials as well as cost-effective and environmentally compatible shaping and precision-machining processes.
The main research and development topics include the deformation and failure behaviour of materials and components, the way their strength properties depend on temperature and other ambient conditions, and concepts for assessing defects. Static and highly dynamic impact loads are the most important parameters here. Further topics are machining and surface modifications processes, and developing material models to describe more adequately the processes of production and damage.
The Institute´s objectives are to assure the safety and economy of plant operation, improve the usage properties of materials, composites, and coatings under conditions of wear, thermal loading and corrosion, and extend the useful life of tools and parts. To this end IWM uses and develops modern methods of material characterization, microstructural analysis, numerical simulation, and stress analysis, as well as innovative methods for testing materials, manufacturing, and surface finishing.
The Institute´s customers are companies who produce and apply metals, glasses, ceramics, and plastics, companies for plant and machinery construction, plant operators, trade associations, surveillance agencies and the public sector. The IWM currently has 100 full-time employees in Freiburg and Halle.
Fraunhofer-Institut Werkstoffmechanik
Further information: http://www.iwm.fraunhofer.de/


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t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan)
Taolu (forms)
This tai chi practice is the first to learn sequences going from 9-108 movements within your preferred style. Common is the natural range of movements focus on your breath a straight spine and majestic like look and movements. After some time of practice this also includes the tai chi weapons.
Taolu (solo)
The taolu is designed to take the individual student through a complete, natural range of motion and movements evolving around their gravity center. Accurate, repeated practice of the solo routine will retrain posture, encourage circulation throughout the body, keeping it both flexible and strong. After a longer practice of empty hands (fist form) the student will begin to be thought weapons.
Tuishou (pushing hands)
Tuishou is designed for the beginning of combat training and is practiced in pairs still with the essence of tai chi. It relies on sensitivity to the opponent's movements and redirection of the opponent's center with appropriate responses.
The sensitivity needed to capture and redirect the center is acquired over thousands of hours of first yin (slow, repetitive, meditative, low-impact) and then later adding yang ("realistic", active, fast, high-impact) training through taolu (forms), tuishou (pushing hands), and then sanshou (sparring).
Sanshou (sparring)
T'ai chi ch'uan mainly uses pushes and open-hand strikes and most of the kicks are to the legs and lower torso. T'ai chi also uses the rest of the body such as fingers towards eyes side of the hand towards the throat, also fist and elbows are used towards main arcupoints. Chin na, which are joint traps, locks, and breaks are also used. Most t'ai chi ch'uan teachers expect their students to thoroughly learn defensive or neutralizing skills first and a student will have to demonstrate proficiency with them before offensive skills will be extensively trained. Sparing is only performed by very advanced students and is not commonly used.
Variations of t'ai chi ch'uan involving weapons also exist such as taijijian. The weapons training and fencing applications employ:
- the jian, a straight double-edged sword, practiced as taijijian;
- the dao, a heavier curved saber, sometimes called a broadsword;
- the tieshan, a folding fan, also called shan and practiced as taijishan;
- the gun, a 2m long wooden staff and practiced as taijigun;
- the qiang, a 2m long spear or a 4m long lance.
- the large dadao and podao sabres;
- the ji, or halberd;
- the cane;
- the sheng biao, or rope dart;
- the sanjiegun, or three sectional staff;
- the feng huo lun, or wind and fire wheels;
- the lasso;
- the whip, chain whip and steel whip.


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Below please find the program requirements for students in Technology & Operations Management (TOM). Doctoral students in TOM generally complete the program in four to five years.
Introduction to Probability and Statistics: All doctoral students enrolled in the TOM doctoral program are required to have completed one undergraduate or graduate course in introductory probability and statistics. If this requirement has not been fulfilled prior to matriculation, then an equivalent course will be required in the first term of the student's doctoral program.
A minimum of 13 semester courses at doctoral level, plus unit seminars are required. Each semester students will consult with the Technology and Operations Management faculty coordinator and/or advisor to receive approval of their course selections. Pre-approval by the TOM faculty coordinator is required if a student wishes to fulfill these requirements with alternative courses.
All students without an MBA degree are required to complete two case-based HBS MBA courses.
Students are required to attend and participate in seminars throughout their program.
TOM Unit Seminars. TOM students are expected to attend this weekly seminar to gain exposure to cutting-edge research conducted by faculty at other business schools and by TOM faculty, and to observe faculty recruiting seminars (job talks).
DBA Seminar for Technology and Operations Management (HBS 4840). TOM students are required, starting in their third year, to enroll and actively participate in this weekly seminar each semester it is offered. Students present work in progress and receive feedback from their colleagues and a faculty member. This seminar also develops presentation skills, critical thinking, and enduring relationships among students across all stages of the TOM DBA program. First and second year TOM students are encouraged to enroll.
Operations Management Reading Group (HBS 4842). Operations-track TOM students are required to enroll and actively participate in this weekly seminar at least once during their first or second year. This seminar exposes students to leading research on operations management. Many students participate in this seminar in several years.
To remain in good academic standing, doctoral students are expected to maintain a B grade point average and complete each doctoral milestone by the date provided.
Students are required to complete a teaching engagement of one full academic term that includes at least 8 hours, or 3 class sessions, of front-of-class teaching experience and at least 16 hours of teaching preparation time.
At the end of the second year, all students are required to pass the Special Field Exam, administered by their Special Field Exam Committee. For Operations Management-track students, the field exam will focus on empirical and modeling methods. For Innovation-track students, the field exam will focus on empirical methods and classical and special-field literatures.
All students are required to hold a meeting with their Dissertation Committee by May of their 4th year to discuss a clear path for the student to successfully defend their dissertation and provide feedback and advice on the job market process.
Students are required to write a dissertation, which typically takes the form of three publishable papers, to the satisfaction of their Dissertation Committee. The dissertation defense is oral and open to the public. Students are expected to defend their dissertation no later than April of their 5th year.
Operations Track
Microeconomics I
Intermediate Applied Econometrics
Introductory Applied Econometrics
Additional Research Methods Course
Basic Applied Probability
Research Methods
TOM Unit Seminar
Operations Management Reading Group Seminar
Introductory Applied Probability
Research Methods
Advanced Optimization
Empirical Technology and Operations Management
Stochastic Modeling
Theory of Operations Management
DBA TOM Seminar
TOM Unit Seminar
Summer YR 1
Plan: Field Research Requirement
Plan: Second Year Paper
Summer YR 2
Second Year Paper due
Special Field Exam
Teaching Requirement and MBA Requirement(TERM 5 or 6)
Innovation Track
Macro Topics in OB
Research Methods elective
NBER Productivity Seminar
Microeconomics II
Innovation and
Empirical Technology
and Operations Management
Elective Doctoral
Intermediate Applied Econometrics
DBA TOM Seminar
TOM Unit Seminar
Special Field Exam
Teaching Requirement and MBA Requirement (TERM 5 or 6)
"One of the great things about being at HBS is the sheer number of research opportunities."


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Incredibly clear, detailed images. Excellent color, exposure, and tonality. Intuitive menus and controls. Extensive features. Reasonably priced.
Deserves a kit lens option more befitting to the camera's quality and capabilities. Slightly clipped highlights on auto settings.
Bottom Line
Excellent construction and design, fast performance, and great image quality make the Canon EOS 20D the current top gun among digital SLRs under $3,000and our current Editors' Choice in this category. We only wish that Canon offered the kit with a lens better suited to such a high-quality camera, along the lines of Nikon's 18-70 f3.5-4.5 lens.
Canon and Nikon have long been head-to-head competitors in the SLR (single-lens reflex) camera market, and that fierce rivalry has carried over into the digital-SLR market as well. The $1,499 Canon EOS 20D body is Canon's latest counter to Nikon's best-selling $999 Nikon D70 body, which was an Editors' Choice winner in the digital SLR category (and Nikon's answer to Canon's $900 Digital Rebel). In addition to offering a higher resolution and better construction than the D70, the EOS 20D is a stellar performer capable of capturing spectacular images.EOS 10D, is built on a magnesium-alloy chassis. It's ergonomically sculpted, with a finger indent to the side of the shutter button, a thumb indent on the back of the camera, and lots of nonslip surfaces on the hand grip and the back. The camera has a rock-solid, sturdy feeling, with well-marked and conveniently clustered analog controls. Instead of the D70's front-and-back subdials, the EOS 20D has a subdial behind the shutter button, a select dial on the left side where the rewind knob would be on a film SLR camera, and Canon's signature circular quick-control dial on the back. It also sports a tiny nine-way joystick, for quickly moving the autofocus point or the white-balance shift, as well as for playback panning. Menus are bright, intuitive, well-organized, and legible, and the large, illuminated control panel and settings within the viewfinder window are quite visible and easy to read. One nice touch: Instead of having to depress and hold the analog buttons while using them in conjunction with the subdial, joystick, or quick-control dial, users need only depress and release a button and then move another control within 6 seconds.
The EOS 20D comes with an impressive array of features and settings that help photographers fine-tune images at the capture point. Like the D70, it offers auto-exposure, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual, and six program modes, as well as the ability to adjust exposure, white balance, and flash bracketing and to set contrast, sharpness, saturation, and color-tone parameters. It also provides some options not available on the D70, such as the ability to shoot monochrome images (including black-and-white film filter-like effects) and set a precise white-balance color temperature. For safety's sake, the EOS 20D automatically shuts off whenever the memory card (it takes CompactFlash) door is inadvertently opened; the D70 doesn't. The EOS 20D also has nine autofocus points to the D70's seven, an ISO equivalency range of 100 to 3,200 (com-pared with 200 to 1,600 on the D70), and the ability to save RAW and JPEG images simultaneously at various resolutions and two compression levels (the D70 has a single RAW+JPEG setting and three JPEG compression levels).
The D70's 6-megapixel CCD produces a maximum resolution of 3,008 by 2,000 pixels; the EOS 20D's 8.2MP CMOS sensor yields a maximum resolution of 3,504 by 2,336 pixels. Both cameras have top shutter speeds of 1/8,000th of a second, although the D70 syncs with its built-in flash at 1/500th of a second. The EOS 20D can manage just half that. Nikon's $1,299 D70 camera kit comes with a solid, well-built DX digital series f/3.5 18- to 70-mm lens, which our tests show produces an impressive average resolution of 1,700 lines, and a very good average pixel-transition ratio of 2.09 percent. Canon's $1,599 EOS 20D camera kit comes with a somewhat flimsy, plastic-mount EF-S digital series f/3.5-5.6 18- to 55-mm lensthe same lens that comes with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel. We don't love the feel of this lens, but we can't deny that it scored well in tests; The camera's average resolution with it is a tremendous 1,800 lines, and its average pixel-transition ratio just edges out the D70, at 2.01 percent. Canon's beautifully crafted, fast-focusing EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens is much better matched to the EOS 20D's abilities. When we shot with this lens, we got an average resolution of 1,825 lines and an amazing average pixel-transition ratio of 1.86 percent. But this lens costs as much as the 20D body$1,499. The camera can accept any Canon EF or EF-S mount lenses.
Both cameras are fast. The D70 boots in 0.4 seconds, the EOS 20D in 0.2 seconds. The long-distance D70 can shoot JPEGs at 3 fps until the memory card fills up, while the short-sprinter EOS 20D clicks off 5.4 fps for up to 23 frames. Shutter lag on both models is practically nil. In contrast, the Digital Rebel boots in 2.6 seconds and its fastest burst mode is 14 frames in 10 seconds.
The image quality with the EOS 20D's default JPEG settings is very good to excellent. Our test simulated-daylight shot was well exposed and exhibited exceptional detail, though it slightly clipped in the highlights. Our test flash shot was almost picture-perfect, with razor-sharp details, even illumination, accurate exposure, and great color. Like other digital SLRs, the EOS 20D shoots best in RAW mode or by using its extensive repertoire of exposure and color controls, which would easily eliminate the highlight clipping in our simulated-daylight shot.
Excellent construction and design, fast performance, and great image quality make the Canon EOS 20D the current top gun among digital SLRs under $3,000and our current Editors' Choice in this category. We only wish that the kit came equipped with a better lens.
Benchmark Test Results
More Digital Cameras:
Canon EOS M6 Mark II
Canon EOS 90D
Leica V-Lux 5
Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III


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Absolutely no one deserves to feel unsafe in their home or community. If you have been hit, threatened, demeaned or abused, please consider the following tips to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones:
During an incident:
- If there is an argument, try to be in a place that has an exit.
- Avoid the bathroom, kitchen or anywhere that may contain weapons.
- Use your instincts and judgement. In some cases it may be possible to appease the abuser and calm them down.
- Develop an age appropriate safety plan with your children.
- Devise a code word to use with your children, family, friends and neighbors when you need the police.
When you are preparing to leave:
- Open a checking or savings account in your own name.
- Leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important documents and an extra set of clothes and medicines in a safe place or with someone you trust.
- Find a safe place where you and you children can go.
- An old cell phone that can power on may be used to dial 911. When you call, always disclose your address so dispatchers can locate you.
- If you have pets, make arrangements for them to be cared for in a safe place.
Feeling safe online and with Technology
- Create a new email account.
- Change all your passwords and PIN numbers.
- Update your privacy settings.
- For help making your technology use safer, click here.
Feeling safe in your own home
- If you stay in your home, be sure to change your locks on the doors and lock your windows.
- Inform you children's day-care, school, etc. about who has permission to pick up your child.
- Inform your neighbors and landlord that your partner no longer lives with you and that they should call the police if they see them near your property.
- If you move, do not tell your abuser your new address. If you wish to keep your address confidential, consider applying for the Address Confidentiality Program.
Feeling safe on the job and in public
- Decide whom you will inform at work of your situation. Tell security officers, and if possible, provide pictures of your abuser.
- When working, if possible, have someone screen your telephone calls.
- Ask for an escort to and from your car.
- Alternate your daily routines. Change frequently visited places such as gyms, banks, grocery stores, etc.


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Producing creative and informative non-fictional work is our biggest passion. And that's not just including The Notice Blog. Take a look at some of our other documentaries, including production work with Elite Daily.
Take a look at the some of the groundbreaking documentaries Paul produced while at Elite Daily.
Checkout our flagship documentary series, The Notice Blog.
NYC is filled with a litany of musical artists, each with their own story. Mixtape seeks to tell them all.
A meta documentary series that follow Latinx actors living in Washington Heights, as they perform in a local production of "The Heights" - a musical about Latinx people living in Washington Heights.
Homecoming blends both reality and the fictional role to tell the story of a Black St. Louis family making their way through the year before, during and after the Ferguson Uprising. Intimate. Unflinching. And Unapologetically Black. This semi-fictional film series is an addictive watch.


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No particular reason, I just decided to pick these colors. Viva Italia!
1. "Red and Black" from the Les Miserables original Broadway Cast. By Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, and Herbert Kretzmer. Very spirited, a nice juxtaposition of politics and love, showing the passions that drive both.
2. "Red Clay" by Freddie Hubbard from the eponymous album. A fusion of jazz and Rhythm-n-Blues.
3. "Red Top" by Lional Hampton and Ken Kynard, performed by Erroll Garner. Cool and bouncy at the same time.
4. "The Red Violin" from The Red Violin soundtrack, by John Corigliano, performed by Joshua Bell. Two tracks have the same name, the first is the main melody, and the second is the mini concerto played during the closing credits. It is a beautiful melody, full of very complex emotions.
5. "White as Lillies" by Andreas Scholl, on the Three Countertenors album. Yes, we bought this gimicky CD many years ago. Some of the tracks are quite nice, but I'm not crazy about this composition written by one of the three countertenors. However, my wife likes it, so it stays on the list.
6. "The White Ride" by Howard Shore, on the The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack. Full of tension, apocalyptic choirs, and Wagnerian brass, this cue suddenly shifts to harps and women's chorale for a sunshine romp briefly before the tension returns. It ends with some grandeur added to the tension, a passionate nostalgia.
7. "The White Tree" by Howard Shore, on the The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King soundtrack. Much more nostalgic, as this cue is for the old and great kings who died off. But still nervous as Gandalf and Pippin ride up and up the layers of Minas Tirith.
8. Fantasia on "Greensleeves" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, performed by Rolf Smedvig and Michael Murray. I love this piece, but I do not like the blend between Smedvig's trumpet and Murray's organ registrations. In general I prefer to listen to organ live rather than in recordings, since I feel a large part of the organ's effect is the architecture of its surroundings.
9. "Green Chimneys" by Thelonious Monk, performed by Wynton Marsalis on Live At The House Of Tribes. A nicely angular march, with an extended solo by Wynton.


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The ASGE Tech Talks™ Video Tip of the Week titled, "Endoscopic Closure of Perforation Using the Padlock Clip® defect closure system" with Amit Gajera, MD and Tech Talks™ Editor Prateek Sharma, MD, FASGE is now available.
To view the full video, click below:
For more information on the Padlock Clip® defect closure system or to request a free product trial, click here.
Since 1991, our focus at US Endoscopy has remained constant, as we have a deep-rooted commitment to developing new product solutions to improve patient care.
ASGE Tech Talks™ Video Tip Series features Exacto® cold snare
Roth Net® retrievers - A snapshot of our portfolio
STERIS | US Endoscopy announces release of the Centra™ disposable biopsy forceps in the U.S.
US Endoscopy is a subsidiary of STERIS Corporation (C)2018 US Endoscopy.
All Rights Reserved.


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Tag Archives: S. 1375
Stock Option Deduction Debate: Journey Down the Rabbit Hole
Posted on July 19, 2011 by StartUpAdmin
Have you ever wished you'd coined a phrase? I wish I'd coined the phrase "curiouser and curiouser" from Alice in Wonderland. As time goes by, our laws and regulations and accounting pronouncements become, by virtue of amendments, inflation (without corresponding … Continue reading →
Posted in Federal Law & Regulation | Tagged S. 1375, stock option deductions, Stock Options | 1 Comment


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Paulina Gretzky has a stranglehold on the Twitter game, and it doesn't look like she is letting go. Paulina is still posting just unfair pics, and we are thankful for those. She is truly the great one on Twitter. Feel free to check out her history on Twitter and beyond right HERE.
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/PaulinaGretzky/status/331039961774186496″]


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- ITV Report
Mark Hughes complains about refereeing treatment
Stoke manager Mark Hughes fears he will have to change his whole approach to defending after another disputed penalty decision went against them.
The 1-0 defeat at Everton was settled by Shay Given's own goal - Leighton Baines' penalty rebounded off the post and the goalkeeper - after Phil Bardsley was penalised for tangling with Ashley Williams.
Last week Stoke had a spot-kick awarded against them when Ryan Shawcross' tussled with Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi at a corner and Hughes is beginning to see a pattern developing and believes his team are suffering more than most..
"I feared this would happen at the start of the season that we would be penalised more readily than other teams," said Hughes when asked what difference the new directive on holding in the box had made.
"We are getting the thin edge of the wedge and being penalised.
"There was a similar element in the Tottenham-Liverpool game that wasn't given - maybe because it was two high-profile teams on the TV and they don't get them given against them.
"The one today, there was a lot of movement in the box, Ashley Williams has gone down, whether he clipped his own heels or not.
"There was no pushing, no pulling. I thought it was very harsh.
"We are seriously thinking of changing our approach to set-plays.
"If that is how games are going to be refereed, we accept that but it has to be across the board.
"You guys (the media) had highlighted pictures of Ryan with three or four pictures in the papers this morning.
"He is not the only one but when it gets mentioned there is a picture of Ryan Shawcross.
"We have to consider zonal marking, which I have never done in my career, or we may have to take certain individuals away from man-marking.
"Hopefully it will settle down and everyone will revert to a bit of sanity."
Everton's victory made it seven points from a possible nine and gave them their best start to a league season in 10 years.
Manager Ronald Koeman, celebrating his first Goodison Park league win after taking over from Roberto Martinez in the summer, has promised there is much more to come.
"Maybe it is good to take a picture of that (league table) and keep it until the end of the season," he said.
"We'd like to keep it that way but we need to improve, play better.
"The defensive organisation in the team is good, three matches, two goals, and that is the way to build but a lot of things offensively we can do better.
"We are still not on the (right) level and we have seven points out of nine."
It was not all good news for Everton, however, as midfielder James McCarthy may have to have surgery on a groin problem which ruled him out of the match, but regardless he will not be sold in the transfer window.
"We need to decide if it is operation, yes or no," added Koeman.
"There is more interest in players of Everton and we like to keep everybody and players like McCarthy need to stay."


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The Oppo PM-3 are well-made critical listening headphones with a good sound. They have a mobile-friendly, planar magnetic design and a stylish yet sturdy build quality. They're also very comfortable headphones. However, their closed-back ear cups and slightly sharp audio reproduction, may not be ideal for all critical listeners.
|Active Features
The Oppo PM-3 are well-crafted and stylish-looking headphones. They have amply padded and decently spacious ear cups coated with a faux-leather finish that's comfortable to wear for long listening sessions but does make your ears a little warm. The brushed aluminum frame gives the build quality of the Oppo PM3 a high-end feel. However, the top of the headband has a slightly cheaper looking plastic casing and they're a little heavy for their size. They also don't fold into a more compact format to carry around, and they're not the most stable headphones for sports. They will slip off your ears if used while running or exercising.
The Oppo PM-3 have a simple design that looks great and feels premium. They come in three color schemes: Black, white and the two-tone steel blue option of the unit reviewed. They feel more high-end than the Nad VISO HP50 and they stand out in a crowd, yet are not as flashy as some other over-ear headphones we've tested. They also make use of a lot of metal and premium materials in their build, which further adds to their high-end appeal.
The Oppo PM-3 are a little heavy but comfortable headphones. They don't apply too much pressure to your head. The headband is well padded, and the ear cups are sufficiently large for most listeners ears. That and the high-end feel of the faux-leather results in a design that you can wear for hours, similar to the Sony MDR-1A.
The Oppo PM-3 have an efficient control scheme that delivers call/music, track skipping, and volume controls. Sadly, the buttons of the inline controls lack a bit of tactile feedback and are too flat, which is slightly disappointing.
The Oppo PM-3 are mid-sized over-ear headphones. The ear cups lay flat to take less space, making the PM-3 somewhat portable. Unfortunately, they don't fold into a more compact format and will take a decent amount of space in a backpack. They're a little cumbersome to carry on your person and won't comfortably fit into smaller bags.
The Oppo PM3 come with a durable hard case covered in a denim fabric that will protect your headphones from minor falls and water damage. It adds a bit of bulk to the headphones but easily transports all the provided headphone accessories.
These headphones are well built. The frame and joints of the headband are made of metal and feel sturdy and durable. The ear cups are dense enough to handle a couple of drops without breaking. The cable is thick and rubberized and won't get damaged quickly by wear and tear. The swivel mechanism may eventually loosen over time but isn't something to be too worried about.
The Oppo PM-3 are not sports headphones. They're a little bulky and slightly heavy for their size. They're not very tight on the head which is good for comfort, but also makes them prone to slipping off your ears during exercise or while running. On the upside, they easily stay in place during casual listening sessions and also come with a detachable cable that will disconnect if hooked on something rather than yanking the headphones of your head.
They have a very good and extended bass, capable of producing deep thumps and tight kicks. Their mid-range is neutral and nearly flawless, but their treble is only decent as it could sound slightly sharp and piercing on certain tracks. However, their bass is susceptible to inconsistencies from person to person, especially if they wear glasses. The soundstage of the Oppo PM-3, like most other closed-back headphones, is not very spacious and the sound may be perceived to be coming from inside of the listener's head, as opposed to from a speaker in-front.
The frequency response consistency and bass delivery of the Oppo PM-3 is about average. In our bass measurements on five human subject, the PM3 showed about 5dB of variance at 20Hz. The biggest drop in bass was measured on the subject who wears glasses, since certain glasses' arms tend to break the seal on closed-back headphones. The treble range also shows about 5dB of variance depending on the positioning of the headphones on the user's head.
The Oppo PM-3 are not active noise isolating headphones. They will block some ambient, high-frequency noise thanks to the good seal they create around your ears. Sadly, you will still be able to hear the train or bus on a busy commute and the people around you in a loud office. On the upside, they don't leak too much and won't be distracting at moderate volumes.
The isolation provided by the Oppo Pm-3 is mediocre. They provide no isolation in the bass range, where the rumble of airplane engines and buses are. This is because the Oppos don't have ANC and isolate passively only using their ear cups. In the mid-range, where is important for blocking out speech, the PM3 achieves about 11dB of reduction, which is about average. However, they are good at blocking higher frequency sounds, such as the hiss of a fan or an air conditioning system, because they achieve 39dB of isolation in the treble range.
The Oppo PM-3 has a good leakage performance. The majority of leakage is in the 500Hz-2KHz frequency range, which is a relatively narrow band and occupied mostly by the upper harmonics of voice, cymbals, and lead instruments. Additionally, the overall level of the sound that escapes the headphones is relatively low and only at moderate to high volumes people around you may be able to hear what you are listening to.
The PM-3's inline microphone has a mediocre performance. Recorded speech will sound noticeably thin, and will lack a bit of presence and air, but it should be decently intelligible regardless. They also perform about average in noisy environments, and won't be able to effectively separate speech from ambient noise in environments as loud or louder than a busy street.
The microphone of the PM3 has a mediocre recording quality. The LFE of 500Hz means that speech recorded with the PM3 will sound very thin. However, low-frequency response is not a factor in speech intelligibility and should not affect the comprehension of recorded speech. The HFE of 4KHz, however, means that sound captured by this microphone will lack brightness and airiness. This will have a small negative effect on speech intelligibility. On the upside, the region between LFE and HFE is captured well.
The noise handling performance of the PM3's inline microphone is average. In our test, PM3's mic achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of 17dB. This means that this headphone's mic may struggle to separate speech from background noise in moderate to loud environments, such as a busy street.
The Oppo PM-3 have a low latency wired connection but no active features. If you're looking for a headphone with more active features try the Bose QuietComfort 25. They are as comfortable as the PM3s and have excellent noise cancelation.
The PM3 has no active feature, therefore have no batteries.
These headphones do not have a compatible app or software. If you want a wired headphone with app support, try the Logitech G430.
The Oppo PM-3 only connect via a wired 1/8TRRS audio cable which does not have microphone compatibility with Xbox One or PS4.
The Oppo PM-3 do not have any Bluetooth capabilities. If you want Bluetooth compatible headphones, check out our best recommendations here.
These headphones have a wired connection with negligible latency.
These headphones do not have a base station or dock.
The Oppo PM-3 is one of the few planar magnetic closed-back headphones. This makes them relatively different from the competition and somewhat pricey but their sound is on par if not better than the other headphones compared below. See our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones, the best wired headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The Oppo PM-3 are a better headset overall than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0. The Oppos have a better build quality and a more comfortable over-ear fit that most will prefer over the Sennheiser. They also sound a bit better balanced in the bass mid and treble ranges, although the Oppos do tend to sound a bit sharp at times. This means that some people may prefer the darker sound of the Sennheiser. The Sennheiser also have a slightly more compact and portable design, thanks to the folding joints, and their iOS-specific audio cable has mic support with the PS4 controller, unlike the Oppos.
The Oppo PM-3 are decent for mixed usage. They have a good, sturdy design and a comfortable fit you can wear for hours. That combined with their above average sound quality make them a good choice for critical listeners. Their closed-back design also makes them a bit more suitable for more casual uses like watching a movie at home or listening to music at the office but they won't be ideal for commuting or sports.
The Oppo PM-3 are good headphones for neutral listening. They have planar magnetic drivers that deliver a balanced and clear audio reproduction. However, they tend to sound a bit too sharp on some tracks and the closed-back design limits a bit their soundstage.
The Oppo PM-3 are average for commuting. They're comfortable, but the passive isolation is a bit too weak for loud environments like being on a train.
These headphones are average for sports. They have a comfortable and moderately stable fit but are too bulky and heavy, for strenuous exercises and sports. The faux leather also traps a lot of heat which will make your ears sweat rather quickly during workouts.
These headphones are above-average for office use. They don't block that much noise which is not ideal for a busy office. However, they also don't leak much so you won't distract anyone in your vicinity at average volumes.
The Oppo PM-3 headphones are above-average for gaming. They have a low latency wired connection and a comfortable design you can wear for hours. However, they do not have an app or wireless capabilities which are typical for gaming headsets. They also do not have the best mic for multiplayer gaming.


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The Bird and the Alcohol
Liquid Activated Carbon in Fermentation Experiment
Distilling alcohol is of course illegal if you do not have a license to do it. It does not matter if you use a whiskey still or any other method to concentrate the alcohol. As ridiculous as it is for a law to have so much power written into it, you can have every single thing you own confiscated simply for owning a unregistered homemade pot still or any other still. If you have hooch in your car they can confiscate your car.
This is why I only brew beer but I do know a little bird that has a still. You can get a real nice one. Just hop on over here for a great selection of copper moonshine stills . They are Quite useful for other things also like distilling water and essential oils from plants.
Get it now !
Now on to that liquid activated carbon the Hooch Bird decided to toss in his fermentation to remove off flavors. This was for a batch of his world famous sweet feed whiskey. He wanted to test out the stuff and see if it was actually a useful product or just a money maker for the manufacturer.
Any words on distillation are second hand told to me by the bird. The bird never shuts up and I think he samples his own wares.
Activated Carbon (a birds perspective)
Okay I am going to start this blog off with a few words on using Liquor Quik Liquid Activated Carbon / Charcoal in with your fermentation of whatever it is you ferment. This should equally apply to a wash or wort. I am guessing you know what I mean by wash or wort. Just in case, I call the liquid from the mash that is going to made into whiskey "wash" or "beer" and the liquid from a mash to make beer "wort" . They are of course both the same thing until fermented and finished up unless your using a sugar wash… But what the heck do I know I get my info from a drunk bird!
This is the opinion of the bird after using the charcoal one time so you may have a different experience in this matter.
What is Liquid Carbon
The activated carbon or charcoal is meant to absorb all the nasty off flavors that your yeast are making during the fermentation process. You add it in the fermenter after the yeast and leave it in until fermentation is done.
Just stir it in real good. It turns your wash black. Does not look so tasty any more. It will absorb off flavors and should in theory make a much better tasting alcohol. This I would assume would apply more to a sugar wash and turbo yeast than any other thing.
After the fermentation is done you need to get rid of this stuff. The instructions say to then add in some clearing agent to drop out the carbon along with the yeast and other crap. The liquid carbon must be dropped out or the flavors will simply come back when you distill the wash.
Getting Rid of Liquid Activated Charcoal
According to the manufacturers directions you now need to add a clearing or " fining" agent. You need to store this clearing agent at room temp not in ice box. It don't work so well if you do that. This clearing agent is a two part liquid. First you add part A and gently stir it in. You only want this floating on top so do not stir it all the way in just disperse it across the top. Then wait an hour and add part B and stir it in real good.
This is something the bird decided not to do. He had a theory that simply putting the wash somewhere good and cold would drop everything to the bottom just as he did normally. He figured why waste money on a fining agent when cold air is free in the winter.
I put my beer outside in the freezing cold all night to drop the crap out. It works quite well for yeast. Then I rack and allow to set again and rack again. Gives me nice clean beer
The bird was then going to rack it and let it set again one night. This should have cleared it up.
NOT! This beer was black and it stayed black. The charcoal did not drop.
So now the bird has ice cold wort and charcoal mixture to deal with. He could try a filter but this would likely leave too much carbon in the wash.
Okay then the bird said he decided to add the clearing agent. The beer was still cold but now in a warm room. Should not be a problem as it should warm up quick enough. Maybe.
The bird bought a pack of Still Spirits Turbo Clear and put it in the wash. Available at Adventures in Homebrewing for $3.99 and from Amazon for $10.99 .
What Will Happen
I will write more about what happened later on. As for now I am off to do some writing on my other blog at Employee No More – Quit Your Day Job . Yep , I did it. I just endorsed my other blog. You can send me a hate filled email at firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com . Just do not post it here or I will have to send that Hooch Bird over to kick your behind and drink your booze.
Page 2 Liquid charcoal – continued click here
Prices are subject to change on any ads posted. Hoochandbrewsupply.com is not responsible for any typographical errors that may result from this.


text: Today's Category is ~ SCIENCE FICTION ~Please sign up for our newsletter. We never sell or give away your email address! First Name * Email Address * Thank you! Shift (ChronoShift Trilogy) By Zack Mason Stray (Touchstone) By Andrea K. Höst Year 50 By Geoff Bluske Plague Zone By David Wellington Nessa: A Breeders Story (The Breeders Series (Young Adult Dystopian)) By Katie French Corpus Callosum (Anatomy) By Erika Price Comment


text: So goes the best line in this immediately lovable ''360 Donna'', a twerkingly cool song by by Swedish musician Gnucci Gnucci! I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with her today. She came to MeMeMe to source some clothes for a shoot and we ended up talking history and music over lunch at that new spot Coobs, in Parkhurst. She's in the country till January, checking out the scene, looking for fortuitous meetings like today while her husband, musician Spoek Mathambo does some work. If you see this person out somewhere, go say hi, she's really nice.


text: Woodruff Construction's project was selected as a Finalist in the Master Builders of Iowa's Annual Masters Award - $5 Million to $10 Million Category. The project, Unity Point TRMC Emergency Department Renovation and Addition, is featured in this video by MBI, beginning at the 6:35 mark. LEO A DALY was also recognized as the architect on the team.


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Hyper-V virtual Fibre Channel – Virtual machine direct storage array connectivity with HBA
With windows 2012 and earlier OS , it can use virtual Fibre adapter feature to provide direct storage array connectivity from virtual machine
- Optimal Storage performance and full protocol access
- Supports guest clustering
- Must use NPIV enabled HBA adapters and FC switches
- Create Fibre channel SAN within hyper –v Virtual SAN manager
- Use same virtual SAN configuration and naming convention on Hyper-V failover cluster environment
The below session describes how to configure a Hyper-V hosts to provision virtual machine with virtual Fibre Channel adapter.
Platform : A servers with Hyper-V on Windows 2012 R2. Two Dual Port HBA Adapter is installed on this host.
Step 1 : Open Hyper-V manager – Virtual SAN manager- Create Virtual HBA ( VHBA1) for first physical adapter as shown below:
Note: There are two Physical HBA is installed on host .So created Virtual HBA for first physical adapter. You can configure both HBA for redundancy
After Victual HBA is created , configure Virtual HBA controllers to the Virtual Server
From the virtual server settings – Add Hardware –Select Fibre channel Adapter
Assign the virtual Fibre adapter to the virtual server
Then next step is do the zoning on Fibre switch and register the host on storage array.


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The first week of school was a busy one. I tried to get everything ready the night before but come Monday morning we were still at panic stations at 8:30, flying out the door with a chorus of "Put on your jumper!" "Do you have your lunch?" "Where are little E's shoes?!" I walked little E in to Prep because I didn't have work through yet that day and I was feeling pretty good that morning, kids dropped off, took J to work and then came home and drank tea as pottered around tidying up.
The wins were that I remembered library day and sports day and people went to school with matching socks and I managed to finish my work most days not long after school drop off so I could help with homework. The losses included Lightroom catalogues that wouldn't load causing stress for both myself and the boss lady, missing the assembly where A got his award and little E redecorating the bedroom with vomit Wednesday night.
Still, we made it through the week reasonably unscathed, one down; nine to go.
This week in therapy it was interesting as we were working on self confidence and I had to pick several cards out of a stack all labelled with strengths and decide what mine were.
"Even if you only have a little bit of that. If it resonates even 30% then pull it out."
I pulled out cards like, "Patience", "Fairness", "Creativity" and "Tolerance". She began the EMDR machine and we explored these strengths and all was great right up until Tolerance when I discovered it made me tense and angry because I tended to associate "Tolerance" with other people being intolerant and basically how the woes of the world seem to stem from everyone thinking their way is the only way. By the end of it I was ready to put Tolerance back in the pack. I realised I'm completely intolerant to intolerance and can I really say I'm tolerant if I have intolerance to intolerant people? Jesus. It was like falling down a rabbit hole.
"Can you not just respect other people for their differing opinions?"
"I don't know. Because in some instances, absolutely. If I am an omnivore and I'm cooking for a vegetarian friend then I can respect that and not try to sneak some chicken into their dish. But don't we sometimes HAVE to speak out against others views? I guess it comes down to the 'Fairness' card. If someone is getting a raw deal and not being treated the same because of who they are then isn't it my responsibility to use my voice to help advocate for them? Respecting other people's opinions won't help my gay friends get married, it won't help those in offshore detention, it won't help my disabled friend who can't get somewhere because people with no permits parked in the disabled spot. Where is the line in the sand between intolerance of others views and advocating fairness for everyone?"
It's complicated. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I didn't care but I don't know how to stop, I don't know if I should. I guess my tolerance has limits when it starts seeping into the fairness department.
Here is what I think I'm going to do. I think I'm going to have to put tolerance back in the pack. But I really do think I earned that fairness card. I do think that.


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A long weekend guide to NYC
I recently visited Quebec City for a few days at the end of December. It was my first time there, and after all my research, I knew I wanted to primarily explore the Old City for its quaint charm. Here are my favorite spots from my trip.View Post


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2018 has been the year of self-care for me. I spent 12 months being coached by a wonderful mentor, and really up-leveled my own fitness and nutrition. Not only has the experience enriched my life, but I truly believe it has made me a better coach for my clients.
Many of the gifts in the guide this year have stood the test of time and I am including them again. I hope you'll enjoy the guide!
Whether you're looking for a gifts for friends, family members or for ideas to add to YOUR holiday wish list, you'll find something here for the fitness lover in your life.
The Alta HR continues to be on my wrist most days, going on 2 years, which says a lot. It's got a low profile, counts steps and measures my heart rate. It's the first monitor I've worn consistently for over a year and a good reminder to get moving every day.
How many times have I started a journal only to let it slide after a short while? Now each morning I write down '3 things I'm grateful for' and it has truly helped me be more present, more grateful each and every day. This tiny 4x6 journal can be bought for less than 2 dollars. So pick up a dozen, some nice pens and wrap them in a beautiful bow as stocking stuffers.
Last year I started a lovely ritual for those dark, cold winter mornings: a strong cup of coffee by the wood stove, a cat on my lap and a few poems from Mary Oliver in the dark of dawn to start my day. This year another Mary Oliver has been added to my pile of poems to read. As someone who is used to checking email and news before coffee, this has really changed how I face the day.
Foam rollers aren't news to anyone. But a softer roller is great for those who find traditional rollers painfully hard. In previous years I've recommended the MELT roller, but it's skyrocketing cost had me looking for an alternative. This roller fits the bill for gentler foam rolling.
I saw this bag in a Lole store and thought about it for a long time before finally taking the plunge. I couldn't be happier. In my opinion it's the perfect gym bag with room for a yoga mat, phone, keys, water, tons of clothes, gym shoes, computer…it goes on forever! And transforms to a backpack too.
Created by my dear friend and artist, Christine Glade, XIZOZU™ Medals of Honor let you recognize all of the unique experiences of your life. I have several and wear them to remind myself of my hopes and dreams and to remember the strength I have to overcome adversity. They are MAGIC.
7. Hurricane Blend Coffee (reg. and decaf)
I'm picky about my morning cuppa and finally found this great blend at the Woodstock Farmer's Market in Woodstock, VT. We hike near Woodstock and stop in for lunch on the weekends and I can easily stock up. And now, YOU can buy it online!
8. Instant Pot
I'm still in love with my Instant Pot. It has helped me become a much healthier eater by cutting down the prep time and the amount of cleanup involved. Here's a link to one of my favorite dishes: Whole 30 Instant Pot Chicken Curry
Let me know how you like this gift guide by commenting below! And my best wishes to you for a peaceful holiday season.
p.s. I am an affiliate of a few of the companies listed in the gift guide and receive a small commission if you purchase from my links. But even without that, these are products I would recommend in a heartbeat!


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On Thursday morning at Oval tube station I followed some attractive-looking men up the escalator. By attractive, I mean men who had intelligent and thoughtful faces and quiet manners.
A few were bearded. None looked rich. They might have been setting out on a ramble: weatherproof coats, Rockport shoes, with provisions in backpacks.
They were white and spoke English and most of them wouldn't see 60 again, which meant that on the tube we'd just got off they were a minority.
Outside the station similar men were all walking in the same direction. It wouldn't have been a surprise to discover a conference of retired philosophy lecturers in Archbishop Tennison's school or an "open day" for industrial archaeologists inside one of the Oval's famous gasometers. But of course we were all headed towards the Oval cricket stadium, where we paid our £12 at the turnstiles and 50p for our scorecards at the little cabin inside the ground. This was the second day of Surrey's first match of the season, against Lancashire in the first division of the county championship.
It was cold. A small crowd, perhaps 1,000-strong, sat scattered across a couple of stands in gloves and woollen hats and the kind of tweed flat-cap that's now usually confined to hunts.
One or two had binoculars and were following the play attentively. Others filled in crosswords or read the paper; the Guardian was the most popular, which may be a surprise only to people like me with preconceived notions of county cricket.
Lancashire were bowling. Flintoff took the ball. A cry of "Come on, Freddie!" came from a couple of his team-mates, a louder shout than anything to be heard from the stands, but the batsmen Ramprakash and Butcher saw him off.
I write as though I knew what was going on, but the players seemed further away than they do on television and my view was at 90 degrees to the pitch. I saw one stump instead of three, fast balls were only visible after they had been hit, there were no replays on big screens; the bowler's line of delivery, or how much a batsman played and missed, these things remained a mystery.
Just before noon, Ramprakrash got out for 118, but only when the scoreboard announced c Sutton b Newby and he was walking up the pavilion steps (to applause, muffled by gloves) did I realise how. The wicketkeeper's catch was easily the biggest moment of the morning and yet I had missed it, possibly distracted by an aircraft making for Heathrow, the tinkling from an ice-cream van in the council estate over the wall, or a conversation a few empty rows behind me about tuna sandwiches.
It struck me then that people watch county cricket like the Royle family watch TV, as something to keep an eye on while the life of the mind is playing elsewhere. It has been going on through three centuries. The county championship was officially instituted in 1890, but Lancashire began to play Yorkshire in 1849 and Surrey's Oval had its first match in 1845. The counties themselves have long since been weakened or disappeared as significant pieces of local administration and loyalty, so the county team is sometimes the most public souvenir of how England used to be. The structure of the matches also reflects another era, or at least the summer habits of its leisured class. They last four days. As I write this, Surrey and Lancashire are still playing at the Oval, or not playing if the weather is bad. Even as you read it, they will probably still be playing.
The likeliest result is the great bane of county cricket: a draw. "County cricket in its present form fulfils no useful purpose whatsoever," Michael Atherton, formerly of Lancashire and England, writes in the current Wisden. "Very few people turn up to watch. It doesn't prepare people for a higher level of cricket and it doesn't attract television deals."
Such damning summaries have been made often in the past, sometimes accompanied by the statistics of paying customer numbers (the record low is said to be three), but now they look more certain to have an effect. The long Anglo-Australian domination of cricket as a business is over. India is where the money is and India is reinventing cricket by borrowing the marketing and commercial techniques of British soccer and American football.
The Indian Premier League, which played its first match yesterday is "shifting the tectonic plates of the professional game as never before," according to Wisden's editor, Scyld Berry, warning that the day has lurched closer when county cricket will "become a relic at amateur level, like the county championship of English rugby".
The Indian Premier League plays Twenty20 cricket, in which each side bowls 20 overs and the match is completed in three hours, with a winner or loser guaranteed (the equivalent of the penalty shoot-out is bowlers bowling at unguarded stumps).
It was England that first devised this short-form cricket in 2003, but in India there will be cheerleaders, replay screens and lots of loud music. The game is focused on cities and the growing numbers of the young urban rich - and the money involved is dizzying.
Indian cricketers, already among the world's wealthiest sportsmen, can earn more than $1m for a series of games that lasts only six weeks. The Australian batsman, Andrew Symonds, will collect $1.35m from the Hyderabad Deccan Chargers. (Steve Waugh, of a previous generation of visiting Australians, set up a charity for the daughters of lepers with money raised abroad. As the cricket writer Tim de Lisle observes, the comparison shows an interesting change in the nature of cricket's financial relationship with India.)
English players will not be immune from temptation nor the English Cricket Board from emulation; it has seen its Indian equivalent, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, multiply its revenue by seven over the past five years.
In a way, the wonder is that it has taken so long. In most countries, including India until now, only five-day Test matches and one-day internationals of 50 overs draw crowds. Attention spans are shorter, other entertainments simpler and easier to follow.
To paraphrase Rossini on Wagner: long-form cricket has lovely moments but awful three-quarters of an hour.
Mike Brearley, former England captain and now president of the MCC, has said that the Twenty20 version is here to stay and should be welcomed, because, contrary to its image of bash-and-run, it allows proper stroke-play and encourages artful bowling.
What will be missing is the ebb and flow of the long game and what Paul Weaver, covering the Oval match for the Guardian, described to me as the periods of "regrouping and retrenchment" after, say, a wicket has gone down and the new batsman is faced with a sprightly bowler and his ambition is confined to staying there, to see his team through. Did I hear "That's a nice bit of regrouping!" or "Bravo that retrencher!" from the men in the stands at the Oval? No, I don't think I did. Sometimes a player was applauded, sometimes a man might mutter "Good shot".
They were the nicest group of people I have ever sat among in a sports ground, and I would think a good few could remember when India was coloured imperial red in the school atlas and we had a king-emperor. In short: the days when we were still changing India rather than India was changing us.