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Posts Tagged manipulation
Forewarned is forearmed… I wish I'd taken this test before converting
Posted by xcwn in Conversion, Satire, Stuff they don't tell you when you convert on November 14, 2014
Speaking with a convert friend recently, we got into talking about ways that we used to feel marginalized and disempowered in the conservative North American Muslim communities that we used to be involved in. And how we still often feel marginalized, even in supposedly "progressive" circles. It was a long conversation, and it was emotionally wearing.
And I know some other converts who've had and have similar experiences. But not all do. Some converts not only survive, but seem to positively thrive… and not just in the immediate aftermath of conversion, either. Decades later, they still seem to be quite happy as conservative Muslims living in conservative communities and married to conservative husbands.
Which got me thinking about why conversion works out better for some than others. Part of it—much of it, I'd say—depends on chance: Which community(ies) the convert encounters, what imams/scholars/shaykhs/nutty dawa pamphleteers they learn their Islam from, who they marry (and whether the marriage turns abusive). But some of it seems to depend on the convert's personality.
As a teenager, I used to like these quizzes that you used to find in magazines, that promised to reveal aspects of your personality to you. What if there'd been one aimed at would-be converts to Islam… rather like this one?
So, you're considering converting to Islam? Answer the following questions, being as honest with yourself as possible.
(Hint: if you aren't sure of the answer to some of them, or you're afraid to be honest, then you need to grow some more before deciding to make such a life-changing decision.)
A. I identify as:
- Male. I was identified as male at birth, and I identify as male today, with no doubts about that whatsoever.
- Female. I was identified as female at birth, I identify as female today, and I love everything about traditional femininity.
- Female. But there are a number of stereotypically "feminine" things that I'm not really into. I just like to be me.
- Why does this even matter? I'm a human being. Aren't all human beings equal in the eyes of God?
[If you answered (1), then you will have a far different experience as a convert then if you answered 2, 3, or 4. Good luck… and fyi, some of the rest of the questions won't apply to you.]
The Handmaid's Tale: some reflections
Posted by xcwn in Neo-traditionalism, Polygamy, Sexuality, Stuff they don't tell you when you convert on October 10, 2014
Reading The Handmaid's Tale, I am conscious that I am reading it with what I would call doubled vision. Meaning, as I read it I am constantly aware of how I would likely have received it if I had read it back in the day when I was a hyper-conservative Muslim, as well as how it comes across to me now. So, I am all too aware that aspects of it that I now regard as insightful wouldn't have seemed that way to me then.
The primary target is evangelical Christian political activism aimed at limiting women's rights to control their own bodies and lives, in the name of supposedly "biblical" values (with some biting critique also of certain strains of '80's feminism). The "biblical values" being promoted by groups such as Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority back when this book was written were usually spun as good old-fashioned wholesome warm-n-fuzzy all-American values that for some strange reason had only recently been questioned by a few misguided feminists and liberals. However, Atwood is having none of that eye-wash—the "biblical values" described in The Handmaid's Tale are absolutely nightmarish—yet, they can arguably be justified from biblical passages that speak of women desperately desiring to bear children, men having sex with female slaves in order to sire offspring (whether said female slaves consented was irrelevant), arranged marriages of daughters, commands addressed to wives to obey their husbands, and so forth.
This makes the point that "biblical values" are ultimately less about whatever the Bible says (or doesn't say), and more about what parts of the Bible one wants to highlight, as well as about who has the power to define what "biblical values" are in a given context. "Biblical values" might sound as though they come with some sort of guarantee of fairness or compassion, at least as far as "good Christian women" are concerned… but they do not. Even those women like Serena Joy, who had devoted their lives to promoting such values, did not have the power to define what "biblical values" would mean. It was powerful men hell-bent on control and feeling entitled to it who had that power.
Back in the day, I wouldn't have wanted to read any further, because this obviously raises questions about any religious movement claiming that its allegedly divinely given values should govern followers' lives (much less religious movements with political ambitions). I would have seen this as unfair, as foreclosing the possibility of religious women seeking liberation within their religious tradition. I would have also taken offense at the Orientalism of comparing the handmaids' boredom to a painting of harem women, and dismissed the entire book as therefore irrelevant to Muslim women.
What salvation looks like: I didn't die before this
Posted by xcwn in fa aina tadhhaboon?, Muslim Cults, Neo-traditionalism, Stuff they don't tell you when you convert on September 22, 2014
I have not had the time or the energy to blog recently. Partly due to the situation with ISIS. What is there to say in the face of such everyday horror, and every time there is an explosion you worry that someone you know might be dead?
And partly due to things going on in my former extended family network, as well as at work. Tiresome nonsense, that boils down in both cases to the unwillingness of a conservative former cultie Muslim dude (who knows that I was once a conservative Muslim and what sort of group I was a member of) to treat me with basic respect, while also not having the courage to be honest about what he is doing.
Hyper-conservative family dude plays tiresome, manipulative headgames that end up dragging innocent and unwilling others into the fray, and then when called on it, denies that he is doing anything. Work dude is patronizing and covertly undermines me, while being clever enough to do so in ways that leave no hard evidence.
Because I'm apparently hell-bound, a sinner who doesn't even have the humility to admit that the conservatives' ways of looking at the world are morally superior or to play the "inshallah someday I'll have strong enough iman to re-hijab and bow down to the scholar-gods again" game. No, I'm not playing that game. Life is too short to live a lie.
It gets depressing and emotionally exhausting to deal with. Especially since I understand all too well where they are coming from.
Of current events, triggers, and moral bankruptcy
Posted by xcwn in Conversion, Stuff they don't tell you when you convert, Triggers, Wishful (or is that hopeful) thinking on August 10, 2014
Despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to entirely ignore current events. Some of the news headlines recently have been very triggering. We lived through all this stuff in the '80's and '90's, and recent events keep bringing it back.
I am glad to no longer be living in any of the conservative Muslim communities that I was involved in or had dealings with, because I remember all too well how they used to deal with these sorts of international events: Incendiary, polarizing, us (Muslims… and therefore always in the right) versus them (kuffaar… and therefore evil) rhetoric from the minbar. Protests. Incessant calls to boycott X, Y and Z companies and products. Fundraising dinners, allegedly for refugees and orphans produced by the conflict—though in those days there was often little financial accountability, so who knew where the money really went. Guest speakers at Islamic conferences and other gatherings who talked about their experiences with the conflict (and collected donations, allegedly for relief work). And of course, the duas at Friday Prayers for "the mujahideen in X, Y, Z… wa fi kulli makaan!" (You could usually tell what the imam's sectarian and political leanings were by which "mujahideen" he would or wouldn't pray for in those duas.) And at times of particular crisis, imams would recite the Qunoot an-naazila. Even back in my most koolaid drinking days, that prayer deeply disturbed me. Invoking God's curse on people? Really?? What an absolutely horrible thing to do. But it was justified because it is supposedly the sunna.
Impossible mimesis
Posted by xcwn in Adventures in recovery, Conversion, fa aina tadhhaboon?, Stuff they don't tell you when you convert on July 16, 2014
Ramadan. The moon shining outside my window seems to mock me, saying: Ramadan will soon be gone, and what have you done? How many days have you fasted so far? How many rak'ats have you prayed, how many juz of the Quran have you read, how many iftars have you hosted or attended, how many times have you managed to pray tarawih? How many fard and sunna acts have you not performed—and in this blessed month, when every good act is rewarded more than at any other time of year? How many blessings are you missing the chance to gain? And if you're not part of this mad rush for blessings, are you really part of this umma?
And I don't know what to say, except—this is a big part of the problem. Yes, this kind of attitude has an awful lot to do with why so many things connected with Muslim belief and practice trigger me today. Why I'm basically burned out.


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An agile podcast, delivered by agile practitioners, focused on helping agile teams. Bob Galen and Josh Anderson use their decades of agile coaching experience to power your organizations need for agility and scale. If our 140+ episodes don't have what you need, ask us a question and we'll help you out!
Episode 75 - Squads, Chapters, & Tribes... Oh My!!!
What's your view on Spotify's spin on agile? Do you use any of their techniques?
Bonus Content:
Here is the article Josh mentions that he just wrote about this topic and how Spotify's methods are applied in his company: Why We Spotify'd Our Names
Download this episode
6 comments:
Thanks for answering my questions! I think it's valuable to discuss Spotify's model in relation to the myriad approaches to scaling Scrum out there, too. I've had success with chapters and guilds in a couple orgs, but Dude's maturity with the model is more mature than I've ever gotten.ReplyDelete
Now, about that sticker... :)Replies
Glad we could help out. DM @metahyphencast on Twitter and we'll get that sticker shipped out.Delete
I am a little late to discovering this, but I had a follow-up question. In this episode you mention that chapter leads are typically your architects. I believe in the standard Spotify model they are the people managers (and technical leads). How do people managers get layered into you approach?ReplyDeleteReplies
We have 3 primary areas of focus across our tribe (people, process, & product). Our managers focus on building great people and teams while architects focus on building great products. That's why we have our architect-level focus be chapter "leads". We know it is different, but it works best for us like this.Delete
That's not to say that managers aren't involved in the chapters, but it is not their primary area of focus. Make sense?
Thanks for the reply. Are your managers technical? Are they part of the squads as well?Delete
They are technical, but not part of the squad. We prefer to keep squad members focused only on sprint work. Anyone with priorities other than the sprint goal is not a part of the squad for us.Delete

subset: commoncrawl


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Jungle Nail ArtHello Girls, I am quite relieved as I write this post today. I had purchased a Lotus Mat along with other stamping goodies from Bundle Monster. However, I struggled big time with Lotus Mat. The decals won't just come off the mat and if I tired further the decals used to break brittle in pieces. I was feeling so bugged and guilty with this purchase, while all my other friends were pulling off decal (pun intended) seamlessly.
So after discussion with my nail buddy Manisha and some reading, I decided to finally spin a final take on the Lotus Mat with all my vigour. And it worked!! It worked like a charm. Only two things that I did differently were: Earlier I used to clean the mat with acetone and apply clear polish to make decal while now after acetone cleaning, I just lightly touched the mat with my creamy/oily hands to cut out excess dryness that may have been preventing the decal to pull off. Secondly, I changed the way I pulled it out. Instead of using a tweezers to just pull it, I rolled the mat round and allowed the decals to separate on their own gently. And I succeeded!
I had got Fuzzy and Ferocious Set 02 last month and had wanted to use them for so long. But I always felt that such plates only do justice with decals. All characters in such plates come to play when dipped in correct color instead of just stamping over single color/gradient base.
And now since I was cool with the lotusmat, I jumped on to using my virgin set of plate. These images are from S-165. The base is a gradient of Zoya Lake and Ireland from their Whisper 2016 Collection. I cannot possibly name and remember the polishes that I used to fill in decals because they were so many.
My favourite nail is my pinky with monkey; it just came out so well. Also the hippo looked exactly like Moto Moto (Remember, the name is so nice, you gotta say it twice :P )from Madagascar. I just loved my monkey and hippo here. But what is your favourite part of the mani?


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2018 Ford Ranger Specs Review
2018 Ford Ranger Specs Review – Compact-pickup purchasers began pining for a new variation of the age-old Ford Ranger as quickly as the robots bonded the trucks' last frameworks four years back, as well as you can count us among that lot. Now, inning accordance with confidential big mouths in the Detroit News, Ford is not only intending to bring the global-market Ranger to America, yet intends to construct it in Michigan when 2018. The tale breaks as Ford as well as the United Auto Workers discuss a brand-new agreement and decide what to do with the firm's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, which presently builds the Ford Focus as well as Ford C-Max. In July, Ford said it would certainly removal manufacturing of those designs to Mexico by 2018 but cut short on shutting the plant. With 4500 tasks on the line, a resurgent mid-size pick-up market stimulated by General Motors, as well as Ford debuting a new 2018 Ford Ranger in March, the opportunity of a U.S.-spec version is much more real than ever.
2018 Ford Ranger Specs
The paper reports that the "final decision is up for discussion in the talks now underway." Ford wouldn't verify the plan, yet spokesperson Mike Levine stated the firm is "seeking future lorry alternatives to create at Michigan Assembly as well as will discuss this issue with UAW management as part of the upcoming arrangements." Certainly, the most recent 2018 Ford Ranger is no compact. Today's "mid-size" trucks are plain inches far from full-size measurements and not the lightweight, low-riding Rangers, S10s, Datsun 720s, and "YO" Toyota that booming American streets in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Still, the slightly contracted percentages do pay dividends for car park, fuel economic situation, and also rate. As we have actually said previously, not every vehicle buyer desires or needs a half-ton pick-up.
2018 Ford Ranger Engine
We'll say this is an easy win for Ford. A little federalizing, no poultry tax obligation, as well as a new associate a sleek interior and also efficient engines– Ford's 3.2-liter diesel inline-five is already readily available right here in the Ford Transit— need to be simple math. 2018 Ford Ranger, after all, are one of the most lucrative and highest-volume section for the Detroit Three.
2018 Ford Ranger Price And Release Date
Checking out the present Ranger, it's clear that the globe of pickup trucks has actually changed considerably given that the last 2018 Ford Ranger U.S market instance was built in 2012. Expect the new Ranger to be a straight rival for large-midsize vehicles like the Chevrolet Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tacoma— pick-ups that share measurements with the full-size trucks of 15 years back. Based on the leaked UAW agreement, it looks like the Ranger will begin production in 2018 as a 2019 version, yet do not be terribly amazed if we have to wait till 2020. One point we do know is that the Ranger will certainly begin manufacturing before the Ford Bronco. Hopefully, Ford can maintain the base rate listed below $25,000.
Source: Caranddriver And Roadandtrack


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Salt & Light
Righteousness – 'Being right with God' occupies the thoughts and actions of many people today just as it occupied the thoughts and actions of many people when Jesus walked the earth. To be more righteous than the Pharisees would have seemed incredible to those listening to Jesus as they were supposed to know everything about God – yet in reality, they knew little as they were missing the essential truth. Being right with God has got nothing to do with what we know, what we do or what religious activities we engage in – it's all about Jesus; knowing Him and trusting in Him is what matters. Jesus said that he was the only way to us being 'right' with God.
When we do place our trust in Him and discover all the life and promise and hope that there is in Him, our lives change forever. Our relationship with God changes and when He enters our lives our relationships with others and ourselves changes as well. We have a new identity.
In the church calendar, the past week has remembered the ritual presentation of Jesus in the temple – 'Candlemas'. Here, Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms and declared him to be a light to the world. In our reading from Matthew, we hear a great truth from Jesus himself about our identity in him. We are called 'Salt' and 'Light'.
One of the essential features of salt is its ability to enhance flavour. On your Fish and Chips or in a bowl of soup it can turn the ordinary into something else much more interesting. It is also a purifier. Salt can be used to clean things such as wounds as it prevents bacteria from multiplying. It can be used to clean metals and fabrics and today it's often used in the final stages of purifying aviation fuel. It can also be used as a preservative as the salt absorbs moisture in the food making the environment too dry for harmful bacteria or mould to grow. Ancient Egypt used large quantities of salt in the mummification process.
Salt has been and remains, a very important commodity; indeed, we cannot live without it as it exists in every cell of our body and is essential in transmitting signals to the brain.
Jesus says we are the 'salt of the earth'. However, possessing the qualities of salt and being used as salt are very different things just as a car is a car but if it remains motionless it's not being a car. As followers of Jesus we are to be enhancers, purifiers and preservers of all that is good and if we are not engaged in doing this then we are failing our identity in him.
Jesus takes the analogy further when he states that we 'are the light of the world' and what use is a light if it's hidden underneath a bowl or a bucket?
As followers of Jesus we are holders of a truth and this truth was not given to us that we might then keep it to ourselves. In Jesus, we gain a new identity and this new identity is intended to shine out for all the world to see, that we might help them experience the joy and the freedom there is in knowing him and in being 'right' with God.
If you're reading this and you're not sure of your identity or place with God and you'd like that to change … why not get in touch with me for a chat and come and join us at one of our services in the Benefice.
Rev Dave Clark
Vicar of the Benefice of Upper Wensleydale
September 2019


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My journey to join the Techstars team started in late 2011, when Techstars was ramping up to launch the first Cloud program in San Antonio. I was working for HP Cloud Services at the time, helping to build HP's public cloud. After meeting with Jason Seats, the original Managing Director for the program, I volunteered to serve as a mentor for the program. I really didn't know what to expect, but I hoped that I would be able to provide some value to the companies that had been selected.
Since that day, I have been continuously impressed by the quality of the people involved with Techstars. The passion of the founders, the generosity of the mentors, and the power of the network have been awesome to experience first hand. A year and half after I started mentoring, I found myself leaving HP to join ZeroVM, a 2013 Techstars Cloud alumni company and today, I am extremely excited to be taking over as the Managing Director for the Cloud program.
The roster of alumni from the first two Techstars Cloud programs includes some great companies and even better founders. I don't want to name names, because I know I will leave someone out, but these companies have raised serious money and are doing amazing things. I am excited by the opportunity to continue to build on the legacy that Jason and these first two classes have pioneered.
Let me share a little bit about myself. Prior to my current role with Techstars, I was leading the team building ZeroVM after Rackspace acquired the company behind the technology. I have spent most of the last five years building public clouds for both Rackspace and HP, working primarily in Product Management. I was also lucky enough to be a part of the team that launched OpenStack, the open source cloud management platform.
Before my adventures in the clouds, I spent seven years building grand format digital ink-jet printers for a startup called Gandi Innovations. I have a degree in Computer Engineering, and I volunteer on the board of the Brighton Center. I live in San Antonio with my wife and our son, and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of his little brother.
The next Techstars Cloud program will be kicking off in San Antonio in early 2015 with applications opening up this Fall. Stay tuned for more details and the exact timing for the upcoming program.


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Round 1 - ESB vs. American 2
This is the first round of a number of split brew sessions. London ESB is going head-to-head with American Ale 2 to win my preference as a good pale ale yeast strain. It will be a lot of fun finding out how they perform over a few rounds. Read about the break down of this experiment here.
For the first round, the beer style and hopping is a session-like English style bitter/amber. It may be a little light on the bittering hops, but should allow the yeast's fermentation characteristics to be more noticeable. The next rounds will either be higher OG's and/or higher IBU's. Below there is a list of grains for the main mash, then separate listings of hop schedules, followed by brewday stats. Check back in about 1-1.5 months for the final results, or there may be a special post highlighting the results of all these brews.
A couple challenges added almost 2 hours to the day. The lid was on tight during the first sparge. This caused a strange vacuum, that compacted the grains and stopped the flow. We added about a gallon of the second sparge water to mix the grains, vorlaufed, and we were on track again. Then, while adding the first hop addition to the 2nd batch...American 2 ale, Matt mistakenly added the 2nd addition at the beginning. So I made an adjustment, and added only half the original 1/2 ounce of Pheonix bittering hops. Other than that, it was a good brew day, and the OG's were just a couple points above target.
11. lb. Organic 2-row Pale
1.0 lb. Victory Malt
0.8 lb. Crystal 80L
0.6 lb. Crystal 120L
0.6 lb. CaraPils
London ESB
Hops (IBU 39)
.50 oz. Pheonix, 10%, pellet, 60min
.40 oz. Kent Goldings, 6.3%, whole, 25min
.40 oz. Kent Goldings, 6.3%, whole, 12min
.20 oz. Kent Goldings, 6.3%, whole, KO
American 2
Hops (IBU 40)
.25 oz. Pheonix, 10%, pellet, 60min
.35 oz. Glacier, 6%, pellet, 60min
.10 oz. Saaz, 2.3%, pellet, 60min
.35 oz. Glacier, 6%, pellet, 25min
.10 oz. Saaz, 2.3%, pellet, 25min
.40 oz. Glacier, 6%, pellet, 12min
.10 oz. Saaz, 2.3%, pellet, 12min
.25 oz. Glacier, 6%, pellet, KO
Brew Day Stats
Brewed: 3/20/08
Racked: just primary
Bottled: 3/30/08
Water Adjustment:
.5 tsp acid blend & 2.25 tsp gypsum in strike water
2.25 tsp gypsum in 2nd sparge water
H2O/Grain Ratio: 1.3 qt/lb
Mash Ph: 5.5-5.6
Sacch. Rest Temp/Time: 154°F/1hr
Mash Out Temp/Time: 172°F/10min
2nd Batch Sparge Vol/Temp: 4-4.5gal/172°F
Pre-Boil Vol: 5 gal each
Boil Time: 60min
Post-Boil Vol: 4 gallons each
Mash Efficiency: approx. 80%
Color/SRM: pale-amber/13
Ferment Temp: 68-72°F
Amer. 2
the other posts
in this series...
Round 2
Round 3


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Wedding day beauty is all about being the most fabulous version of your natural self. Although the wedding day is a major event, it is important to find a look that is comfortable, long lasting, and photo-friendly.
This means that if you are usually a glamour girl, a dramatic makeup look may be the right choice. But if you normally prefer a fresh-scrubbed, natural look, a more subdued palette that plays up your features perfectly may be more appropriate.
In any case, a pretty lip tone, a healthy glowing cheek, and a dramatic lash are always appropriate. Lash extensions and false eyelashes are often featured in bridal beauty looks designed by the team at Salon Emage.
The pictures featured in this blog all include hair and makeup looks created by Salon Emage for a Blush Bridal Boutique fashion show this month.
For a more dramatic and glamorous look, a smoky eye and defined eyebrow may be added to the makeup look, or a deeper lip color may be utilized.
For bridal hair, the days of formal updos being the only choice are long over! Soft waves accented with sparkling hair accessories can be just as beautiful as more structured styles. It honestly depends upon the bride and what styles make her most comfortable.
The important thing is for brides to pre-plan their look and be open to trying out lots of different combinations. A good salon will encourage clients to schedule an appointment or two to do just this.
For more information on the services provided by Salon Emage, contact the salon at (540) 341-4052 or visit their website at http://www.salonemage.com/.
Photo credit: http://littlebluejayphotography.zenfolio.com/


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Established in 2002, Work Solutions Gippsland is a specialist employment service whose prime focus is to assist jobseekers with a disability, injury or health condition, to gain and maintain employment in the mainstream workforce.
Work Solutions Gippsland is the largest disability employment service provider in the region, with ten offices throughout South, Central and East Gippsland.
As the provider of choice and a leader in our field, we provide tailored services, advice and resources to assist people with a disability and/or barrier to employment find long term, sustainable employment in the Gippsland region.
Work Solutions Gippsland is committed to quality and is certified against the Federal Government's Disability Service Standards.
Regardless of your disability or barrier to employment, Work Solutions Gippsland believes there is a job out there for everyone.
Work Solutions Gippsland is a progressive company, and we only employ people who believe in our Vision, Mission and Philosophy.
To give every client the opportunity to improve their quality of life through employment
To identify the ability in every client and match each client to an appropriate employer
There is no one irrespective of the degree of disability, who cannot live and participate in mainstream community life


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Le Creuset 16-Piece Dinnerware Set with Pasta Bowl
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
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- Summary
Set the table with rich color and classic design using this everyday dinnerware collection from a legendary cookware maker. Crafted of durable stoneware with a sleek yet substantial profile, each piece features Le Creuset's signature three-ridge pattern and trademark tonal finish. Whether you choose a single color or decide to mix and match, these classic pieces lay the foundation for a stylish table.
- Crafted of high-fired stoneware for exceptional strength.
- Durable enamel-glaze finish is easy to clean and resists chips, scratches and stains.
- Gradated colors coordinate perfectly with Le Creuset cookware.
- Oven, broiler, microwave and dishwasher safe.
- Set of 16 includes four each of dinner plates, salad plates, mugs and pasta bowls.
- Dimensions & More Info
- Dinner Plate: 10 1/2" or 11 1/4" diam.
- Salad Plate: 8 1/2" diam.
- Pasta Bowl: 8 1/2" diam., 16-oz. cap.
- Mug: 3 1/2" high, 12-oz cap.
- Made in Indonesia.
- Use & Care
- Oven and broiler safe to 500°F.
- Microwavable.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item will be shipped directly from the manufacturer and is not eligible for rush shipping. Please allow one to two weeks for delivery.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
In 2019, Le Creuset has increased the Stoneware warranty from 5 years to 10 years.
This is a reflection of the confidence we have in our product performance and the company's commitment to producing quality stoneware.
The warranty covers faulty workmanship and/or materials when the product is used in normal domestic conditions in accordance with the care and use instructions provided. It does not cover normal wear and tear, commercial use or misuse of the product.
Defective stoneware will be replaced free of charge, or replaced by a similar product or one of equivalent value if the original product is no longer in production. Replacement with the same color cannot be guaranteed.
Damage caused by normal wear and tear, accident, misuse, abuse or commercial use.
Scratches, stains, discoloration, corrosion or damage from overheating to the interior or exterior of the pan.
Consequential damage is expressly excluded from this warranty.
The warranty begins on the date of purchase by the original owner, whether a self-purchase or received as a gift.
To make a warranty claim, consumers should call the Le Creuset helpline at 1-877-CREUSET (273-8738) to obtain a Returns Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number prior to mailing their cookware to us.
Once an authorization number is received, the product should be mailed to the address below. We recommend using a traceable means to return the product as Le Creuset of America, Inc., is not responsible for damages or lost or stolen merchandise. A return address and a brief note explaining the defect should also be included. Turnaround time on returns is typically two to four weeks after receipt of an item.
Returns Department
Le Creuset of America
114 Bob Gifford Blvd.
Early Branch, SC 29916
Pairs Well With
Le Creuset Cereal Bowls
Le Creuset Pasta Bowls
Le Creuset Salad Plates
Le Creuset Dinner Plates
Le Creuset 16-Piece Dinnerware Set with Cereal Bowl
Le Creuset Mugs
Rated 5 out of 5 by tiramisufc16 from Love the dishes Reading some of the reviews, some mentioned they had problems with scratching. I haven't had any of those problems. I always wash mine by hand. I'm glad that I purchased them.Date published: 2019-06-10Rated 5 out of 5 by Strawapple from Lovely dishes The reviews for this dining set are all so negative, but I still went ahead and bought them in red. I've owned these for about six months now and the condition is still flawless. We use them everyday without any particular care or attention to fragility.Date published: 2019-03-04Rated 1 out of 5 by Harveys MOM from DISAPPOINTING! I too bought this thinking it did not have questionable manufacturing practices. I figured it was an all-around reputable brand. Place settings are shown being made in China. Very disappointed! Unable to return! The glaze is not smooth. There are noticeable white blemishes that only a dime store might sell. These are NOT WORTH THE MONEY. Do NOT purchase these. Stuck with them. Sad! I believe the cookware is only thing manufactured in France.Date published: 2018-06-05Rated 1 out of 5 by Leslie from Beautiful but misleading I just received my set from WS in grey. It is absolutely beautiful but upon opening the box each box and each item was stamped "made in China." My bad, I assumed Le Creuset was made in France, so I just checked the additional info online and it says made in Indonesia....We chose this set to try and buy a high quality item that was not made with questionable labor practices. Our fault we assumed where they were made but the retailer also needs to display accurate information, they are made in China not Indonesia.Date published: 2018-05-30Rated 1 out of 5 by AlaskanFam from Plates scratch easily I had read other customers reviews for the individual plates saying they scratch easily. I had fallen in love with the teal color so bought one box; hoping they wouldn't scratch and I could buy a second box in a couple of weeks. No such luck. Within one week they were scratched by standard steak knives. I won't be buying the second box.Date published: 2018-04-26


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Mattress Land offers financing through a third-party finance companies to qualified customers. These offers are based on approved credit and (or) other requirements set out by the finance companies. The application is available in store. However, for your convenience you may fill out an online application or visit a store near you for more details.
Convenient. Valuable. Flexible.
Buy what you want plus get the flexibility and value you need with one of Synchrony Bank's credit cards. Open an account and use your new credit card today, and enjoy dependable financing for future purchases.


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One Apple investor says he's more certain about the organization than he was a year prior — aside from one "colossal disappointment": not shipping the HomePod in time for the occasions.
Apple said in November that the $349 keen speaker, initially slated for December discharge, will now ship to the U.S., U.K. furthermore, Australia in mid 2018. Never one to surge shipments, the organization has basically said it needs "somewhat more time before it's prepared for our clients."
"Definitely, it's a major ordeal, since it's income sans work," Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, told CNBC's "End Bell" on Tuesday. "It was asked for by a few relatives of mine, and we needed to get them the Google or the Sonos or the Amazon. Not having the Apple item as basic as this is an immense disappointment for them. What's more, this has been my feedback of them in the course of the most recent year or two … kind of being receptive, versus proactive, in advancement."
Read More : Just Gave Apple a Huge Lump of Coal for Christmas
On many fronts, Gerber (who is an Apple shareholder on behalf of himself and his firm) is optimistic. He forecasts a "great quarter," noting that a "ton" of iPhone users have yet to upgrade their older phones.
The company released 3 new models of phones this fall, including one that's more expensive than ever. And with AirPods and Apple Watch, it has more products to sell than it has in a while. Then there are less-obvious changes, such as an improving revenue stream in the App Store and changes to the tax code, that some analysts say are big underlying advantages for the company.
That all makes it hard to predict how the company will fare financially.
But for one Apple competitor, the evidence of success is already apparent. Amazon said on Tuesday it had sold "tens of millions" of devices over the holiday season powered by smart assistant Alexa. For context, Apple sold 13 million iPads during the 2016 quarter ending in December, and 78 million iPhones.
Max Wolff of Disruptive Technology Advisers told "Closing Bell" on Tuesday that he doesn't see Apple's iPhone approach this year as problematic, predicting the iPhone maker will remain the "pace setter" in phones.
But he agreed that Apple's long-term reputation as an innovator could be tarnished by the HomePod's absence.


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Here at Have A Ball Party Rentals, we offer an array of services. We rent inflatable party rentals such as: bounce house rentals, moonbounce, bouncy houses, bouncers, moonwalks, jumpy houses, bouncy castles, inflatable jumpers, bounce house combos, waters slides, combination units and inflatable obstacles courses at affordable prices. In addition, we rent concessions such as cotton candy machines, snow cone machines, and popcorn machines. Concessions are a real crowd pleaser and are a great compliment to the rental of an inflatable jumper. Children absolutely love the addition of the concession because this adds a certain flare to any event.
How do you like your party? We here at Have a Ball also have party specialist to plan or assist you with planning your entire event. From start to finish, our dedicated staff can handle every detail for you. We can set up inflatable party rentals, arrange entertainment, secure your location, decorate the vineyard, or provide the party favors. One of our event planning specialist can handle all aspect of planning your event or assist you with organizing a portion it. Have a Ball will customize your party or event to your desires. This means you sit back, relax, and let us do all the work for you.
Did you know that we provide decorating services in conjunction to our inflatable party rentals? This service is perfect for individuals looking for someone to just set up an party or event. This aids in relieving the stress and tension you feel of being overwhelmed the day of your occasion. Your event is special to us and we will do our best to achieve your desired look. Call now or to inquire about our custom party options for your party or special occasion at 404-346-4151404-346-4151!!
At Have A Ball Party Rentals and Event Planning, we bring the party to you! All you have to do is tell us what you need!!!! We are committed to providing you with excellent customer service and guarantee on time delivery of your inflatable party rentals, moonwalk, bounce house rental Atlanta, inflatable jumpers Atlanta and/or your requested products and services. All of our moonwalks / bounce houses Atlanta and inflatable party rentals are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Thus, we take pride in providing our clients with a safe environment.
We here at Have-A-Ball are excited to provide products and services (such as inflatable party rentals, moonwalk rentals, bounce houses, bouncy house rentals Atlanta or moon bounce for rent) for your desired party or special occasion.
We are open 24hours a day online with our real time reservation system! Book your next reservation online or! So call now at 404-346-4151404-346-4151 to see how we can assist you in having a ball at your next event!!!!!


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You may have heard about Daniel Boulud's New York restaurant Boulud Sud "popping up"—at least by way of menu items—at Palm Beach's Cafe Boulud, beginning Tuesday, and if so, your inquisitive half may be wondering: 1) Why and why now?; and 2) Is it a precursor to opening a permanent South Florida outpost of Boulud Sud?
Says Boulud, "People shift gears in summer, ready for adventure and exploring. They may be planning a trip or staying home but they're hungry for something new. Bringing our Mediterranean cooking from Boulud Sud to Palm Beach is a great way to feed that summer travel wanderlust. We opened Boulud Sud in New York just over a year ago with a menu that travels to the entire Mediterranean in a 360-degree tour from France, Italy and Spain at its western edge, to Greece and Turkey in the east and then heading south to the shores of North Africa, touching own in Morocco and Tunisia. If you could choose anywhere to travel this summer, this would be a great itinerary. So with our pop-up bringing Boulud Sud to Café Boulud, we're taking you on that trip, by way of flavors and ingredients," with Café Boulud and Chef Jim Leiken adding to its/his repertoire such Boulud Sud dishes as octopus a la plancha *(shown below, right) with Marcona almonds; lamb kibbeh with swiss chard, feta and pine nuts; lemon-saffron linguini with clams and bottarga; and chicken tagine with preserved lemon and spinach.
The Boulud Sud pop-up at Café Boulud—which will continue serving its lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch menus—will be open through Sept. 2 with an a la carte dinner menu daily, as well as a four-course menu for $35 on Saturday and Sunday nights. According to Boulud, the pop-up isn't a test-run for a permanent Boulud Sud in these parts—at least not now.
"No, no plans for a new South Florida restaurant just now. We're very happy with Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach approaching its 10th anniversary and db Bistro Moderne in Miami celebrating its first year. I just loved the immediacy of a summer pop-up. I'm always inspired by travel as a source of fresh ideas. So this is an adventure as much for my chefs and me as it is for our guests."
For more information about Café Boulud and the Boulud Sud pop-up there, call 655-6060.


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The introduction of 'glamping' facilities, footpath upgrades, and a car park expansion are just some of the proposals on the table for Brown's Bay.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is seeking feedback from residents over the future development of the popular coastal spot.
The local government authority this week launched a consultation to gather feedback on how the caravan park and surrounding area can be redeveloped.
It follows two local engagement events in June and September last year.
A council spokesperson said: "MEABC is calling on the people of Brown's Bay and Islandmagee, as well as those who enjoy spending their leisure time in the area, to make their voices heard.
"We have been consulting with residents in recent months in order to develop a draft masterplan for the area. Further to this feedback, the council is now undertaking a 12-week consultation process in order to ensure that the draft masterplan is reflective of how interested parties wish to see the site redeveloped."
Members of the public are invited to attend a drop-in session to view draft plans for the area.
It will take place on January 30, 5-8pm at the cafe in Islandmagee Community Centre.
Included as part of the plans are proposals to introduce glamping facilities within linear parkland, improvements to the efficiency and quantity of parking provision, and an upgrade of the path leading to the 'Rocking Stone'.
MEA Mayor, Councillor Paul Reid said: "Brown's Bay is a wonderful natural asset and I look forward to seeing the area redeveloped in a way which is in keeping with the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
"I would be delighted to see investment in the caravan park to bring it back to its former glory but in a way which is also sympathetic to the needs of the local residents.
"Investment in Brown's Bay opens up potential opportunities to create much-needed new employment within the area, especially with so much focus on growing our tourism offering within Mid and East Antrim."
Residents are urged to get involved in the consultation process by completing a short survey online using the following link.
Hard copies are available by contacting email@example.com or calling 028 9335 8279.


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To Sinawali, or Not to Sinawali?
That is the question. Banging sticks, stick-tapping, cross sticks, whatever. To me, they're nothing more than code words for those "stick guys" who are not interested in really learning how to kick someone's butt with their sticks.
I grew up without Sinawali. Yeah, I learned what is commonly known as "Heaven and Earth 6 count", or simply "Double Sinawali" when I was about 9 years old, but my Eskrima training did not involve them. In fact, I did not learn Sinawali from my grandpa until I was 20 years old, after learning 10 Sinawali drills from Ernesto Presas in the Philippines. I came home thirsty for more, and then my Papa taught me the ones he knew, never to repeat them again minus a few conversations when I asked about them. You don't need them, he use to say. But stupid me, reading the magazines and exchanging ideas with martial artists who mostly couldn't "hold a stick" to my fighting ability…. I was convinced that "complete" FMA must have them. Why? Well, the experts say that Sinawali drills give you coordination to weave your hand in intricate patterns for fighting. As if you couldn't learn how to deliver a knockout punch without using Sinawali drills. As if you would never have the speed and timing to stop a punch without them. As if you could never grapple, clinch, take a guy down without them.
Hey, just like forms… the only form you need is perfect form. Likewise, the only punching ability you need is punching ability. The only blocking ability you need is blocking ability. You get it.
If you recall, I understand the saying, that when a martial artist can't fight, he will spend all his time emphasizing the importance of everything else to distract you from the realization that he can't fight. So, he'll talk about how fighting isn't real fighting. WHAT? That's right. He will confuse you with theories and demonstrations and explanations about how the MMA guy's ability won't "translate" to streetfighting ability. He will give you a very convincing and scientific argument about why Eskrima knife fighting isn't real knife fighting and will get you killed on the street. He will show you all these demonstrations and lectures about how to stop a punch, how to immobilize an opponent, and basically how dangerous he is without actually fighting. The sad thing is that most martial artists will eat this stuff up. Not just eat it up and believe it, but adopt these ideas and drop his own, and start repeating this stuff to his own students.
Honestly, have you ever really seen Sinawali used in a fight? I'm not just talking about some dude wailing away in padded sparring with a stick in each hand, but someone seriously sparring using Sinawali? I don't deny that one can use the patterns as striking patterns in fighting–let's not be stupid–but I'm talking about the way those sticks are swung, but in a serious stickfight? How about Sinawali while empty handed? Of all the things that turn my stomach about commercial, watered-down FMA, empty handed FMA is one of the most embarassing innovations. Even white belts at McDojos are looking at Youtube laughing their pants off, it's disgusting.
You see, we have gotten so far into making FMAs look exotic and different, that we are now trying to force-fit logic into our FMA in order for everything to tie together (the stick is a knife, is a machete, is the empty hand and everything is preparation for everything else). I've even had a well-known Grandmaster (friend) try to convince me that the Sinawali develops staff sparring skill. 😉 But you know me, I'm a "hands-on" kinda guy, and we shut down that argument real quick. But guess what, he is still teaching that garbage in his classes! The bottom line is that Sinawali–the way they are practiced–do nothing for fighting ability. The best fighters in the Philippines do not train them for their fighting ability. Beginners do not need them to learn how to hit or defend. They don't even do a good job developing forearm, wrist, and hand strength like plain old striking practice does! They don't "translate" well to empty hand. And if you ever tried to use those techniques against a guy determined to knock your head off your shoulders, well, he's going to knock your head off your shoulders! The way most of you are taught to practice them, the distance is wrong (sticks usually meet in the middle of you and your opponent, so the distance is unrealistic), you don't practice with any amount of power (striking power, that is), and once you "get" the rhythm down, it is no longer beneficial for you to practice it other than just having more coordination to do it faster or ad lib your drills. The only benefit I see is that it kills time during class when you don't have much practical shit to teach. Oh, and some people like to decorate their school with frayed up sticks and the smell of burning rattan… Makes you guys look like you've been kicking some ass in there.
The bottom line, Sinawali are a waste of time, and a waste of valuable training space. On top of all that, a waste money from busting up all those $10 sticks.
If you want to learn how to fight–really learn how to fight–hang around; I'll teach you the secrets….
Thanks for visiting my blog!


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aka Ophthalmology Befuddler 002
Things are humming along nicely in the 'Fast track' area of the emergency department. You check the triage note of the next patient – RED EYE is written capitals.
Q1. There are many causes of 'red eye' — how can they broken down as an approach to diagnosis and management?
Answer and interpretation
Of course there are myriad ways of doing this. I like Jeff Mann's approach — he has a simple way of breaking the causes down into 3 groups:
- extra-ocular causes: (e.g. orbital cellulitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, carotid-cavernous fistula, cluster headache)
- external eye disease: (e.g. eye lid and conjunctival disease)
- internal eye disease: (e.g. iritis, glaucoma)
Once an extra-ocular cause is excluded (this will be discussed in a later post), a helpful approach is to divide up the causes of red eye as follows:
- Painless — is there diffuse or localised redness?
- Painful?
The next step is to consider which structures are abnormal:
- Lid, conjunctiva, cornea, sclera, or anterior chamber?
This approach gets you off to a good start in narrowing down the causes of a red eye.
Q2. What are the causes of a painless red eye?
Answer and interpretation
These can be classified according to whether the redness is diffuse or localised.
- diffuse: usually this is an eyelid abnormality as most cases of conjunctivitis are painful: e.g. blepharitis, ectropion, trichiasis, entropion, eyelid lesion (e.g. tumour, stye)
- localised: e.g. pterygium, corneal foreign body, ocular trauma, subconjunctival hemorrhage
If you're stuck for a differential diagnosis, fall back on working through the anatomical components of the eye and running through a pathophysiological sieve.
Q3. What are the causes of a painful red eye?
Answer and interpretation
These can be classified according which structure is abnormal:
- abnormal cornea: e.g. herpes simplex keratitis, corneal ulcer, marginal keratitis, corneal abrasion,
- abnormal eyelid: e.g. chalazion/ stye, acute blepharitis, herpes zoster ophthalmicus
- diffuse conjunctival injection: e.g. viral conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, dry eyes, acute glaucoma
- ciliary injection/ scleral involvement: e.g. scleritis
- anterior chamber involvement: e.g. acute anterior uveitis (iritis), hypopyon, hyphema
Q4. What 4 features usually suggest an internal cause of a red eye?
Answer and interpretation
- severe eye pain (unrelieved by topical anesthetics)
- impaired vision
- poorly reactive pupils
- abnormal slit lamp examination +/- abnormal intra-ocular pressure
Q5. What 6 features on history and exam suggest an external cause for red eye?
Answer and interpretation
- pain sensation is usually itching, gritty, scratching, or burning (not a deep-seated ache)
- pain is significantly improved by topical anesthetics
- eye discharge is common: (watery, mucoid or purulent depending on etiology)
- photophobia and blepharospasm may be present
- visual acuity is usually normal or near-normal (there may be some blurriness)
- preauricular lymphadenopathy may be present. e.g. viral or chlamydial conjunctivitis
Q6. What 7 features on exam should be present if the cause of a red eye is not serious?
Answer and Interpretation
- cornea clear
- anterior chamber clear
- pupils normal in size and reactivity
- visual acuity normal or near-normal
- extraocular eye movements normal
- proptosis absent
- eyeball is not tender on palpation
Q7. What is the likely diagnosis of a red eye in a middle-aged woman with the following findings?
Quick Quiz…
Mid-dilated unreactive pupil, steamy cornea, peri-orbital pain, nausea/vomiting and increased intra-ocular pressure
angle closure glaucoma
Small irregular pupil, deep-seated eye pain that is worse on eye movement and accommodation, consensual photophobia and positive slit lamp signs of flare and cells
Deep-seated eye pain that is worse at rest and at night, pain on palpation of the eye and violaceous appearance of the sclera
Proptosis, congested chemosis, painful external ophthalmoplegia, and visual loss with a relative afferent pupillary defect
orbital cellulitis or cavernous sinus venous thrombosis
Q9. What potentially serious causes of a red eye are suggested by the following features on history or examination?
Quick Quiz…
Severe eye aching
Iritis, keratitis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, scleritis, orbital cellulitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST)
Prominent photophobia
Iritis, keratitis
Impaired vision
Iritis, keratitis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, orbital cellulitis, CST
Cloudy cornea
Keratitis, acute angle-closure glaucoma
Corneal opacification
Keratitis – chemical or infectious
Circumcorneal conjunctival injection
Iritis, keratitis
Cloudy anterior chamber
Pain on eyeball palpation
Scleritis (+++), orbital cellulitis, CST
Orbital cellulitis, CST, posterior scleritis
Impaired, or painful, extraocular eye movements
Orbital cellulitis
Fever, toxic appearance
Orbital cellulitis (+), CST (++)
Hyperpurulent discharge from an "angry" eye
Gonococcal conjunctivitis/endophthalmitis
Prominent nausea and vomiting
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Small, irregular, poorly-reactive pupil
Fixed mid-dilated pupil
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Increased intra-ocular pressure
Acute angle-closure glaucoma, iritis (secondary complication)
History of connective tissue disease, or granulomatous disease
Iritis, scleritis
- Mahmood AR, Narang AT. Diagnosis and management of the acute red eye. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2008 Feb;26(1):35-55, vi. PMID: 18249256.
- NSW Statewide Opthalmology Service. Eye Emergency Manual — An illustrated Guide. [Free PDF]
Ophthalmology Befuddler


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My eleven-year-old daughter made it VERY clear that she REFUSES to hand out lovey-dovey Valentines this year.
I mean, boys are kind of gross and she would be mortified if a boy got the wrong idea!
She asked me to gather a bunch of Non-Mushy Valentines Ideas for her to choose from.
I suggested my favorite JAWSOME Valentines, but she doesn't like sharks.
I strongly encouraged the PAPER FAN Valentines, but she said boys wouldn't like them.
And then I showed her the Valentine Color Cards, but I guess coloring is out of style. Can you tell I have a tweenager?
We decided to buy a whole bunch of Heart Glasses (in all colors for all genders and personalities:) and I designed coordinating tags that read, 'EYE Think You're Great.'
It's a completely non-mushy phrase that is nice, but not romantic.
VALENTINE HEART GLASSES – WHITE BAKER'S TWINE – EYE THING YOU'RE GREAT TAGS (download below)
I figured there must be other mom's out there searching for non-mushy valentine's ideas, so I'm offering this ideas as a free printable! You can download it here:
And for more NON-MUSHY VALENTINE'S IDEAS, check out these posts:


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The Emergent Reader's Toolkit!
Five tools for the balanced reader's toolkit
Supporting children through the process of learning to read with little stress and as much success as possible is the ultimate goal of any teacher. We want children to become successful and component readers who read for both knowledge and enjoyment, a complex task for any teacher regardless of experience! And just when you feel you have your head around it, a new class those up a whole load of different challenges to overcome! There is no quick fixer for gaining reading success, nor will any one component alone, churn out those fluent readers. The challenge for us educators is to provide each child with a personally tailored set of tools for their reading toolkit.
Exploring Magnets
Playful Lesson Planning...
Strand: Energy and Forces
Strand Unit: Magnetism
Learning outcomes:
1) Investigate the fact that magnets attract certain materials
2) Use magnets of different shapes and sizes in purposeful play to explore their effects on various materials
Skills: carry out simple investigations, make observations and collect Data
Focus Language: Materials, magnets, magnetism, attract, attach, metal, copper, screws, fabric, wood, plastic
Bread In A Bag!
Stress Free, Mess Free...
This is my second year making bread in a bag with my infant learners. It's a really fun activity and relatively easy to do with infants. What I love most about it is there is a lot less mess involved because it's all contained in a bag. In this post I share the 'how to' steps and at the end I'll go through a few different activities you could do to integrate some other subject areas into this lesson!
Flexible Seating
Creating the 21st Century Classroom...
The Ultimate Play-Doh Recipe!
Getting creative with play-doh...
Play-Doh is probably one of the all-time favourite resources in the infant classroom! It's not just a sensory incitement that compels the children to reach for the play-doh at every opportunity, it's also a very useful and versatile resource for a teacher to use throughout the day, in any lesson. They one down side about Play-Doh is that it is expensive! And because of an already stretched budget, I started to make my own play-doh about 5 years ago. So, as you can imagine I've tried a fair few different recipes over the years.
First Days of School!
Lets make them ones to remember...
For most children it is an exciting time where they get to make new friends and play with lots of new toys, and for some children it can be a terrifying time anticipating the unknown... they might feel completely out of their comfort zone. Your job is to be prepared for every event! No pressure...
Bath Bombs!
I absolutely recommend that you give these Bath Bombs a go! They were a massive hit with my class and made a memorable gift to send home to their loved one... In this case The Mammies! While this project was relatively easy to do in class, my first attempt went horribly wrong. So before you attempt this activity with your class make sure you read this post to the end to see my tips and suggestions. So here's how I did them...
Salt Dough Bakery
When I had a little time over the mid-term break I made some great salt dough bakery items for our role-play area. I made them with my own children as a fun activity. What I love about the salt dough is they look sooo realistic, they're not plastic, they're relatively cheap to make especially if you have some paint already and they last for years! (I hope!) So without any more chat I'll get straight into how I made them...
Every now and then in my job, I come across a new approach to teaching that captures the pure anticipation and imagination of the children I teach. The ability to deliver a lesson that ignites wondrous excitement is my goal as a teacher. A lesson that is so much fun it essentially has the children teaching themselves and because they are so engaged and focused on the activity all you have to do if be the facilitator! But it's also important that the lesson awakens excitement in me. As a teacher, if I find myself looking forward to teaching a lesson, I will revisit it time and time again and that's when teaching for me becomes a pleasure and not just a profession.
Staying on Topic During Role-Play
6 Steps to Successful Role-Play In The Classroom...
One question I'm often asked is how do you get children to to stay on topic during their role-play? So in this post I've put together a few of my favourite tips I use to help encourage children to dig deep into their imagination during their role-play.
Step 1 - Build their vocabulary
7 Tips for Teaching Sounds
The little steps to reading success...
Teaching children to read is no easy task! It is a subject area that requires teachers to have a great amount of knowledge and expertise. I am not an expert in linguistics (few teachers are), but I have spent a lot of time researching what is involved in learning to read, all the time trying to see things from a child's perspective. We all know reading is a skill fundamental to succeeding in school and life, so as an educator it is my responsibility to make sure I am confident teaching children to read and that my teaching is reflective of current practice and research. Most importantly I want to do my best to ensure that no child is left behind on the journey to reading success.
The Making of A Movie...
It's exciting, Collaborative and most of all it's FUN!
Making movies in your class is the most magical way to bring your learning themes alive! If you're in any way creative and a just a touch tech savvy then this is the way to go! It is the best way to extend learning in your class and will be a hit with the children, parents and your whole school community... and you probably have all you need to start creating movies today at your fingertips! (literally)
Checking Into A New School Year!
Hey Hey Everyone!
So, I'm here brushing the cobwebs off my blog! And just in case you were wondering I haven't fallen into the copy machine or been swallowed up by the laminator. I just took a break from blogging simply because I was tired and found it easier to post to my readers over on Facebook and Instagram. But I'm feeling revived as I head into this new school year and want to fill you in on where I am now.
Focus on speech before print - What you can teach in the dark!
Therefore, it is vital that we teach phonological awareness skilfully, using teaching methods that are informed by current research. The good news is that when taught this way, most children will learn to read at acceptable levels.
YOU need to get involved in the future of the Irish primary education system!
Last year I attended a number of cluster meetings that discussed the proposed redevelopment of structure and time allocation of the primary school curriculum. This was concluded with a conference in Dublin Castle where people from all areas of education got to give their opinions and suggestion on this consultation. This week I attended the next stages of the consultations at seminar one: Review and Redevelopment of the Primary Curriculum. Today's blog will you give a brief overview of the key points of the day and link you to the papers discussed.
Let's put things in logical order...
As a child's ability to be active learner develops so to does their need for more challenging and abstract ways to explore and practice the same skills. Sequencing skills are extremely important in everyday life and in the new language curriculum sequencing has it's own learning outcome. Retelling and elaborating in sequence plays an important role in the development of a child's language skills and comprehension of written texts. It is one of those foundation skills that children will use to build on other skills in the future, while also helping children to recognise patterns that make the world around them more predictable and understandable. There are plenty of daily activities that offer opportunities to practice those important sequencing skills... story time, aistear play, P.E., art. Most activities involve some form of sequencing. Sequencing can be practiced in a simple two minute activity, a whole lesson or even a whole class project worked on over a week. Ideally the language of sequencing could be integrated into most lessons.
Love is in The Air!
Every now and then I raid my children's book collect... Frog in Love is perfect love story for infants classes and I'll be planning all my lessons around it this week. So, here's a few ideas I've put together...
Get Epic!
Have you ever found yourself stuck for a book to kick off a new topic? Looking for a fun way to introduce a new maths topic? or a story that reinforces the letter of the day? Well look no further than this online digital library... Get Epic!
New beginnings and fresh starts all round!
At least that's the way it should be... I have mixed feelings as I head back to the class after the Christmas break. Before the holidays I allow myself to feel that I have the whole year ahead of me, take it easy and allow the children time to adjust to all things new. Then all of a sudden, it's Christmas and you tell yourself you're half way through the year and you think of all the things they don't know yet and you try not to hyperventilate... but panic not because all is not as you think.
Mini Christmas Dinner
The last week before we break up for Christmas holidays is a magical time for children and teachers. It is hard not to buzz off the excitement of the little ones! The classroom is a hive of festive activity and it's nice to ease back on the hard work and do some fun activities. Last year we did something really special that kind of happened organically. We were discussing food which was our language topic. What started off as a conversation about Brussel Sprouts... turned into an idea for a food tasting lesson... but it turned into something far more magical and I think I can say that this is the cutest thing I have ever done with a class. Our very own mini Christmas dinner. It was so much fun!
Now they're ready to write...
In most European countries, children are not expected to start formal handwriting with a pencil until they are 6 years old (or the countries the do best in international comparisons scores in Literacy, until they are 7). So, when are children ready to learn letter formation? Once children have are fluent in their phonological awareness and after months of working on mark making, building confidence with their writing tools, perfect pencil grip by everyone, great hand eye-coordination, good drawing skills, I know that all the children (bar the exception of a child how might have specific needs) are ready to write letters with little difficulty and less stress. The average age when I start formal letter formation is 5 years old, in February of Junior Infants. I do this simple assessment with my children just to make sure they are ready to write letters before I start. Children should be able to write these 9 pre-writing strokes before asking them to write letters, as mentioned in my previous post on Mark Making.
Mark Making Matters!
Print is just talking on paper - Thomas Edison
Through their marking, children are communicating their ideas, expressing their feelings, developing their imagination and creativity, and testing their hypotheses about the world, it is a truly valuable experience for young writers. For the focus of this post I am referring to the role of mark making in the development of handwriting skills and letter formation. In the early years children make marks simply for the sensory enjoyment of that smooth feeling of moving a marker across the whiteboard or the bumpy sensation of chalk grating across the tarmac, or simply the visual sadifaction of coloured paint dripping down the page. All these experiences are building their confidence and dexterity as well as the fine motor skills needed for compedent use of writing tools.
A Week of Science!
Professor Science Pants!
To celebrate Science Week we have been super lucky to have our very our Professor Science Pants (impromptu name) visit us every day! Each day, Professor S for short comes bursting through the door after morning break looking mad as a hatter and ladened down with all sorts of science equipment... strangly Ms Murray is nowhere to been seen for the next hour and a half??? probably enjoying a well earned extended coffee break we think...
Mini Maths Lesson Made Fun!
Playful Lesson Planning...
Strand: Measure
Strand Unit: Length
Content Objective: 1) Develop and understanding of the concept of length through exploration and discussion and use of appropriate language. 2) Compare and order objects according to length
I Do:
It is always nice to start a new topic or lesson with a story. The children and I go to the carpet for this lesson. Read a story that discusses length. Talk about the topical language. Long, short, longer, shorter, longest, shortest etc.
Outdated? Or is there a way to make it work for everyone?
Homework... most people have an opinion on it! Some children love it, some don't. A recent poll of 10,000+ on journal.ie shows the debate is fairly split in favour of homework in primary school. But if you are a parent I am sure you will agree that it can be difficult to find time to fit homework into busy family life. In primary school, if you must set homework it should be short and sweet. Some follow the rule of 10 minutes per year (10 minutes for infants and first, 20 minutes for second class and so on). We need to explore ways in which homework can add value to family time by making it fun in addition to reinforcing what a child is learning in school. Is there a way homework can enhance family time rather then invading it?


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CBTVB: Warners Bros to Use Digital Services to Expand the Titans Brand
By Muuka Muyumba
Deadline is reporting that Warner Bros and DC Entertainment are working to establish a live-action Teen Titans series along with the reintroduction of the animated Titans series Young Justice on a new digital streaming services in 2018. The service has yet to get a new, but its appears to be a big first step for WB and DC Entertainment to expand their online content. Currently, their roster of CW shows can be viewed on CW Seed or Netflix, but WB/DC appears to be trying to establish its own subscription service.
DC/CW maven Greg Berlanti, Oscar-winner Akiva Goldsman, DC Entertainment's Geoff Johns, and Supergirl producer Sarah Schechter are all are all slated to work on the live-action series 'Titans', which will debut in 2018.
Titans was once in development with tnt, but failed to pick up any steam at that channel without Berlanti's involvement. This version of the story is said to follow "…a group of young soon-to-be Super Heroes recruited from every corner of the DC Universe. In this action-packed series, Dick Grayson emerges from the shadows to become the leader of a fearless band of new heroes, including Starfire, Raven and many others."
Young Justice was the little-animated-show-that-could that sat in between the earlier animated Teen Titans cartoon with a serious tone, and the current sillier version of the Teen Titans Go!. Young Justice was a similarly serious take on the young DC heroes, but a team made up mostly of sidekicks. Young Justice was loved by its audience and revered by critics, but was not a hit that Cartoon Network could rely on on a consistent basis. The show ran for 2 seasons and got new life on Netflix with a feverish social media campaign clamouring for a 3rd season.
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Season 3 of the series is now entitled Young Justice: Outsiders and centers on the teenage superheroes of the DC Universe getting a chance to spar with DC villains after they were entrusted with a seat on the Justice League council at the end of season 2.
From DCComics.com: "In the highly anticipated new season, the team faces its greatest challenge yet as it takes on meta-human trafficking and the terrifying threat it creates for a society caught in the crossfire of a genetic arms race spanning the globe and the galaxy. Equally praised by critics and viewers for its impressive visuals and rich storytelling, "Young Justice" reached more than 25 million unique viewers in each of its two seasons on Cartoon Network. This passionate fan support set the stage for the new third season."
Sam Register ("Teen Titans Go!," "Justice League Action") is executive producer of "Young Justice." Brandon Vietti ("Batman: Under the Red Hood," "Superman Doomsday") and Greg Weisman ("Star Wars Rebels," "Gargoyles") are producers of the series, produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Emmy Award winner Phil Bourassa ("Young Justice," "Justice League Dark," "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract") serves as the series' art director.
Both series are in earlier development and set to hit the direct-to-consumer digital service in 2018.
Source: DC Entertainment


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GreelySavoyDuo, Eric & Suzy ThompsonPurchase tickets online
January 09 8:00 pm
Fiddlers David Greely and Joel Savoy of the GreelySavoyDuo have deep Cajun roots. Both come from south Louisiana. David took up the fiddle at age 17, after hearing Richard Greene of Seatrain play fiddle through an amp with a wah-wah peddle in a concert at the Warehouse in New Orleans. He went on to co-found the Mamou Playboys in the late 1980s and spent more than two decades in that band, traveling around the world, searching archives for tunes, writing songs, making records, and getting nominated for four Grammies. "I find my emotions moved more by Cajun melodies than by any other form of music," David says. "It's a blend of ancient tones, black, white, and rural. It's rooted in the French language, so its rhythms tend to swing. In it I find everything I need to express myself musically." Joel is the son of Marc and Ann Savoy, in other words Cajun music royalty, and a longtime member of the Savoy Family Cajun Band. He's played with Darol Angor, T-Bone Burnett, Allison Krauss, Steve Miller, Tim O'Brien, and Linda Ronstadt. In the words of fiddler and banjo player Dirk Powell, Joel "can switch from sweet, sultry soulfulness to jaw-dropping complexity in a heartbeat. He never fails to leave his audiences moved, dazzled, and, more often than not, completely smitten." In the deep-rooted Cajun tradition of immediate invention, two acoustic fiddles freely dance around melodies ancient and new.
Berkeley's own Eric & Suzy Thompson are two of the most versatile musicians around, with a repertoire that stretches from old-time Appalachian story songs and bluegrass breakdowns to Puerto Rican paso dobles and traditional Cajun melodies. Eric's flatpicking is famed for its purity of tone, speed, and soulfulness. Suzy is a powerful singer, an award-winning fiddler, and an accomplished accordion player. Their latest album, Dream Shadows, continues their long-standing love affair with the pre-war music of the rural American South, at the intersection of country blues, string band music, and Cajun dance tunes. Eric & Suzy will celebrate he late, great Danny Poullard's birthday – which, they know, is actually January 10th – with a set of Cajun and Creole music, including many tunes that they played with Danny in their days together with the California Cajun Orchestra – plus some unusual songs learned from super-rare 1920s Cajun recordings. Plenty of room to dance, plenty of room to sit and listen.
Visit the GreelySavoyDuo's website
Visit Eric & Suzy Thompson's website
Listen to a track from the GreelySavoyDuo:
Listen to a track from Eric & Suzy Thompson:
Listen to sample tracks from upcoming artists.


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(The Frisky) -- In a recent column on the Huffington Post, "Why I'm Single," writer Lea Lane lists all the reasons that she's still single. Why? So she can send the URL to all the nosy, possibly well-meaning busy-bodies who keep asking her why she isn't in a relationship.
"Crappies" are women who whine to others on why they can't find a partner.
Lane presents a persuasive case; it almost made me wish for the days I, too, had the whole bed to myself. She's one of what I'll call the "Happies," women who are perfectly content with their single status.
They don't want for a companion; they love their solitude and have enough friends, hobbies, and passions to keep themselves busy.
Although, most Happies, like Lane, are "open to options, and do understand the beauty and wonder -- and blessing -- of a good relationship," they neither actively seek one nor passively hope and pray one comes their way. The Happies say they don't need a relationship to be content, and, by God, they mean it.
On the other side of the single lady spectrum, you've got the "Crappies." They're the single ladies with really crappy attitudes. Take, for example, Jezebel's Megan Carpentier, who responded to Lane's column with a list of her own, a list that not only doesn't make me a little nostalgic for my single days, it makes me sort of, well, sad -- for her.
I'm sad for the Crappies, because, as much as they say, like Megan, "I've made my peace with being single because I don't have to pretend I don't drink from the carton or sleep with one of those face masks on or watch 'Murder She Wrote' too late at night," they're whining to everyone who will listen about how much it sucks that they can't find a guy who wants to date them.
They're so committed to not compromising, to not being flexible, to not stepping a centimeter outside their comfort zone, or, God forbid, turning off their guilty pleasure TV, they refuse to actually GO OUT, mingle, maybe even meet someone nice.
No, they'd rather stay in, whine, and have their friends write testimonials on their blogs about why they'd be so great to date.
In an attempt to hide their loneliness from themselves -- because they're sure not hiding it from anyone else -- the Crappies adopt an air of self-righteousness. "I'm probably alone because I dated when I wanted to," they tell themselves, "and got into relationships when I wanted to, and got out of them when I needed to."
As if people who aren't alone are a bunch of morons who got stuck in bad relationships that they never wanted to be in and don't have the strength to get out of. "I'm alone because I eschewed goal-oriented dating and 'trying to find someone,'" they brag.
Because, wow, there's nothing worse than actually being pro-active, particularly when the goal is happiness. That kind of stuff is for losers! That kind of stuff is for self-hating women who subscribe to "The Rules!" Except it isn't.
Ladies, if you're single and truly happy to be so, more power to you! There's no reason in the world you need to make a list or explain to anyone why you're not in a relationship.
But if you're a woman who is unhappily single and would love nothing more than having someone to share your life with, it's time to quit whining, stop making self-righteous excuses, turn off your TV, get out there, and meet people.
There's no shame in being goal-oriented and dating with purpose. There's no shame in opening your mind, being flexible, and learning to compromise. Spread the word you're on the market, tell your friends, tell your friends of friends, let your co-workers, family, and entire social network know you're looking for dates.
Take care of yourself, dress well, look good every time you go outside. Smile at people when you're out and about, make small talk in check-out lines, keep your radar up at all times. You never know when the right person for you will be rounding the next corner.
But bear in mind, YOU aren't perfect, and there's not going to be a perfect person for you. If you refuse to settle for anything less, you're going to be lonely for a very, very long time.
If you aren't prepared to open your mind a little, you might as well stay in with your "Murder She Wrote" and your crappy attitude. But, for the love of God, quit your whining. The rest of us don't want to hear it anymore.
TM & © 2009 TMV, Inc. | All Rights Reserved
All About Dating • Relationships


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The Fair Tax: Is It Fair?
October 15, 2012 6 Comments
What is the Fair Tax… other than the Libertarian platform for tax reform? According to FairTax.org, "The Fair Tax Plan is a comprehensive proposal that replaces all federal income and payroll based taxes with an integrated approach including a progressive national retail sales tax, a prebate to ensure no American pays federal taxes on spending up to the poverty level, dollar-for-dollar federal revenue replacement, and, through companion legislation, repeal of the 16th Amendment. This nonpartisan legislation (HR 25/S 1025) abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax." It sounds like a lot, but it is a relatively simple idea… and one that could possibly simply by the tax codes.
We all know that the federal government needs taxes in order to pay for things. Up until the passage of the 16th Amendment almost 100-years ago, the government collected its tax dollars from alcohol sales. But since the amendment's passage, it's been income taxes, which have become more and more complex over time. In 1913, there were only 400-pages of federal tax codes, regulations, and IRS rulings. Today, that number has grown to 73,608-pages. And the compliance burden on the taxpayers to pay their taxes correctly is costing us $431.1-billion a year. This can be broken down into Time Value Costs ($377.9-billion), Direct Outlays ($31.5-billion), IRS Administrative Costs ($12.4-billion), and Comprehensive Tax Audits ($9.3-billion). So basically, we are spending 30% of our tax dollars just to pay our taxes. The Libertarian Party's approach is to simplify all of this by abolishing all federal income taxes and replacing it with a simpler federal retail sales tax.
With the Fair Tax, people would take home 100% of their paychecks… except where state income taxes apply. It would establish a uniform tax across the board on all new items at 23%. Why 23%? At that level, it's becomes revenue neutral. The government takes in exactly what it is taking in now. A large argument against such a tax plan is that it would favor the wealthy over the poor as the poor already have trouble being able to afford items. This is solved though by a monthly prebate that all American citizens (those with Social Security cards) would receive to cover the tax spent on necessities up to the federal poverty level. A single person would receive a monthly prebate of $199. A 2-adult, 2-children household would receive a monthly prebate of $537. (Numbers based on the Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Poverty Guidelines) And also note that I've been saying that the Fair Tax only applies to new goods. That's because you would not be paying the tax on used items as they were already taxed once before. So if you bought a used car, a used house, use clothing, etc., there would be no federal tax at all. It's only applied to new goods and services, and it can only be charged one time… right when you make the purchase.
Did you know that when you buy something, that you are paying for the company's corporate taxes plus their compliance costs? Corporations have to pay payroll taxes and make contributions into Social Security and Medicare. All of this is passed along to the consumers at a higher price. With the Fair Tax, corporate income taxes would be abolished, too. No longer would corporations have to hide these taxes in higher retail prices. Prices are allowed to drop then without revenue or profit being affected. This could allow a company to employ more people. And before you start thinking that corporations don't pay taxes under the Fair Tax, FairTax.org states, "Corporations are legal fictions that have not, do not, and never will bear the burden of taxation. Only people pay taxes. Corporations pass on their tax burden in the form of higher prices to consumers, lower wages to workers, and/or lower returns to investors." And when it comes to jobs and exporting/importing goods, "the Fair Tax does not burden U.S. exports the way the current income tax does. The Fair Tax removes the cost of corporate taxes and compliance costs from the cost of U.S. exports, putting U.S. exports on a level playing field with foreign competitors. Lower prices sharply increase demand for U.S. exports, thereby increasing job creation in U.S. manufacturing sectors. At home, imports are subject to the same Fair Tax rate as domestically produced goods."
So what about Social Security and Medicare? They come out of our paychecks. Our tax dollars specifically pay for them. They actually stay the same… maybe coming out a bit ahead. Instead of the money coming from our paychecks, they come from the tax dollars on the new goods and services we buy. Spending by Americans is usually more constant than income levels. Currently, Social Security and Medicare funds are taxed three times: 1) when payroll taxes are initially withheld, 2) when those withheld payroll taxes are counted as part of the taxable base for income tax, and 3) when the promised benefits are finally received. This would completely negate all of that until you spent it on some new good or service. And with the Fair Tax, both programs would have a wider base participating in the program… which, if you think about it, would include all members of Congress.
So are there any countries today that use this type of taxation? The simple answer is no though the states of Florida and Texas use a similar system for their state taxes. However, in England after the defeat of Napoleon, did repeal its income taxes and had major economic gains which only stopped with the re-imposition of the income tax. Now what about state sales taxes. States will have the choice to participate or not… meaning they can keep their current state sales tax on items or they can choose to go to the federal sales tax, in which they would receive a fee for their participation that would take the place of their state sales tax. They cannot do both. And with the IRS gone, who collects the taxes? Pretty much everywhere you buy things… just like they do now with state sales taxes. In the end, you get to determine how much you pay in taxes by how much you spend on new goods and services. This is also the only plan that calls for the full repeal of the 16th Amendment, though even without it, there would still not be a federal income tax and a federal sales tax. The 16th Amendment only gives Congress the right to tax our income, but it doesn't state that there has to be an income tax.
I want to close with a few examples from FairTax.org. This might help in seeing how this would affect us all. Under our current income tax system, let's say that you earn $100. You get to keep $77, so your income tax rate is 23%, and the government keeps $23. Now let's move to the Fair Tax. You again earn $100. You get to keep $100, and you choose to spend $77. Your Fair Tax rate is 30%, and the government only gets $23. Now that was based just on an individual. Now let's look at different income levels and how they are taxed under the Fair Tax. Let's say a billionaire (who is married with no children) spends $10-million and pays a tax of $2.3-million. He gets a prebate of $4,697. His tax rate is 22.95%. Now let's look at a couple with no children that spends $50,000. They pay a tax of $6,803. The prebate check would be the same as the billionaire's at $4,697. Their tax rate would be 13.6%. For a quick comparison to today's income taxes… that same couple that would earn $50,000 would pay a total of $7,918 in taxes (income and payroll taxes). Their tax rate would essentially be 15.8%.
There is a lot of information on the Fair Tax… far more than I can get into. The website does a fairly good job of breaking it all down and making it easy to understand. Whether you are leaning for or against it, I highly encourage everyone to go to the site and look over the details. It may even answer some questions you might have that I haven't addressed. This was only written to be a summary and to be a brief introduction… not an endorsement. So check it out and feel free to leave feedback below. There will also be some added shortcuts linked below, too.
All quotes are from FairTax.org unless otherwise stated.
Thumbnail Sketch of the Fair Tax with FAQ (pdf)
Income Tax vs. Fair Tax vs. Flat Tax (pdf)
The Fair Tax and Business
How Fair Tax Works