text:
Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Anthony R. Cardno
BTS: So Anthony, a gay writer and an evangelical writer being close friends. Who would believe it? How did this crazy thing happen?
ARC: We can blame it all on Twitter. Neither of us would know the other existed if not for the advent of 140 character at a time social media. But of course, that's just a tool, and a tool often used for ill rather than good. So I'm going to cut right to the quick of the issue: I think it all comes down to accepting that you're never going to agree 100% with everyone, and not agreeing is a silly reason to stop talking to people. Reasonably people can have a dialogue and agree to disagree.
BTS: Totally agree. In fact, most of the people I have as friends on Facebook and Twitter disagree with me about one thing or another. As a writer I enjoy that diversity because it keeps me honest and informed when writing characters and stories, even if it's painful to hear those views sometimes, even if it challenges me. I don't know how I could be a good writer and write real worlds and real conflict if I didn't see conflict myself. Also, how can one really be reasonable and confident in one's opinion without fully examining the other side?
ARC: Thank you! You know, your response actually brings up two points I want to discuss. The first is that you can't really write believable conflict/disagreements between characters if you haven't seen both sides of the disagreement yourself. "Honest and informed," you called it. For instance, in your novel THE WORKER PRINCE, you've got a society that is essentially polytheistic — no one suggests you go out and spend a year living as a Polytheist to make those characters believable, but I would assume you did some research into existing and past religions of that nature so that you'd be able to write Xalivar's side of the conflict between himself and Davi.
BTS: Well, I spent time on several trips in Africa as well as between trips studying African traditional life and religions and many of those tribal cultures are polytheistic. I also taught on those subjects at the Masters level. So yes, I applied that research a bit. Enough to explain their beliefs. Although the people group in my book don't really hold religion as a lifestyle, unlike their counterparts, which also creates even more cultural barriers between them. Totally different outlook on religion. So yes, I did have some prior knowledge to pull from, and do believe that was important even if I didn't use it in the story all that much as far as details of that research. After a while, though, research becomes part of your intuitive knowledge base which you need to supplement with reading, quotes, etc. when doing academic writing but not necessarily in fiction.
ARC: I think I agree with that last statement, as far as it goes. I mean, we all know I am the worst researcher in existence, which is why I even make up my own towns to place my short stories in. But writing what's intuitive brings me back to the other point I wanted to discuss. You asked "how can one really be reasonable and confident in one's opinion without fully examining the other side?" I've tried to reasonably ask that question of lots of folks, and the answer I most often get seems to be "Well, I don't need to be struck by lightning to know I won't enjoy it." No, but you do need to know the physical effects of getting hit by lightning to know that you won't enjoy it. And yes, there is a metaphor in there somewhere.
BTS: Well, the same could be said related to our differences in sexual preference. I do not need to experience gay sex personally to know I don't find the idea appealing. You may feel the same about hetero sex but I'll let you speak for yourself. But at the same time, I think being able to talk to gay friends, and I have several, not just you, helps me to understand people with uncommon experiences to my own—how they come to be who they are, why they make the choices they make, why they sometimes characterize their situations as having no choice, etc. And I think that's healthy for me as a human being a part of the larger global community around me. It disappoints me that so many who share some of my views refuse to engage in that dialogue or allow for such relationships. I imagine many of them can't even picture healthy relationships but I can think of several I've had with gays or lesbians over the years. It does take honesty. I am very honest with you about who I am. And you are honest in return. And then we talk about things to the degree we're comfortable and with respect for each other. That makes it easier, don't you think?
ARC: See, I knew I was using an apt metaphor! But not to make too light of this, yes, you're right. That mutual respect, the understanding that we come from different places but still have certain things in common, is key to our friendship. I think one of the problems in our society is that people don't really understand the concept of "dialogue" anymore. What we see on television, fictive and factual, is over-lapping monologues. No one really listens to what the other side is saying, they just hear what they think the other side is saying and are already planning how to rebut. For instance, I have friends who would read your statement "I do not need to experience gay sex personally to know I don't find the idea appealing" and would immediately respond with "You can't know that until you try it." Which brings us back to the lightning metaphor — if you, as a straight man, have a basic idea of how all the plumbing fits together, and you just don't find anything interesting about it, then you have every right to say "no thanks, not for me" without having to actually experience the act. On the other hand, in the interests of full disclosure, I will admit that I have tried hetero sex several times, and as nice and loving as those women were (and they are still friends of mine to this day), it just didn't work for me. So I can say "tried it, thanks, not for me."
BTS: For various reasons, I figured you had. For one thing, I know I'm not attracted to men. I don't deny the fact orgasm might occur with a man. Some things come naturally. But the ideas of kissing and other physical closeness are not something I even daydream about. It just doesn't appeal to me. So from that perspective, blunt as I am, I can honestly say I don't find the idea appealing, and it would be ridiculous for those friends of yours to question it. Because I think we all make decisions about what we like and don't like that way every single day, including them. Don't you make decisions like that? I know I wouldn't like jumping off a bridge and falling to my death on an asphalt road below, for example. Do I need to try that first to prove it to them?
ARC: Exactly my point, and why I get frustrated with people on either side who only hear what they want to hear. And to sort of drive this back to our original question — "how can a gay writer and an evangelical writer be friends" — I think it's because we have both listened to each other. I may not agree with everything you say, but I make every best effort to listen to what you're saying as opposed to what I think you're going to say. I try to understand your word choice in the way you express yourself. And I think, or at least hope, that you extend the same courtesy to me. Look, I could have blocked you on Twitter as soon as I visited your site and saw that you were Evangelical, that you'd recorded Christian music, etc. You could have blocked me as soon as you saw that I was gay and that many of my stories feature gay characters. I think we even had a moment or two of 'what's this guy all about,' but we've found common ground — again, because we made an effort to listen to each other.
For part two of this dialogue please go to http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/2011/09/26/two-writers-in-dialogue-a-conservative-evangelical-and-a-gay-liberal-can-be-friends-part-2//


text:
Drake is having a HUGE week. While Meek and Drake continue to go at it, Drake has kept the sneaker community on his side with his collaborations with Jordan Brand. Following an official look at the Air Jordan 10 "OVO," rumors of an Air Jordan 8 were up in the air. The rumors were put to rest last night when Drake debuted the Air Jordan 8 "OVO" for the first time!
During the OVO Bounce Basketball event, Drake busted out the anticipated Air Jordan 8 "OVO." Donning an all-black colorway, we can expect this silhouette to come with a white counterpart just like his other collabs. Unfortunately there aren't any really good looks at the sneaker, so take a look at the photos/videos the best you can! Let us know what you think of the sneaker below, and stay updated with SneakerShouts as time goes on.
Drizzy in OVO 8s... Looked right past me lol pic.twitter.com/PYfuspRoMa— A (@atothebed) August 1, 2015
Via: @jason_donnar

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We're super chuffed to tell you that Dark Star by Oliver Langmead is on the long list for the Guardian Not the Booker prize.
The award itself is pretty humble - unlike the £50k that the Man Booker prize winner will get - the winner of Not the Booker will get a Guardian mug. Meh! Money - so vulgar!
Seriously though, what we've all enjoyed most is seeing lots of people come out of the woodwork to write kind words about Dark Star. These aren't reviewers or industry celebs but true readers. Which is great because the short list is decided by reader votes. If you have 2 mins it would be great to get your vote. It's pretty simple to do but the rules are quite specific:
- If you've read Dark Star and enjoyed it then I'd urge you to vote. Read on!
- If you haven't read it then you can download an free sample here - and then come back!
How to vote
- You must vote for TWO books from the long list, from TWO different publishers.
- You can only vote by submitting a comment to this Guardian article however, your comment must include a short review (about 100 words is fine) for at least one of your chosen books - of which hopefully Dark Star will be one!
- For your vote to count you need to do this by Sunday 2 August 23:39 BST. Which is really soon (only 96 hours away as I type this!).
It would mean a tremendous amount to Oliver and everyone else at Unsung if you could take a few mins to do this now. Thanks for your help.


text:
Window Sparkle Cloths
Imagine gleaming windows in seconds!
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
Repel pests from your home without chemicals and traps!
Mattress Sanitiser
Mattresses are not washable, but we use them for eight hours a day.
Glasses Wipes
These ultrasoft anti-static cloths come individually wrapped for your pocket, handbag or briefcase
3-Piece Duster Set
This amazing set of 3 Dusters attracts dust by using static electricity.
Window Clear
Just spray on this amazing polish and forget about cleaning!
Bed Bug Killer Spray
Keep your home free from bedbugs with this powerful spray - designed for the effective treatment of mattresses, beds and bedroom furniture. Each application provides 12 months protection, keeping your home bug free and your family safe. Supplied in a 300m
Carpet Sweeper
This handy sweeper is a fantastic addition to any cleaning cabinet. Suitable for the quick and easy sweeping of carpets and smooth floors without any annoying power cord, its great for removing crumbs, dust, dirt and animal hair in seconds. Easy to empty
Scented Swing Bin Liners - Assorted Scents and Col
Now you can banish smelly bins forever! Fragranced Bin Liners keeps your bins smelling fresh all day long! Choose from either 48 Pedal Bin or 24 Swing Bin liners. Both varieties have tie-top handles for easy disposal. Fragrances may vary.
Dust Mite Stopper
Prevent dust mites from breeding
Large Shopper / Storage Bag
These colourful, durable and expansive storage bags are as versatile as they are stylish.
Scouring Pads with Handles
Say no to endless scrubbing! Remove burnt on food from pots, pans, dishes and grills in a flash, with these high quality-scouring pads. Fitted with integrated easy grip handles, they deliver maximum cleaning performance without the effort. Stock up on sup
Door & Window Brush
This practical handy cleaning brush makes hard-to-reach areas easy to clean
The Dry Cleaning Pad
The Dry Cleaning Pad contains a special soft, grit-free powder that erases dirt just like magic!
Microfibre Cloth Set - Pack Of 10
Advanced cleaning for your home and car
Twine Box Incl. 40m Cord
Whether youre tying a rolled roast or hanging a picture, this Twine In A Box is a simple, yet ingenious solution. The brushed, stainless steel tin includes one 40m (131ft) roll of food safe household twine, keeping it straight and always ready for use. T
Outdoor Drain Cleaner 500ml
Outdoor Drain Cleaner 500ml
Slim Design Dustpan & Brush
This ultra slimline dustpan and brush is lightweight at just 80g and extremely compact. Ideal for any quick clean up job around the home or in the car. The brush snaps securely into the body of the pan, with hanging hook for neat easy storage. Colours m
Carpet Sweeper
The Lightest Sweeper Around! No need to lug out the heavy vacuum cleaner!
Pack Of 3 Ant Traps
Say no to ants invading your home and garden with this pack of three ant traps. Pre-baited, poison free and ready to use, they are safe and effective for use inside and outside. Easy and clean simply place the traps in the desired position. Dia 5cm(2)
Microfibre Patterned Cloths - Pack of 5
Microfibre Patterned Cloths - Pack of 5
Carpet Cleaner - 500ml
Cleaner , fresher carpets at a fraction of the cost of professional cleaners!
Waterless Window Gel
Prevent dirt and grime from clinging to your windows with new and improved waterless window gel. Just wipe on & wipe off to provide lasting, invisible protection keeping your windows and mirrors sparkling for up to 12 months! Safe and environmentally fr
Pack of 3 Synthetic Shammy's
Pack Of 3 Synthetic Shammys
Addis Mop & Handle
Addis Mop & Handle
Carpet Cleaning Powder - 3 Sachets
This easy to use powder quickly and thoroughly cleans and deodorises carpets and upholstery. Simply sprinkle on the special powder; brush in; then vacuum away to reveal a fresh, revitalised surface. Will even shift some stubborn grease stains without leav
Vacuum Cleaner Pearls
Vacuum Cleaner Pearls
Garage Dirt Catcher
Finally, no more leaves in your garage! The easy to fit, self-adhesive Garage Dirt Catcher stops leaves and dirt at the threshold. Suitable for most garage doors. Simply cut-to-fit from the 5m (16' 5") roll supplied.
Never- Dull
Never-Dull® - the original Magic Wadding Polish and still none better!
Vacuum Cleaner Filter
Vacuum Cleaner Filter
Cheese Cloth
Versatile Home Essential cheesecloth
Multi Purpose Polishing Cloths
Simply wear like a glove and use to clean and polish around your home! Choose from the sponge Cleaning Glove to clean baths, tiles and other surfaces for general cleaning or the Polishing Glove for furniture polishing, shoes and more! One size fits most


text:
by Joyce Lau, July 19, 2018
Types of Inground Swimming Pools
Having your own private pool right in your backyard has a lot of perks. For one thing, you can save a trip to the local gym - or host all the pool parties you want! But what type of inground swimming pool should you get?
There are three main types of inground pools - vinyl liner, fiberglass and concrete. There isn't one that is "better" than the rest. They are all built differently and have their own distinct features. We'll explain the construction of the three types of inground pools and discuss the pros and cons of each one.
Vinyl Liner
Vinyl liner pools have a custom-made sheet of vinyl that forms a barrier between the water and the pool walls and floor. The walls are constructed using a series of galvanized steel or thermoplastic panels that are bolted together. Then the pool floor is formed using a sand or cement type of base that blends up to the pool walls. A brace is added behind the panels to create additional support. The vinyl liner has a bead that securely locks onto a track located at the inner top of the pool, and a vacuum is used to pull out the air between the vinyl and the pool for a smooth finish.
One of the biggest advantages with vinyl liner pools is the fast 1-2 week build time and a generally lower upfront cost than fiberglass or concrete pools. The vinyl liner is flexible, non-porous, and produces a smooth surface that won't stain as easily as concrete finishes. You won't have to deal with cracks, and the soft and smooth surface also makes for a pair of happy feet! They are also offered in a variety of colors and patterns. A vinyl liner can typically last around 8-10 years, depending on maintenance, usage and weather conditions.
The vinyl pool surface is not as durable as fiberglass or concrete, and the soft vinyl surface (which is so nice for your feet) can tear, scratch, fade and wrinkle. The damage is usually repairable when fixed in a timely manner. Eventually, you will have to replace the entire liner, so vinyl pools require more care to avoid replacing a liner too often and enduring a high long-term maintenance cost. It's also important to ensure that you are applying the correct chemical levels (especially chlorine) to prevent the liner from fading. You should try to avoid completely draining a vinyl liner pool, because the liner can shrink or be difficult to reset properly.
Fiberglass pools are built from a mold to form a single piece fiberglass shell. A water resistant, non-porous gel coat (similar to cars and pool slides) and resin is applied to give it a smooth interior finish. The one-piece fiberglass shell is created inside a factory beforehand and then delivered to the pool owner's home. It get placed into the ground where the site is dug, after the plumbing and filtration system is put into place. Then the hole around it is backfilled before a deck or any fences are installed.
Fiberglass pools are the fastest type of inground pool to install - as soon as a week or less! Their smooth and non-porous surface means they are less susceptible to stain formation and are algae resistant. The rigid fiberglass pool shell is very durable, and because of their small size, fiberglass pools may require less effort and cost to maintain.
The main disadvantage of fiberglass pools is the limitation in shape and size, due to the shell molding from the manufacturer and transportation restraints. They are offered in a low range of sizes and depths, so they aren't suitable for diving. They also have a higher upfront cost than vinyl liners. Draining a fiberglass pool completely is also discouraged, as water and soil conditions can shift or lift the shell out of the ground in some cases.
Concrete pools are custom built to almost any size, shape and depth. Concrete pools are formed of either gunite or shotcrete, which is sprayed over a rebar framework to make up the shape of the pool structure. After a curing process of about a month, crews will return to install your choice of perimeter tile and coping stones, mortared in place around the top edge of the pool. Tile accents or mosaics can also be placed at this time. Next the builder will apply your desired finish like plaster, pebbles, quartz, glass bead and more.
Concrete pools are very durable, long-lasting and offer the highest level of customization and design. Pool owners can also choose from a variety of natural finishes and build custom styles, shapes, depths and seating areas. Being heavy, solid and built with relief valves, concrete pools can be drained fully for cleaning or repairs, and are at home in any soil conditions.
Concrete pools take the longest time to construct (1-3 months is a common time frame) and usually cost the most to build, as they require more labor and steps in the building process. Unlike vinyl liner and fiberglass pools, concrete has a rough surface that can crack and/or cause scratches on the skin. The porous surface makes it more susceptible to algae growth and surface stains.
As you can see, there are many distinct differences between the three types of inground swimming pools - most notably in construction time, maintenance, upfront and long-term cost, and customization. By knowing what you want to use your pool for and understanding the amount of time/money you may need to invest, you should now be able to make a more informed buying decision. If you have still questions, our friendly staff is ready to help - contact us!


text:
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY to The Satchel!!!
One year on....and I'm so glad to still be sharing The Satchel with so many of you now!
I've been pleasantly surprised by the wide audience The Satchel has captivated in it's 1st year, from Bahrain, Russia, Kuwait and India to the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Estonia the USA and more!
I hope to continue to inspire you, where ever you are, and continue to share this space with you! I love reading your comments and hearing you thoughts and ideas, so please keep them coming!
To celebrate I have put together a huge post which includes everything you can continue to find in The Satchel!
t r a v e l
b e a u t y
f a s h i o n
i n t e r i o r s
j e w e l l e r y
a r t & d e s i g n
p h o t o g r a p h y


text:
Series 2 Harley
When I started, the face kept looking back at me in my sleep. Even with my eyes closed, he smiled with red lips and a soulless stare… then right after, as soon as I finished the Joker, I got up from bed and started on the 2nd joke: Harley...
The first one I did it looked like it was set in a room full of shoddy, maybe old windows. I figured it might be a room where they kept the ones who didn't see reality correctly - those who didn't conform to social norms, those who did wrong things, tho who may have actually killed… so figured it might be Arkham Asylum… then I started to draw Harley
Again I was inspired by the Suicide Squad's design of Harley but I also placed some personal twists into her. I wanted to breath life into the illustration, giving it a unique life of her own… but it was hard. It was hard to depict life from a place of despair, a place where the crazy and the criminal are confined… so I didn't resist. I didn't breath life into her - I didn't gave her life - I just gave her a smile.
Then she fits perfectly on that dark, damp place called Arkham.
see series 1 here - http://www.harveybunda.com/news/
see more at - http://www.harveybunda.com/


text:
APRIL INTENSIVE SCHOOLS: 13 things to know if it's your first time!
April Intensive Schools are just around the corner, so here's our list of things you need to know if this is your first time on campus. Hit us up in the comments if there's something you'd like to know that we missed …
- Accommodation: On-campus accommodation can be booked here (but it does sell out pretty quickly) or have a look at staying in town (go here for info and bookings).
- Maps: We've put together a custom Google map which should help you find your way around (if we've missed anything let us know via comments on this post) and the official campus/College maps are available here.
- Buses: Edwards Coaches is the local provider so go here for the timetable and here for the latest bus route map.
- IT: Here's all the info you need to get access to the high-speed UNE network while you're here (and yes you can arrange it before you leave home – Wired version and Wireless Version). FYI, some College Rooms (due to building materials) do not receive good quality wireless signal so make sure you throw an ethernet cable in your bag before you leave if you're staying in College.
- Library: No doubt you'll be using the Library while you're here.
- ID Cards: You'll need a student ID card – if you haven't sorted yours out yet, head on over to the ID Cards site. And rather than getting them to send it to you, ask them to hold it and pick it up when you get here.
- Student Central: If you'd like to talk to one of the staff about your degree, Unit selection, options, changes etc, drop into Dixson Library and have a chat to the Student Central and book an appointment.
- Parking: Make sure you park in the purple bays (more info here) and prices are $8/day or $15/Week (probably the cheapest option). Don't run the gauntlet, the fines are significant!
- Mobile Phones: Coverage is pretty good all over campus and there's a great UNE mobile app to help you find your way around – mUNE (Download for Andriod here or Download for iOS here).
- Food & Drinks: You have three options – Campus Essentials (which includes the newsagent and Australia post); Cafe Life in the northern courtyard and Booloominbah.
- Flexi-teller: There's a Commonwealth atm located near Campus Essentials (click here for the map).
- UNE Medical Centre: If you need to see a Dr during your stay, contact details are here.
- Airport/Train Transport: Your best option is a taxi (02 6771 1455). There's bound to be other students on your flight/train so please ask around and share the costs.
We'll post as much info as we can about openings hours, food and coffee availability etc over the next few days here. What else do you need to know? Let us know via Comments and we'll add the details to the list.
Like this Article? Share it!
Walters Cafe is also located down in Austin College for those living onsite…. more details re: opening hours from firstname.lastname@example.com
When you click on Safety and Security Main Office, it still says to come in to organise your free parking…
What is available for food and coffee on Sundays?
Thanks for sharing.


text:
Our office is staffed by professional, experienced brokers with reputations for quality service. Licensed in both Maine and New Hampshire with memberships in both state Multiple Listing Systems, our buyers can border hop when shopping for property – and eliminate the need to broker hop.
Abby grew up in Kennebunk, Maine, and currently resides in Shapleigh with her fiancé, their puppy Hank, along with various farm animals. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, family time, and experiencing all Maine has to offer!
Before obtaining her real estate license, Abby worked in customer service at a collision repair shop. She has experience in managing a wide range of duties, including customer relations, attention to detail, problem solving and has strong communication skills.
Abby loves working with people, which is why she was drawn to real estate. She truly believes that having prompt and professional service is essential for a stress-free, enjoyable real estate experience.
Abby can be e-mailed at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
The Conversation
Squeezing the middle class
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What do you think about the growing disparity between the rich and poor? To write a letter, go to sacbee.com/sendletter. Or comment on our Facebook page at facebook.com/sacramentobee.
The comfortable world that I lived in as a child – where the middle-class families we knew were not burdened by a sense they were running in place or slipping backward financially – has largely vanished.
Back in the 1950s and '60s, mushrooming costs for health care, education and housing were not topics of worry in my home or in the homes of my friends. The expectation was that people's hard work produced a cocoon of economic stability where both livable wages and advancement were attainable.
In those days, some very wealthy people lived in my hometown of Santa Monica, but the income gap between rich and poor never felt as pronounced as it does today when I see so many mansions squatting where modest homes once stood.
The old world, taken for granted by many, is now mostly a memory.
Today, workers struggle with stagnant wages, employees find fewer avenues for promotion and more people readily fall into poverty, while legislation raising the federal minimum wage is stalled and corporate executives reap salaries of stupefying proportions.
Since the late 1970s, workers' wages have not grown at the pace they did after World War II. Simultaneously – one can grasp the connection – the number of unionized workers has fallen sharply: Today unions represent only about 11 percent of workers, compared with a third of the workforce in the mid-1950s.
Living in this harsher world, much of the middle class finds itself in an anxiety-inducing squeeze while the nation's top 1 percent garner more and more of the income pie. These trends play out right under our noses: A recent study reports the city where I live, San Francisco, has one of the nation's biggest income gaps between rich and poor. The study also found Sacramento's income gap has grown.
Looking at this bleak economic tableau, we seem like a nation that has lost our way when it comes to assuring that all Americans can earn enough for a decent way of life.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed this concern in 1937 by sending to Congress a federal minimum wage bill to give "all our able-bodied working men and women a fair day's pay for a fair day's work."
Republican leaders in the House of Representatives today are not moved, however, by arguments like FDR's or by polls showing strong public support for a federal minimum wage increase. They are blocking a vote on legislation that would raise that minimum wage from the current $7.25 level to $10.10 by 2016.
Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, author of the legislation, told me that 195 House Democrats have co-sponsored his bill, but "the Republican leadership refuses to bring the bill up for consideration on the House floor. When it comes to the floor, it will pass."
Last year when the minimum wage legislation was first introduced, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, author of the Senate version of the bill, said its opponents would argue that the measure would have a catastrophic effect on business. Harkin said that Roosevelt had a strong rejoinder to those foes when he stated, "Don't let any calamity-howling executive with an income of $1,000 a day, who is turning his employees over to the government relief rolls in order to preserve his company's undistributed reserves, tell you … that a wage of $11 a week is going to have a disastrous effect on all American industry.''
When economists and other experts talked to me about the need to increase the minimum wage and about how the middle class has become so squeezed, they cite a number of factors, including the loss of millions of good-paying jobs due to technology and globalization, and a flattening of workers' wages.
"It is quite visible why we have had this erosion of the middle class – because we have become this low-wage nation with globalization and technology fostering foreign competition and easing the way for U.S. businesses to move jobs out of the country," Peter Edelman, author of the book "So Rich, So Poor: Why It's So Hard to End Poverty in America," told me.
"Higher-paying jobs in the auto and steel plants were replaced by this flood of low-wage jobs, and in the last 40 years, the wages for the bottom half of the workforce only grew by 7 percent," said Edelman, a Georgetown University law professor who is director of the school's Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy.
At the same time, the chasm between households at the top and bottom has grown.
Take Sacramento, which has an income gap close to the national average: The city ranked No. 27 among the 50 largest cities that the Brookings Institution analyzed recently when evaluating inequality. Alan Berube, a Brookings senior fellow who wrote the report, told me that in 2012 a Sacramento household "in the 20th percentile of income distribution earned $17,900, while a household at the 95th percentile earned $169,000, or 9.4 times more." In 2007 in Sacramento, the 95th percentile made 7.4 times the income of a household in the 20th percentile. Berube noted that the increased spread between the top and bottom reflects the fact that between 2007 and 2012 the households in the 20th percentile lost income at a rate about four times greater than households in the 95th percentile.
Looking at San Francisco, the Brookings report explained why it has one of the nation's largest income gaps between rich and poor by noting the city's "ratio is high because its wealthy households have very high incomes, considerably higher than in any other major city" – about $353,000 at the 95th percentile.
Who are these wealthy Americans?
Emmanuel Saez, a University of California, Berkeley, economics professor who is director of that school's Center for Equitable Growth, told me: "In the early 20th century, top incomes were mostly derived from wealth accumulated during the Gilded Age. In contrast, in the early 21st century, a large fraction of top incomes is derived from work."
Many economists and public policy people who have looked at income inequality in America see increasing the minimum wage as a key step toward diminishing the ranks of the poor. But no one touts this move as a complete fix.
People need to become more politically active, Edelman said. "That means doing things like being out on the street to push Wal-Mart for change."
Berube, the Brookings senior fellow, says at the local level "officials can generate smarter economic opportunities by bringing business, education and labor leaders together to prepare younger workers for good jobs in the sectors that drive their cities' economies. Chicago is doing this by focusing each of its community colleges on a particularly strong sector for the local economy."
So, confronted with the growing financial spread between the top and the bottom, stagnating wages, and the middle class' and poor's struggle to achieve a financial stability, how are the American people reacting?
Thomas Frank, author of the 2004 polemic "What's The Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America," advances a theory that a brand of conservatism he calls "the backlash" has won over many by mobilizing "voters with explosive social issues, summoning public outrage over everything from busing to un-Christian art – which it then marries to pro-business economic policies."
Frank blames backlash leaders for reducing corporations' tax burdens and "generally facilitating a return to a 19th century pattern of wealth distribution. … Thus the primary contradiction of the backlash: It is a working-class movement that has done incalculable, historic harm to working-class people."
Though the tenor of Frank's analysis often seems too strident, I agree with many of his dark pronouncements.
Just at the moment, though, when I doubt whether Americans will awake to the need to focus public policy and dollars on those who are struggling to get by, there are some good signs.
For starters, large segments of the populace support an increase in the minimum wage. Many states have set pay higher than the federal $7.25 minimum wage, including California (now $8, increasing to $9 July 1 and $10 in 2016). Some cities (San Francisco $10.74) and businesses (The Gap $9, increasing to $10 next year) have made similar moves.
Some business support exists as well. "Right now, many businesses are reporting that weak demand is a main factor holding back their ability to hire and invest," Miller told me. "As a result, small-business owners overwhelmingly support an increase in the minimum wage … Raising the minimum wage is a pro-growth policy that is good for workers, good for businesses and good for the economy."
These developments make me encouraged that many voters hopefully are accepting of the fundamental truth that Roosevelt spoke when he sent the first minimum wage bill to Congress: "A self-supporting and self-respecting democracy can plead … no economic reason for chiseling workers' wages."
Edelman's comments about the process of change in America are also heartening to those who hope Americans can come together behind political change with some sensibility about helping the people on the bottom. "The change we need will come when enough voters see what's what and demand that candidates speak to their needs," he said. "History proves that these periods of bright light do appear now and again. People power is a strong weapon when circumstances unleash it."


text:
Photos by Pieter Estersohn
Many interior designers like to change up their interiors every now and again. Like a painter with a new canvas, it is a chance to have a clean slate to start anew. Designer's homes are often their laboratories, so it makes sense that they would want change things around from time to time. Having designed homes for the past twenty-five years, New York interior designer Charlotte Moss, a lover of pretty French and English antiques and living with style, is in the "freshening" process. Offering antiques, decorative accessories and artwork at auction with Doyle New York, she is sharing her prized finds accumulated from three homes, stunning retail stores, and years of design projects. The auction takes place on March 7th at 10am, with a book signing of her eighth book, A Visual Life, March 5th at 6pm (rsvp to email@example.com). Access the online catalog to see the collection in it's entirety here: Charlotte Moss Collection.
Wide-ranging collections such as this can provide an inspirational glimpse into the world of a designer, for it tells the story of their collecting preferences while giving a sense of how they live. With over 400 lots to choose from, if pretty pieces with classical influences are what you are after, this is the sale for you. Even if you do not intend to raise a paddle, go to the preview to see and learn about great antiques. It's one of the best ways to train your design eye that provides a real, teachable moment.
A custom console, part of a pair, provided an elegant way to hide a radiator in her 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse bedroom.
Lot 5044 Pair of Rococo Style Gray Painted Consoles Each with a lattice front, raised on a plinth. Height 37 inches, width 38 inches, depth 17 inches.
Lot 5127 Neoclassical Style Polished Wrought Steel Center Table Therien The circular marble top raised on curved supports. Height 30 1/2 inches, diameter 60 inches.
Seeing a piece in a room setting brings it to life. Here, robust pink peonies provide a pop of color against the painter wallpaper surface of a low ming coffee table.
Lot 5107 Chinese Style Cream Painted Low Table Inset with a Chinese hand painted wallpaper panel. Height 14 inches, width 24 inches, depth 47 inches.
Lot 5298 William and Mary Style Black Japanned Cabinet on Stand 19th Century Decorated with, figures, trees, etc., the interior with six drawers. Height 50 1/2 inches, width 42 1/2 inches, depth 13 inches. Estimate $700-1,000
Photo by Simon Upton
The Pagoda in action on a demilune table in her living room.
Lot 5011 Japanese Style Gilt-Metal Pagoda With a multi-tier roof, on a plinth. Height 16 inches. Provenance: The Estate of Tony Duquette
Lot 5097 Set of Atelier du Vieil APT Green Marble Glazed Faience Table Articles Comprising eighteen teacups and saucers, three large cups, four small plates and eight knife rests.
Lot 5019 Set of Four Louis XVI Style Painted Fauteuils en Cabriolet Each oval padded back and seat raised on circular tapering fluted legs.
Lot 5121 Upholstered Club Chair Upholstery designed by Charlotte Moss With a barrel back.
Photo by Erik Striffler
Digby's Tent fabric covers a chaise and curtain panels in her East Hampton home. The panels are available in the auction.
Lot 5056 Pair of Charlotte Moss for Brunschwig and Fils Curtain Panels In the Digby's Tent pattern, named after English aristocrat Jane Digby, who lived a scandalous life of romantic adventure from 1807-1881


text:
Our April Savings Calendar is here and is full of great buys all month long. Come in for bargains galore at our Spring Clearance for 50-75% savings on select items throughout the store! Save on fly control products and our entire line of MicroLife Organic Lawn care products during April. And don't forget to feed the Easter Bunny! Rabbit Chow is $1 off in April.
Check the calendar, our website, and Facebook page for these specials and SAVE all month long at Spring Creek Feed Center.
The week of March 26th – Save 50-75% off select items during Spring Clearance
The week of April 2nd – Save 10% on Fly Control Products
The week of April 9th – Save $1 on Purina Rabbit Chow #25
The week of April 16th – Save 10% on Microlife Lawn Products
The week of April 23rd – Save 15% on Giftcraft Home Decor & Gifts
April Special – Save 15% off Rubber Boots


text:
Frederick Sprint Triathlon
Middletown | Website
This event occurred in the past.
The Women's Only Sprint Triathlon is now the YMCA FREDERICK SPRINT TRIATHLON for men and women ages 14 and up. The event takes place at Middletown High School, Middletown, MD and is for all exercise/sport types from the very beginner to the competitive athlete. This year our Triathlon is going to "TRI To End Parkinson's Disease" and support the dramatic relief of symptoms individuals achieve by cycling. At the Y we offer Pedaling for Parkinson's cycle classes twice a week in an 8 week program.


text:
Eriocaulon varium (Classification)
Tufted annual. Leaves several to many, subulate to acicular, 1.5–5 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, translucent, 3–veined, fenestrate, tapering to a setaceous tip. Scapes up to 10, slender, slightly flexuous, often flaccid, 4–20(–40) cm high, 0.5–0.6 mm thick, 4–6–ribbed. Sheaths equalling the leaves, parallel–sided, obliquely slit. Capitulum subglobose with flattened base, 3–5 mm wide, white and grey, bracts loosely erect, the flowers visible between. Involucral bracts obovate–oblong to broadly oblong, 1.6–2.4 mm long, broadly obtuse, firm, yellowish with scarious grey or black margins and tip, in a single series subtending flowers, not reflexing at maturity. Floral bracts oblong to narrowly oblong, 1.6–2.5 mm long, obtuse to subacute, hyaline, lightly keeled below, concave, flushed grey or black with paler central band, glabrous or thinly white–pilose on the upper back, sometimes ciliate with short colourless hairs on the lower keel. Receptacle conical, glabrous or pilose. Flowers trimerous, pedicellate, mostly female. Male flowers: 1.3–2.3 mm long; sepals variably connate into a dark grey open spathe with tridentate upper margin, lateral sepals lightly keeled, free tips glabrous or white–pilose, a small median lobe present; petals on a slender, parallel–sided stipe, subequal, 0.2–0.6 mm long, white–pilose, glands prominent; anthers 6, creamy white. Female flowers: 1.6–3.0 mm long; sepals two, grey or black, narrowly oblong–navicular or falcate, 1.2–2.0 mm long, lightly keeled, sparsely ciliate with short colourless hairs on the keel, tips acute, glabrous or white–pilose; petals and ovary sessile or raised on a stipe to 0.3 mm long; petals 3, subequal, narrowly oblong–spathulate, median petal 1.2–2.3 mm long, all clawed, some colourless hairs on the blade; tips glandular, white–pilose. Seeds narrowly to broadly ellipsoid, 0.5–0.7 mm long, brown, faintly reticulate.
S. Zaire (Shaba Prov.), Tanzania (Mpanda Distr.), Zambia.
Shallow water of pans and pools on rock outcrops, or small dried–up waterholes in bushland; fl. & fr. Feb.– May; 1350–1800 m.
Best distinguished from other slender annuals by its pale anthers and seeds lacking obvious white papillae. Scape height is highly dependent on water level. Long flaccid scapes may be produced at first to reach the water surface, but much shorter erect ones appear later after the water has dried back.


text:
This is the Friday Find to end all Friday Finds.
The title of this post is a misnomer: "needle in a haystack" is generally used to describe the near futility of finding a sought after item hidden among a mess of other non-sought after stuff. A more apt description of today's Friday Find would be a needle in a galaxy of haystacks, and it comes to us via the incredibly sharp eye of Ms. Bernadette.
We clean a lot of bricks on Eager Street. In fact, we've palletized north of 100,000 of them so far. All told, the 35 houses on the 2400 block of Eager Street contain well over half a million bricks. If you lined up half a million bricks end to end, you'd have a row that would stretch from Baltimore to Wilmington, DE. In a sea of anonymous bricks, what are the chances that Bernadette would spot the jewel below?
If you can't quite make out the writing on the brick above, you're looking at the handiwork of one James Walker, who scrawled his name, the date (June 21st, 1906 A.D.) and his hometown (Highlandtown, MD) on the bed of the brick. Bernadette tells me she was stacking bricks when this brick caught her eye for some reason. The odds of her finding this among the half million others are beyond miniscule.
James A. Walker was born in Indiana in 1872 to Irish parents. He moved to the Baltimore area shortly thereafter, where he took up work as a bricklayer. By 1910, he lived at 3207 Canton Ave (now Fleet Street) with his wife, Mary, and his three children. Elmer, his 15 year-old son, worked as a pipefitter's apprentice, and his 13 year-old daughter, Gertrude, worked as a helper at a can factory.
By the time the 1920 census was taken, Highlandtown had become incorporated into Baltimore (just one year earlier) and James had moved on from brick setting to carpentry, an occupation he would keep until his retirement two decades later.
It's tempting to say that James' message is analogous to a modern "James Wuz Here" tag, but James likely never meant for anyone to see this brick. He would have scratched his words into the brick before it was fired, probably just after it was molded, the clay still wet. The wet clay then would have been sent to the kiln, where James' words became baked into the brick itself, achieving a longevity uncommon for what was likely no more than an act of boredom. The fired brick then would have been sent off to be laid in a nearby house; maybe the bricklayer saw James' message, maybe not. Regardless, with a quick flick of the bricklayer's wrist, a smear of mortar should have covered the words for all time.
Did James Walker, the brick setter, imagine the lives of the bricks he molded? Did he assume that the bricks he made, durable as any contemporary building material, would serve stoically in Baltimore rowhouses for centuries? Or maybe he was a realist, and imagined that one day his bricks would be pulverized by a wrecking ball or steam shovel. One thing is for certain: James surely did not envision that 109 years after he scratched his message, a crew of fellow Baltimoreans would be taking apart a block of rowhouses, brick by brick, and come across his scrawl.


text:
But, a message that works well one moment will often fail to work the next.
Take a great brand like Ford or Coca-cola as an example. Do they ever settle on a single message? Nope. They're masters of reinvention.
Classic brands only stay classic through a constant process of reaching out to their customers--finding new ways to speak to them.
Make your brand a classic.
Whether you're a national tyre distributor, or a boutique coffee house, never settle. Always innovate; search out fresh new ways to tell the story of your brand.
Click here to find out more


text:
Earlier, Reuters wrote that Uber was raising a new round of financing that could value the company at $1 billion.
Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick tells Business Insider that is not true. At all.
"This company has not pitched a single investor since November 2011 and has not sought any funding whatsoever since then," Kalanick said via email, noting that the story is "completely false."
Of course, just because Kalanick isn't seeking funding doesn't mean investors aren't throwing term sheets at him. So we asked him to clarify.
"COMPLETELY FALSE," he reiterated. "I have not gotten a single term sheet, and as a matter of policy do not even return investors' inbound queries."


text:
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: October 5Jake Martin
Later Event: October 9Ken Raba
"You can't forget memories.®" ~ Hondo
Welcome to Hondo's on Main, located in beautiful uptown Fredericksburg. We offer the very best in Texas food, Texas music, and Texas fun. Hondo always said, "You can't forget memories®," so get on in here and make some!


text:
We Need You!
Many of our programs and projects are bigger than the BSWCD staff can handle alone. Here are some of the volunteer opportunities that might be just right for you:
Annual Native Plant Sale
In January and February we need plant sale volunteers. Volunteers are invaluable in the success of this event. You can pick up plants at nurseries, assist in sale site set up, help customers fill orders, and push a broom once the dust settles.View Plant Sale Volunteer Positions
Weed Spotters
Become a Weed Spotters Volunteer! Be a trained volunteer member of the force to tackle invasive plants. The Weed Spotters Volunteers help identify and report weeds, participate in meaningful weed pull events and more!Volunteer to Fight Weeds!
Youth Education
We participate in many fun youth education events around the community!Help us reach youth!
Annual Urban Creek Tour
We have been working with partners since 2008 to provide Annual Urban Creek Tours to explore fascinating locations around the city. We need volunteers to help coordinate the tour and set up each tour station.Read about the creek tours
Neighborhood Captains
Neighborhood Captains are concerned community members living in North Albany who share information with their neighbors.Learn more!
Office Work
Year-round volunteer opportunities in the office include archiving documents, newsletter mailing and hand distribution. Soliciting donations for our annual meeting and annual Thank You Celebration is a fun job for the right volunteer. Contact us to find out what exciting project is waiting for you!Contact us!


text:
Please note that adult content and activities are not allowed in solosexcams Friends & Romance
Welcome to solosexcams
Reset your login details
Please type your email below.
A password reset email will be sent to your email address immediately.
i can tell about me lots of things, but riding my motorcycle it will describe me the way i am !Hello guys! I am a girl with rich imagination and naughty thoughts. I like to be treated like a lady, but not all the time. ;) I love to get frisky and wild when we are alone !
I wanted to be a good girl but the alternative was better ! I`m here to experience new things so I want to experience your thing too! I`m a curious person so I like to figure you out. What do you have in your mind? Share with me all your thoughts and I`ll do the same. ;)
i love to dominate !
Respectful man , and also a man in uniform.
Rude people who don`t show respect. Treat me nice and I`ll treat you better.
Make your Models's day with a Virtual Gift!
These Virtual Gifts, available for you to purchase instantly, will be given to your Model as an earnings bonus. You can choose to tip IsabelleGray or give a gift.
This website is strictly for adults only! This website contains sexually explicit content.
You must be at least 18 years of age to enter this website.


text:
Man charged with arson after house and nearby building are damaged
A man has been charged with arson after a house fire that injured a Lexington firefighter last week.
Charles Goldsberry has been charged with one count of first-degree arson and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, according to a Lexington fire department news release. He was arrested Monday morning.
Goldsberry, 47, allegedly started the fire late Wednesday that caused significant damage to the house at 519 E. Second Street and some damage to a vacant building next door.
Goldsberry is being held in Fayette County Detention Center.
Jeremy Bruner, an 11-year veteran of the fire department, suffered cracked ribs when the front porch collapsed. He was released from the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital Thursday.


text:
Previously, I found some clock signals (X1, Y1, X2, Y2).
These signals get spread throughout the chip to control the timing of various bits and pieces. One piece they go to is labeled in the main patent as "7-Segment Decode Logic".
The decode block has three inputs (aside from the assumed clock inputs): accumulator, C flip/flop, zero-suppression logic. The accumulator has four bits, and the C flip/flop is described as being able to be set, reset, tested, or loaded from the carry output of the adder.
The decode logic is described in this way: "The 10 data or segment output signals are generated at the output of a holding flip-flop in the segment decode logic shown in the lower right-hand portion of Fig. 3. The holding flip-flop for segment signals can be loaded through 7 segment display logic driven by the accumulator, or by dedicated bits when special symbols are required. The holding flip-flop for segment signal SEGP is loaded from the C flip-flop."
"SEGP" is likely the dot in each 7-segment display. The description also talks about 10 signals, rather than 7 (or 8 including the dot). This is because in the description of the overall block diagram, there are "up to 10 data outputs with options for discrete or seven-segment decoding logic, designated SEG0 through SEG9".
So, I started by working my way backwards from a known segment pin on the chip.
Please note that in the actual chip, VSS is connected to ground and VDD is connected to -14.6v. Because this confuses me, I consider the lower voltage as ground, and the higher voltage as VDD. Essentially I raised all voltages by 14.6v and relabeled the power connections.
As an aside, I noted that the PPS-4 datasheet states that the PPS-4 uses negative logic: a logic 1 is the most negative voltage, while a logic 0 is the most positive voltage.
First, I labeled the pin "SEG_21" because it is pin 21. I don't know what order the segments are in, so I just labeled them according to their pin. There are four signals common to all segments: CE, CG, IN_A, and IN_B. I don't know what they do yet, so the names are a bit random. There is also one signal coming from what appears to be the actual decode logic. I labeled this signal IN_21C.
Driving the pin is a large open-drain FET inverter.
Q3's gate is permanently connected to ground, which means it is on all the time. It seems that whatever C1 is, it is connected to gate of the output FET. The signals CE and CG appear to manipulate the state of C1. For example, with CG and CE both low, that would charge up capacitor C1 to VDD. If CE were high, through, it would discharge C1.
Let's simulate that:
The result is not expected. The first time CG goes low, we do expect the capacitor to discharge when CE is high. Then, CG goes high which turns M1 off. At that point, I wouldn't expect CE to have any effect. But it does, because of the unfortunate substrate connection of M1. The body diode of M1 immediately conducts when CE goes low.
Luckily, LTSpice has a four-terminal PMOS. Let's use that instead.
This makes much more sense. Now when CG is low, the capacitor charges or discharges based on CE. When CG is high, the capacitor keeps its state. And the state of C1 is what comes out of M3, which would be the segment pin.
I made C1 relatively large on purpose so I could see it charge and discharge. Making it smaller just makes it charge and discharge faster.
All together, it looks like this section of the circuit is some kind of memory. But there is a problem. Well, two problems. The only four-terminal PMOS I know of is the MIC94030/31/50/51. So if that goes out of production, this circuit becomes nonviable.
But the main problem is the gate of M3. It can be pulled down by other FETs. What happens then?
Well, certainly M3 will be forced on, so the output state at the pin will be high. But I'm more concerned with what happens to capacitor C1. If the gate of M3 is pulled low, capacitor C1 must charge up. Then, if the gate of M3 is released, capacitor C1 will maintain the output state.
While the gate of M3 is pulled low, you don't want to turn M1 on, because then if CE is high, you would short through M1 and M2. Hopefully that doesn't happen.
So in the end, we're left with some kind of latching output. We can set the output high by connecting the gate of M3 temporarily to ground. We can clear this state by setting CE high and then pulsing CG low. We can also set the state by setting CE low and then pulsing CG low.


text:
The additional funding for sport in primary schools is given to help improve the quality of PE provision in schools and to help children to make healthy choices.
It is funded by the Department for Education and for this academic year we will receive £18,410.
At Bispham Drive we use this money to employ specialist providers of fitness, self development and team work through Commando Joe.
Part-funded by the Department for Education, Commando Joe employ military veterans from across the Armed Forces who have shown bravery and strength of character in some of the most demanding situations
They pick the best and they retrain them to go in to schools and pass their unique skill set on to the next generation.
Working alongside teachers in hundreds of schools across the UK, their instructors offer team building and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
It's not about shouting orders and military manoeuvres. It's about finding fun ways to help children discover strength of character, positivity under pressure, and resilience in the face of whatever life throws at them.
Sports Premium Statement 2018- 2019
Sports Premium Statement 2017-2018


text:
Still from 'Rebels in Western Libya', by Ahmed Bahaddou
The conflict in Libya dominated last night's Rory Peck Awards, with three out of four prizes going to coverage of the eight-month revolution that overthrew the country's regime.
The annual awards – named after freelance cameraman Rory Peck, who was killed while working in Moscow – recognise the work of freelance cameramen and women and local freelancers.
Belgian freelancer Ahmed Bahaddou won the award for news with his film "Rebels in Western Libya".
Judges praised "the extraordinary enterprise" of Bahaddou, "who essentially hitch-hiked his way with the rebels into the frontline."
They said his footage was "everything you would want and more. It is incredibly composed shooting. The audio is particularly strong. You can almost feel the bullets whistling past you."
Bahaddou, a former Reuters staff cameraman who has also worked with AP, Al Jazeera English and the BBC, beat competition from Vladimir Kostin for "Belarus Elections" and Jason Parkinson for "Egypt Revolutions".
The award for features went to US freelancer Abdallah Omeish, who was born in Libya. His film "Libya: Through the Fire" is a portrait of the city of Benghazi and Mohammed al-Nabbous, the first person to broadcast from within Libya and report on events in English and Arabic.
Judges said al-Nabbous "embodied the story of the Arab spring" at the heart of a "moving and powerful" film.
Abdallah's film follows al-Nabbous from his first attempts to set up an independent satellite TV station to his eventual death when he was shot and killed while out filming.
Also nominated for the features prize were Jihan Hafiz and Reed Lindsay for "Benghazi Rising", and Elizabeth Jones for "Egypt: Seeds of Change".
The Sony Professional Impact Award, which recognises freelance camera work that examines humanitarian or social issues, went to Jezza Neuman for "Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children",
Neuman's film, which examines the lives of three children under Robert Mugabe, was praised by the judges for its "continuity and emotional impact" and "the quality of the camera work, especially given the difficulties of operating inside Zimbabwe".
The Martin Adler Prize – awarded to a local cameraman or woman, fixer, driver or translator – went to Libyan fixers Suiliman ali Zway and Osama Alfitory.
Journalism.co.uk spoke to Zway and Alfitory about the work behind their award. Read the full article at this link.
Tina Carr, the director of the Rory Peck Trust, said it had been "an extraordinary year" for the awards, with "incredibly strong entries across all of the categories and three outstanding winners".
"I want to congratulate all of this year's finalists on producing such exceptional work – the sheer range and quality on show tonight demonstrates how vibrant and talented the freelance community is right now.
"It is a privilege to celebrate their work."
Freelance cameraman Rory Peck was killed in 1993 in Moscow. The Rory Peck Trust, which organises the awards, was established two years later by his wife Juliet to support the families of freelance journalists killed in the course of their work.
The films
Ahmed Bahaddou
Abdallah Omeish
Jezza Neuman
Free daily newsletter
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
Related articles
- Freelancer launching online platform that promises to treat writers and sources with respect
- Tip: Perfecting your freelance pitch
- Tip: What editors are looking for in your pitch
- Voice for the voiceless: smartphones are the weapon of choice to tell stories from Syrian civil war
- Know your rights: what should journalists do when their copyright is infringed?


text:
Educational illustrations for
Totok educational digital tool and games.
Totok is a digital tool developed for educational use by preschoolers by Cappelen Damm Undervisning. Through a variation of different educational games the children are motivatedto acquire and play with new knowledge, develop their vocabulary, learn new expressions and train their coordination, concentration and independence.
Visit Totok >


text:
Broadcom chip enables $100 smart phones with NFC, 3G and GPS
Broadcom announced the release of a new chip that will enable handset makers to offer smart phones with 3G, GPS and NFC for only $100.
In addition to Broadcom's "InConcert connectivity suite," the BCM21552G baseband features a 1 GHz ARM11 processor, support for an 8 megapixel camera and WVGA screen support, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11n, FM radio and native support for dual SIM.
"The challenge of mobile terminal makers today is delivering a compelling smart phone experience to a larger audience of phone buyers," said George Guo, CEO of TCL Communication Technology. "Broadcom's new 3G cellular platform enables a broader tier of no-compromise smart phones that feature stunning graphics, powerful OS support, and the most advanced connectivity features like NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. With this new platform we are able to attack new markets requiring lower cost yet not compromising on performance or quality."
Broadcom has yet to set a release date for the BCM21552G, but the chip was on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.


text:
ISI International Training Workshop on Integrated Sediment Management in River Basins
The workshop will be organized by the International Research and Training Centre on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) with the support of IHP and the Beijing Office. The workshop supports ISI's new strategy by addressing the wide-ranging social, economic and environmental impacts of erosion, sediment transport and sedimentation processes with due consideration of gender perspectives.
Topics covered by the workshop include:
• River basin management and soil and water conservation
• Ecology and restoration in integrated river basin management
• Sediment management in river basins of China
• Reservoir sedimentation and sediment management technology
A seminar involving participants will comprise guided discussions based on national case study presentations prepared by participants in advance of the course.
The programme will also incorporate a field visit to demonstration sites in the suburban Beijing area.
The workshop has been designed to meet the needs of experts engaged in sediment management: engineers, scientists, managers, stakeholders and decision-makers engaged in river basin management, river governance, reservoir operation, flood control and water and environmental management in various countries.
The event will be of particular interest to participants from developing countries with serious sediment problems, by generating knowledge and familiarity with relevant technologies, methods and new concepts in the field of integrated sediment management of river basins. A total of 30 participants from all regions are expected to take part.


text:
Truths for Loving Someone Else's Child/
"No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater…The love we have for each other is bigger than these small differences. And that's the key. It's like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot." ―Sarah Dessen
"No relationship is perfect, ever…
The relationship between child and stepparent is a complicated one, defined by lifelong adoration and momentary contempt. At first they will resent your advice and warnings. There will be times when they will contest your very existence. But don't be fooled, they always need you, more than they can even say.
One day they will come around, they will begin to understand you and empathize with you. Be patient, they need your advice and wisdom. There will come a day if it hasn't already when they will reach out to you, longing for your support and love, admiring you.
There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater...
A child of divorce never listens to people's words - they listen to their actions. Don't make promises you can't keep - the greatest intentions mean nothing to them unless they're executed through actions. You need to show up for them. You actually have to show them you care to win their heart.
You have to choose them everyday. To choose them means to never give up on them. No matter how hard things get, no matter how much you fight and they protest, you have a duty to be there for them. To challenge them, to teach them to be better. To not walk away when things get tough. They will test you, they might push you away before they can bring you closer. It's not going to be easy. But when you will gain their trust and love, it will be everything.
The love we have for each other is bigger than these small differences. And that's the key.
Love scares them. When they finally start to feel safe with you, they question it. How can they not? They've seen firsthand how even true love can break into a million pieces, bringing out the worst in people. So they've put up a shield they spent years crafting.
They're so strong, they will seem bulletproof. The people who have have experienced the most pain always do. Be gentle with them. If you hurt them, it's like an old wound being ripped open again, it bleeds from deeper within. In those moments where they feel that you hurt them, the wound on their heart will bleed the pain from both your neglect and their parent's neglect.
It's like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece.
No matter how much they love you, they're incredibly uncomfortable letting you see their most vulnerable parts. They do it for protection.
They will share small moments about their biological parent with you that do not seem like much of anything. Do not underestimate how monumental this is. They have never shared these moments before. This is them slowly lowering their shield they have spent years crafting. This is them trusting you.
"Love can make up for a lot."
Never give up. Never have one foot out the door. They are worth fighting for. Be there for their first heartbreak. Be there for them when their dreams comes true. Hold them when their world comes crashing down. Give them your time, your love; take them on crazy adventures, spoil them, but not too much. They need to be challenged – to change, to grow, to expand in ways that wouldn't have ever occurred to them before they met you.
They want to believe in lasting relationships again. They want to believe that people fight for what is worth fighting for, that people don't leave when things get hard. They want to be better, they want to trust again, they just don't know how. You can be the person who gives them a fresh pair of eyes to see it all again.
No, you didn't give them the gift of life. Life gave you the gift of them; life gave them the gift of you.


text:
Did you hear about the time Notley no showed on a ground breaking event in Red Deer? Of course you didn't.
The media didn't report it. But I will.
Friday afternoon there was supposed to be a ground breaking ceremony with Rachel Notley on the campus of Red Deer college. The event was planned to commemorate the start of the construction for the new Gary W. Harris Centre for Health, Wellness, and Sport. The Centre itself is touted as a centrepiece of the 2019 Canada Winter games being hosted by Red Deer.
Some regular Albertans found out and went there to peacefully protest the Premier from a parking lot across the street. So Rachel Notley cancelled the groundbreaking ceremony.
The protesters weren't violent. They weren't threatening. But they were obviously too much for Rachel Notley and she cancelled the photo-op. And that's serious because politicians love a good photo-op.
This is the value of a peaceful protest. They make our NDP overlords flinch.
The NDP are going to do a lot to this province over the next 3 years, and regular people should make it as uncomfortable and difficult for the NDP as they can.
Photo Credits facebook.com/RedDeerCollege


text:
Preparing for economic growth and decline
by Jeanne Urich and Dave Hofferberth, SPI Research
The economy is showing signs of life. The stock market has jumped about 50 percent since the market bottom in early 2009. If you're like most businesses, you have lowered headcount, cut costs and worked harder than ever in your marketing and sales efforts in the past year.
You know that this economy will rebound eventually, but you're not positive when it will happen and how long it will last. The professional services (PS) sector tends to be made up of long-term optimists with the means to create innovative products and services that will help their clients increase their potential for success — ultimately helping economic conditions improve everywhere.
While it is impossible to determine whether the economy truly reached rock bottom earlier this year and is improving, PS executives should embark on initiatives sooner, rather than later, to prepare for its eventual turnaround.
These are exciting times in the market, but they also contain increased levels of uncertainty. Market leaders will be the first to capitalize on new markets and new services offerings, while laggards will fall further behind and ultimately fail.
Should we pursue things we haven't done?
Did you want to do some things while the market was down but didn't do them? Should you do them now?
It seems executives should spend more time planning when the work slows down, but we don't. Human nature can't help but dwell on the negative. As we see some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, it's a perfect time to do everything we didn't do during slow times.
Don't wait because the economy and your competitors are planning diligently for the future, and you should be prepared to out-maneuver them as business improves.
Things to consider
Your to-do list might be extensive, but don't try and bite off too much. Now is the time to plan, prioritize and perform. From discussions with our peer network, we have pulled together suggestions that might help your organization as the transition to a better economy begins.
We bet you can add more to the list of four action items below.
1. Business planning
For some reason, when the economy tanks, many executives fail to take a hard look at their business plans. Yet, as the economy improves, they find they must rapidly create new business plans based on the new economic reality. Several executives have told us that their organizations create three business plans:
A. Aggressive — The economy will rebound rapidly; therefore, the organization will take additional action to boost headcount and secure the capital necessary to fund new and expanded operations.
B. Most likely — The organization assumes slow but steady growth and manages resources and capital in a conservative way to ensure profitability and long-term viability.
C. Downturn — Perhaps the economy is not rebounding as projected, and the organization must make further cuts to ensure viability until the true recession end is in sight.
No matter whether management dusts off or creates the plan from scratch, they must act with a sense of urgency to get their hands around their plans and budgets for the next several periods. The PS organization can no longer run in a month-to-month mode.
It is also a great time to shed practices that don't offer long-term strategic value or are ready for retirement. Each recession brings new opportunities but tends to shrink the need for products and services in demand just a few years ago.
Stock your service portfolio with solid investments in the future, and communicate your strategic direction out of the recession throughout the PS ranks.
2. Watch for employee turnover
Over this prolonged recession, very few employees have left a company on a voluntary basis. As the economy picks up, firms target employees for recruitment, or employees decide that it's the right time to try something new. This increased turnover can disrupt operational processes and negatively impact client satisfaction and profitability.
During this time, PS executives should consider initiatives to maintain a manageable attrition rate. These initiatives could include offering the ability to make additional money, additional vacation time or pay for some type of training that would appeal to the employees.
Regardless of which action executives take, they must seriously manage attrition as the company goes back into growth mode.
3. Cash for clunkers
It's not just automobiles that need recycling. During periods of economic downturn, smaller services firms (and sometimes larger ones) reach a point where they no longer have sufficient long-term viability.
Now is an excellent time to engage in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity as the industry realigns itself and firms can garner economies of scale as they rapidly grow in size through M&A. This activity can add people, practices and geographic coverage to firms — making them more appealing in the global economy.
4. Make sure your information systems stay in alignment
When economic conditions deteriorate, many PS organizations cut costs across the board. One of the first cuts tends to be new information systems and upgrades. Unfortunately, as the economy improves, this area tends to impede growth if firms do not manage it correctly.
To increase operational excellence, PS organizations must implement projects or upgrades that take advantage of new technologies or business processes soon. Many organizations get behind the curve, and struggle to catch up, which shows up poorly in the bottom line.
Companies in every industry realize the importance of information systems and keeping up with the benefits of greater integration and business intelligence.
What's next?
Despite whether or not the economy has turned the corner, every PS executive must plan for its eventual turnaround. This time might be different. Economists are split on how soon the rebound will occur, but PS executives who don't prepare for its eventual recovery will put their organization at a competitive disadvantage. This could lead to failure for the next economic boom.
No one wants to be the first to call an economic bottom, but those who fail to prepare for it will ultimately fail to benefit from it. So now is the time to take that first step toward future success.


text:
REGISTER HERE for MEXICO 2018
Fill out our registration form here, and either pay in full or put down the $500 deposit to hold your spot using the button below. If you would like us to match you up with a roommate please indicate that on the registration and put down the $500 deposit. As soon as we have you paired up in the type of room you want we'll let you know and you can finalize your payment.


text:
Simple Mexican Grilled Chicken
It's really easy to get bored with eating and cooking chicken breast.
As one of the best lean protein meat sources there is, chicken breast is always on my grocery list. But at times, I'll reluctantly put off cooking it just because I'm too lazy to think of a more interesting way to flavor it and spice things up. Then I'll start to add too many spices and herbs until it gets overwhelming and all the flavors mix together, resulting in chicken that's just blah.
That's when I'll actually go to the other end of the spectrum and return to the basics and make a really simple marinade that keeps the meat juicy, and just enough spice to have a little kick- this makes me think of Mexican-style grilled chicken. I decided to make this chicken as the perfect addition to my Quinoa Burrito Bowl.
Simple Mexican Grilled Chicken Breast
*makes 3 servings
For the Chicken Marinade:
3 Chicken Breasts
3 medium Vine tomatoes
Juice from 1 lime (~1/3 cup)
1 cup Water
1 tsp Salt
For the Grilling:
1 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste
EVOO Spray
**Step #1 takes place 5-6 hours prior or overnight for the marinade**
1. Cut each tomato into about 8 slices or so, then place all into a food processor with water, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Combine chicken breasts and marinade in a plastic bag or airtight glass container. Place in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours or overnight.
2. Remove chicken breasts from marinade and very lightly pat until a bit dry to get excess juice out.
3. Sprinkle paprika, cumin, S&P on both sides of chicken.
4. Heat up pan to high heat and lightly spritz with EVOO spray. Place chicken on pan and cook for several minutes on each side until cooked through.


text:
Stories from Doctor's Day 2017
Dr. Latimer went above and beyond when I was in the hospital in Feb. 2017. He ran all test he needed to correctly diagnosis me and to help me understand what was going on. He took the time to sit down with me and my wife and even helped me fill out paperwork. He also asked a specialist that he knew to come by and see me to get his diagnosis, as well. Thanks to Dr. Larimer, Dr. Qumseya (another awesome doctor) is now my specialist. Dr. Latimer really cares about his patients. Myself and my family would like to thank him from the bottom of our hearts.
He did everything he could to save my cousin's life and kept the family updated as much as possible. He us he cared and let us know everything he was doing and he even prayed with us. There's not too many doctors that do that. He was even willing to stay until she got airlifted to another hospital, although she never made it that far. Thank you for a job well done, Dr. Jeremy!
915 Gordon Avenue
Thomasville, GA 31792


text:
Company Launches Perk Program By Mailing 100 Boxes Of Condoms To Startups [Headlines]
Manpacks delivers large shipment of 'essential' item to busy entrepreneurs.
Manpacks, a company that provides men with scheduled quarterly deliveries of underwear, socks, razors, and condoms, mailed boxes of condoms to more than 100 startups to herald the launch of its new corporate perks program. The shipments contain specific URLs, enabling company members to sign up for the perk program and get discounted Manpacks shipments. TechCrunch


text:
Atlanta Volkswagen Dealer
Residents and tourists of Atlanta can expect big things from the city on a daily basis. True to its status as the capital of Georgia, Atlanta is a bustling center of commerce and entertainment. Match the fast pace of the business epicenter of Georgia with a stand-out Volkswagen vehicle. You need to be able to navigate your city streets with ease, especially if you're a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Make sure the technology you're using to drive is as advanced as what you're learning about in your classes with a brand new Volkswagen from AutoNation VW Mall of Georgia. We're the local Volkswagen dealership catering to your unique Atlanta needs.
Volkswagen Cars & SUVs For Sale
Make it a day for yourself. Schedule a trip to Zoo Atlanta and the surrounding Grant Park, then enjoy a meditative experience at Highland Yoga, just a few streets away. After that? Treat yourself to a perusal of our expansive inventory. AutoNation VW Mall of Georgia has a wide variety of new and used Volkswagen models available for test drives, and our staff members are trained to help guide you towards the vehicle you need for your lifestyle. If you're taking the whole crew with you on a trip to the zoo, you might need a larger SUV to get you all there and back. If your trip includes just yourself and maybe a date, the smaller and classic Volkswagen Beetle might be just what you need. We're here to help you figure it out.
Atlanta Volkswagen Service & Parts Center
Driving along I-20 or I-85 is no walk in the park. You need to be behind the wheel of a Volkswagen you trust to get you where you're going, and then back again. When you head out for a day at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, you don't want to have to worry about whether or not you'll break down on the way. Bring your Volkswagen into our Service Center where it will receive service from OEM-certified technicians. Our technicians perform regular maintenance work such as tire rotations and oil changes with ease. They also do more serious repair work, such as might be required by an older Volkswagen vehicle.
Directions To AutoNation VW Mall of GeorgiaAutoNation VW Mall of Georgia
3711 Buford Drive
Buford, GA 30519
(678) 807-4171
Today is the day. Make time to stop by AutoNation VW Mall of Georgia and set your sights on your Volkswagen goal. If you're interested in leasing versus buying, our Finance Center can help you figure out what your options are and what the numbers will look like. We will also buy your car if you're looking to sell- no purchase required! After we take care of you, take care of yourself at Mary Mac's Tea Room, a local favorite that has been serving Southern comfort food for over 70 years. We are proud to be a part of the Atlanta community, and enjoy being so close to the thriving business center.


text:
A Shelleny Media project. A look behind the scenes of building the state of the art Verizon Wireless Destination Store in the Mall of America. Filmed over a period of 2 months using time-lapse and realtime footage, giving a unique perspective of what it takes to build the innovative store.
David Shelleny - Director, Producer
Eli Ljung - Director of Photography
David Kurtovich - Director of Photography
Jeff Fischer - Key Grip
Matt Muegge - Grip
The Factory - Post Production and Graphics
Originally produced as a dealer training tool, we produced a seven part walk around series that gave the public a 360º view of the Polaris Slingshot, the three wheeled autocycle.
Series Host - Chad Nibbelink
Director - David Shelleny
Director of Photography - David Schnack
Production Company - Polaris Studio
The launch video of the Thunder Stroke® 116ci Stage 3 Big Bore Kit. We wanted to focus on the increased torque and horsepower you experienced with the kit, so we chose the "launch off the line" as our main character. Our super slow motion shots were captured on the Phantom Flex4K camera that was mounted on the Bolt Cinebot motion control system. This gave us the programmable speed we needed to capture our rider's wheelie in a unique way.
We partnered with Carey Hart in both the launch video and three companion videos where he got to go behind the scenes at the Indian Motorcycle Product Development Center to see, hear, and ride the newly accessorized motorcycle.
Director - David Shelleny
Director of Photography - Ryan Taylor
2nd Unit Director of Photography - Eli Ljung
Producer - Erik Fleischhacker
Editor and 2nd Unit Director - Evan Beaumont
Stunt Rider - Joe "Vertical" Dryden
Carey Hart - As Himself
Companion Video Host - Dan Peterson
Production Company - Polaris Studio
Tease and launch campaign for the 2017 Victory Octane motorcycle that was revealed in February 2016.
TEASE: Short 15 second videos that tease the new bike featuring Octane concept bike builders Urs Erbacher and Zach Ness as well as lead designer Mike Song and engineer Alex Oppermann.
LAUNCH: Longer form videos about the Ignition and Combustion concept bikes, the design of Octane, and the motor that powers it. Annotations used to link to other chapters as well as the Octane website.
To celebrate the Limited Edition Roadmaster Elite motorcycle, we took the viewer behind the scenes at Polaris' Spearfish, SD custom paint facility so they could experience how this hand painted touring bike gets made. The story is told by the director of industrial design Greg Brew and senior paint designer Steve Leszinsky
Director - David Shelleny
Directors of Photography - Jake Gardner and Eli Ljung
Producer - Erik Fleischhacker
Editor - Evan Beaumont
Production Company - Polaris Studio
Part of the newly designed GEM electric motorcar launch campaign, we combined animation, live action and studio footage to create a fun way to tell the story of how GEM is The Smarter Way to Move.
Watch Lloyd Greer and Brian Klock take on the Bonneville Salt Flats with their Helping with Horsepower Victory Motorcycle. Records were broken, and memories were made.
Director - David Shelleny
Directors of Photography - David Shelleny and Adam Olson
Editor - Joshua Van Patter
Produced to support the launch of the Victory High-Ball, we tipped our hat to the spirit of the bobber by showcasing the custom motorcycles of Industrieal Design Director, Greg Brew, Lead Industrial Designer, Michael Song, and Motorcycle Program Director, Jeff Wolf.
For the third year, Jack Daniel's® and Indian Motorcycle® have joined forces with Klock Werks Kustom Cycles to deliver an ultra-premium, limited edition motorcycle. This year, they looked to the Jack Daniel's Fire Brigade and their impressive gold and black firetrucks for design inspiration.
Director and Photographer - David Shelleny
Cinematographer - Jake Gardner
Sound - Patrick Schaefer
Key Grip - Jeff Fischer
PA - Brittny Garrett
Editor - Evan Beaumont and David Shelleny
Production Company - Polaris Studio


text:
A water-soluble B vitamin, niacin is used to convert carbohydrate to glucose. Research also shows it may protect against dementia, while at therapeutic doses it can reduce high cholesterol.
Super-high doses of niacin have been linked to skin flushing. 500 mg or less is considered safe, but if you're considering a supplement for cholesterol lowering benefit, consult your doctor.
CW says
Protein-rich foods are high in niacin, so a diet containing meat and fish is unlikely to be deficient. Veggie? A varied diet containing legumes and wholegrains should ensure adequate intake.
Niacin rich foods
Peanut butter – Per 2 tbsp
Rich in cell- protecting vitamin E and monounsaturated fats, a regular intake of nuts can help lower the risk of heart disease. Keep it natural by opting for a sugar-free peanut butter and spread on toast for a satiating snack, or add it to smoothies for a long-lasting energy boost.
Marmite – Per 4g serving (1 teaspoon)
Love it or hate it, Marmite is a handy source of B vitamins in a concentrated form, with more than a third of the recommended intake of niacin in a single serving. It's also one of the few plant sources of mood-boosting B12, making it a good choice for vegetarians.
Chicken – Per 100g chicken breast, cooked
Rich in high-quality protein, chicken is a good post-workout choice thanks to the amino acid leucine, essential in muscle synthesis. You'll also benefit from immune-boosting selenium, and almost 100 per cent of the RDI of niacin. Team with antioxidant-rich spices.


text:
Q: Do you think these algorithms have into consideration the factor of having AdWords campaigns to influence the outcome of our organic SEO efforts? Answer: No, generally I am quite a Google critic, but in this case... Read more »
Q: Since it is apparent that Google is putting the marketing power back to a website, is there a site that shows what the trend of keywords the general public are searching for? (IE: how to fix... Read more »
Question. I have a Rank Checker question for you. I recently started keeping track of how our keywords rank through Firefox's Rank Checker. Last Friday I checked the rank of one of our keywords and it was... Read more »
Q: Side Question: When linking a photo to my website using Google+, does it have to be a face? I'm not particularly good looking but a nice product picture or photo text was what I was thinking.... Read more »
Question: Is Hummingbird the beginning of the end for keyword-based SEO (i.e., is Google going to phase out keywords as a ranking factor during the next few years)? Answer. Hummingbird has done one thing: churned up the... Read more »
Question. Is Google+ different from Google Local? Answer. It's confusing. Google has made a mess of the naming conventions for its social media products! Here's a quick guide to Google+. First and foremost, there is a Google+... Read more »
Question: Are image titles as important as the alt within the HTML code for the image? Answer: the TITLE tag for an image (NOT to be confused with the TITLE tag of a page!) is generally thought... Read more »
Question: Q: Does Google+ allow for company pages? Q: So you can add a company logo. There are Google+ corporate pages. If you search JM Internet, there is not logo or picture on the Google search page,... Read more »
Question: Q: If you are running more than one company is Google going to be mad that the same Google+ personal page keeps popping up on different websites? Answer: Great question! At a surface level, the purpose... Read more »
Question. I have just started an internship doing SEO for Goodwill of ~ (I live in ~), and am feeling really excited about getting started on keywords, descriptions, links, reviews, and all of that. However, one question... Read more »
on SEO | AdWords | Social Media
© 2016 | JM Internet Group | Tel. 800-298-4065


text:
Once Again, The Last Best Hope...
Samuel Adams (1722–1803) - 1776
I get a little misty this time of year.
Your Independence Day calls to mind the follies and friends of my youth, and even more vividly - my enemies. I knew the composers of the Declaration of Independence, the Committee of Five – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingstone, and Roger Sherman. Jefferson wrote the first draft; as he put it, the committee "unanimously pressed on myself alone to undertake the draught [sic]. I consented; I drew it; but before I reported it to the committee I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections. . . I then wrote a fair copy, reported it to the committee, and from them, unaltered to the Congress." The Congress voted to adopt the Declaration late in the afternoon of July 4th of 1776. This was an Act of War against Great Britain, and a shift in the tectonic plates of history.
The breaking off of the American Colonies was an act with as great a cultural significance as the Norman Invasion, the defeat of Marc Anthony, and the conquest of Byzantium, marking the foundation of the British, Roman and Ottoman Empires, respectively. Gifted with fantastic natural resources, the North American Continent was always destined to become a great nation – the question was what kind it would be. As Dr. Franklin told the anxious crowd outside the Constitutional Convention, "A Republic, if you can keep it".
But the Fourth of July is about the getting of it rather than the keeping of it. Much attention is always given to the eloquent preamble, less to the laundry list of grievances, and little to the most interesting part – the conclusion. Here is what the Five presented as the desirable end result of their efforts -
We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare,
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States;
That they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;
and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power
To levy War,
Conclude Peace,
Contract Alliances,
Establish Commerce,
and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.
And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.
If you signed this, you were a marked man. Make no mistake, if the American Revolution had not been a success, and you had signed this document, you would be hung as a traitor. The references to honor and life are not hyperbole, but a statement of fact. The success of the Revolution was far from a foregone conclusion, or a 'self-evident truth'. To understand the pressures of neighbor against neighbor and to enjoy a great lost classic, consider reading the novel, 'Oliver Wiswell' by Kenneth Roberts, the story of an honorable man from the Blue Hills outside of Boston, caught up in revolutionary times, but unable to overcome his scruples regarding loyalty to the Crown, a reluctant and troubled Loyalist. I knew so many like him, who had lost their families and fortunes, swept away in a tide which engulfed a continent.
It seems so easy in hindsight. Yet of the 13 Colonies, only 9 voted to ratify the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Eventually, 56 delegates signed the engrossed copy, most of them on August 2nd. Some like your future Governor Elbridge Gerry, famous for his 'Gerrymandering' of Massachusetts for political gain, delayed signing. In fact, Thomas McKean didn't sign until 1781 – and some like Robert Livingstone of the Committee of Five never signed at all.
So on Independence Day, go to the picnics, listen to the ooom-pah music, wave your flag, ooohhh and aaahhh at the fireworks, and ask yourself – in your heart of hearts - would you have signed the Declaration that could be your death warrant? Please, take the time to thank and revere the men who did sign it, and remember that the kind of men they were in large part determined the kind of nation you became.
Porcupine runs this post every year on Independence Day - because the questions it raises will never grow stale. A Happy 2009 to you and yours.


text:
Keith Booth
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (December 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Booth coaching in February, 2017
|Dunbar High School (MD)
|Head coach
|Personal information
|October 9, 1974
Baltimore, Maryland
|Listed height
|6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
|Listed weight
|226 lb (103 kg)
|Career information
|High school
|Paul Laurence Dunbar
(Baltimore, Maryland)
|Maryland (1993–1997)
|NBA draft
|1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28th overall
|Selected by the Chicago Bulls
|Playing career
|Small forward
|Coaching career
|Career history
|As player:
|Chicago Bulls
|Baltimore Bayrunners
|As coach:
|Maryland (assistant)
|Loyola (Maryland) (women's assistant)
|Loyola (Maryland) (men's assistant)
|Career highlights and awards
|Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Keith Eugene Booth (born October 9, 1974) is an American basketball coach and former player. Booth played college basketball at the University of Maryland from 1994 to 1997, he was an assistant coach at his alma mater under Gary Williams from 2004 to 2011. He is currently an assistant coach for G.G. Smith with the Loyola University Maryland men's basketball team.[1]
Booth was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Heavily recruited by coach Gary Williams, he was the first player from Baltimore City in several years to play for Maryland. After the resignation of Williams' predecessor, Bob Wade, due to NCAA violations, a de facto boycott of the university was put in place by the high-school coaches in Baltimore; because of this boycott, many star high-school players avoided Maryland as a choice to play their college ball. In becoming one of the members of Maryland's 1993 recruiting class, Booth broke the ice, and the school once again had access to talent-rich Baltimore City. Booth was a 1993 McDonald's All-American.[2]
Booth was the Chicago Bulls' first-pick (28th overall) in the 1997 NBA Draft, and he played two seasons with the Bulls. Booth later returned to the Maryland campus and earned a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice in 2003. After getting his degree, he worked at the Park School of Baltimore in Brooklandville, Maryland, where he was the middle school baseball coach, he also volunteered at an after-school program at his former high school, Dunbar.[3]
In 2004, he returned to his alma mater to become an assistant under Williams,[4] he organized recruiting as well as promoting and directing the Gary Williams Summer Basketball Camp each Summer in College Park. After Williams' retirement in 2011, Booth left Maryland when incoming head coach Mark Turgeon chose not to retain him.[5]
In October 2011, Booth was named a women's basketball assistant coach at Loyola University Maryland,[6] he transitioned to the school's men's basketball team in a similar capacity on April 16, 2013.[5]
- ^ "Keith Booth Bio". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ^ http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/content/dam/allamerican/pdfs/Player-Alumni-List-12-2013.pdf
- ^ "2010 ACC Men's Basketball Legends: Keith Booth, Maryland". Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ "Keith Booth". Maryland Terrapins. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ a b Markus, Don. "Keith Booth, former Maryland star, added to Loyola men's basketball staff," The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, April 16, 2013.
- ^ "All-American, NBA Champ Booth Joins Women's Basketball Staff". Loyola Athletics. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
External links[edit]
- Keith Booth expanded profile at NBA.com
- Keith Booth Joins Terrapins As Assistant Coach
- Keith Booth Profile
- Career statistics and player information from Basketball-Reference.com
- 1974 births
- Living people
- African-American basketball players
- All-American college men's basketball players
- American women's basketball coaches
- Baltimore Bayrunners players
- Basketball players from Maryland
- Chicago Bulls draft picks
- Chicago Bulls players
- Loyola Greyhounds men's basketball coaches
- Loyola Greyhounds women's basketball coaches
- Maryland Terrapins men's basketball coaches
- Maryland Terrapins men's basketball players
- McDonald's High School All-Americans
- Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Baltimore
- American men's basketball players