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Not even gonna lie, I consider Dr. Terry Brock a history homie and friend and he is a research archaeologist at Montpelier. I have worked with him while he was doing amazing work at Historic St. Mary's City and I have been excited watching his work at Montpelier. I may not be blogging as much, but I'm still trying to keep up with everything before sleep takes over my life. Anywho–this isn't about me.
Terry is the homie and has been sharing information about all of the findings and let me talk a bit about why this information is essential to interpreting slavery. I've been doing some socializing and people tend to tell me that they learn about history by what's written. Which, okay, I guess is one way to find out information, but that means you're relying on written word. That can be problematic. What I love about archaeology and what makes archaeologist so important to a public historian like myself is that–their work tells the story not from the perspective of a person, but from the perspective of the location (my opinion y'all). Their digs have the ability (to me) to paint a picture of the past that doesn't come in written form. Their work also allows you to live in the moment, on the grounds where life happens and that's pretty amazing. Without archaeologists, I'm not really able to do my job well. I have to know details about the folks I'm interpreting that may not have been captured in a journal or recorded in a narrative–like what possessions they might have had. You can find those things out through digs. Which is what makes a funded project even more exciting.
I squealed and let out some amazing word choices when I read that there would be this massive gift to help tell the story of the enslaved. Had to read the release a couple of times to understand that the money was being split among projects but then sat back and still squealed because of the possibilities. By reconstructing the space in which enslaved African Americans spent their time, we are getting a glimpse into the every day life of a group that needs their every day life talked about. This is a place where life happened–relationships were built, families existed, and community happened. Now I'm not suggesting that life was always sweet, I'm just saying it happened–there. And for those who suggest we move on from this slavery discussion, life AFTER slavery happened there too and the objects found at archaeological sites help continue the story. Someone's probably shaking their head and saying I got archaeologists all wrong and that's not what they do. Welp. I'm not suggesting it's all they do, but an archaeological study has informed me about the foods enslaved men and women ate–thanks to bones found in a hearth. It's told me about personal possessions–beads and buttons and such. Most importantly, archaeology has made it clear to me that this history matters. This place matters, and the voices that have been silenced for so long in written history matter.
An investment to tell the story of the enslaved, literally from the ground up, is something that I can totally dig. All puns intended.What's especially cool about what is happening at Montpelier and sites around the country is that the public is invited to get involved in the process. Particularly at Montpelier, they have the LEARN Archaeology Expedition Program. This allows the public to be active participants in the discoveries being made. I've done some digging at Brattonsville before as part of the archaeology to discover Williamson Plantation and it was cool to know that I was a part of history being discovered. Imagine being able to share that feeling with your friends or you family. Imagine being a part of making history come alive! I can't wait to see the reconstructed quarter knowing that their history will be told from top to bottom because of the artifacts being discovered by these digs.
So on this #GivingTuesday, I want to give you readers, a chance to help out Montpelier or any site that has invested in telling the story of enslaved populations. I want you to see that you have a role in how this history is studied and told and become active–not just from a financial standpoint–but through your time, efforts, or just spreading the word. Dirt not your thing? Know a history person who wants to be involved somewhere?? Well, give them that gift. Give the gift of dirt and all it's dirty secrets. And while you're at it, check out this amazing flickr album from the dig at Montpelier and imagine yourself there saying how cool it was and how you wish you could do that allllll the time :).]]>
Every so often, I reflect on why I'm a public history professional and why it's important to really delve into the legacy of slavery. Most people really don't get it. They think that I just want to repeat the same narratives we've all been taught about slavery. For those folks, I know they've never looked me up, they've never really listed to anything I've said and they really don't want to. And that's cool. Do you. I'll continue to do me.
Let me break it down one time. As an historian, I have the ability to look at any particular moment in time and study it in depth. The moments in history I choose to focus on are those that revolve around Africans and African Americans who were enslaved in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, mainly the 19th. What I've discovered is something a lot of people have discovered and been disgusted by. What we learn in school is not even remotely close to what we need to know about this point in our history. Thing is, instead of being mad about it, I'm looking for more and more information, and I'm gaining knowledge that I'll be able to share with others. I get giddy when I discover something new, or learn a new narrative. I thoroughly enjoy bringing these stories and these PEOPLE to the forefront. I want names to be recited and memorized, even if it starts with an inventory. Those names belonged to living breathing people who–I can't stress enough–had thoughts, feelings, emotions, dreams and desires–things we can all relate to. This material is what draws me in, what keeps me in and what makes me want to share with people the lives of those who did not know freedom, and those who experienced it after a lifetime of enslavement.
I am so thankful for those in the field who see that desire and passion, acknowledge it and allow me to help them grow. I'm thankful for interpreters like Dontavius Williams, who allows me to be his mentor as he navigates, rather successfully I might add, the waters of interpretation and has exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations for programming at Historic Brattonsville. I am grateful for Karen L. Cox, Regina Faden at Historic St Mary's City, Eric, Chris and Stephanie at Andersonville National Historic Site, Emmanuel Dabney at Petersburg National Battlefield-City Point Unit, Jeremiah and Jerome at Historic Stagville, Clarissa Lynch, Michael Twitty, Joseph McGill and the Slave Dwelling Project, Coming to the Table and the Tracing Center, Rich, Adrienne, Annemarie, Mia, Julie and countless others who have allowed me to become the historian I am today and rattle and prattle on and on about slavery, its interpretation and why the story must be told. That's what drives me.
I'm excited and admittedly scared for this chapter to come out. It's been one of the reasons why there's been radio silence on this end. I wanted to make sure that I gave all I had. I'm excited to be presenting parts of it at AASLH this September. I'm excited to be a speaker at the Slave Dwelling Conference in Savannah a day later, because I'm talking about what I love most about history–the men, women and children who were enslaved and how their lives, their history matters. It's exhausting work, work that comes after my normal work days. Work that often comes after being a mother and spouse–but work that I love doing and will continue to do until the wheels fall off.
So if you don't hear from me for spans at a time (I hate that really), know that the work hasn't stopped and the desire is still there. I have a TON of new books I need to read, a zillion thoughts that need to be organized and the time to just make it happen. Hang in there, y'all give me the life support I need to keep going.]]>
It's shown up on my Facebook feed, my email and I'm sure it's floating around Twitter. Everybody seems to be asking me about the new web series "Ask A Slave". I had some thoughts about it, and found that Kevin Levin had the exact same thoughts. I would add that by mocking the questions asked by visitors, no matter how "interesting" we as interpreters think they are, you've now hindered someone from asking a question about slavery because they may think it will sound stupid or they will be mocked over the internet for it. We want visitors to ask questions…even if they are a bit strange because that let's me know they are THINKING about what slavery was like. That should be encouraged, not mocked. So for those of us who still interact with the public, present slavery, talk about it and teach on it, thanks for making our job necessary and just a little bit harder.
Anyway, read on below and make your own opinions.
Cross post from our friend Kevin Levin over at Civil War Memory
It's a new web comedy series, but it's not very funny.
Azie Dungey played a slave at Mount Vernon and is now sharing the colorful and not very thoughtful questions asked by visitors. I certainly appreciate the explanation and intent behind the project.
So, I wanted a way to present all of the most interesting, and somewhat infuriating encounters that I had, the feelings that they brought up, and the questions that they left unanswered. I do not think that Ask A Slave is a perfect way to do so, but I think that it is a fun, and a hopefully somewhat enriching start.
The problem is that Dungey's own apparent frustrations are expressed through her slave character. There is no exploration as to why some of these questions are problematic. She merely pokes fun at the visitors' questions. I suspect that there are any number of factors beyond mere intelligence that shapes the kinds of questions posed to reenactors at historic sites. I wonder what the staff at Mount Vernon thinks of this.
It's still early in the production of the series, but as it stands Ask A Slave isn't very entertaining and it doesn't help us to understand the experiences of living history actors, especially those dealing with the tough questions of race.
The other thing is what do you mean by "sound better?" How does one make the atrocity of slavery sound better than what it was? Do you mean that audiences will be more receptive to this history if it comes from someone who looks like an enslaved person? If so, why? Somehow are we supposed to be able to channel our ancestors, slip into a trance and just tell you the evils caused by "Ol Massa"?
Or do you mean to say it will sound better because you don't have the confidence in your own presentation to make your point, share the history of this nation and let your visitors form their own opinion? We are so bent on not offending visitors that I feel we've missed the point of being interpreters. If we are truly stewards of the narrative and we have vowed to tell the story, good bad and completely ugly, then does it matter what your visitors think of YOU as you tell the story? Does it matter what identity and racial makeup they see? While my tone is of frustration, my question is serious. I am currently writing about racial identity and the interpretation of slavery. I am looking for those who will say "It doesn't matter! It doesn't sound better!" and I am coming up empty. Do I just want someone who will agree with my opinion? No, I want to know why is it as professionals, we are unable to articulately and confidently tell the story of slavery in this country without worrying about what someone thinks?
By choosing to have someone black be the sole voice of slave life interpretation you create a myriad of problems. I've addressed them before and I'll be happy to do it again. You place the entire narrative on one person, or a small group of people. Which, fine, do that. But what you're doing is creating this crazy situation where one group is charged with knowing the entire history of your site while another group learns half. From personal experience, that is exhausting, ridiculous and not smart. You want a site that has employees and volunteers who are able to discuss the entire history, not just a few parts here and there, or whatever suits their comfort level. What happens when your source(s) of slave life leave? When a small group knows the story and that group disappears, then what? Does the story end with them? It's not sound to place the burden of delivery on one particular group just because you think "it sounds better".
I have watched white interpreters absolutely slay their presentations and silence any preconceived notions the audience may have. I have seen black interpreters self-destruct while interpreting because their presentation was based on feelings and stereotypes and not one lick of fact. On the flip side, I have seen white interpreters fail horribly at trying to convey the slave history of a site, stumbling over the number of slaves owned and using "servants" as a general description. I have seen black interpreters take visitors to church with their presentation. All in third person. To base the quality of the interpretation solely on the racial identity of the person telling the story is dangerous…and counterproductive.
The fear that discussing slavery creates is real. I don't downplay that fact at all. The fear historic sites have with interpreting slavery I feel, comes down to finances. It comes down to looking at the worst case scenario, losing funding, jobs and eventually being shut down. I have seen sites hit with controversy and weather the storm. I have also seen visitors disappointed because they had questions about slavery and wanted someone, anyone to answer them and got nothing, or an extremely sanitized version. How do we overcome these obstacles? How do we change the way we feel about the history we are charged with telling? I don't have all the answers, but I have a start. Eliminate the thought process of "it sounds better coming from a black person or an African American" and change it to, "it sounds better being told truthfully, and with confidence in your sources". Maybe then as interpreters and museum professionals we will be able to give our visitors the best possible experience.]]>
But that doesn't mean that I can't let you know what I've been up to. In February, I had my second appearance at a site within the National Park Service. For me that was huge! I kept having to pinch myself and say, "I can't believe that I get to present at a National Park site". It was great. I was at Andersonville National Historic Site to give a presentation as part of their African American History Month programming. Stephanie Steinhorst, interpreter and Ranger extraordinaire contacted me a year prior, asking if I would be interested in doing a program and a session for a local high school. I agreed, a little nervous and more than excited. It took a lot of doing but finally the pieces came together and after speaking to Stephanie and Eric Leonard, (chief interpreter) on a conference call, we figured out that I would talk about Life after Emancipation. What was most interesting about the site was that it was the worst Confederate prison during the Civil War. I don't know how many prison were going around hoping to be voted "worst" but the history of Andersonville gives it that title, and yet, being the "worst" brings the history to life. I will never forget taking a tour of the National Cemetery there with Eric and being introduced to the month of August. In the 14 months that Andersonville Prison was open (from February 1864 to April 1865), about 13,000 Union prisoners died. 3000 Union prisoners died during August 1864. It took my breath away looking at one side of the cemetery and seeing 3000 tombstones knowing that on average 100+ soldiers died a day that month alone. Moving is not a strong enough word to describe what that scene was. Andersonville also held approximately 150 United States Colored Troops and this was something that was actively being discussed at the prison site.
Civil War to Civil Rights (Ranger Chris Barr) was a program taking place the same day I was presenting "What It Means to Be Free" and it pained me that I did not get to take this tour (I had to prepare for my talk happening right after) but it gave visitors a thorough history of the African American experience in and around Camp Sumter and the town of Andersonville. The stockades for the prison were built with slave labor, and after the war, the prison site was occupied by newly freed blacks. African Americans were also the first to preserve the site and to make sure that one never forgot what happened there. Emancipation Day 1869 was detailed in an account by Rev HW Pierson. ( To read more, check out posts provided by Ranger Chris Barr from the site's facebook page) The staff at Andersonville National Historic Site are not only making a conscious effort to talk about slavery and the roles of African Americans at the prison, they are making it look easy which is what all sites should strive to do. The narrative fits seamlessly into the complete story of the prison and I was just happy to be a part of their ongoing work.
Now why I was I there? Well to talk about life after emancipation meant to African Americans. There were struggles and triumphs, but most of all there was the will to succeed. The absolute fortunate thing for me was that a wonderful woman there, Camille Bielby, who is among other wonderful things, a reporter for the Americus Times Recorder, and she wrote up a great article (okay I'm slightly biased) about the program. I had an amazing time at ANHC and want to thank Stephanie, Eric, Chris and Superintendent Brad Bennett for all of their hospitality! Check out the article here and make the trip down to Andersonville National Historic Site for a great lesson in history.]]>
When I see an event I think the public should attend, I usually will send a tweet about it. I'll post something to facebook. And when I have a computer that actually loves me, I can blog about it before it takes place. (I really need to get a new laptop, but a root canal is in order first). So I did. With encouragement from Taylor Stoermer who was on the writing staff for "Liberty for Lydia", I made the decision to show up so I could indeed share my thoughts.
Of course I had to find a way there. So I did. I had an appointment for work earlier in the morning in Hampton. I managed to knock that out and make my way to Williamsburg. I didn't purchase a ticket ahead of time just in case something came up and I couldn't make it. So day of, I head over to buy my ticket and find to my great surprise, tickets were $10 the day of! I would have gladly paid the $30 price that was listed before but I'll take a ticket that is $20 cheaper any day. What I witnessed afterwards was just amazing. I wanted to blog about it Saturday night and had just thought after thought running through my head as I was driving home so instead of letting those thoughts just slip away, I recorded my blog entry. 13 minutes of talking to myself into my phone while driving down 64E, I leave my thoughts.
I'm driving back from Colonial Williamsburg and I was really impressed with how Erica Hubbard embraced the role of Lydia. I know that it's difficult for people whose background isn't necessarily in history or they're not very comfortable with certain aspects of history, to embrace the role of an enslaved person. But you could see the struggle for clarity in her facial expressions and in her emotions, and it poured life into Lydia and it was interesting to watch that take place and know, you know this was information that was at first difficult for her to understand and kind of portray but then as she got into it there was an empowering moment that happened, which she did talk about in the discussion at the end. Hubbard said that after doing this, she felt empowered to do just about anything from the strength she gathered from Lydia.
As somebody who trains historic sites to talk about slavery, I have an easier time doing the interpretation because I separate myself from the narrative. I don't get emotionally vested in it because when you do, you tend to get angry, and you tend to put more personal feelings in it when your job is to convey the thoughts and the feelings of the person you're representing. Something I learned however, and what I did like about Erica's method is as an actor, she said she had to use substitution to find those appropriate emotions to show and so I got to see how actors might prepare for interpreting slavery. I don't take that approach because the historian in me is kind of rigid and I see the documents and the narratives and as a third person interpreter, I am merely a conveyor of information and history. Nice to see how both sides of the coin work to get the same message across.
I have to say, it is really interesting watching people whose main job is not the study of slavery or life within this institution or the lives of the men and women who were treated as property come in and portray slavery. To see them embody what I study and do for a living is kind of amazing. But when you have the support and instruction of Colonial Williamsburg , it does seem a little easier. And yes, the good folks at CW showed out going above and beyond anything you could expect, especially with a theatrical performance that dealt with slavery. I recently saw a theatrical performance doing the interpretation of a well known African American figure and I was not impressed. That particular performance that made me remember why I don't like theatrical performances of slave life, however, the professionals at Colonial Williamsburg gave me hope that it can be done, respectfully, and with context.Not that I didn't believe they couldn't do a great job with a theatrical performance showing the story of enslaved men and women, but after seeing such a bad performance before, it was really nice to see that it wasn't cartoonish, or showy, it just was interpretation.
During "Liberty for Lydia," it felt as if I was sitting in the Wythe living room with Lydia talking about those emotions and what it's like to be free and how she's going to stay with Mr. Wythe for a while until she gets on her own. For those that interpret, this is what we strive for. It is easy for visitors to see it just as acting and entertainment, and "ohhh, this is just so wonderful" that they miss a lot of the historical content that's being put forth. What CW did an amazing job with was create a complete history lesson and deliver it through performance. I know the history but it's nice to hear it being delivered in a way where you cannot miss the points being given. It's not just about memorizing lines,but about being able to deliver a history lesson, where you are giving facts, names, dates, figures, places, things that occur. Showing what the house was like and showing what the atmosphere was like for those slave owners who were morally convicted about the institution of slavery and then watching them process with their enslaved staff, "I believe you should be free but I can't free you right now, I don't know when I'll be able to and yes this is wrong but I'm not going to push for it if it means tensions between those we need in our fight for independence from Britain"– I think that particular conversation with Lydia and Mr. Wythe where they discussed why he couldn't just let her go was really important because it does show that there was a moral struggle and that these conversations would have taken place between some slaves and their owners. Which brings me to another point that was brought out in "Liberty for Lydia".
In today's age we tend to think that within the household it was the slaves in one corner and the whites in another corner and never the two met, but that wasn't true. There were human relationships involved, there were these conversations, granted not every slave would have been able to have that kind of conversation or that kind of relationship with their owners that Lydia had with Mr. Wythe, but to know that there were those instances is something. A lot of times we don't want to focus on those occasions because then it looks like we're prettying up slavery, but for some people today, they don't understand that at one point it was illegal for a person who owned slaves to actually free their slaves, so these conversations of ,"if I could, I would" are important to highlight and important to talk about. There were men and women that wanted slavery to end but they really couldn't take those legal steps to make that happen, and to be able to see that that interaction between slave and slave owner is powerful.
During the discussion period there was a visitor who asked if "Liberty for Lydia" was going to go on the road–he felt like this was something that everybody needed to hear. The simple quick fix answer is to say, well yes, this should be everywhere but the reality is, you need the right cast of interpreters, and you need an audience that is going to be receptive to this particular message. But for that kind of desire for this production to be taken abroad if you will and it's AFTER February and after D'jango's been out, people still want to see these types of portrayals of slavery and the desire for freedom that African Americans had…that's incredible and it's what interpreters who are in this particular field hope for.
Another aspect of "Lydia" that I loved was the story of Aggy Randolph. I know that the story was about Lydia and her liberty, but I hope that there is an avenue to do something of this magnitude for Aggy Randolph because her story is something that people need to realize actually happened. She had a loving relationship with a white man that owned her, and they had a family. It was an incredible dynamic because the struggle she faced was his family not giving her the freedom that was stated in her mate's will. I thought it was powerful because Aggy said that they lived as a man and a wife should, and here she was being denied the promise of her love. Aggy feared for her children being sold and she was concerned that she nor her children would ever see freedom in her lifetime, all because his family did not approve of their relationship. I would love to see a portrayal of what that family life was like and the things that they encountered, through their relationship and through the openness of their relationship. It seemed like Aggy and her spouse were very transparent in what they were doing and I liked the way her particular character was brought out simply because not only does it raise questions that weren't asked, but it raised questions for the public historian that I am, like, "are we ready to go there? Are we ready to talk about the actual loving relationships that weren't brought out of servitude, in the sense that they were consensual and not, "he raped his slave and therefore she is forced to go along with this relationship because he owns her". This looked like it was a genuine relationship that looked like two people fell in love in spite of the circumstances.
I hope that we will begin to see more of that because it does show the complexity that arises in slavery. There is the attitude that "oh, he owned her, so he felt like he owned her body and forced his will upon her", but not all relationships were like that and it's important that as we get a better understanding of what slavery was like and what slave life was all about…see start to see that it was complex. There was no black or white answer to anything. There's always some kind of monkey wrench gets thrown in and I feel like it's not our place to really judge the thoughts and emotions of people who we know nothing about but more or less learn about their lives in the time that they existed. We are constantly struggling to learn more about the human relationships that existed and I'm not saying there weren't relationships that were pure force and the abuse of power, because there were. But for as many relationships that were based out of forced will, there were a handful that were relationships were filled with love. So how do we address that and how do we gear or public for that discussion?
It's my selfish hope that the good folks at Colonial Williamsburg will take that into consideration for a future production. I know that will make a few people shift in their seats, but it's something that I'm really interested in learning more about, something that the public should learn more about and because relationships really get into the heart of how sticky the institution of slavery was. It takes this horrible institution and exposes the humanity and inhumanity at a level we ignore. There were still these very human if not forbidden relationships that nobody wants to discuss because we always want to think the worst when it may not be the most appropriate thought process to have.
That's one of the main things I get from studying slavery and doing interpretation. When you go in to it with an open mind, you understand the position that people on all sides were in. For slave owners, some thought, "if I owned people, because they are a substantial amount of money, that will make me money and give me status and give me a better life." There are always going to be people who want a better life, but it's the lengths that they go through to obtain that better life. It may not be the most moral thing and it may not be the most ethical. Today we are afforded the ability to look back and say "that's just horrible" but back then, it was a very real decision for those who had the ways and means. Understand that it does not excuse the actions, it just helps when you have to constantly ask yourself "why would they do that?" And let's not forget it was not just whites who owned slaves and were faced with these decisions, there were African Americans who owned slaves. I'm not talking about the men and women who owned their family members in order to keep them together. I'm speaking about the men and women who owned slaves so that they could have status and wealth like the whites around them. They too had the desire to have wealth and they understood that in order to do that, they needed to obtain property and that property came in the form of persons and land. It is these topics and more that I hope more and more people pay attention to.
That's why there are groups of African Americans that interpret slavery. We feel it is important for the public to know their history…all aspects of it. We can't all be feel good stories, we can't all be depths of death and despair. We do have a foggy middle that is just as important to know about as the high and low end of the spectrum. Sites like Colonial Williamsburg that are not afraid to talk about slavery and push buttons and take the lead are needed so that conversations can take place whether they are comfortable or not. They provide the blueprints for other sites letting them know,"this can be done, it doesn't matter who you have on site, tell the story as it should be told." You find a way to do it, if you want to be true to your mission, you find a way to do it.
Those, folks, are my lengthy thoughts on "Liberty for Lydia". I would have loved to stay and meet Erica Hubbard and just thank her for taking the role because I know there are people that looked at her like why in the world would you do this and it's nice to see someone else take up the challenge. I know this wasn't an easy thing to do but it is nice to see someone of her stature stand up and say this is our history and I need to embrace that and I hope it leads her to learn more about slavery, find the humanity and get strength from those who made it through!]]>
That got me thinking as I sit here with my eyes burning because they are tired and my mind starting to get fuzzy because my body wants to surrender to sleep…how was it for the men and women who have toiled all day long in the fields? You are up before the crack of dawn, working as the sun comes up, two breaks for meals, and at the end of the day, you come back to your cabins weary and exhausted. There's still dinners to be had, whatever that may be, cooked most often by the woman of that particular household. There is mending of clothing and tools to be done or perhaps some sewing. Some little project to be worked on that will bring in money possibly being saved for a new shirt, some fancy ribbon, or freedom. All while your body begs for rest, for stillness, and for peace.
As I search for balance in this new life of full time work, and consulting I am reminded that this was the life I chose. There were many who worked beyond full time and at the end of the day took care of the home they had. It humbles me and makes me incredibly thankful. I'll continue to try and push ahead. No matter how tired I may feel or how rough a day may have been, I have freedom, health and family that I know will always be there.]]>


text:
Get a small floating table for the gun, so it can be in the hot tub with ya.
This is a discussion on Hot tub, gun, and do ya ? within the Carry & Defensive Scenarios forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; Your yard your tub, carry your gun. Try a big freezer bag. If you have to shoot fast, you should be able to pull the ...
Your yard your tub, carry your gun.
Try a big freezer bag.
If you have to shoot fast, you should be able to pull the trigger through the bag.
Might want to prove it out in the boonies first.
Get a small floating table for the gun, so it can be in the hot tub with ya.
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson
Nemo Me Impune Lacesset
Proverbs 27:12 says: The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Certified Glock Armorer
NRA Life Member
How abouts a small cooler? The can that supposed to fit a 6 pack, but really holds four with ice.
I like the kydex holster idea too. This is exactly wht Gaston put Glocks on this earth. As much as I love my 1911's, this is a job for a Glock. After all, if it does rust, who cares?
The reality is, if a BG were to be scoping out a good time to attack you at your residence, exactly the time when you're otherwise occupied and most likely unarmed would be the time. Like, in the hot tub. Paranoid? Not with as many BG's as there are, being lit up like that, being obviously unarmed at the moment, etc. Should be seen for what it is: a prime opportunity for an opportunistic BG.You are being a little paranoid, but no one said that was a bad thing.
Why not consider a holster that could be mounted on the outside of the tub. Something like the ones used for mounting on the side of the bed. It could be right there, if needed.
Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it.
Thoughts: Justifiable self defense (A.O.J.).
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
Reason over Force: Why the Gun is Civilization (Marko Kloos).
I thought there was a member of this forum who was a victim in an encounter where he was in his spa at home... I'm waiting to see if someone chimes in to that effect. I coulda sworn I read about it here recently... It was one of those stories where the end result was that this particular member does not go anywhere without being armed anymore.
I agree with all that was stated here.
I was wondering how long it would take to see the post "...he's walking nekkid to the tub with a towel and a 1911". yeah i know it's funny however ya read it.
I did see it as I am in condition white (kinda) thats the reason for the hot tub to begin with...relax.
but it was mentioned that if one were scoping me out then the perfect time to strike would be when i'm outside and theoretically unarmed. well surprise mr. BG!!
I loved the mention that its a "perfect job for a Glock, cuz it won't rust....and if it did who cares" HA HA HA now thats funny now.
anyway P95 said it well also if the one time in my life i needed my weapon and i didn't have it, that'd suck.
I prolly will investigate the issue more in placement of a holster and such but i figure it'll be a lower priority item.
thanks all and it did kinda turn out to be a funny thread.
(no offense to those that know people that had issues with being attacked in hot tubs)
This is mine. That is yours.
Lets keep it that way.
Naked dude with a gun . . . . God, get that image outta my head. Arrrgggghhh.
On the serious side, while it may sound funny to worry about having a gun while in your hot tub, the risk of attack is real.
We can't choose where the bad guy will strike. Maybe the guys can relax thinking that since they are only wearing a pair of swimming trunks, no one will try to rob them since they have nothing on them.
But as Pax just pointed out, the risk to a woman in her hot tub in the back yard would be substantial.
The point Chris made is something I have thought about often. Whenever I make the decision to leave my gun home (i.e., I have to go into DC or I plan to drink a little), I always think, "Wouldn't it be a ***** if THIS is the time the bad guy picks to attack me?"
I said before, I carry 24/7 where it is legal. It doesn't matter if I am in the shower, the john, back yard or bed, if the gun is not on me it is still no more than two steps away from me.
Before you call me paranoid, be aware that all of the voices in my head agree that I'm not.
Once in a while we like to rent a cabin in Pigeon Forge for a weekend. One of our requirements for the cabin is that it must have a hot tub.
Even though I'm on vacation, I don't let my guard down. We're out in the mountains, beside a bunch of other cabins, and the hot tub is usually on the wraparound deck that anybody wandering into the driveway can access. I take two towels for myself - one body towel to dry off with, and a smaller towel to wrap my gun in. That one sits on the edge of the hot tub on that flat part where you can put drinks and food trays.
"Americans have the will to resist because you have weapons. If you don't have a gun, freedom of speech has no power." - Yoshimi Ishikawa
At least its not "just me"...was getting kinda scared there....
once it becomes part of your daily routine its not easy to let go of...the mentality just follows me.
This is mine. That is yours.
Lets keep it that way.
While there are several "funny" comments on this thread, and yes I did laugh at them, I DO consider it to be a serious subject.
I do have a hot tub and my wife and I are in it several times each week. We are concealed by the house on two sides, an 8 foot wood fence on a third side, and about 100 feet of back yard to the back fence. We most always are in it in "condition white" (love that phrase). I always take a handgun and a Surefire light out to the hot tub. We have a small kidney shaped table that is attached to the outside of the tub. It is mounted on a metal tube that allows the table to swivel. When the cover is open and we are in the tub, we swivel it in over the water. I place my gun and light on the table, where it is in hands reach. If by chance a bg came into your backyard while you were enjoying the tub you'd be pretty danged defenseless while sitting naked in the water IMHO.
BTW the table is also good for holding the adult beverage of your choice as well. I consider the money spent for our tub to be some of the best money I have ever spent on anything.
I like your ideas Mikeyinokc.
the exact scenario and mindset i am talking about.
at least i am "not alone" in my thinking here....comforting. lol
This is mine. That is yours.
Lets keep it that way.
Know what's wierd? For a short period in my life I had a hot tub in my backyard, right at ground level. My yard was surrounded by forest. Now I am NOT a paranoid guy, even bumps and scrape noises in my house don't get my blood pressure up, I just calmly go investigate if neccesary.
Out in the hot tub, at night, was a different story.....
I could NOT relax. I envisioned how easy it would be for someone to sneak up, what with the noise of the jets and bubbles, the lack of vision, etc.. Occaisionally I'd take a gun out there, but it wouldn't do much good, any BG could sneak up and get it before I noticed.
Must have beena mental quirk regarding hot tubs, but I really had to work to get that worry and paranoia out of my mind in order to relax out there. :( I've never felt that way in any other situation, before or since.
We moved, and the new house has no hot tub. :)
One of the nicest outdoor tubs I have used was quiet and not lit up from the inside/base. It was incredibly peaceful to be out in the rain, in the dark, in the relaxation zone. Of course, that column of heated steam above the trees would have pinpointed me, regardless. *sigh*... I'd take a gun out there, but it wouldn't do much good, any BG could sneak up and get it before I noticed.
Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it.
Thoughts: Justifiable self defense (A.O.J.).
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
Reason over Force: Why the Gun is Civilization (Marko Kloos).
Paranoia: "1 : a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations
2 : a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others "
We carry to avoid persecution (def 1), and anyone reading self-defense stories, particularly involving home intrusions, quickly realizes "irrational suspicion" (def 2) of strangers is an oxymoron.
It's paranoia only if there's no one out to get you. We all know better.
I carry or have a pistol in reach all the time, even in the shower. I would feel like such a fool to need it and think "Damn! left it upstairs".

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It's Shelby's Birthday today!!
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1. Rolling around looking absolutly adorable
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4. Staying a wierd special-needs kitty (as Shelby's mom puts it)
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Purr! Shelby had a graet time trick-or-treating! She wore a beautiful Kimono her grandmother made for her, and she went to a big party with her purr-fect friends!! Her friends were: Vampire, Emo, Little Red Riding Hood (lol), Ballarina Cat, Witch, Vampire Sarah Palin, and I think thats all... She also got some candy. Mmmm....
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A cocky young man travels to Oregon to work on an apple farm. Out of his element, he finds his lifestyle and notions being picked apart by everyone who crosses his path.
Based on David Sedaris' autobiographical short story originally featured in Naked, the film follows David , who decides to attempt to immerse himself in "the real world," and goes "off the grid" following his graduation from Yale to work at an apple farm under an alias. Failing to fit in amongst the locals and migrant workers, David begins a journey that will take him deep into unfamiliar, awkward, and frequently hilarious territory as he encounters would-be benefactors and friends alike.
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Have you heard the term "Buyer Persona?" If you're like most printers, you're probably more familiar with "Target Market." But I'd like to explain why creating a Buyer Persona will help you understand your customers in an exciting new way.
Why am I banging the drum about buyer personas? It started when I began to redesign my website.
Websites should do more than just be a sales brochure for your business. They must act as a sales funnel, providing potential clients with the information they need to make a buying decision.
To provide the exact content a person needs to make that decision, you need to match your website to the "persona" of your customer. This exercise will not only define your website, but it should redefine your business.
What do I mean by persona? To quote the internet marketing company HubSpot, "A buyer persona is an archetype of who your ideal customer is. It helps you identify who they are and what matters to them so you can make and sell to them more effectively."
You laugh. Sounds a lot like the old term "Target Market." It is, but it's much more than that.
In the past, defining the "target market" meant focusing on the typical demographics of a customer. A printing exec might be: Male, 45-59, annual income over $250,000. Business owner.
That is valuable information, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't tell the whole story. The target market approach will tell you how to find someone, but defining a persona will establish what to say when you meet your customer.
The Questions (and Answers) that Define a Persona
HubSpot, the company that I use for my inbound marketing software, has created a template that you can use to establish your own persona for your customers.
The template works because it asks qualitative questions that get you thinking about your customers in ways you might not have considered before. The ideal approach is to contact your top 5-7 customers and ask them these questions.
If you don't want to download the template, here are the big questions:
1. What is their demographic information? This is the demographic info I mentioned earlier. It's important to know as you craft the image of what the persona looks like.
2. What is their job and level of seniority? Be as specific as you can with this classification. When I say "CEO" versus "Middle Manager,"you immediately think of two different people, and two different priorities.
It also clues you in on how the customer will consider your approach. A CEO will be in skim mode; just the facts and the bottom line. The Middle Manager may be more inclined to analyze and read carefully.
3. What does a day in their life look like? Get specific. Think about their day. When are they stressed? How do they work? When will they have time for you?
4. What are their pain points? What do you help them solve? This proved to be an interesting part of the exercise for us.
Like most companies, we tend to be enamored with our products and services. Focusing on their persona's pain points really makes you cut to the chase, and strip away extraneous services. They might make you money, but if they don't deal with a pain point, no one will buy them.
Establishing the pain points also provides you with empathy. You can be Clinton-esque and "feel their pain." They'll appreciate the fact that you're thinking about them and not yourself.
5. What do they value most? What are their goals? You've just identified their pain points. Now think about the persona's aspirational goals. What do they truly want to achieve? How can you take them to that level?
6. Where do they go for information? This is a qualitative approach to finding out what websites they visit or who they consult with for decisions. It can dictate where you place your emphasis with your marketing efforts.
Remember, this is qualitative information. Take it with a grain of salt, i.e. don't create a media plan based on a few interviews. You need more quantitative findings for that.
7. What experience are they looking for when seeking out your products and service? By asking your customer this question, you'll get a better idea of how to present yourself both in terms of sales and marketing. You might have a vision of how you want your brand to appear, but if the persona isn't interested in it, what good will that do you? This question could be instrumental in helping you craft your brand.
8. What are their most common objections to your product or service? This is a tough question for many companies to ask, because it will poke holes in your approach. But customers tend to be skeptics, and they'll dwell on weaknesses if you don't do anything to address the issue.
Asking this question to a current customer will also provide you with a sense of their perspective. You may think you're addressing any and all objections with your approach, but that's not always the case.
An interesting approach HubSpot also recommends is creating an Exclusionary Persona. This is a persona of a person who will never buy your products, but will make constant inquiries and suck up a lot of your time.
It's a good practice to define the Exclusionary Persona. Knowing their traits will help you formulate a strategy for handling their requests, potentially even developing a strategy in which they'll lead you to the ideal buyer persona.
What do Personas Look Like In Action?
HubSpot provided some good examples of how companies are using personas to implement and execute marketing campaigns. Here are a few highlights we picked out:
Goodbye Crutches
Goodbye Crutches has established the Motivated Mom, age 35-55, who has a full and active life. Note the blog post below is written for "How to Dress for Success with Leg Cast."
On their webpage, the company offer is targeted at the persona: "The Ultimate Guide to a Great Halloween on One Foot." I can picture a Motivated Mom, wanting desperately to get out with her kids and make Halloween special. This is terrific marketing to a persona.
JetBlue established a persona of a "low-budget traveler that wants a comfortable yet affordable solution to flying." In many cases, this is likely to be a small-business owner, or someone who aspires to be a player but might have to sit back in coach.
The headlines use language like "The Boss-Day Sale" and "Fly Like a Boss, Pay Like an Intern" to appeal to this persona.
As you check out the rest of the examples provided here, you may say, "Wait, these are marketing campaigns. I'm a sales organization. How can this help?"
Developing a persona can be invaluable to your sales force. Not only will it help you in the development of an effective sales script, it can even help you in role-playing. Note that many companies, in developing a persona, will actually create pictures to cement an image. Check out these animated personas for various social media, courtesy of SEOMoz.
Developing and identifying personas is something you can shrug off as some sort of fluffy marketing approach, or it is something you can adapt as the cornerstone for your entire company's efforts.
The companies that get personas, and build everything around them, will be the ones that win – guaranteed. Why? Because you may know everything about your company, your products and your industry, but until you develop a persona, you won't know the most important thing in business: Your customer.
"Every company's greatest assets are its customers, because without customers there is no company."
- Michael LeBoeuf, Author of "How to Win Customers and Keep Them For Life"
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Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Orange Jelly Mousse #JollyJelly
This week I was sent a box of goodies from Hartley's so I could join in their Jolly Jelly challenge.
I don't know about you but Christmas means lots of food. After eating my way through a lovely roast I like a light dessert and this orange jelly mouse is just that.
You will need:
170g of evaporated milk
A tin of madarin segments
1 packet of Hartley's orange jelly
Glace cherries, chocolate stars and orange to decorate.
Start my making up the jelly to the packet instructions. You want the jelly to start setting but not go hard.
I put my madarin segments on a low setting on my blender to mash them up.
Whisk the evaporated milk.
Mix the setting jelly, madarin segments and evaporated milk together.
Pour into bowls and leave in the fridge to set.
Decorate with orange slices, chocolate stars and glace cherries to give it a more festive feel.
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Ocala Hilton3600 Southwest 36th Avenue
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"We held our reception at the Ocala Hilton, whose staff are very organized and familiar with the event planning process. They ensured that every concern was followed up on quickly. They made the planning easy- and even gave us a layout map of how our room would look the day of the event. The Saratoga was the perfect size for our group of family and friends. No setting up or cleaning up- they took care of the whole process. They placed items we wished to have in the room on the tables/ etc. The menu had a nice selection of food. Great wedding night accommodations."
Times of Your Life2176 East Silver Springs Boulevard
Ocala, FL, United States
Cindi with an Eye3405 NE 33rd Avenue
Ocala, FL 34479, USA
"My husband and I really enjoyed working with Cindi- She is very upbeat and passionate about photography. She took a lot of real life, not overly "posed" photos that captured the memorable moments."
Wedding Day Beauty Vendor:
Le Studio5855 SE 5th St # 3
Ocala, FL, United States
Wedding Fashion Vendor:
David's Bridal
"David's very convenient in that I could have all my bridesmaids go at their leisure to pick out and get fitted for their dresses. I didn't have the hassle of having to get the whole group together since they had locations near to all of them. I had each choose their own style dress in the same color. I liked that they had the freedom to choose dresses that they were happy with and that could fit in a price range they were comfortable with. They even replaced a dress the week prior to the wedding because the size no longer fit one of the maids. David's has a wide assortment of colors and styles. I also got my dress from them, and was happy with my dress. My only concern was that the store is often so busy on weekends, that during one of my maid's appointment I felt that the consultant was too busy to focus."
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Men's WearhouseChico, CA, United States
"Men's Wearhouse took care of the tuxes. The men could each pick up their tux at the location of their choice and return it the following day to any location."


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Purposeful communication
Language teachers are constantly on the lookout for mistakes that may or may not impede communication. Nowadays, it's common for us to read and hear that what matters most is communication, and that learners of a foreign language should not strive for perfection or flawless language production. What, however, is communication? And does this work for all levels? For instance, do we classify successful communication at the same standard for people who are applying for a position in a multi-national company to work as a spokesperson and for someone whose aim at learning a foreign language is travelling to a foreign country and be understood when ordering food? Most importantly, should we, teachers, be the ones to judge how accurate and, narrowing it further, how appropriate our learners will need to be in their language use?
This week's blog posts at the iTDi blog are on error correction, and you may read what Scott, Barb, Chuck, Cecilia, Yitzha and Steven have to say on the matter. In addition to that, there will be a live webinar on March 3rd that will deal with the matter of error correction, and I highly encourage all those who can participate to do so. Therefore, I won't spend much time discussing error correction in this post. Instead, I'd like to shift the focus to one of the things I felt, as a language learner, that teachers did not spend much time on, and one thing that I still feel teachers tend to overlook – in addition to pronunciation. If we're talking about communication, the first thing we should do is look at language from a broader perspective, not forgetting that language should be seen from a discourse perspective. I'd like to reflect on something more closely related to language in use, namely the pragmatic features of discourse and the importance of explicitly teaching it to our learners.
Certain aspects of language in use are commonly referred to as the pragmatic features of discourse. Pragmatics is a branch of study related to, but separate from, linguistics, because it purports to explain aspects of language and communication that have not been – or cannot be – explained by linguistic studies. […] When we learn a language, we gradually learn to recognize and name a set of discourse events that are common in the social circles we move in. […] Part of our socialization is gaining familiarity with a range of discourse types or genres. Some of these we may acquire through exposure and others have to be taught.
(Bloor, M. & Bloor, T., 2007 in The Practice of Discourse Analysis – An Introduction, Hodder Arnold, p. 19)
Whenever we attend seminars, a lot of attention is given to vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation through the four skills, but rarely will you see someone speaking about the pragmatic use of the language at length. Is this less important than the other features? Or is this far too complicated for most teachers to touch as it is far more complex and there are not that many prescriptive rules? We do deal with communication, and many teachers nowadays claim to abide by the rules of the Communicative Approach. If that is the case, shouldn't we also turn our attention to the interaction that takes place between the listener and the speaker? How easy is it for teachers to assume that what they have said is what their learners actually understood? Even worse, how easy is it for us to let learners get away with something they said that does not sound right to our ears? Are we able to understand the exact meaning that learners are trying to convey simply because, well, as language teachers we are trying as hard as we can to fully understand what our learners are trying to say?
A speaker may utter a sentence which is, for example, a positive, active statement, expressing a particular content. The listener may, however, interpret the sentence as a threat, or warning, as advice or contradiction. These interpretations are pragmatic meanings. In addition to the content expressed, the listener interprets the speaker's purpose in uttering the sentence.
(Lewis, M., 2002, in The Lexical Approach, Thomson Heinle, p. 82)
The problem becomes even more apparent when learners reach an advanced level, and mainly in interactions between native and non-native speakers of language. The point is, if we don't teach and, from time to time, make sure our learners are capable of going beyond basic language use, we may actually be doing more harm than good. What happens is that we need to make our learners aware of how they say things, not only what they say. Vocabulary does take up a lot of our teaching when we reach advanced levels, say B2+ onwards, but vocabulary expansion by itself will do very little to help learners, as the passage below supports.
However, in situations of contact between native and non-native speakers of a language, pragmatic errors are insidious in that they often lead proficient speakers of a language to misjudge the intentions of less proficient speakers. Particularly if the speakers are fluent and accurate, listeners do not realize that a pragmatic error has been committed, instead misconstruing what was intended by the speaker and sometimes judging the speaker harshly as a result.
(Larsen-Freeman, D., 2003, in Teaching Language: From Grammar to Grammaring, Thomson Heinle, p. 37)
But is it even possible to make our learners aware of pragmatic mistakes, or misuses of the language? I've always believed so, and, to be honest, once I was able to understand how serious this may be, I've always wondered why we don't do this more often. Instead of writing on the matter with my own words, and as this has been a post filled with quotes and extracts from books, I'll add one more extract.
For a long time, it was assumed that second language classrooms could not provide appropriate input for learning how to realize many speech acts. This was particularly the case with structure-based approaches to teaching and in particular, in teacher-fronted classrooms where the dominant interaction pattern was 'teacher initiation – learner response – teacher feedback'. In communicative, content-based, and task-based approaches to second language instruction, there are more opportunities not only for a greater variety of input but also for learners to engage in different roles and participant organization structures (for example, pair and group work). This enables learners to produce and respond to a wider range of communicative functions. Furthermore, research on the teaching of pragmatics has demonstrated that pragmatic features can be successfully learned in classroom settings and that explicit rather than implicit instructions is most effective (Kasper and Rose 2002). This is particularly good news for foreign language learners who do not have extensive exposure to conversational interaction outside the classroom. Thus, the question is no longer whether second language pragmatics should be taught but rather how it can be best integrated into classroom instruction.
(Spada, N., and Lightbown, P.M., 2006, in How Languages are Learned, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, p. 103-104)
Next time you're walking around the classroom, or if you're collecting samples of students' language, make sure you focus on something that goes beyond form. Go further. It simply makes sense, to me, to focus on emergent language and on a conversation-driven approach to language teaching – as long as you're doing it right. The problem lies in trying to do something before you really know how to do it.
February 21, 2012 at 12:27 pm
I've always believed we should not detach language learning from the sociocultural context in which it lies in. First and foremost, we should teach pragmatics since there's an obvious huge discrepancy between native pragramatic competence and that of non-native. One of the reasons being due to the fact that language learners and teachers (Brazilians included), place greater importance on grammar and have issues when it comes to relating the language to its sociocultural aspects. Mostly because of the traditional tendency of the learners to heavily rely on bottom-up processing rather than using 'frames' for social interpretation.
It is our duty to help our students become to use language appropriately in social situations by doing activities that require them to:
* use language for a variety of purposes,
* shift language for different listeners or occasions,
* engage into discussions about different topics,
* use conversation and storytelling skills
I've recently read this and I guess you migth be interested. It shows a very nice way of introducing pragmatics into language teaching, suggestions and ideas for activities and some videos. http://coerll.utexas.edu/methods/modules/pragmatics/03/
Great post!
February 21, 2012 at 8:13 pm
I've seen so little correction in the classroom of any form in my classroom observations. It is terrible to say but there is little training given on any form of correction never mind 'correction of form'. Generally, if you know language, which a teacher is supposed to, then you are expected to know what to correct. It is the difference between being and English teacher and a, English language teacher.
It is for this reason that teachers don't develop to the type of correction you are describing here. I might also say this is the reason why teachers correct form. Why?
a) because it is easier
b) they teach form and so must make sure it is correct
c) students expect it as this (form) is what they feel is important to them
The lexical approach, in which you quote calls for this higher level of correction, and is an example of what is nigh on impossible to implement in the classroom unless you are an teacher who has studied the language to a higher and larger degree.
A further difficulty I noticed in the Freeman quote is that they expect the teacher to slip into the shoes of a native speaker who is not as languge teachers and judge the language from this perspective. Not an easy or pragmatic thing to do for a non-native (NEST) to do to another. It takes discipline and effort – a hell of alot of it.
February 21, 2012 at 10:47 pm
For me, in a classroom setting, or while correcting students' journals, I have to choose the level I'm going to correct at. If a student says, "Therese occupation is an English teacher," I can respond by correcting the grammar, "Therese's occupation is an English teacher," or I can say, "It sounds more natural if you say Therese is an English teacher." It gets confusing if you do both, especially in written form. Sometimes, if I want to encourage them for using their new words (such as 'occupation'), I'll tolerate a little weirdness in usage. And then maybe do some circling with the target word, as it sounds right to me: "Right, that's Therese's occupation. You need to add an apostrophe S at the end of her name. Her occupation is teaching English. So you can say Therese is an English teacher."
What gets more confusing is when a non-native speaker who's really fluent is constantly using a phrase in English with a specific meaning that they've borrowed from the mother language. For example, I was talking out a conflict with a Taiwanese college professor, and commented that we had to show grace to each other. He vehemently disagreed, because to him "grace" meant kindness shown by a superior, and I was not his superior. In another case, I was talking with a very fluent college student, who told me that when dealing with emotions I needed to "read between the lines." For some reason, I didn't understand his exact meaning, which was embarrassing because his tone was emotionally intense, implying I should get it simply from the force of his psyche, but I didn't. So, then I might ask him to rephrase it in Chinese. Or give an example. I don't want to be obtuse, but sometimes the meaning isn't as clear as the speaker thinks.
February 27, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Thanks to all of you for sharing! It's been a very enlightening post! Teachers here in Argentina face the same problem when it comes to correction.
February 28, 2012 at 9:25 am
Hi Rick
I liked reading your post (and not only because you've included Lewis's quote 🙂 . Pragmatics is certainly an area which merits attention in the classroom, especially if we claim to be teaching English for communication (aka Communicative Approach). It is indeed often neglected at teachers conferences but Peter Grundy gave a plenary talk at IATEFL 2011. I unfortunately missed it but thanks to IATEFL online you can see it here:
I am not sure I understood your comment about vocabulary taking up a lot of our teaching after B2 levels. Surely pre B2 students need vocabulary too, if not more of it! Perhaps post-intermediate (post B2) students should hone in more on subtleties of different utterances. For example, today we focused on
Do you think you could have a word with her
with my upper-int students. Have a word may sound like having a brief informal chat but in fact it can imply a very serious conversation – something which was not immediately obvious to my students and had to be clarified.
On the point that Nathan raised, I must agree that it's a delicate balance. On the one hand teachers should relate to what a student is trying to say, the meaning of the whole utterance and not only correct grammar. On the other hand I sometimes have to tolerate a little weirdness in expression if students are trying to use new lexis. It's important to let them experiment with new language and actually encourage it.
I'll be definitely coming back to your blog, Rick.
P.S. Thanks, Ann, for pointing me in the direction of this blog
February 21, 2012 at 12:33 pm
February 24, 2012 at 3:43 pm
May 18, 2013 at 1:19 pm
February 10, 2014 at 12:00 am


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A dreadful performer in almost every regard.
PC Tools has a knack for producing clean, accessible user interfaces, and we found the simple front-end of its Internet Security suite a breath of fresh air. True, it offers only a basic set of components, and comparatively few configuration options, but we have no objection to a minimal package if it keeps overheads low.Unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth. Despite PC Tools Internet Security's narrow feature set it somehow made the biggest impact on boot time and memory of any package here. A full minute after the desktop appeared, system RAM usage was over 1GB and the CPU meter was hovering at around 20%.As if to trump this dubious achievement, the suite went on to achieve a malware detection score of just 68% - landing it in last place in this test by a wide margin. Three of the samples it missed were caught by every single other package. And more than once it insisted we'd have to reboot to remove infected files, which no other suite found necessary.The web threat test went slightly better: here, PC Tools' suite scored 34%, ranking it tenth in a field of 15. We didn't like the appearance of the browser defender plug-in, though, which added a thick, brightly-coloured bar to the top of every web page.The suite's best performance was in our network scan, where it revealed only the same vulnerabilities as the likes of McAfee and Norton. That's still only an average degree of protection, though.PC Tools has made some great utilities in the past and we hope it will again. Internet Security 2009, however, is definitely one to avoid.
This Review appeared in the March 2009 issue of PC & Tech Authority Magazine
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[Editor's note: Drew Magary of Kissing Suzy Kolber and Deadspin has given us this free column in exchange for the free publicity that we're giving his new book. So, basically, we're both whores.]
I'm a life coach for professional athletes by trade. I even wrote a book about it recently, which the editor of this site happily agreed to let me pimp out to you. (Buy it on Amazon! And get lots of Sprint phones too!) I'm qualified to give out advice to athletes for a variety of reasons. Sure, I never was a pro athlete myself. But I spent over 30 years IMAGINING myself as one. And really, isn't that just as valuable an asset? I say yes. No one quite understands the mindset of the pro athlete as I do. Like many pro athletes, I'm terribly immature, and I pout when things don't go my way, and I don't like taking or having responsibility of any kind. Also, I like sex. Man, do I ever like sex. It makes me feel like I'm shooting a really big gun at someone.
So I know where athletes are coming from. And that's why I was so dismayed to see a coach like Mike Singletary – a ROOKIE coach, mind you – publicly assailing one of his players in a press conference. Clearly, Mike Singletary doesn't get it. He doesn't understand what it's like to be a pro athlete. I bet that jerk never even PLAYED the game, like I did in a daydream once. What a loser.If Mike Singletary had any sense of history, he would know that things never turn out that well for NFL coaches who decide to throw a public tirade. Ask Denny "Crown Their Asses" Green. Or Jim "Diddly Poo" Mora. Or Rich "I'm a horrible coach and I'm probably bagging groceries in Piscataway now" Kotite. Openly throwing your players under the bus after a game, however justified one may be in doing so, is never an effective strategy for NFL head coaches. Why? Because players are TURDS. And anyone who thinks you can get a turd to play by openly questioning his commitment is dumber than your average Alaskan governor.That's why I've decided to put down my player advisor hat for today and take on the role of coach advisor, or "coach coach." Are you a coach like Mike Singletary or Jim Zorn, prone to public outbursts? Do you feel like your team may be slipping away from you? Are you secretly terrified of being exposed for the glaring fraud you know deep down that you really are? Never fear. For not only have I imagined myself as a successful player many times in my life, but I have also envisioned myself as a Super Bowl winning COACH as well. I've won enough games to make Don Shula spit out his dentures.
And now I'm here to help you weed out potential turds and deal with them through this handy FAQ. Be sure to thank me when you hoist your eighth Lombardi Trophy, as I imagined myself doing the just the other week.
A turd is a player who is sullen, uncooperative, lazy, greedy, selfish, and prone to violent outbursts. Oh, and repped by Drew Rosenhaus.
Because all you're doing is making them defensive. Like when I accidentally scrape the wall in my house and my wife gives me that look and I'm all like DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK, WOMAN! I ALREADY KNOW I SCREWED UP AND I FEEL BAD, OKAY? STOP JUDGING ME, DAMMIT!!!!
A turd player like Vernon Davis will never react positively to a public bashing. All it will do is make him think YOU'RE the one with the big ego, a guy who can only get his rocks off by belittling others out in the open. And I must say, the turd does have a bit of a point there.
No, because your turd was a first-round pick, with a signing bonus that likely occupies 7-8% of your team's cap space. Your team invested a lot of money in that jagoff. How do you think he got to be such a turd to begin with?
Think of your turd player as a real turd. You'd never let one of your real turds out in public, would you? Of course not. They only do that sort of thing in Sri Lanka.
Turds must be dealt with discreetly. Like this one time, I was in a bathroom at an offsite, and I ran out of toilet paper. And the toilet was clogged. And all that was left were paper towels. So I used the paper towels and threw them in the garbage can, only the garbage can was very full, so my soiled paper towels were just sort of poking out of the flap. But I just left them there and strolled out as if I hadn't just perpetrated a crime upon humanity. That's exactly how you have to deal with an ass like Vernon Davis.
Yes. In the case of someone like Randy Moss, all you have to do is surround him with a Hall of Fame QB, a Hall of Fame coach, a complimentary receiver to draw away double teams, an owner willing to bend over backwards to provide players with any amenity they require, a father figure he never had as a child, and that rare sort of team chemistry that only happens once in a generation for a team.
Shouldn't be that hard.
Remember: turd players aren't some anomaly you can simply do away with. And the sooner you learn that, the better. Great coaches don't get rid of turds. Great coaches fool turds into giving them just one decent season in their contract year, before letting them go and destroy some other team in free agency. They certainly don't keep them around, as noted turd-retainer Marvin Lewis enjoys doing.
Mike Singletary says he wants winners. Well, guess what, Mikey? SO DOES EVERY OTHER TEAM. If you coach in the NFL, you're gonna have a loser or twelve on your roster. The real question isn't if you can flush those turds away. No, the real question is: You gonna squeeze everything you can out of that turd?
Hope you eat lots of fiber.
[Editor's note: Drew Magary of Kissing Suzy Kolber and Deadspin has given us this free column in exchange for the free publicity that we're giving his new book. So, basically, we're both whores.]
mcrowell says: Oct 28, 2008 1:28 PM
so let me get this straight…singeltary is suppose to ignore the guy who disrespected him and his position, on the field, in front of the team, and not let him know who the boss is??…maybe you're just saying it should be dealt with behind close doors, but i have no idea what your book is about, you didn't tell a compelling story, and it appears you have nothing of any constructivity to read about.
this is the first review that made me NOT want to read a book…sorry.
The_Stig says: Oct 28, 2008 1:41 PM
*wipes tear from cheek*
Beautiful, BDD…….simply beautiful.
Pea Tear Griffin says: Oct 28, 2008 1:55 PM
After reading the reviews on Amazon.com, I might just go to my nearest B&N and steal a copy…
OutFoxed says: Oct 28, 2008 2:14 PM
Your first mistake was expecting anything serious out of this!!! I think this was written by Dave Barry in disguise!!! Tkx for the laugh Dave.
I do agree with the fact of: praise in public and reprimand in private. A very basic management concept applicable to all managers regardless of the industry. No place for emotions in the public setting. In the locker room, a different story
ekidd07 says: Oct 28, 2008 2:29 PM
It certainly doesn't seem like an enjoyable read for 280+ pages.
Or even the SuperSaver price of $11.55.
kbtegp says: Oct 28, 2008 2:30 PM
Mcrowell — You missed the point just a bit…
Main Entry: tongue-in-cheek
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: ironic and insincere
Synonyms: amusing, blithe, clever, comic, comical, dry, facetious, farcical, flip*, flippant, funny, humorous, in fun, in jest, ironic, ironical, irreverent, jesting, jocular, joking, jokingly, joshing, kiddingly, laughable, not serious, playful, pulling one's leg, putting one on, sarcastic, satirical, smart, whimsical, wisecracking, witty
beselfish says: Oct 28, 2008 3:22 PM
as shown by this ridiculous article, some coaches take the media way too seriously. These writers are not worthy of the example of integrity and sportsmanship a man like Singletary can bring to a team.
dajaba75 says: Oct 28, 2008 3:50 PM
DeVoodoo – sexist much?
DimeCFH says: Oct 28, 2008 4:13 PM
To CFioren317 – hear hear. Don't forget about the worst offender of them all – Peter King.
NoWearMan says: Oct 28, 2008 4:19 PM
"I really hate when I have to read idiotic give their political views….."
A mildly amusing read at best, just one mans opinion.
But be careful, calling out singletary might get renards panties in a bunch.
NoWearMan says: Oct 28, 2008 4:29 PM
hmmm….it was supposed to read:
"I really hate when I have to read idiotic commenters give their political views….."
I guess I suck.
guffman44 says: Oct 28, 2008 4:53 PM
Good call. I also am tired of these sportswriters giving us their political opinion. I think they do it because it gives them street cred with their colleagues in the news. Kind of like, "hey, look at me! I can make fun of Sarah Palin too. I'm a serious journalist. I can do more than just sniff jocks."
The Raj says: Oct 28, 2008 6:34 PM
Yeah, Magary was kinda funny, but hopefully not giving serious advice. Wouldn't waste five minutes of reading time on the full book, though. The Palin joke was standard, and got a negative creativity rating. He and Simmons are definitely banned from making any political commentary, since they get their info in sound bites. Palin may be dumb, but hearing a teaser for the Couric interview doesn't qualify as research. CFioren317, I must congratulate the highly appropriate use of the term "ass clown."
Seabass417 says: Oct 28, 2008 7:38 PM
The turd definition should include "repped by Bus Cook."


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A break-open single shot would be a huge pain in the event of a home evasion by multiple thugs, especially if you miss one. Granted: its better than a sharp stick. Why not implore technology that will help you keep your family safe? Its not like you are setting up claymores and lobbing grenades to stop the threat.
My view it this: If I can aide me in keeping me, or my family safe it could save our lives or reduce injuries. I may be able to stop a threat with a level action, but I also may get shot or killed while taking the extra time needed to work the action as opposed to just pulling the trigger.
Is a cap-n-ball SOA revolver deadly? Of course, but I can defend myself much more efficiently with a modern auto-feeder that has a higher capacity and quicker reloads.
I have a laser-site on my EDC, is it needed? No. But I could afford it, its perfectly legal, doesn't make it any harder to conceal, and certainly could help me in a SD situation. Its certainly not going to get in the way or impede me.
Tactical or otherwise,...Is it practical enough to meet a purpose or it just to look cool? Will it actually aide me in the event of "defecation meeting the ventilation"?


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Newberry Debates Consolidating Fire Department
Newberry, FL -- The City of Newberry discussed whether to proceed with talks to consolidate it's Fire Department with Alachua County.
At tonight's City Commission meeting, commissioners and residents gathered to discuss the topic.
The commissioners are split, but they say consolidating the two departments will bring savings of more than $400,000 a year and some fire fighters may get a salary raise but there are some residents who oppose the consolidation.
This is only an initial step. Further negotiations with the City and Alachua County will need to take place and if a decision is made to consolidate, it may be a year until the process is complete.
"The County could provide the same level of service, equipment and the same location at a much lower deal and that might be something the commission would be interested in discussing," said Newberry Mayor, Bill Conrad.
Commissioners say they're bringing up the topic again because during the last negotiations, consolidating would mean giving up the previous fire chief.
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- Gainesville City Leaders Debate Implementing Fire Assessment Fees
- Newberry Schools on High Alert Monday
- Fire funding discussions
- Fire chiefs ask for more money
- Commission negotiates fire contracts
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- Newberry Home Destroyed in Fire
- Newberry Fire Rescue Remains Under City


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Statehouse Schedule
Scheduled to go into session at 1 p.m.
H. 259 Increasing the number of members on the liquor control board
Third Reading H. 73 Establishing a government transparency office to enforce the public records act
Third Reading S. 12 An act relating to adding a member from the area agencies on aging to the governor's commission on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders
Favorable H. 442 Amending the charter of the city of Rutland
Action Under Rule 52 J.R.H. 16 Authorizing Green Mountain Boys' State educational program to use the state house
Action Under Rule 52 J.R.H. 18 Urging the Federal Railroad Administration to award a passenger rail improvement grant to the state of Vermont for upgrading the western rail corridor
Action Under Rule 52 H.R. 9 Designating April 25, 2011 as Genetic Equity Awareness Day
Scheduled to go into session at 11:30 a.m.
Third Reading S. 34 The collection and disposal of mercury-containing lamps
Third Reading S. 90 Respectful language in state statutes in referring to people with disabilities
Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Public hearing on H.202. An act relating to a single-payer and unified health system. (Note: Hearing will not be available via live stream.)