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Taylor Swift and the end of the Hollywood writers strike – a tale of two media narratives
What does it say about the online media ecosystem when the end of a 146-day strike is buried under headlines and posts about Taylor Swift's budding romance with NFL star Travis Kelce?
This fall, I've been starting my sociology classes by asking my students to share some uplifting news they've come across. On Tuesday, 26 September 2023, they were abuzz about Taylor Swift's appearance at the Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday. Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had left Arrowhead Stadium together in Kelce's convertible, confirming dating rumours.
As a scholar of the attention economy, I wasn't exactly surprised. Many of my students love Swift's music, and the story has dominated major social media platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter, as a trending topic.
But I was taken aback when I learned that not a single student had heard that the Writers Guild of America had reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP, after a nearly 150-day strike. This historic deal includes significant raises, improvements in health care and pension support, and – unique to our times – protections against the use of artificial intelligence to write screenplays.
Across online media platforms, the WGA announcement on 24 September 2023, ended up buried under headlines and posts about the celebrity duo. To me, this disconnect felt like a microcosm of the entire online media ecosystem.
Manufacturing consent online
It almost goes without saying that news and social media platforms promote some stories and narratives over others. This particular occurrence is fascinating, however, because the AMPTP represents some of the media conglomerates that directly disseminate news. For example, CNN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a member of the AMPTP.
At the time of this writing, CNN.com has three headlines about the WGA strike and eight headlines about Swift at the Chiefs game. Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky's 1988 book "Manufacturing Consent" outlines the problem of media ownership by conglomerates. According to this theory, powerful interests control narratives, in part, by owning news sources.
There's a free press in the U.S. But Herman and Chomsky argue that the news that reaches everyday people tends to be framed by a set of assumptions that align with the ideological interests of the media corporations and their advertisers: maintaining the economic status quo and spurring consumerism. In the U.S. today, six conglomerates own and control 90% of media outlets.
Per Pew Research Center data, a majority of Americans get their news from online sources. Scholars have since adapted Herman and Chomsky's propaganda model to explain how social media ecosystems function.
The role of algorithms is a key focus of emergent research on manufacturing consent online. Sociologist Ruha Benjamin's work consistently shows that algorithms are encoded with their developers' biases. Other studies show that critiques about algorithmic biases are suppressed by corporate digital media platforms through strategies like shadow-banning, which refers to covertly banning users of concern without their knowledge. These algorithms determine what is trending on websites like X. This, in turn, influences trends on other platforms, like Google searches.
Google trend results show an enormous increase in search queries about Travis Kelce since Sept. 20, 2023, with the WGA strike victory receiving almost no interest in comparison. The massive gap in interest between these topics serves as an example of algorithms supporting trending topics over other newsworthy content.
Another key focus of the propaganda model for social media is targeted advertising.
Unlike their predecessors in television, social media companies use "big data" to know users intimately and present ads that are personalized to each user. This strategy includes guerrilla marketing techniques like the ones employed by several companies after Swift's appearance.
For example, the National Football League changed its X bio to read "NFL (Taylor's Version)." Sales of Kelce's jersey skyrocketed in the few days after Swift's appearance at the Chiefs game. Hidden Valley Ranch changed its X handle to "Seemingly Ranch" after a Swift fan account noted that during the game, Swift had dipped her chicken fingers in "seemingly ranch."
Corporate media coverage of labor issues
The muted coverage of the writer's strike fits into a longer historical pattern of tension between labour movements and corporate media. In many cases, corporate media has framed disproportionately negative narratives about strikes and union activities.
For example, an analysis of media coverage of tensions between the United Auto Workers and General Motors from 1991-93 found that major newspapers, including The New York Times, consistently framed GM's position in a positive light, while crafting significantly more negative stories about the strike and auto workers. Similar patterns are visible in media reporting on the 1993 American Airlines flight attendant strike and the 1997 United Parcel Service strike.
When not covering labour issues in a negative light, corporate media has a track record of ignoring and minimizing these issues. Communications scholar Jon Bekken's meta-analysis of media coverage discovered substantial drops in coverage of labour issues by major outlets like the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times and CBS throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century.
This historical dynamic is beginning to change. Increasing public support for labour unions and worker action has made it difficult to ignore the bubbling currents of organized labour across many industries, from Starbucks to auto workers. Today, 58% of Americans support the ongoing United Auto Workers strikes against GM, Ford and Stellantis, the company that makes Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles.
Despite corporate ownership and biased algorithms, labour movements have managed to secure public support, demonstrating that Americans are increasingly aware of their class interests. During such a fraught political climate for the economic status quo, the WGA victory is a major indicator that strikes work. So, amid these tensions, a feel-good story about Taylor Swift and football is a gift to media executives – and one that helps sell more ranch dressing, too. DM
This story was first published in The Conversation. Aarushi Bhandari is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Davidson College.


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We spent all of Sunday in Orange County. Besides Balboa Island and Disneyland, the OC is not my favorite place to be. I don't know what it is about that place but it rubs me the wrong way. It's a weird unexplainable vibe but I don't know why I give that place such a bad rep, it has one of the best malls in California, The South Coast Plaza. I haven't been there in ten years *I bought my wedding dress from there* As you know a few weeks ago I ordered our cabinet knobs, a new light fixture and the drawer pulls from Pottery Barn online. Lo and behold I received the package but no drawer pulls. I checked my order status and it says in process. I waited a week later and I noticed the amount for the pulls were credited to my bank account. Okay, that's strange I checked my emails and saw nothing from PB. I go to the site and discover my order status went from being in stock, to in process and now it says backordered until 7/16/2013!! Now I have high expectations from a store like Pottery Barn but to not send me an email to notify me that an item I already purchased 3 weeks ago was on backorder, that seems shady. I called customer service and they gave me a spiel about there being thousands of orders everyday and they don't have time to notify the customer. Well, I'm fully expecting some kind of discount for my trouble and they would send me the pulls immediately but she gave me a big fat "We're sorry" and she tells me I can go to the Costa Mesa store and buy them there. Ummm, okay PB that's totally uncool of you. So I got dissed really hard by them I had to drive all the way to the South Coast Plaza even though there are like 30 Pottery Barns near me. Lucky for them, I had to go out there to pick up a few things from West Elm anyway. I picked up Antz Mom to join us and we made a day of it. I got to the store and almost had a heart attack when I looked for the pulls and there weren't any. Fortunately, they found some in the back but then I opened one to make sure it was the right color to find the screws were missing. Sheesh, Pottery Barn, get your shit together! You totally left a sour taste in my mouth after years of being a loyal customer.
We then went to West Elm and found everything I needed. That place rocks! Most of the items were on sale online but they match the price in store too and a few items were on sale that I didn't expect to be. I saved so much I picked up an extra goody for the kitchen.
|New things makes me happy happy
We had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe which is a totally cheesy, touristy place but Liv loved it. There was a guy making balloon animals and this dude was like the Lord of Balloons. I asked him if he majored in balloon making in college because there was nothing he couldn't make. He told me his trade secret, it's all in the quality of the balloons. He made Ariel The Little mermaid, Spiderman, the Sistine Chapel…he was fascinating to watch in action.
|It was very difficult to get her to eat with so many animal distractions
|Lord of the balloons
|Princess Bratface
How cute is my hubby and his Mommy?
|Queen Bratface
We drove down to Laguna Beach but it was too chilly to walk on the beach. It was a nice trip but I'll stay up north where I belong. So a week has been added to our timeline but I'm so happy with the progress. If anyone is looking for a contractor or handyman, email me. Pottery Barn…you really need to improve your customer service because I'm not a happy camper!

subset: commoncrawl


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Apple has officially launched The Mac App Store. Mac users can now access the new App Store by downloading and installing the Mac OS 10.6.6 update. You can either get the 10.6.6 update directly from Apple's website or through Software Update. After that you will be able to access the Mac App Store.
The Mac App Store is new but you will find 1,000 software items already there which also includes Apple's iLife and iWork.
See the official Press Release by Apple:
Apple announced today that the Mac App Store is now operating with more than 1,000 applications in the catalog, free and paid. The Mac on the Mac App Store brings the revolutionary experience of the 'App Store, which allows you to find exciting new applications, purchase using your iTunes account, download and install in one step. The App Store is available to Mac users through the Snow Leopard Software Update, as part of Mac OS X v10.6.6.
"With over 1,000 Apps, Mac App Store starts great," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We think users will love this new and innovative ways to discover and purchase their favorite app."
The Mac App Store offers applications for the Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity, Utilities and other categories. Users can browse for new applications and are worthy of note, discover the most interesting finding of the staff of your favorite app store, search by category and see the rankings of the app fee and most downloaded free of charge, as well as assessments and user reviews.
Entirely new applications and those currently preferred by Mac users, are made available by developers such as Autodesk, Ancestry.com and Boinx. Apps, iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand iLife '11 suite of popular Apple Mac are available individually on the App Store for € 11.99 each, while applications Pages, Keynote and iWork Numbers are available at € 15.99 each. 3 Aperture, Apple's powerful software for managing and editing photos is available for € 62.99.
"We are pleased to make available on the Mac App Store, the very day of his debut, Autodesk SketchBook Pro, our professional-level app for painting and drawing," said Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk. "We had a huge success on the Mac, iPhone and iPad with multiple applications. We are pleased to offer SketchBook Pro on the Mac App Store so that artists can easily create everything from quick sketches to high-quality creations on your Mac. "
"By offering the app 'Family Tree Maker' to Ancestry.com on the Mac App Store, making it even easier for people to discover and access to their family history," said Tim Sullivan, CEO of Ancestry.com. "The Mac App Store will launch a new generation of innovation on the Mac platform."
"We are excited to have our award-winning animation software, video production and photography available on the new Mac App Store," said Oliver Breidenbach, CEO of Boinx Software. "The Mac App Store makes it easier than ever for users to access all the innovative software created for the Mac."
To get the Mac App Store, just download the software update of Mac OS X v10.6.6 or visit apple.com / mac / app-store. For more information about developing for the Mac App Store you can 'visit developer.apple.com / programs / mac.
Apple designed the Mac, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife and iWork software professional. Apple is leading the digital music revolution with its iPod and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced the magical iPad that is defining the future of mobile devices and media in mobile computing.
Stay tuned to VeryRite.com. We will be updating you more on the Mac App Store.
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Application Support Analyst – ChorleyApplication Support, SQL, Database, IT Support, Troubleshoot, Software Deployment This advanced solutions provider requires a driven and self-motivated Application Support Analyst to join their busy technical services team, and motivate those around them. They are based in Chorley and they will offer you an excellent salary and benefits package. The key to this role is customer service and hence you will be a good communicator with plenty of energy and enthusiasm. The Application Support Analyst will be responsible for:
Location: Chorley, United Kingdom
Employment: Permanent
Salary: £0 - £0


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This is one of two forms of Pewter Stewartia pseudocamellia that we have been working with for a few years.
The Plantmad Nursery & Garden Blog
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Saturday, August 16, 2014
We're Back!!
Every year by the end of May after a busy Spring Season I'm often a bit burned out with Nursery Work & Plants in general! The work doesn't go away but the desire to keep up with the Nursery Blog & Facebook Page is something I can let slip. This year that slip turned into a full on slide! But now all our plants are potted & our Summer cuttings are almost done & so I can start taking it easy again :)..
The Mist System is almost Full for the year!
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A very high quality photograph of a pelican perched on a pier. A VHQP of a PPP, if you will.
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FAU Arena, commonly known as "The Burrow" to the faithful, is set to receive a $3M donation according to the Florida Atlantic Board of Trustees schedule for Tuesday, June 4th. Details of the gift, which once approved is to be made by The Rocco A. and Mary Abessinio Foundation, Inc., are listed below.
The Rocco A. and Mary Abessinio Foundation, Inc. are donating Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) for a recognition opportunity by naming the basketball court within the FAU Arena (The Burrow).
The motion to be put forth at Tuesday's meeting will be to approve naming the basketball court at The Burrow, within the FAU Arena, the Abessinio Court.
The gift will be used to renovate and enhance The Burrow and the operations of FAUs Mens and Womens Basketball Programs. In continued pursuit of growing FAUs Athletics brand on a national level, these renovations will help enhance Florida Atlantic University and Boca Raton.
The renovations and investment into the operations of FAU programs will also positively impact its overall student athlete experience, helping to allow FAU student athletes to excel in the classroom and in competition.
The parties involved recognize and agree that The Burrow is presently a mature building and may be replaced. Therefore, this naming request also seeks the Boards approval that the name Abessinio Court automatically be transferred, without need for further review or approval, to the court of a new arena that replaces The Burrow as the site of the FAU Basketball programs, should such a replacement arena be built.
The FAU Arena plays a central role to elevate FAUs standing and the renovations will benefit students, community members and student athletes.
Rocco A. Abessinio is the chief executive officer of Roch Capital, Inc. He oversees existing operations as well as evaluating all potential investment opportunities. Rocco Abessinio is also the founder of Applied Bank and Applied Card Systems, Inc., which grew to be the 10th largest issuer of Visa and MasterCard credit cards in the country.
The Abessinios have been longtime supporters of FAU Athletics, culminating with this transformational gift to support a key Athletics venue.
Through our company, Applied Card Systems, we were proud to be FAU Football Founders and the major sponsor of FAUs first football game against Slippery Rock University, said Abessinio. We are excited at the progress being made under President Kelly and hope that this gift will be another stepping stone in bringing FAU into national prominence.


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I had the pleasure of a session with this adorably sweet newborn, just seven days young. Her session was definitely a memorable one for me because we (meaning Southern California) had a 5.3 earthquake right in the middle of her shoot! She remained in her peaceful slumber even though it rattled my nerves some! Baby S was an absolute joy to...
Monthly Archives: August 2008
Here are a few from my recent session with adorable little D and his beautiful mommy Christina. He is at such a fun stage… all toddler and all boy! We had a blast playing together and keeping each other entertained. Enjoy the sneak peek Christina. Can't wait to show you the rest!
8 days old = a week and a day… that is how old this beautiful baby girl was the day of our session. Newborns spend alot of time sleeping, but this little one stayed awake almost the entire time we were together. She was so alert and expressive. She is such a beautiful baby!


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Even though the January transfer window sees far less action than the summer transfer window, that doesn't mean that this month will be without plenty of headlines involving big clubs and big-name stars.
This afternoon's roundup of transfer news tidbits includes bits from England, Spain, Italy, France, and Scotland, and though there aren't any big done deals to speak of just yet, it's looking like a few could be in the cards in the near future.
Liverpool Reject Babel Bid
Liverpool have rejected an 8m bid from Birmingham for forward Ryan Babel. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Though Babel might prefer to hold out for a move outside of the Premier League and to a club with a higher profile, a golden opportunity at regular first-team football in the months before a World Cup is nothing to scoff at. There is, however, the matter of Liverpool's valuation, which might be more than what Birmingham want to/can pay.
Veron Turns Down City Move
According to reports in Argentina, Manchester City have made a 7m bid to Estudiantes La Plata for former Manchester United man Juan Sebastian Veron. (Goal.com)
Analysis: Strange rumor, this, but he does offer a wealth of experience and a long list of successes. However, would he want to leave a glorious situation to go back to the Premier League at this point in his career? The answer is a confirmed no.
Spurs To Beat Liverpool To Maxi?
Tottenham are set to offer David Bentley in order to sweeten their hopes to land Atletico Madrid winger Maxi Rodriguez, who is also at the top of Liverpool's January wishlist. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: That would be more a move to get rid of the dead weight than anything, but they may have to find another place to flog Bentley off to, as Liverpool seem to be the team to beat in this race.
Fulham Close On Okaka?
Fulham got a boost in their hopes of signing Roma striker Stefano Okaka on loan with the news that the 20-year-old would be interested in a move to Craven Cottage. (The Mirror)
Analysis: Given the three goals that they allowed inside the first 37 minutes in yesterday's defeat away to Stoke City, perhaps a new defender wouldn't hurt either, especially with John Paintsil being a long-term injury loss.
Wigan Target Fryatt Swoop
Wigan are set to make a 3m bid for Leicester striker Matty Fryatt. (The Sun)
Analysis: With Fryatt being such an important part of Leicester's push for back-to-back promotions and a return to the Premier League, I don't see this one coming to fruition in January.
Atletico Ink Merida, Close On Salvio
According to reports, Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has signed a pre-contract agreement with Atletico Madrid. (The Mirror)
Analysis: If he'd been patient and waited around a little longer, his chance might have come at Arsenal. However, at the same time, this is a great opportunity for him. He'll get to return to his home country, and he'll get a chance to continue his progress and earn first-team opportunities with a club known for success with producing quality young talent.
Speaking of quality young talent, Atletico have also reportedly finalized an agreement with Argentine side Lanus for highly-rated prospect Eduardo Salvio. (Goal.com)
Analysis: Is this a sign that Atletico are ready to look to a future without Sergio Aguero? Not really, since they'd been after Salvio for quite a while, and because Aguero's imminent departure is as inevitable as Fernando Torres' was, so I'm sure they've been preparing for quite a while.
Caicedo To Malaga?
Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo could be set to turn down the chance to move to Hull City in favor of a move to Malaga. (The Mirror)
Analysis: The loan spell at Sporting didn't quite pan out as hoped, but he showed in the opportunities he got at City last season that he has a ton of potential, and at 21, time is still very much on his side. Malaga are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run that has them in position to jump into the safe zone soon, but they could use a real goal-getter to improve their prospects of survival, so this would be a good move for both sides.
Monaco Eye Kone
AS Monaco have contacted Sevilla about a loan deal for Ivorian striker Arouna Kone. (Transfer Market Web)
Analysis: Monaco need another quality scoring option to go with Nene and Park Chu-Young, who have combined for 16 of their 20 league goals this season. Kone hasn't flourished in his time at Sevilla, but he did have a solid scoring record in his time in the Eredivisie and in Belgium prior to his move, so he could be just what the doctor ordered.
Celtic Move For Kitson?
Celtic are reportedly lining up a loan move for Stoke City striker Dave Kitson, and the former Reading star is openly receptive to a move after hearing many positive comments about the club from former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan during his recent loan spell at Middlesbrough. (Daily Mail)
Analysis: Things haven't quite worked out for Kitson at Stoke, but he has the talent to succeed in the SPL. With the potential of Scott McDonald moving to the Premier League sometime in the near future, a loan deal could open up a lot of opportunities for Kitson.


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Conventional dual-labeled qPCR probes lack error-checking mechanisms and cannot provide multi-temperature single base discrimination. GeneTAG Technology has developed several error-resistant DNA Detection Switch (DDS) probe systems for high-fidelity detection and/or amplification. DDS probes involve the interaction of two labeled polynucleotide components: a fluorescent probe and a competitive, quencher-labeled antiprobe. Probes bind preferentially to their intended targets, turning on signaling, while dissociating from a nearly complementary antiprobe that otherwise turns off signaling. This general signaling mechanism is termed a ′DNA detection switch′.
Our DDS probes are capable of accurate single-base discrimination at annealing temperature ranges of up to 30ºC. This flexibility helps ensure consistency between different users and facilitates assay multiplexing by overcoming the need to optimize multiple assays to perform at the same annealing temperature.
Our Universal, Half-Universal, and MacMan assays use generic components for lost-cost detection. These probe systems employ competitive antiprobes and are most suitable for presence/absence determinations. Our generic probes also enable low-cost screening of target sites during assay optimization.
We have developed three main types of target-specific probe: antiprobe systems. Our ZIPR primer/probes employ antiprobes for accurate target amplification, while our internal DNA-Detection Switch (iDDS) probes and Flip probes detect internal sequences. Several of our iDDS probes can discriminate between 6 closely related targets differing by 1-2 bases.
GeneTAG Technology offers custom assays for essentially any target of interest. We offer custom-designed assays using iDDS probes (for high specificity), ZIPR probes (for accurate amplification), or Universal probes (for low cost detection or optimization).
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Welcome to Tot School™ Gathering Place! Gather together here, gather ideas from other blogs, share your own ideas on your own blog. Browse around at the other posts linked up, leave a few comments if you have time, and be sure to check back to see if your blog was featured!
Each week we will feature photo{s} and ideas from blogs who link up. Remember, provide a link back to Tot School Gathering Place within your post that you link up, so you can be considered for the feature!
Wow! Where has this month gone? The last full week of February is upon us! I hope you have been enjoying each moment with your Tot! Don't forget to share those fun moments with us here at the Gathering Place! I love seeing all the creative activities you and your Tot enjoy together! Keep up the great work, Mamas!!!
Head on over to Hoosier Homestead to see what Mama Vanessa and her Tot Meghan have been up to this week!
Easter is only five weeks away! Take a look at SmartE PartE to see the Easter themed tot trays and sensory bin that Mama Kristin put together for Tot E to learn from and enjoy!
Fun with Mama has created a number of different Tot Trays to keep those little ones busy! Take a peek at all the fun that Tot Didi and Mama Nadia enjoyed so far this month!

Do you have your FREE
Where to Begin with Tot School eBook?
See the Tot School webpage here!
Follow {1plus1plus1} Carisa's board Tot School Ideas on Pinterest.
Are you NEW or have never been featured? Read this! Basics: write a specific post about what you did with your tot, link up the permalink from your post, link back to Tot School within that post, put your tot's age in months in ( ) like this: (43 months).


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- Shop Her
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- Bamboo Jersey Infinity Scarf - Khaki with Olive Crop
Bamboo Jersey Infinity Scarf - Khaki with Olive Crop
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If you've never used a circle scarf, you're in for a treat. These scarves are lightweight, soft, and simple to style. A delicious blend of super soft bamboo and rayon, these are a Beyond Her favorite. We think this camel scarf is a perfect choice for casual, office, date nights. The image of crops in the field is hand-printed with soft, earth-friendly ink in jade green. Totally washable.
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Greetings and salutations, fine folks! Here we are, less than 60 some-ought sleeps from the minor league season's Opening Day. Despite the fact it remains cold as kitty titties and you're still trying to figure out why the NFL felt compelled to have the Chili Peppers momentarily invade Bruno Mars' shit-hot set, believe me when I tell you, "It's Coming!" Baseball's coming back, it always does. It's an expertly launched boomerang. So, this is the time of year when I implore you to pick your minor leaguers. Yep, yep, YOUR minor leaguers. As in "that's my guy!" Don't have a favorite minor leaguer? No worries, we can help.
I'm not asking you to pick an entire club, although if you live close to one of Texas' fine affiliates 1.) I hope it's Myrtle Beach and 2.) more power to you- root for the whole damn team! But most folks I've sent down this path over the last few years, simply settle on a couple fellas. So do that. Got a family member you watch baseball with? Tell 'em you're both picking a minor leaguer to track this season. Got a friend who obsesses over the Rangers with you? Tell 'em you're both going to follow the same kid, rooting him on, from a distance, through the ups and the downs. Need a reason to start a conversation with a teenager who thinks you're the dumbest person in the world? Start a chat with "How about we keep an eye on this Rougned Odor kid this year. How do you pronounce his name again?" You get the point. Utilize baseball's binding power to ride the roller coaster that is minor league life.
Now, how to select "your guy".
1.) As I mentioned, if you live within driving distance of an affiliate, it might help to pick a kid who is likely destined to play at that affiliate. Rosters are still two months away from being announced, but you can make an educated guess with most players. If not, let me know and I'll tell you where I think that fella is likely to be stationed for the bulk of the 2014 season. Then we can be wrong, together. Picking one headed to a town near you is especially helpful if you're tracking a player with the help of a kid. Junior is gonna be a lot more interested in checking the box score if he/she understands, "Hey, when school gets out, we'll head to a couple games to check our guy out in person." Who knows, while at the game you might also notice that same juicy feeling you get when you see your favorite big leaguer, right in front of you, in person, with your own eyes. That's a good buzz.
2.) Pick a player whose skill-set and/or personality you enjoy at the big league level. You know, homers get you going? You like big dudes and the allure of a pitched pill being sent into high-orbit? Cool. There's a couple of those kids. You like defensive wizards? You wait for the 'Web Gems" on Baseball Tonight? Excellent. Texas has a couple glove-men. Like a fiery reliever who throws serious heat? A soft-spoken reliever who throws damn-near underhand? Yep. Texas' got 'em. One word of warning here, some tools won't show up in the box score. Namely, "glove". But understanding that your guy is known for having a good glove will make it a lot cooler when he goes 13-for-28 at the dish one week. You can pull for a kid because he's from your alma mater, your hometown, your home-state, or your home-country. Most of these guys have had something written, at some point, about their makeup too. Looking for a quiet assassin, a man of faith, a tall guy, a short guy, a guy who's overcome more adversity than most? Every system's got 'em, and Texas' is no different.
3.) Finally, and perhaps most importantly, figure out the point of the exercise. The big point, man. I'm a dreamer and I'm one of those guys who believes (sometimes naively) that sports can bring out the best in us. If you go to a bunch of Rangers' games every year and you want to follow a kid who has a clear chance of playing in RBiA someday, go that route. If you're trying to teach a youngster that sometimes playing your ass off, and just showing up everyday counts, pick one of those type 'o guys. If you genuinely want to get more into the minor league system and its players, pick a kid destined for A-ball and make him your guy for a few years. For the most part, minor league players don't have money. Not yet, not most of them. And the truth is, most will never spend even 1 day in the show. It's that hard, but over the last hundred or so years, that hasn't once stopped thousands of young men from suiting up every spring. They'll put on a uniform in a town and a stadium far removed from what most think of as "professional baseball." They'll steal the night, riding in a cramped bus with 30 other dudes on an 8-hour trip that left the visiting locker room shortly before 11P.M. The point is, get on board with a player. Get on board with a minor leaguer who has hopes and dreams of three-tiered stadiums and someone else carrying his luggage, and [gasp] AIR TRAVEL!
As for how to best "track" your guy, I suggest using the World Wide Web. Super easy stuff these days, friends. If you're feeling bigtime, all the AAA and AA games are available live, on the web, via MiLB.tv's subscription service. I think it was about $40 last season and ooowheee, it's a lot of baseball every night. In addition, more and more single-A teams are adding MiLB.tv coverage every year, including your very own Myrtle Beach Pelicans, whose every home game is available [-ahem- GALLO!]. If your player is anywhere from low-A to AAA, I suggest adding the affiliates' home page to your browser's memory. Every morning you'll see game wraps from the night before and even some video clips. Obviously, I'm a fan of Twitter and I follow all the teams on there as well. See? No sweat.
Every year, I watch minor league baseball and every year, these dudes teach me something. Every year a few of them pleasantly surprise me. Every year a few of them disappoint me. I've kept tabs on lots of kids in my time and never once has it been boring. Seriously, you should try it. Pick a kid, any one of 'em, find one you connect with for whatever reason, then come along for the ride.
As always, enjoy baseball! Love Ya!


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Are you always tired?
Does your weight fluctuate?
Not to worry. If you're feeling run down and sluggish, it could be your Thyroid. One simple test can answer your questions.
|Don't Live Wondering
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|Don't Live Wondering
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland does not produce enough of certain important hormones.
Symptom may include:
When hypothyroidism isn't treated, signs and symptoms can gradually become more severe. Constant stimulation of your thyroid to release more hormones may lead to an enlarged thyroid (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow or you may feel depressed.
The good news is that accurate thyroid function tests are available to diagnose hypothyroidism, and treatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective once the proper dosage is established.


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Wednesday 16th of April 2014 - 66803 views
Ramallah -
A poster in the streets of Ramallah encouraging gender equality in the Palestinian Curriculum hung under a no entry sign.
"it does not matter whether you are a boy or a girl, you are a human being.. Encouraging gender equality between students leads to a balanced community", says the poster.
Aya Tahhan – Ramallah Lab
photo's from the same project
photo's from the same author


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Brendan T. O'ConnorAssociate Professor, College of Information and Computer Sciences
Associate Director, Computational Social Science Institute
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @brendan642
Room 238, Computer Science Building, 140 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA 01003
I am an associate professor in the College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass Amherst. My group is the SLANG Lab, part of UMass NLP. I am also an associate director of the Computational Social Science Institute, and affiliated with the UMass CogSci and the Centers for Data Science and Intelligent Information Retrieval.
Links: CV, Bio, Teaching, Talks, Notes, Misc.
Some current things:
Some current collaborative projects:
What can statistical text analysis tell us about society? I develop text analysis methods that can help answer social science questions. I'm interested in statistical machine learning and natural language processing, especially when informed by or applied to areas like political science or sociolinguistics. My work often uses text data from news and social media.
There is a rich set of other faculty at UMass interested in areas from computational social science to natural language processing. See the Computational Social Science Institute (CSSI) website, and UMass NLP affiliates.
I joined UMass after receiving my PhD from Carnegie Mellon University's Machine Learning Department. I have also been a Visiting Fellow at Harvard IQSS, and interned with the Facebook Data Science team. Before grad school, I worked on crowdsourced annotations at CrowdFlower / Dolores Labs, and natural language search at Powerset. I started studying the intersection of AI and social science as an undergrad and masters student in Stanford Symbolic Systems (cognitive science).
Link: Full bio.


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Women who consider taking anabolic steroids are often faced with a harsh reality. Anabolic steroids can make women look like a man.
Yes, anabolic steroids have been used by men for decades but there is a big difference between men and women taking anabolic steroids. In this article, I will explain the benefits of legal steroids and some of what we consider are the best legal steroids for female bodybuilders.
- Anabolic steroids boost testosterone which is not something most women want.
Anabolic steroids were originally made to treat certain medical conditions such as breast cancer and wasting diseases that caused a deterioration of the bones and muscles. They have often been prescribed to aids and cancer patients to help them gain weight and increase energy.
Bodybuilders use steroids to increase muscle mass and strength, that's how pro bodybuilders get so big. The main purpose of anabolic steroids is to chemically increase the male hormone testosterone.
Some female bodybuilders also take anabolic steroids, unfortunately, the results can have some pretty bad side effects. The main sex hormone in women is estrogen, yes, women do produce testosterone but in very small amounts which is not enough to make them look bulky or masculine.
- Women who take anabolic steroids will begin to experience symptoms of masculinization
Masculinization is something caused by too much testosterone. Women who take anabolic steroids do it to increase muscle mass. Without testosterone, it is impossible for women to gain muscle mass like men.
Women who take anabolic steroids will eventually begin to show man like traits. Some of the most common traits include the following:
- Deepening of voice
- Excess body hair
- Baldness
- Reduced breast size
- Increased muscle size
- Oily skin and acne
- Enlarged clitoris
Those are just some of the superficial side effects, there are other health issues that can come from taking anabolic steroids.
Steroids can increase LDL (bad cholesterol) they may also damage the liver and cause heart problems. The bottom line is that most anabolic steroids are not woman-friendly.
Most women do not need to take anabolic steroids, if you are not competing in a pro bodybuilding contest why would you want to risk your health. In most situations, women can achieve the same benefits from something called a legal steroid.
- Legal steroids are a safe and natural alternative to anabolic steroids
If you are a woman who lifts weights you have probably wondered how female bodybuilders get in shape. Besides a proper diet and exercise routine, female bodybuilders often take special supplements to help them eliminate body fat and increase strength.
What are legal steroids?
Legal steroids are specially formulated supplements that mimic the effects of anabolic steroids without the side effects. Let me explain…
The difference between anabolic and legal steroids is that anabolic steroids are chemical compounds with a complete set of carbons.
When you inject them, they react immediately and begin to increase testosterone. More testosterone gives women more strength and makes it easy for them to gain muscle.
A Legal steroid is missing a couple of carbons, when you lift weights you stimulate androgen receptors which places a demand on your body to naturally stimulate hormone production. Taking a legal steroid completes the missing carbons and replenishes the nutrients your body and muscles need.
Unlike anabolic steroids, legal steroids will not give you bulky muscles or cause symptoms of masculinization.
- Legal steroids are all natural and do not cause side effects
Benefits of legal steroids for female bodybuilders
Taking a Legal steroid are is the best way for women to gain strength, burn body fat and increase lean muscle. They can be used by women of any fitness level to help increase athletic performance and reduce fatigue. Some of the overall benefits of taking a legal steroid include:
- Increase muscle
- Burn body fat
- Boost energy
- Increase stamina and endurance
- No side effects
- No injections required
- Safe alternative to anabolic steroids
- Legal steroids can be just as effective as anabolic steroids
How effective are legal steroids?
With the right training and nutrition, a legal steroid can be just as effective as the real thing. All you have to do is put in some effort and you will benefit from similar results of those you would get from anabolic steroids.
There are thousands of women who have used legal steroids. Most women are interested in increasing lean muscle while eliminating stubborn body fat.
Legal steroids make this possible so that you can achieve a firm and toned body just like a female bodybuilder or fitness model. Some women may just want to take legal steroids to look good in their favorite swimsuit or bikini.
What are the best legal steroids for women?
When looking for a quality legal steroid it can be intimidating, there are so many products that promise results, unfortunately, many of them fail to deliver. Below is our list of what we consider to be the best legal steroids for female bodybuilders.
Max Gains Sutolex (Increase Muscle and Performance)
One of the most sought-after anabolic steroids by female bodybuilders is Primobolan also known as (Methenolone Acetate). Primobolan is considered one of the safer steroids for women but it can have side effects.
Max Gains Sutolex offers women a safe Primobolan alternative packed with ingredients to help women increase strength, reduce fatigue and increase lean muscle.
Don't worry ladies, Sutolex will not increase testosterone, its primary job is to help women transform their body to the fullest potential. It will help you train harder and give you essential nutrients you need for fast muscle recovery and improved strength.
Max Gains has a powerful blend of ingredients to help increase athletic performance along with a blend of B Vitamins, Zinc, L-Arginine, and L-Tyrosine.
Sutolex is the closest thing you can get to Primobolan, it is safe and effective and perfect for women who like to train hard.
CrazyBulk Clenbutrol (Powerful Fat Burner)
What woman doesn't want to lose fat? Like it or not women tend to carry more fat than men, it is a physiological trait that can't be avoided. However, there are ways to eliminate stubborn belly fat. Clenbuterol is one of the most popular fat burners available for women.
CrazyBulk Clenbutrol is a safe Clenbuterol (How much clenbuterol should i take) substitute that puts your body in a thermogenic state so you can easily burn stubborn fat. Clenbutrol is great for women who like to train hard with weights or enjoy intense cardio sessions.
CrazyBulk Winsol (Boost Energy and Burn Fat)
One of the most widely known steroids that are used by female bodybuilders is Winstrol. It has been popular for decades.
CrazyBulk Winsol is a good substitute for the steroid Winstrol, it's purpose is to help women increase lean and toned muscle while eliminating subcutaneous body fat. It also has ingredients to help increase stamina so you can train hard with more intensity.
Winstrol will give you solid muscle with incredible muscular definition wich is why it is so popular among female bodybuilders.
Max Gains Venabol (Increase Lean Muscle and Strength)
Max Gains Venabol is a legal Dianabol alternative to help increase lean muscle and help you train with more intensity and strength. The formula in Venabol mimics the effects of the popular anabolic steroid DBol stack cycle without the side effects.
Max Gains Venabol will give you incredible muscle pumps and reduce fatigue so you can train harder and longer. Venabol can be used by women of any fitness level and is a favorite among female bodybuilders and fitness models.
What Product Works Best?
It might still be confusing on picking the right legal steroid, choosing the right product is as simple as choosing your goals. For burning fat, Clenbutrol and Winstrol are the best options, Sutolex and Venabol are effective for increasing lean muscle mass.
Legal steroids can also be stacked. This means you can take multiple products to achieve s specify result. Both Crazy Bulk And Max Gains sell complete stacks for women takes all the guesswork out of picking the right product combination.
Are Legal Steroids Right for You?
We all know there is no such thing as magic potions or pills. Legal steroids contain a powerful formula that is much stronger than regular supplements. If you are someone who is willing to put in some effort a legal steroid will help boost your athletic abilities, the best thing of all there are no side effects.
The best legal steroids for women are several steps above your average sports supplements, they make the perfect substitute for anabolic steroids, they are reasonably priced and deliver good results.
If you like to workout and want to improve the physical aspect of your body and boost your training potential a legal steroid is something you may want to consider.


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How a viral selfie got the internet talking about skin cancer and its prevention
Tawny Dzierzek's viral skin cancer post led to a surge in interest in the disease and its prevention.
Graphic images shared in 2015 by a Kentucky woman after undergoing treatment for skin cancer went viral and led to a 162% spike in Google searches for prevention of the condition, a new study has found.
Tawny Dzierzek, a nurse by profession, had posted on Facebook pictures of her blistered face after suffering from cancer, leading to a sudden surge in interest on the subject. Within a month's time, Dzierzek's post – she was first diagnosed with skin cancer at age 21 – was shared almost 50,000 times on social media with numerous media channels providing widespread coverage on the topic.
Two years later, once again Dzierzek's viral selfie and the influence it had on several social media users is back in the news, thanks to researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
After evaluating numerous Facebook shares, media coverage, and trends of Google searches especially for the terms "skin" and "cancer" (around the time when Dzierzek shared her photos), the team of researchers have found that "real stories" could be a powerful tool in delivering public health messages.
"A growing body of research shows that stories can be very impactful — more impactful than didactic information — in delivering a health message," said Seth Noar, a professor in the UNC School of Media and Journalism.
The findings of the research were published in the journal of Preventive Medicine.
Explaining why Dzierzek's post sparked such widespread interest, Noar, the lead author of the study told IBTimes UK: "Most posts don't go viral. In this case, I think it was the combination of a compelling story and graphic selfie that resulted in a perfect storm and really grabbed people."
According to the study, the brutally honest account about undergoing skin cancer treatment led to a spike in interest about the condition, with many people even looking up for prevention measures and the link between the disease and tanning on the internet. While the searches for skin cancer prevention increased by 232% at the time, there was a surge of 489% in the queries about skin cancer and tanning.
"The irony of tanning is that many young women do it in the short term to look more attractive, but in the long term it leads to appearance damage and potentially serious negative health consequences. This post perfectly illustrated that," Noar explained to us referring to the viral seflie.
"When the public sees 'real' stories, they gravitate toward them," co-author John W Ayers added in the report. "It turns out that when people speak up to share their stories, their voices can resonate far more than we had imagined."
Dzierzek's viral selfie phenomenon had a mass effect. Explaining that impact Noar told us that public health awareness could be amplified in the future if researchers and advocacy groups can identify and time their messages around such events.
"We now know that this event was a big deal. If we had known at the time, we could have encouraged more media coverage and outreach to high risk tanning populations, potentially making the impact even greater than what we saw," he said.
However, social media and its potential is still largely untapped with researchers still figuring out ways to reach out to the maximum number of people and promote healthy behaviours.
Noar explains, "This event shows us that a compelling story with a graphic photo really resonated with the public, and it could be something that health communicators try and replicate or build on in a campaign about the dangers of tanning beds."
[This story was updated with exclusive inputs from Seth Noar, member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and UNC professor]
Elon Musk Reunited With His Father After Seven Years
Mega Airport Set To Open In Popular European Destination Despite '50-Year Delay'
Earth To Warm Up To 2.9C Even With Current Climate Pledges: UN
Israel Expands Gaza Operation As Mediator Says Hostage Deal 'Close'
IDF Expose Hamas Tunnel Under Al-Shifa Hospital
Barcelona Suffer Massive Blow: Teenage Star Gavi To Undergo ACL Surgery
Google Promises To Use Tech To Address Climate Issues


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The lack of a sense of humor in the self-designated Reformers of the Reform is matched only by their lack of a sense of irony. Otherwise, they would have noticed the squealing dissonance between their assertions for their new/old translation of liturgical texts and the words of Jesus in the Gospel reading for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In Matthew 13, Jesus says that "I will open my mouth in parables, I will reveal what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world." He then likens the Kingdom of God to a man who has sown good seed in his field and must wait until the harvest to separate the healthy crops from the unhealthy weeds sown into his field by "an enemy." He then describes the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds that becomes the largest of plants; Jesus also tells us of the woman who mixes yeast into her dough to make it rise into nourishing bread.
Jesus clearly speaks in metaphor rather than in measurement about the Mystery of the Kingdom. He tells stories, identifying Myth as the natural tongue of revelation, the only one that can reveal "what has lain secret from the foundation of the world."
So why do the promoters of the new translation pick this, of all Sundays, to advertise their Big Con, that their soon-to-be-imposed version is right off the Antiques Roadshow of musty formulations that squeeze the Spirit out of the metaphorical language that Jesus proclaims as the only way in which to spread the Good News of His Kingdom?
In a circular distributed in all parishes, somebody using the authority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, informs us in smug, there'll-be-a-quiz-on-this tone that "the experience of the years after the Second Vatican Council gave rise to a desire for more formal and literal translations of the original Latin texts..." that will include "concrete images."
Following their program of disowning Vatican II documents the way the Nazis did the Versailles Treaty, they portray that Council as the cause of the mostly hysterically imagined liturgical abuses that they will set right for all of us. But what are the implications of their return to "more formal and literal translations."
So anxious do they seem to spread their soon-to-be-imposed translation that they cannot hear what Jesus says about the only tongue that can sing the songs of the Spirit.
To confess that they will provide "concrete images" means that they do not understand metaphor and its rich and nourishing meanings. By its very definition, a metaphor allows us to make journeys that we could not undertake without them. A metaphor (the Kingdom of God as a field, for example) is not understood in its denotation, in this case a literal plot of land; its significance can only be grasped in its connotations, that is, in the "cloud of witnesses" that it presents to the imagination that is the true object of religious language.
Without realizing it, they confess their plan to smother the Spirit under the concrete blocks of "more formal and literal translations." But if man cannot live by bread alone, neither can he live by denotation alone. A Stop sign is a classic example of pure denotation, of making a starkly "formal and literal" statement that makes one statement with one single meaning.
Jesus tells us that He sows the field of His Kingdom with the good seed of parables, in the multi-dimensional connotations of metaphor that constitute the bountiful mystical harvest, the healthily growing mustard seed, the yeast sown bread rising to its fullness.
To substitute formal concrete language for metaphors of the Spirit is, as Joseph Campbell once expressed it, to order lunch and to eat the menu. The advocates of the new/old translation apparently do not really understand what they are doing but they sure feel good about it. Jesus is not surprised to find these weeds sown in with the wheat in the field of His Kingdom. We wait for the harvest when it will be easy to distinguish the weeds from the real wheat.
[Eugene Cullen Kennedy is emeritus professor of psychology at Loyola University, Chicago.]
Editor's Note: We can send you an e-mail alert every time Kennedy's column, Bulletins from the Human Side," is posted to NCRonline.org. Go to this page and follow directions: E-mail alert sign-up. If you already receive e-mail alerts from us, click on the "update my profile" button to add Kennedy to your list.


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(Update below) Here comes Matt "The Eggman" Drudge to (Mr. Predatorgate) Mark Foley's defense. He uses that age old "attack the messenger" conservative technique-only in a creepier way. He says the congressional pages are just as responsible because of Youtube and pop culture and how dare they egg him on like that. They are just 16 and 17 year old beasts after all and not innocent little babies who are engaged in a conspiracy against poor, old Foley. What kind of beast does that make the 52 year old Foley?
Download -MP3 They are 16 and 17 year old beasts... (31 seconds)
Download -MP3-It was two ways ladies and gentleman ( oh Matt, that's why we have Predator laws. To protect them from the Foley's. I just thought you should know) (40 seconds)
Download -MP3--He'd feel better if they were 8 or something....
Download -MP3- They will regulate the Internet now...That's really all this is.
(h/t Robert)
Jane's got the transcipts done of the audio:
I swear I am not making this up. Listen to it. Drudge is so f*&^king sick it's really, really disturbing, but to know he's doing it on behalf of the official Bush-Hastert-Boehner-Reynolds GOP coverup is the truly demented part. No limits to how low they will go. Absolutely no limits...read on


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Lamarre St. Phard was proud to win the "school champion" certificate in spelling at his Brooklyn middle school. Then the principal, Mendis Brown, told him that he couldn't compete at the regional bee. "You don't have the brains," she said, according to the 13-year-old special-education student. "You're going to go to the first round and get eliminated and make the school look bad." In an e-mail to the school librarian, Brown elaborated: "This is too high stakes to send a child that will not be able to cope."
It's true that, despite his esteem-boosting certificate, Lamarre had won only in his special-education class, where he'd been placed for behavioral problems. Further, nobody else had showed up for the spell-off, meaning that he competed only against himself. So Brown organized a second bee, this time for the whole school. The winner said that she was too nervous to go to the regional bee; the runner-up, Christian Cartagena, was another special-ed student. Brown decided not to send a student to the regionals.
The lesson that Lamarre and Christian learned was devastating: You're such losers that you shouldn't bother trying. But when students compete outside their own schools, or above their skill levels, they learn how they measure up in the world. They learn the value of mistakes and how to bounce back from failure. It's especially important for low-income, minority students to face such character-building challenges.
In a 2006 article in Wired, Joshua Davis told the wonderful story of a team of Mexican immigrant boys at Carl Hayden Community High School in Phoenix who built a robot submarine to compete in a national contest. The boys' teachers "entered the club in the expert-level Explorer class instead of the beginner Ranger class," Davis wrote. "They figured their students would lose anyway, and there was more honor in losing to the college kids in the Explorer division than to the high schoolers in Ranger." When the boys realized that their sub was leaking just before the contest, they seized on a clever idea for protecting the onboard circuitry: a tampon to absorb the moisture, which they procured at a local supermarket, after asking a greatly amused female shopper for advice on the best brand. At the awards banquet, the team won the design award, the technical writing award, and the grand prize. Students from MIT came in second.
In my recent book, Our School, I wrote about the early years of Downtown College Prep, a San Jose charter high school that tells students—most of them low achievers from Mexican immigrant families—that they can earn four-year college degrees if they're willing to work hard. Greg Lippman, cofounder of DCP and its first principal, advocates "glorious failure." Try something that's too difficult, he says—such as preparing for college if you're a D student. Fall on your face. Pick yourself up. Do better next time.
The school fielded a Mock Trial team in its first year, even though some members weren't fluent in English and struggled with reading. They got clobbered in competitions, but they improved. DCP teams built robots to compete in the regional Tech Challenge. After finishing in fourth place for three years in a row, DCP won the contest. Mock Trial and Tech Challenge veterans now attend the University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University, Cal Poly, and other schools.
These days, young people find themselves deluged with meaningless awards: "student of the week," say, or "member of the community." Their schools try to reduce stress by dropping class ranks, honor rolls, spelling bees, science fairs, sports in PE classes, and anything else that might make someone feel like a loser. Eventually, though, everybody has to compete. It's stressful; it's life.
Field Day, Ravinia School, 1958: As we kindergartners waited for our race, the teacher passed out green ribbons. Puzzled, and then insulted, we learned that green was for "participation" in a race that we hadn't even participated in yet. Like most of my classmates, I threw the ribbon away. Running slowly and diagonally, I came in second to last. I coped.


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Contact Us At: Ph: 951-280-4488 | Fax: 951-272-4445
TRIPAC stocks a variety of gasket materials and sizes. Gaskets are available in both ring and full face and in 1/16" & 1/8" thickness.
Our meter gaskets are in stock in drop-in and full face along with meter washers for 3/4" & 1" connections.
We stock the following materials:
Tripac Fasteners 475 Klug Circle • Corona, Ca 92880 Telephone: 951.280.4488 • Fax: 951.272.4445"Making it a better water world one connection at a time"


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With the exclusion of payroll, approximately 90 percent of mid-size organizations should operate with one integrated business management system. This can sometimes be more difficult than you would expect as more and more companies in the low to mid-range are requiring the same system capability as much larger entities. It wasn't all that long ago that foreign currency and inventory serial number tracking were a faint hope. Manufacturing in small shops was often managed off the back of a cigarette package. Now all of these capabilities and more are required for nearly any size of company.
So why should companies stick to one system? There are a lot of solid reasons, some of which we will discuss.
One of the most important reasons is the enormous cost of entering the same data into multiple systems. Not only will your staff have to double, or triple their efforts, the potential errors will cost in the long run. There are studies that show fixing data entry errors costs seven times as much as the cost to input the data in the first place. Unreliable data with a degree of error ensures that every bit of information must be carefully scrutinized during the month and at month-end. If you are not sure about the numbers, you certainly don't want to share them with anyone.
Another is the high cost of running multiple systems. Besides the cost of duplicate data entry or integration, you will now need to work with multiple software vendors and possibly different hardware platforms. Running multiple systems that are key to your business will likely increase your systems cost by 40-50 percent over a five year period. Having multiple systems can also demand a complex and sometimes unreliable integration between systems that were never designed to communicate with each other.
A less obvious cost is the time it takes to train and support your staff on multiple systems. If your business is experiencing growth and changes in its business model, you need an adaptable and capable of system that can both grow to virtually any level and be able to accommodate change. You can't afford to change systems any more than you can help, both in terms of time and cost.
You need to find the right system that can do everything your organization requires. Make sure it is the last system you ever need to work.
Contact us to hear more about how Microsoft Dynamics NAV can be the last system you ever invest in.


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Iraq: Four mosques blown up in Babylon
Iraq: Four mosques blown up in Babylon
Sunni mosques were attacked in Hilla in Babylon province, killing a muezzin prayer caller, as fears of sectarian strife grow following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shia cleric.
A group of men bombed and burned down four Sunni mosques in Babylon province in central Iraq on Monday, amid fears of renewed sectarian strife following Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shia cleric.
Militants wearing military uniforms detonated explosives at the mosques in the Hilla region overnight and shot dead a muezzin - the person appointed to recite the Muslim call to prayer - near his home in Iskandariyah.
The targeted mosques included Al-Fateh mosque in Sinjar village, Al-Asriyah and another mosque in northern Hilla, and the Ammar bin Yasser mosque in the Bakerli neighbourhood of central Hilla, according to a local source.
The mosques were completely destroyed and ten neighbouring homes were damaged.
A member of the local council in Hilla, Ahmad Abd al-Tai, said the attack on the mosques "came as a response by the militias to the execution of the cleric Nimr al-Nimr".
He told The New Arab that people in Babylon province were angry and that some politicians were mobilising them to go out and protest "until the Saudi ambassador leaves Iraq".
A police officer told AFP: "After we heard the explosion, we went to its source and found that IEDs [improvised explosive devices] had been planted in the mosque.
|They took advantage of the cold weather, there was nobody outside
- Iraqi police officer
The police captain said three or four men in military uniforms were involved in the bombing.
"They took advantage of the cold weather, there was nobody outside," he said.
A medical source in Hilla said three people were wounded in the explosions.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts, nor for the killing near the town of Iskandariyah, about 40 kilometres south of Baghdad.
A local councillor identified the slain muezzin as Taha al-Juburi of the Mohammed Abdallah Jabbouri mosque in Haswa.
"He was ambushed by unknown gunmen near his house," a source in Iskandariyah police said.
A doctor also confirmed his death.Regional tension
Iskandariyah is part of a mixed Sunni-Shia area south of Baghdad which was once dubbed "the triangle of death" and was badly affected by sectarian violence in the past decade.
Pushing back the Islamic State group in this region after the extremist militants took over large parts of the country in 2014 was one of the priorities of the government and allied Shia militias.
That was achieved in a few months and IS has been largely eradicated from the area, but violence - not just of a sectarian nature but also crime-driven - has remained frequent.
The execution at the weekend in Saudi Arabia of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr sparked outrage in Iraq.
Shia politicians and clerics unanimously condemned the execution but several religious figures in the Sunni minority also denounced it.
Iraq's interior ministry condemned Monday's attacks, which it said were an attempt to incite civil strife but did not blame any particular group.
The attacks were "perpetrated by infiltrated elements who want to revive sectarian unrest against the backdrop of the latest incidents in the region", it said, in an apparent reference to the consequences of Nimr's execution.
Protests took place in Baghdad and elsewhere in the country, including in the cities of Karbala and Nasiriyah.
Another demonstration called by prominent cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr was due to be held later on Monday.
Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of using Nimr's execution to stoke sectarian tensions in the region.
Tehran has warned the Gulf monarchy it would pay a "high price" for the execution, which was one of 47 carried out by Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
The Saudi embassy in Tehran was firebombed by an angry mob, prompting Riyadh to respond by announcing it was breaking off diplomatic relations with Iran. Several Saudi allies, including Bahrain and Sudan have also broken off relations, while the UAE has officially downgraded its diplomatic presence there.


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At A Glance
Donate and Volunteer
Parks, natural fun starts in parks
Headline 1: Portions of the Little Econ Greenway trail remain CLOSED pending repairs; please observe local safety signage.
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As part of Orange County's INVEST In Our Home for Life program, $20 million was allotted for the development of new parks or the improvement of existing parks and facilities. The State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity appropriated $1 million that was combined with $1 million of Orange County's INVEST funds to help build a 5,000-square-foot recreation center in this park; a $250,000 Legislative appropriation also was received for a concession building and restroom. The park also has two soccer fields with lights and a parking area. Total construction cost: $4.8 million.
The park and recreation center opened on April 2, 2019.
Orange County Parks and Recreation
4801 W. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL 32808
To reach a specific park: click on the A–Z tab and select the park or facility you are interested in for the phone number.
Email: email@example.com
Parks Administration: 407-836-6200
Parks' Events InfoLine: 407-836-6280
Facebook Events List: Orange County, Florida
Twitter: @OrangeCoParksFL


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7 Cup Burfi | Seven Cup Burfi (Cake) Recipe | Easy Diwali Sweets Recipe
7 cup burfi is similar to Mysore Pak though the taste, texture is different in both, in this burfi ghee used is less compare to mysore pak also we have fresh grated coconut in this burfi or cake. This 7 cup sweet is also popular known as cake where equal amount of all the ingredients are used apart from sugar in total 7 cups of measurements. I wanted to post this recipe for long but it didn't happened until now, I have tried this burfi few times before and all the time I got wonderful texture only this time the burfi is looks soft but trust me the taste is amazing and I big lighting issue as it was raining with thunder, total darkness in day time :(
7 Cup Burfi, Seven Cup Burfi, 7 Cup Cake or 7 Cup sweet is easy burfi recipe with only 5 ingredients and the name 7 cup comes from 7 cups ingredients measurements are used to make this burfi. This is very easy burfi recipe but just need to take care of the consistency before we pour the mixture to set and we have delicious 7 cup burfi or cake. It taste delicious with coconut flavor, soft and yum.
If you look for something easy and yet elegant then try this burfi, just make sure the consistency is right and you have wonderful sweet for diwali even to share with your friends and family. If you try any of the recipe from here do share a picture with me, I will be happy to share in the face book page.
You can check other Diwali Recipes, you can also check Diwali Sweets and Diwali Snacks recipes collection.
- Dry Fruit Burfi
- Anjeer Mawa Burfi
- Corn Flour Halwa (Burfi)
- Besan Mawa Burfi
- Coconut Burfi
- Maida Burfi
- Sooji Gujiya (Karanji)
- Coconut Khoya Gulkand Ladoo
- Sooji (Rava) Ladoo
- Tirunelveli Halwa
- Gulab Jamun
- Dates sesame Ladoo
- Maaladu (Roasted Gram Ladoo)
7 Cup Burfi | Seven Cup Burfi (Cake) RecipeEasy burfi made with 7 cups of ingredients good sweet for diwali.
|Prep Time:
|Cook Time:
|Total Time:
|22-24 Pieces
- 1 Cup - Besan/Gram Flour/Kadala Maavu
- 1 Cup - Fresh Grated Coconut
- 1 Cup - Milk
- 1 Cup - Ghee
- 3 Cups - Sugar
Stay good for a week at room temperature and more if refrigerated.
- Grease a pan or plate, keep aside. In a thick bottom pan or non stick pan/kadai add all the ingredients and mix well to combine without lumps (without flame). Once everything gets mixed well, on flame and keep it in medium, keep stirring non-stop, you will see the mixture will become thin since everything is melting.
- Keep stirring in medium to low flame until the mixture starts to bubbles and will start to thicken. Once you see bubbles you can't stop stirring, mixture will become airy, porous and start to leave edges of kadai/pan. This is important, make sure the mixture gets thicke, porous, airy and leaves the edges to get right consistency.
- Pour the mixture to greased pan or plate, spread evenly. Allow the mixture to cool and once it's comes to warm stage mark in desire shape either square or diamond with sharp knife. Allow this to cool completely and come to room temperature, cut the pieces and store in air tight container.
Stay good for a week at room temperature and more if refrigerated.
- I added 2 cups of sugar instead of 3 as I use granular sugar, you can use 2.5 cups of sugar too.
- Consistency is important in this burfi make sure the mixture gets airy and porous.
- Soak figs/anjeer well in water to reduce the cooking time, and chopped is good option instead of grinding as we get small bits of figs while eating.
- There is no besan raw taste or smell, it's gets cooked with all the ingredients so don't worry.
- You can add 1/2 tsp of cardamom powder for cardamom flavor.
- You can also used dessciated coconut though using fresh coconut is best option.
- Taste of 7 cup burfi and mysore pak is very different so don't get confuse.
Enjoy the delicious and easy burfi.
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I'm Starting to Think I Had My Final Fantasy Eight Years Ago
HIGH Finally getting my hands on a new Final Fantasy.
LOW Realizing that the game I was playing only looked like Final Fantasy.
WTF Who ever green-lighted Vanelle's voice acting should retire.
After reading Trent's review of Final Fantasy XIII, I think it's safe to say that we have two differing opinions about the game. I say this with the utmost respect and in no way am I trying to discredit his review. On the contrary, I agree with a lot of the points he made.
Like Trent, I too feel that the battle system is the best in the series, and I am also in agreement with the linear, more streamlined, approach. However, here is how our opinions differ: while Trent views Final Fantasy XIII as a step in the right direction for the genre, I see it as the slaughtering of a great franchise.
Final Fantasy has been my favorite game series for a long time. Serving as gamer comfort food, these titles have always been my go-to games for memorable stories and characters, masterfully composed soundtracks, and fully-realized worlds I could be sucked into.
Final Fantasy XIII offers none of this.
The heartfelt melodies that inspired many fan made music videos on YouTube? Gone, and replaced by songs that add little meaning to the situation in which they are used. Fully realized worlds that are easy to be sucked into? Nope. For the most part, Final Fantasy XIII is completely devoid of atmosphere. My party's surroundings was mostly static with little-to-no ambiance, and usually consisted of corridors and narrow pathways. It was not until I reached the 30 hour mark that I came upon a place that was open and teeming with wildlife, but even that proved to be little more than a giant field; then it was back to the tunnels and corridors.
Then there's the story— the part I was the most disappointed with.
It's not that I didn't understand it (I was fully aware of what was going on thanks to the in-game encyclopedia) it's that I did not care. I wanted to care—hell, I tried my damnedest to care, but it was as if the game was trying to keep me from caring.
Unlike previous Final Fantasy games, I was unable to attach myself to any of the characters emotionally. I contribute this mostly to the fact that the game splits the party up early on, and then bounces the player from group to group every few hours. Any time I was even remotely close to connecting with a character, the game would pull me away. What bit of time I did have with a group was usually filled with overly melodramatic dialog and shallow one-dimensional character personalities. The only character I found the least bit interesting was a man named Sazh, who was fighting to save his son. Unfortunately, like I said earlier, every time I would start to connect, the game pulled me away.
Now, I'm a gamer that places emphasis on atmosphere and story, especially in role-playing games, but a player who does not may be able to overlook these things. However, I don't see them being able to get over the tediousness of the gameplay.
In the introduction of this review, I stated that I liked the idea of a more streamlined approach to the gameplay for the same reasons that Trent did. I stand by that statement. However, if a game is linear, then it needs variety, and this is something that Final Fantasy XIII is severely lacking. Most of my time with the game can be summed up as such: two to three hours of killing random enemies, random boss fight, cut-scene, then repeat. Once I reached the "open" part of the game, there were sidequests that consisted of nothing more than hunt down a specific enemy and killing it. It felt like I was playing a severely dumbed-down version of Demon's Souls with a Final Fantasy covering.
Now, I need to mention that I did not complete the game. I put a little over 40 hours into it before finally reaching the point where I lost all willingness to continue. As a gamer, I found Final Fantasy XIII to be below average, dull, and unable to offer anything to players not already a fan of the franchise. As a die-hard Final Fantasy fan, I am enraged after witnessing something I love so much being gutted before my eyes. If Trent is right, and this becomes the new style for Japanese role-playing games, then I do not want any part of it.
—by Coy Simmons
Disclosures: This game was obtained via retail store and reviewed on the PS3. Approximately 40 hours of play was devoted to single-player modes (completed 0 times) and there are no multiplayer modes.
- True to life: IL-2 Sturmovik Preview - August 15, 2014
- Interview with Danganronpa Producer Yoshinori Terasawa - February 23, 2014
- Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches Review - December 3, 2013


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|A completely unexpected invitation this morning allowed our family to visit the new temple this afternoon.
|Despite all I have heard and seen, I was still unprepared for its magnificent beauty. I honestly didn't want to pinch myself for fear I'd wake up only to find the experience wasn't real.
|Afterward, we celebrated Matt's 16th birthday.
|Everyone was ho hum about my sweet and sour chicken until they took their first bites. I'm glad I made extra.
|Matt was especially pleased to learn the green peppers were in fact pea pods.
|The meal was made extra special with my favorite napkin rings, Nana's silver, and my wedding china.
|These kids now know when we eat in the dining room, they have to stay and talk. It was glorious.
|Will offered to wash the glassware and silver for me.
|I don't know the context, but for the second time today I was taken completely by surprise, this time when Papa Ben read poetry to us while we cleaned the kitchen.


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On January 17, 1901, the Hartford Electric Light Company (HELCO) took a major — and somewhat risky — step into the steam-powered future with the delivery of a huge, innovative, first-of-its-kind steam-turbine-powered generator. The massive 90,000-pound machine arrived on a custom-designed railroad car following a long journey from the Westinghouse Machine Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where it was manufactured as a special order. HELCO's advanced approach to electrification had previously made the company the first to engage in long-distance electrical transmission, and Hartford the first city in America to have all-electric street lighting.
After the machine was offloaded in downtown Hartford near Asylum Avenue, a team of engineers carefully transferred it onto a series of rollers and slowly moved it — as gingerly as if they were moving a house — to HELCO's Pearl Street power plant.
The generator, which Company employees nicknamed "Mary-Ann," was intended to augment — and eventually replace — a series of hydro-electric generators that HELCO had been using since the 1870s to help power the city. With then-wealthy Hartford experiencing a rapid increase of both commercial industry and population, electric demand was threatening to outpace supply, and so HELCO decided to gamble on installing one of Westinghouse's giant steam-turbine generators — technology so new, it hadn't even been tested.
After Mary-Ann arrived in Hartford, it took several months for her to start producing electricity as engineers worked out quirks in the turbine's design and became familiar with its operation. Perhaps the most unexpected discovery was that Mary-Ann would require a water supply equivalent to the entire amount of water Hartford then took in from the Connecticut River, to operate at capacity. To solve this problem, engineers constructed three massive cooling towers that would re-collect the turbine's expended steam and condense it into reusable water, greatly reducing the demand for water from the Connecticut. In early October, almost nine months after she had been delivered, engineers "flipped the switch" and Mary-Ann sprang into operation, making the Hartford Electric Light Company the first public utility in the United States to generate electricity using steam power.
Assured of having adequate generating capacity, HELCO next took a gamble on its customers, becoming an early innovator in the field of consumer electrical products. Not only was it a pioneer in the wiring aspect of home electrification, it advanced and promoted a series of electric consumer products conceived of ands developed by HELCO management and engineers. Among these were the electric refrigerator, an electric oven and cooktop, battery storage for electric automobiles, and electric fans. An electrifying gamble on technology helped spark the future, today in Connecticut history.
Further Reading
Zac Mirecki, "Let There Be Light (in Hartford)," WNPR


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Ynetnews has a story on renovations of David's Tomb on Mount Zion.
Leen Ritmeyer's recent lecture on how he identified the location of Solomon's Temple is recounted in a story in the Baptist Press.
A sarcophagus cover with a Medusa decoration is the now on display at Caesarea. The IAA press release (temporary link) also has some high-resolution images (direct link).
A hoard of 1,300 silver coins apparently from the Hellenistic period have been discovered in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, announced the Hamas-run "ministry of tourism and antiquities."
The Museum of Tolerance to be built in the Mamilla neighborhood of Jerusalem will be half the size of the original plan because of reduced sources of funding. Plaintiffs who filed suit against the
construction have lost their case and been fined by the court.
I've had little time this month for noting the latest stories. As time permits, I'll continue to try to catch up.
HT: Joe Lauer and Paleojudaica


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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Dark cocoa for breakfast is good for you when you use it in healthy granola made with nuts, oats, quinoa, flax seeds and more. You'll love this Dark Cocoa Superfood Granola recipe.
Disclosure: This author received a free sample of walnuts from California Walnuts for sample and recipe development purposes only. All thoughts are my own.
One thing I can say for sure, though – this Dark Cocoa Superfood Granola certainly is good for you. I mentioned yesterday that I was going to share some recipes this week for packing in the protein with Greek yogurt. Now, this isn't a recipe with Greek yogurt in it, like yesterday's Funky Monkey Smoothie, but it is certainly something I love to put ON my Chobani.
The folks at California Walnuts contacted me about sampling some of their delicious nuts, and I was happy to take a bag off their hands and have a little fun.
The walnuts are huge, fresh, and delicious. And sooo good for you – all those good fatty acids and omega-3s. They would be delicious on a salad, or mixed into Maple Pumpkin Spice or Banana Nut Bread Granola Bars. Or even into Maple Nutty Granola. And I know we are talking healthy here, but heck, throw them in some Snowball Cookies.
After receiving the sample, I knew I wanted to make a new kind of granola. One that would make the most of all the nutritional benefits of the walnuts, especially when combined them with every other superfood I could find in my pantry. You know, like chocolate, in the form of dark cocoa powder.
But I also added other goodness to truly make it a Dark Cocoa SUPERFOOD Granola.
Things like oats, quinoa, flax seeds, chia seeds, pistachios, almonds, dried cranberries and blueberries, coconut oil, raw honey. Since I am pregnant, getting the most nutrition out of every bite I take is so key. That was my goal in making this granola – just keep packing in all the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and protein I could. And with these delicious California walnuts to start with, I knew it would turn out fabulous.
Sure, you can buy tons of fancy granola in the store… and pay an arm and a leg for it. But often it is mostly oats or rice puffs or wheat flakes, loaded with unnecessary fat and sugar, and maybe you just don't like raisins or peanuts, or some other ingredient. When you make it at home, you can control the quantity, quality, and types of ingredients. Like me – I love lots of nuts, and don't want any wheat products in it, due to my allergy. So I wrote the recipe in a very flexible way. I'll tell you what I did, but you can easily mix it up base don what you love. Or just what you can dig out of your kitchen cabinets.
And while I often have this for dessert with my Chobani Greek yogurt (and oftentimes just by the handful), I can even feel good about letting The Bug eat something chocolaty for breakfast!
What is your favorite way to enjoy walnuts? In salads, granola, or just by the handful?
Maybe you will enjoy them in the form of dark cocoa superfood granola. You won't know until you try it. 😉
Chocolate Granola
Wet Mixture Ingredients
- ¼ cup dark cocoa powder I used Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted and cooled (or use olive or even walnut oil)
- ½ cup honey preferably raw, local honey, or for strict vegans, agave nectae or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Dry Mixture Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- ½ cup ground flax seeds
- ½ cup seeds I used ¼ cup each chia seeds and sesame seeds
- 3 cups chopped nuts I used 1 cup each walnuts, pistachios, and almonds
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1-1 ½ cup dried fruit I used ⅓ cup each dried cranberries, cherries, blueberries, and pomegranate juice infused cranberries
- Preheat your oven to 250°F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
- In a small bowl, combine the wet mixture Ingredients.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry mixture Ingredients, leaving out the dried fruit.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and toss until it is evenly distributed and moistened.
- Bake for 1 to 1 ½ hours, stirring every 20 minutes, or until dry.
- Toss the dried fruits in with the granola mixture.
- Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.
This recipe was shared with: Thursdays Treasures, #glutenfreefridays #28, I'm Lovin' It, nifty thrifty sunday #97}


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How could a public figure think he wouldn't get caught?
Subway's former spokes-pervert had a tough week. In case you missed it, Jared Fogle is pleading guilty to child porn charges and engaging in sex acts with minors, for which he apparently paid underage girls.
The slimy details have been coming to light over the past couple of months when the FBI raided Fogle's home after a former employee of Fogle's foundation was investigated on child porn charges. At the time, Subway said it ended its relationship with the face of the brand.
The situation had many reporters thinking there might be more to the story. Sure enough, we hear how sleazy the married father of two really is – although, his wife is filing for divorce so maybe we can scratch that "married" thing off of his bio.
At press time Fogle's plea deal hadn't been finalized (we don't know if the court accepted it) so I can't tell you how long he will spend in jail though it could be anywhere from five years to life.
This column isn't about reporting the details of the case though. It is to comment on how stupid a public figure can actually be.
Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely not saying that if he were an unknown person that he should be able to get away with being a pedophile. My point is that in today's digital world, how could he possibly think he wouldn't be discovered? How could he not think that text messages and ads posted online looking for teenage prostitutes wouldn't get him in trouble?
I don't know that Fogle is an A-lister to make him think he is above the law but, come on, this is all pretty dumb for him to do. I am being critical of the fact he could do something so heinous and morally wrong as a public figure and think he would not get caught.
Reports said he used his "celebrity" status to his advantage which maybe was his downfall. What celebrity? He's "Jared the Subway guy." True, he might have money to throw around and entice a teenager but it's teenagers that are the biggest blabbermouths on social media when it comes to gossip. As I frequently (and sarcastically) say on my radio shows: What could possibly go wrong?
Well, obviously your family life will crumble, as will your reputation, your freedom and your pride.


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Early years
James Speight was born on 25th February 1879, the youngest son of Edward Hall Speight and Louisa Gulliver (m.1861). Edward Hall Speight was originally from Ambleside in Cumbria; he was appointed Headmaster of the Wesleyan School in Rugby in 1861 but later set up a successful photography business in the town, retiring from teaching in the early 1870s.
James' earliest written work, an account of visiting his sister Eleanor Louisa, dates to the 1880s. Eleanor lived with their aunt and uncle in Cark Hall, Lancashire and James describes 'cockleing' on the sands and seeing Ruskin's house.
Leaving home
In March 1897, aged 18, following in the family footsteps, James left home to work at H M Whitlocks' photography studio in West Bromwich. He started a wonderfully detailed series of diaries at this point. These detail his day to day life, both at work and at leisure. There are many references in the early diaries to religion – James seemed to have tended towards Anglo Catholicism (despite his father's Wesleyan background) and became a Sunday School teacher.
During his year at Whitlocks, he records a detailed description of events seen first-hand in London to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee:
'I started from West Bromwich for London by a trip train at 12:30 midnight and arrived at Paddington at 4.45. I at once made for Constitution Hill but found that the public would not be admitted into that Street. So I got into Green Park and sequired [sic] a good place by the pailings [sic]…Of the procession that proceeded her Majesty it is impossible to give a detailed account… Her Majesty looked very fat + very glum.'
The same year James also saw 'a very interesting tapestry map of Warwickshire' [the Sheldon Tapestry map of Warwickshire], on loan for the opening of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in September 1897.
Work and leisure
James would frequently look after his brothers' photography businesses whilst they were away on holiday. Both Clare and Gulliver ('Gull') Speight were also photographers, having studios respectively in Nuneaton and Market Harborough. At other times, James went on holiday with them – he went with Gull on a bicycle tour to the south of Oxford, Salisbury, Southampton, Winchester and London in May 1898. After his cycle tour, he worked for Walter Davey for a few months in Harrogate and then began work for Mr Wright of Kings Lynn in July.
At the turn of the century, just before his 21st birthday, James decided to rent rooms with the wonderfully named Mr Tipple, but this did not last long as James left Mr Wright's business in April. The diary for this year is full of news of the Boer War, more cycling and helping his brothers. This year, James helped to set up Charles Speight's photography studio in Kettering. In the meantime, James was looking round at suitable places to set up his own photography studio. He ruled out Coventry, Tamworth, Kidderminster and Wellingborough.
With little progress made setting up his own premises, James decided to work abroad in Paris for a few months, working for the prestigious photographer Reutlinger. It was the year of the great exhibition in Paris – 'the grandest & largest the world [h]as seen' – and James describes the sights and sounds including the new Eiffel Tower and 'the moving pavement' as well as his work for Reutlinger, retouching images ('the waists to be made smaller, cheek-bones cut down…').
The New Century
1901, according to James, brought the New Century as well as a bout of typhoid fever for himself and flooded studios for Clare and Gulliver. That year, Queen Victoria died and the US president William McKinley was assassinated. Still itching for a place of his own, James ruled out St Albans, Tamworth, Banbury, Stafford, Uttoxeter, Burton upon Trent, Leicester, Coalville, Wellington and Shrewsbury. He finally decided on premises at the Mount, Victoria Road, Sutton Coldfield and left home 'for good' in February 1902.
In 1906, James went on a motor car tour of Derbyshire with Mr Wodhams in one of the first cars registered in Warwickshire (a De Dion Bouton 8HP), visiting Chatsworth and Haddon Hall in June; he observed the 1906 Warwick Pageant first hand; and saw the 'stranded warship Montague' on Lundy Island. His business continued to grow and James moved on to new premises on the Parade in March 1908.
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, with his own studio to run, James' diary entries become increasingly more infrequent – his tenth and last diary in the series runs from 1905 right up to the July 1914 when he returned from a fortnight's holiday in Switzerland.
Later that very month, of course, Europe descended into war – James's story continues in part two.
All quotes taken from James Speight's diaries ('I-X'), Warwickshire County Record Office reference CR4453/1-10.
Frearson, John P H, 'Edward Hall Speight and his Family – Rugby's Photographers', 2009 (Warwickshire County Record Office reference B.Rug.Fre).
Frearson, John P H, 'The Speights of Rugby – Photographers', 2009 (Warwickshire County Record Office reference B.Rug.Fre (P)).
This article is based on a Show and Tell talk given at Warwickshire County Record Office.


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Category Archives: Interview - Page 1 of 4
Albert Elm, an extension of my own curiosity
I make images of what I think contemporary life looks like, what it could be about and what it feels like.
Introducing Ryan Mills
It gives you a greater respect of what it means to be an artist when you get to talk with them.
Small Town Inertia, an interview with Jim A Mortram
Small Town Inertia is a long form social documentary and environmental portraiture series that I have been working upon for the last 3 years.
Roger Ballen interview
Answering to yourself is the most important activity of an artist. Roger Ballen
Interview with Dave Farnham
I have never had any training in traditional photography – I just know what I need to do to the camera to make my images appear.
Interview with Aline Smithson
Interview with Aline Smithson about her successful career and Internet usage in the photographic word.
Edelweiss, by Sharon Boothroyd
Auto interview by Sharon Boothroyd about Edelweiss: a series of portraits of her daughter Anais.
Oitarizme and Love Issue, interview with Constantin Nimigean
Interview with Romanian blogger Constantin Nimigean, author of Oitarizme blog and Love Issue magazine


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This staggering motorcycle, built in 1935, is based on a Henderson Four. It takes its styling cues from the art deco period from whence it came – and it couldn't have come from any other era.
Time machine
The compact dimensions of the riding position are clear to see.
Most motorcycle design doesn't represent a two-wheeled expression of design trends manifested in the world at large.
But occasionally something surfaces that goes against that convention, as a look at the recently restored American four-cylinder Henderson motorcycle created by O. Roy Courtney in 1935 will confirm.
Enjoy more Classic MotorCycle reading in the monthly magazine.
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Art deco was an innovative and ultra-distinctive design style, which spanned the boom of the Roaring Twenties and the bust of the Depression-ridden 1930s.
Derived from the French term l'art décoratif, it originated in France in 1925 as the successor to art nouveau, then quickly spread worldwide, bringing its distinctive style to the streets and skylines of cities from Paris to New York, Sydney to Shanghai, London to Vienna.
Read more in July's edition of TCM
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