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Tweaking a motto of extreme anti-lacrosse protesters from last spring ("Men's Lacrosse? Not fine by me"), the administration of Duke president Richard Brodhead announced its revised student conduct policy through a full-page ad in the Duke Chronicle. The slogan? Behavior prohibited by the new code—"Not fine by Duke."
In several pathbreaking volumes, Canadian sociologist Kenneth Westhues has analyzed the concept of "mobbing" in the academy. Westhues borrowed from the work of psychologist Heinz Leymann and ethnologist Konrad Lerenzo; the latter's work described how chickens "ganged up" among a weaker member of the brood, eventually killing it through shunning, depriving it food and water, or pecking it to death. Westhues documented the frequency of mobbing in higher education, almost as if it is the academy's assassination technique of choice. As one scholar noted,
Mobbing is normally carried out politely and non-violently. The participants are so convinced of the rightness of their exclusionary campaign that they usually leave ample written records, proudly signing their names to extreme deprecations and defamations, without noticing how thin or non-existent is the supporting evidence. The object of the process is the same as among chickens; crushing the target's identity and eliminating him or her totally from respectable company.
The targets of mobbing usually are individuals—faculty members who for some reason have crossed an invisible line and need to be shunned and expunged from the academic brood. The continued response of the Duke administration and faculty to the lacrosse crisis, whose latest manifestation comes in the new student conduct code, suggests a mobbing process targeting a group of students, something perhaps unique in the history of the academy.
Given the variety of criticisms directed against the lacrosse team, the code itself is necessarily an ideological mish-mash. Reflecting the Group of 88's public assertions ("something happened" to the accuser; "thank you" to protesters who believed an accusation implied the players' guilt), the code's sections on sexual harassment draw upon extreme versions of feminist theory. As more facts emerged in the lacrosse case, some Group of 88 members continued condemning the players, though now for excessive alcohol use—creating the irony of a far-left faculty bloc espousing arguments most often associated with right-wing moralizing institutions. Nonetheless, stern anti-alcohol provisions appear in the code. From a non-ideological standpoint, the code features the timeworn complaint of professors that their students aren't intellectually serious enough.
A unifying theme does, however, exist: its extraordinary vagueness will allow the administration in to apply the code arbitrarily. And as the code has been marketed with a slightly modified anti-lacrosse team slogan, little doubt exists of which Duke students can expect the most arbitrary treatment.
The code's alcohol section, almost laughably vague, informs students that they could be expelled from school for alcohol-induced "unsafe/irresponsible behavior" or for "violation of community expectations." What, exactly, are "community expectations"? Those of Mark ("thugniggaintellectual—one word") Neal? Those of Brodhead?
As for "unsafe or irresponsible behavior," this prohibition "is defined as actions that are harmful or potentially harmful to one's self or others involving the use of alcohol." Such a definition, of course, could apply to almost anything. To clarify, the code points to "consuming an excessive quantity in a short amount of time." What is an "excessive quantity"? A "short amount of time"? The code offers no guidance.
The code also tightens restrictions on groups, who "will be held accountable if the group failed to take appropriate precautions" in holding an alcohol-related party. "Appropriate precautions must include . . . adequate and accessible non-alcoholic beverages and food." Three cans of Pepsi per every can of beer? Four hot dogs and two bags of chips per every bottle of beer? The code provides no answer: enforcers can define its provisions any way they want.
Then there's the "Emma Willard rule": "Except at events in a licensed facility providing a cash bar, no spirituous liquor or fortified wines may be served to undergraduates." The prohibition is absolute: an earlier section makes clear that the code's terms apply on or off campus, to all Duke students at all times. The code contains a number of "real-life" examples (which come across as if they're written for 12-year-olds); sources inform me that the following illustration could very well have been dropped for lack of space in the bulletin:
Dick and Jane, who met on their first day at Duke, have been in an ongoing relationship for three years. Typical overachieving Duke students, they spent two years after high school working for anti-poverty NGOs. To celebrate their third anniversary, 23-year-old Jane prepares a special meal, and Dick, who's the same age, brings a bottle of vodka, which he has legally purchased. As they conclude their meal, Dick pours vodka into Jane's glass, when Professor Peter Wood bursts into Jane's off-campus apartment, searching for lacrosse players he claims had walked out of his class. This is a violation of the Alcohol Policy. Dick was serving vodka to Jane, an undergraduate, ignoring the code's clear statement that "no spirituous liquor or fortified wines may be served to undergraduates." The fact that Professor Wood might have trespassed or given false testimony against the lacrosse players does NOT mean that Dick won't be expelled for violating the Emma Willard rule.
The code's final bow to the far right's behavioral standards comes in what could be called the "Ralph Reed rule": Duke policy prohibits all forms of gambling, "with the exception of the state lottery. A person/organization is guilty of gambling if he/she/it operates, plays, or bets at any game of chance at which any money, property, or other thing of value is bet." This rule will, perhaps, be enforced by Professor Orin Starn, who can roam the campus each March searching for Duke students participating in NCAA bracket pools. Offenders who are athletes will automatically be expelled, thereby hastening Starn's dream of transforming Duke into an athletic equivalent of Haverford.
In his April Chronicle of Higher Education column, History professor William Chafe called for procedures aimed at "celebrating the 'playfulness' and pleasure that infuse the process of debating intellectual and spiritual issues over extended lunches after class," and "using some of our 'party time' to discuss the origins of the universe or existential ethics, even as we socialize at mixers."
In honor of Chafe, the code features the "Amtrak Acela noise rule." Whenever I travel to
Continuing its recurring pattern, the code supplies no definition of what constitutes "reasonable levels of noise"—the permitted level for the 20.8 percent of the week when "quiet hours" are not in effect. As for the rest of the time: the "Acela rule" will no doubt make Duke the nation's capital of text-messaging and e-mail, which appear to be the only forms of communication other than whispering still allowed in 133 of the week's 168 hours.
The code's sections on harassment, meanwhile, are at best meaningless and at worst ominously one-sided. "Harassment of any individual for any reason is not acceptable at
"Harassment," however, "must be distinguished from behavior that, even though unpleasant or disconcerting, is appropriate to the carrying out of certain instructional, advisory, or supervisory responsibilities." This caveat no doubt explains the administration's blasé response to one of lacrosse player John Walsh's spring-term professors.
After Walsh asked for some flexibility in assignments to accommodate a meeting his attorney, the professor replied, "Yeah, well if you guys really were innocent, I would feel sorry for you." The response of John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations? "We did hear rumors early on, reports early on, that some faculty members were permitting a potentially hostile situation within a classroom environment." He gave no indication that these "rumors" were investigated.
Imagine a counterfactual situation in which "rumors" existed that "some faculty members were permitting a potentially hostile situation within a classroom environment" toward gays and lesbians; or towards ethnic, religious, or racial minorities. The Group of 88 would be whipping out their pens to sign a new statement in no time at all. It appears, alas, that enforcement of Duke's "harassment" policy depends on the targets of the alleged "harassment."
While the alcohol and gambling sections of the code represent the type of rules common at colleges like
The section begins with a peculiar statement: "The tenets of the university's Community Standard (honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, and—especially—respect for others) are essential components of healthy interpersonal relationships." Why does Duke consider "respect for others" more important than "honesty" or "trustworthiness" in interpersonal relationships? The code declines to say, but this decision provides a clue into the thinking that governs the section's terms " According to the code's terms, the sexual harassment policy is based on several "fundamental principles," including the assertion that "real or perceived power differentials between individuals may create an unintentional atmosphere of coercion." Perceived power differentials yielding an unintentional atmosphere of coercion? It would seem that absolute innocence doesn't qualify as a defense against this provision—the "guilt" of the "perpetrator" would depend entirely on how the "victim" perceived his "unintentional" acts. Since this clause addresses "perceived power differentials," it would seem as if only white males could be found guilty under its terms.
According to the code's terms, the sexual harassment policy is based on several "fundamental principles," including the assertion that "real or perceived power differentials between individuals may create an unintentional atmosphere of coercion." Perceived power differentials yielding an unintentional atmosphere of coercion? It would seem that absolute innocence doesn't qualify as a defense against this provision—the "guilt" of the "perpetrator" would depend entirely on how the "victim" perceived his "unintentional" acts. Since this clause addresses "perceived power differentials," it would seem as if only white males could be found guilty under its terms.
"Sexual misconduct," continues the code's litany of arbitrary provisions, "also includes sexual exploitation, defined as taking non-consensual, unjust sexual advantage of another for one's benefit or the benefit of another party." So: two women are talking on Central Campus. (They're whispering, so as not to violate the "Acela Noise rule.") One looks up and sees an attractive male student across the way. Both comment appreciatively; one even chuckles to herself, with a low whistle. Interpreting the code literally, this act would constitute "sexual exploitation" at Duke. The action certainly was "non-consensual," and the two women—especially the one who chuckled to herself—could be deemed as taking "sexual advantage of another for [her own] benefit." The only possible defense for the women? Claiming that they took "just sexual advantage" of another. Does a difference exist between "just sexual advantage" and the "unjust" variety? The code doesn't say, but the use of the "unjust" modifier suggests a distinction does exist.
Bringing together the far-right and far-left provisions of the code, the sexual harassment section notes that prohibited "acts may or may not be accompanied by the use of coercion, intimidation, or through advantage gained by the use of alcohol or other drugs." Well, they "may or may not" be accompanied by a UFO sighting, too. But even stranger is the implication that alcohol constitutes a "drug"—i.e., "the use of alcohol or other drugs." But the code's alcohol section makes no attempt to define alcohol as a "drug." So: does Duke now consider alcohol a "drug"? If so, on what legal basis has it reached that judgment?
In the end, it seems as if the entire response of what Chemistry professor Stephen Baldwin termed the campus "righteous" revolves around an attempt to exploit the crisis to transform Duke's curriculum. "Educational and preventative measures," affirms the code, "are necessary components of the university's commitment to reduce sexual misconduct in its community." The specific nature of these measures, of course, remains undescribed, yet it's not hard to imagine what the code's authors have in mind. The Group of 88 has been issuing similar demands since the spring; Neal, for instance, pushed for using the lacrosse affair to adopt radical curricular changes "that will allow our students to engage one another in a progressive manner." Coming from someone who describes himself as an "intellectual thug," this goal is hardly reassuring.
Duke students—or, at least, those Duke students viewed with disfavor by the administration and faculty—will begin this fall term in a highly vulnerable position. They will confront a disciplinary code of stunning vagueness, one whose enforcement will depend solely on the arbitrariness of student life officials. The code's sole ideological consistency is a hodge-podge of all the criticisms directed against the lacrosse team. By this stage, we've come to expect nothing less from Brodhead and his administration.


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The annual Hazardous Waste Disposal Event will be held Saturday, April 6, from 8a – 12p. This event is sponsored by City of Claremore, Rogers County and Cherokee Nation.
There is a NEW location this year! The drop-off will be in the Claremore Industrial Park, on the north side of Lowry Road, across from AXH. From Hwy 66 turn west onto Lowry Road. Turn north onto John Carle Blvd. for the disposal event entrance and continue north to disposal site.
Bring proof of county residency.
We Do Not accept TIRES or METALS AT THIS LOCATION
Call City of Claremore at 918-341-0457 x 285 for hazardous waste questions.
Old medicine DROP OFF: Please bring all unneeded and unused medications for disposal. You can also Dispose of needles and syringes. Place needles in plastic container such as bleach or laundry container.
Recycle! Claremore supports a year-round Recycling Center at 810 W. Ramm Road

subset: commoncrawl


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The Gardens of Villa della Pergola of Alassio: where nature meets the sea
One of the few examples of Anglo-Mediterranean park preservatosi over time, to Villa della Pergola, from the second half of the nineteenth century at the behest of the General McMurdo and Lady Napier wife who wanted to create a winter and spring residence on the Riviera.
In addition to the current villa that was originally the residence of the Counts of the Lengueglia, the land was mostly "inhabited" by terraced cultivation of citrus trees, carobs and olive trees that served to feed pack animals.
Thanks to the intervention of McMurdo, the park was enriched by numerous ornamental plants, transforming what until then was a farmland in an ornamental garden of all respect. To these first modifications, the McMurdo also added a new building, Villa Pergola, joining the two areas of the park with various wooden bridges that allowed the passage between one another without having to leave the park.
With the passage of the property to Sir Walter Hamilton Dalrymple in 1900, the park was enriched with new ornamental plants and cypress groves were introduced that still can be admired in the gardens of Villa Pergola.
In 1922, the property passed into the hands of one of Sir Thomas Hanbury's sons, Daniel, who contributed to further enrich the park's plant collection, including specimens such as the Washington palms, dactilifere, canariensis and azzurre, plus Mexican cicas more a collection of cactacea, agave and aloe.
With the outbreak of war, the park remained closed and under seizure until, in the first postwar period, Daniel's widow, Ruth, did not take over the management and took care of the restoration of the park especially in areas near the two villas.
Then, in 1982, with the death of Ruth, the property was transferred for a few years in the hands of De Martini family that took care mainly of the restoration of the buildings until 2006, when a consortium of friends led by Silvia and Antonio Ricci bought the property, starting with a careful and enthusiastic restoration under the direction of architect Paolo Pejrone.
The first major intervention was to clean up the park from debris and herbaceous plants left by the past, then proceeding to safety and a gradual restoration, always keeping an eye on the past in order to preserve the glorious beauty and enchanting features that while changing, are still today a symbol of the park.
The wisteria has been introduced, and Agapants were already there, an important collection of agapantus has been created, which boasts over 300 different species.
E 'was also created a collection of citrus, reintroduced cacti, giant birds of paradise and the great water collection tank has been realized an environment to host the lotuses.
The gardens today
Overlooking the Gulf of Alassio, Riviera di Ponente, the Gardens of Villa della Pergola, host a truly unique and incredible collection: in addition to the more than 400 varieties of agapanto that bloom in June and July, there are also 32 varieties of wisteria that appear with their colors and perfumes between March and April.
The park follows the natural course of the hill on several levels, joined by the characteristic pergolas that give the name to the Villa and on which the wisteria bloom in March and April.
In June and July of Pergola Villa gardens are colored in different shades of blue, light blue and white thanks to the Agapanthus blooms, whose flowers are arranged to form ordered rich shades of color similar to the waves of the sea; a unique collection in Europe for vastness and importance. In July, the park also blossomed Lotus flowers, aquatic plants cultivated in the tanks recovered from the old tanks for rainwater harvesting, restored in 2006 and restructured as the entire water network of the garden.
The summer months are the ideal time for strolling in the colors of Mediterranean scrub and tropical vegetation. During this time the solanum, the bignons, the water lilies and the blue plumbago blossom, and reach their maximum splendor of plants and trees typical of the Mediterranean, like the olive trees in the park.
The Gardens of Villa della Pergola also have a collection of citrus flowers in bloom at the end of summer and early autumn.
Pictures of the Gardens
The Villa della Pergola
Villa della Pergola and Villino, restored to a conservative restoration by the architect Ettore Mocchetti, they reminiscently reflect the setting of British Victorian residences, bringing to life, through carefully crafted furnishings and a refined collection of watercolors and Victorian and Edwardian paintings, and the atmospheres of the epoch fin de siécle.
Secluded in the corner of the lush garden, the Casa del Sole owes its name to the particular position that makes it constantly flooded with natural light. The House of the Sun was a favorite place for the classic "tea of the five" and the Dalrymple and then Hanbury's leisure moments.
The relais, consisting of Villa della Pergola with the Villino and the Casa del Sole, is open until the end of October: you can stay hosted and housed in the twelve suites that are different from each other and each one is dedicated to the many characters who in the past have stayed in Villa della Pergola or have been part of the English colony of Alassio.
Villa della Pergola has recently joined Small Luxury Hotels of The World, the international affiliate brand that gathers around some of the most luxurious little hotels and resorts in the world.
More info: www.villadellapergola.com email@example.com
The Restaurant of Villa della Pergola
Il Restaurant Nove, open all year round and directed by chef Giorgio Servetto, puts first place in seasonality and local products, making extensive use of citrus fruit, herbs and edible flowers in the park.
The NOVE restaurant and chef Giorgio Servetto received two hats in the Espresso Guide 2017 and two forks with a 80/100 vote in the Gambero Rosso Guide 2017 and the Authentic Cooking Certificate of the Italian Touring Club.
More info: www.noveristorante.it
Where , how, when
Giardini di Villa della Pergola
Via Cardellino,
17021 Alassio (Sv)
Gardens of Villa della Pergola are open from March to November and with its 22,000 sq. M the park is to be discovered all weekends (from late March to early November) with sightseeing tours starting at 9.30-11.30-15.00 -17.00. During the week you can book visits only for groups.
More infos:
Tel. +39.0182.646130 – +39.0182.646140 – firstname.lastname@example.com www.giardinidivilladellapergola.com
Tickets( 2017)
Single: 12 euro, FAI members: 10 euro, Boys 6 to 14 years: 6 euro
Free for children up to 6 years old accompanied by an adult.
School groups (park visit): 6 euro.


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"See ya later I'm going to the front of the thee-AY-ter"
Full disclosure, I've been listening to this version of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell for more years than I care to remember and before anyone really knew what luminaries many of these performers would become – Clive Rowe, Ruthie Henshall, John Barrowman…though perhaps we'll skip past Darren Day. Using the composer's original arrangements and conducted by himself, it is perhaps a tad traditional for the taste of some but for me, it hit the marks from top to bottom.
Henshall going full-on Mae West in a vampy 'Turn Back O Man', Elisabeth Sastre and Jacqueline Dankworth complementing each other well in a beautifully harmonised 'By My Side', Day and Glyn Kerslake's amusing romp through 'All For The Best', it's all highly slick and professional. The air of reverence is strong throughout, mark Paul Manuel leading 'All Good Gifts' or Dankworth's 'Day By Day' for example, classically done almost note for note from the sheet music.
This does perhaps mean it can seem a little staid at times but personally I like the fidelity to the music as written, there's versions enough elsewhere for a greater sense of originality and it just means that here, there's just the joy of unalloyed pure melodic singing, John Barr and Clive Rowe letting the delicacy of 'On The Willows' just wash over us with great beauty. An unexpectedly timeless and still powerfully effective account of a grand score.


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Open today 8:00 am - 5:00 pmCheck seasonal opening hours
Standard opening hours
- Mon - Fri
- 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Sat
- 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Sun
- Closed
Store addressUnit 2, Southfield 25
Lingard Lane
Greater Manchester
Fax: 0161 470 6335
Large Selection Of Great Decorating Brands!
Located in the north east of Stockport on the corner of Lingard Lane and Ashton Road the Stockport store is conveniently located with easy access and clearly visible from the road. Access the front of the store and parking from Ashton Road.
The store stocks all the main paint brands including Albany, Crown, Dulux, Johnstone's, Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Zinsser and with multiple tinting machines, the store has a colour to meet everyone's needs!
Wallpaper And Fabric Showroom At Brewers Stockport
Stocked with pattern books and a touch screen terminal, customers can browse a huge range of wallpapers in the showroom area. Mike Ablott, store manager and his team have extensive knowledge ready to share with their customers, both trade professionals and DIYers alike and look forward to welcoming you into store.
Stockport store is now open!
Finding the Stockport store...


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Man, Last Week Tonight has been great to watch, and the last episode has John Oliver talking about why we throw away a lot of perfectly eatable food. In some cases, we waste up to 40% of food and $165 billion each year, and it's just thrown away in the dumpsters, that is wrong! And thanks to Congress not doing enough to give tax breaks so businesses can donate more food, more people go hungry and more food is thrown away. Enjoy the video and make sure you watch until the very end, Merica!
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Categories: Interesting Stuff


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The Mounties Got Their Manby THANE BURNETT [The Toronto Sun]
Herman Bittner's shed is locked in time. It's a decade and a half out of date.
Inside the storage barn, behind his place south of Calgary (Alberta, Canada), he stockpiles left-over novelty calendars from the early '90s. The calendars made Bittner money and nationally infamous. And he takes pride of his footnote in history to this day.
His calendars ridiculed the notion Sikh Mounties (Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP) should be able to wear turbans instead of the traditional Stetson hat.
"That was the attitude - out here in the west, we're a little more vocal," the 59-year-old businessman tells me.
Damned by human rights groups, including the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the $6 calendars lampooned the uniform change. During the crescendo of the national debate, despite the uproar, he sold more than 13,000. His was just one of the angry - although his was extreme - voices raised over the changes to a uniform which had previously gone through several less raucous reincarnations.
Other Alberta vendors sold anti-turban pins. Several MPs opposed inclusion of religious elements into the uniform. An unsuccessful lawsuit was filed on behalf of retired Mounties.
Baltej Singh Dhillon heard the voices. And many more. But they didn't stop him then. And he doesn't resent them now.
2006 marked the fifteenth anniversary since the devout young man from B.C. graduated from the RCMP training academy in Regina (Saskatchewan, Canada), as the first officer allowed to wear a turban and unshorn beard. Today, he's a seasoned sergeant on the force.
"I have to thank them for using the words they used," he says of the critics. "I'm tougher for having come through it."
While May was the anniversary of the changing face of the RCMP, Dhillon actually counts his years from August 30, 1990 -- the day he signed up and took his oath.
The Malaysian born officer came to Canada when he was 16 years old. He didn't intend to redefine 118 years of history - or even become a police officer. He wanted to be a lawyer. To help with a volunteer component of that study, he began giving his time to the Surrey, B.C., RCMP detachment.
That community was seeing an unprecedented influx of immigrants from Asia. Often, Dhillon would be used as a translator. Those new Canadians assumed he was an officer. And soon, he began to feel like one. Or, at least, what it would mean to hold that title.
He turned his back on his dream to become a lawyer, and set his sights on wearing the Red Serge uniform of the RCMP. His family was supportive, though his brother did try to convince him to follow him into chemical engineering.
"Today, he has a nicer car," Dhillon says of his brother, but adds: "However, mine has a siren and flashing lights."
During the early months and even years, he never saw himself as a symbol or a role-model - though others did. Instead, he was content to focus on becoming a good police officer, without having to sacrifice his religious ideals.
Some fellow officers - including a crusty sergeant who came to see him as a son - told him they were against the changes. Dhillon simply thanked them for their honesty.
But there were times when he wasn't so forgiving. "I would read the newspaper and feel very disabled," he recalls. "That I couldn't stand in front of those people, walk into their living rooms, and say: 'This is what I stand for.'"
And there were also moments of face-to-face inspiration. When he graduated, Dhillon's posting was to a detachment in Quesnel, B.C., which had a population of just 65,000.
On his first night in town, while his wife Lisa was elsewhere, he sat drinking coffee in a local Tim Hortons. His mother and younger sister sat with him.
They heard the sound of motorcycles pull up. A rough looking crew entered the coffee shop, and began to, off and on, stare over at the new officer. The bikers moved toward Dhillon's table. He recalls whispering directions to his family -- 'leave quickly', 'call the police' - while counting down his own list of training tactics.
Then, in a flash, the first biker to stand in front of him extended his open hand, to ask if he was the new Sikh officer in town. They simply wanted to welcome him.
"I learned I was doing what others had done to me - I made quick judgments on looks," he now recalls, from his office.
He works in a Surrey RCMP branch which specializes in interviewing, including giving polygraphs. He has a gift for reaching people - tearing back curtains with just his voice. People seem to respond to his natural empathy, says RCMP Insp. Don Adams, who has worked with Dhillon for years.
"He's very good at understanding people," reasons Adams, who never opposed the inclusion of turbans and beards. "What I've always cared about (in 32 years on the force) in the quality of the members."
Dhillon worked on the lengthy investigation of the 1985 Air India terrorist-caused crash which killed 329 passengers. But it's lesser known cases which he judges himself by. They include counselling a teenage boy who started a fire in his home -- accidentally killing family members -- because he longed for attention. Then there was facing the killer of a 20-year-old suspected drug dealer.
And helping to solve a crime and save a marriage after a man had burned down his own home. When Dhillon interviewed the man, he was told the arsonist didn't fear justice for what he had done -- he worried his wife would leave him.
"I told him I'd be willing to sit down and talk to her with him -- he couldn't believe a police officer would do that," Dhillon says. "I felt like a preacher." He did talk to the man's spouse, even as his own wife, Lisa, waited outside in their vehicle. The woman promised to stand by the man, as he faced justice.
"Those are the moments I think about," adds Dhillon, a father to 8-year-old daughter Rasna and 14-year-old daughter, Onkar. He would have no problem with either of his children following his bootprints.
When he began, people would check and recheck his badge. They would make him wait, until another RCMP officer arrived. Today, that seldom happens. The image he walked through fire to earn and maintain - a proud RCMP officer and baptized Sikh - is now no longer so risky or controversial in Canada. While the service doesn't keep statistics on how many members now wear turbans, the loud voices of opposition have been dulled by time.
Outside of Calgary, Herman Bittner still has some left over calendars -- reminders of a different year in Canada's history. They sit, largely collecting dust, in a shed. He still believes as he did -- religion is private and not to be worn by the Queen's cavalry. But there's no longer any great, national demand for the coarse and tactless way he tried to express that.
A province over, in Dhillon's living room, there's a giant, life-size doll, made by an Alberta family. It sports the uniform and turban, and the strangers sent it to the officer, out of admiration, on his graduation day, more than fifteen years ago.
The RCMP sergeant keeps it out of storage and moth-balls. He's sure whatever message you take from that, it speaks louder than the voices which used to say the kind of justice Dhillon wanted should be impossible to find in Canada.
[Courtesy: The Toronto Sun]
Conversation about this article
1: Devinder (Melbourne, Australia), March 05, 2007, 3:48 PM.
Excellent, bro ... Keep it up. May the Guru give you more ... We need more like you.
2: Harbans (Malaysia), March 05, 2007, 6:53 PM.
Good job, Baltej. You have made every Sikh very proud. From Malaysia, if you remember Bansi.....
3: Nimret Kaur Chawla (Canada), March 05, 2007, 9:58 PM.
Good job. You are a great role model. May God Bless you and keep you safe.
4: Manmit (Brampton, Canada), March 05, 2007, 10:06 PM.
5: Bhupendra Singh (Melbourne, Australia), March 05, 2007, 10:19 PM.
Bravo. It's an excellent job & example for people who have choosen a different path. Today, when I put on my turban, every hair on my body feels grateful to the Guru and utters, "WaheGuru, thank you. You paid the price of this holy crown with the blood of your family and innumerable devotees. No king or tyrant can take it away from me. Only ignorant or ungrateful Sikhs may themselves throw it away. They forget that, alongwith the turban, they also lose their right to be respected and addressed as Sardar Ji, the son of Guru Gobind Singh."
6: Harpal Singh (Espanola, USA), March 05, 2007, 11:46 PM.
Sat Nam, Brother. Nice red jacket, raiment of a king. Wahe Guru!
7: JS (AUSTRALIA), March 06, 2007, 2:11 AM.
Chardi Kalaa, mereh Veer!
8: Melagar (Singapore), March 06, 2007, 4:17 AM.
You have made your countrymen proud. People should learn from you. In Singapore & Malaysia, Sikhs in uniform are well known and respected.
9: Navtej Singh (Pompton lakes,USA), March 06, 2007, 2:29 PM.
I am moved by Baltej's picture. It is a proud moment for all Sikhs. May other Sikh youth be equally inspired by him.
10: Tajinder Pal Singh (Sydney, Australia), March 06, 2007, 8:34 PM.
You are our hope for tommorrow. Otherwise, for example, some who preach others to be amritdhari, are the very ones distributing liquor in Gurdwara elections.
11: GB KAUR (SACRAMENTO, CA., USA), March 07, 2007, 8:16 AM.
I thank WaheGuru Ji for showering you with his love, strength and the will power that he has given you. My brother, you truly have made the Sikh nation proud.
12: Siri Om Kaur (Vancouver, Canada), March 07, 2007, 5:31 PM.
We are very proud of you, Baltej. You are a wonderful pillar in our sangat... and obviously the rest of the world too! Love.
13: Gurnam Singh Sagoo (London, UK), March 08, 2007, 9:03 AM.
Dear Baltej Singh, you have made Sikhs proud and entered your name in history for ever. Congratulations and well done! You are a true Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh. The whole Sikh community is proud of you. I wish you all the best and every success in your chosen career.
14: IPS Ahuja (Vaudreuil, Canada), March 08, 2007, 7:43 PM.
Baltej, I am very proud of you. Forty six years ago, I was the first Sikh in Los Angeles with a beard and turban. Therefore, I can very well understand what you had to go through to overcome prejudice and ignorance to reach your goal. Keep up the good work you are doing and always remember that you are trail-blazing for all the Sikhs who want to join the RCMP or any of the other Police/Military forces in Canada and USA. May the Wahe Guru keep you and your family in Chardhi Kalaa.
15: Kanwarjeet Singh Chadha (Somerset, NJ, USA), March 08, 2007, 10:00 PM.
I have been seeing your photo in the Uniform for quite a few years now - believe me, it has been one of the most inspiring photos I have seen. It brings tears of joy to my eyes and an amazing sense of pride. Keep it up, Baltej - indeed, you have walked a rough path only so that others can have it easy - well done!!
16: Baltej Singh Dhillon (Vancouver ,Canada), March 13, 2007, 9:57 AM.
My dear brothers, sisters and elders.. Gurfateh. Thank you for your blessings and kind words. Throughout this journey, I have been blessed by the company of the Sadh Sangat. In short, the glory is not mine; rather, it is God's and the Guru's. I am humbled that I was chosen for this seva: "Inhee ki Kirpaa Se Saje Hum Hein, Nahee Mosay Gareeb Karror Paray". Ang Sung Waheguru. Baltej Singh
17: J. Cloutier (Edmonton, Canada), October 23, 2007, 5:29 AM.
I just want to tell you that the tradition of justice is more important than the tradition of what kind of hat one wears. I am very proud to see that we as a nation can understand that. I am proud, too, of you, sir. You look fantastic and the duality of your uniform, encompassing new and old, really says more about Canada than a 1000 words ever could. Good for you.
18: Alvindarjit Singh (Sungai Siput, Malaysia), February 21, 2008, 9:29 PM.
I can only imagine... I can only imagine how proud you'd feel tying the turban every morning, remembring all the pain and hurdles you had to overcome. I want to feel that too! May Waheguru give me an opportunity. Thank You, brother.
19: Donna Tratch (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), November 15, 2008, 11:00 PM.
What an amazing person you are, Baltej - Thank you for teaching us about Yoga, for your quiet strength and spirituality. What a great joy to have met you and listened to your incredible journey. God Bless you.


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This past week, many Canadians watched the U.S. presidential election with bated breath and the belief that whoever wins the presidency will directly affect their investments. However, this is typically not the case.
For example, while the S&P 500 produced one of its best runs during a first-term presidency under Trump, the S&P/TSX Composite Index saw significantly smaller returns in the same time frame. As a result, Canadian investors should not turn to U.S. elections for answers to their sluggish returns but rather bigger macroeconomic forces at play. To elucidate this point, The Chronicle Herald recently turned to Sightline Wealth Management Senior Vice President and Investment Advisor Paul de Sousa.
"I'm in the camp where it doesn't really matter," de Sousa tells the publication regarding who sits in the White House. Instead, Canadian investors should pay attention to factors that will likely have a large impact on TSX returns such as the composition of Canada's markets, growing Canadian government debt and the depth of the current second (and a potential third) wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no matter the specific forces at play, Canadian investors should always ensure that their portfolios are properly allocated and capable of achieving returns even in the most turbulent times.
Click here to read the entire article in The Chronicle Herald.


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With each paycheck that you earn, your employer withholds a portion of your income to cover your tax bill that will be due at the end of the year. What many people don't realize is that you can control how much is withheld from your paycheck, and you can change this amount at any time.
To adjust your federal tax withholdings, you simply need to provide your employer with an updated W-4 IRS tax form that shows the new withholdings amount. The W-4 form includes a worksheet that helps you determine how many allowances to claim, but you are not obligated to use these numbers. You can claim as many allowances as you like, depending on whether you want more or less money taken out of your paycheck.
Deciding how much money to withhold requires some thought and understanding of how tax withholding works.
Understanding the End Result
The total amount of income taxes that you owe to the IRS will not change based on your withholding. However, withholdings provide a way to pre-pay your tax bill so that you are not stuck owing money on Tax Day.
Most people have more money taken out of their paychecks than necessary; 8 out of 10 taxpayers receive a refund every year. While it may be exciting to get this large payment after you file your taxes, remember that this is money that has been withheld from your paychecks throughout the year. Some people consider this the same as giving the government an interest-free loan for the entire year. Adjusting your withholding can make these funds available to you earlier, so that you have more cash flow all year long.
The trick is getting as close to your tax bill as possible, so that you have more money available throughout the year, but you don't end up underpaying and then owing money to the IRS come tax time.
Estimating Your Taxes Due
Before you can determine how much to withhold from your paychecks in the coming year, you must estimate your taxes due. You can use multiple calculators online to estimate your total taxable income for the coming year. Then, you can refer to the tax withholding tables to determine how much money you may owe in taxes.
If you haven't experienced any life events that may change your tax status — you're still in the same job, you haven't bought or sold a house, you haven't had any children or a change in marital status — you can use your tax returns from last year to help estimate your tax payment.
Understanding Withholdings
After you have a good idea of how much money you may owe in taxes, you can use a tax withholding calculator to better estimate a reasonable withholdings amount. Remember that withholding less money from each paycheck could result in owing money on Tax Day.
If you'd rather play it safe and get a refund on Tax Day, you can adjust your W-4 so that you are claiming fewer allowances. In this case, more money will be deducted from your paychecks.
This process sounds easy enough at first glance, but some people have very complicated tax returns. Estimating withholdings can be increasingly challenging when you have multiple factors affecting your taxable income and overall tax liability. If you have any self-employment income, for example, it can be difficult to estimate how much you will end up paying in taxes.
If you have a complicated tax return, VTax can help make your tax returns easier. VTax tax professionals are licensed and credentialed, and able to assist with any tax situation. Learn more about VTax and find out how we can help you your maximum refund, guaranteed!


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Gisele, Dramatic, Cybergirl of the Month September 2013
Posted by Smart Fred
Busty blonde model Gisele is the Cybergirl of the Month September 2013.
Modeling from six years, Gisele has always wanted to be a part of Playboy, so she's really proud to be the new Cybergirl of the Month. As many Texans, Gisele main quality is her Southern hospitality, it's a second nature for her to be nice with everybody.
Enjoy these Gisele nude pictures and click here to access our other Gisele galleries.


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In 2020 you would be forgiven for thinking that just because you are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, that there is no need for you to waste your time and money on building a website. Well, unfortunately, I'm sorry to burst your bubble but this is certainly not the case. Now more than ever building a website is not a luxury but a necessity for any artist, creative or small business that wants to get their name out there. It used to be that great art was discovered by galleries; written manuscripts chosen by publishers. These days, great content is discovered first-hand by ordinary people. People, like you and me, who are sitting on their computers just browsing for something beautiful, to fill their time. There is no longer a barrier between the artist and the masses. If you have an online presence – and your work can be found, shared, 'pinned' or 'liked' – you can achieve a level of recognition that could once only be dreamed of. A single image or blog post can receive thousands of views in a very short time-frame; be seen by vast numbers of prospective clients, admirers, and fans. If you are an artist, photographer, writer (or any other creative entrepreneur), you need to harvest the power of the internet and create your own website as soon as possible.
Whilst this may seem like a daunting task and the thought of taking the steps to make this a reality may be a scary one, I have pulled together 12 top tips every creative entrepreneur needs to know when launching their digital presence.
Building an artist website Tip 1: You need to know why your doing this and what you want to get out of it
In a nutshell, you need to clearly define your goals. When creating your website, it has to be done with the overriding vision in mind and a clear end game. For example, do you want it to be a portal for your customers to buy your products? Then you will have to build an e-commerce website with ease of purchase as the central goal. However, not every artist wants a market place for their product, you may just wish to provide information to lure potential clients to you. Your aim could be to get more commissions or tease them into asking questions about a particular piece. Whatever your intention, the goal must be well defined and simple to execute. Creating a website without a clearly defined purpose will only lead to a waste of time and resources
Building an artist website Tip 2: The hostess with the mostess …
It is really important to select a reliable hosting platform and select the one that best suits the needs of your particular website. It's a great idea to choose one that offers fast servers, free domain and high level of security and support. I use WordPress, but you could also check out Wix, Go Daddy and SquareSpace. It all depends on your ability level. WordPress works for me because I have a basic to intermediate level of coding experience, which means I can customise my templates and add features through the backend myself. However, if you are totally new to the game, Wix, may be a better option, because it offers a drag and drop option, which makes it very userfriendly.
Building an artist website Tip 3: Say my name, say my name…
Your website name is the starting point for your brand. For as little as £7 a month you can present a professional image with a .com site, as having a @freenet address is just a straight up no no. I learnt this the hard way. This website is not my first attempt, and I started with a free domain and quickly realised that if I don't believe in myself enough to invest, then no one else will! ( Food for Thought)
Building an artist website Tip 4: Appearance is everything
The first thing to remember is that your website is your shop window, it's like the reception area of a posh hotel. The first glance automatically shapes your guest's opinions and gives them a glimpse into the type and quality service they should expect. Like a reception waiting area, your website is the main gateway to reach your target audience and connect you with people who want to buy your art or services. Therefore, the construction of your business website goes a long way in determining your outcome and a poorly designed site says more about you than you know.
Aesthetics are important! Your website should showcase your creative work professionally and communicate style and individuality, helping you to stand out from the crowd. This cannot be achieved with a standard page on a free site and by using a template that looks like a million others. With your own website, you can select a great design theme and customise this however you like. Remember like your domain name, avoid free themes, oftentimes they are not as secure as the purchased ones and an inexpensive investment in a good theme could be what helps to keep you in business.
Building an artist website Tip 5: Map it out…
Most business websites have at least a few different pages. You might choose to create different pages for the different services you provide with the main page that gives a general overview. You might also consider going with the simple format of having a Home page, About page, and Contact page. Whichever route you choose to go down, it is imperative to decide on this before you start building and writing your content. Your site map is the difference between a site that people engage with and one that they click off soon after they visit the home page.
Building an artist website
Tip 6: Keep it simple
Your website should include your business contact information. This can either be phone numbers, address, email address, social media accounts or all of the above. I have added a WhatsApp conversation pop up to mine, as this is a great and instant way to engage in real-time international conversation. This is important for me because I am based in London and the USA, so this enables me to keep in contact with my existing clients and connect with new ones, wherever I am in the world.
Building an artist website
Tip 7: Content is key
Now you have the website builder, name and appearance sorted, you need to figure out what you want to say and how you want to say it. This is when having clearly defined goals will help you out. Content is the most important part of your website, so you need to make sure that you state your purpose clearly and quickly. Visitors get very annoyed if they have to spend a lot of time reading through pages of text in search of important points about your business or the products or services you are offering. Remember they just want to see your creations, so make sure that they can do this easily.
Building an artist website
Tip 8: You've written it, now you need optimize it!
If you ignore everything else that I have said in this article, please take this next section on board.
You need to optimize your content and each page on your site. If you fail to do this your website will be left floating alone in cyberspace, relying on endless social media promotion and kind visits from friends or followers. And you don't want that! There is nothing more depressing than looking at Google Analytics and realising that you only had 100 hits for the month, 40 of which were you!
When developing copy, it is important not only to write for humans but for Google too, as Google is a necessary evil. As much as I hate its dominance, understanding how they roll can be the difference between a site that exists and a site that performs.
Google constantly updates its algorithm to determine where websites should appear in the search results. When someone types a query into Google, the search engine carries out a complex calculation to estimate which – of all of the websites it has discovered in the world – you want to see. Therefore if your website doesn't make it onto the first page of results, only a tiny percentage of people will ever find it, rending all your hard work null and void.
This means you need to ensure that Google understands what each page on your website is about. Therefore optimizing your page, using key search terms, not just words is essential. However, I will go into more detail about SEO in my next article which you can register for here.
As this isn't enough for you to get your head around, Google also knows whether your website is created using a free platform, and may perceive your website accordingly: as less professional, less serious, and less important, therefore it will hide you away in the " Not so important box" making it harder for people to find your content. This is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding whether to create your own website.
Building an artist website
Tip 9: Say it with images
Images are your key as a creative. So, make sure they are professional but also optimized. Images are also another great way to improve your SEO. Sign up for my SEO article to find out the most effective way to tag your images. Also don't get caught out by using imges thst don't belong to you. Many people steal from the internet, but that can result in hefty fines. So be smart and if you need stock photography, use free sites such as Pixbay and Unsplash.
Building an artist website
Tip 10: make sure it's mobile friendly
Regardless of what type of content you decide to include on your artist website, ensure that the site is mobile friendly. Operating a website that is not mobile optimized can drive away your customers, hurt your search engine optimization and make your website look unprofessional. This can be done, quite easily using the website builders that have suggested above, but it is important to remember that your mobile site should not just be a copy of the desktop site. It needs to be cleaner, load faster, easier to navigate and get to the most important stuff quickly.
Building an artist website
Tip 11: Knowledge is key
This is the part that people often overlook. It is really important to know who is coming to your website and how they are engaging with your content. Google Analytics and Search Console are free tools that are easily integrated with your website. Most free blogging or social media platforms do not allow you to use these, and offer inferior statistics if any at all. However, Analytics and Search Console provide in-depth information about those who visit your site. For example, you can see which countries visitors are from; how many minutes they spend on certain pages; which pages they leave immediately and what they typed into Google prior to arriving at your site. This information is invaluable. It helps to shape and direct your creative work and improve your content for the future.
Building an artist website
Tip 12: Data is the foundation to new sales and commissions
If you have the option for your audience to safely share their email address with you, you don't need to be at the mercy of third parties: you can contact your followers whenever you like. An email list is an asset that you can backup, and keep, giving you direct contact with your audience, no matter what happens. Almost all online entrepreneurs regret not starting an email list sooner. An email sign-up box can be added in a couple of minutes to your website and can be one of the most effective marketing tools that you own.
In conclusion, it is important to keep things simple and ensure you don't get stuck trying to achieve that perfect outlook for your website on first go. Start small and get all your pages right, as professional as possible and optimized. Kickstart your website today and get your brand and creations out to the world. If you require any help setting up your website you can contact me using the form below and I would be happy to help.


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On Wednesday's Houston Matters: Several Houston firefighters are headed to the East Coast to help with preparation for and response to Hurricane Florence. We find out about their role there.
Also this hour: Our experts discuss the latest national, state, and local political stories with an eye for how they might affect Houston and Texas.
Then, medical experts are meeting to discuss the ethical questions surrounding prescribing painkillers in light of the opioid epidemic. Dr. Amy McGuire, director of the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine, tells us about the seminar, called Prescription for Addiction.
Plus, we learn about Cathay Williams, a freed slave woman who disguised herself as a man and fought with the Buffalo Soldiers. She's the subject of a new historical fiction novel, Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen.
We offer a daily podcast here, on iTunes, Stitcher and other podcasting apps.


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DRW AVIA : All Valve Instrument Amplifier is finally in production!!! - Here
Latest : New DRW Fuzz Bass Review from Bass Musician Magazine - July 2015 (US) can be found here!!!!
The following video appears courtesy of Guitarist Magazine - Issue 391 March 2015
The following video is a demo of the DRW Overdrive
WebPages designed by DRW (C) DRW 2010. Company Registration Number: 7983467


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A new report on the challenges faced by independent media in Cambodia in 2016 highlights a pervasive atmosphere of pressure on journalists to give favourable coverage to the government and ruling party allies, and concerns among the media – ultimately vindicated – about a possible pre-election crackdown.
The report, which interviewed 22 journalists last year and was published by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) last month, noted that "although there were no physical attacks or lawsuits against journalists in 2016, media outlets operated in an environment that often placed intense pressure to report favourably on the government and their allies in the business community".
"With the country facing deep uncertainty over the national election in July 2018, there was widespread concern among journalists as to whether a government that has been surprisingly tolerant of highly critical media outlets would shift its position and expand its campaign against critics into the media arena," the report says.
True to the report's predictions, in the past month Cambodia has faced an unprecedented crackdown on independent media, with the shuttering of the Cambodia Daily, Radio Free Asia and more than a dozen independent radio stations.
The "growth in pro-government outlets was pulling talented journalists away from more independent competitors", the report said. Just last week government mouthpiece Fresh News began a new radio service and the Interior Ministry launched Nice TV, funded by Chinese backers, bulking up the Kingdom's pro-government coverage.
"The extent of government control and influence over the media was the second-greatest challenge to independent media behind only low pay," the report found, with poor wages, in a culture of corruption, sometimes leading to unethical behaviour by journalists.
But Huy Vannak, director of the Union of Journalist Federations of Cambodia and an undersecretary of state at the Interior Ministry, said the recent closures were not linked to politics. "I don't see much pressure . . . There is a confused message that RFA and the Daily were closed by the government, but they closed by themselves," Vannak said. The Daily folded after it was handed a $6.3 million tax bill and was denied an appeal. RFA closed a week later, citing a government crackdown on independent media.
"It hurts now for some media institutions, but I think it's good for others to be aware . . . and make sure you perform by the law," Vannak said.
"If you don't make mistakes, no one has the power to shut you down," he said, saying journalists could trust the courts – contrary to the report's findings.
Moeun Chhean Nariddh, director of the Cambodian Institute for Media Studies, said while lawsuits were preferable to the murder of journalists that occurred in the 1990s the legal process is indeed problematic.
"If a case is brought by powerful people, there is a slim opportunity that the court will be independent or rule in favour of the journalist," he said.
He said it was "a sad thing" to lose a pluralism of voices, but hoped there would be "light at the end of the tunnel".
"The government will need some legitimacy, so they will try to prove that democracy [exists] with free press and free expression," he said.
The rise of social media, he added, meant there could not be a total blackout on sensitive stories.
"We have a Khmer saying that goes: You cannot use a flat basket to hide a dead elephant."
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