text: Begin your future now and join thousands of employees who help tens of thousands of people learn new academic, technical, and social skills to become more employable and productive citizens. MTC's innovative, forward-thinking attitude, and culture have made us who we are today. In every MTC workplace, you will find challenging projects and creative people who are helping others realize their learning potential. MTC has been improving lives and operating safe and secure facilities for more than 35 years through its Education & Training, Corrections, MTC Medical, and Social & Economic Development divisions.


text:
Teen Workshop and Baseball Game - May 28th in Toronto
Food Allergy Canada is hosting a grand slam event for teens with food allergies on Sunday, May 28 in Toronto. This teen workshop will feature a fun-filled morning with interactive youth-led presentations, prizes, lively discussions, and team-building activities.
Following the workshop, there will be a group trip to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball game where seats are reserved in the peanut/nut-reduced section.
This event is a must for teens with food allergies.
- When is it: May 28, 2017 from 8am-12pm EST for the workshop and 1pm-4pm EST for the Blue Jays baseball game (optional).
- Who should attend: Teens with food allergies, who are 13-21 years old.
- Where is it:
o Workshop: 918 Bathurst, at 918 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON
o Baseball Game (optional): Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON
- How much does it cost: $20 - Teen Workshop, $35 - Blue Jays Baseball Game (optional)
- Invite a guest for free: The participants can invite one friend to join them at the workshop free of charge. If the friend also wants to attend the baseball game, they will need to pay for their ticket. The friend does not need to have food allergies. To register a friend for the workshop/baseball game, please call us at 1-866-785-5660.
Learn more and register today. You can also register via phone at 1-866-785-5660. Space is limited – register now to ensure you secure your spot.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wendy Steinberg
Vice President
240-401-0565 mobile
240-223-1603 office
703-564-7009 fax
About Wendy
U of MD graduate BS Finance
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
- Over 26 years in mortgage banking
- Washington DC Native
- Experienced and Knowledgable in all aspects of the complex mortgage process
- Let Wendy help you with your purchase, refinance, home equity, or renovation loan
Application checklist:
1. 2 most recent years W-2 forms or full 1040's if self-employed
2. Current pay stub if salaried
3. 2 most recent asset/bank statements (all pages please)
Mortgage Calculator
- CFPB CHARM Booklet
- CFPB Home Loan Toolkit
- FHA Home Inspection Disclosure
- Gift Letter
- Power Of Attorney Purchase - Maryland
- Power Of Attorney Purchase - Virginia
- Power Of Attorney Refinance - Maryland
- Power Of Attorney Refinance - Virginia
Bethesda Office6550 Rock Spring Drive
Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20817


text:
Beautiful wedding photography for Lovers
One year ago we had the pleasure of capturing the wedding of Rachella and Felix in kasteel de Wittenburg. It is hard to believe that a year has already passed that we had this beautiful couple in front of our camera's in this beautiful location.
Rachella and Felix I hope you had a great first year and that you will have many more together.
BLOG Archive


text:
Comic Review: All Star Batman #8 presents a Mad Hatter tale for the ages/
OK, you had me at Scott Snyder, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Mark Morales and Dean White, DC.
All Star Batman #8 deals with Batman, the Hatter and is done in a way that always you to connect and feel the confusion that our hero is stuck in. There are some major cues from Snyder's A.D. at play here, as it truly does put the reader in a relatable psychological state.
Snyder not only pulled this feat off, but he basically wrote the blueprint on how to accomplish it.
Right from the opening sequence with Batman slowly coming into frame starting with his little Bathead, the tone for this issue is set. Our protagonist starts us off by describing his state of mind: "I call it the 'window moment' like standing at the window as the curtains open. And on this case, it's happening right now, Batman says on the very first page.
The art team on this issue clearly was on the same page as Snyder, because some of the panels in this issue are seriously mind-bending. The opening sequence is the aforementioned tone-setter but Camuncoli, who is a bonafide breakout star, just absolutely nails what this issue is trying to do especially with Batman's showdown with Batwoman, Red Hood and Nightwing.
The way Batman broke down each imposter's moves is reminiscent of "Cammo's" work on The Flash, as he hones in on what makes these characters these characters. Batman knows his people, he knows their moves and he knows that "my family knows how to ******* fight."
Not only does Scott Snyder make you feel Batman's psychological instability as the Mad Hatter gets inside his head, but as a reader I felt myself questioning what was happening and everything I have come to know and love about this character.
Snyder's first go-round with the Mad Hatter nails the scary, mysterious character as you're not ever really sure what's real until we see that "window moment" come into play for the second time. Even at his most flustered, Batman powers through and finds an end to his means.
Heavy spoiler alert for All Star Batman #8
Hatter has convinced Batman, momentarily, that upon their first meeting when Bruce Wayne first came home that he tagged him with a magical hat. This hat worked with the wearer's neurology to make the person see whatever superficial architecture he wanted on top of the world.
The creepy villain fools the reader into thinking that Batman has created this world of Jokers, Banes and supervillains on his own. Snyder accomplishes this impressive feat through the Hatter by comparing everything we know about Gotham and Batman to Alive in Wonderland.
"Pocket watches, rabbit holes. A jabberwocky. A Cheshire cat. A queen and king of hearts. A caterpillar ..."
Had me going for a bit, seriously.
On that note:
Comic Review: 10/10
You know how you get perfect scores from the Court of Nerds on comic reviews? You mess with their heads and make them think for a second that everything they have grown to believe was just a trick. In reading this issue, the reader will connect with Batman and Scott Snyder on a mental level that lets you feel what they feel when their heads aren't working like they want them too.
The Mad Hatter is done in a way that elevates him to an entirely new level of psychological supervillain status. Giuseppe Camuncoli, Mark Morales and Dean White are a perfect team for this issue as Camuncoli work on ASB 8 is reminiscent of his work on The Flash, as he hones in on what makes these characters these characters.
This book will make you feel things. Not necessarily emotions like happiness, anger or sadness, but confusion, anxiety and a feeling of not being in control. Also, Batman has Wolverine claw gadgets for a second (!).


text:
Home Styling Ideas
Redecorating one's home doesn't imply that you will empty your pockets. If you're in a tight budget, you could always do it yourself rather than hiring an interior decorator; however if you simply are able to afford to employ a superb designer, then why not. You may plan in advance and look for ideas on the internet or magazines to visualize the outcome on your own actual family room.
Below are a few examples of the most famous design inspiration that you might employ on your home depending on your style
• Modern Zen Design
It is inspired to develop a soothing and tranquil living space. In home design, it reflects steadiness, tranquility and comfort. This can be the ultimate way to blend style and comfort in one. It often uses simple shades, neat and slick lines with a little touch of nature to accomplish the overall design.
• Tropical décor
It is energetic with lively overtones. This style is usually indicated by warm and soothing hues of nature like the heavens, ocean and forest. Its elements can vary on what facet of outdoors you want to put in to your home. For instance, the sky provides a range of blue shades while seashore is more on blue and earthly tones. Common elements would be the plants and wood furniture.
• Classic-Modern Design
It is among the most common living room design ideas. This type of design gives a sense of stillness and ease to your property as well creating a feeling of larger space. Modern design makes use of geometric sizes and shapes, incorporating rigid squares and rectangles and also soft curves ("clean lines").
• Hawaiian inspired design
It can be another design to think about.. The mood in this theme is vibrant and natural. Anyone could work with island sunset or sea colors as inspiration when selecting paint and fabric hues and add native decorations, wood furnishings and plants to finish the style.
• Victorian Style
The living rooms are luxurious and classy. You'd normally find Victorian Style living rooms in Victorian style houses and hotels. The key here is classic style with a splash of texture and color. Victorian style living rooms bring wealth.
Whatever living room design idea you are interested in, be certain that it'll meet your needs and lifestyle. You should definitely talk to a designer who is familiar with how to handle a tight budget and complies with what you need. And try to remember to pick the design that you will enjoy for a long period.


text:
The page you are looking for does not exist; it may have been moved, or removed altogether. You might want to try the search function. Alternatively, return to the front page.
Orthodoxy test
Left Wing Modern Orthodox: 82% Right Wing Modern Orthodox: 86% Left Wing Yeshivish/Chareidi: 36% Right Wing Yeshivish/Chareidi: 8% This means you're: Right Wing Modern O. What does it mean? You're religious, but you like pushing the edge. We must modernize to survive! You hate comparisons to the early maskilim and to right wing Conservatives even though you secretly idealize Saul Lieberman. Why can't everyone else in Orthodoxy get a clue? The Orthodoxy test: http://www.nerdtests.com/mq/take.php?id=200
Cliffnotes to Rebelwithacause
Why do I blog? I blog to interact with interesting bloggers, to discuss ideas and concepts. I am not blogging to win any awards. Should I be nominated for anything, that's cool but not my intention.
Disclaimer, please read before you comment
I am all for constructive critism and even sarcastic critism about issues that exist within our Orthodox communities. On my blog, I will not tolerate any hatred or prejudiced remarks towards any ethnic groups or religious backgrounds. I do welcome mature comments from fellow bloggers and others who would like share their point of view. I will not tolerate childish and immature comments or disrespectful bullying. I will immediately delete comments which are abusive to this site or to fellow J-bloggers. I belong to the group of J-Bloggers who like to discuss and confront the issues that exist in our Orthodox communities today. If you find this kind of discussions to fall under lashon hara, you are on the wrong blog. I also enjoy an occasional laugh, and like to post funny videos and stories about my life. If you wish to share your thoughts or ideas, you can reach me at email@example.com. Rebelwithacause
- No categories
Blog Stats
- 22,968 hits
Recent Comments
- Am Kshe Oref
- Ari Kinsberg
- Chainik Hocker
- Debt and Life
- Dofan Akuma
- Dov Bear
- Dry Bones
- FASSAC-Sephardic Studies
- Frum Outdoorsman
- Frum Satire: The Rantings of A Frum Yid With A Warped Perspective
- Frum Skeptics Anonymous
- Frummer
- Frumster Shoppers
- Giyus
- Hassid and a heretic
- Hassidic Rebel
- Hochma v Musar
- http://tzvee.blogspot.com/
- In an ocean alone
- Independent Frum Thinker
- Jacob Da Jew
- Jacob's Jokes & Funnies
- Jews of Africa
- Jews of India
- JRants
- Kaifeng Jews
- Lakewood Venter
- Life in Israel
- Live from Israel
- Mah Nishtana
- Not so frummie
- Nuch a chossid
- NY Apikores
- On the mainline
- Orieyenta
- Shearith Israel
- Shlemazl
- Steg (dos iz nit der šteg)
- The Unorthodox Jew
- Tradergirl-my evil twin ;)
- Yo quierro comedy-Mel
- Yutopia


text:
Culture Deficit: Hostile Railroad Employees
July 12, 2013
Common wisdom dictates that older people will often lament that "things aren't what they used to be," to which young whipper-snappers will say "it's time to get with the times." I often find myself in the latter camp, advocating for change, and I use the incredible progression of our standard of living and acceptance of others in Canada over the past century as justification for continuing to move forward. However, this summer I found myself—at the ripe old age of 27—wondering whether we haven't lost touch with some of the values that have shaped our identity in the past... and whether perhaps there isn't some wisdom to be gained from the laments of our elders.
In yearly trips to London, Ontario to visit family, I have gone to the CN rail yard to watch trains almost every year for the last ten years. I am opposed to trespassing, so I have always tried to remain on public property. Doing so was easy enough: the West end of the yard is crossed by Egerton St. with sidewalks on both sides, while most of the South edge of the yard is immediately bordered by Pine St. The latter is separated from the yard by a grassy median, a row of trees and bushes, and a ditch. A driveway enters the yard from the South a short distance along Pine St.
My first visit to the CN London yard this year found me standing at the edge of the driveway adjacent to the row of trees. A short time later, an employee pulled up in a CN truck and told me to "get off the property."
"OK," I replied. "Where is the property line?"
"The road," he answered, meaning the pavement of Pine St. I did not believe him, and my suspicions were confirmed a week later by municipal documents and maps I obtained that showed a 6-metre public right-of-way lining up with the grass median on either side of the road—which (in seeking shade under the row of trees) I had overstepped by little more than a metre. I would gladly have taken two steps back had I known such small distinctions were crucial.
However, I complied, not wanting to debate; even if I had, it was a moot point. The employee immediately rolled up the window and drove forward, strategically turning sideways right in the middle of my line of sight for photos. Miffed but undeterred, I walked (on the road) to the sidewalk on Egerton St. for a similar vantage point. The employee then pulled forward and watched me for some time from a few paces away, before driving off—apparently realizing that a person standing in one spot on public property legally taking pictures was not really worth observing.
Second encounter: A few days later, hoping to make amends and to connect to the yard crew as I had in other places in the past, I printed off one of my drawings to share, along with my name and website address. It was an undecorated drawing of CN #4760, which was switching in the yard at the time. I left behind my camera, hat or anything else that might give me the appearance of a railfan. I arrived at the yard at the same time as a truck with two employees, who looked at me suspiciously when I said I was interested in getting in touch at the folks at the yard to share some information.
"What kind of information?"
"Well, I have a drawing here of one of the units currently switching in the yard, and..."
"No, not interested." The employee walked past right in front of me on the way to the office. "Not interested."
"You're not interested? Well, I could give it to you if anyone else might like to see it."
"Not interested," and, walking into the office with a sidelong glance, the two employees shut the door in my face.
Rudeness in general annoys me; this made me furious. I left the yard in disgust, threw my drawing into the garbage, and did not take a single photo for the rest of the trip. In an unfortunate but ironic twist, it was the morning of Canada Day (July 1) and I was visiting Ontario as a Quebecer.
* * *
Until this summer, my experiences with railroad employees had been universally positive: A guided tour and extended cab ride in the BC Rail yard in Fort St. John, BC in 2004; horn concerts, greetings and wild photo-posing from St. Lawrence & Atlantic crews ever since the railroad began operations in Canada; a private visit of the exquisitely upgraded Orford Express Budd cars in Sherbrooke, QC, just before they opened to the public in 2006; a chat with a crew at the CP Quebec St. Yard in London, ON, who knew family friends... Even at the CN London yard, an employee a few years back who saw me taking pictures from the sidewalk on a hot afternoon told me, "wait here a minute, let me see what I can get you." He drove off and returned with a water bottle and two hats, saying "enjoy your visit." I did not request any of these experiences; they were all offered by rail crews and employees entirely out of generosity and a desire to share their work.
January 2004 - One of many spectacular greetings I've received from St. Lawrence & Atlantic crews (see recordings and photos).
Perhaps my previous experiences gave me rose-coloured glasses. Perhaps I was also affected because the negative encounter this year involved my drawings, to which I devote a huge investment of time and work for little reward (other than email feedback, for which I am very grateful). However, just about any railroad forum will contain posts with advice on avoiding trouble with railroad police, especially in the post 9-11 United States; American readers may even find my experience rather mild. While retribution is justified when picture-taking turns into trespassing and vandalism, many railfans have experienced negative encounters without engaging in such illegal activities, to the point that (until this year) I was almost surprised that I hadn't had one myself.
While general unfriendliness may simply be a function of who one meets, I cannot help but wonder whether it speaks of much deeper problems within CN—and I am certainly not the first person to say so. Browse through any job review listing and you will find many CN employees expressing a love for their work but a hatred for what their job has become within the past few years. My first encounter with negative employee perceptions of CN (or of any railroad, for that matter) came back in the summer of 2004, when a former CN engineer in Jasper, AB, shared many thoughts (mostly negative) about the railroad from which he had just retired. Within the past few years, even the Canadian government has raised concerns about CN, on top of previous investigations in the 1980s.
Among these sources, the concerns share a common theme: That CN upper management has instilled a "culture of fear" that, in the name of efficiency, takes a toll on employee morale, working conditions and—ultimately—safety. It is a culture that emphasizes reprimanding the slightest misstep, but that often fails to address the underlying causes of problems.
The retired engineer I encountered in Jasper had known some of the crew members killed in the 1986 Hinton, AB collision between a CN freight train and a VIA passenger train. The resulting government report, released in late 1986, criticized a culture within CN that favoured extreme working hours and crew fatigue, which had been the cause of the collision. The report ultimately led to the adoption of several new safety measures, including strictly enforced on-duty time limits for crews. Despite these improvements, the retired Jasper engineer told me unabashedly that CN was still sacrificing its employee culture and safety in the name of the bottom line. At the time, CN was removing long stretches of existing double track around Jasper in favour of shorter double-tracked sections spliced by single track—and it had been at just such a transition between double and single track that the 1986 Hinton collision had occurred.
In a 2008 review of rail safety, a Canadian government panel raised concerns similar to those of CN employees, singling out CN in particular for criticism among the country's railroads. The Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities on Rail Safety in Canada stated that "CN's strict adherence to a rules-based approach, focused largely on disciplinary actions when mistakes are made, has instilled a 'culture of fear and discipline' and is counter to effective safety management systems." The infamy of the CN culture has gone so far as to spur union protests at CP in early 2013 upon the arrival of CEO (and former CN CEO) E. H. Harrison, who is credited both for CN's admirable operating ratio and for the negative culture that it engendered. In response to concerns about the culture he was bringing to CP, Harrison replied, "...if that's a culture of fear, they better get ready to deal with fear." Such disturbing words offer little hope that the employee culture is going to be any more positively impacted at CP than it was under his tenure at CN.
* * *
I did not go back to the CN London yards after this year's two encounters, but I will likely return there for picture-taking in the future. My initial anger, directed at the employees themselves, has shifted to a reflection on the negative culture that may in fact be burdening them on a daily basis. The combined objections from employees, government panels and other railroads are beginning to shed light on some of the negative consequences of such an extreme drive for efficiency as the one that has been practiced at CN over the past 15 years.
Perhaps the old-timers are right: Not everything new and great and efficient is universally good, and we could benefit from re-learning some of the ways that seem to be forgotten. A higher emphasis on creating a positive corporate culture, while not candy for shareholders, would be indisputably beneficial for the well-being—and safety—of the workforce at large. Supplanting fear and suspicion with happiness and trust might also simply make life more pleasant—both for the employees and for the people they meet.


text:
I was talking to my friend about mindfulness (and my book!!! My book that comes out next year!!!) this weekend. He knew there were tons of benefits. It made me realize the mindfulness movement has made meditation like exercise: even if we don't do it, we know it is good for us.
Today's guest post is all about the physical benefits of mindfulness, which are all pretty amazing but not entirely surprising to those who have ruminated on the mind-body connection. Take it away, Brenan Quirante!
Mindfulness meditation is the awareness and acceptance of everything in the present moment, including both the positive and negative things. It is natural for the human brain to notice negativity more than positivity. Nature has built the human brain in this way for survival purposes so that you are always aware of the dangers around you and you are ready to fight or escape.
This "survival awareness" can make people jump to the worst conclusion at the slightest sign of danger. On the other hand, other people have a natural defense mechanism that denies negative things, pretending there's nothing wrong even when all of it is wrong.
Both types of people aren't helping themselves! Mindfulness meditation places you in the middle. It also has a bonus: improved physical health. Here are the surprising benefits of mindfulness meditation for your physical health.
Prevention For Heart and Brain Problems
Mindfulness meditation strengthens the heart because mindfulness meditation involves breathing exercises. Scientists have also observed that people who undergo a certain amount of mindfulness meditation have brains with thicker myelin. So what exactly is myelin? Myelin is the primary component of the brain. Myelin is what gives the brain its whitish appearance. Thick myelin helps neurons synapse faster, strengthening the brain.
Improve Your Sleep Health
Have you ever felt groggy all day, and then a sudden surge of energy just when it's already your bedtime? And you lie awake, with your eyes wide open and your mind happily thinking thought after another thought endlessly. This kind of situation will make you restless all night and ensure another day of grogginess. You need to welcome mindfulness meditation into your life. Mindfulness meditation calms the mind and the body and helps you to function better. When it's time to sleep, mindfulness meditation makes it easier for you to relax and sleep well.
Pain Prevention
Headaches, backaches, and all sorts of aches can turn a perfect day into hell. Being in pain can make a person irritable and unpleasant to be around. Pain can turn you into The Hulk, probably without the green muscles. Mindfulness meditation lessens the stress that is brought about by body pain because mindfulness meditation involves relaxation and self-control. Mindfulness meditation can make your mind strong enough to be not affected by the pain. You can control this stress even more by checking out Peak Nootropics, medicines that enhance the mind. You'll be like Popeye with his spinach, stronger and better.
Reduction of Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis is a highly difficult condition. I have met ill-mannered people who have blamed their bad manners on their arthritis, a claim that was believable. Just like with body pain, mindfulness meditation also lessens the stress that is caused by the pain of arthritis. It may not lessen the pain, but it lessens the stress because of the same relaxation and self-control areas of mindfulness meditation.
Increases Energy Level and Immune Function
Believe it or not, but our daily habits and society, in general, encourage us to waste a lot of energy. Mindfulness meditation increases your energy level because it calms you down, saving your energy. It makes your mind clear enough to make you fully aware of which things really require your intervention, effort, and energy. It is also scientifically proven to increase the power of the immune system, helping your immune system to protect you from germs and keeping you away from sickness.
Reduces Blood Sugar Level in Diabetics
Mindfulness meditation reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics. People with diabetes tend to have high blood sugar levels because they are unable to turn the sugar from their foods into energy. That is why they become obese, but lack energy. High blood sugar levels can lead to severe complications, and some people with diabetes take medicines, exercise routines, and certain nutritional food products to deal with this. Some diabetics and select clinics use mindfulness meditation to help diabetics with their blood sugar levels (in conjunction with medicine and exercise).
Mindfulness meditation gives you a better body, and it helps you survive. Being aware of everything in the present moment lets you know what exactly is happening, helping you respond accordingly. Mindfulness meditation can keep you from turning into one of those people who scream and run around like headless chickens in emergency situations, or those people who just stare in shock as a burning truck bounces on the highway toward them.
Mindfulness meditation can turn you into Bond, James Bond. Just kidding.


text:
The Pink Jacket
When it comes to style, I'm honestly pretty simple. Give me tees and jeans or give me nothing at all. I wear a ton of black, white and denim, and I feel safe in that space. I've only recently started to add baby pink to the rotation-- I can't get enough now.
I saw this pink bomber at an event for Pretty Little Things in the Hollywood Hills and instantly gravitated toward it. The Gucci-inspired birds almost made me pass it up, but to be frank, it was free, so why the hell not? Pink AND embroidering is a stretch for me, but what I've learned works is to layer new pieces with what's already in your comfort zone. That means: jeans plus tee PLUS jacket. Jackets are the easiest clothing item to experiment with. You literally try one on for size. If you don't like it, ditch it.
Moral of the story: if you're slightly afraid of mixing it up, take baby steps. Play with textures in colors you already love. Try a relaxed boyfriend jean if you love your skinnies. Top off your go-to outfit with a new jacket.
Outfit details:
J.O.A. Floral Lace Crop Top, $52.00
Madewell 9" High-Rise Skinny Jeans: Rip & Repair Edition, $135.00


text:
Youth Rally
The 2019 Youth Rally will be held July 8th-13th in Seattle, WA
A summer camp like no other…Youth Rally is a 5-night camp for youth ages 11-17 living with diseases and conditions of the bowel and/or bladder systems.
The camp is all about having FUN! The week is filled with medical and educational sessions as well as recreational outings and special events for all to enjoy!
PCR 2016 Conference – we had the wonderful opportunity to hear Youth Rally President and CEO, Paul Hastings, speak about the annual camp. If you missed the presentation or would just like to watch it again: Youth Rally Presentation (pdf file)
Youth Rally Nursing Team
The Youth Rally Nursing team is an extension of the volunteer counselor team. They are a mixture of specialty WOCN and other registered nurses with experience in ostomy care, pediatrics, or other surgical/diversion methods.
Nurses assist campers with any problems they may be experiencing and can offer suggestions and techniques to improve the management of their medical conditions as applicable.
How to Get Involved
Volunteer as a Youth Rally Nurse :
- Applications for the 2016 camp are available NOW at www.youthrally.org/applications
- Apply for a Youth Rally Sponsorship through PCR to help offset the registration fees. The deadline is March 31st of each year. Sponsorship criteria may be found HERE
2015 Youth Rally
We received a wonderful summary of the 2015 camp and a thank you from the Vice President, Mary Beth Akers. You can view both by clicking below:
Below are a few photos and thank you notes from sponsored attendees. Please take a look below to read their thoughts and thanks:


text:
GOOD AND BAD KANNADIGAS - R.K. Narayan and xenophobia
Read more below
- Published 6.10.12
Eighty years ago, during the countrywide non-co-operation movement, Mahatma Gandhi asked Indians to boycott British-run schools and colleges and British-made goods, and to refrain from working with the rulers. As part of his campaign of patriotic renewal, Gandhi also launched a broadside against the language of the conqueror. Thus in a speech in Orissa in April 1921, he described English education as an "unmitigated evil". Gandhi even claimed that Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Rammohan Roy would have "been far greater men had they not the contagion of English learning".
In Gandhi's opinion, these two remarkable Indians "were so many pigmies who had no hold upon the people compared with Chaitanya, Sanker [Adi Sankara], Kabir, and Nanak". Gandhi insisted that "what Sanker alone was able to do, the whole army of English-knowing men can't do. I can multiply instances? Was Guru Govind a product of English education? Is there a single English-knowing Indian who is a match for Nanak, the founder of a sect second to none in point of valour and sacrifice? … If the race has even to be revived it is to be revived not by English education."
"Rammohan Roy would have been a greater reformer," argued the Mahatma, "and Lokmanya Tilak would have been a greater scholar, if they had not to start with the handicap of having to think in English and transmit their thoughts chiefly in English."
I was reminded of Gandhi's polemical words when reading about a protest by some well-known Kannada writers against the proposal to make R.K. Narayan's home in Mysore a memorial to his life and work. Fifteen writers — among them the lexicographer G. Venkatasubbaiah, the poet G.S. Shivarudrappa, the novelist S. L. Bhyrappa, and the critic L. S. Sheshagiri Rao — argued that since Narayan was born in Chennai and spent his early years there, and since even while he lived in Mysore he wrote in English, he was not really a Kannadiga, and thus the government of Karnataka need not spend money honouring his memory. Narayan, complained these writers, "never introduced any Kannada work to the outside world through an English translation." Narayan's betrayal apparently ran further; he was guilty, it was said, of selling the scripts of his novels to an American university rather than gifting them gratis to a university in Karnataka.
Back in 1921, Gandhi's criticisms of Indians who wrote in English were rebutted by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore admired Gandhi; he had helped raise money for his struggle in South Africa, housed his sons and associates in Santiniketan, and given wide currency to the title by which Gandhi became known, 'Mahatma'. But this narrow, nativist side to Gandhi was something he could not abide. "I strongly protest," wrote Tagore, "against Mahatma Gandhi's trying to cut down such great personalities of Modern India as Rammohan Roy in his blind zeal for crying down our modern education." Tagore thought Gandhi's words and arguments showed that he was "growing enamoured of his own doctrines — a dangerous form of egotism, that even great people suffer from at times."
The Mahatma believed Rammohan Roy was limited by writing and speaking in English. On the other hand, Tagore insisted that it was through his engagement with other languages that Rammohan developed "the comprehensiveness of mind to be able to realize the fundamental unity of spirit in the Hindu, Muhammadan and Christian cultures." Rammohan Roy could be "perfectly natural in his acceptance of the West," remarked Tagore, "not only because his education had been perfectly Eastern,— he had the full inheritance of the Indian wisdom. He was never a school boy of the West, and therefore he had the dignity to be the friend of the West."
Gandhi was put in his place by Tagore, and the angry chauvinists of Karnataka have been put in place by two men who are the best-known, and perhaps also the most greatly admired, Kannada writers now living. The playwright, Girish Karnad, asked to comment on the statement signed by Bhyrappa, Sheshagiri Rao, et al, pointed out that "Narayan lived in Mysore, wrote about Malgudi, a place he created [out of towns and locations in Karnataka]." Therefore, to say that he was not a Kannadiga was "absurd". Karnad's words were weighty enough; and here they were endorsed by his great contemporary U.R. Anantha Murthy. "Anyone who lives here and writes on the state is a citizen of Kannada," remarked Anantha Murthy. He thought it "very mean on the part of those who have said Narayan is not a Kannadiga."
Reading reports of their statements in the press, I rang up Karnad and Anantha Murty to congratulate them. Karnad told me he worried that a Thackeray-type nativist movement was gathering force in Karnataka. Anantha Murty, also speaking in anguish, recalled how he had written about Narayan and his brother, R.K. Laxman, in Kannada and discussed his essays with their subjects. As a long-time resident of Mysore himself, he remembered that Narayan dressed and looked like a local; his dhoti, bush-shirt, cap, jhola and slow, unhurried walk marked him out as a "typical Mysore man".
When Gandhi was chastised by Tagore, he had the good grace to respond, and recant. He was not, or would not, be a chauvinist or xenophobe. His defence was then summed up in these words: "I hope I am as great a believer in free air as the great Poet. I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
These lines of Gandhi are often quoted as an example of his broad-mindedness and cultural pluralism. In truth, they had to be wrested out of him by Tagore. That fact is now mostly forgotten. For these words by Gandhi are commonly reproduced without the crucial opening caveat: "I hope I am as great a believer in free air as the great Poet."
R.K. Narayan did not write in Kannada, but his works sensitively portray the people, culture and landscapes of the state of Karnataka. His 1938 book, Mysore, remains a classic of travel-writing; still valuable for anyone who seeks to know about, or visit, the shrines, towns, and water-falls of the southern part of the state. The Malgudi of his novels was almost certainly based on the town of Nanjangud, on the banks of the river Kabini, some 15 miles from Mysore. The name, Malgudi, was made up from the names of two venerable Bangalore localities, Malleswaram and Basavangudi. The restaurant-owners, printers, shopkeepers, teachers, housewives and students who people Narayan's stories are as authentic Kannadigas as one can get. Which is why the television serial, Malgudi Days, was such a hit in Kannada and among Kannadigas. And it continues to be watched, 30 years after it was first made, available in DVDs that can be downloaded from the internet.
I hope the Kannada writers who claimed Narayan was, so to say, a 'foreigner', have the good grace to withdraw their protest after this necessary intervention by Karnad and Anantha Murty. To admit that one was wrong, or mistaken, is in the best traditions of writing and scholarship. Besides, there is the example of Gandhi; if he could rethink his impulsive xenophobia, so can the rest of us.


text:
Selected as one of six brilliant women in New York by Vogue Magazine for their 'My Life in Vogue' Documentary along with a 2 page spread feature with her twin sister in the US issue of Vogue Magazine, shot by iconic Photographers Inez and Vindooh, dubbed the "voice of your generation" by HBO and "Influential Millennial" by Gap, Cipriana is making her mark in the fashion industry proving beauty cango beyond aesthetics.
Cofounder and Editor in Chief of Urban Bush Babes a lifestyle website focusing on celebrating difference as the norm, "imperfections" as perfections and breaking down the "ideal standard" of beauty, with this motto 'Urban Bush Babes' quickly rose to a following of 450,000 weekly readers. Cipriana was also 1 of 4 women around the world tobe chosen for iconic Finnish Design House; Marimekko's Women of Influence Series- aninitiative highlighting women across the globe making a difference.
Other highlights include Rebecca Minkoff's SheCan social campaign with NASDAQ; highlighting entrepreneurs who have disrupted the business landscape and changed their industries for the better, described as the "greatest hope for our civilization" by the legendary New York Times Bill Cunningham, featured as the onesto watch in People Magazine's "Style watch", named 1 ofCosmopolitan Magazine's "50 most fascinating people on the Internet" and Glamour's Magazine's "35 Beauty Superstars".
Cordially invited by Vice President, Joe Biden during his term to DC, regarding the work she has done with Urban Bush Babes, Cipriana will partake inher first TED Talk with her twin sister this year.


text:
Contains Sulphites.
Since Philippe took over in 1987, the picturesque Château de Hureau has become a yardstick for aspiring Cabernet Franc producers. The wines represent a respect for tradition with a modern twist as they are fermented at controlled temperatures in new steel vats yet oak is strictly forbidden for ageing. Though the winemaker's deft touch can be faintly noticed in the roundness and silkiness of his wines, Philippe firmly believes that the pure and individual characteristics of grape and terroir should be allowed to sing and not be subdued by the heavy mark of oak. Old vines and heavy pruning during the growing season mean that yields here rarely exceed 35 hl/ha and result in rich, deeply concentrated wines.
A region within the western Loire known primarily for the production of light-medium bodied but extremely pretty examples of Cabernet Franc.
Ripening earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc acts both as great blender with its special herb infused red berry fragrance, and at the same time as a form of insurance policy.
On the cooler, clay soils of the Right Bank it adds backbone to many of the Merlot-dominated St Emilions and Pomerols. There are a small number of outstanding Cabernet Franc-based blends on the right bank, the most sought after being Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Le Dôme, Angelus and Vieux Château Certan. Outside of Bordeaux it's the major red grape of the Loire valley, where huge strides in quality have been made over the last decade by producers such as Yannick Amirault, Domaine de la Butte, Charles Joguet and Château de Hureau. Here it is mainly produced as a 100% single varietal wine, highly expressive, pungently scented, vital and silky.
Proceed to Checkout
Continue Shopping
IB stands for In Bond. Wines that are stored In Bond have not had UK Duty and VAT paid on them.
Most of our wines are available for purchase under bond, as fine wines often need to be laid down in order to allow them to mature. Many clients choose therefore to store them in our bonded warehouse and pay the tax as and when they wish to get the wines delivered. Please note that Wines purchased In Bond can be exported to non-EU countries without the need for Duty and VAT to be paid.
DP stands for duty paid. If you wish to get wines delivered for drinking, the duty and VAT will need to be paid as it leaves its bonded state in the warehouse. The wine is then said to be duty paid.
All taxes must be paid in order for us to be authorised to ship or deliver wine (unless the wine is bonded and being moved to another bonded warehouse or being shipped directly outside of the EU.)
EP stands for En Primeur. These wines are currently held with the Estate and Domaine's we work with and will be shipped in due course.
Please sign up and be the first to receive our latest offers, news and invitations.
How would you rate your experience?


text:
With a heavy heart....
Posted 02 October 2013 - 22:09
Though some of you have already known of my intent to resign, the majority of you may not have known and more of you still do not know my reasons for it. I'm not the one for lying, and I want to be honest with you all so you're not left in the dark with my intentions. I've been deliberating for days before I made my descision.
Firstly, I'm not leaving the LDT community for good. I wouldn't do that. Rather I'm stepping down from my duties as a moderator since I feel I can't (and probably half of the moderator database is feeling (not) the same) fulfill my duties and my promises that I had made when I was elected. It's been hanging over me since the start of the summer when I hit a mental wall.
Around this time I suddenly lost the enjoyment of playing GMOD I used to have, and started getting active with my IRL friends again in games like CSS etc. and my time here started to decline sharply. I then got involved in other clan's communites, and for a couple I became an active part of. To me this is a bit of a stabbing in the back for you guys since I didn't devout my attention to you all, which I feel really bad about and still do.
Due to this, my activity took a nose dive. At max I played TTT for an hour a week which in my mind is unacceptable for a mod. Again most of my time was done doing IRL shit and with different communities, again unfair to all of ye who should be given more respect than I gave you over the last few months.
I may or may not join my friends in what ever clan's they may join after I leave LDT, but it's not out of anger against anyone. I want to stress that I love this community with all of my heart, and I wish for it to prosper, but I myself am no longer helping it along the road of awesomeness, and in my humble opinion, I'm negating the hard work done by the admin teams by being very fucking inactive.
To anyone who may be angry at me leaving, I apologise sincerely for angering you so, and I will actually tell you to your face that I am. But I've to follow my path where it goes, and go along for the ride.
This is unfortunatly my stop, but I'll still be active in the community.
With a tear in my eye.
Posted 02 October 2013 - 22:14
You will be missed.
And he still never played the Circle of life...
"still that smileyface guy also called yigwog still is a nerd and ugly" - Eddyke1
Posted 02 October 2013 - 22:15
With a tear in my eye.
Nah good luck man, will catch you around if you decide to head onto the GMOD servers again.
[FRAGleveldesign.com] "The home of FRAG"
Posted 02 October 2013 - 22:18
_____ _____
Game Reviews | Gathers | Send me a PM [/size]
"If you cry because someone on the internet calls you a retard, you are a retard and should not be on the internet." - Psycix
Posted 02 October 2013 - 22:38
Wish you the best of luck. Mainly with the LC!
Religion is like a penis;
It's good to have one, and you should be proud proud of it!
But don't go taking it out in public and don't go around shoving it down other people's throats...
Posted 02 October 2013 - 23:09
my response to vaping being "cool" tbh fam
"stimulates the same circuitry that was simulated when u sucked on ur mommas titty
Posted 02 October 2013 - 23:25
You'll be missed
How much wood would a wood chuck say he would chuck if a wood chuck could say how much wood he'd chuck if he could indeed chuck wood?
Posted 02 October 2013 - 23:26
Posted 03 October 2013 - 00:15
Or as a philosopher once said "define a human, you can't, because all humans are unique. this is facts. end of story"
Livestreaming Regularly Bitches! (Click!)
I have erectile disfunction.. I trust you guys to keep that confidential.
Posted 03 October 2013 - 05:03
Hope to still see you around a bit <3
Posted 03 October 2013 - 07:00
Posted 03 October 2013 - 08:00
Posted 03 October 2013 - 08:47
Posted 03 October 2013 - 08:59
"You better add fox so you can feel normal with him" ~Dr Scheisse
"You know what would suck? If Half life 3 sucked." ~Pie
"This all wouldnt be happend." ~ eddyke1
"Tachibana.♥: Im German remember
Tachibana.♥: Heil Hitler."
Posted 03 October 2013 - 09:10
Seeyah dude :c
Posted 03 October 2013 - 09:13
Posted 03 October 2013 - 10:03
Posted 03 October 2013 - 10:12
May you build for China and live in prosperity.
"How can mirrors be real if our eyes aren't real" - Jaden Smith
"What to heck ????" - Billy Ray Cyrus
"This all wouldnt be happend." - eddyke1
"Then is the pizza becomes cold" - Gio
Posted 03 October 2013 - 10:15
Good luck in whatever you're gonna do.../.
Posted 03 October 2013 - 17:26
Good luck with whatever you wanna do next!
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
About the HCPC
02 August 2012
The end and the beginning: Social workers in England have a new independent regulator
Yesterday marked the beginning of a new chapter in the regulation of social workers in England. From 1 August, all practising social workers in England have to be registered by the re-named Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This follows many months of preparation by HCPC in collaboration with the outgoing regulator, the General Social Care Council (GSCC), to ensure a smooth transfer.
What this change means for all social workers in England is that they are required to sign up to a new set of standards. These describe not only the ethics and conduct of their work, also the knowledge and skills expected of them. The HCPC will also require social workers to sign up to new standards on CPD, which are focused on the outcomes of learning, rather than the hours or points system which social workers have been used to. There will be more of a focus on personal responsibility for undertaking learning activities, and a requirement to undertake a wider range of activities, both formal and informal, which contribute to the process of keeping up to date and fit to practise.
The benefits of this new system of regulation are in part to do with HCPC's legislation. We have a wider range of standards, describing social worker competencies as well as conduct. We have stronger powers for dealing with concerns and complaints, which will make the process of investigation more efficient. We have a broader range of sanctions when dealing with concerns about a social worker's fitness to practise, for example we can impose conditions on a social workers practise, ensuring that they receive supervision or re-training if their practise falls below our standards.
Taken together, these new standards, powers and sanctions will allow us to protect the public from poor practitioners and affirm the high standards in the profession. However, regulators do not operate in isolation. We will be building on the achievements of GSCC, working with the profession, with professional bodies, service users, advocacy groups and unions, as well as with educators to ensure that registered social workers in England are practising safely and effectively.
Over the last two years I have learned much about social work practise from listening to social workers and service users. Society has high expectations of those who practise as social workers. The work of a social worker is frequently challenging, often complex, and rarely acknowledged. For every one social worker who falls below national standards, there are many hundreds whose commitment and service to children and adults bring lifelong benefits and significant improvements. A huge amount has rightly been invested in the profession in recent years and the work of the Munro team, the Social Work Reform Board, and most recently, the new guidance on safeguarding children and the Social Care White Paper, are all promoting the vision of a stronger, more confident profession for the 21st century. HCPC, as the newly appointed independent statutory regulator of social workers in England, is looking forward to contributing to this vision. We will be working closely with our colleagues in the Care Councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose experience and insights have already proved invaluable to us.
Yesterday also marked the end of an important chapter in the regulation of social workers. The outgoing regulator, the GSCC, has made a significant contribution to the profession. It established the first statutory register of social workers in England 11 years ago, developed the first standards and redefined the entry requirements for education. Perhaps most significantly, GSCC was far sighted in its approach to involving service users in decision making. Their legacy work on ensuring that the lessons learned during this important period will be disseminated and carried forward have been very well received, and will continue to influence social work practise into the next decade and beyond.
On behalf of HCPC, I would like to thank the Council and Executive at GSCC for working with us over many months, and pay tribute to their professionalism and commitment.
Anna van der Gaag
Posted by HCPC at 12:27 PM No comments:
Labels: continuing professional development, CPD, general social care council, GSCC, HCPC, Health and care professions council, regulation, social care, Social work, Standards for social workers
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Maria Callas Sings Bel Canto
Legendary recordings by La Divina — remastered and issued at an unchallenged bargain price!
Available outside USA only.
Alto is pleased to present essential bel canto arias sung by the legendary Maria Callas, recorded between 1949 and 1957, the prime of her career, and remastered for maximum sonic quality.


text:
On May 5, 2011, at 21:50 , Silvia Pfeiffer wrote: > On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 6:25 PM, Davy Van Deursen > <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote: >> Hi David, >> >> On 21/03/2011 15:55, David Singer wrote: >>> >>> Guys >>> >>> I am not sure that 'named' is really a dimension. >>> >>> I understand focusing on time; focusing on a spatial area; and focusing on >>> tracks. These are indeed orthogonal axes. >>> >>> But you use names to focus on a section, which seems to be a named >>> time-subpart. >>> >>> Specifically, can I use names for subsetting in any of the dimensions? If >>> I have a track called 'fred', are these equivalent? >>> >>> http://www.example.com/thing#track=fred >>> http://www.exampke.com/thing#id=fred >>> >>> Would it not be cleaner to allow selection by name on any of the three >>> axes (i.e. named timed periods, named spacial regions, named tracks)? >> >> To me, 'named' can be seen as a kind of virtual dimension, which points to a >> combination of any of the three "real" dimensions (i.e., time, spatial, or >> track). The mapping between a named fragment and a combination of time, >> spatial, or track is left to the application. >> >> So for example: #id=fred_low could correspond to >> #t=10,20&track=low&xywh=20,20,30,30. It is of course not required to combine >> all dimensions: #t=30,40 could for example correspond to #id=blooper. >> Similarly, #track=fred could correspond to #id=fred if this is defined >> within the application; but as I said, the mapping is out of scope of the MF >> spec. > > I typically use #id to reference chapters, which are a subpart of the > time dimension. > > I'm currently dealing with a demo where I use WebVTT chapters to > navigate a video. It would be really nice if the browser would just > understand video.ogv#chapter2 and I wouldn't have to use script to set > the currentTime to the chapters2 start and catch the ontimeupdate > event to test if I've already gone beyond the end of the chapter2 to > stop playback. > > OTOH, this feature is not urgently needed compared to the temporal and > track dimensions. If I could just convert the label to a time range > through script and then do the media fragment addressing with #t, that > would help a lot, too. > > Silvia. Bring back cue ranges! It would be so easy if one could set up cue ranges that matched the chapters, and then use the enter/exit events to set the labels and so on! David Singer Multimedia and Software Standards, Apple Inc.Received on Friday, 6 May 2011 16:34:29 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 20:52:46 UTC


text:
Canon Pixma iP2702 High Performance Ink Cartridges
These two genuine Canon ink cartridges contain specially formulated inks for great document and photo quality. One is a Black cartridge for laser-quality text and one is a multi-color cartridge for pictures. Both are easy to use and replace.
Sophisticated Look and Feel with a New Compact Design.
If you're looking for a product with a sophisticated look and compact design that can print photo lab quality at a great value you need look no further than the PIXMA iP2702 Inkjet Photo Printer.
This stylish machine fits almost anywhere while you easily print beautiful, borderless5 photos up to 8.5″ x 11″, pages off the web through Easy-WebPrint EX6 or documents all with amazing quality.
This is made possible thanks to its FINE Cartridges which contain pigment black ink for laser-quality text and dye ink for smooth, natural photos. The ChromaLife100+ system enables your photos to last up to 300 years when using genuine Canon ink and paper and stored in archival-quality photo album.
Printing and automatically correcting your photos has never been easier thanks to Auto Photo Fix II which can be accessed through the popular EasyPhoto-Print EX software. So you can make the most out of your photos and easily print as many as you want!
Canon Pixma iP2702 User Manual Guide
- Last Updated : 05-Jan-2010
- File Name: iP2700_iP2702_GS_U2_V1.pdf
iP2700 series User Manual (OS X 10.4/10.5)
- Last Updated : 23-Apr-2013
- File Name: ip2700sosmosx100us_es.dmg
iP2700 series User Manual (Windows)
- Last Updated : 31-Dec-2013
- File Name: ip2700sosmwin100us.exe
iP2700 series User Manual (Mac)
- Last Updated : 31-Dec-2013
- File Name: mem_-mac-ip2700-1_01-ucd.dmg
Download Driver Canon Pixma iP2702 For Windows
iP2700 series Printer Driver Ver. 2.56a (Windows 8.1/8.1)
- Last Updated : 01-Oct-2013
- File Name: pd68-win-ip2700-2_56a-ea24.exe
My Printer Ver. 3.2.0 (Windows 8.1/8.1 x64/8/8 x64/7/7 x6)
- Last Updated : 06-Jan-2014
- File Name: mypr-win-3_2_0-ea11_2.exe
Download Driver Canon Pixma iP2702 For Mac
iP2700 series CUPS Printer Driver Ver. 10.84.2.0 (OS X 10)
- last Updated : 29-Nov-2013
- File Name: mcpd-mac-ip2700-10_84_2_0-ea13.dmg
iP2700 series Printer Driver Ver. 7.24.0 (Mac OS X 10.4/1)
- Last Updated : 25-May-2011
- File Name: ip2700sosx7240ea8-2.dmg


text:
The China Peace International Tourism Co., Ltd. has been appointed as the official travel agent to provide the RGD29 participants and their accompanying persons with travel service, including hotel accommodation, city tours during the conference, and post conference tours around China. The following is the lists of the accompanying person's tours and post conference tours. You could book the tours in the registration system.
Accompanying Person's Tours
[table id=3 /]
Post Conference Tours
[table id=4 /]
About Xi'an city
In the heartland of China is Xi'an – capital of 13 ancient dynasties and deemed as one of the world's birthplaces of civilization along with Athens, Cairo and Rome. Called Chang'an in olden days, it was a trading and military base in the sixth century and through time, has mystified traders and travelers who traversed the famous Silk Road. Xi'an is internationally famous as home to China's most revered ancient relics, foremost of which is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the 20th century's most significant archaeological discovery. Considered a "natural museum" with its abundance of historical and cultural treasures Xi'an beckons tourists from all over the world.
Here we just list some of the most famous view spots of Xi'an, for more detailed tourism information about Xi'an, people may refer to the website: http://en1.xian-tourism.com/index.asp .


text:
Sign up to our free Londonist Daily email to get today's articles sent straight to your inbox at 5pm.
For your commute
Lunch. Mysterious thing, isn't it? Well, it is when you take into account all of these unsolved mysteries and whimsical queries of the London lunch hour.
Photo of the day
Things to do
Buttons provided by YPlan.
Feast@Fitzrovia is a week long celebration of food, with events including wine tasting, cooking demonstrations, food challenges, film screenings and a pub crawl. Price and booking requirements vary by event — see programme for details. Until 5 July
Efes Snooker Club in Dalston is home to a pop-up crazy golf course, built mostly from reclaimed materials. It features all manner of obstacles, including a smoking volcano, a loop-the-loop and a towering totem pole. £25 (for one hour, four people), 2pm-11pm
Get Tickets
The Royal College of Physicians hosts an evening of expert lectures and displays exploring London's great plagues. Discover the work of physicians fighting the plague, the story of the famous 1665 epidemic as well as the history of London's plague burial sites. £10, prebook, 5.30pm
The Social on Little Portland Street hosts School of Noise, an event which encourages the exploration of noise, sound and music in creative, enjoyable and educational ways. It's run by a collective of musicians, sound artists and noise enthusiasts. £6, prebook, 6pm/8.30pm
Head to Vivat Bacchus in London Bridge for an evening of cheese. Learn about (and taste) the difference between English and French varieties of cheese. £10, 7pm
Get Tickets
Columnist and author (and sister of Boris) Rachel Johnson is the subject of the Hidden Prologues literary salon at the Radisson hotel on Bloomsbury Street. She's in conversation with journalist Sam Leith about her new novel, Fresh Hell, which takes a satirical look at London. Free, prebook, 7pm
The Czech Centre hosts a film screening at The Frontline Club in Paddington. Gottland is based on the book Gottland: Mostly True Stories from Half of Czechoslovakia by Polish author Mariusz Szczygieł, who takes part in a Q&A after the film. £10, 7pm
Get Tickets
Cabaret meets the ukulele at Ukeclear Power at Udderbelly Festival. It may be a tiny instrument, but its power can transform comedians into sex symbols and simple ditties into singalong anthems. £12.50, 7.30pm
Get Tickets
Amateur music groups Camden Light Orchestra and Camden Voices join together for a concert at St James's Church near Lancaster Gate. Expect gospel, pop and orchestral music. £9, prebook, 7.30pm
Jazz meets musical comedy at The Invisible Dot in King's Cross. Alex Horne leads the musical offerings, with stand-up comedians supplying the laughs. £12.50, 7.30pm
Get Tickets
Previews at The Camden Head from Chris Betts, who's been watching us all when we're drinking, and John Hastings, who's considering parental relationships. £5, just turn up, 8pm
Head to the Shortlands Tavern in Bromley to be guided step by step through creating your own impression of a Roy Lichtenstein inspired masterpiece. Ticket includes all art supplies and a glass of wine. £25, 8pm
Get Tickets
Good cause of the day
September may seem a long way off, but now's the time to sign up for Maggie's Culture Crawl 2015. It's part 15 mile night walk, part cultural adventure to raise money for people affected by cancer. There's a registration fee, and a minimum sponsorship of £200. Find out more and register.
Come join us on Instagram for all the London you could ever need in your life.
Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings. Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at email@example.com at least 48 hours before the event, and we will consider it for inclusion. Note: due to high volumes of email, we can't always reply.


text:
Capitol Alert
AM Alert: Barbara Boxer's farewell tour comes to Sacramento
California isn't letting Barbara Boxer go quietly.
The 75-year-old U.S. senator is leaving office in a few months, capping a 33-year congressional career in which she earned a reputation as a champion for liberal causes. Boxer, who once penned a song to convince her male counterparts to allow women to use the House gym, served 10 years in the House before serving four terms in the Senate.
Now Boxer is in the midst of a farewell tour of sorts. She spoke at a luncheon in Fresno last week, urging more women to enter politics (Two women, Attorney General Kamala Harris and U.S. Rep Loretta Sanchez, are vying to replace her). Boxer also addressed California Democrats last month in her final speech at a national party convention as a senator.
Her tour stops at the Sterling Hotel on H Street today, where the Harry S Truman Democratic Club is sponsoring a luncheon. Boxer is expected to discuss her book and political career, which begins at 11:30 a.m.
Boxer continues on to Roseville for a reception co-hosted by the Democratic Party organizations of Placer, Nevada and El Dorado counties. Doors open at 1 p.m. at the Maidu Community Center Reception Hall and the program kicks off at 2 p.m.
BILL COUNT: It's the last three days of the 2015-16 session, but before lawmakers can escape Sacramento they have to take up hundreds of outstanding bills. The Assembly convenes at 1 p.m. today with 270 bills left. The session kicks off earlier at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Senate also meets at 1 p.m. Monday with roughly 170 bills to go. The Senate starts at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday.
FARMWORKERS: After an awkward false start last week, the Assembly is expected to take up a bill that gives farmworkers more overtime pay today. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, who authored the bill, announced that it would come up for a vote Thursday. But when that failed to materialize, frustrated workers chanted outside the chamber prompting Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon to promise a vote on the measure today.
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Here's Rendon addressing farmworkers after the bill failed to come up last week.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm really relieved, I didn't realize how scared how I was." – Elizabeth Wallner, Sacramento woman with stage 4 colon cancer, happy the state's assisted death law was not blocked Friday.
NUMBER NUGGET: San Bernardino Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown faces fellow Democrat Eloise Reyes in a fall runoff that will build on the multimillion dollar battle before the June 7 primary. Recently released voting and registration numbers for the primary illuminate the November contest. Brown was the top vote-getter in 119 of the district's 201 precincts in June,, with Reyes finishing first in 55. In the precincts she won, Brown averaged about 48 percent of the vote while Reyes had about 36.4 percent. In predominantly Democratic precincts, Brown averaged 44.2 percent of the vote and Reyes about 36 percent. And in the district's fewer than 20 Republican-heavy precincts, Brown got about a third of the vote, Reyes a quarter, and Republican Aissa Chanel Sanchez got the bulk.
BID ADIEU: The Legislative Black Caucus is hosting a reception for outgoing chair Sen. Isadore Hall, D-Compton, who is competing for a Los Angeles-area congressional district seat. The staff and member-only party is slated to begin after session concludes Monday on the third floor patio. The caucus expects to elect a lawmaker to replace Hall in the coming weeks.
WORTH READING: The Bee Capitol Bureau's David Siders' takes a deep look at the wealthy farmer taking on Gov. Jerry Brown.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: Special interests are continuing to pour money into the November election, hoping to advance candidates who might be friendly to their causes. Check out the Bee's Money Trail tool to track the spending.
Jim Miller contributed to this report. Taryn Luna: 916-326-5545, @TarynLuna


text:
He leapfrogged John Hargreaves, the Matalan founder, by building up an enviable city property portfolio that encompasses the Trafford Centre in Manchester, home to his giant office, Peel Dome, and Liverpool's John Lennon airport.
Famously publicity-shy, he has never done an interview and closely guards his private life and those of his children, who also work for the company.
The Lancashire-born property developer has a 60pc stake in two main companies – Peel Holdings (TCL) and Peel Holdings (Land and Property).
The company's name has more than 100 years of history in the north-west through its associations with Robert Peel, a former Prime Minister and founder of the Metropolitan Police, whose family owned a famous textile business.
However, Peel Holdings emerged in its modern form when the entrepreneur acquired a series of industrial companies on lucrative land between 1971 and 1987: Peel Mills, John Bright & Brothers, Bridgewater Estates and the Manchester Ship Canal.
After listing the property vehicle in 1981, he embarked on lengthy battle to build an out-of-town shopping centre in Manchester.
Planning permission for The Trafford Centre took ten years to obtain and construction took 27 months. It was opened on 10 September 1998, and Mr Whittaker abseiled into the building to mark the occasion.
He also started developing a ports business, buying Clydeport and its west coast Scottish ports in 2003, plus the The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in 2005.
However, public life didn't entirely suit the company and Mr Whittaker took the business private again, backed by a Saudi Arabian tycoon, in 2004.
Since then, the conglomerate has invested in green energy, media, hotels and utilities. Among its flagship new projects, the group has put £500m into Manchester's emergent "MediaCityUK" that will soon house much of the BBC.
Four decades on, he's still trying to do deals, although a £640m bid for Forth Ports with Rreef and Arcus European Infrastructure Fund ended in failure earlier this year.
Now Mr Whittaker has got more involved in political life, joining the business delegation led by David Cameron to China.


text:
Spend $100 and get Free Ground Shipping today!
Award-winning crime drama Waking the Dead returns with a dark and frightening new season. Twelve years ago, a brother and sister were thrown off a 100 foot bridge but the sister miraculously survived. Will Boyd be able to bring her closure? Eve is in a new relationship but suspects the man is keeping secrets from her. Her suspicions aroused, she performs a DNA test that matches that from a 13-year old murder case. With stunning visual effects and brilliant performances, this new season is deeper and darker than ever before.
|Waking the Dead
|Run Time:
|About 7 3/4 Hours
|Region 1
|Special Features:
|Waking the Dead


text:
Teachers to strike over pay
Gippsland teachers will strike for better pay and conditions later this month.
The Australian Education Union is negotiating with the Victorian Government for a 10 per cent pay rise and more secure working conditions.
Teachers will stop work for half a day in West and South Gippsland on Tuesday, October 23, in the Latrobe Valley on Wednesday, October 31 and in East Gippsland on November 23.
The Australian Education Union's Victorian president, Mary Bluett, says the protected action will cause minimal disruption to students.
"We're still a long way apart on the key issues of pay and the very high level of contract employment that means people don't have any security," she said.
"One in five teachers and 45 per cent of support staff are employed on contract and don't know from one year to the next if they've got a job."
Topics: industrial-relations, work, teachers, unions, sale-3850


text:
SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 301 - New Release Checklist/
New Release Checklist:
This podcast covers the checklist that SolidWorks users should go through prior to moving forward with a new release like SolidWorks 2011. Topics covered:
- Ensure hardware and OS meets recommended leveles
- Read the RELEASE NOTES!
- Read the What's New documentation and test on a non-production system
- Save your SolidWorks settings and Enterprise PDM Admin settings
- Convert / Update data with Task Scheduler / Network Monitor / File Version Upgrade Utility
With SolidWorks 2011 SP0 right around the corner, there are a few things to check before jumping in with both feet on a major release upgrade. Personally, I run through this on every release, at minimum, just to make sure all the features and functions that I use are at a level of performance that I expect.
With the SolidWorks product line growing in complexity and packages, understanding the impact of a new release across all the installed products is now a concern. Compatibility of EPDM and SolidWorks or older versions of CAM add-ins with SolidWorks 2011 are all areas to check before moving forward.
Once you have done your homework, moving to a new release can be fairly worry free. Ensuring your data is backed up prior to upgrade is also something I cannot stress enough. Make sure your customizations and data is safe before the software is updated to give a safety net in case something happens. If you have other checks that you go though before upgrading, please share them in the comments! ~Lou
Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!


text:
When I first started PraiseWorks I had a serious health issue – I was stressed out, anxious all the time, and a basket case. "Worry" and being "Stressed Out" was a way of life. I thought everyone felt like they were going straight down hill on a rollercoaster without restraints when they first wake up in the morning. Imagine that? I thought feeling stress out, scared and full of worry was the way life was. I also learned that what might have been an emotional or mental illness (take your pick) could soon turn to a health issue and that I need to do something to reduce the results of stress and anxiety on my body. I needed to survive!!
Over the last two years I have created a program for myself that I want to share with you. It has given me more energy, kept me fit, reduced my emotional eating urges, and I finally feel a sense of peace and joy in my life that I have never felt before. I have learned how to "DeStress The Mess!"
DeStress The Mess Survival Kits
All of the DeStress The Mess Survival kits are designed with the idea that we all have the ability to make small changes in our lives to minimize how stress impacts our body. We just need a little bit of encouragement, motivation, and perhaps information on the choices we have to live a life that is well and joyful. All of these survival kits come from things that I have done and in some cases are still doing to achieve a work/life balance, stay well, and overcome the hormonal stress that comes with everyday life.
Each kit has:
- 21 day calendar of tips
- Set Your Day in a Positive Way
- Audio's to motivate, encourage and inspire
- DeStress The Mess Affirmations and Scripture
- DeStress The Mess Movement Guide
- DeStress The Mess 7 Menu Plan
- Great informational handouts specific to the Survival Kit Topic
- FREE Access to the Monthly DeStress The Mess Newsletter
DeStress The Mess - One-on-One Coaching
"Lynnis is an energetic and fantastic coach who is committed to and helps women delve deeply into themselves to release behaviors that hinder their greatness and then helps them launch their passions and purpose out into the world. Every time I have worked with Lynnis it has been a pleasure and something that has left me energized and inspired. She has always been there for me."
-Suzanne Strisower MA, PCC Certified Life and Career Coach
"Sometimes the best connections happen in the weirdest ways. That's how I met Lynnis Woods-Mullins. While following someone elses Tweet, I came across Lynnis on Twitter. I began following her and re-Tweeted a post of hers and then felt compelled to visit her web site - www.praiseworks.biz where I saw her Destress the Mess Coaching. WOW! That spoke to me because the feelings of being overwhelmed and so stressed that I am not enjoying my life are quite abundant. I spoke with Lynnis and listened to her story - an all too familiar story for women over 40. She and I bonded immediately about the self imposed stress us women place on ourselves. I enrolled in her Destress the Mess Coaching. Small and useful tips to implement little by little are the takeaways I'm getting. Speaking with her 1-on-1 strengthens my efforts to move into a less stressed life. I'm looking forward to learning more from you Lynnis. Thank you for all the great information you provide in the Wellness Woman 40 and Beyond E-Magazine."
-Tamera Carla Payne, Marketing Director, Over 40 Females
"Lynnis W. Mullins totally inspires me to embrace the 50s and look forward to the future, whatever comes my way..."
-T. Eppinger
"Lynnnis Woods Mullins has made a profound impact worldwide with her inspirational network and provides essential wellness information that is much needed. By her providing this information on a large scale has changed and saved many lives. She has also provided platform of educating people preventive medicine techniques and made them become more in touch with themselves."
-L. Dudely
"Lynnis is a heartfelt woman who loves and cares for every soul she touches with her health and spiritual advice. Thank you Lynnis for your guidance to help us all through our journey."
-J. Klein
Lynnis is an inspiration to so many. She is positive and uplifting. She inspires me that even through loss there is hope and happiness. She is beautiful inside and out."
-S. Love


text:
Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of the Science Salon Podcast, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers Why People Believe Weird Things and The Believing Brain, Why Darwin Matters, The Science of Good and Evil, and The Moral Arc. His new book is Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality & Utopia.
In his most ambitious work yet—a scientific exploration into humanity's obsession with the afterlife and quest for immortality—bestselling author and skeptic, Michael Shermer, sets out to discover what drives humans' belief in life after death, focusing on recent scientific attempts to achieve immortality along with utopian attempts to create heaven on earth. Read advance praise for the book.
A book chapter for the The Palgrave Handbook of Philosophy and Public Policy (December 26, 2018), edited by David Boonin.
This op-ed by Michael Shermer was originally published on Slate.com as part of a Big Ideas series on the question "What is the Future of Religion" in 2015.
Michael Shermer responds to Massimo Pigliucci's critique of his Scientific American column on utilitarianism, deontology, and rights, entitled "You Kant be Serious: Utilitarianism and its Discontents." (May 2018).
January 2019: In his 214th consecutive and final 'Skeptic' column for Scientific American, Michael Shermer reflects on what science brings to the human project.
In his December 2018 'Skeptic' column for Scientific American Michael Shermer discusses how to avert a looming crisis among today's youth.
In his November 2018 'Skeptic' column for Scientific American Michael Shermer explains the allegedly spooky coincidences associated with some famous films like Poltergeist, The Exorcist, The Omen, and The Crow.
In his October 2018 'Skeptic' column for Scientific American Michael Shermer considers why suicide is a leading cause of death in the US.
In his September 2018 'Skeptic' column for Scientific American Michael Shermer avers that when women are educated and have access to birth-control technologies, pregnancies and, eventually, abortions decrease


text:
Patty Jansen posted her self-publishing earnings from Sept 2012 to 2013. I love these detailed posts, as there is so much misinformation flying around about how lucrative (or not) self-publishing can be.
Inspired by others on the web who have done so, I'm going to do a numbers post. Mainly for reference, but also to show people what the income of a no-name self-publishing writer with moderate success looks like. Just to give some datapoints other than the millions reportedly made by others.
No spoilers here though, you'll have to click through to read for yourself if you enjoy these kinds of things as much as I do: http://pattyjansen.com/blog/my-earnings-from-self-publishing-sept-2012-sept-2013/
Thanks Patty!


text:
In case you haven't checked out Offsprung's forums, cheekily called The Playground, it might be worth a little time. For example, this thread (noted by loyal reader Katy) unearthed a video on YouTube for "My Children, Be Joyful," by the Canadian band Rock Plaza Central. (Well, if "unearthed" is the verb for a video featured on YouTube's front page and with nearly 300,000 views.)
The video takes entirely unrelated footage from the Canadian television show Nanalan, which, I gotta say, looks suspiciously like a little show called Jack's Big Music Show. Or vice versa. Anyway, the song builds up to a frenzy (la la la's, violins, and, like, a dozen horns) and the frenetic puppets somehow fit perfectly. And, yeah, it's joyful.
Not bad for a song from an album (Are We Not Horses, released in the States this year) that is "all about robotic horses. Robotic horses who think they are real horses. For real. Caught in a battle between good and evil. Between angels and humans. And after eradicating the world of the angels, wondering if they fought for the right side." Yeah, that might not be so much for the kids. Or maybe. I don't know. I kinda want to find out, though.
By the way, if you want to get the track for free, head on over to the band's Myspace page to download it and three others.
What songs are bringing you and your family more joy?


text:
This week is tough for most of us. The first week back in routine after a holiday.Read More
Posts by Category: Networking
5 Ways to Customise Your LinkedIn Profile for Job Search
LinkedIn is a must for job seekers with 80 million users in over 200 countries and growing. Careerbuilder's survey suggests over 83% of Recruiters look candidates up online and with…Read More
Employment References
Everything seems great – you have completed your second interview, the employer has offered you the job and all you are waiting for now is the offer letter and employment…Read More
Get To The Point To Get The Job
Today's post is short and hopefully sweet.Read More
60 UK Twitter Accounts for Graduate Jobs
Graduates and Tuition Fees are back in the news again following the recent 'Browne' Review. Whilst this wont affect those who have recently graduated, many of the 2010 and 2009 class are still finding it tough to secure their first job since leaving University. My post last month which you can read here showed graduates how they could start using Twitter to greater effect when job hunting, and how many blue chip businesses here in the UK are now using Twitter more effectively, some with a very strong following. I have listed below 60 UK companies that have Twitter accounts, and do recruit for graduates.Read More
Graduates: 30 UK Companies Using Twitter
Following on from last weeks Graduate theme, a number of you wanted to know how to use Twitter to greater effect when job hunting. Whilst US businesses are generally more familiar with Twitter and attracting graduates, the UK is picking up pace and many blue chip businesses now have their own Twitter account, some with a very strong following. I have listed below 30 UK Blue-chip companies that have Twitter accounts, and some are actively using it to recruit graduates.Read More
10 Linked-In Groups For Job Seekers
Linked-In has some great features for the job seeker as I mentioned in my post last week here, and is becoming a force to be reckoned with. As well as being able to follow companies and their open jobs, it is also a great tool to help find new job opportunities outside of internet job boards. Alongside the other methods of finding a job that we discuss here at Approachthemarket, there are specific 'Groups' on Linked-In which are directly aimed at UK job hunters.Read More
How To Follow Companies And Jobs On Linked-In
It is hard keeping up to date with the latest hi-tech gadgets, mobile devices, software add-ons etc. However, I feel I am pretty much up to speed with Linked-In, which has made dramatic improvements over the last six months, and is testament to their ongoing success. One feature which should really interest you as a job seeker is how you can now 'Follow' companies that you may be interested in working for. From a job hunting point of view, this can make your whole search a lot easier and free up more time for you. If you read my post a few weeks ago about how to search company-own career sites for job vacancies, this gives you a more automated way of staying on top of everything. By using this new feature, Linked-In notifies you when new people have been recruited at a company, who has been promoted or recently left the company and what vacancies they are currently recruiting for. For those of you who have a list of companies you would specifically like to work for at some point in the future, this is a great facility you can use and set up in a matter of minutes.Read More
It's Not What You Say But The Way That You Say It?
Your elocution lessons for today:
"L, L, L, T, T, T, D, D ,D. Little tiny dinosaurs are dancing up and down."
"B, P, B, P, W,W,W, Mmmmmm. Big pigs wallow in mud!"
No, I haven't turned into Henry Higgins however, last week I did learn more about the power of speech when two completely separate events occurred. The first when a candidate lost a job because they spoke too quickly, the second when I read a superb and personal blog post from someone I met on twitter.Read More
Respect And The Job Search
My recruitment business is small, specialist and independent. We all pitch in, work as a team, share the washing up and answer the phone.Read More


text:
Neptune's Stepdaughter (1925)Countries - United States | MPAA Rating - NR
Share on
Synopsis by Janiss Garza
It's too bad that so many of the early pictures put out by the Fox studios were destroyed when a fire broke out in its vaults. Among the films lost are many of the Sunshine comedies made under the excellent supervision of George Marshall. All that exists of this picture is a sketchy continuity that was deposited at the Library of Congress for copyright, and the only actor known for sure to have a major role in it is Oliver Hardy, who would later team up with Stan Laurel to form one of the top comic film duos of all time. This two-reel comedy concerns a movie company that is filming a movie at a local beach. A band of pirates is supposed to kidnap a bevy of bathing beauties, but a group of kidnappers steal the pirate costumes and abduct one of the girls for real. It takes the director a while to realize that he's just seen a crime committed, not a great acting display. He goes to the rescue, and which leads to an underwater chase. The director disposes of the bad guys with the help of a swordfish.


text:
Back in February, the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee held a hearing on religious liberty concerns arising from the new Health and Human Services mandate requiring religious employers to fund insurance plans that include drugs and services they morally oppose. This is an issue that has been boiling up since last year, but has suffered from poor coverage, which we've repeatedly detailed. One of the ways the media have botched this story is by couching it as a debate over contraception as opposed to a debate over religious freedom. While it's true that certain players in the battle do view it as a debate over contraception -- and that is a legitimate and worthwhile avenue for coverage -- it's also true that other players in the battle (who may not even care about contraception or generally approve of it) view this as as a religious liberty debate. That side of the story has suffered from weaker coverage.
When the House held that hearing on religious freedom a few months ago, two women testified -- Dr. Allison Dabbs Garrett, the senior vice-president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University and Dr. Laura Champion, medical director of Calvin College Health Services. But because Democratic representatives staged a walkout before they spoke -- on the grounds that no women were speaking at a hearing on
religious freedom contraception -- that's the meme that's been fully set. I noticed President Barack Obama made a joke at Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner about the "contraception" hearing only featuring males (take that, Drs. Dabbs Garrett and Champion!).
Even though the hearing featured women who oppose the HHS mandate, the narrative that they don't exist and didn't testify was featured extensively and continues to dominate the message from that hearing. What wasn't covered nearly as well as their (fictional) absence from the hearing was what any of the people testifying at the hearing said. It has been a very, very, very frustrating experience for those of us who are expressing concern about the separation of church and state as it relates to the mandates of the massive health care legislation passed in 2010.
Moving forward, this past Friday HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before the U.S. House's Education and Workforce Committee, where she was questioned by Rep. Trey Gowdy, a Republican from South Carolina. In her statement, Sebelius made the claim that she had carefully considered religious liberty concerns and sought to balance them in the final regulations governing the mandate in question.
Gowdy asked her several questions about what she meant when she said she balanced religious liberty concerns. He explained to the former Kansas governor and husband of a judge that there are three tests for legal balance, depending on the issues under consideration. He explained that because religious liberty is considered a fundamental right in the United States, any decision that might violate it requires the strictest scrutiny.
While she was still under oath, Sebelius said that her careful consideration relied on the expertise of HHS' General Counsel, that no legal memo was ever written or at least provided to her on the topic, and that she was either unaware or unfamiliar with any of the significant cases related to religious liberty that have been decided by the Supreme Court.
There has been literally no mainstream media coverage of this rather telling testimony given under oath about one of the most pressing issues of religious freedom in our country. Now, if the HHS mandate -- which requires religious employers for the first time in history to fund insurance plans they morally oppose -- is about a "war on women," this lack of coverage could make sense, I guess. It certainly doesn't help advance the narrative that Sebelius was so ignorant of all these important issues surrounding religious freedom.
If this HHS mandate is, as its critics say, about a threat to religious liberty, this is extremely revealing testimony that should be covered.
What I'm trying to figure out is why the grandstanding silliness based on the completely erroneous claims that Dabbs Garrett and Champion don't exist and didn't testify back in February received so much coverage and why the faux-hearing based on Sandra Fluke's completely irrelevant testimony was live-streamed on CNN, for instance, while the actual remarks given by the actual people who testified at the religious liberty hearing were ignored and the actual remarks given by the actual Secretary of HHS are ignored.
Apart from over-covering anybody's grandstanding (and in this town, grandstanding is a lot of what happens no matter which side of the issue you're on), I'd like to see more substantive coverage both of the claims made regarding rights to free birth control and abortion drugs as well as the claims made regarding religious freedom.
The thing is that this substantive coverage of religious liberty concerns wouldn't mean that it would just be favorable to those who are fighting that side of the battle. Federal regulations are subject to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which relates to what Gowdy was talking about with strict scrutiny. While many think that the mandate would fail to meet the test of RFRA, it's certainly not a slam dunk. At the state level somewhat similar mandates have been upheld, largely on the strength of a Supreme Court decision authored by none other than Antonin Scalia. This is all super fascinating stuff but not stuff that you can talk about when you're giving a staged walkout of a hearing months of coverage while downplaying the actual legal battles that are being waged around these mandates.
Covering stunts is easy. Covering whether religious freedom concerns were given proper weight in the decision making process for this HHS mandate isn't as easy. But it's far more important, isn't it? And besides, reporting what an HHS Secretary has testified under oath at a public hearing isn't that difficult. Certainly a bunch of pro-life sites and Catholic agencies were able to do it within hours of the testimony. If media outlets need to hire some more people who speak the language of that half of the country that identifies as pro-life or whatever percentage care about religious freedoms being attacked here, it seems like that would be a good thing to do rather than miss major stories that are pretty easy to catch.
For what it's worth, here is the New York Sun editorial on the matter, which begins:
What a remarkable glimpse of the gulf between the administration and Congress over religious freedom is flashing around the internet. It is a Youtube video of the secretary of health and human services, Kathleen Sebelius, at a hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee hearing. She is being grilled by a Republican congressman of South Carolina, Trey Gowdy. He asks her about her a statement she has made about seeking a balance between believer's rights and the contraception mandate. What becomes clear is that there is no feel for, no thought about, but glancing attention to the Constitution the secretary is sworn to support.
And if you'd like a more comprehensive write-up of what happened, here is the Catholic News Agency's take, which is helpful.


text:
Crafty Classes Update
|Elfin Bonnet from the front
|Such a cute side detail!
I taught my first quilting class. I was a little nervous—Would people like it, would it be enough to fill the time? It turned out that I knew all four of my students, some long-time friends and some new friends, so that helped with the nerves.
|The group discusses layout possibilities for HSTs
|Nora and her HST blocks-a pillow for her bed?
|Maureen and her Heather Ross-polka dot HSTs


text:
School bus, gas truck collide
A Chambers County school bus and a compressed gas delivery truck were involved in an accident Thursday.
It happened in Valley, Ala. at the intersection of 48th Street and U.S. Highway 29. It was around 7:45 a.m.
The bus had no passengers and was driven by Clarence Wynn of Lanett, Ala. The truck was driven by Robert L. Sims of Lee County.
An investigation by Valley Police concluded that the truck owned by Superior Gas struck the bus in the rear causing considerable damage to both vehicles and creating a traffic disruption that lasted approximately 90 minutes.
Wynn was taken to G.H. Lanier Hospital by Valley EMS and treated for neck and back injuries.