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Ontario's Proposed Legislative Changes are About to Make Life a lot More Interesting for Employers
June 2017
June 2017
Alberta is not the only province that is making significant changes to workplace legislation. Ontario has jumped on the bandwagon with legislation introduced at the end of May that impacts employers with both unionized and non-unionized workforces. These changes were made in response to a government-commissioned report that made 173 recommendations addressing precarious work.
Changes to the Labour Relations Act
Some of the proposed changes to the Ontario Labour Relations Act will impact employers by making it easier for employees to unionize. Those changes include:
- Allowing unions to access the employer's employee lists including certain contact information if the union can demonstrate that it has achieved the support of 20% of employees in the bargaining unit it wishes to represent;
- Card check certification for the building services sector, home care, and community services industry;
- Expressly empowering the Ontario Labour Relations Board to conduct certification votes outside the workplace, including electronically and by telephone;
- Eliminating certain conditions for remedial (penalty) union certification, which will allow unions to more easily become certified when an employer engages in misconduct that contravenes the Labour Relations Act;
- Making access to first contract arbitration easier and adding an intensive mediation component to the process; and
- Protecting employees from being terminated without just cause in the period between certification and the conclusion of a first contract.
Other changes to the Labour Relations Act include extending successor rights to the retendering of building services contracts and other publicly funded contracting services. In addition, the Board will be permitted to consolidate newly certified bargaining units with other existing bargaining units under a single employer where those units are represented by the same bargaining agent. It will also be able to change the structure of bargaining units within a single employer where the existing bargaining units are no longer appropriate for collective bargaining.
In regard to strikes, the amendments to the Labour Relations Act will allow employees the right, under certain conditions, to return to work at any time. Employers will be required to reinstate employees at the conclusion of a legal strike or lockout, subject to certain conditions, and to provide access to the grievance arbitration system so that the obligation can be enforced.
Changes to the Employment Standards Act
Changes that will impact non-unionized workforces include an increase in the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour. Phased increases are set to occur on January 1, 2018 to $14.00 per hour and January 1, 2019 to $15.00 per hour. This increase will make Alberta and Ontario's minimum wage the highest in Canada with Alberta's minimum wage increase effective October 1, 2018.
Other changes to the Employment Standards Act include:
- Part-time, casual, temporary and seasonal workers will receive equal pay to full-time workers for equal work (unless disparate pay can be justified based on seniority or merit systems, systems that determine pay by quantity or quality of production, or other objective criteria);
- Employees who have been with the same company for more than five years will receive an increased minimum vacation from two weeks to three weeks;
- All employees will be entitled to ten days of Personal Emergency Leave per year, two of them paid. Domestic or sexual violence will be included as a valid reason for taking this type of leave. Employers will be prohibited from requesting a sick note for employees taking Personal Emergency Leave;
- Family Medical Leave will increase to 27 weeks in a 52-week period;
- Employees who request leave for the death of a child will be entitled to 104 weeks;
- Employees on call must be paid three hours at their regular rate;
- Employees who have worked more than three consecutive months will have the right to request changes to their schedule;
- Employers that misclassify workers as "independent contractors" for the purpose of avoiding legislative obligations will be subject to fines, penalties, prosecution and public disclosure of conviction. The employer will bear the onus of proving that the individual is not an employee;
- Higher fines will be implemented for employers found to have violated employment standards laws (up to $1500); and
- New scheduling rules will require employers to pay three hours of wages if a shift is cancelled without 48 hours' notice.
The news has not been well-received by small business owners, who warn that the changes will lead to job losses and economic hardship.
Note to Employers
Employers will need to review these legislative changes carefully to ensure that their employment contracts and employee policies are updated and compliant. In particular, employers who classify their employees as independent contractors will want to ensure that they are classified correctly. If in doubt, seek legal advice from trusted lawyers who specialize in labour and employment law.


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India to be No. 3 auto market by 2015Thursday, December 15, 2011
China, the US and India—that will be the pecking order of the global automobiles market by volumes by 2015, according to Rothschild, the UK-based global financial advisory firm.
Currently, India is the sixth largest market after China, the US, Germany, Japan and Brazil. The market, which includes cars, trucks and auto parts, is expected to be 3.5 million units by the end of 2011-12, Vikas Sehgal, global head of automotive industry at Rothschild, said at a press briefing.
Auto makers in India will make thrice the investment in creating capacities in the coming decade than what they have done between 1983 and 2010, Sehgal said.
Car production capacity in the country is expected to increase from 4.8 million units in 2010 to 12 million in 2018. These numbers will roll out from 30 new factories in eight years.
To create this capacity, fresh investment of $30 billion to $40 billion would be made by manufacturers, which will in turn create 300,000-500,000 new jobs, according to Rothschild.
India is an attractive but not an easy market and there will be losses and casualties in the coming years, said the Rothschild report titled 'India 2030—An Automotive Powerhouse'.
According to Sehgal, market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd is set to further lose market share and margins in this period as competition will intensify. Maruti's market share has whittled down from 82% in 1997 to 39.5% in the first half of the current fiscal.
With rival car makers pricing models at a premium compared with Maruti, Sehgal expects Maruti's share of gross profit to shrink to 16% in 2015 from 24% in 2010.
Its market share is also likely to drop to 27% in the same period.
With the Chinese market reaching a sizeable scale for global auto firms such as Volkswagen, General Motor Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., India is the only market to be tapped, making it difficult for firms such as Maruti to maintain margins and market share, the report said.
According to the report, an average Volkswagen car costs $17,000 compared with Maruti's $7,000.
"Suzuki Motor Corp. has been taking a beating from rival car makers like Volkswagen AG in all the major markets of the world," Sehgal said. "There's no reason why India should be different."
While it may be difficult for newer entrants in the commercial vehicle market to dent the market share of incumbents such as Tata Motors Ltd, which, by virtue of having a first mover advantage, have established a wide sales and service network, for newer entrants in the car market replicating the success of Maruti is not so tough, he said.
To be able to maintain its current market share in 2020, Maruti needs to invest $12 billion; this is three times the investment made by the firm since the 1980s and is equivalent to building 12 new plants and increasing annual production capacity by three million vehicles.
Rothschild is bullish in its outlook for the Indian automotive industry and predicts a flurry of mergers and acquisitions in the coming decade. This will primarily be in the commercial vehicle and two-wheeler sectors, it said. The firm expects auto companies to make large acquisitions to access markets and gain technical wherewithal.
Shally Seth Mohile
Source: www.livemint.com

subset: commoncrawl


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I've been a father for nearly 18 years now. In the grand scheme of things, I think I've done an okay job of raising three kids. Obviously I could not, and did not, do it on my own.
Without my wife; aka mother to our children; there really wouldn't be a Father's Day for me. She and I have worked together over the years to create a loving environment for our three
beasts kids.
To be completely honest, I don't know if I was ever going to be ready to be a dad without her pushing me. I'm glad to have taken on the challenge and the role. Our children are my pride and joy. I will always be there for them in whatever form they need me.
I was never close with my father. I'd like to think I have become the father I always wanted. The kind of father who goes on vacations, jokes with their kids, has family movie nights, even loses at video games to them. I have shown love and support through all of their endeavors, be it Cheerleading, Speed Skating, and the arts- no matter what they wanted to do, I was there.
Certainly there were times when they wanted to give up. But my wife and I pushed them and guided them through those hurdles. It's not always fun and laughs when you have to be the bad guy either. In time, I'm sure they will understand why and when we needed to be strict with them.
For now, I'm just glad to be celebrated as their Father. I have a drawer full of handmade cards and gifts from over the years. I cherish those moments and memories.
I'll always remember them as my kids, even as they enter adulthood.


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Boat Review: Beneteau Oceanis 51.1
French boatbuilder, Groupe Beneteau, never introduces just one new idea. Instead, it likes to package concepts together and give them different names, so that when a new model is launched, owners can choose the combination that works best for them.
With the introduction of the Oceanis 51.1 (the fifth model in the ".1" line that will replace the Oceanis 48) Beneteau once again brings three different flavors to market for the racer (First), cruiser (Comfort) and daysailer (Easy). This targets three kinds of buyers with one hull design and adds flexibility that makes everyone feel catered to and special. No wonder Beneteau's catchphrase is, "There's an option for that."
Design & Construction
The three iterations share the same hull but come with different interiors and rigging. The "Easy" daysailer comes with a self-tacking jib, in-mast furling for the mainsail and a minimum of winches to manage lines. The "Comfort" cruiser adds an internal D1 lower shroud, two more Harken winches, an arch for the mainsheet attachment point, sun beds on either side of the companionway and an outdoor grill. Finally, the "First" racing version packs an additional 35 percent of sail area, set on either a carbon fiber or aluminum spar, and a 9ft 2in keel with a bulb. With this performance package, winches and deck hardware are also upgraded, and a hydraulic backstay and composite wheels are added.
All three versions share a hull that includes a chine over a third of its length. Standard draft is 7ft 7in, with a shoal-draft keel available drawing 6ft 1in, in addition to the aforementioned performance keel.
On Deck
The first design to be launched under Beneteau's new marketing director, Gianguido Girotti, the Oceanis 51.1 is all about attention to detail, with clever surprises all around: hinge-up foot braces at the helms work well when heeling but don't create toe-stubbers when not in use; lifelines have been raised a few inches as they should be on a distance cruiser; and the large aft lazarette has plenty of room for fenders, lines and a Fischer Panda genset that has good access all around. The cockpit table is massive with excellent handholds, liferaft stowage at the aft end and a refrigerator at the other. In between is a wooden tray insert that can be loaded up with drinks and snacks in the galley and brought to the cockpit, where it will stay in place even underway.
An array of six Spinlock sheet stoppers manage the lines on either side of the cockpit, and the winches are positioned so that grinders face forward and can see the sails. The composite sprit takes the anchor well away from the plumb bow and provides an attachment point for a Code 0. It also naturally elongates the hull, which is a nice aesthetic, although I would like to see the small navigation lights moved off the deck and higher up on the bow pulpit where they will be more visible from a distance.
One thing in need of change is the placement of the deck fills. On the port-side, the water and waste fills are only about 4in apart and regardless of how careful one is, the possibility of contamination of the water tanks is high.
Another head-scratcher is the size of the helm consoles—they're tiny. Not only do they look completely out of proportion compared to the substantial cockpit table, but they can only accommodate a 9in B&G MFD and little else. The engine throttle, wind instrument repeater, windlass remote panel and bow thruster control are all by your ankles at the starboard wheel. Not only do you need to bend down to operate the thruster and engine, taking your eyes off the bow just as you are docking, but it's easy to accidentally activate the thruster as we did three times on our test sail.
That said, lounging spaces abound with two on either side of the companionway and a large sun pad on the bow. Another clever option is a grill that swings out from the aft bench so the chef can stand on the electric swim platform to cook. Beneteau has also brought over the optional hideaway dinghy davits from its powerboat line. They retract completely out of the way when not in use so as not to impinge on the boat's sleek profile.
Layout options include up to five cabins and four heads (if you count the crew quarters in the forepeak). Our test boat had three cabins and two heads with the master stateroom and its split shower/head compartments forward. The interior is very airy due to multiple overhead hatches in the saloon and master stateroom and hull ports throughout. A new finish called "brushed oak" adds simulated wood grain texture for a richer look. Mahogany is the other option.
The galley is C-shaped and to port with a two-burner Eno stove, Vitrifrigo drawer refrigeration and soft-close drawers for plenty of stowage space. The galley provides good brace points so it won't be a struggle to prep meals even on a port tack.
The nav station is large and up against the forward saloon bulkhead. Its seat also makes a sideways lounge with a pop-up feature in the middle to support your legs. This neat little feature will probably make it the favorite seat in the house. The companionway should win an award for its large, easy steps and good railings on either side.
Under Sail
Due to their cored construction and easy rigs, Beneteaus generally sail well in light air and with little effort, so I was looking forward to our test on the Chesapeake. Sadly, we were met with little to no wind. At one point, though, 6.4 knots of apparent wind materialized over the deck, and on a beam reach with flat water, we accelerated to nearly 5 knots, which tells me that this is a capable design.
Our upgraded Elvstrøm laminate sails sheeted in flat as pancakes. For all but the racing crowd, a self-tacking jib and Code 0 will be the best rig combination.
Under Power
With just over 30,000lb of displacement, the boat's 80hp Yanmar with saildrive has plenty of power. Our test boat had the upgraded 100hp diesel, and in the calm conditions, we maxed out at 3,400 rpm and 10.1 knots. A fast cruise was 9.7 knots at 2,500 rpm, and even at 1,000 rpm we motored at 6.1 knots. Standard tankage is only 53 gal, which is not much for a cruiser. However, there's an option to double that with an additional tank. Standard freshwater tankage is 116 gal, but another 87 can be added for a total of 203, which is respectable even for distance cruising.
Beneteau's joystick drive Dock & Go, which ties together the engine, thruster and autopilot, is an option.
With four different interior layouts, five rigging plans, three keel types and a choice of 150 available options for 700 possible combinations, the 51.1 lives up to Beneteau's approach to flexibility. There truly is an option for everything.
LOA 52ft 4in LWL 47ft 8in Beam 15ft 9in
Draft 6ft 4in (shoal); 7ft 9in (deep); 9ft 5in (performance)
Displacement 30,702lb
Ballast 7,943lb (shoal); 7,485lb (deep); 7,048lb (performance)
Sail Area 1,011ft
Air draft 70ft 1in (standard)
Fuel/Water (GAL) 53/116
Ballast Ratio 24 SA/D Ratio 17 D/L Ratio 127
Engine 80hp Yanmar with saildrive
What do these ratios mean? Visit sailmagazine.com/ratios
Designer Berret-Racoupeau
Builder Beneteau, S. Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, France
U.S. Distributor Beneteau America, Annapolis, MD, 410-990-0270, beneteau.com/us
Price $412,600 (base) at time of publication
February 2018


text: One of the many beauties of Monster Children is that we can literally put anything we like in the magazine and it works—it's the Abdul's Mixed Business of magazines! Luckily for you, we've got flawless taste and this latest patchwork quilt of an issue is no exception. An artist who travels to nuclear exclusion zones to create art based on the readings of her Geiger counter (Stanislava Pinchuk), an award-winning photographer travels to Afghanistan to spectacularly document a rudimental skiing movement (Andrew Quilty), and the art director (David Correll) of a cult record label (Sacred Bones) who was kind enough to grant us an audience and guest design a cover (Snakes!), are but three of the characters of intrigue gracing these hallowed pages.


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Discord is now Scala's main chat platform. Please join us at https://discord.com/invite/scala
.mkString, which is less principled and only works for this one usecase.
Subclass(a: A, b: B) extends SuperClass({ stuff; stuff; result}, other parameters)
I kind of got the impression that a lot of function programmers were quite receptive when they heard about Scala, a statically typed language for the JVM. But then some of them became quite angry when they discovered that Martin had not merely done the minimum OO to ease compatibility with Java, as say F# did with dot net but had actually expanded the power and capability of OO.
They liked to argue that the benefits of OO were totally outweighed by the costs. By expanding the benefits of OO under Scala Martin had made their argument more difficult. Without Scala OO might have gradually died out. It seems to me that Dotty with trait parameters, type member- parameter unification and soundness rigour of the dot calculus is going to again dramatically increase the OO power of the language. I wonder if we will see a similar reaction.
Some(1).map(a => a) = None
Some and
None have their own types


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Lasagna from Italy has always been one of their most famous pasta dishes very well-known in the world. It's made of pasta and ragu from beef.
I posted earlier about another version with salmon and spinach but the original version is with beef ragu as it's called beef lasagna.
No matter it's originally Italian from Italy, this yummy pasta is searched anywhere in the world and famous as a menu in restaurants in many countries.
I remember I used to order this pasta even when I was still in Indonesia in many restaurants and I know I wasn't the only one loving it 😉


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Dhaka, July 10: Ahead of SAFF U18 Championship 2017 and AFC U19 Championship 2018, Bangladesh Football Federation(BFF) has announced a 30-member preliminary squad.
A residential camp will he held with the players at Savar BKSP from July 11 to July 24.
Players have been instructed to report to coach Md Abdur Razzak with necessary sports equipment at BKSP at 5pm on July 11.
SAFF U18 Championship will be held in Bhutan from September 18 to September 27 while Tajikistan will host AFC U19 Championship scheduled for October 29 to November 9.
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2 Comments
Suzanne Szappanos
On November 19th I sent package to my grandson who is in the Navy in South Korea. At the same time his mother also mailed several packages to him which he received about 10 days ago!
My package went from Cleveland south to Akron, then back to Cleveland then east to Pittsburgh, then west to Los Angeles then back east to Chicago. All this in over two weeks!!!! Can,t reach anyone to talk to what is going on?????
Okta Permana
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Why Leadership Means a Lot to IWCO Direct (And Not Just on Presidents' Day)
Presidents' Day always reminds me of the contributions that leaders, including businesspeople, make to ensuring the success of their people. As a former Canadian citizen (and current proud U.S. citizen), I studied more Prime Ministers than Presidents during my time in school. I've always admired Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, who was held in high esteem for laying the foundation of Canada—much like George Washington is credited as the driving force behind the democratic foundation of the United States.
Both figures exemplify leadership in its truest form: taking responsibility and assisting others. At IWCO Direct, leadership means establishing goals and setting a direction for reaching them, then clearing the way so your team can achieve the desired results.
Leadership is a Team Effort
This requires transparent communications throughout the organization. We just finished a week of "Town Hall" meetings in which senior leadership shared the results of 2016 and our focus for 2017—with all 2,570 employees. It's all about "team." The number one rule at IWCO Direct is "We win as a team, we lose as a team." We don't like losing, but we always learn and share from both victory and defeat.
IWCO Direct also has a very entrepreneurial leadership style, with every leader given a lot of latitude in how goals are met, as long as the Company's common goals are reached. We have created a flat leadership structure where the people responsible for results aren't insulated from the teams actually doing the work and achieving those results.
Driving Results
This approach to leadership has led the IWCO Direct team to a number of quantifiable advancements over the years:
- We moved quickly to take advantage of opportunities to expand our production platform through the acquisition of Transcontinental Direct and the asset acquisition of the former DGI.
- We expanded our service offerings into Creative Services and Marketing Agency Services. This was led by a vision for what the company could become, not just what we were.
- We introduced Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives as the focus of quality and efficiency enhancements. We did this by setting a vision, clearing the path, and putting control in the hands of those who are closest to the processes.
- We built a formal wellness practice, including safety initiatives, to ensure the health and well-being of our most valuable assets—our people. This meant knowing how to set appropriate priorities for our business.
- We inspired a commitment to environmental stewardship as part of IWCO Direct's DNA. We took what had been a passion project for many team members and built a company framework around it to make sustainability an ongoing initiative.
Our Secret? We Don't Do It Alone
Most of what is achieved at IWCO Direct is accomplished through interdisciplinary team efforts. Senior leaders observe the interaction of these teams and identify individuals who are passionate about the success of the team. These individuals are given additional responsibility and training and encouraged to take on new roles within the company.
In 1999, Frank Beddor and Jim Andersen had a vision for how three distinct companies could come together to form an integrated direct mail production engine. Since then, IWCO Direct's leadership has been about forming a vision to see the next evolution of the company, the ability to make the (sometimes hard) decisions needed to get there, and the certainty that success is a team sport.
Forward motion is what makes IWCO Direct a leader in direct marketing, and our unique leadership principles keep us headed in the right direction.
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Inspired by our beloved tee, our Etta V-Neck Dress mixes the same easy-fit design with Lilly designer details and colors. Fashioned in a T-shirt silhouette, it features short sleeves and a v-neckline with pom-pom trim. Prints with eye-catching colors finish this look off in Lilly-fied style. Add this to your rotation for casual sun-days.
- Easy fit t-shirt dress with short sleeves and v-neckline with pom pom trim.
- 36" From top of shoulder to hem (based on a size small/4).
- Length: Above the knee.
- Skims the body. Roomier fit.
- Pima Cotton Jersey (100% Pima Cotton).
- Machine wash cold, separately, delicate cycle.
- Imported.


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I didn't get much sleep last night, so woke up feeling pretty yucky this morning. In fact, I was nauseous and was actually sick. But…it was Hairdresser Day today and I was not going to miss that!
Now, I have to say something about the state of my hair. When I was younger, I was never satisfied with my hair. It was a mid to light brown with a strong natural curl, but was very fine. I did all kinds of things to it: straightening, perms, colours. In fact, I tried out so many colours that my Dad once walked past me as he didn't recognise me with aubergine colour hair! When I look back at photos, it was really rather nice in its natural state.
In my 40th year, I was extremely ill with blood poisoning and all my hair fell out apart from a small fringe at the back of my head! I vowed that if I ever got my hair back, I would never complain about it again. Well, I suppose that I broke that promise. It did grow back, with all of the curl, but with a thinner and finer texture. I felt very relieved to have it back after weeks of wearing hats and scarves to disguise my baldness.
When I started the menopause in my late forties, my hair became thinner still. I also have an under active thyroid, which makes all of this worse. So, I have now reached the stage where I am very unhappy about how I look. I'm not too bothered about wrinkles, but I hate the fact that my hair is so thin on the crown of my head. The curls are still there and I cover up the grey (I keep wondering when to stop doing that).
Anyway, the hairdresser did her best. Here are the after and before shots, both taken today:
A few months ago, I read a real horror story on The Purse Forum about a disastrous accident with a very expensive handbag at a hair salon. As many of my scarves are very precious to me, I decided to wear one of my cheaper ones today. In fact, I picked this one up from a market stall years ago! It does go nicely with my bright teal twinset, though 😊
My my outfit today was:
- Silk scarf in teal, white, blue, gold and silver. In a bias fold, secured with a medium MaiTai horn scarf ring.
- Bright teal cotton mix cardigan – Lands' End.
- Bright teal matching cotton mix short sleeved top – Lands' End.
- Indigo jeans – Cotton Traders.
- White enamel and gold bangle – Halcyon Days.
- Turquoise enamel and gold narrow bangle – Halcyon Days.
- Turquoise enamel and rose gold skinny star bangle – Halcyon Days.
- Blue topaz and gold stud earrings – H Samuel.
- Blue Africa leather handbag – Massaccesi.
New iPad
I am really enjoying using my new iPad. My old one is now six years old and was really slowing down. The new one feels lightning fast and the camera is sooooo much better. The two photos below will show the difference, not only in clarity but also in colour. Wow!
I am standing in the same place, with the same lighting and wearing the same bright teal twinset. So at least, from now on, my photos on this blog will be much more true to the correct colours (and show my wrinkles 😉).


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Goodbye Hysteria, Hello Vibrator: The Odd Origins of Ending Hysteria
Good Vibes, ONLY
Vibrators can be used as sex toys for all genders, with partners or alone, but they're frequently marketed to single women. Most people clits have an easier time reaching orgasm with clitoral stimulation than penetration alone, which is exactly what a vibrator provides. About one-half of all people who identify as women in the U.S. have used one and report more sexual satisfaction because of it. Oddly, vibrators were not exactly created with this in mind. Well, they were created to get women off, but because doctors in the 19th century needed a more efficient way to treat female "hysteria" in their patients.
The word hysteria makes it sound like horny women were just running around like chickens with their heads cut off. And maybe they were, sexual frustration can be pretty aggravating. Either way, they were certainly seeking out assistance in the matter, and so much so that the doctors were getting tired of helping them rub one out. Seriously. Those guys needed something to make their job of touching vaginas a little less demanding, so they invented an electric tool to streamline the process.
Until the 20th-century people didn't think that women had sexual feelings, drives, or urges at all.
Since social norms are capable of influencing people, many of them believed this. Obviously, that's totally ridiculous, and years of being glossed over in the bedroom and believes that masturbation was evil started to leave women a bit frustrated. This manifested as sleeplessness, fantasies, wetness, a heaviness in the abdomen, and irritability.
This mysterious syndrome was dubbed "hysteria" and the treatments began. At first, this reportedly involved some vegetable oil lube for dual finger penetration plus clitoral action from the other hand. Solid move. But there were so many women coming in requiring treatment that it just became too much to handle. The demand for orgasms was just too high.
The Job No one Wanted
The doctors could have made it easy on themselves and simply acknowledged that women have needs. They could have sent them home with a handy "how-to" pamphlet for the boyfriends and husbands, (or whoever), and started the sexual revolution right there. But no, the world was not ready for female sexuality quite yet. Instead, the professionals went to work creating alternative options.
"Personal Massager"
Those initial options varied but were mechanical in nature some worked better than others. Then in 1880 came the invention of the first electromechanical vibrator thanks to a doctor named Dr. Joseph Mortimer Granville. Their popularity took off immediately, although they were generally marketed as personal massagers. And often still are today. There's actually an antique vibrator museum in San Francisco where these delightful contraptions can be admired throughout the years.
Ride it, My Pony
At one point in time, it was even suggested that women seek out some relief by horseback riding. (Basically the opposite of that country song that says "save a horse ride a cowboy.") It's really interesting that in a time of sexual repression people were being urged to handle their sexual needs publicly, while these days where there's a lot more sexual freedom people are encouraged to do it privately. Intentionally orgasming on a horse would likely be considered quite lewd these days if not worse. And it sounds like sexual harassment to ask a doctor for an orgasm. Paying someone to give you an orgasm is pretty strongly considered prostitution, and that's usually illegal.
Vibrators: What are they good for?
It's a pretty odd reality that vibrators came into existence during a time when women weren't given the freedom to be who they really were, but hey, we've made it pretty far since then. (At least in the United States.) We're acknowledged as sexual creatures, and there are a whole plethora of sex toys to order from online if and when we feel like it. Heck, we can even sync a vibrator to our cell phones if we want to. These days people seem pretty comfortable taking things into their own hands if necessary, but back then not so much.
Can you imagine going to a doctor for an orgasm instead of handling it in the comfort of your own home? Yikes. Imagine the copays.
firstname.lastname@example.com. Galen and the Widow. Towards a History of Therapeutic Masturbation in Ancient Gynaecology* (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
Maines, Rachel P. "La Tecnología Del Orgasmo." Debate Feminista 23 (2001): 166-219. Web.


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To find out what car your class should run in, see the SCCA Solo Rulebook: https://www.scca.com/pages/solo-cars-and-rules. More details for local classing can be found at the bottom of this page.
Board of Directors
- President
- Vice-President
- Executive Treasurer
- Executive Secretary
- Timing and Scoring Chief
- Worker Chief
- Technical Inspector Chief
- Equipment Manager
- Novice Chief
Volunteer Duties
Competition Rules
- General
- Organization
- Courses
- Contestants
- Safety Equipment
- Vehicles
- Classification
- Timing and Scoring
- Protests
- Trophies
- Championship Series
- SCCA Classes & Spokes Indexed Classes
All legislation powers here in granted shall be vested in the Board of Directors of the Texas Spokes Sports Car Club.
Section 1. – Board of Directors
No person shall act as an agent of the Texas Spokes Sports Car Club (TSSCC) without specific authorization from the President or prior approval of this body.
A. Composition
Executive Treasurer
Executive Secretary
Timing and Scoring Chief
Technical Inspector Chief
Worker Chief
Novice Chief
Equipment Manager
B. Qualifications
Members of the Board of Directors must be members in good standing.
C. Vacancies
1. Vacancies shall be filled by election or appointment by the president (see G).
2. In the event that the president leaves the position, the vice president will assume the duties of the president on an interim basis. At the option of the vice president, a new election will be held for either a new president or vice president. At the earliest possible general meeting, the vice president will announce the date set for the election.
D. Chairperson
The current President shall be the Chairperson and shall call and conduct all meetings. In the President's absence the Vice-president shall preside. (If both are absent, the President shall appoint a temporary substitute).
E. Voting Privileges
1. All members of the Board of Directors shall have full voting authority.
2. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum.
F. Nominations
1. Members can, and are encouraged to nominate themselves for any position they would like to hold.
2. Members can nominate another member.
3. A nominee can only run for one position per BOD election.
4. Further nominations shall be accepted from the floor at the election meeting.
G. Election
1. All officers of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the general membership.
2. Election must take place at a regular meeting of the TSSCC membership no later than the first regular meeting in November. The nominee(s) receiving the highest number of member votes shall be elected.
3. It is preferred that members intending to vote do so by attending the election meeting. Members who cannot attend but would still like to vote can do so in coordination with the Executive Secretary.
H. Powers and Duties of Members of the Board of Directors
1. Serve and vote on the Board of Directors.
2. The current and incoming Boards of Directors will meet prior to the first meeting in December to review and amend where desirable the current Competition Rules, Classification System and Constitution. Any changes arising out of this review will be published and distributed no later than the first meeting in December. The current President will chair this meeting.
3. Establish rules and procedures under which TSSCC is to operate.
4. Approve all allocation or reimbursement of funds from the club treasury.
5. The Board shall have the power to expel an officer from his position if he fails to appear at (3) consecutive regular Board meetings or for just cause.
6. Members present will cast a vote on all matters requiring approval/disapproval.
7. Fulfillment of BOD responsibilities during the event count towards a single or dual work assignment at each event.
8. The official hand-off of each position should be after election but no later than end of year party.
Section 2 – General Officers
A. Title and Duties of Elected Officers
1. President
a. Preside over, provide an agenda and vote in all regular meetings.
b. Call and preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors.
c. Appoint committees to serve for whatever purpose he deems necessary to benefit TSSCC.
d. Appoint non-elected officials if any.
e. Authorized to spend up to $50 per month for discretionary purposes specific to the operation of the TSSCC.
f. Set yearly event calendar and add events to online registration management system.
g. Initiate and assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
h. Assume or appoint vice presidential duties with respect to event operation in the absence of the Vice President.
i. Notify appropriate publications of event schedule and club information.
j. Conduct drivers meeting. Discuss:
–Potential hazards
–Anticipated number of runs
–Running order
–Course worker assignments etc…
2. Vice-president
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Preside at regular TSSCC meetings and Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the President.
c. Inspect and approve each event for safety and impact on event site.
d. Secure Event Masters for all regular TSSCC events.
e. Ensure Event Masters receive and complete duties outlined on the current Event Masters worksheet.
f. Work with Event Master prior to each event to ensure reasonably safe course design.
g. Assist Event Master during event as needed. (i.e. course worker assignment, etc.)
h. Report to Board of Directors any Event Master or course problems.
i. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
j. Gather and file event insurance waivers as needed for a required seven years.
3. Executive Treasurer
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Collect and keep current account of all moneys belonging to, owed to, or for which TSSCC is liable.
c. Count and collect event registration proceeds from Secretary at the event and deposit in TSSCC account within 5 days of event.
d. Submit invoices to those persons who owe money to TSSCC.
e. Present a verbal status of TSSCC treasury, and provide a written statement to the President and the Rattle editor, at each regular meeting.
f. Secure insurance for each event at the President's direction.
g. Procure truck and trailer insurance and registration.
h. Assume trophy duties from Novice Chief in his/her absence.
i. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
j. Ensure Porta-Pottys are at each event as needed.
k. Keep TSSC up to date with their Texas Tax Status.
4. Executive Secretary
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Provide amended copy of TSSCC competition rules, constitution and vehicle classifications.
c. Coordinate event registration activities and keep contact list current.
d. Provide Board of Directors with current list of paid TSSCC members.
e. Count event revenue with Treasurer and complete and sign a written financial report, as needed.
f. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
g. Set up after event meetings and coordinate dates with President and Vice President.
k. Coordinate and create events in Facebook and on website.
5. Timing and Scoring Chief
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Set up, maintain, and store properly timing equipment for event scoring.
c. Certify event results.
d. Record and publish championship standings.
e. Coordinate online registration.
f. Organize and provide training to BOD members and potential other timing system operators.
g. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
6. Worker Chief
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Make course worker assignments at each event
c. Work with vice-president and event master on corner stations during event setup.
d. Appoint assistants (non-Board members) as needed.
e. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
f. Appoint assistants to fill in when necessary.
7. Technical Inspector Chief
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Establish time, frequency and procedure for inspecting vehicles that will be competing in TSSCC events for safety and rules adherence.
c. Establish items to be inspected.
d. Pass or fail vehicles for competition in TSSCC events.
e. Verify vehicles are classed in accordance with TSSCC rules and classes.
f. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
8. Equipment Manager
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Responsible for storage and maintenance of club equipment (i.e. truck and trailer inspection, fire extinguisher recharge, generator upkeep, battery supply, etc., as well as day of items)
c. The Equipment Manager is responsible for seeing that the trailer is properly packed.
d. Schedule at least one truck/trailer cleaning and maintenance party per year as needed.
9. Novice Chief
a. Serve and vote on Board of Directors.
b. Meet with new drivers before event and discuss course layout, driving strategy, tire pressures, etc.
c. Work with new drivers during the event and coordinate experienced drivers to ride with these novices.
d. Confirm results and organize a novice trophy presentation at the end of each event, after the trailer has been packed.
e. Maintain Rookie of the Year eligibility statistics through out the year.
f. Act as TSSCC public relations by introducing newcomers to club members.
g. Act as Trophy Chief and secure trophies for championship events and awards and pay for same from TSSCC treasury.
h. Store and deliver trophies to and from events. (not in trailer).
i. Assist other Board members in contacting general membership before club meetings or in case of unforeseen circumstance.
B. Titles and Duties of Appointed Board Members
C. Titles and Duties of Non-Voting Positions
D. Volunteer Duties
1. Event Master (Not a voting position)
Event Master receives free entry for event, gets to pre-drive the course once for safety, and is eligible for points as a regular competitor. The vice president has the option to appoint a designated driver for the safety run.
Event Master Responsibilities (Many tasks can/will be delegated):
Before Event:
Make a map of the course, including the worker locations. Get tentative safety approval from Vice President.
Day of the Event:
Be at the event site no later than 7:00 am.
The trailer must be in it's final location no later than 7:20 am.
Set up the course.
Get safety approval for the course.
Mark cones with chalk or crayon (when pavement is wet).
Secure the perimeter of the course where necessary to keep vehicles off of the course.
2. Truck Driver
The truck driver is entitled to free entry into that event. There is no limit on the number of times an individual can take advantage of this offer. Contact BOD member to get keys, etc. The driver is responsible for bringing the trailer to the event and returning the truck and trailer to storage after the event.
Section 1 – Dues
A. Individual memberships – $47.00 for 12 months.
B. Family memberships – $67.00 for 12 months. A family shall be defined as a husband or wife legally recognized by the State of Texas and their spouse and their legal dependents. Members of said family may vote in TSSCC general elections and attend the annual awards banquet. Any family member may enter TSSCC events at the reduced entry fee.
C. Cash discount – Paying for your membership with cash entitles you to a $2 discount on Individual or Family Memberships.
D. Corporate Memberships and Sponsorships – For more information on these opportunities please contact the BOD.
Section 2 – Term of Membership
One calendar year or any part of the calendar year, beginning January 1st and ending December 31st of the same year.
Section 3 – Rights and Privileges
A. The right to hold office.
B. The right to vote, in person, on all matters brought for vote before the general membership.
— 1. An individual member is entitled to one vote.
— 2. All eligible club participants in family memberships are entitled to vote.
C. The right to compete for and accumulate TSSCC championship points in eligible classes.
D. The right to pre-register, at a reduced entry fee, for any TSSCC event, except when the Board of Directors has approved a change in charging of entry fees for a specific event.
E. The right to petition 10 percent of the current members of TSSCC for a general membership vote on a decision made by the Board.
F. The right to have a permanent competition number on the membership roster. Note, the following numbers have been retired:
The number 100 has been retired in the memory of Steve Willis, a long time member and reigning Driver of the Year at the time of his death in 1993.
The class and number combination ASP 32 has been retired in memory of Tom Ramey, multi-year Spokes President, dear friend, and all around supporter of the club. Tom passed in January 2008.
Section 4 – Responsibilities
A. Accurately represent condition of vehicle for the purpose of classification.
B. Work at events at the direction of the Worker Chief.
C. It is the responsibility of every member to conduct themselves in a manner that that is in keeping with the rules and spirit of Spokes. This includes appropriate behavior behind the wheel, whether on course, on site, or around the site.
D. If a member has been in consistent conflict with the rules contained here or has continued to participate in conduct that is detrimental to the club, that person can be suspended for an indefinite period of time by a vote of the Board of Directors. The BOD can also lift such a suspension by a vote should they feel it is appropriate to do so.
1. General
1.1 These rules are applicable to all competitive driving events sponsored by TSSCC and will be available at all events.
1.2 Exceptions or additions to these rules must be approved by the Board of Directors and made available to all contestants at the event affected.
1.3 Participation in a TSSCC event shall constitute acceptance of these rules.
2. Organization
2.1 The TSSCC is responsible for insuring reasonable safety of the event. An event may be stopped or course may be altered at any time by the Vice-president or the President in the interest of safety or site retention. This rule in no manner negates the exercise of the release of liability performed by entrants and others who execute a liability waiver.
2.2 The course proper shall be blocked off, with only one entrance and/or exit for contestants provided.
2.3 Events shall be run as nearly by class order as is practical, as determined by the Worker Chief.
2.4 Unless otherwise announced, registration shall close at 9:00 A.M. Under special circumstances, late registration may be allowed until 9:15 A.M. Those persons will be subject to a $5 dollar late fee at the discretion of the registrar.
2.5 All participants, workers, and passengers shall sign an insurance release and hold a valid driver's license. Passengers and spectators must also sign the liability release.
3. Courses
3.1 The course shall be marked clearly; as a minimum, all turns shall be defined by markers, preferably plastic traffic cones. Curbs or other solid objects shall not be used as course markers.
3.2 The Event Master shall provide a clearly drawn map of the course for inspection before the start of the driver's meeting.
3.3 Courses shall be designed so that all competing vehicles can negotiate them in the same manner.
3.4 The width of gates shall not be less than 15 feet. Minimum distance between pylons in slaloms shall be 45 feet. These distances may be altered in the interest of safety, with approval of the Vice President.
3.5 Courses must meet the approval of the Vice-president.
3.6 Course marker locations shall be marked with white shoe polish or non-permanent chalk to allow replacement if necessary.
3.7 Displaced markers must be replaced before the following run.
3.8 Contestants and passengers must be securely belted in their vehicle before and during any timed events. F125 is excluded from this rule.
3.9 Rolling and separate starts and finishes are recommended to expedite the running of the event.
3.10 No course layout shall require the use of reverse gear, or a parking brake.
3.11 A DNF is defined as failure to complete the prescribed course during a timed run. Backing up and/or repeating parts of a course do not necessarily constitute a DNF.
3.12 All starts must be made in the prescribed manner (no looping).
3.13 All staging areas should make some provision for multiple driver cars.
4. Contestants
4.1 Each driver must hold a valid driver's license. Minors must have a signed and witnessed Minor Release form on file for each event.
4.2 A driver may enter the same class only once per event. A driver may enter the same vehicle up to twice per event for certain events but the second entry must follow all D-class rules (below). A driver may drive a maximum of 2 vehicles during the event, excluding substitute vehicles defined in section 4.4. "The same vehicle" is defined as having the same VIN or frame. Changing parts does not constitute a different vehicle.
4.3 If a contestant enters a second vehicle, the contestant must run one of the vehicles in the D-Class and work a second shift.
4.4 Cars with more than 2 drivers should limit themselves to 2 drivers per heat. Additional drivers shall run in different heats as instructed by the Worker Chief.
4.5 A driver may substitute vehicles during an event once and only with approval of the Event Master, and only because of mechanical failure. If the driver changes classes, he must choose to which class his points, times, and trophies shall apply at the time of change.
4.6 Contestants may be refused entry or disqualified by the Event Master or any BOD Member for any of the following reasons:
A. Reckless or dangerous driving, on or off the course.
B. Unsportsmanlike conduct (including intentionally misrepresenting vehicle classification or not running in assigned heat).
C. Use of alcoholic beverages or drugs during the event.
D. Smoking while competing on course.
E. Disregarding an official's instructions.
F. Willfully altering the course.
G. Failure to work at the event.
4.7 A run is considered official when the vehicle crosses the start line. If the course is found to be altered, the driver shall stop, alert the course workers, and safely exit the course. A rerun will be granted.
4.8 A disqualified contestant may not receive a refund of entry fee after he has received credit for a run (With the exception of 6.6)
4.9 Contestants may appeal any decisions to the Board of Directors. (See Section 3.e. of the TSSCC Constitution.)
4.10 To be eligible for "Fun Runs" the driver must have driven the event, and the car must have been teched.
4.11 No contestant shall take runs out of their proper heat (with the exception of rules 4.3 and 4.4) without the approval of the BOD.
4.12 The use of bicycles while the course is open for walking is allowed provided the competitor negotiates the course in a safe manner at a walking pace as judged by any member of the board. Motorized vehicles are not allowed without approval from a member of the board.
4.13 Any contestant (except the Event Master) who pre-drives the course for a pre-event safety check must have the approval of their class competitors to compete for points during the event.
5. Safety
5.1 Eye protection for drivers and passengers is required. Eye protection is defined as an approved face shield, goggles, or windshield. Eyeglasses or sunglasses alone are not acceptable.
5.2 All drivers and passengers must wear a DOT or SNELL approved helmet while on course.
5.3 Seat belts, properly mounted and securely fastened, are required for the driver and passengers (excluding F125). Non-factory installed upper body restraints shall not be used in a convertible car unless a roll structure is installed.
5.4 Failure to wear safety equipment shall constitute a DNF.
5.5 Each vehicle must be ready to compete prior to presentation for tech inspection (i.e., Loose items, floor mats, hubcaps removed).
5.6 Hands and arms should be kept inside the vehicle at all times.
5.7 Only persons age 12 and older are permitted in the grid area.
5.8 There are two categories for passengers:
- A. Persons age 16 and older with a valid drivers license are permitted to ride as passengers.
- B. Spokes members, in good standing, can request permission for their relatives, age 12 or at least 57″ tall, to be allowed as passengers. Pre-approval must be done through the President. A minor waiver will need to be signed by all legal guardians prior to the event.
5.9 Smoking is not permitted in the grid area. This includes e-Cigs, Vape pens, and similar devices.
5.10 Use of cell phones, cameras, camcorders, smoking, or being accompanied by friends or family during a work assignment are strictly prohibited. Violation of these rules may result in disqualification.
5.11 Use of drones is not allowed at the event site.
6. Vehicles
6.1 All vehicles are subject to a technical and safety inspection before competing. Entry fees will be refunded for inspection failure. Only TSSCC members may take advantage of a yearly technical inspection. TSSCC members who modify their vehicle to an extent to which it becomes ineligible for its declared class may be subject to penalties including loss of points. Safety and classification will be addressed at the annual technical inspection for TSSCC members and at each event for non-members.
6.2 A competing vehicle may be barred from further competition if deemed unsafe or illegal by the Technical Inspector or the Event Master Chief. When the problem(s) is (are) corrected, eligibility will be reinstated.
6.3 All vehicles must have functioning 4-wheel brakes operated by a single actuator, such as a foot pedal or hand control for handicapped drivers. The 4-wheel rule does not apply to karts and open-wheel cars.
6.4 Tires may not have any cord showing prior to a run.
6.5 Events are limited to vehicles with a wheelbase minimum of 60 inches (except karts). The Event Chief may exclude vehicles with a wheelbase exceeding 116 inches if he determines that they cannot readily negotiate the course.
6.6 The TSSCC Board of directors may designate any tire to be illegal for any class regardless of DOT or other numbers.
6.7 All competing vehicles must have their class and number clearly displayed on the left and right side of the vehicle. Shoe polish on the windshield is not adequate. It is strongly suggested that competitors use numbers that comply with the SCCA requirements of being a minimum of 8″ tall with a minimum stroke of 1 inch. Class letters need to be at least 4″ tall. Colors should clearly contrast with the vehicle color. Numbers should be 2 digits except for 2 driver cars, where one driver will use a 2 digit number, and the second driver will use "1" followed by the same number (e.g. 23 and 123). Special classing letters such as Novice (N) or Double (D) should precede the classing letters.
6.8 The noise level of all TSSCC competition vehicles should be at or below 95 dBA, at a distance of 50 feet from the edge of the course unless otherwise indicated.
6.9 Any vehicle deemed excessively loud (even if they comply with 6.8), at the discretion of the BOD, may not be allowed to compete further until suitable modifications are made.
7. Classification
7.1 Two entrants may define a class for trophies. Fewer may result in bumping as prescribed in the official SCCA rule book, Appendix B. (Classes shall not be combined for year-end points purposes).
8. Timing and scoring
8.1 Events shall be timed to a minimum accuracy of 0.001 second increments.
8.2 If electronic timing equipment is not available, three persons shall manually time each vehicle. The high and low times will be discarded with the middle time used for scoring purposes.
8.3 If the timing equipment fails to register a start, or fails during a run, the contestant shall be flagged off the course as soon as possible. Foregoing a DNF, a rerun will be granted.
8.4 Luck or chance may not be intentionally included as a factor in timing and scoring.
8.5 The penalty for displacing a course marker shall be 2 seconds for that run. All cones from the finish line to the end of the course shall be scored as DNF if hit. Displacing is defined by the following diagram.
8.6 A minimum of five runs or five minutes must separate a vehicle's runs.
8.7 If a course marker is not intended to carry a penalty, it must be so designated on the course map. A pointer pylon and a marker pylon touching are considered to be one pylon for penalty purposes. Pointer pylons shall not carry a penalty unless otherwise specified.
8.8 Contestants shall complete the course in the manner prescribed on the course map provided by the Event Master.
8.9 If a particular course marker counts more than the normal two second penalty, that fact must be stated at the driver's meeting, the course marker in question highlighted on the course map, and approved by the Board of Directors present.
9. Protests
9.1 All protests concerning TSSCC events must be specific and must be submitted in writing by someone directly affected by the protest to the Event Master or a Board Member before the end of competition runs for that event. Each protest must be accompanied by a fee of $10.00, refundable only if the protest is upheld. Depending on the protest the board may require additional fees.
9.2 The Board of Directors present at the event shall make up the protest committee.
9.3 A majority vote of the protest committee is final. The committee must specify the reason the protest was upheld and the action to be taken. A protest may be appealed only if new and pertinent information is given to the club President, who may recall the committee. This committee has the right to refuse entry to a participant in future events.
9.4 In the event a vehicle is found to be illegal for the class in which it is entered, the vehicle will be reclassified properly and points and trophies awarded accordingly. Note section 7.1 in the case of TSSCC members.
10. Trophies
10.1 Trophies will be awarded at the event and meeting directly after the event for the novice class only. The drivers must be present to receive a trophy. Plaques only will be given to absentees.
11. Championship series
11.1 TSSCC members shall receive points for competition events held under these rules to count toward yearly awards for the championship series. For classes with at least two competitors, points will be awarded as follows: 25 for 1st, 18 for 2nd, 15 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, 10 for 5th, 8 for 6th, 6 for 7th, 4 for 8th, 2 for 9th, and 1 for 10th. In the case of a class with only one competitor, that competitor will receive 20 points.
11.2 Each year, based on the total number of events, the BOD will determine how many events (event points) may be dropped for the year.
11.3 A driver must enter the same class in half of the yearly points events (rounding up) to be eligible for year-end awards. Novice entries in the same class will be counted towards this requirement.
11.4 Classes shall not be combined for awarding points.
11.5 Non-points events shall be so designated prior to the event.
11.6 Members may compete in more than one class, but points may not be transferred between classes.
11.7 Year-end awards shall be given to the top half of the class, rounding up (e.g. 6 trophies for 11 qualifying drivers). In case of ties, equal awards shall be given to both.
11.8 The Timing and Scoring Chief shall be responsible for scoring the series, determining eligibility, and making points standings available to members at all general meetings.
11.9 Championship series awards shall be given at the annual Awards Banquet.
11.10 The Rookie of the Year (ROTY) award shall be given, at the Awards Banquet, to the TSSCC member who has entered no more than 3 events previous to the award year and has exhibited the most consistent driving skill under the most competitive conditions, accomplishing feats clearly distinguishable from those of other rookies. He or she will be chosen by a vote of the membership.
11.11 The Steve Willis Memorial Driver of the Year award shall be given at the Awards Banquet to the member who exhibited the most consistent driving skill under the most competitive conditions, accomplishing feats clearly distinguishable from those of fellow drivers. He or she will be chosen by a vote of the membership.
This award was named after the 1992 Driver of the Year, Steve Willis. Steve was an active member of the club from 1985 through 1992, serving on the Board of Directors in various capacities. He died in February of 1993, while in the line of duty with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, at a raid in Waco Texas. The award was renamed that year to honor his memory as an outstanding driver and a close friend to many in the club.
11.12 The Member of the Year (MOTY) award shall be given at the Awards Banquet to the member who provided Outstanding Service to the Club and its Members. He or she will be chosen by a vote of the Board of Directors.
12. SCCA Classes & Spokes Indexed Classes
Spokes' "base" classes mirror the classing structure used by the SCCA. The most current version of the SCCA rules and car classification can be found here. In addition to the SCCA classes, Spokes provides a few indexed classes to run in, outlined below.
All classes are scored using the current nationally based PAX factors (The PAX/RTP values to be used for indexing competition can be found here). These classes cannot combined (i.e. A driver cannot combine the street tire and X class and run in XT).
Street Tire – (shortened to "Tire" class) – Required for all SSR, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Prepared, and Modified cars using standard 200TW or greater street tires. If a question arises at an event about the legality of a particular tire, the Board members present will decide. The class will be designated by a T preceding the car's regular competition class (i.e. TASP would be Street Tire – A Street Prepared).
R Class – Required for all SSR, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Prepared, and Modified classed cars that are running non-200TW tires. The class will be designated by an R preceding the car's regular competition class (i.e. RFP would be R-class F Prepared).
X Class – This is a "Pro" class and is open to any driver. This class is intended for persons seeking the highest levels of competition in the Spokes championship series. This class will be designated by a X preceding the car's regular competition class (i.e. XCS would be X-class C Street).
Novice Class – Novice Class times shall be determined by a PAX index. There is no year-end Championship for the Novice class. No entrant may compete in this class for more than 6 events. Soft compound, DOT approved racing tires or racing slicks are not legal. If a question arises at an event about the legality of a particular tire, the Board members present will decide. The class will be designated by a N preceding the car's regular competition class.
Classic American Muscle ("CA") Class – Required for all CAM-C (Contemporary), CAM-S (Sport), and CAM-T (Traditional) class cars. CAM is for domestic RWD vehicles that may have engine and/or suspension modifications, but run non-200TW tires. The CAM rules can be found here: https://www.scca.com/pages/solo-cars-and-rules The class will be designated by an CA preceding the shortened version of the SCCA's class name (i.e. CA-MS, CAM-C, and CAM-T for Classic American Muscle – Traditional).
1. All entrants that enter the event twice must enter in the D-class as one of their entries.
2. Entry fee for running in D-class will be in addition to your first entry. Register twice, pay twice.
3. The D-class is not a competitive class, will not show up in the Pax or Raw time results, and does not have a points race or Year End Championship.
4. D-class runs must be taken in a heat that occurs after your regular competition class runs.
5. Eligibility to run your extra entry is dependent upon your arrival at the event site no later than 7:15am to help with trailer unpacking and course setup. If you show up later than 7:15am then your second entry will be removed from the list, even if you already pre-registered. No exceptions!
6. D-class work assignments include both setup in the morning and teardown in the evening. You are running twice so you must work twice, before and after the event.
7. D-class is reserved to pre-register only. If you wish to double-enter the event you must pre-register both of your entries. Do not show up to registration and request to run D-class. Registration closes the Friday before the event so you have plenty of time to decide whether you are running D or not.
8. Only one class prefix will be allowed on your vehicle on a given run. Class prefixes include T, N, X, and D. Multiple prefixes confuse timing and scoring and may result in your times being disqualified. For example if you regularly run AS in the Tire class, do not show up to the line with DTAS on your car, mark your car as TAS for your regular competition runs and DAS for your Double runs. Please remove the extra class prefix before showing up at the start line or you will be sent back to grid.
9. The class prefix must be placed immediately before your class when displayed on your car. For example: DAS is correct. ASD is not correct. Don't make the T/S job any harder by making them hunt for letters on your car.


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Magento Database Setup Notes
These are some setup notes for setting up a test/development instance of Magento, using an existing database against a fresh installation of the source code on a staging server.
Use HeidiSQL or MySQL Workbench (both free) to edit the data in the Magento MySQL database tables. These notes assume that you have already installed the Magento source code in '/magentoroot' and configured folder permissions.
* Modify database connection settings in application configuration. File Name: /magentoroot/app/etc/local.xml <connection> <host><![CDATA[localhost]]></host> <username><![CDATA[johndoe]]></username> <password><![CDATA[12345]]></password> <dbname><![CDATA[storedb]]></dbname> <active>1</active> </connection> * Manually add user to Magento admin_user table password = select CONCAT(MD5('qXpassword'), ':qX') lognum = 0 reload_acl_flag = 0 is_active = 1 extra = copy from an existing record (or leave blank?) * Manually add role to Magento admin_role table parent_id = 1 tree_level = 2 sort_order = 0 role_type = U user_id = id of new user created above role_name = name of user created above * Modify settings in Magento core_config_data table The important settings are listed below. web/unsecure/base_url = http://www.yourserver.com web/secure/base_url = https://www.yourserver.com If SSL is not available, then set the web/secure/base_url to be the same as web/unsecure/base_url. Otherwise, Magento will redirect automatically when you try to view the website and/or administration panel. The following settings will disable the requirement for SSL: web/secure/use_in_adminhtml = 0 web/secure/use_in_frontend = 0 * Go through the core_config_data and erase the API keys and set all email addresses to a development email address. * Reset the cache - This is a very important step that should not be forgotten. Be careful with this command - it will erase all folder/files in the specified folder! rm -rf /magentoroot/var/cache/* * Log into the admin site: Go to: http://www.yourserver.com/index.php/acc/ If these core_config_data settings are other than what is shown below, then the URL to the admin panel may be different: admin/url/use_custom = 0 admin/url/custom = ''
Now you should have a test installation of your Magento store.
Created 2011-04-26, Last Modified 2011-07-24, © Shailesh N. Humbad
Disclaimer: This content is provided as-is. The information may be incorrect.
Disclaimer: This content is provided as-is. The information may be incorrect.


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Amyn Amlani Welcomed as New Editor of Hearing Economics; Brian Taylor Named HHTM Editor-In-Chief
TUCSON, ARIZONA — Effective this week, Amyn Amlani, PhD, has taken over the editorship of Hearing Economics, where every week he and guest contributors will share their opinions and perspectives on a wide range of subjects impacting the hearing industry. The news comes following the announcement that editor, and creator of Hearing Economics, Holly Hosford-Dunn…Read More
Like past years, OTC was Hot Topic in 2017, Plus Bon Voyage to Holly and Wayne
Except for politics and earmold venting, there is not a more contentious topic among hearing care professionals than the re-regulation of hearing aids. Upon second thought, the re-regulation of hearing aids is wholly a political issue, and it's a topic that Hearing News Watch has covered for more than two years. Twenty-seventeen marked the third…Read More
Academy to Honor Several at Upcoming Convention
PHOENIX, ARIZONA — In addition to HHTM's very own Dr. Wayne Staab receiving the prestigious Samuel F. Lybarger Award for Achievements in Industry, several other notable individuals will be receiving awards when the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) holds its annual AudiologyNow convention next week in Phoenix. Jerger Award for Research in Audiology: Ruth A.…Read More
Starkey Upheaval – Could This Lead to a Potential Sale?
Editor's Note: Today's post comes from HHTM's Editor-In-Chief, Wayne Staab, Ph.D., providing our readers with an interesting analysis of just who might be interested in Starkey Hearing Technologies in the event that the company becomes available for sale. With the recent upheaval at Starkey Hearing Technologies, speculation has arisen about the climate for a potential sale. The reason for…Read More
It wasn't just a job: It was personal!
Dear Friends, As many of you have already read, I have retired from Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM) after four extremely rewarding years as a founding editor. But before leaving the scene, I have some parting words for our readers, whom I have been writing for and about for longer than I could ever have…Read More
HHTM names Wayne Staab editor-in-chief, as David Kirkwood retires; Brian Taylor joins blog as news editor
TUCSON, AZ—Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM) has named Wayne Staab, PhD, a founding partner of the popular blog, as Editor-in-Chief effective today (June 1), succeeding David H. Kirkwood. Kirkwood, who was also a founding partner of HHTM, has retired after 42 years as an editor, including 25 years covering hearing health care. He…Read More
Section from Jerger's "Audiology in the USA" makes its online debut on this blog
By David H. Kirkwood No one has done more to advance the field of audiology over the past half century than James Jerger. As a researcher, writer/editor, teacher, and founding president of the American Academy of Audiology, Jerger has played an outsized role in shaping the history of audiology and in preparing the profession to meet…Read More


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When Your Novel Writing Clicks
Light-bulb moments. Aha moments. Flashes of recognition. Revelations. Call them whatever you like. I like to think of them as clicks.
In the writing life, the best kind of click is that moment something makes you realize exactly what's been missing from the not-quite-right scene you've been working on. Or the instant you put two plot points together and suddenly have a clear view of what's really beneath your character's behavior. Or the random tip on plot structure that magically conjures for you a map of how everything in your messy draft might fit together after all.
Clicks. They're satisfying, exciting, inspiring, invigorating. And they're the stuff writers live for.
The January 2015 Writer's Digest—devoted to all things novel writing—releases today, and I'm so excited to finally be able to offer you a preview of what's inside. We've done our best to fill this issue with the types of craft advice and writing techniques that help things click into place. Because whether your own moments of realization are quiet head nods or loud exclamations of triumph, as subtle as the click of a key in a lock or dramatic as a stack of papers launched into the air, we know it's the bits of advice that resonate that can make all the difference for your novel-in-progress.
First, award-winning novelist David Corbett shares what made his own characters finally click on the page—and how you can paint more effective pictures of the players in your own stories, too. Then, longtime contributor Elizabeth Sims details techniques for mastering one of the most notoriously difficult elements of fiction: dialogue. Bestselling novelist Steven James shows you precisely how to manage the flow of tension and conflict in your story—through multiple plot points, climaxes, subplots and more. Therapist-turned-writer Tracey Barnes Priestley delves into the real reasons "Why So Many Writers Give Up Mid-Novel—and How Not to Be One of Them." And four bestselling series writers take you behind the scenes with their iconic characters to show you what it is that gives a novel that special something that makes readers want another installment, and another, and another.
We all know that writing a novel isn't easy. But in those moments that something clicks, suddenly anything seems possible. Here's to many ahas on the pages—and in the new year—ahead.
Get your copy of our "This Is the Year You Write That Novel!" issue on your favorite newsstand starting today, or download the January 2015 Writer's Digest and start reading right now.
Happy Writing,
Jessica Strawser
Editor, Writer's Digest Magazine
Follow me on Twitter @jessicastrawser.


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Meet Lorelei
Lorelei Brush is an author and advocate with over twenty years experience in international education and development. She holds doctorates in developmental psychology and ministry with a focus on Islamic studies.
Learn more about Lorelei and what inspired her groundbreaking new novel.
Like Khalid Hosseini's Kite Runner, this novel describes a Muslim society threatened by extremism. The story churns with the struggles of obedience versus self-determination, piety versus zealotry, and preserving the old versus embracing the new. In the end, some seek peace and others pursue violence to achieve what's holy.
News & Events
Read Lorelei's latest blog posts and reflections.
Learn more about upcoming events and speaking engagements.
Chasing the American Dream
Join David in 1955 as he advocates for justice against a Nazi who committed crimes against humanity in World War II. Dr. Lorelei Brush's latest novel is coming soon.
Praise for Dr. Lorie's Books
I loved this book. Ms Brush does such an in-depth description and development of each character that by the end of the book you feel like you've had a nice long visit in their homes.A. Rutherford
Thought-provoking and engaging! . . .Lorelei Brush succeeded in writing a great novel with compassion.Judy KS
A terrific read. I found this book to be gripping, moving, and important, but also educational. I learned a lot about a society and culture quite different from my ownRaima Larter


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Location: Worcester
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: May 1
As a physical therapist, you have the power to improve the health and well-being of people across the life span. This program builds on your bachelor's degree to help you develop the advanced knowledge and skills required for contemporary physical therapy practice.
In this full-time, three-year doctoral program, you will experience a challenging course of study designed to prepare you to diagnose and treat a wide variety of patients, assess their outcomes, and provide evidence of effectiveness. You will have the opportunity to work with real patients in our on-campus Balance, Movement, and Wellness Center and gain real-world experience through a wide range of clinical experiences both on and off campus.
When you graduate, you will be eligible to sit for the PT licensing examination and begin your rewarding career in a variety of roles in practice, patient education, research, policy, and advocacy as a physical therapist.
To apply to the DPT program at MCPHS, an applicant must submit the following:
All applicants are eligible to receive merit-based scholarships up to $7,500, renewable each year.
Students with foreign transcripts must also submit a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES). Please note that a WES evaluation is not required for applicants with coursework from English-speaking Canadian universities and colleges.
For non-native English speakers, proof of language proficiency must also be submitted with a score report from TOEFL, IELTS or iTEP, or by arranging to take the on-campus MCPHS Language Proficiency Test.
For admission to the program, an applicant must have:
The following prerequisite courses must be completed:
Linked courses are available through the MCPHS School of Professional Studies.
Prerequisite courses (as indicated above) must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.
MCPHS participates in the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). PTCAS gives applicants the ability to use a single application and one set of required materials to apply to multiple programs. To get started, visit http://www.ptcas.org to create an account.
For questions about the receipt, processing, and verification of your application, please visit the PTCAS Applicant Help Center to review the FAQs. You may also live chat with customer service or reach them by phone at 617.612.2040 or by email at email@example.com. PTCAS customer service is available Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
Qualified candidates are invited to an on-campus interview with faculty at MCPHS-Worcester. Faculty interviews are open application which means your interviewer will have your complete application available to them during the interview and may ask questions about your academic history, work experience (if any), and extracurricular activities. You should be prepared to talk about all aspects of your application.
Prepping for your interview: Prior to coming to campus, be sure to research the University and read the information that has been sent to you. Showing you have a good understanding of our program and university will help you in the interview process.
Practice makes perfect: Consider having a friend or family member perform a mock interview with you. Consider questions like:
Don't be afraid to ask questions: Come prepared with a list of your own questions. The interview is an opportunity for you to get to know us as much as it is for us to get to know you.
Dress the part: Wear professional attire as if you would for a job interview (but wear comfortable shoes as you will be touring the campus!).
Most importantly: be on time, be yourself, and have fun!
You will gain hands-on experience through a variety of integrated clinical experiences in the first two years of the program. Integrated clinical experiences build on the information you learn in the classroom. For example, during the courses focused on acute care, students are assigned to an acute care setting to experience specialty clinics, post-surgical management, and intensive care.
In the on-campus, pro-bono Balance, Movement, and Wellness Center, you will gain experience working with real patients. You will work together with our expert faculty and other students to help improve patients' strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and overall wellness through group exercise classes that focus on patients' individual needs.
In the final year of the program, you will participate in three, full-time off-campus clinical education experiences. Each experience is 10 weeks long—one in an outpatient orthopedic setting, one in a complex medical setting such as inpatient acute, acute rehab, subacute rehab or homecare, and an elective in the area in which you have a strong passion for.
Our students learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields and are committed to the success of each student. Discover our full list of Physical Therapy faculty.
For detailed tuition information, visit: Tuition and Fees.
CAPTE Student Financial Fact Sheet
Cohort 2021-2022
Note: Posting of this document is a CAPTE requirement.
Information on the University's Disabilities Support Services is set forth in the MCPHS University Catalog. If a student feels s/he may require special accommodations to perform any of the fundamental requirements of the curriculum, it is the student's responsibility to contact the Assistant Dean for Academic Support Services as set forth in the MCPHS University Catalog.
The practice of physical therapy includes the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of people with physical disabilities, movement dysfunction, and pain. Physical therapists must be prepared to conduct in a timely manner a relevant patient examination, evaluate the results of this examination and synthesize these data to establish an accurate diagnosis, prognosis and plan of care, implement an intervention and use the process of re-examination to assess patient outcomes. Physical therapists must also possess the skills necessary to determine when referral of the patient/client to another health care professional is appropriate. Physical therapists must provide evidence that the care that they provide is effective, often through the conduct of clinically based research.
DPT students must be able to complete the following:
Clinical agencies may have additional or agency-specific technical standards, which take precedence over MCPHS University technical standards.
The Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredits professional physical therapy programs and requires that graduates of these programs be able to deliver entry-level clinical services. Graduates of entry-level programs are required to possess a broad base of knowledge and skills requisite for the practice of physical therapy. Physical therapists require the intellectual—communication, behavioral—social, observational, and motor abilities to meet the standard of practice.
Certain disabilities can interfere with a student's ability to complete the program of study and acquire the essential functions necessary for the practice physical therapy. Reasonable accommodation can be made to compensate for some limitations. However, those that interfere with patient care, safety or require the use of an intermediary may be incompatible with independent professional practice.
Intellectual skills include the abilities to recall and comprehend large amounts of didactic information and to apply this information to the examination, evaluation and management of routine and complex physical therapy problems. Effective communication skills enable the physical therapist to elicit appropriate information from patients and to effectively explain examination and treatment procedures.
Some of the skills an individual must be able to demonstrate include but are not limited to the ability to:
Students must demonstrate the ability to practice in a professional and ethical manner and possess the emotional stability to practice in a stressful work environment. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, cultural competence and motivation are all personal attributes associated with the practice of physical therapy.
Some of the skills an individual must be able to demonstrate include but are not limited to the ability to:
Observation is one of the key tools that a physical therapist possesses. To gather data on patient/client condition and to appropriately manipulate machinery are critical to being an effective physical therapist. Some of the skills an individual must be able to demonstrate include but are not limited to the ability to:
The practice of physical therapy requires that the practitioner possess the ability to perform basic evaluative and therapeutic procedures that require specific physical skills and stamina (e.g. palpation, transfers, gait training). A therapist must be able to use vision and somatic sensation in the evaluation and treatment of patients. Some of the skills an individual must be able to demonstrate include but are not limited to the ability to:
MCPHS University is committed to creating and fostering a positive learning, working and living environment where all members of our community can thrive. Learn more about our non-discrimination policies and procedures here.
Find out what makes this program unique at MCPHS.
Work with real patients in our on-campus Balance, Movement, and Wellness Center and gain real-world experience through a wide range of clinical experiences.
Learn what inspired some compassionate DPT students to their healthcare field.


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MAD Magazine built a national brand by featuring a mischievous tween they called Alfred E. Neuman on every cover. His signature look was a pencil-sized gap between his front teeth…
But no one leaves my practice looking like a comic book!
It's my view as a specialist in orthodontics that teeth function better and look more attractive when they are in contact. Here's why:
- Function: without a gap in the front teeth, eating is easier. Food can get stuck in the space (technically known as a diastema) and cause gum problems.
- Attractiveness: my opinion is that a finished smile contributes to the perception of intelligence, confidence and employability.
People often ask me why I can't just "squeeze" the front teeth closer together and leave the rest alone. If we were to squeeze two teeth together, then gaps would open up on the other sides. Therefore, to correct spacing, it usually takes braces on most or all the upper teeth for 18 to 24 months.