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The stretched middle
08/12/2014 § 2 Comments
My wife works in the NHS, the biggest employer in Europe. The NHS, providing free health care to all, has been a remarkable achievement. But there are many signs that pressure is building within the NHS at all levels – staff are unhappy and stressed (in my wife's team alone, more than a quarter of the staff are absent with long-term sickness), finance is increasingly tight, more and more legal claims are being brought against doctors. Every now and then the system breaks down somewhere and horror stories emerge of badly neglected patients. Politicians are coming under increasing pressure to do something.
I was speaking to Cathy recently, a colleague of Dasha's, who has worked within the system for more than 30 years, and asked her how she deals with all this. Her response was, in effect, "So long as I have a good team, I don't mind." She works in a team of 20 people who provide care in the community and she likes and respects most of the people she works with and that's enough for her.
Organisations of any reasonable sort of size (let's say over 30 people) can be crudely divided up into "tops", "middles" and "bottoms". At the top are the controllers, pulling the levers of power and hoping that they will get the response they intend further down the organisation. They tend to be strong on left-brain thinking, analysis and planning and they like to feel in control. Since it is pretty much impossible to really ever be in control of an organisation (you can certainly influence it but control it – never!), they are also quite good at pretending to themselves and others that they are in control. You can't really blame them for this – the owners, the distant people who appoint them, expect them to be in control so they are obliged to pretend. One of the problems with this is that it gets in the way of them realising that they need information from the bottom in order to know what it is they are trying to control. Smart people at the top know that without this information they are worse than useless.
At the bottom we have the doers – people like Cathy. This is often the most satisfying place to work. If you have a good team around you, you can often ignore (most of the time at least) problems in the wider system. Their job is to get the work done within the constraints handed down by those above. They tend not to spend much time thinking ahead, or on strategy or big picture stuff – if they do, it can just get in the way of them doing their work in the moment. Yet they do need information about the big picture, in order that their work makes sense as part of the patchwork, and so that they can coordinate with others at the bottom to avoid duplication or gaps.
Then there are those in the middle – the multi-taskers. They have three critical functions. One is as a communication medium. They facilitate vertical communication, so the tops know what is happening at the bottom and the bottoms know where they fit in the system. Since the tops and the bottoms tend to think differently, they also speak different languages so the middles need to speak both languages. To communicate effectively, they also need to be good at filtering, sifting and distilling information – it is no use to the few at the top if the middles simply relay up all the information from the many at the bottom – the tops will quickly be overloaded. So the middles need to be good at extracting the essence and passing that up, and passing back down whatever comes from on high, translated so it makes sense in the local environment inhabited by the bottoms. Middles also have to be effective in horizontal communications – speaking with other middles to ensure that there is coordination across the organisation.
The second principle function of a middle is to appoint, monitor, supervise, inspire, hold to account, mentor and in general "manage" (there are so many complex and often hidden meanings in that simple word) the bottoms.
The third function of a middle (as indeed of tops and bottoms too) is to monitor, hold to account, and general manage themselves in their own tasks. This may be the hardest and most important of the lot.
Not surprisingly, the supermen and superwomen who work as middles in large organisations tend to get stretched, and the larger and more complex the business, the more stretched they get. It is rare to find a middle who can even do one of these critical and, let's face it, usually very demanding, functions really well. To expect them to do all three well is fanciful. The way large organisations, whether private or public, tend to deal with this is to add more and more middles into the equation, promoting some of them to supervise the others. This can improve things for a while. After all, as studies have shown, almost any intervention from above can have a short-term positive effect, mainly it seems because those below like to think those at the top are paying attention to them (in one study, lights in a factory were turned up and the result was a measurable improvement in production productivity. At the end of the study, the lights were turned back down again by mistake and productivity improved again!). But since such an approach doesn't address the fundamental problem, mostly what you get is a bigger wage bill (and the middles cost a lot more than the bottoms, though of course not nearly as much as a top) and often less efficiency, because the system gets more complex the more layers you add. What's more, the organisation gets filled with professional managers who understand the theories of being a middle better than they understand the actual work of the organisation. This can be okay if they spend a lot of time with the bottoms, but because they have elevated salaries, many of these professionals feel it is beneath their dignity to spend a lot of time with the workers – so they hang about with other equally un-informed middles.
As far as I can work out, this is more or less what's been happening in the NHS. People like Cathy carry on with their jobs but more and more they get weighed down by the pressure from the middle. I would love it if someone would measure how many managers have been added in the NHS in the last 20 years, as a proportion of the whole, and what the impact on patient care and efficiency (both important measures) has been.
An innocent outsider reading this might begin to wonder "Do we really need the middles?" This previously heretical thought is starting to occur to more and more tops (and indeed to middles and bottoms).
A talk at the RSA couple of weeks ago highlighted one of the most successful examples of taking this idea and pursuing it with rigour. Buurtzorg is a not-for-profit healthcare provider in the Netherlands. There is not a single manager in the place – instead it runs itself as multiple self-organising teams comprising 10 people each, who have broad responsibility for their own finances, scheduling and other key decisions. They do have "coaches" who fulfill the vital communicating function which is normally the responsibility of middles. But these coaches are not managers and they don't have the power or responsibility that goes with it. Apart from anything else, there are simply not enough coaches for them to be able to pretend to manage anything. Buurtzorg has achieved remarkable success already. The most important indicator is the effects on patient satisfaction, which is far higher than in other organisations performing a similar role in the community. Staff satisfaction is likewise very high. By another measure too, they have been extraordinarily successful – in the space of just 10 years, Buurtzorg has grown from a group of 10 people to an organisation of more than 8,000.
Of course an organisation needs to be adapted to fit its context, and contexts vary massively from country to country, and industry sector to industry sector. So we don't know how this approach might work, say, the oil sector in Texas, in aerospace in France, in pharmaceuticals in Sweden, or in the transport sector in Japan. But more and more examples are emerging of organisations taking this route to solve the problem of the squeezed middles. W. Gore, Vitsoe, Happy, FAVI, Sun Hydraulics, to name but a few. And this is not to mention open source communities and other on-line (Wikipedia, Flickr) and off-line organisings (Burning Man) that are radically re-thinking the way we organize. I dream that one day this sort of thinking will start to permeate the NHS and other great but troubled institutions.
For this to happen of course, we will also have to answer another question – having dealt with the middles, what you do about the tops? That is a question for another blog post!


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Americans love a winner.
With one notable exception.
Am I unpatriotic for rooting against the New England Patriots and their relentless pursuit of perfection?
If Bill Belichick is the smartest coach on the planet with the greatest team of all time, then why did he have to cheat?
While putting together an MVP-worthy season, receiver Randy Moss wears a sneer.
Quarterback Tom Brady is certainly a father for our times, when marriage is optional.
Those guys might be your NFL heroes.
Not mine.
While it would probably be foolish to wager against the Patriots winning the Super Bowl and finishing 19-0, here's betting there are millions of football lovers who would love to see New England fall down and go boom.
The Pats are the new Yankees. They are unbeatable and unbearable.
The nation will have eyes glued to the NFL playoffs, but those old 1972 Miami Dolphins won't be the only Americans popping champagne should the Pats fail.
From Jacksonville to Indianapolis to Dallas, the mantra will be the same: anybody but New England.
This will burn the beans of proper Bostonians, but as sports fans you have become what you profess to loath: New Yorkers.
A baseball franchise buys the World Series once or twice and suddenly considers itself the city of champions. How very Steinbrenner of you.
The Celtics have not won anything since Larry Bird left the building.
Before we assume Belichick is tougher than Vince Lombardi, before anyone starts mentioning Brady in the same breath as Johnny Unitas, much less Joe Montana, and before some computer geek claims to have simulated a 73-0 victory by these Patriots over the 1940 Chicago Bears, kindly allow me to interject two small words.
Get serious.
Undefeated would not mean the Patriots are the best team in the NFL history, no matter how many thousands of hours the ESPN family of networks might dedicate to New England's achievement.
We have the technology to create sports hype, but lack the perspective to appreciate sports history.
At the risk of taking a cheap shot from safety Rodney Harrison, these Patriots are soft, playing a paddy cake brand of pitch-and-catch football that would have had linebacker Ray Nitschke snorting with laughter as Jim Taylor and the 1962 Packers trampled New England.
Anybody else notice that Belichick is almost as smile-challenged as Hillary Clinton? Well, how sad would dour Bill look after Pittsburgh's Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert and the rest of the Steel Curtain fell on Brady's pretty face?
While many have bowed down in awe at the scoring greatness of these Pats, they are not even the best offensive machine of the past 10 years. Give me the Broncos, who had the arm of John Elway and a 2,000-yard rusher in Terrell Davis. Fast track or mud, those Broncos could win on any surface.
George Halas in a suit or Tom Landry in a hat looked sharper than Belichick in a hoodie on every given Sunday.
As long as we're handing out asterisks, there's no reason to believe Belichick was any more honorable in stealing signals from the New York Jets than slugger Barry Bonds was for reaching for his flaxseed oil.
Sure, it's natural to root for greatness. It's just that golfer Tiger Woods and actor Tom Hanks make it so much easier to stand up and cheer, while the reaction to all these Patriots' games are a bitten lip.
There is no denying the Pats are the team to beat in this NFL tournament.
In the name of Peyton Manning, let's pray somebody can do it.
We are forced to appreciate the dominance of New England.
Doesn't mean we have to like it.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Well the launch of FACE UP finally happened . Over 100 attended and there was such a fabulous mix of people, a friendly and happy crowd. Sooo many positive comments and several people asking about joining Curdnatta Art Group which was an added bonus.
16 Year old Jack Case played flamenco guitar as people arrived and refreshments were provided by the friends of the gallery. Not all the people who are in the portraits could attend but it became quite a sport for people to be matched with their portraits for photos. Just Colour became a leisurely lounge where people congregated for conversation PERFECT.
You can see all the action HERE!
The Desert Fringe is on tonight so we will be back at the Cultural Centre for more action ;-)


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Reducing Harvest Losses in Soybeans
Field Facts written by Steve Butzen, Agronomy Information Manager
Minimizing soybean harvest losses can mean substantially higher yields and profits. Extension agricultural engineers suggest that good harvest practices can reduce losses to near 3%, or only 1 to 2 bu/acre. However, delayed harvest or poorly adjusted equipment can result in losses of 10% or more. Since soybeans dry very quickly, close monitoring of grain moisture is required for timely harvest. In addition, combines must be properly adjusted, frequently checked and carefully operated to minimize losses.
Timely Harvest of Soybeans Important
Soybeans should be harvested the first time they reach 13-14% moisture. Moistures above 13% incur a price discount, but moistures below 13% result in less weight at the elevator. The loss of saleable weight can be more substantial than typical discounts for wetter grain, so growers should avoid delivering overdry soybeans. In addition to lost income, harvest losses are also increased when soybeans are harvested too dry.
Soybeans dry very quickly after reaching maturity. At physiological maturity (R7), grain moisture is over 50%, but a harvestable moisture of near 13% can be reached in as little as 2 weeks under good drying conditions. In order to time harvest perfectly, it is necessary to monitor soybean drying very closely. At full maturity (R8), 95% of pods have reached their mature pod color. From this point, only 5 to 10 good drying days are needed before harvest. Begin checking grain moisture before all the leaves have dropped off all the plants, since various stresses can cause soybeans to retain some leaves. It is not uncommon to see a few green leaves and stems on some plants after the pods are fully ripe and the soybeans are dry enough for harvest.
When harvest is delayed, a number of potential losses may occur, including increased tendency to shatter. Soybeans at harvest stage lose and reabsorb moisture readily, and after several such cycles of wetting and drying, are predisposed to shatter. In addition, delayed harvest often results in losses from increased lodging and reduced grain quality.
Research on Field Losses Due To Harvest Delays
A study conducted at the University of Wisconsin investigated the effects of delayed harvest on soybean field losses. In total, 2 varieties from each of 3 maturity groups were grown in each of 3 years at Arlington, Wis. Initial harvest for each maturity group began 3 to 7 days beyond the R8 stage (full maturity). Other plots were left in the field for periods of 2, 4 and 6 weeks beyond the first harvest date. Yield losses as a percent of total yield are shown below:
|Table 1. Effect of harvest delay on soybean field losses.
|Source: University of Wisconsin
Yield loss was greatly affected by year. In year 1, field losses after 2 to 6 weeks of harvest delay were only slightly higher than normal field losses with no delay. But losses due to harvest delay in both years 2 and 3 were over twice that of year 1. Losses increased with weeks of delay in all years tested.
Preharvest, shatter and stem losses increased with harvest delays, but stubble and threshing losses remained constant across delays. Gathering unit losses accounted for 60% of total losses.
Monitoring Harvest Losses
Four soybeans in a 1-foot-square area are equal to a 1 bushel loss per acre. Harvest losses should be checked in front of the combine, behind the header, and in back of the combine to pinpoint causes of loss. Ag engineers suggest checking losses in a rectangular area across the entire width of the harvest swath. A 10-square-foot rectangle is suggested as a standard size. Forty soybeans in a 10-square-foot area translates into a 1 bushel per acre loss. A 10-square-foot frame can be built out of rope, with small metal stakes (heavy wire or nails) at the corners to insert into the ground. The length of the frame should be the width of the combine header. The width of the frame needed to equal 10 square feet of area is shown below:
A convenient means of measuring losses is to stop the combine and back up about 20 feet. Losses are determined in 3 areas: in the standing soybeans, behind the combine, and 5 to 10 feet behind the standing soybeans. Set the frame across the entire swath width in the standing soybeans. Soybeans, pods, or broken stems on the ground here represent preharvest losses. Count the number of soybeans shelled and in pods on the ground within the frame. Forty soybeans is equal to 1 bushel loss per acre.
Now move the frame to an area behind the combine and count again. Be sure to sort through all crop residue to reveal shelled soybeans and unthreshed pods beneath. Also count soybeans in pods on stubble. These soybeans behind the combine represent total losses. The difference between total losses and preharvest losses represents harvesting losses.
Harvesting losses can be further divided into "gathering" or "cutterbar" losses and machine losses, by checking just behind the standing beans. To make this measurement, set the frame across the entire swath width about 5 to 10 feet behind the standing soybeans. Count and record the number of individual soybeans within the frame that are shelled and in pods, including stubble. This count minus the preharvest count equals the gathering loss. Machine loss is calculated as follows:
|Total loss - preharvest loss - gathering loss = machine loss
Reduce Harvesting Loss with Proper Adjustment
Though the type of equipment used can impact harvest loss, all equipment must be properly adjusted and carefully operated to minimize losses. Soybeans that never get inside the combine can account for 80% to 85% of harvest losses. These losses occur due to shatter or lost stalks at the header or left on stubble below the cut-height. Other losses occur due to improper threshing and separation at the cylinder and screens. Harvesting losses can be minimized with proper maintenance and adjustment:
- Be sure knife sections and ledger plates are sharp, and that wear plates, hold-down clips, and guards are properly adjusted. Chains and bearings should be properly lubricated, and belts tight.
- Proper reel speed in relation to ground speed will reduce gathering losses. Shatter increases if the reel turns too fast; stalks may be dropped if the reel turns too slow. Use a reel speed about 25% faster than ground speed.
- The reel axle should be 6 to 12 inches ahead of the sickle in most cases. Operate a bat reel just low enough to tip cut stalks onto the platform. The tips of the fingers on a pickup reel should clear the cutterbar by about 2 inches.
- Cut soybeans as low as possible to minimize stubble losses. Excessive stubble heights can result in significant losses, as shown in the following table:
Source: Iowa State University
- Adjust the rotor- or cylinder-concave clearance according to your operator's manual. Then adjust rotor or cylinder speed for threshing conditions. Generally, operate the rotor or cylinder at the lowest speeds that effectively thresh the soybeans. When beans are tough, rotor or cylinder speed may have to be increased. Decrease rotor or cylinder speed as beans dry to reduce breakage.
- Keep forward speed at about 3 miles per hour for most combines. Slow down for uneven soil surface or other abnormal conditions.
- Stubble losses can also be reduced by planting and cultivating practices. Height of lowest pods is increased by growing soybeans in narrow rows or by higher plant populations within the row.
Pedersen, P. 2006. Combine setting for minimum harvest loss. Soybean Extension and Research Program, Iowa State U.
Philbrook, B.D. and E.S. Oplinger. 1986. Soybean field losses as influenced by harvest delays. Agron. J. 81:251-258.


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Easy Roasted Duck with Plum Sauce December 19, 2017
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Howdy and thank you so much for being here! My name is Cassy Joy Garcia. I'm on a mission to empower healthy lifestyle transformations through clear nutrition science, delicious recipes, and healthy mindset tips. You can find over 500 of my healthy gluten-free and Paleo recipes on this website, my healthy living podcast "Fed+Fit" in iTunes, and my signature food + fitness monthly program "The Project" via the link to my left. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter (red box below) so you don't miss anything new!


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South West Coast Path National Trail
1014 km / 630 miles
Our longest National Trail gives the opportunity to enjoy some of Britain's finest coastal landscapes. These are extremely varied, from rugged and remote clifftops to sheltered estuaries, busy harbours and resorts. Moorland stretches contrast with plateaux incised by steep coastal valleys and intimate coves with long pebbly or sandy beaches.
South Cornwall and Devon offer spectacular 'drowned' estuaries while in East Devon and Dorset there are extensive 'undercliffs' resulting from landslips. Ferries operate across most of the larger estuaries but some offer a reduced service or cease altogether out of the holiday season. Details are available in the South West Coast Path Association's Annual Guide.
Two World Heritage Sites cover sections of the coastline. Mining was a major industry during the 18th and 19th centuries and transformed the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape. This Site comprises ten separate areas both along the coast and inland. The Jurassic Coast is England's only natural World Heritage Site and includes 95 miles of unspoilt cliffs and beaches from Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Studland Bay in Dorset. The South Dorset Ridgeway is part of the South West Coast Path National Trail and was the original route to be designated (the longer coastal route around Portland was only added in 2003). Providing an inland option or a circular route if combined with the coast, it runs from West Bexington to Osmington Mills, decreasing the total distance from the coastal option of the South West Coast Path by 25 miles (40 km). Although it is some distance from the sea, it offers views of the Jurassic Coast.
In 2002, Plymouth City Council created a continuous walking route along its coastline and appointed a team of artists to mark the route and interpret the many stories along it. Promoted as Plymouth's Waterfront Walkway (9 miles) this is now part of the South West Coast Path National Trail and is not separately named on OS mapping.
For the E9 route that runs between Plymouth and Dover, Exploring the Bournemouth Coast Path covers the 37-mile stretch between Swanage and Lymington and includes the E9 route through Bournemouth. See E-Routes (E9).
East of Lulworth army ranges restrict access at certain times (for details telephone 24 hour answering service 01929 404701).
The St Michael's Way (12 miles), which is included on OS mapping, links Lelant (north coast of Cornwall) with Penzance/Marazion/St Michael's Mount on the south coast and can be extended into a much longer circular route when combined with the National Trail. Coast-to-Coast Trail (Cornwall Mineral Tramways) traverses 11 miles from the north to south coasts from Portreath to Devoran passing via Cambrose and Scorrier down the Poldice Valley and the Carnon riverside through past mining landscapes. The circular waymarked Dart Valley Trail (17 miles and on OS mapping) connects to the National Trail having the ferry between Dartmouth and Kingswear in common. It also links to the national rail network at Totnes. The Templer Way (18 miles and on OS mapping), which is waymarked except on open moorland, goes between Haytor Quarry and the National Trail at Teignmouth, using the ferry from Shaldon to Teignmouth.
As an alternative to the large number of OS maps, three Harvey stripmaps cover the full route. GPS track files may be downloaded from the National Trail's website.
The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.
See also E-Routes (E9)
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.
At high zoom levels the route is indicative only.
Walking Support Providers:
Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
Connected Paths:
Click to show 17 more Paths Marked on OS mapping
Click to show 26 more Other Paths
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Last Updated 30/09/2016 16:40:23 - Recent path changes
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Joshua Connor was a Fellow in the 2013-2014 academic year. This bio reflects his project as of that time.
My dissertation is a study of the concept of the soul and its role in shaping how we imagine the erotic or desirous character of human existence -- the organization of levels or dimensions of eros, the relation of eros to transcendence and the sorts of practices capable of elevating or purifying eros. I am, in particular, drawing on the work of two 20th century religious thinkers, Franz Rosenzweig and Simone Weil, in order to ask what relevance the concept of the soul might still have for a scientific culture, and I intend to place this work in conversation with a study of neuropsychiatric concepts of the mood disorder and the antidepressant as a central idioms in which western cultures have come to think about and act upon malformations of psychic eros.
I hope to use the upcoming year at the Martin Marty Center to begin drawing these two strands into conversation and I could hardly ask for a better environment in which to do so. My project winds through a few different disciplines, such as theology and medical anthropology, and the opportunity to discuss my work with colleagues across the spectrum of religious studies and beyond will be invaluable. I hope, too, that the MMC's commitment to public scholarship in religion will encourage me to translate my work to wider audiences in ways that are clear and compelling.


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The first Texan I ever met was my mother.
Mom grew up in Corpus Christi, married young and then fled the state. In the next 20 years, she and my Dad—a Californian—returned three times to visit her parents.
Two of those visits I'm old enough to remember.
Both required us to drive from Bakersfield to Austin, through Blythe, slogging on to Phoenix and El Paso. We covered the endless miles to Austin on a two-lane road that shimmered in the sun and featured tons of tumbleweeds, jackrabbits, a desert tortoise or two, and tho occasional armadillo.
Because of the heat, Dad often traveled at night, so we were never sure what wildlife we'd passed unless it lodged in our grill.
West Texas makes Bakersfield CA look like paradise.
And there's a Bakersfield TX on this most un-scenic route. Some 50 years later, this sister-city is still an armpit. I saw it this week and noticed only two changes: the highway is now four-lanes and instead of a single gas station, there're two. I didn't stop to see if they'd finally cleaned the bathrooms, but judging from the station's appearance, I wouldn't bet on it.
Even today, this stretch of Route 10 through Crockett County is a miserable drive. It's a dull, never-ending, Disney-diorama of desolation, the sort of road that makes you want to impale your eyeballs on the tips of a Texas long horn.
So back in '65 when we finally arrived in Austin, I'd formed a clear and uncharitable opinion of the "Lone Star State." I gave it a well-deserved one-star rating.
Then I made the mistake of sharing this thought with Grandpa, a native Texan.
"Boy, Texas sure is hot and ugly," I said.
His bright, "glad-to-see-y'all" smile faded.
"Son, there's a lot more to Texas than El Paso," Grandpa said.
"Like what?" I asked.
He responded to this challenge by narrowing his eyes and looking down his nose at me.
"Well, there's the Bull Head Creek, Wild Horse Draw, and Pecan Bayou, just to get you started," he said. "Then there's our rivers: the Little Llano, the Brazos, the San Marcos, the Red, the Washita, and…" he spread his hands out for effect, "the Rio Grande."
His eyes twinkled.
"All the Gulf's best beaches are in Texas," Grandpa said.
I nodded obediently, but had no clue what he was talking about. The only "Gulf" I in knew were the gas station signs that sprang up when we crossed the state line.
Then Grandpa pointed out the window.
"Yonder there's Wonder World and Longhorn Caverns, Karuse Springs, Capote Falls, and Hamilton Pools," he paused, squared his shoulders, and his smile returned.
He took a shot of coffee.
"Pardon me while I wet my whistle," Grandpa said, and continued.
"Armadillos aren't the only critters in the state, either," he poked me in the chest. "Why, we've got all sorts of birds. There's the widgeon, the gadwall, herons, boo-coo ducks, even eagles. Do you like reptiles? Why, we've got everything from alligator lizards to sidewinders."
He winked
"And big game? Yessiree. Son. You'd be an old man if I went down the entire list."
He paused, licked his lips, and waited for me to nod again, which I did.
"And it's a natural fact that Texas has the biggest and best parks."
He stopped without enumerating them. Perhaps he could see that my eyes had glazed over. Or maybe he decided not to press his luck. After all, everyone knew Alaska was bigger than Texas and, I assumed, had bigger parks too.
But I held back.
Mom had warned me not to utter the word "A-word" in Grandpa's presence. He took a dim view of the 49the state. His position was simple and unequivocal: "If ya' defrosted the dang thing," he said, "the pitiful pile of what's left would fit in my hip pocket."
So Grandpa's claims of Texas' greatness went unchallenged, and his evidence went in one ear and out the other. But I guess he realized this because come Christmas, he gave me a three-year subscription to Texas Parks & Wildlife.
This shrewd move proved his point.
Each issue was filled with images of lush landscapes and happy hunters—Texas was, truly, more than just Highway 10 out of Hag Hill.
So I learned early on that there were two faces to Texas, and this lesson came to mind earlier this week when I was in "Keep It Weird" Austin. There, I toured the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library.
Ah, Texas politics. The best form of not-traditional theater this side of mud wrestling.
Over the past few decades, my take on Texas was formed by the presidency of George "W" Bush, the "Decider," a man who bore a distinct resemblance to Mad Magazine's Alfred E Neuman. And in a way, "W" offered us all hope. He proves the popular belief that, in America, anyone can become president regardless or race, creed, color… or intelligence.
Of course, "W" isn't Texas's only contribution to the presidency. There were the other two one-term wonders. George H.W. Bush and Lyndon Baines Johnson.
Here I'll follow my Mom's lead and dismiss Bush-the-First as a pseudo-Texan pretender. Born in Milton, MA, Herbert-Walker was a carpetbagger who never bothered learning to talk like a Texan.
That leaves LBJ.
Sadly, my recollections of LBJ were equally uncharitable. From my teenage years I remember him as the man who ramped up Vietnam and started the draft I feared. He also consistently did stupid and crude things like picking up a dog by its ears or talking to reporters while he was seated on the toilet.
And the door was open.
LBJ was a big, ugly, "dumb Texan." But, as I learned this week, he was much more than that.
It's wise to view political narratives with skepticism. The history presented in a presidential library is, after all, the man's last effort to spin his legacy. Yet even with that in mind, it's hard to ignore what happened on his LBJ's watch.
The third floor encapsulates the high and low points of the 36th president's term. The exhibit opened with a tribute to John F Kennedy, a grim reminder of the assassination that propelled Johnson into the presidency. There also were photos of Vietnam and the anti-war protests. I'd expected all these, but what I hadn't anticipated was the acute suffering of a man trapped in a war he'd inherited.
The exhibit makes it clear Johnson was a man of enormous intelligence and influence. He is described as "a force," and "intimidating." Pictures show him leaning into people, towering over them, and poking them with his finger.
Yet despite all this power, he found himself trapped in the "quagmire of Vietnam."
"I can't win, and I can't get out," Johnson is quoted as saying. One image in particular shows him hunched over a table, alone.
The display also included outraged letters from grieving parents blaming LBJ for the death of their sons.
Their anger is echoed in the chant that still rings in my ears. "Hey! Hey! LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?" I remember watching Cronkite on the CBS Evening News and shouting these very words to our TV.
But there was more to the story of LBJ.
On his watch began many civil rights protections we now take for granted. These include the Fair Housing and the Voting Rights Acts. Medicare and the War on Poverty were launched thanks to Lyndon. And many have forgotten that LBJ also championed Head Start, NPR, PBS, Upward Bound and the student loan program. The space program and NASA flourished under his watchful eye, and Johnson moved to protect consumers by pushing for seat belts. Ladybird, his wife, and he helped protect the California redwoods.
And more. Much more.
The walls of the presidential library were peppered with quotes, such as one drawn from his inaugural that insisted that the wealthiest nation on earth must do more for it's poor.
And it wasn't for show, either. He believed in the New Deal, The Fair Deal, and the Great Society. It's true that he faltered and possibly failed as a president because of Vietnam, but he didn't seek office to wage war in Southeast Asia.
"Some men want power to strut around the world and to hear the tune of 'Hail to the Chief.' Others want it simply to build prestige, to collect antiques, and buy pretty things. Well, I wanted power to give things to people—all sorts of things to all sorts of people, especially the poor and the blacks."
Lydon Baines Johnson, quoted in "Flawed Giant," by Robert Dallek
Looking at LBJ's library was an eye opener, a reminder that people you intensly dislike, can have unappreciated virtues. I can't say he has the appeal of more charismatic presidents, but I've learned that there's more to Lyndon Baines Johnson than I saw in my youth.
Just like there's more to the Lone Star State than the wastelands of West Texas.
And I know Grandpa would agree.
Robb has enjoyed writing and performing since he was a child, and many of his earliest performances earned him a special recognition-reserved seating in the principal's office at Highland Elementary. Since then, in addition to his weekly column on A News Cafe – "Or So it Seems™" – Robb has written news and features for The Bakersfield Californian, appeared on stage as an opening stand-up act in Reno, and his writing has been published in the Funny Times. His short stories have won honorable mention national competition. His screenplay, "One Little Indian," Was a top-ten finalist in the Writer's Digest competition. Robb presently lives, writes and teaches in Shasta County. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
|Nkosi in 2009, proudly wearing his Breakthrough Home Based Care shirt
|Nkosi listening to the children at the camp around his table. 2009
|Nkosi with fellow care workers, Reuben and Evalyn in the streets of Mulenga. 2009.
|Nkosi and Mildred 2009 at Kachele Farm
|Nkosi in 2012, always smiling his gentle smile, even when his eyes couldn't see you,
they smiled too.
|Those same boys from our first camp, years later, in 2012 still flanking Nkosi. Redson (Junior),
Hackim and Emmanuel have all grown up with Nkosi in their lives. They'll miss him dearly, pray for these boys.


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The Eco-Schools programme is an International Initiative developed to encourage schools to be aware of the environment. The aim of the Eco-schools Green Charter is to promote environmental awareness in order to improve.
What's in it for schools?
The Eco-Schools programme leads to the international environmental award - the Green Flag. It shows that a school is committed to the maintaining the highest of standards in environmental education and management
Money and savings
The programme provides guidance about saving energy, reducing waste, and implementing recycling schemes; all of which can add up to direct and long-term savings for schools.
Links to the curriculum
Managing a school's environmental performance requires knowledge and skills that relate directly to Scottish curricular requirements for ages 3 to 18. There are numerous opportunities to link the curriculum to the Eco-Schools process, as well as other initiatives such as Enterprise and Health Promoting Schools.
© 2009-2019 Education Services, Inverclyde Council


text:
John Lewis <email@example.com> wrote in news:firstname.lastname@example.com: >> And, if you *don't* regularly use the alpha character, you >> would have to look it up anyway. > > That's patently untrue. The named entities follow a (nearly) > logical pattern. I regularly use only a handful of the named > entities, but I can use a great many without looking them up, > and without having them memorized. I know exactly zero numeric > entities without looking them up. That's because you're just used the using the entities. I *can* see that character entities are somewhat useful, and are easy to remember (or guess the names of), but I don't think this is a *compelling* reason to keep them in XHTML 2 (and entities are *not* useful if browsers don't support them, as seems to be the case now, at least for Opera). And remember that character entities only cover a tiny subset (a few hundreds?) of the characters available in Unicode. There are almost 100,000 thousands characters in the latest version of ISO 10646 (IIRC) which are *not* accessible using character entities. The existing character entities doesn't really *solve* the problem of entering characters not directly available on the user's keyboard. Only authoring tools can solve this. And there are many ways authoring tools can, and have been supporting non-ASCII characters, e.g. 'insert symbol' dialogues or drop-down menus. If one insist on using tools *not suited for* editing XML documents, one can only blame the tools, not the XML standards. -- Karl Ove Hufthammer http://blogg.huftis.org/Received on Wednesday, 14 May 2003 17:22:57 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 7 January 2015 15:06:03 UTC


text:
Author Notes: I'm not one of those people who spend five minutes shellacking a layer of butter as thin as parchment on each slice of bread, working the knife back and forth like a bricklayer with his trowel until the butter is perfectly even. No, I'm a slatherer. Always have been. I'm not happy until I can no longer see the surface of the bread beneath its creamy cap of butter. I recommend you seek out some Organic Valley butter and make some of these delicate little sandwiches yourself. —Merrill Stubbs
Makes: 1
English (seedless) cucumber
slices white or wheat sandwich bread (preferably Pepperidge Farm Very Thin)
good quality salted butter, at room temperature
freshly ground black pepper
In This Recipe
- Peel the cucumber and cut 8 thin rounds. Spread one side of a slice of bread with about 1 teaspoon of butter and arrange the cucumber in overlapping rows over the butter. Sprinkle the cucumber with salt and pepper to taste. Butter the second slice of bread and make a sandwich. Slice off the crusts and cut the sandwich into 3 equal rectangles. Eat, accompanied by a glass of homemade iced tea or white wine.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
More Great Recipes:
Sandwich|Butter|Cucumber|Vegetable|5 Ingredients or Fewer|Serves a Crowd|Vegetarian


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Item: VPL bra
Color/material: cotton mix in mustard/ochre yellow, grey, and pink
Size: medium - would best fit an xs-s or 34B cup or smaller
Condition: new with tags
Retail: $85
Asking: $25, which includes USPS priority shipping to anywhere in the USA
Listing ends: Monday, April 8th
I spent a long time coveting VPL bras but then never ended up wearing this one because it is just too small for me (34C bra size). Perfect for layering under tank tops and comfortable if you don't need that much support. Made "with love" in the USA.


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|Blog friends on a Yucatan beach outing
I have been participating in a phenomenon for some time now and it took me a while to realize it.
I've been e-dating.
Well, not really. It would be more correct to say I have been e-socializing.
Actually, I have never been the type to hang out with a drink in my left hand and a little napkin cradling cheese on a cracker in my right and make easy conversation with strangers. My stock of small talk is not large, so at these events I tend to hug the wall and observe. That's not the best strategy if your purpose is to "meet and mingle." I now have a full social life with Mexican friends and a small handful of foreigners, so quantity of social contacts is not an issue. But I have at times longed for more of the type of friend with whom I have a lot in common, who always knows where I am coming from. That's not easy to find across cultures and languages.
Steve, whom I met through blogging, has mentioned from time to time visits with people he has met via the world of blogs. Steve has traveled a lot throughout Mexico, and in many places he goes is able to visit with people he has gotten to know first through their blogs. It appears to me that Steve has made many interesting acquaintances, and some real friends, through his years of blogging. It looks as if I am on that same path.
Following a good blog for a while allows you to learn quite a bit about the author, who may be someone you've never met. If you read and comment back and forth a while, you get a good feeling for shared interests and attitudes. If you finally meet the blogger in person, the need for "getting acquainted" small talk has been dispensed with, and there is usually a lot to talk about.
Some months ago I met face-to-face for the first time a blogger whose point of view I appreciate and with whom I had communicated for the better part of a year. He'd been reading and commenting on my blog for some time as well. In a final email before he came with his wife to Mérida for a seasonal visit, he wrote, "I feel as if I already know you." I felt the same way. And when we sat down for the very first time to talk, the feelings were proven to be correct. We dove into a conversation that rambled as if we were picking up where we'd left off on a previous meeting, and we continue to get together on a regular basis when he is in town. The rest of the time, we keep in touch through our blogs.
If you read this blog you probably are interested in the Yucatán or Mexico. I encourage you to browse through some of my favorite blogs, listed in my blog roll, "Mexico Blogs I Read," to the right of this post. Some are informal and chatty like letters to family, and some are of professional quality or approach the status of literature. All have something interesting to offer. Take a look. Offer a comment. Who knows...you may make new friends.


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Unblocked Games List (A-Z):
Trollface Quest 6 Unblocked
Hello, my bored friend! We have a new unblocked game for you - Trollface Quest 6. This game can never be blocked in your school or work! Save our site to your bookmarks or social networks and play Trollface Quest 6 every time you want!
At this moment our guests playing this games:


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Savor Japan's Finest Halal Boxed Lunch
We are pleased to provide you a gem of Japanese food culture, nurtured by the rich tradition through the ages and seasonal beauty of nature. Our Japanese boxed lunches have been especially prepared for Muslims to enjoy!
Supervised by Kyoto's Michelin-starred Restaurant "Kappo Sakamoto"
Our cuisine has been supervised by the owner-chef of the Michelin-starred "Kappo Sakamoto" in Kyoto, a city well known for its luxurious foods. Please savor our finest dishes with a variety of fresh Japanese ingredients, delicately and heartily prepared in Halal certified kitchens.
Highly Recommended by Mayor of Izumisano City
On March 18, before the opening of our store "Mabruk", the mayor of Izumisano City enjoyed our Halal boxed lunch supervised by Mr. Ryuta Sakamoto, the owner-chef of "Kappo Sakamoto".
- 2016.03.24
- Mabruk WEB SITE OPENNEW


text:
Regular price
Steel. Walnut veneer.
52″ x 24.5″ x 33.5″
2b mod is proud to offer Nuevo Living furniture and accessories. Nuevo Furniture is a premier manufacturer of modern and contemporary furniture. They produce high-quality designer style leather sofas, chairs, steel benches, tables, modern lighting and decor. Nuevo specializes in modern classic furniture, contemporary dining, living room, bedroom and outdoor furniture.


text:
Previous Cartoon | Next Cartoon
The BulleteersThe Bulleteers (1942) - Superman Theatrical Cartoon Series
This page has been viewed 76 times this month, and 2147 times total.
- Superman Theatrical Cartoon SeriesTheatricalSeriesCartoon
- Traditional Animation
- Fleischer Studios
- Distributed by: Paramount Studios
- Cartoon Characters: Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane, Perry White, Bulleteers.
- Voice Actors: Clayton "Bud" Collyer, Joan Alexander, Jackson Beck, Julian Noa.
- Directed By Dave Fleischer.
- Produced By Max Fleischer, Adolph Zukor.
- Animated By Orestes Calpini, Graham Place.
- Written By Bill Turner, Carl Meyer.
- Music: Sammy Timberg.
- Originally Released on March 26, 1942.
- Originally Released Theatrically.
- Running Time: 8:02 minutes.
- Production Number: FL4206.
- TechniColor
Cartoon Summary:
A group of dangerous terrorists- known only as The Bulleteers- are destroying Metropolis' city landmarks and utilities. They issue a ultimatum: unless the Mayor and city officials turn over the entire contents of the city treasury within 48 hours, the Police... (more)
Watch Cartoon Video:
You can watch this cartoon today on your computer. Just click below to start viewing "The Bulleteers" online now.
Submit Additional Information:
Do you have anything to add to this page? Have we made any mistakes... or do you have any additional information about The Bulleteers? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please send us a quick note with your additions or corrections to this page, and we will make the corrections as soon as possible!
Cartoon Comments:
Do you love The Bulleteers, or do you think it is the worst cartoon ever? Let us know what you think! Surely you have an opinion... so share what you think. Take a minute and post your own comments about this cartoon here.


text:
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> All legal games in a casino
All legal games in a casino
Friday, 02 May 2014
With the numerous kinds of legal gambling in France, players are sometimes encountering some drawbacks concerning the choice of playrooms to attend. Effectively, with poker rooms, there are also those who are specializing on casino welcome bonus such as free bonus slots, black jack, roulette and baccarat, without forgetting gambling and sports betting. From now on, it's possible to devote to the whole of these games in a same and unique establishment, namely in the casino of Saône-et-loirien and this, after the company had welcomed all kinds of legal games, including sports betting.
Just after one year, after inserting sports events among the activities of the establishment, the Bourbon-Lancy casino has just received another kind of legal game which is La Française des jeux, with scratching games and gambling like lotto. Consequently, netbet casino is the first of France which offers each to the enthusiasts of gambling and sports events their respective activities in a same house. And in addition to these games, the casino proposes also other leisure to the gamers or not gamers, such as bar and restaurant, as well as different animations, for all ages, in order to make casinos known under another image, according to Emmanuel Fiquet.
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text:
|PSI Scan hangs
|5th Jul, 2009 00:49
Ranking: 64
Posts: 374
User Since: 9th Mar, 2009
System Score: N/A
Location: US
Last edited on 5th Jul, 2009 00:51
Good day PSI Community,
Just started having scan issue. Worked great until today. PSI 1.5 Scan hangs on 'Matching data with Secunia File Signatures engine' Step7 of 8. and after approx. 10min Scan Completes or times out. Last Full System Scan info does not change. Think it just times out.
Anyone know if Secunia has server issue? Anyone had similar experience?
All comments appreciated
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|5th Jul, 2009 06:46
|Score: 64
Posts: 374
User Since: 9th Mar 2009
System Score: N/A
Location: US
Apparently I'm not alone in this Scan issue. Hopefully just a temporary glitch with Secunia server.
Holiday weekend I guess?
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|17th Jul, 2009 04:08
|Score: 0
Posts: 7
User Since: 10th Nov 2008
System Score: N/A
Location: N/A
|It's not just the scan that hangs up. When I delete an 'unsecure' item from an external drive, the entire system goes inert for minutes on end. It takes me 30 minutes to remove 2 or 3 items.
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|17th Jul, 2009 05:21
|Score: 308
Posts: 739
User Since: 30th Mar 2008
System Score: N/A
Location: US
|The following thread may provide the answer(s) to your problem(s). I suggest you read the whole thread as several solutions are provided there.
Regards, wr
HP Pavilion Slimline s3020n
Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 32 bit
AMD 64 Athlon X2
Firefox 31.4.0 ESR
The weakest link of a computer system is always sitting in front of the monitor.
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|17th Jul, 2009 08:28
|Score: 0
Posts: 7
User Since: 10th Nov 2008
System Score: N/A
Location: N/A
Last edited on 17th Jul, 2009 08:29
|WR: Thanks.
OK. I tried all of those things. No help. PSI just falls asleep after every task, and takes minutes to wake back up. It just sits there with a totally blank white box on the screen. (If I don't minimize it, my computer won't respond to anything I click on.)
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|19th Jul, 2009 08:04
|Score: 376
Posts: 872
User Since: 3rd May 2009
System Score: N/A
Location: US
|Arbyritt; I'm having similar problems, with the addition that sometimes PSI will not start. It sits there on my screen proclaiming that it should be done "in less than 10 seconds". An hour later it has done nothing. Then when I reload it the <scan> screen informs me it did a full scan an hour ago. How can the program do a scan when it acts like it's not even loaded?
Another twist to the tale is this: My Acer just ran PSI fine, but my HP took 5 tries to get it to work. One time it'll be the other way around. The next both won't work.
I hope somebody figures this out. PSI is a wonderful program, smooth in operation and the layout is well thought out. When you can get it to load!!! I have a sneeky idea it dosn't like my dial-up connection.
regards & good luck;
PS; WR, thanks for the thread.
XP Home
Chrome, Firefox, IE8
consilio et animis
|This user no longer exists
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|20th Jul, 2009 05:05
|Last edited on 20th Jul, 2009 05:06
on 19th Jul, 2009 08:04, thedillpickl wrote:
I have a sneeky idea it dosn't like my dial-up connection.
regards & good luck;
PS; WR, thanks for the thread.
Fred, I replied to this concern in the main PSI 1.5 topic and your assumption about the problem lies with the dial-up connection is probably true but you should look at what other people are using for their system security and I don't see many people using Webroot Internet Security Essentials.
Webroot's first foray into security suites needs some work--and better malware detection--before it becomes worthy of consideration
|RE: PSI Scan hangs
|20th Jul, 2009 05:29
|Score: 0
Posts: 7
User Since: 10th Nov 2008
System Score: N/A
Location: N/A
Last edited on 20th Jul, 2009 05:33
|I have gone back to using OSI. PSI is just too unready for prime time. I love the concept, hate the performance. PSI worked very well until this last "upgrade".


text:
I must say this project was my absolute favorite!
I randomly picked up a small glass cutting board while I was at the Dollar Tree picking up DIY supplies because it looked like the perfect size for a bar cart. You always need an area to slice a lime or lemon as garnish. Of course I can't leave good enough alone and I decided it needed a monogram and animal print!
Here is what you'll need to tackle this project:
STEP 1: First step is getting the base of our cutting board. I decided to go with a pattern and of course I picked a leopard print. Now the back of the cutting board has 4 glass feet on the bottom so we need to cut around them. In order to know where to cut we use a piece of graphite (you can simply use a pencil) and traced over the feet.
We also used the graphite to trace the full circle so we knew where to cut there as well.
Use the X-Acto knife to cut everything out:
STEP 2: Once our base was cut out we needed to get our monogram done. I love emerald and cheetah together so I went with emerald for my monogram. I printed out a sketch of my monogram that I have and taped it on my emerald paper and used the X-Acto knife to cut it out.
STEP 3: Now it's time to apply the monogram. We used painters tape to make sure our monogram was centered. Make sure to place your monogram backwards/reverse.
Apply Mod Podge to the back of letters and set into place:
Then apply a layer of Mod Podge over the entire board:
STEP 4: Apply Mod Podge to the back of your background paper in my case that was the leopard paper. Set into place.
STEP 5: Let cutting board sit overnight so that the Mod Podge can fully dry. Then it's time to protect the back side of the cutting board so you can hand wash it. You will need to do at least 5 coats of Mod Podge and let them dry in between each coat.
Once that fully dries you can enjoy your new beauty!
I think it looks like a million bucks and since I already had a lot of the supplies in my craft closet and just needed to pick up the cutting board and two sheets of scrapbooking paper it came up to a total of 3 bucks for me!


text:
I am preparing the draft Note and I had a thought. Well, several of them really. Here's the most important one: We have historically embedded the 'issues' into the draft. I think we should remove them from the Note. There is no ongoing development, so things that were 'contentious' or otherwise subject to later consideration are not ever going to be considered. Thoughts? -- Shane P. McCarron Phone: +1 763 786-8160 x120 Managing Director Fax: +1 763 786-8180 ApTest Minnesota Inet: firstname.lastname@example.com on Saturday, 9 January 2010 00:53:16 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 20:30:32 UTC


text:
Warning: Do Not Close!
Step #2: Your order for "Instant Video Templates V5" is almost complete. Before continuing,
here's a SPECIAL DISCOUNTED OFFER you may want to add to your order...
" You've Got The Templates.
Here's How to Profit with Them
Upgrade your purchase to the "IVT5 - Results Maximizer" and get...
Component #1:
" Video Maker's Profit Guide "
10 Ways to Profit from Instant Video Templates and Other Video Maker's Like Explaindio, VMFX, Easy Sketch Pro etc.
Total Value: $97.00
In this course you'll discover how to use your newly purchased Instant Video Templates and any other video creation software you may also own to increase your sales and convert more leads into sales.
Component #2:
" 6 Video Marketing
Mini Courses from Peter "
Total Value: $162.00
(6 Courses @ $27 /ea)
I use Camtasia to record, edit and produce all of my screencast style videos.
In this 1 hour long training I show you everything I know about creating awesome videos with Camtasia!
You'll get a tour of the software, learn my editing tricks, adding animations, callouts, effects, quizzes to your videos and soooo more!
In this mini course I reveal my step by step work flow for editing my video audio to nearly broadcast quality perfection using Free software and about ten minutes!
You'll also get a behind the scenes look at how I pick sound effects and background music for my videos to ensure my videos evoke the desired emotions in my viewers mind required to make a sale.
In this mini course you'll get a behind the scenes look at a recent 5 figure affiliate promotion I did entirely with video and email marketing.
You'll learn about the product, how I pre-sold it and became the #1 affiliate for the 3rd best selling product in JVZoo.com history!
In this mini course I reveal a secret technique I use on all my "on camera" videos to give them a "Hollywood Film Effect".
This little tweak can help your videos stand out among others and get noticed.
If you struggle with writing scripts for your videos then you'll love this mini course where I reveal my "brain dead simple" JTYS technique for writing high converting scripts for your videos.
In this mini course I reveal a few tricks I've learned for finding awesome video editors at extremely low rates on outsourcing websites you've probably heard about before...but never thought about using them this way.
Component #3:
" Build a Character Kit "
Easily create your own custom characters and mascots
for your videos, websites, banner ads, product covers and more!
Total Value: $1,000.00
(50 Characters @ Just $20 /ea)
Fully Scalable & Customizable Vector Files!
Easily Build the PERFECT Character for You or for Clients!
Easily Customize or Swap the Following on All 50 Characters:
- Eye color and shape
- Skin Color
- Facial Expressions & Features
- Hair Color, Style and Length
- Clothing Color, Patterns, and Logos
- Character Position & Pose
- ...and more!


text:
Signs You Were Wrongfully Terminated
Approximately 150,000 people are wrongfully terminated each year across the U.S. Most jobs (unless you are part of a union) are classified as "at will", meaning an employer may fire an employee at any time, for almost any reason. If you have been fired from your job, how do you know if you were wrongfully terminated? There are several common situations you should be aware of that point to signs you were wrongfully terminated.
Employer violated written or implied promises – If your contract states a specific duration for your employment and you have been let go before the end of that period, you may have a solid wrongful termination case against an employer – as long as there was not a legitimate reason for your firing. Employers create the company policy, but they can also get in trouble when they don't follow their own rules. Read your employee handbook thoroughly to find out how your company handles terminations. Then, compare the policy to the process of your own firing to note inconsistencies.
Discrimination – Companies cannot fire employees due to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, and in most states – due to marital status, pregnancy, or military affiliation. If you believe you were terminated for any of these reasons, your employer must prove the firing was work-related. Typically, these cases are difficult to prove which is why it is important that you keep any records and documentation that indicate discrimination. There is a strict timeframe within which you can file a discrimination case, so act quickly.
Violation of public policy – You have the right to take time off for jury duty, to vote, and to serve in the military or National Guard. You are also permitted to take family or medical leave for any reason outlined in the Family and Medical Leave Act. You cannot be terminated for any of these things, in addition to refusing to commit an illegal act as requested by your employer. Whistle blowing is also protected under the law.
Retaliation – Employers cannot let you go if you did something that is legally protected, like filing a work-related safety or health complaint. Likewise, you have the right to file a harassment complaint without fear of losing your job or retaliation.
You were the victim of fraud – If an employer tricks you into using bad information that does not work out well for the company, and fires you because of it, you may have grounds for a wrongful termination suit. You must be able to show the employer acted in a deliberate manner to trick you.
Defamation – If your employer intentionally spreads false rumors about you, and jeopardizes your reputation in the company or in the community, you can claim wrongful termination if it was also done during the firing process. These false claims are damaging because they may prove to be a challenge when you try to find another job.
Breach of good faith and fair dealing – In most states, you cannot be fired for certain unfair employment practices. Examples include if you were fired so your employer would not have to pay your sales commission or if they made up a reason to fire you in order to hire someone for a lower salary.
If there are signs you were wrongfully terminated, contact an attorney from 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a free consultation and get the justice you deserve.


text: DigitalFunny or Die To Make Feature Length Online ContentUntil now comedy video site Funny or Die has produced mainly shorts, but according to the Wall Street Journal, they are on the verge of making their foray into long-form online content this year or next.By Megan O'Neill|June 30, 2011 ShareBy Megan O'Neill|June 30, 2011 Share Funny or Die, the brainchild of Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, has made a name for itself with its hilarious, star-studded online video content. Until now the comedy video site has produced mainly shorts, but according to the Wall Street Journal, they are on the verge of making their foray into long-form online content this year or next. Jessica E. Vascellaro of the WSJ reports that Dick Glover, chief executive at Funny or Die, is on the lookout for feature-length content. According to the WSJ article, Funny or Die hopes to distribute this long-form content through partners like Amazon.com, Netflix, Google and Apple.It should be noted that Glover isn't interested in big budget productions. He is hoping to test things out by making a number of low-budget features and marketing them online. He then hopes "to hit a few singles and doubles that are all profitable." He told Vascellaro, "It is the antithesis of the studio model."Funny or Die has already branched out into offline production—working on products for TV, film and publishing. According to Deborah Vankin of the Los Angeles Times, "Funny or Die is using the site—on which it can create short videos quickly and cheaply—as an incubation lab for pitching and marketing new material to TV networks and movie studios. The company is also stepping into feature films, merchandising, iPhone/iPad apps and book publishing."It isn't one hundred percent clear from the Wall Street Journal article, whether FOD feature-length content would be created to live permanently online, or whether they are just using the site, once again, as an incubator for new content that could potentially be picked up by TV networks. However, the fact that they are expressing hopes that partners like Netflix, Google, Apple and Amazon would distribute their content points to an online future for long-form FOD content.And that certainly makes sense. These days more and more viewers are consuming online video content and if Funny or Die is interested in continuing to dominate the comedy market online it's only natural that they move forward into the arena of long-form content. I can't wait to see what they come up with! Megan O'Neill is the resident web video enthusiast here at Social Times. Megan covers everything from the latest viral videos to online video news and tips, and has a passion for bizarre, original and revolutionary content and ideas. Sharehttp://adweek.it/2jHvhc4 copy Adweek Adweek


text:
Posting ID : A1068486231
Date Posted : 2015-08-18
Category : Apts Housing For Rent
We have a 14x80: 2 bedroom with 2 full bathrooms. The master bathroom has a garden tub and shower. Fire place, dishwasher and washer and dryer hook ups. The trailer sits on its own lot, not in a trailer court. Fenced yard. NO PETS ALLOWED! 1 year lease. $700.00 deposit and $700.00 rent per month.


text:
Nats vow to fight farm emissions moves
17 Jun 19 - The National Party says it will continue to oppose bringing agricultural emissions into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Farmers not alone in methane mix, say Nats
10 Jun 19 - The farming sector isnt the only industry that should be targeted for methane reductions, the National Party says.
IT'S OFFICIAL:We should cut down on meat meals
5 Jun 19 - Its World Environment Day and officials are telling New Zealanders to mark it by eating less meat.
Why many farmers aren't cutting emissions
4 Jun 19 - Almost half New Zealands farmers dont think they should have to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their operations yet most are willing to do it if they can be convinced it wont cost them money, new research shows.
Disbeliever Brash turns financial backer
6 May 19 - Former National Party leader and one-time Reserve Bank Governor Dr Don Brash might have had doubts in the past about whether humans are changing the climate, but now hes throwing his money and weight behind technology that could help to solve New Zealands methane headache.
Carbon farming could be the way, says Rabobank
3 May 19 - Agricultural finance specialist Rabobank is telling farming customers to think about carbon farming, saying it could be more profitable than farming animals.
Farm emissions can be slashed, says scientist
1 May 19 - A New Zealand scientist says his technology could slash New Zealands greenhouse gas emissions, earning carbon credits for farmers and boosting farm production.
Farmers fight build-up of salt in soils
16 Apr 19 - Irrigation, drought, sea-level rise and more are causing salt to build up in soils around the world.
Don't rule out GE as a solution, say farmers
8 Apr 19 - Genetic modification should not be ruled out by the Government as a solution for climate change and other environmental issues, Federated Farmers says.
FLY FEAR: Fruit pest will enjoy warming climate
27 Feb 19 - The risk of Queensland fruit flies establishing in New Zealand is expecting to increase as the climate warms, threatening the countrys horticultural industry.
Farmers put climate worries on back burner
15 Feb 19 - Climate change and the Emissions Trading Scheme have fallen down the list of things worrying farmers.
Why we must have climate-smart farming
31 Jan 19 - Food shocks are becoming more frequent as the climate changes, prompting calls for climate-smart farming systems and the building up of global food reserves.
We must farm fewer animals, say scientists
29 Nov 18 - A new science paper spelling out why animal agriculture will have to be severely curtailed if the Paris Agreement targets are to be met could have huge implications for New Zealand.
Use of nitrogen must be curbed, says OECD
23 Nov 18 - Nitrogen use responsible for a large chunk of New Zealands pollution and greenhouse gas emissions needs curbing, the OECD is warning.
Nitrogen inhibitors could return to the farm
5 Nov 18 - Nitrogen inhibitors could be in use on New Zealand farms again by 2020, farmers say.
Emissions failure will hurt farmers, says Fonterra
31 Oct 18 - A global failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions will see New Zealand farmers face demands for major production cuts, the worlds largest milk-producer is warning.
TINY TRACTORS: Welcome to the rise of the robot farmer
23 Oct 18 - Tiny automated machines could soon take care of the entire growing process down on the farm. Fewer chemicals, more efficient wheres the downside?
How the world dairy herd could be brought to its knees
16 Oct 18 - The drive for genetic selection means cattle are increasingly vulnerable to deadly new epidemics that could emerge as the climate warms.
Farms can grow more and slow climate change
17 Sep 18 - New ways of digging the dirt could both deliver more food and slow climate change. And farmers in the developing world are making a difference.
More in the Agriculture Archive
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22 May 19 - Swedish marine energy developer Minesto has engaged with leading financial...
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21 May 19 - In Finland, end-of-life textiles no longer end up in landfills, but there is...
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This guy's friend pranked him from across the country with a colour-changing mug
This colour-changing mug is true dedication to the 'circle game' prank.
Ryan from Toronto, Canada was pranked by a friend from all the way across the country with a hilarious colour-changing mug.
His friend Kyle sent a black mug in the post that changes into a picture of an "OK" symbol when hot water is poured inside, a prank known as the "circle game".
The popular game involves tricking your friend into looking at a circle made with your fingers; if they look, the prankster gets to hit them.
Ryan said he and his friend Kyle met when they were very young, and both grew up playing the game at school.
Ryan said: "He [Kyle] currently lives on the other side of the country so we keep in touch via WhatsApp, phone calls, and now with mail packages.
"When I first received the mug in the mail I was very curious as the mug was so black and I couldn't figure out why Kyle would send that. I decided to make some coffee later in the day in the afternoon and used the new mug.
"As the water heated the mug the black exterior slowly started to disappear. It was very cool because the water seemed to heat the cup from the bottom to the top, slowly revealing the hidden game beneath it.
"As I realised what was on the mug I remember muttering 'son of a bitch'."
The prank now has over 75,000 upvotes on Reddit.
Ryan said: "I certainly wasn't expecting it but Kyle's a classic prankster and this was on par with his personality. Now I need to figure out how to get him back."
Kyle purchased the mug from the website Trick Mugs, if you want to troll your friends too.
Press Association


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Zara Blanket Scarf | Zara Chelsea Boots | Forever 21 Satchel | Daniel Wellington Classic York | H&M Sweater | House of Harlow Cary Sunglasses | Forever 21 Dress
Today was sunny but it was rather cold and windy, luckily I was bundled up in one of my favourite blanket scarf that I got for Christmas last year. There's just something about wearing an excessively oversized scarf that gives off such an effortless look. You can wear it in so many different ways – bundled, as a shawl, and wrapped around the neck. It's such a versatile accessory!


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Mother Nature
I always had a vision in my head about who Mother Nature was. I always thought she was a woman who was all races and cultures wrapped into one fantastic being or she was actually multiple women of different races and cultures. Each one of those mothers would take care of their specific part of the earth in the way it needed. I touched on that vision a bit with these beautiful ladies, Sarah and Liz. We had a great time creating this look. It almost went badly when our body painter couldn't make it due to an emergency, but our hairstylist, Andrea a.k.a. Sheree, came to our rescue and whipped out some make up. I originally wanted the models to be green, but this ended up better because we can still see who they are. We can see the green around their eyes but we also see their natural beauty. I am so glad Sheree was able to step into a role she doesn't normally do and provide the make up for this shoot! She is such an awesome person to work with. What would I do without her? What do you picture when you think about Mother Nature?


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BEVLAB is an experimental beverage laboratory reimagining the future of beverage. Through workshops and events BEVLAB serves as an interaction node in the city around food thought.
We host numerous workshops that explore thematics in and around food thought and culture.
BEVLAB is an award winning ongoing exploration in flavour, experimentation, and co-creation at the intersection of food, design, and technology. It's one of many food projects developed by FUTURE FOOD STUDIO a Toronto based food, design, and technology studio.


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Vol. IV No. 8 of Dragon Magazine, then called "The Dragon."
Cover Art by 'Elrohir' (Ken Rahman).
This was a special Divine Right issue, with the first 8 articles devoted to 'TSR Hobbies' limited role-playing fantasy board game', the section titled "Making a Great Game Greater".
This issue had a couple of pull-out sections: The 'Doomkeep' adventure, which was listed as pages M-1 to M-14; and Cards and chits for the 'Ambassador Cards' and 'Divine Right Sieges' articles by Jon Foster (pg 7).
An adventure for 3 pre-generated characters of levels 7-10. The dungeon was used for the 2nd Official Invitational
What\'s in this issue, and what\'s in store for future issues.
The growth of The Dragon and the new calendar.
Letters on: Loose-leaf Monster Manual, conventions and bad press, math mistakes, a need for new ideas for
A list of suggested changes for Divine Right.
An outline of the changes to the Divine Right boardgame for 2nd edition.
The History of Muetar for Divine Right.
New cards to add an even more realistic flavor to Divine Right.
Some additions to the siege rules for the Divine Right boardgame from the \"White Mountain
Some optional rules that were edited out of the final edition of the Divine Right rule book.
Some optional (non-official) rules for Divine Right.
Four optional rules for Divine Right that cover economics, pirates, ogres and desert djinn.
Some \"What if...?\" alternate history wargaming ideas: Mex-Tex War, 1842; Great War in the
Q&A about Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
An opposing viewpoint to the \"all-powerful Magic User in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" articles that


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On Sunday 8th May the Barbican Centre will screen Show Pieces followed by a Q&A with Alan Moore and Mitch jenkins
This occult thriller is Moore's first work written specifically for the screen and made with his ongoing creative involvement.
Show Pieces is comprised of three short films, shot in London and Northampton and starring Siobhan Hewlett (Sherlock, Torchwood), Darrell D'Silva (RSC, Dirty Pretty Things) and Andrew Buckley (Wallander).The films exist within a wider project – The Show – a richly detailed, multi-episode, non-linear narrative world.
The Films:
Act Of Faith: Faith Harrington, a young female reporter on a local newspaper who has an exotic private life, prepares for a stimulating evening at home that doesn't go according to plan. Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwPYKx_BK5E
Jimmy's End: Louche and hard-drinking womaniser James Mitchum finds himself wandering into one strange bar too many. Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgC09C7GVEHis
Heavy Heart: Picks up the narrative of the hapless James Mitchum from a point following his dreadful realisation at the conclusion of Jimmy's End. In a grotesque parody of Egyptian funerary rites, James is shepherded less than gently into his unenviable afterlife. Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVam62ZPzr4
Show Pieces will be available on iTunes, Amazon & Hulu in May 2016.


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the absolute worse show you admit to watching or following
Tons of garbage shows on TV these days. So it got me thinking:
What is the worst show that you will admit to watching?
Come on I know you guys sit down and watch Dancing with the Stars with the wife!
So... who's ready to be made fun of?
Mine is the X-factor...I can't explain it...
Glee. The wife and I started watching back when it was actually pretty good and before it completely sold out to iTunes.
Line of Fire. It was a mob show from the mid 2000's and it completely sucked.
'Finding Bigfoot'. This is just a bad show that doesn't change from week to week, with three idiots who think every squirrel/owl/dog/bear/deer print or call is a 'squatch', and includes the female 'Velma/Scooby Doo' character played by some biologist (who's never been laid) attempting to lend some semblence of credibility.
Yet I record it and watch. Every time.
Raising the Bar or The Event
I guess I would say Hardcore Pawn.
"Beauty and the Beast". I know, cut up my man card and cut my balls off. I watch it mainly for Kristin Kreuk (although it's hard to buy her as an ass-kicking cop, since I still think of her as Lana from "Smallville").
Ghost Hunters. Stupid fake BS, but I can't keep from watching..
666 Park Avenue. It's based off a chic-lit novel, it's wildly implausible (not just the fantasy aspects, but also things like a teenager supporting her invalid grandmother in a Park Avenue penthouse), its drama is pretty forced, nothing is particularly thrilling, and it's getting canceled, but I like the production value, the big-name actors, and want to see how it ends up.
Ancient Aliens
I want to believe
I watched Honey Boo Boo once.
The Tudors
I paid for Sunday ticket :doh!:
I have an obsession with medical shows, (my all time favorite was House). I like learning all of the jargon and I usually read about whatever diseases were featured that week.
That being said...
Lumpy likes to watch Grays Anatomy.
(And by lumpy I mean me.)
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The Memory Balloon lights from John Moncrieff are vibrantly childlike and meant to evoke childhood memories in their users. Each balloon is a different color, from red to green to yellow. The balloons' colors are rainbow-esque and sure to brighten up even the dullest living space.
The Memory Balloons look almost uncannily like real balloons. They rest against the ceiling with a string hanging down, looking every bit the inflated balloon pressing against the ceiling as it tries to float away. Since they're available in so many bright colors, they can be mixed and matched to create a fluid interior design scheme. For instance, on the Moncrieff website, a designer used balloon lights within a color palette of pinks, purples and whites. This created a cute, feminine room that looked like a cohesive whole.
With the Memory Collection from John Moncrieff, home-owners nostalgic for their childhood can decorate their living spaces with some of the most fun and vibrant creations on the interior design market.
Bright Nostalgic Balloon Lights
More Stats +/-
Serenely Suspended Shoots
Community-Building Balloon Art
Epically Surreal Landscapes
Streetwise Hippie Fashion
Beehive-Inpsired Lamps
The Memory Collection by John Moncrieff Evoke Childhood Memories
- By: Amanda GreerJun 17, 2013
References: johnmoncrieff & lostateminor
References: johnmoncrieff & lostateminor


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I ricocheted around the United States for years until my abrupt halt in Seattle in 2006. Soon enough, it'll be time to move on, though I've grudgingly come to love the lush, mildew and moss of this city.
I love random minutiae and pop culture that should be ashamed of itself. My interests are vast, obsessive, and all consuming. A myriad of quirks, a dark talent for worst case scenarios, and a deep seated need to know drive my brain and my writing.
Girl Out of Water is my first novel.