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(Note: Apologies for the late Poll Position today, but I wanted the ethics reform post to be online all day.)
This week has seen one of the more amazing attack lines in any GOP presidential primary. It seems some Republican candidates think Mitt Romney was too much of a capitalist.
Well, that's not exactly how they'd put it. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (yes, he's still running, despite barely beating the combination of Buddy Roemer and "total write-ins" in New Hampshire) refers to Romney's career at Bain Capital as "vulture capitalism," not venture capitalism. A so-called Super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich produced a 28-minute video titled "When Mitt Romney Came to Town" about a company in South Carolina — the site of the next primary — bought by Bain.
Who's right about Romney's time at Bain Capital?
Total Voters: 311
Their attacks have been lauded by some on the right, and virtually everyone on the left, as an appropriate critique of Romney's claim to have been a job creator in the private sector and/or a good way to toughen up Romney for the general election against Barack Obama. (I didn't realize Gingrich and Perry were running for "presidential sparring partner" instead of president.) But Gingrich and Perry have also been fiercely criticized by many on the right for making pandering, un-nuanced attacks on capitalism merely to boost their electoral chances.
Who's right?
That's this week's Poll Position question. Answer in the nearby poll and in the comments thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
January 13th, 2012
12:02 pm
Someone on Morning Joe this morning said that Bain Capital got it wrong 22% of the time (meaning lost jobs or closed companies).
That means they got it right 78% of the time.
I think most people would be ecstatic with a .780 batting average, wouldn't you?
January 13th, 2012
12:06 pm
Ti: Except for those who lost their jobs!
January 13th, 2012
12:08 pm
Wrong question, Kyle. Romney is wrong when he tries to claim that what he did at Blain was to create jobs. It was to make profit, pure and simple, without regard to who gets hurt. And his Republican detractors are wrong when they praise the free market system and at the same time attack Romney for exercising it.
January 13th, 2012
12:10 pm
I'm not particularly a Romney fan, but Rush offered a great argument yesterday. Warren Buffet buys strong companies, strips the cash out, and is lauded by the leftists. Bain Capital bought dying companies, turned most of them around, and is condemned by the leftists. Nice to see a real turnaround artist running for president, given our need for same.
January 13th, 2012
12:11 pm
Let's face the dire truth. The US is founded on vulture capitalism. What else is slavery?
It is a myth that capitalism is pure and good by itself and must not be regulated. It is now time to stand up for true righteousness and expose the hypocrisy.
Remember the civil war and how unwillingness and stubborness led to the bloodiest war in the history of the US. Great Britain got rid of slavery in a peaceful way. The United States, where all men are created equal on paper, had to have it pried out of their fingers.
What would happen if the rich, who profit from vulture capitalism, and their powerful friends in the media and in Washington, are as stubborn and unwilling to acknowledge the evil of vulture capitalism. Why would God not bring justice to those oppressed by this selfish system as He did for the slaves?
Watch my video: A German's preachers thoughts on 2012.
January 13th, 2012
12:16 pm
Matthias Klein – 12:11
Everything you say is true. Unfortunately, our system of predatory capitalism is so broken that no amount of protest will ever fix it. The only solution is for American voters to replace it with Socialism. Many people don't want to hear this, but being in denial will only extend the amout of time we all suffer under the current system.
January 13th, 2012
12:18 pm
I'm a Democrat. I have been a stockbroker/financial advisor for 26 years. I started out in investment banking, and you don't get more capitalist than that! I love watching Newt and Perry do their song and dance, it is just more illustrations of their hypocrisy. They believe in small government, too, except when they want to tell you how to live your life, then they propose every Contitution bending law their mean little minds can conjur up. These idiots would rape their own grandmother and eat their young to get elected, so why does this behavior shock any of you? Dubya the Dumb did the same thing. His Rove-led juggarnaut absolutely slandered and destroyed John McCain, then the Repugs, idiots that they are, were shocked-SHOCKED- when the Dems used the same arguments against McCain when he ran against Obama. All I can say is keep up the good work…Obama 2012!!!
January 13th, 2012
12:32 pm
Yeah, carlos, great idea.
As if Socialism has worked in any way, shape or form in the history of the world.
You're kinda like that poor, dumb redneck who says "I wonder what happens if I do this . . . ". Nothing good can come of that.
January 13th, 2012
12:33 pm
I support Romney and his tenure at Bain!
January 13th, 2012
12:35 pm
I think most people would be ecstatic with a .780 batting average, wouldn't you?
Since we're talking about people's lives rather than baseball, the analogy is sad. I can assure you that those who lost their livelihoods, and perhaps more, are not ecstatic. Neither are those of us care about them.
Which companies did Berkshire "strip cash out of"? Which companies did Berkshire bankrupt by adding debt (as Bain has done)? It's my understanding that Buffet purchases undervalued, well-run companies and, generally, leaves management alone to continue doing what they did to make the company strong in the first place. That's a far cry from what Bain has done to American Pad & Paper (or AmPad) and others. I think your comparison is weak.
January 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
I don't give a flip about Romney's past. The race for President should be about the future course of the nation, not about the personalities of the candidates.
So far, the Republican candidates have offered nothing more than the standard line of bull: tax breaks for the super rich, deregulation for the financial manipulators and environment polluters, denigration of the poor, and oppression of gays and pregnant women. There's hasn't been a peep from them about a method to move the economy out of stagnation and bring the US infrastructure into the 21st century.
Why can't we have candidates who address the issues of the American people rather than a bunch of has-been's with shady pasts and no concept of the future?
January 13th, 2012
12:37 pm
Bart….maybe the ones that "lost their livelihoods" should have worked harder and been a more valuable asset to the company.
January 13th, 2012
12:38 pm
January 13th, 2012
12:08 pm
It was to make a profit for whom? The investors in Bain and himself? Is this not what free enterprise is all about?
January 13th, 2012
12:43 pm
td @12:38 pm
Why are you asking me that question? Isn't that what I wrote?
January 13th, 2012
12:47 pm
carlosgvv @12:16 pm
Socialism is a failed system. Nobody who really knows what socialism means and has some sense will support it.
January 13th, 2012
12:49 pm
*I didn't realize Gingrich and Perry were running for "presidential sparring partner" instead of president.*
Gingrinch and Perry are running for President not "sparring partner."
Where were you when a pro-Romney PAC were lambasting Gingrich in Iowa?
Gingrich and Perry are poking holes in claims Romney has made about his "achievements" as a "businessman" and that is fair and it is also NOT AN ATTACK on capitalism. That is akin to saying anyone who critiques Obama is assaulting the US government.
If pro-Romney supporters like you and others would rather prefer that Romney not be vetted but be "handed" the nomination without breaking a sweat, then why hold primaries?
You guys were ok with Romney-backed super pacs attacking Gingrich a few weeks ago. Fact: Romney IS NOT a conservative. He will say anything he needs to say or do to get the nomination, but true southern conservatives will not be fooled by this fraudulent RINO, who actually bragged about being a "moderate Republican" in a Mass election.
Now he is masquerading as a conservative. He is a fraud and if nominated, the Obama campaign will have a field day.
January 13th, 2012
12:49 pm
It is what it is. He is essentially Gordon Gekko, and he is unapologetic about it. He flip flops on everything, but he hasn't flip flopped on this. That's not illegal, but is he the person you want running the United States?
January 13th, 2012
12:49 pm
ragnar's comparison with Warren Buffet (a company that most admire) demonstrates that attacks against Bain under Romney's tenure are not attacks against free enterprise and capitalism. Nobody has a problem with one group of investors purchasing a company from another group of owners or investors. It's the approach the Romney used to make these acquisitions that are so distasteful.
If you get a $100,000 mortgage loan to buy a house, and subsequently sell the house with the loan still outstanding, you don't get to keep the all proceeds from the sale of the house. You have to pay back the loan, and you only get to keep the profit, if any.
On the other hand, with leveraged buyouts, the buyers would use the strong balance sheet of a well managed business to get a loan to acquire that business. However, when sold, the investors don't have to repay the loan. The company they unloaded is stuck with the debt. Sometimes that debt (that wouldn't otherwise exist) leads to cuts in benefits, payroll, layoffs, bankruptcy, and/or total closure.
That's not capitalism. That's a loophole. And it's a loophole that only the wealthiest among us can take advantage of. It needs to be closed.
January 13th, 2012
12:51 pm
JF….there is nothing to be apologetic about!
January 13th, 2012
12:54 pm
Look at the fraud:
January 13th, 2012
12:55 pm
Romney and his supporters fail to mention that not only were people hurt so that he could make money, but the taxpayers were stuck with a 44 million bailout of the pension fund.
January 13th, 2012
12:56 pm
January 13th, 2012
12:59 pm
Perry and Gingrich need to drop out of the race. This is embarrassing for the GOP.
January 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
"It seems some Republican candidates think Mitt Romney was too much of a capitalist."
Yep and Gingrich/Perry look as bad as Obama.
January 13th, 2012
1:02 pm
Romney is also advertising Bain's success with a company in Dekalb County, Indiana called Steel Dynamics. What Romney didn't advertise is that Steel Dynamics received generous tax breaks/subsidies from the state and county. The community actually imposed a new income tax to help Romney's company.
Using the language of the right, I think it's fair to say that the man is both a welfare queen and a socialist.
January 13th, 2012
1:04 pm
Bart….Steel Dynamics has a facility in Duluth, Ga. as well. Reaching much?
January 13th, 2012
1:06 pm
MarkV and others: What is wrong with wanting to make a profit? Doing it legally? This is America. This is what it is about. To those of you who want to whine about companies going under. Well they go under anyway, Bain or no Bain. Bain did a service apparently 3 out of 4 times saved companies. How come we aren't talking about the positive side. Frankly, there is no merit in being a poor man if you can be a rich man. Rich men hire poor men after all.
January 13th, 2012
1:06 pm
Well, we can have capital from private sources, such as Bain, or we can have capital from government sources. Apparently Gingrich and Perry frown on private capital. That leaves government capital. I am not surprised by Gingrich favoring government capital, liberalism has always been his philosophical base. But I am surprised that Perry, the governor of a state with such a large number of capitalist, adopted the liberal solution. Expect his Texas money to dry up.
This nation needs to grow its economy. We can do it with private capital, government capital or a combination of the two. The latter option, which we have been practicing for decades, leads to $16 trillion national debts. Which is OK if we can find a way to pay the debt. So far we have refused to even entertain the subject, much less make a decision on paying off the debt.
We need more Bain's, not fewer.
January 13th, 2012
1:10 pm
Please consider changing your handle. Your use of it is an embarrassment to the institution that many of us love so much.
January 13th, 2012
1:11 pm
Bart Abel
January 13th, 2012
12:35 pm
Lets do talk about peoples lives. What about the lives and futures of all the investors in Bain? These Teacher retirement funds, public service workers funds and 401K funds invest in Bain to give them a return on their investments so that they can have a retirement savings. Is Bain not suppose to maximise their return on investment? How do you think Teachers are able to pay less then a $100 per month for 30 years in a retirement fund and then be able to draw 70 to 100% of the highest years salaries for the next 20, 30 plus years?
January 13th, 2012
1:14 pm
JF McNamara
January 13th, 2012
12:49 pm
Do you think the teachers in CA and TX would say he is Gordon Geeko or would they say he has made it so they can have a nice retirement?
January 13th, 2012
1:17 pm
I think Mark V is on the right track when he says "Romney is wrong when he tries to claim that what he did at Blain was to create jobs. It was to make profit, pure and simple". That said Newt et al are simply picking a strategy, no matter how unfounded or distasteful, to win an election. Did you expect more from them? I don't.
Back to Romney, in some cases the byproduct of his business was to create jobs in others not and frankly, I don't have a problem with that. As someone who has been forced to be the bearer of bad news on a large scale you do have a tendency to think more in terms of numbers than people but frankly to keep your sanity you have to.
At the end of the day, in the corporate world, the winner is he whom creates the most value…that typically means the most profits with the fewest number of people. Sure companies embark on "Green Initiatives", "Community Outreach", or "Social Responsibly" initiatives but in most case those are expected to enhance not detract from the bottom line.
I know I know there is a new wave of "Socially Responsible" companies that count among their values support for issues other than profitability (Google for one). Those are great but if profits go so do those other things in short order. Bottom line companies are in the business of profit and governments are in the business of social responsibility.
BTW this really doesn't qualify as reprehensible….what Chambliss did to Cleland in Ga. and Bush did to McCain is SC that was reprehensible.
January 13th, 2012
1:20 pm
@Bart…"Please consider changing your handle. Your use of it is an embarrassment to the institution that many of us love so much."
January 13th, 2012
1:22 pm
Bart….is that all you've got? Wow that hurt! hahaaha.
January 13th, 2012
1:23 pm
Yes, Bain is supposed to maximize their return on investment. But they have to do so within the guidelines of ethics and fairness that we, as a country, agree on.
Surely you don't support maximizing one's return on investment by murdering your competitors (as the mafia does). Surely you don't support maximizing one's return on investment by lying to potential buyers of your stock about the strength of the financials (which the Gingrich super-PAC film accuses Romney of having done).
We all agree that there are reasonable limits and restrictions on how investors can maximize returns. The debate is about which limits to apply and which limits not to apply.
The question I have is should investors be able to borrow money against the assets of company and then unload that debt onto the company itself rather than be required to repay the loan themselves (as we must do with a mortgage loan, for example)? I say no. As far as I'm concerned, that's not capitalism any more than murdering your competition to maximize profits is capitalism.
January 13th, 2012
1:25 pm
Bart….and what ethics would those be? Only they ones that you personally approve of?
January 13th, 2012
1:26 pm
Tiberius – MarkV
I told you something you did not want to hear and you reacted just as I knew you would. Any political system is only as good as the people running it. Predatory capitalism, by it's very nature, attracts Sociopathic people who are only interested in themselves. If honest Socialist politicians run for office and are elected, you will live in a much improved America. Stay in denial if you like but you're only hurting yourselves.
January 13th, 2012
1:28 pm
Bart…Your comments sound more like a union than Bain.
January 13th, 2012
1:29 pm
poor old Newt, he's going after Romney because he speaks French. What a fool.
January 13th, 2012
1:33 pm
Too many questions here. I do not know the answers.
Would THE company have failed if Bain/Romney had not bought it?
Would pensioners still have gotten their pensions?
Was there anything illegal in Bain's purchase? Like what?
To buy a sound company is "venture" but buying a failing one is "vulture"?
Is the purchase by Bain any different from thousands of other business purchases?
Delta may buy Anerican airline. Is that venture or vulture outside the political world?
January 13th, 2012
1:34 pm
January 13th, 2012
1:39 pm
Bart Abel
January 13th, 2012
1:23 pm
Your since of anger is misplaced. Has Bain broke the law? Has Bain played by the rules set out before them? Your since of anger is misplaced. Bain has played within the rules the government has established. Since they have been in business then that means the rules have been written while both parties held the office of the President and while both parties have controlled Congress.
If you do not like the law then work to change the law but you can not blame a company for playing within the guidelines set in front of them.
January 13th, 2012
1:41 pm
Would THE company have failed if Bain/Romney had not bought it?
No, not likely.
That's the problem. The reason these companies are frequently taken over is because they have low debt, strong balance sheets, and are well managed. In many cases, they went bankrupt because of the debt left behind by the investors who took over the company…debt that otherwise would not have existed.
Is it illegal? No. But if enough people knew and understood about the bizarre loophole in our laws that makes this possible (such loans without recourse don't apply to other forms of borrowing), then I suspect that it would be.
January 13th, 2012
1:42 pm
Looking forward to seeing the video before offering my real thoughts, but on the surface I'd agree with those that are backing Romney, at least on this issue, that venture capitalism is nothing to be attacked by those in support of economic freedom. If Romney is simply reflected as some sort of heartless jerk in the video, so be it, but I would have a hard time retaining even an ounce of respect for those who attempt to undermine free enterprise for political purposes.
January 13th, 2012
1:43 pm
January 13th, 2012
1:26 pm
If socialist politicians start winning elections then they will have Sociopathic people would be converting to socialism platform (same thing Dems did in Georgia with converting to Republicans) If you do not believe that then you my friend are living in a dream world.
January 13th, 2012
1:43 pm
Bart….I am sure they know….give the American people more credit.
January 13th, 2012
1:45 pm
The issue I have with Mittens is that he's spinning what he did while at Bain as if their main objective was the creation of jobs. It was not, it was to make a profit. Wait until the discussion of Bain turns to the $10 MILLION DOLLAR government handout it received back in 1991 to save it from going bankrupt or how the governement had to step in and cover another companys pension fund after Bain looted the company for millions of dollars. Mitt Romney got wealthy, while the working class got the shaft.
How is it that Bain could go into a company make MILLIONS of dollars on "consulting fees" and then the company ends up bankrupt shortly after?
January 13th, 2012
1:46 pm
carlosgvv @1:26 pm
Carlos, the only thing that perhaps excuses you is ignorance of Socialism. Perhaps the conservatives, who call every social progress "Socialism," who are so ignorant that they call Obama and everybody who disagrees with them a Socialist, have confused you.
January 13th, 2012
1:48 pm
Nobody is arguing that Bain broke the law. When people criticize Gingrich for serial adultery, nobody is arguing that he broke the law. When people criticize Obama for joining a church they don't like, nobody is arguing that Obama broke the law.
The debate is about ethics and fairness and right and wrong. So I'm talking about whether a law that doesn't exist, should exist.
Unfortunately, some people need a law to tell them the difference between right and wrong. That's precisely why we have them. But the notion that you can't criticize Romney for doing something because he didn't break the law is not persuasive.
January 13th, 2012
1:49 pm
Carlos, the socialist who proclaims:" If honest socialist politicians run for office and are elected, you will live in a much improved America."
Yeah, sure, and after that we can have a fine communist America where everything is supplied and no worry about jobs or home because you have an assigned one and medical care is free and there are no rich people (except leaders) and we are all non-thinking little tadpoles in a big mudhole.
Amazing that Americans don't eat up that happy harpy land, Carlos. They could rid themselves of all that independence and faulty freedom. Seems you like the idea.


text:
Groves takes European title on points
George Groves made a winning return to action in his first fight since losing to Carl Froch in May by outpointing Frenchman Christopher Rebrasse at Wembley Arena.
George Groves made a winning return to action in his first fight since losing to Carl Froch in May by outpointing Frenchman Christopher Rebrasse at Wembley Arena.
Irish boxers David Oliver Joyce and Joe Ward will meet familiar foes on their AIBA Pro Boxing debuts in Kazakhstan next month.
Scott Quigg stayed true to his word as he defended his WBA super-bantamweight title against Stephane Jamoye in Manchester.
Floyd Mayweather Jr claimed a unanimous decision in a feisty encounter against Marcos Maidana to successfully defend three world titles.
When Jamie Moore unleashed a huge left hand to leave Matthew Macklin flat out on the canvas and bring an end to their brutal light-middleweight fight in 2007, he could not have imagined how fate would leave their careers intertwined.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. says he expects Argentina's Marcos Maidana to be "once again extremely dirty and wild" in their heavily anticipated re-match in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Carl Frampton was crowned world champion after defeating Kiko Martinez with a resounding unanimous decision in front of 16,000 supporters on a windy night in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
Barry McGuigan belives that Carl Frampton will have to go to war with Kiko Martinez to become world champion in Belfast on Saturday night.
World boxing champion Kell Brook is in hospital in Tenerife after being stabbed in the leg while on holiday.
Carl Frampton believes he will take the world title from Kiko Martinez as the two fighters clash for the IBF World Super Bantamweight crown in Belfast on Saturday night.
World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko will fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev for the IBF title on 15 November in Hamburg, after the Ukrainian postponed next month's bout due to injury, he said on Wednesday.
World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitsckho has postponed next month's IBF title bout with Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev after sustaining an injury in training.
Heavyweight boxer Michael Gallagher will be bringing home bronze from the Youth Olympics in China.
Ciara Ginty will meet Jajiara Gonzalez of the USA in Tuesday's Olympic Youth 60kg final in Nanjing, China.
Joe Ward has been confirmed as one the participants in the light heavyweight category for this year's AIBA Pro Boxing.
David Oliver Joyce admitted to feeling some pressure to win gold at the European Union Elite Championships in Sofia but knew he had done the hard work in advance.
Jason Quigley easily maintained his unbeaten record beating Fernando Najara at StubHub Center in Los Angeles.
Kell Brook was crowned the new IBF welterweight champion after claiming a majority decision over Shawn Porter in Carson, California.
David Oliver Joyce claimed his third successive European Union Elite Championships gold medal in Sofia, Bulgaria, beating Georgia's Otar Eranosyan in their lightweight final.
Darren O'Neill, David Oliver Joyce and Michael O'Reilly have assured Team Ireland of at least three silver medals at the European Union Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Southern Living AUGUST 2009
Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and place in freezer. Pour chopped mixed nuts into a shallow dish. Scoop ice cream into small balls using a 1 1/4-inch ice-cream scoop, and roll ice cream in chopped nuts. Arrange on prepared baking sheet in freezer. Freeze 30 minutes to 24 hours. Serve in Dipped Sugar Cones, if desired.
Go to full version of
Mini Nutty Ice-Cream Scoops recipe


text:
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The Buffalo News reports on Jose Gonzalez who has now read every Braille book the school has.Interim School Superintendent Yvonne Hargrave described Jose as an "an inspiration to his classmates" and called his reading log "an exceptional accomplishment."
Babylon Sister writes "No one over 17 admitted without childThis story ran on nwitimes.com on Friday, June 10, 2005 12:04 PM CDTEVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Adults must be accompanied by children in certain sections of Evansville's public libraries.The Evansville-Vanderburgh Library Board voted Thursday to bar unaccompanied adults from children's areas as a precaution against "those who might be there for inappropriate reasons," Evelyn Walker, the library's assistant director of public service told the Evansville Courier & Press.Library director Marcia Au said there have been no reports of children being accosted in the library, but employees have been concerned about some people who are "plunking themselves down" in the children's rooms and watching the youngsters."Exceptions to the rule will be people doing research, such as teachers, or child-care workers looking for books or other materials for their classes," Walker said.Story here at Times Online."
Steven M. Cohen writes "From AP:
Move over,
Paul McCartney is getting into children's books. The former Beatle has signed on to publish "High in the Clouds: An Urban Furry Tail" for the Penguin Young Readers Group, the publisher announced Wednesday.
McCartney will team up with veteran children's book author Philip Ardagh and animator Geoff Dunbar. The picture book is to be released this October with a first print of 500,000 copies"
Cortez writes "The kids in a Missouri school got to wear shorts for a good cause building a library in El Salvador: reports stltoday.com:
"Back in El Salvador, Thill, who hates not having a project, was approached by the principal of Ever's school about the possibility of helping to build a library. After some research into the cost of supplies, Thill mentioned to Robert Hanson that, even with the village volunteering the labor, the construction still was going to cost $3,000 - "Not a lot of money, but a whole lot for a poor pueblo," he said.""
Anonymous Patron writes "Tennessee may rank low among states on academic achievement, but that should change in the near future as it leads the pack in introducing young children to the joys of reading.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which strives to deliver one book a month to all children from birth to age 5, has fired the imagination of Tennessee's government leaders as well as its business people, who are making the program a reality for financially distressed counties.
And since Gov. Phil Bredesen started the Governor's Books From Birth Foundation in May 2004 with $2 million in seed money from the general fund, 55 of the state's 95 counties have signed up for the program. Nashville City Paper Has More"
NPR : Escapist Books to Read Through the Summer: librarian Nancy Pearl has options other than Harry Potter for parents, kids, and fans of the series.
Pearl's choices range from new releases of proven classics to new, irreverent and witty fantasy books that cross boundaries of genre and age. While they lack the marketing extravaganza of the Potter series, these books should keep fans of interesting fantasy writing occupied -- and happy -- throughout the summer
kctipton writes "Here's the lastest 'The Ethicist' column as found in today's NYTimes. One of the posed questions has to do with being a librarian dunned to help with homework.
I am a reference librarian with a public library. Almost daily, parents ask for help with a child's school assignment. Sometimes the child accompanies the parent, but more frequently the parent comes to the library alone. I believe that it is unethical for a parent to basically do a child's homework, and I do not like aiding and abetting it. What should I do?
and the start of the reply:
Parents who do their children's work certainly are behaving badly, both ethically (by making their kids something akin to plagiarists) and pedagogically (by depriving them of a chance to learn to do research). Neither of these transgressions, however, is sufficient for you to withhold your services.
There's more that I didn't quote, so go read it!"
Anonymous Patron writes "Jon Scieszka has spent his adult life trying to encourage young boys to embrace the written word. The former teacher and the author of more than 20 children's books says treating boys and girls the same in school just doesn't work. NPR Has More And here's the Guys Read site"
Kathleen writes "Hillsborough County (which is near Florida's Disneyworld) is considering turning to Dollywood for books for the children of Hillsborough County. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program has been suggested to the county.
The number of participating communities in the Imagination program continues to soar. At the close of the year 375 communities in 39 states now provide Dolly's Imagination Library for their children. In December, for the first time ever, the number of children receiving books each month surpassed 100,000 and brought the yearly total of books to 980,000."
Maybe reading isn't so good for kids after all? Telegraph UK has a report that says Food manufacturers are using sophisticated tactics to market sweets, fast food and sugary breakfast cereals at children in their homes, the Food Commission pressure group said yesterday.
Following criticism of junk food adverts on television, youngsters are being exposed to marketing through story books, educational materials, toys and games.


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finished my paper for my food and culture class that's worth 30% of my class grade.
it was supposed to be an 8-9 page paper including a bibliography page…it ended up being 13 pages including the bibliography.
whatever whatever. i'm going to do some editing tomorrow but my professor can deal. it's her fault she assigned us so much shit to do at the end of the semester…she can suffer through all 12 pages of my paper.
my list of shit that i have to do before may 10 is slowly diminishing. now i just have:
a world food habits test
my food and culture final
a film essay for my paris class
a paper due for my paris class
a multimedia photo project due
and then i graduate on may 11. meow.
can we talk about how my best friend from high school got in a really terrible bike accident last year during a race, went into a coma for 11 days, woke up and spent last spring and summer relearning how to read and write and now she made a comeback to racing this spring and is once again getting 1st place in her races and is still one of the top collegiate cyclists in the country?
i wish i was that badass sometimes.
i think i love you.
thanks for helping me get through this paper that is the LAST MAJOR PAPER OF MY COLLEGE CAREER.
couldn't be done fast enough.
the best/most reliable place to find old classmates from elementary school is pdxmugshots.com
getting "people you may know" friend suggestions on Facebook that included someone i went to high school with who died a month or so ago.
today at work we literally had a line out the door for six hours. so my coworkers on register decided to have fun and take a "bro" survey. they literally asked every customer (college student or no) whether or not they identified as a bro. these were some of the results:
old people didn't know what "bro" meant
college bros didn't identify as bros
everyone said bros could only be boys
more girls identified as bros than boys
amherst college boys didn't really know what bro meant
i never did find out what the final tally was though.
From Dean Spade's Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics, and the Limits of Law.
The Big Problem:
Queer and trans people, poor people, people of color, and immigrants have minimal access to quality health care.
The Official Gay & Lesbian Solutions:
Legalize same sex marriage to allow people with health benefits from their jobs to share with their partners .
Critical Queer & Trans Political Approaches:
Medicaid/Medicare activism; fight for universal health care; fight for transgender health care; protest deadly medical neglect of people in state custody.
The Big Problem:
Violence against queer and trans people.
The Official Gay & Lesbian Solutions:
Pass hate crime legislation to increase prison sentences and strengthen local and federal law enforcement; collect statistics on rates of violence; collaborate with local and federal law enforcement to prosecute hate violence and domestic violence.
Critical Queer & Trans Political Approaches:
Develop community based responses to violence that support collective healing and accountability; join with movements addressing root causes of queer and trans premature death: police violence, imprisonment, poverty, lack of health care and housing.
The Big Problem:
Queer and trans people experience violence and discrimination in the military.
The Official Gay & Lesbian Solutions:
Eliminate bans on participation of gays and lesbians in the US military.
Critical Queer & Trans Political Approaches:
Join with movements to oppose racist, sexist, imperialist military actions abroad and at home; demand reduction/elimination of defense budget.
The Big Problem:
Unfair and punitive immigration system.
The Official Gay & Lesbian Solutions:
Legalize same-sex marriage to allow same-sex international couples to apply for legal residency for the immigrating spouse.
Critical Queer & Trans Political Approaches:
Oppose the use of immigration policy to criminalize people of color, exploit workers, and maintain deadly wealth gap between the US and the Global South; support current prisoners; engage in local and national campaigns against "Secure Communities" and other federal programs that increase racial profiling and deportation.
The Big Problem:
Queer and trans families are vulnerable to legal intervention and separation from the state and/or nonqueer and nontrans people.
The Official Gay & Lesbian Solutions:
Legalize same-sex marriage to provide a route to "legalize" families with two parents of the same sex; pass laws banning adoption discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Critical Queer & Trans Political Approaches:
Join with other people targeted by family law and the child welfare system (poor families, imprisoned parents, native families, families of color, people with disabilities) to fight for community and family self-determination and the rights of people to keep their kids in their families and communities.
dear god please clean the apartment.
it's going to be 92 degrees today and the pool in my apt. complex doesn't open until memorial day. whyyyyyyyyyyy western massachusetts i hate your guts.
also on a side note, i am so fucking sick of amherst college students.
somehow i caught some unfortunate plague-like disease.
all my bones are aching, particularly my jaw. i'm super shaky. my nose can't decide whether it wants to be plugged up with snot or let it all pour down my face. luckily my throat doesn't hurt as bad today but it's still scratchy and i've got a cough now. also breathing is awful and every time i open my mouth to take a breath i feel nauseous.
also, did i mention that it's spring and spring/summer are the absolute WORST times to be sick because i'm looking out my living room window and it's sunny and gorgeous out and flowers are blooming.
i have made some smart self-care decisions though, for which i am proud: i went to bed around 9:30 last night, i haven't been smoking (not that i could even if i wanted to), i slept in this morning but still got out of bed instead of spending all day cocooned, i showered and got dressed like a normal human being and now i'm trying to flush out my entire body by drinking massive quantities of green tea.
so all day i've felt ridiculously good. better than i should feel on a monday with less than a month of school left and several yet-to-be-started papers and projects looming. i can pretty much attribute all of this to my outfit today, which, as silly as it is made me feel damn good.
here's what i wore (see picture in my previous post to see some of these things):
shoes: sperry topsiders
chinos: j. crew waverly chinos
oxford: abercrombie and fitch (it's about 8 years old and still going)
blazer: j.crew
bow tie: ever lane
everyone kept asking me why i was dressed up, because the presumption is that no one dresses up ever without a purpose. alas i (unfortunately) did not have a job interview so i told everyone the truth: that it was a monday and i wasn't really feeling that so i decided to dress up to make myself feel better. and it totally worked. i think dressing up is my new cure for shitty and generally blah days. it definitely beats throwing on a pair of sweats which, albeit cozy, usually make me feel gross and like i don't want anyone to see me, whereas today i wanted everyone to see me.
on a side not, not only did i feel awesome for looking great, i felt awesome for looking great in menswear and queering my style (not that i don't do that every day) in an obvious way that made people take notice.
we are officially moving back to the west coast (well, back for me anyway) on july 20.
we're flying into portland and will probably be there anywhere from a couple weeks to a month while we look for an apartment in seattle. the goal is to have an apartment by sept. 1.
exciting things!
i've been looking at a lot of jobs this week and have to say, i'm feeling a little lost.
i'm a journalism major, and that particular field is taking a big hit in the face of the economy and the influence of the internet and technology. however, i'd say that journalism is adapting and evolving, instead of disappearing.
that said, i really have no idea if it's something i'm interested in anymore, or that i can even do. i'm not double majoring in computer science and social media just doesn't really appeal to me. I'm starting to think that i don't have the "visionary" qualities necessary to make it in journalism anymore, or at least to get noticed amongst thousands of other people and land a job.
the only problem is, this is just what i went to college for 4 years to do. and as excited as i am about graduation in a month, part of me feels ridiculously lost and hopeless, because not only is it going to be rough finding a job, i don't even know what i want to find a job doing.
So yesterday morning I sliced my finger open really badly while cutting bread with a serrated knife. In the ensuing visit to university health services I had an experience that threw me off a little bit at the time but didn't really bother me until I got the chance to think about it last night.
When I was in the room at uhs with mara, the nurse and the doctor and they were explaining to me what kind of bandages they would need to put on my finger for it to heal, I had the opportunity to ask them questions. When I asked the doctor whether or not I would be able to smoke, she told me that I couldnt for various reasons. She also said to me "just think of it as god's plan for you to quit smoking."
first of all, I don't believe in god and don't want god involved at ANY point in my healthcare, especially at health services at a public university.
Second, I'm glad that (even though it was a joking comment) all my agency and control over my own body and decisions were removed. God has no control or plan over my body and my life - I do. And I felt extremely uncomfortable having someone impose their beliefs on my actions, even in a minor way.


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FEATURED ARTICLE A Day In The Life Of Three Shelter FerretsFerrets Diamond, Sugar and Possum get a second chance at life thanks to ferret shelters.By Dionne Obeso
Ferret FAQsFerret Scent GlandsIs it illegal to sell a ferret that hasn't been de-scented?
Albino Ferret CareDo albino ferrets have different needs than other ferrets?
Ferret Introduction ConcernsDo some ferrets never bond to another ferret if one ferret in a pair dies? Ferret Nibbles Its LitterIs it OK if a ferret eats its bedding?
Ask The DocFerret Poop ConcernsIs it cause for concern if a ferret has jellylike poop? Ferrets And TapewormsWhat is the recommended treatment for ferrets with tapeworms?
Should A Ferret's Chordoma Be Removed?What is the recommended treatment for a possible chordoma in an older ferret? Can Food Affect A Ferret's Size?Why would adult ferrets be as small as baby ferrets?
Product SpotlightSelect Ferret Diet by Marshall Pet Products Win a bag of Select Ferret Diet, courtesy of Marshall Pet Products
Bob Church's Ferret Experiences Coming In September
Secret Lives of Ferret OwnersComing In October
Shelter And Rescue FocusComing In November
The Buzz On FerretsThe Strange Items That Ferrets StashFerret owners have many tales to tell about the strange items found in their ferrets' stash.Your Ferret StoryFerret Companions That Steal Your HeartA ferret owner never expected that his ferrets would end up taking care of him.
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Stacy Martin talks to Emma Brown from Interview Magazine about her first film role in Nymphomaniac as well as her ambitions, dreams and the director of Nymphomaniac Lars von Trier… Check it out here. Photographs by Brett Lloyd.
January 2, 2014 | Hot off the press, Premier Loves, Premier Special**
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From Home Made to Haute Couture these Silver Rock Signature wooden Knobs cost a princely $485. "The point here is the micro vibrations created by the volume pots and knobs find their way into the delicate signal path and cause degradation (Bad vibrations equal bad sound). With the signature knobs micro vibrations from the C37 concept of wood, bronze and the lacquer itself compensate for the volume pots and provide (Good Vibrations) our ear/brain combination like to hear…way better sound!!" - well as long as we're talking way better sound then I guess scientifically I'd better run out and get them NOOOWWW!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Silver Rock Signature Knob
Posted by AudioLemon at 9:19 AM
Labels: Audiophilia
2 comments:
Oi, achei teu blog pelo google tá bem interessante gostei desse post. Quando der dá uma passada pelo meu blog, é sobre camisetas personalizadas, mostra passo a passo como criar uma camiseta personalizada bem maneira. Até mais.
- digital signatures said...
Don't you think that its cost is too high ? Do you have another option for the replacement of it. It is out of my budget. I can't afford do much expensive. This time I can spend only $250.
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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > A Light To Burn All Empires
I Caught Fire0 Reviews
What started out as a modest flame soon erupted into a full burst fire, a burning bush of prophecy. The new Slayer is rising.
"Audrey is dead," the eldest woman told them, watching the movement of the flames.
There was a small weep amongst the group.
"And the Dark Ruler is gathering more power. He is almost ready," the woman continued. "He's taking back his son."
A mixture of disbelief and denial spread between the men and women. The Council had been around for decades to ensure the spell remained intact. The most powerful of witches had shed their blood to create it. Could it be that easy to break?
"The Dark Ruler will succeed on breaking the spell," the woman confirmed dejectedly.
An uproar of outrage and gasps filled the air. What were they going to do? There had to be another stronger spell to replace the old.
"But what will happen, Mother?" another woman asks. "Surely we must have some kind of saving grace."
"We shall," the elder woman said with a smile.
The others looked at her skeptically as if she were telling a white lie. But her smile seemed genuine and the hope in her voice was evident as she put her hands together in prayer.
"The new Slayer is rising."
Livvy Way meticulously brushed her brown hair in front of her vanity mirror. Her cousin Iris sat on her bed, watching her sympathetically. Poor Livvy was a prisoner of her own home. Ever since her mother died, her father moved them into a house isolated from the city and had Livvy home schooled for her whole educational life.
Neither Iris nor Livvy knew much about her mother's death. Gerard would refuse to go into detail about it. He only told them that it was a horrible accident that happened when Livvy was barely a year old. She hated to admit it, but Livvy loathed him inwardly. She had no friends, no communication with the outside world, and she didn't know how to act socially. She knew that things would've been much different if her mother were still alive. Maybe she would've been popular with hundreds of friends or an outsider with a small group of loving companions. Either way, things wouldn't have been what they were now.
All she ever had was Iris and her Uncle Mikey. She didn't know anything about her mother's side of the family, another thing that Gerard kept secret. Thanks to her uncle, her once small shelf of books expanded to her very own library. From the time she was old enough to read, Mikey would give her a stack of books that ranged anywhere from biographies of famous women to books of classic poetry to wonderful tales of fiction that surpassed even her own imagination. He would hand her a pile of amazing literature and whisper in her ear to forgive her father's behavior and to understand why he did the things he did. She would smile and tell him that she understood. But she never did.
"I've been reading this book your dad gave me," Livvy told Iris. "It's about vampires. They seem like interesting creatures. They speak such poetic language."
"Really?" mused Iris. "I've been reading up on witchcraft. I have this book full of actual spells and ceremonies."
"Have you ever wanted to try it out?" Livvy asked.
"Well...," Iris reached over to grab her purse. "I brought over some materials, if you want to."
Livvy smirked in agreement as Iris immediately began setting up. Livvy couldn't help but to stare at the likeness of Iris and her uncle. Iris's facial structure was so similar to her father's, from the curve of her lips to the shape of her nose. She had Mikey's light brown hair which she tied into two long braids that hung down to her waist. She even wore extra thick glasses because she inherited her father's less-than-perfect vision. He had his eyes fixed with surgery, but he refused to allow her to do the same until she was 18. Livvy, on the other hand, was a spitting image of her mother. She knew because of the few photographs she had of her. She had the soft features of her mother's face and the dark brown of her hair, but she had her father's dark green eyes. She took pride in carrying on her mother's genes. She was desperate for anything that brought up her memory.
They cut off the lights, lit the candles, and burned incense. Iris kept the largest candle in the middle; it was white for purity. She kept her spell book in front of her, flipping through the pages until she made her decision.
"Let's do the most simple spell," Iris suggested. "The spell for light."
Livvy complied as she watched Iris get into a meditative state. She whispered for Livvy to do the same. It stated in the book that the most efficient spells were conducted with the clearest of minds. Iris grabbed onto Livvy's hands, holding tightly to multiply their power.
Iris said the prayer in her mind. She begged God for light. She asked Him to grant her the strength to cast the spell. She pleaded for power and assured Him that she would do nothing but good with it. Iris was so captivated in her prayer that she didn't hear herself whisper every word aloud. Livvy watched her, feeling her grip on her hands tighten with each second. Iris's brow wrinkled in concentration, her words becoming louder and more rapid.
"Grant me the power of light, my God," she chanted. "Grant me the power of strength."
Livvy wasn't sure if it was going to work, but she could definitely feel the energy in the air. The aura around Iris was almost visible. As if there were an orange light around her.
"The strength to do good and reject evil. The strength to illuminate the darkness of damnation. Grant me the power of light, my God. Grant me the power of strength."
Livvy didn't know whether Iris's words were memorized or if they came from the bottom of her soul. She could hear the desire in her voice. The pleading in her tone.
"GRANT ME THE POWER OF LIGHT, MY GOD! GRANT ME THE POWER OF STRENGTH!!!" Iris shrieked from the top of her lungs.
A sudden strong wind hit the bedroom window and forced it open. The shutters banged against the walls and the cold air blew out every candle except for the one in the center. Its flame enlarged into an unbelievable size. It was almost the size of a softball. Their eyes never left it as the fire finally blew out. Then there was darkness. And silence.
"Livvy?" Iris called out in a cautious whisper.
"Did it work?" Livvy wondered.
"I don't think so. But that was...something," Iris said excitedly.
"Girls?" Gerard's voice startled them both.
The room illuminated instantly with a flick of a switch. Gerard stood in the doorway, waiting for an explanation. Iris and Livvy looked at one another, not knowing what to say or how to say it.
"Hey Dad," Livvy greeted weakly.
"What happened? I heard a loud bang," Gerard asked sternly.
"A wind just blew open the window, Uncle," Iris explained.
"Are you both alright?" He didn't seem convinced.
"Yeah, Dad. We're fine. Don't worry about it," Livvy insisted, hinting him to leave.
"If anything happens--"
"I know. We'll call you," Livvy cut him off in annoyance.
Gerard shook his head at her stubbornness and retreated back to his bedroom. He was sure that she hated him, but he was only doing what was right. He was keeping her safe and protected from all harm. She was alive and well just as Autumn would want her to be. One day, she would thank him.
Livvy slammed the door as soon as her father was out of hearing range. Iris could see the frustration in her face. She was gritting her teeth and clenching her fists as if she were suffering from an excruciating headache. Iris reached out to her and tucked her bangs behind her ears. She motioned for her to lie down and rest.
"Sometimes, I wish I were with my mom," Livvy sighed, twirling her silver crucifix between her fingers. "She would never cage me in."
"He's just trying to do what he thinks is best," Iris reasoned. "Even though he may be wrong. He means well."
"I just want to be free," Livvy said softly as she laid her head on the pillow.
Little did she know that she was about to get her wish. In less than a month, fate was going to set her free into a world with no boundaries. A place not even her father could forbid her to explore. The only question was whether she would choose to stay in that world or if every word she spoke would come back to bite her...literally.


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If you don't have a grill wok or metal basket, feel free to place the tomatoes on skewers (remember to soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using on the grill).
Southern Living APRIL 2006
1. Cut bell peppers in half, and remove seeds. Slice squash and zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place peppers, squash, zucchini, and mushrooms in a large shallow dish or large zip-top plastic bag.
2. Whisk together vinaigrette, lemon pepper, and salt until blended. Pour over vegetables. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes. Remove vegetables from marinade, reserving marinade.
3. Grill vegetables, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°), basting with reserved marinade. Grill peppers 7 minutes on each side or until tender; grill squash and zucchini 3 minutes on each side or until tender. Grill mushrooms 5 minutes or until tender. Grill tomatoes in a grill wok or metal basket 2 to 3 minutes or until skins begin to split.
Go to full version of
Easy Grilled Vegetables recipe


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Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Kevin Martin led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting for the Houston Rockets, who dropped the New Orleans Hornets in a 95-75 drubbing to hand them their first loss of the preseason.
Fellow starters Patrick Patterson and Chandler Parsons each poured in 10 points apiece for Houston, while former New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin netted nine points and dished out seven assists as the Rockets won their second consecutive game.
Donatas Motiejunas finished with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting and off-season acquisition Toney Douglas scored 11 points off the bench for the Rockets.
After winning their first three games, the Hornets fell for the first time in the Anthony Davis era. The rookie center did not play, sitting with an injured groin.
Al-Farouq Aminu led the way for New Orleans with 15 points and Robin Lopez added 11 while collecting eight rebounds. Greivis Vasquez shot just 4-of-13 from the field and had a game-high five turnovers in the loss, but finished with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Hornets trailed just 48-41 at halftime, but mustered only 10 points in the third quarter to the Rockets' 22, breaking the game open.
New Orleans was playing its fourth game in six days, but won't be in action again until Thursday, when the Hornets take on the Atlanta Hawks. The Rockets will take on the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
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Car theft, including that of rental vehicles for joyriding and stripping, occurs frequently. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen. In general, jet skis and vehicles should be used with caution. Renters should note the insurance underwriter and the amount of deductible in case of accident or theft.
The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. A birth certificate and/or driverĺs license generally cannot be replaced outside the United States. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department of Stateĺs pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. This publication and others, such as Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean, are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.
Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Good
Major road hazards specific to the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba are hidden and poorly maintained street signs, disoriented drivers not familiar with where they are going, and goats wandering onto roadways. Carnival time (February) attracts many sudden celebrations which can congest main artery roadways around the islands. Alcohol consumption is also high during this time, and locals are not as aware of the affects of driving under the influence as people are in the United States. In the more rural sections of the island, some roads are not paved. Drivers should be aware of whether their cars are reliable on these bumpy, steep roads, (i.e. 4-wheel drive, spare tire). Goats and other animals can normally be found on these roads. Drivers should be alert at all times that an animal can unexpectedly jump into the path of the car. Night driving is neither good nor bad in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba as long as drivers are familiar with the streets. Most main streets are properly lit, but smaller side streets may not be. Taxis are the easiest yet most expensive form of transportation on the islands. There are no meters, and passengers should be sure to negotiate the price before entering the taxi. Vans are inexpensive (less than $1) per trip, and they run nonstop during the daytime with no time schedule. Each van has a specific route that is displayed in the front windshield of the van. Buses run on the hour and have a limited amount of routes. Most buses came from Europe and have small windows with no air-conditioning.
For specific information concerning Netherlands Antilles and Aruba driverĺs permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba National Tourist Organization offices in New York via the Internet.
The Aruban Resort And Casino
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The Hotel is Ideal For Families As the Common Areas Are Very Large and Can Be Enjoyed the Best Possible Way, Since the Hotel Has Different Facilities. ...
Club Arias Bed And Breakfast
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The Club Arias is located in Savaneta. Blue Parrotfish Water Park, Natural Bridge - Boca Andicuri, and Baby Beach are area attractions. The Oranjestad ...
$164 Per Night
Caribbean Palm Village Resort
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Caribbean Palm Village Resort provides guests with a quiet, peaceful and serene environment perfect for relaxing the mind and body and rejuvenating the ...
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Skydive Aruba
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Experience the thrill of Skydiving at the most scenic drop zone in the world. See Aruba from 10,000 ft. and then leap from the plane while attached to your own professional tandem instructor....
$250 Per Person
Aruba Harmony, a charming place to be!
Oranjestad, Aruba Bed & Breakfasts
Harmony is perfect for those visitors travelling to Aruba for business and ideal for those vacationers looking for a more quiet and peaceful break. If you're considering staying in accommodations where you become friendly with people rather than ju...
$79 Per Night
Bucuti Beach Resort
Eagle Beach, Aruba Hotels & Resorts
The only boutique-style resort in Aruba that caters exclusively to couples, Bucuti is nestled on Eagle Beach, far from the maddening crowds and high-rise hotels. Bucuti Beach Resort is serene and peaceful, perfect for honeymooners and couples....
$291 Per Night
Boardwalk Vacation Retreat Aruba
Palm Beach, Aruba Hotels & Resorts
Boardwalk Vacation Retreat Aruba is a charming all-suite small hotel with several beautifully designed 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom ÔÇścasitasÔÇÖ located a mere 150 yards from ArubaÔÇÖs best swimming and beach area at world famous Palm Beach....
Starting at $145 Per Night
Costa Linda deLux Beach Resort
Oranjestad, Aruba Vacation Rentals
2 bedroom 2 baths time share available may 19 to june 2 at the costa linda beach resort on aruba's caribbean coast. Also for sale at $ 11,000 each week. ...
$170 Per Night
Aruba Phoenix
Noord, Aruba Bed & Breakfasts
The Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort a time share available for 14 days or one week minimu stay...
Starting at $107 Per Night
La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort
Eagle Beach, Aruba Hotels & Resorts
Located on beautiful Eagle Beach, La Cabana offers great value for families and groups. The full-service all-suite resort offers spacious, comfortable accommodations in one, two, three bedroom and Grand suites. All rooms complete with kitchenette....
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As seen in Liberty Bikes in Asheville
Over the next few days I'll be posting rambling post, maybe gear setup thoughts and simply going a bit bonkers prior to my 24 solo race next weekend at Burn 24 in Wilkesboro, NC. (Ladies sign up, I need people to ride with in the middle of the night!)
Long time sponsor of the Bike Shop Girl, Light & Motion is coming back strong in 2012 and there's no excuse for you to be left in the dark on Dark Mountain. They're bringing the goods for you to demo and keep the aliens at bay. We will have brand new Seca 1400s ($50), Seca 800s ($45), Stella 600 Duals ($40), and Stella 300s ($40) available to rent. A killer deal will be offered for anyone who wants to ride with a helmet and bar-mounted light – $75 for the race bundle, a Seca and Stella!!! All systems come with a battery and can be used as helmet or bar mounted lights. We also have additional batteries available to rent. Our friendly staff will help outfit you with lights, label your batteries, and give you tips to ride confidently and fast at night!
The goal from my coach today was 3.5-4 hours on the bike I'll be racing next week at Burn 24. Every 30 minutes do 5 minutes of tempo leading into 5 minutes of threshold. My personal goal was to do 45 minute loops on the various trails at Lake Norman. Swinging by the car to dial in my new shoes and test out the 4 different saddles I brought with me.
Probably not the smartest thing to do a week before a 24 hour race, new shoes and new saddle. Yet, I seemed to find a good place for my rear on a Specialized Ruby saddle that I had picked up earlier this week at Motion Makers in Asheville. The new shoes, Specialized MotoDiva, still need dialing but mainly cleat position as the plate underneath is much different than that of my old Bontragers.
The ride was cut short with stomach issues and my legs dying by the 3rd round of threshold. 2.5 hours, one hour short, but I came home. Propping my legs up and getting a good nights rest. Tomorrow is another 4 hours on the mountain bike, planning on hitting up North Meck park for a ton of laps to test out the new lights.
The Santa Claus of shipping brought many goodies last week, the timing is in order to get things sorted and tested for the upcoming Burn 24 Hour race. New parts getting installed, new rear wheel, new Camelbak, new chamois, and now new bright ass lights.
1400 lumens on a light is completely amazing craziness. I remember when my previous Seca 800 was the brightest thing out there. Cars thought I had high beams on as I commuted on the road and on the trail even my sleep deprived eyes could see well with the high beam on.
I plan on doing a few test rides this weekend to get the helmet and handlebar light figured out. In my arsenal I have the Seca 1400 or 800 and Seca 600 or 300. Write out battery charging and burn time for my pit crew, probably even put the helmet light on my other Lazer helmet so that I can secure it and it ready to rock when the sun goes down Memorial Day weekend during race time.
Night riding is one of my favorite things to do in mountain biking. Commuting at night I feel like people can see me better, especially with 1400 lumens shining at them!!
Tell us about your night riding, what lights do you use? Do you have questions for Light & Motion or myself about what lights you need or batteries?
© 2014. All Rights Reserved.


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In the lobby, Khloe's all "Ta-ta." No, really. That's what she says. She didn't listen to any of what Trump said, I think, or she doesn't care. She hugs both Clint and Natalie, and Clint apologizes, saying he never would have thought in a million years that would happen. She tells him not to worry, and smiles as she gets on the elevator. In the boardroom, Trump hopes she learns. That's a pretty funny contrast to her "Ta-ta" and smiley face. I sort of love Trump right now (I'm not seeing this as hypocrisy, since I really think he wants to help Khloe and Dennis in the same way). In the car, Khloe says Trump made the wrong decision, since she's learned her lesson and has been paying for it every day. She's trying to fix something she did wrong, and says it sucks she had to go out this way, because that's not how she wants people to remember her.
Next week: Trump shocks the teams, and then things get so rough that he calls in a surprise guest for backup. I'm guessing Dr. Phil. I can't wait. Or, actually, I can and would, in fact, like to wait.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then see which celeb we think is going to win!
DeAnn is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. You can contact her at email@example.com.


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Samsung Galaxy S4 is the flagship device from Korean Giant, Samsung in year 2013 which is also the first Android device running octa core processor. Besides, Samsung Galaxy S4 is the ancestor of Samsung device to have more variant which is different in processor model- Octa Core Exynos and conventional quad core Qualcomm. Galaxy S4 also available in both 3G (I9500) and LTE (I9505) version which provide more options to the consumer. In the later stage, Samsung started its cooperation with Google to release the Google edition of Galaxy S4 running pure Android OS without carrier's customized UI.
Nevertheless, some of the Galaxy S4 may just want to experience the pure Android UI on their device just like Google edition S4. It can also be done with the help of third party developers in famous Android development forums, XDA. With the pre-release of Android 4.3 firmware for Galaxy S4, you can also try out the new features in 4.3 Jelly Bean in the first place. All these can be done by flashing customized rom on your Galaxy S4.
Install CWM Recovery on Samsung Galaxy S4
Install TWRP Recovery on Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505 Custom Rom List:
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SPAR Group
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"Poor corporate culture "
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I have been working at SPAR Group full-time for more than a yearPros
Easy commute. Good office complex.Cons
Most employees doing the work of 2 or more people. Bad morale, people stressed and overwhelmed.


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When the term "light" is applied to aircraft, it can give the impression that the machine is somehow delicate. This is SO not the case when it comes to CubCrafters Carbon Cub LSA.
CubCrafters describes the Carbon Cub SS as an aircraft designed "for the pilot who REALLY wants to push the limits of Light Sport."


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Down Set Fight #1 & #2
Written by Chris Sims & Chad Bowers
Art & Color by Scott Kowalchuk
Published by Oni Press
It's always nice when you see things you enjoy pop up in your comic reading. Down Set Fight takes that to a whole new level. It's the kind of book I can pull my non-comic friends into ready. And the first two issues certainly have me hooked.
Here we have ex-football pro Chuck 'Fearless' Fairlane and follow his career from growing up with an unrelenting father pushing his at every turn, to his indiscretions in the big leagues, to his new position as a high school football coach in Carolina. But he seems to have kept his knack for being provoked by overly aggressive team mascots. This is brilliantly depicted on the first two covers and a fantastic splash page in issue 2.
We find our hero in a bit of a predicament with both his father and the FBI. And Chuck's estranged father seems to know more about the gambling trouble he gets himself into than he lets on, thus spurring Chuck to contact the FBI. Enter Agent Harrison and her tenaciousness to pull the truth out of Chuck one way or another.
Kowalchuk's art and color fit perfectly with Sims' and Bowers' story, dark, gritty but not without humor. Down Set Fit somehow manages to balances both intrigue and sheer ridiculousness into one encompassing sports dramedy. It's only 6 issues long and #3 comes out next Wednesday so plenty of time to catch up.
Verdict: Must Read


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The district capital and university town of Vechta is one of the most successful business locations in the Northwest. Thanks to a far-sighted business promotion policy and a firmly rooted, hard-working population, Vechta has developed to become a business location of supra-regional importance. Vechta is home to "global players" just as well as traditional craftsmen, innovative service providers, enterprising retailers, researchers and developers. The result is a naturally developed variety of branches - future-oriented, creative, cosmopolitan and successful.
If, in this day and age, you are currently engaged in conducting a business location analysis of such a multifaceted town as Vechta, there are numerous elements of information, data and facts that you will have to determine and evaluate. The following pages will provide the information that is important for you, as entrepreneur, in deciding on your business location and which will give you an initial overview of the business location Vechta.
Vechta's entrepreneurs are characterised by their down-to-earth approach, their innovative endeavour and a healthy degree of willingness to engage in new ventures. Entrepreneurs in Vechta are supported by a highly committed administration, competent partners in the field of policy making and a high degree of continuity.
Should you have any queries in regard to the constantly updated information provided for you, please to do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues who are available to you at any time at the office for business promotion.
In Vechta, we continue to pursue far-sighted business promotion, focused on the needs of the entrepreneur. Put us to the test!


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Clark's Automotive
600 Wiethaupt Rd
Florissant, MO 63031
fax: 314-837-0893
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Business ID: 10314912 | Universal ID: 668f4018-a56d-5693-8038-ec7e9ce6e5c2


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This is the week when things are really starting to change in my house. We're switching our meats, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products all to organic. Last night, we had our first completely organic dinner, so I thought about some of the differences between that and our normal meals.
Okay, I'll admit, I can be a picky eater sometimes. But I actually liked the organic vegetables because they tasted really fresh. We also had steak and potatoes, which I thought tasted the same as their non-organic counterparts. However, it turns out that the whole meal was more nutritious because it was organic. It's been proven that organic foods are richer in vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus than non-organic foods, and also have higher levels of antioxidants. Remember when I wrote about all the harsh preservatives and food additives in many non-organic foods? People who eat organic foods have less exposure to these preservatives, which is especially important for children because they're still growing. Oh, and did I mention that organic foods have shown an improvement in taste and quality? Now things are starting to make sense!
So far,our organic switch has had postive effects. I mean, I actually liked the vegeables! I like knowing the nutritional aspects, too. Soon, I will go on a shopping trip to compare the costs of organic and non-organic foods. I want to answer a big question in this debate: how much more do people have to pay for organic food products?


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Beat the back-to-school blues with these genius tricks.


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You may not realize it, but schools engage in a variety of activities that affect animals. Luckily, all educators have the ability to make a difference for animals. The following are some of the top ways in which educators can help reduce animal suffering:
As always, remember that we're here to help. Experts on our staff can advise you on everything from planning animal-friendly field trips to cutting dissection out of your curriculum. Please feel free to contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or 757-622-7382 with any questions or to ask for advice!
You and your students can help support PETA's efforts to provide lonely "backyard dogs" with doghouses by participating in TeachKind's "Change for Chained Dogs" fundraiser. We've got everything you need to get started—so order your FREE action pack today!


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#TheFollowing Sets A Social TV Standard With Giveaways And #ShockCam
By Mary C. Long on March 25, 2013 6:00 PM
Want to know how to incorporate Twitter into your advertising? Take a look at the latest happenings in social TV and you're sure to be inspired.
For example, the new TV show The Following is going all out with Twitter interaction, even incorporating Vine into its advertising. If you're a viewer, check this out for how to win stuff while you watch – and if you're a marketer, watch and learn, young Jedi.


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Steal away to cool temperatures, stunning views, great wine, and the peace that comes from solitude. Make Virginia your autumn playground.
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The Natural Bridge Park is your home base for the Virginia Tech Home Games! Offering overnight packages that include pre- and post-game specials ...
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Vietnamese Pork-Rice Noodle Soup
Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
Aromatic star anise, fish sauce, and a Thai chile infuse the broth with an intense flavor. When you slice the pork, hold the knife at a slant and cut the pork diagonally into very thin pieces—the meat will be more tender and will cook more quickly.
Yield: 5 servings (serving size: 1/4 cup bean sprouts, 1 cup noodles, about 3 ounces pork, 3/4 cup broth, and about 1 1/2 tablespoons basil)
More From Oxmoor House
Recipe Time
Cook Time:
Prep Time:
Other: 20 Minutes
Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
- Calories: 351
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated fat: 2.2g
- Protein: 23.2g
- Carbohydrate: 45g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Iron: 1.9mg
- Sodium: 899mg
- Calories from fat: 21%
- Fiber: 1.6g
- Calcium: 31mg
- 8 ounces flat rice stick noodles (banh pho)
- 1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, divided
- 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (1-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced
- 4 cups less-sodium beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 whole star anise
- 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 small red Thai chile, seeded
- 1 1/4 cups fresh bean sprouts
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
- 10 lime wedges
- Place noodles in a large bowl. Add boiling water to cover; let stand 20 minutes. Drain.
- . While noodles soak, cut tenderloin in half lengthwise. Cut each strip into thin slices. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pork, red pepper, and garlic; sauté 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until pork is lightly browned. Remove pork mixture from pan, and set aside.
- . Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add ginger and onion; sauté 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add broth and next 5 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes or until liquid is reduced by one-third to about 3 3/4 cups. Strain broth through a metal sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Keep broth warm.
- . Divide bean sprouts among bowls; top with noodles. Place pork evenly over noodles. Ladle broth over pork; top evenly with basil. Squeeze 1 lime wedge over each serving. Serve with remaining lime wedges.
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Vietnamese Pork-Rice Noodle Soup Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Soups/Stews
- CONVENIENCE: Family
- CUISINE: Vietnamese
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Pork
- PUBLICATION: Oxmoor House
More Recipes Like This
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See It Her solo show runs Feb. 24 through April 28 at the Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive Laguna Beach, 949-494-8971, lagunaartmuseum.org
BackgroundSchulnik comes from a family of painters, architects, and draftsmen, and she works in a variety of disciplines: painting, sculpture, animation. She studied at California Institute of the Arts, and her work is in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and others.
Inspiration"I had been working a lot with the mound image—big bundles of things all lumped together, swelling and weaving." She created a similar scene in her animated film, "Mound," which will be screened at her show. "Someone told me [the painting] looked like a giant gravestone covered in flowers and cats."
Creation"Flower Mound" is an oil painting on two linen panels that together measure more than 8 by 12 feet. Schulnik started by creating multiple drawings; the figure at top right was modeled after her. She also scattered cats throughout the painting; the felines and flowers "just felt natural," she says.
>>Online OnlyBrowse a gallery of Allison Schulnik's art here
This article originally appeared in the February 2013 issue.
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Rafe over at CNets' Web 2.0 blog made startups pitch their company as a haiku, a brilliant move as any. Yes, haiku is a Japanese type of poem, and yes, you read it right.
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The inspection was carried out by three Additional Inspectors.
Description of the school
Pupils in this larger than average primary school come from a wide variety of social and ethnic backgrounds. The majority are from White British backgrounds. A very small number of pupils are at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of pupils who are entitled to free school meals is broadly average. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is average but varies considerably from year to year. The school has received Healthy School status, an Intermediate International Schools award and a Stephen Lawrence award.
|Grade 1
|Grade 2
|Grade 3
|Grade 4
Overall effectiveness of the school
Grade: 2
This is a good school that enables pupils to achieve well and provides outstanding pastoral care for them. Pupils are proud of their school and speak highly of their teachers and the interesting activities they provide. Their good personal development is reflected in the way pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds work and play happily together. The strong and positive atmosphere of racial harmony in the school is enhanced by initiatives such as the work of the Primary African Caribbean Excellence Project and acknowledged by the school's receipt of the Stephen Lawrence Award.
Standards and achievement dipped in the last two years. However, staff have taken effective action to halt the decline and restore the above average standards that were previously a positive feature of the school. Children's attainment on entry to school is broadly in line with national expectations. As a result of improvements in assessment and teaching, the good start children make in the Foundation Stage is successfully built on in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Pupils are currently making good progress and standards are rising once again. Because of the good support provided by well trained teaching assistants, pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make similarly good progress to other groups of pupils.
The quality of teaching is good overall. There is an occasional variation in quality. For example, when lesson introductions are too long and focused at middle ability pupils, the more able do not always have enough time to work on activities that challenge them to achieve their best. The curriculum is of good quality. Curricular enrichment is outstanding with a wide variety of events, visits and activities that successfully promote pupils' enjoyment and learning. During the very popular curriculum enrichment afternoons, pupils in small groups take part in numerous activities ranging from circuit training to Makaton sign language.
The work of the learning mentor, the support for pupils who display challenging behaviour and the strategies used to support the well-being of all learners exemplify the outstanding pastoral care provided for pupils. While there are occasional problems in the playground, they are quickly dealt with and good relationships between staff and pupils ensure that all individuals feel safe, adopt safe practices and know that someone will help them if there is a problem. The academic guidance provided for pupils is satisfactory overall and strongest in writing, where most pupils are given good advice about their achievements and what they have to do to improve. The high quality care provided for pupils with specific learning difficulties and/or disabilities is exemplary and much appreciated by parents who make such comments as, 'My child, who has special needs, really enjoys going to school and has always been included in all activities and is viewed as a valuable member of the class'. Pupils make a good contribution to the community through the school council, fundraising activities and by participating in events that support the church and the local community.
Inspired by the strong leadership of the headteacher and his deputy, the adults in school are enthusiastic and determined to improve pupils' achievement even further. Thorough assessment and monitoring procedures are in place which enable senior staff to set challenging targets and to check on pupils' progress towards meeting them. Staff have a good understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and are clear about what they have to do to bring about further improvement.
Effectiveness of the Foundation Stage
Grade: 2
Children settle well into Reception as a result of strong induction procedures and close partnerships with parents. Parents are most appreciative of the positive start their children make to their education, many sharing the view of one that, 'The Foundation Stage is first class!' Children enjoy their learning in an inclusive environment, supported by skilled adults who ensure that all children's individual needs are quickly identified and met. The indoor classrooms are interesting and excite the children. The school is aware, however, that the outdoor area could be developed further to ensure that it enriches learning as much as the activities inside. Adults have high expectations and support the children in developing good routines to ensure that they are ready for learning. There is a good balance between teacher-led activities and those the children choose for themselves, which supports them in becoming more independent. Children move into Year 1 with standards that are at least in line with expectations and with the good personal skills needed to become confident, happy learners.
What the school should do to improve further
- Ensure that all pupils, especially the more able, are always challenged appropriately.
Achievement and standards
Grade: 2
Following a period of consistently above average standards in the Year 2 and Year 6 assessments, standards fell in the last two years to average overall. This issue has been successfully resolved. It is clear from analysing the school's most recent data about pupils' progress and from the work seen in pupils' books that standards are now above average. Pupils are regularly tested and the information gained is used by class teachers and senior staff to ensure that all pupils achieve well. Year 6 'booster' classes and a variety of support groups are carefully planned to provide suitable support at an early stage. This is particularly effective in ensuring that those pupils who find learning more difficult than most achieve well. Pupils from minority ethnic groups make the same good rate of progress as other groups of pupils.
Personal development and well-being
Grade: 2
Pupils' behaviour is good and most pupils show good self-control. The small number of emotionally vulnerable pupils make good progress in managing their behaviour, because they are very well supported by skilled staff. The pupils' moral, social and cultural development is good and their spiritual development is outstanding. Pupils are given frequent opportunities to reflect on their place in the world and appreciate the wonder and beauty of their planet. The school council makes good use of suggestions from pupils to influence the life of the school from helping select healthy school meals to promoting safety on the local roads. However, the fact that the council does not have officers who set the agenda limits council members' opportunities to develop useful life skills. The use of 'class health pledges' is an effective and innovative method of helping pupils to learn about, and take some responsibility for, leading a healthy lifestyle. Pupils make good progress in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT). These skills, in addition to the very good progress they make in developing self-confidence and high self-esteem, provide a good foundation for adult life.
Quality of provision
Teaching and learning
Grade: 2
Lessons are generally well planned. They are presented in a lively fashion and good use is made of interactive whiteboards to help maintain pupils' interest. A great deal of work has been undertaken to improve teaching and learning in writing and mathematics. As a result of the interesting topics, careful preparation through speaking and listening activities, clear advice and regular practice, pupils are becoming enthusiastic writers. They are very proud of their achievements displayed in the 'Big Writing Books'. The careful analysis of test results in mathematics enabled teachers to focus on areas of weakness and the subsequent support has helped pupils to make better progress.
However, in the occasional less successful lesson the lesson introduction, when the teacher talks to the whole class, is sometimes too long, with the result that the less able pupils cannot keep up and the more able pupils mark time. On these occasions, the time that pupils have to work on activities matched to their ability is too short. Less able pupils are usually well supported by well trained, enthusiastic teaching assistants which enables them to make good progress overall. In the best lessons, the pace is brisk with well focused questions which challenge pupils of all abilities to think more deeply about their work.
Curriculum and other activities
Grade: 2
The curriculum is successfully focused on improving pupils' achievement in literacy and numeracy. At present, there are better opportunities for pupils to apply their literacy skills in other lessons than their numeracy and ICT skills. Although pupils' personal development is promoted well overall, some activities are teacher led and pupils have few opportunities to take the initiative or to plan and work together on activities of their choosing. Class discussion time and assemblies give pupils excellent opportunities to explore their spiritual and emotional well-being. Many subjects contribute to their good understanding of, and active participation in, a healthy lifestyle.
The Curriculum Enrichment project, combined with the many after school clubs and other initiatives, provides outstanding learning opportunities for pupils. They include modern foreign languages, cooking, emergency first aid and art and craft projects.
Care, guidance and support
Grade: 2
Pastoral care is outstanding. The adults in school work very well as a team to ensure that pupils feel safe and valued. The learning mentor provides sensitive support to the most vulnerable pupils and their parents, to ensure that pupils benefit well from all the school provides. Pupils value the opportunity to seek advice through the 'Confidential Chat Box' and say that their requests are always followed up. The school offers a 'second chance' to pupils who have experienced difficulties in other schools and goes to great lengths to help them gain control of their emotions. It has close links with parents and outside agencies to promote pupils' well-being. Procedures to safeguard pupils are in place and attendance and behaviour are monitored closely.
Systems to check on pupils' progress are now well established. The information is used to set challenging targets and to support pupils in meeting them. The advice offered to pupils about their achievements and what they need to do to improve further is best in writing.
Leadership and management
Grade: 2
The strong leadership of the headteacher and deputy headteacher is largely responsible for the sense of purpose in the school. They are well supported by an effective leadership team who value the resources and training they have received to enable them to carry out their role effectively. There is a strong feeling of optimism and self-belief among the staff of this inclusive school and they are determined to seek further improvements. Senior and middle managers are effectively using the new, comprehensive assessment procedures to check on pupils' progress and do whatever they can to ensure that as many pupils as possible reach their challenging targets. The latest 'subject leaders' report is a much improved and effective document. It provides a powerful means for self-evaluation, assisting the school to move forward.
Governors provide strong support for the school. They receive a wealth of information about the school's performance that they use with increasing insight to ask challenging questions. Parents in general are very supportive of the staff. However, the inspection revealed that a significant number of parents have concerns, especially about behaviour and bullying, which the school recognises it must seek to allay. Although inspection activities included talking to several groups of pupils and observations of pupils at play during break time and lunchtime, no evidence was found to suggest that the parents' worries were justified.


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Face-Off: Sheer Raspberry Lipstick
The Oscars are still two and a half weeks away, but the best-actress race is already heating up. At last night's Hollywood Reporter Nominees Night bash in Beverly Hills, celebrating the men and women whose names will be read aloud on February 24, best-actress hopefuls Naomi Watts and Jennifer Lawrence were wearing a near-identical shade of sheer raspberry lipstick, opting for glossy translucence over the more red-carpet-friendly matte mouth. Watts paired her lightweight lip with groomed brows and mascara, while Lawrence opted for a subtle gray smoky eye, bumping up the glam factor for the casual cocktail party. We're not going to allege that this mere makeup move insinuates that she wants it more, but…we are going to let the evidence speak for itself. Who do you think wore it better?
Photo: Getty Images