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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Homeschooling and Subversion
Anyway, I won't name names but one twitterer is homeschooling and wondered aloud (twittered) if she was teaching subversion. Since Twitter doesn't lend itself to responding to something really old (you know, like 16 hours or more) I thought I'd respond here, since it's also worthy of more than 140 characters.
The answer is, yes, you are teaching subversion. There is no way around this, and there's really no political angle to it either: Conservative or liberal, if you are homeschooling you are saying that the state-run school is not adequate to the task it sets for itself.
Whether this is because they teach poorly, or the wrong things, or the social aspect--it doesn't matter. "Universal education" is one of the first social programs--one of the first ways our government set out to accumulate power for itself, and it has been the most disastrous.
You could say the same thing is true for private schools, except the government has its hooks in those as well. They try to get their hooks into homeschools also by mandating curricula and testing, but fortunately for the homeschool crowd, government competence isn't boosted in the policing area either.
More importantly, however, you are probably not using the same tactics used by schools to control children. (At least, I hope you're not.) There was a time where schools controlled children through appeals to morality. That is, you were expected to be moral, to work hard, to fulfill expectations: Your sin was not using the opportunity your forebears had given you.
Not to idolize too much, of course, because the threat of physical force was there and very real. And even in bygone days, homeschooling could be quite superior to even the little red schoolhouse.
Schools now are half-prison/zoos and half re-education camps. They're so bad at the education part, only the most deluded die-hard school promotrs will even try to suggest that a child gets a better education at school. Mostly they say, "Well, what about socialization?"
Ah, yes, what about socialization? Isn't it important that your child learn to get along with others? To experience the peer pressure that demands conformity? That promotes consumerism as the highest goal? Isn't it important, in other words, that your child learn to "go along to get along"?
How else will he learn to take orders from the government and his corporate masters? How else will he know happiness, if not by being able to buy the exact same stuff as everyone else, and like the exact same stuff as everyone else? How will he learn the correct things to think? (I've mentioned here the argument I had with a woman who disliked my approach of presenting data to children and letting them work out their own opinions: "What if they end up thinking the wrong things!")
When we did the Creative Wealth financial program (about a year ago), The Boy was one of two kids (out of 120) who was willing to really speak out. Over the years, and especially as a teen, The Boy has become less gregarious than he was a child, so he was markedly different from the other boy speaking out. His drive to speak came from a desire to express an opinion, or to point out what he saw as a logical flaw, not as a desire for attention. (He's sort of at the "shun attention" phase, actually.)
I'm not patting myself or any other homeschooling parent on the back, here, but I am saying that there is an implicit message in homeschooling, and few parents are going to work as hard to recreate the soul-crushing dynamic--that confluence of peer pressure, absolute authority, and bad education--at play in a school. It's something you couldn't do if you wanted to, I don't think.
The result is going to be someone with enough independence--and a very good starting example--to challenge the status quo, the state, or anything else that most people end up thinking of as immutable and irresistable.
In other words, a subversive.
17 comments:
Ah yes, "what about the socialization?"ReplyDelete
To which I answer "What about the ability to count his own Beanbags and come up with the same number twice? And if he can come up with the same number, is it the correct number?"
That's about when the blank stare comes into play.
"But what about frieeeends?"
Kind of sad that not only has the state co-opted education, it seems to have positioned itself as the primary avenue for social activity.
So that explains it.ReplyDelete
Hey if you do most of your communication via Twitter, does that make you a Twit.
Just sayn'
Explains what? What were we trying to explain?!ReplyDelete
I think a "tweeter" is the preferred nomenclature, if you please.
Ya twit.
The answer is, yes, you are teaching subversion. There is no way around this, and there's really no political angle to it either: Conservative or liberal, if you are homeschooling you are saying that the state-run school is not adequate to the task it sets for itself.ReplyDelete
Well, yes. The answer was, and is, embedded in the 'question' to which you referred.
Also, Blake, thanks, for that and more than you know.
Take a look at Sippican's post from Wednesday.ReplyDelete
For me, plan A is homeschooling. If I fail, plan B is public school. Others reverse their plans.
My little subversives are going on a field trip this morning.
Thank you, reader.ReplyDelete
Ruth Anne-- I need to put Sippican in my reader list. I just admire the hell out of him.
I'm glad I followed the link to Sippican's blog. I like what he said about "everyone's a homeschooler." I plan to send my kids to public school--they are supposed to be good where we're moving, but we'll see.)ReplyDelete
Anyway, I worry about it all the time, but really, what he said is true. You have to make sure your kids know what they need to know.
The IAHP just says you gotta "school-proof" them. Just like pool-proofing them is to teach them to swim, school-proofing them is teaching them to read and think and building genuine confidence in their own abilities.ReplyDelete
Blake, I have gone to that site and watched some video. Where do you start with a 3-year old? He's certainly not reading yet.ReplyDelete
Sorry, I should be more specific: did you attend courses or just read the books?ReplyDelete
I should pick Freeman's brain, too.ReplyDelete
I've been to the institutes several times.ReplyDelete
The easiest place to start is with "bits". This is basically a set of large flash cards with a picture on one side and small pieces of information about the picture on the back.
Well, wait, no, that's not the easiest place to start 'cause it's a lot of work to put a set of bits together (though you can buy some from the Institutes). It's remarkably effective, though.
Teaching them to read is fairly similar, except you just write the words on flash cards and say them. The trick is to use interesting words--the business of using small words as in kiddie books is that they're both boring and hard to distinguish from each other.
There's a very narrow window in which you can teach a child "instant math", too, so you want to jump on that. (By the time they're five, most kids are too old.)
I bought "How to Teach Your Baby to Read" today. We'll see how it goes.ReplyDelete
Good luck! I think you'll have fun!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 10, 2009 at 7:56 AM
Great post!ReplyDelete
BE blessed!
Thanks, Terri!ReplyDelete
I think I am!
Grab an umbrella. Unleash hell. Your mileage may vary. Results not typical. If swelling continues past four hours, consult a physician.


text:
a Museum for Comics?
The origins of comics and sequential art can be traced back
through thousands of years of cultural history. Graphic narrative
as a means of pictorial communication began in Paleolithic times,
probably before distinct human language skills were developed.
Cave art, body decoration and design on functional objects represent
some of the earliest visual expressions of human thought and
Our journey at Words and Pictures begins in these ancient times,
when simple drawings adorned the walls of caves. These images often depicted subjects
such as bison and antelope, whose creations may have been part
of a ritual to insure a successful hunt. Hand print images,
a sort of individual "signature", were also common
and speak to us in a very immediate way.
In later cultures, as those in Mesopotamia and Egypt, we see
"words" associated with images which began to evolve
into written language systems. These early "picture sequences"
recorded early history, the first laws, codes of behavior and
movements of the solar system.
As societies became more "civilized", new forms of
graphic narrative continued to evolve. With the advent of printing
in the 1400s, mass-produced words and images were soon a part
of everyone's lives. When we study the history of art, we see
countless examples of this form of expression. Within this context
we can see contemporary graphic narrative as a natural extension.
As you visit the various Museum directories, it is our hope
that you see modern graphics, illustrations and sequential art
as part of the great tapestry of fine art throughout the ages.
Enjoy your journey and revisit often!
A Short History of American
© Steven Weiner
"100 Graphic Novels for Public Libraries"
Kitchen Sink Press, 1996
American comics began in 1895,
with the publication of the first cartoon in a newspaper strip,
The Yellow Kid. The comic strip form caught the attention
of the public, and as a result, the comic strip became very
popular in the early part of the century. Sunday and daily comic
strips continue to be featured in almost every newspaper in
the United States.
Comic books didn't become popular until the 1930s,
and were initially reprints of newspaper strips. However, as
pulp fiction faded in popularity, publishers of popular material
turned with increasing frequency to stories told in comic book
format to replace the pulp genre. For many people who observe
the field peripherally, the 1930s remain the defining moment
of comic book history: many of the superheros who enjoy popularity
today were created during the years just prior to World War
As a genre, comic books mirrored popular culture. Comic books
of the early 1940s
had a distinctly patriotic flavor, while those of the early
1950s had a conservative tone. Coexisting with the conservative
element was a radical strain - the EC horror, crime, and science
fiction comics. The 1950s
were also the period when the comic book field came under attack
as deleterious to the morals of American youth. Dr. Fredric
Wertham's book, Seduction of the Innocent, indicted the
comic book industry and blamed juvenile delinquency on the effect
of comic books. Worried, comic book publishers created and enforced
the "Comics Code," guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable
content. The most popular comics of the 1950s were love comics,
western comic books, and MAD magazine.
Superhero comics made a return in the 1960s.
As America had become a more introspective society, the new
superheros were imbued with phobias and challenges. The 1960s
also witnessed the emergence of underground comics, comics expressing
discontent with the accepted core of American society. Superhero
comics were sold on drugstore racks; underground comics were
sold in head shops. This marketing practice was unique in the
comic book field; prior to the sale of underground comics, comic
book publishers had attempted to sell to the largest possible
audience, but the underground comics proved that one could be
successful by appealing to readers with political or aesthetic
ideals similar to those of the comic books' creators.
In the early 1970s,
the "comic book convention" was initiated, where dealers
sold rare and valuable comic books at collectors prices. Out
of this atmosphere, the comic book specialty shop was born.
The underground and conventional comic book venues found common
ground in the specialty shop, perhaps because both strains existed
outside the accepted popular culture. As a concept, the comic
shop thrived, partly because the forum allowed publishers direct
contact with their readers, and as a result, many publishers
experimented with different kinds of books, directed at different
segments of the comic book store patronage.
Other factors were important as well. Comic book creators in
the United States were utilizing cartooning methods developed
by Japanese and European artists and writers, bringing new sophistication
into American comics. Underground comics moved closed to the
mainstream comics culture, but used accepted comic book characters
to examine beliefs and attitudes previously left unexplored
by more conventional comic book creators.
In the 1980s, superheros
became societal outcasts, burdened with complex personalities
and problems. Artwork became more expressive and story lines
increasingly demanding. Non-superhero comic books also grew
more intricate and literate than they had been previously.
The sophistication of the American comic book/graphic novel
field may be the most underrated literacy movement in recent
United States history. The graphic novel, a sophisticated book
length story generally contained in one volume, was created
in 1978 by Will Eisner. The form grew so popular that by the
end of the next decade, many publishers no longer produced periodicals,
but instead concentrated their efforts solely on graphic novels.
It is within the graphic novel format that one encounters much
of the most experimental and exciting work being done in the
comics medium today.
(END of excerpt)
It is at this point that the Words & Pictures Virtual Museum
picks up the challenge of introducing you to the next century
of comics around the globe. Through this directory we'll provide
links to varied looks at the history of comics and their contribution
to global popular culture. Our Spotlight Exhibits will focus
on where the medium is moving in the 21st century
and the innovative talents who'll take us there.
Words & Pictures Museum is a non-profit organization.
All artwork is © the respective artists and/or publishers.
Content is © the Words & Pictures Museum.
rights reserved.
questions regarding the content of this site should be
directed to: email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ruth's Chris Steak House will host a family Thanksgiving meal for $39.95 per adult and $12.95 per child.
The Thanksgiving menu will include:
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Sides- a choice of Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Beans, and Creamed Spinach
Dessert- Pumpkin Cheesecake and Vanilla Ice Cream
If hosting Thanksgiving at your home, guests can simplify preparation with sides-to-go from Ruth's Chris. Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Beans with Roasted Garlic, and Creamed Spinach are available in family-sized portions for $29.95.
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by WTWH Media LLC.


text:
Coming just a few months after the release of the nearly identical Olympus Has Fallen, Roland Emmerich's explosion fest White House Down comes busting out of the gate with a noticeable increase in not only production values, star power in Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, and visual effects quality, but also a net increase in entertainment value to boot.
Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) is facing an uphill battle to earn the respect of his political enthusiast young daughter (Joey King), but when Cale pulls some strings to obtain a job interview with Secret Service head Carol Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhall) and tickets to visit the White House, Cale is granted a momentary reprieve from her lack of interest.
While turned down for the job due to his dearth of qualifications, Cale takes the opportunity of a White House tour, which soon takes a turn for the worse when the nearby Capitol building is destroyed and the White House put into lock down. When the building is attacked by mercenaries, assisted by a devious insider, soon the only man that may be able to assist the leader of the free world (Jamie Foxx) is the one that just got turned down...
Despite its similarities, what differentiates White House Down from Olympus Has Fallen is the unique change in tone, which results in two very different movies. While Olympus strives for a hard-action thriller in the vein of Die Hard (at least, when they were good), Down is a much lighter and enjoyable roller coaster ride which never takes itself too seriously, with numerous jokes punctuating moments of tenseness.
Director Roland Emmerich is either loved or reviled and never in between. Whilst I concede that his best work is made in conjunction with his previous producing partner Dean Devlin (Independence Day and StarGate), I always enjoy his keen visual sense and penchant for explosive, over the top action. In this regard, White House Down proves no different to other entries in his filmography.
Whilst I don't necessarily 'get' the appeal of heart throb Channing Tatum, he puts reasonable effort into both run and shooting, whilst concurrently spouting affable sarcasm. One the other hand, Jamie Foxx runs on autopilot, with precious little of his subtle talents on show. Whilst I hesitate to claim that he's necessarily wasted in the role, admittedly anyone could have played it. The real stand out is child actor Joey King whom at the tender age of 14 already has a string of blockbusters such as The Dark Knight Rises, Oz: The Great and Powerful and Battle Los Angeles to her name.
Overall White House Down proves to be a fun, post-blockbuster season entry, which is as subtle as any of Roland Emmerich's pictures. That's to say, not at all.


text:
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Source: Kantox
Fast growing peer-to-peer (P2P) foreign exchange (FX) platform Kantox today announces its collaboration with three of the biggest names in the industry to form a European Advisory Board.
Claire Bridel, former COO, Emea, of leading French corporate and investment bank Natixis, CIB, Magnus Lind, chairman of Treasury Peer and François Masquelier, vice chairman of the European Association of Corporate Treasurers, have joined forces with Kantox Co-Founder and CEO Philippe Gelis to push the ambitious venture even further.
Founded in 2011, Kantox is challenging the dominance of the UK's traditional banks and is on track to turn over €1 billion of FX transactions this year. The company, which secured €6.5 million in venture capital investment earlier this year, was recently named as one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe[1]. Collaboration between Kantox and leading figures from finance corporations highlights the growing impact of FinTech challengers in the European market.
Kantox's European Advisory Board will combine expertise from all its members to help the company maintain its position as a key disruptor of the antiquated FX industry. Meeting on a bi-annual basis, the board members will consider upcoming industry changes to ensure that Kantox stays ahead of the curve of FX trends and continues to offer its customers a ground-breaking service.
Formerly the founder of global management consultancy NFS Group, Magnus Lind now acts as adviser, board member and investor in transformational financial services companies through international network Treasury Peer. He is joined on the new advisory board by François Masquelier Head of Corporate Finance, Treasury and Risk at RTL Group and vice chairman of Euro Associations of Corporate Treasurers. Claire Bridel brings 20 years' experience across leading operational roles in financial corporations to the board, including Natixis CIB, Newedge and Fimat.
Philippe Gelis, co-founder and CEO of Kantox, commented: "When I first launched Kantox, building up a reputation in a marketplace dominated by traditional banks required a complete attitude shift within the industry. Support from leading players in the sector is a landmark for Kantox, highlighting the extent to which FinTech has since gathered pace in Europe. "From day one, our goal has been to bring light to the opaque FX industry, which has been manipulated by unfair rates charged by banks and brokers. With the support of the advisory board we aim to continue to be as forward-thinking a company as we were on day one."
François Masquelier, senior vice president Treasury of Corporate Finance and Risk at RTL Group and founder of Euro Associations of Corporate Treasurers commented: "I am pleased to have been appointed as an advisory board member for Kantox. Given the waves of regulation and the inflation of new restricting provisions, banks have to revisit their strategies and potentially reduce their range of products and customers. FX products are commodities and should therefore be exchanged freely via P2P platforms. Players in the real economy need to find alternative and simple means of exchanging foreign currencies and hedging FX exposure. As such there is a great and emerging market for challenger companies such as Kantox.
"Kantox has understood that some treasurers are facing difficulty accessing the FX market and offers a fantastic solution. It shows great potential to grow rapidly in the coming years. I am proud and honoured to be invited to offer them advice, based on my own treasury experience."
Claire Bridel former COO, Emea, at Natixis CIB commented: "Kantox's goal is to create a transparent and fair market place for FX transactions, bringing unprecedented value to its clients. I am very excited at the prospect of helping this young, professional and passionate team to grow their business."
Magnus Lind Chairman at Treasury Peer commented: "As Europe continues to struggle with poor growth and limited job opportunities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are proving their worth, accounting for 80% of jobs in the private sector. However, new financial regulations have been designed to make it harder and more expensive for SMEs to fund, trade FX and hedge. We therefore need disruptive, innovative, courageous companies and entrepreneurs like Kantox, Philippe and his team. I'm honored to have been invited as an advisor for Kantox. Kantox will drastically transform the financial services space and lead the way for other companies and entrepreneurs to radically rethink the industry. This is exactly what the European economy urgently requires."
Sponsored: [New Report] The Future of Fintech in Latin America 2023
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text:
So have you ever asked any woman – "how to impress a girl easily" yet she snickered at the question (or potentially you)…? Not that there is anything so funny about it, though the outrageous responses that repeatedly show up are definitely worth laughing about.
"Know how to play the violin or perhaps any kind of appealing musical instrument"
Really, don't be shocked if you have hardly ever come across it previously; some people literally believe that a man needs to learn to play a complex or alluring musical instrument to actually impress a girl…but what if all that you're good at is pulling the cords of a musical instrument but not the cords of her heart?
"Converse in a cool dialect and/or pick up on an accent"
This may more than likely be the most hogwash "answer" out there, however, you'd be shocked at the number of men that in fact have faith in this feign. Well, what's the fuss should you master speaking Italian but can not learn how you can communicate with a woman?


text:
Much of modern pm thinking is clumsy and lacks insight
Have you ever watched Joe Public on an ice rink? A few glide gracefully by while the majority wobble badly, grab each other in panicky moments of instability that cascade one wobble to all around them.
I'll re-ask that: when you observe how organisations execute the average change initiative would you describe the performance with words such as graceful, elegant and efficient or clumsy, faltering and inefficient? Perhaps some of each but the skew is towards the poorer end of the spectrum.
Many studies return findings that delivery of projects is uncertain. Why is that? After all we have Pathways, the PRINCE2® and PMBOK manuals and many organisations have Centres of Excellence (nee Project Management Offices) that have invented their own synthesis of ideas.
It is all flawed. The idea of a discipline called project management illustrates a philosophical wrong starting point. There is perhaps a discipline of Management of Change, or it might be called Benefits Management, or Applied Risk (opportunity) Management, or Politics (application of rationed resources in the parochial interest of the resource controllers). At the 'top level' we start in the wrong place, and in the detail our common capability is weakly described and poorly applied.
For example: popular discussion of risk has moved the word 'opportunity' beyond the relevant chapter's opening. If thinking was sound not superficial then "risk averse" would be replaced with something bipolar eg 'psychology of uncertainty' and include ideas of utility and prospect theory. A broader vocabulary would express all project dimensions beyond the simplistic idea of Critical Path.
Concepts like Critical Chain, and "Walking in Fog" bring insight, but codifying and examining project management is deleting the insightful and driving clumsy attention to rule over principle. The sentiment "yes in the real world, but not for the exam"! personifies clumsy and the next thought is "when I'm certified I won't recall or apply any of it".
Thus many 'practitioner's' thinking omits application of the available knowledge. Instead they wobble about propagating errors while a competent few deftly apply principle over rule.
LML focus on competency development. We provide training within a context of transition to the work-place.Staff returning to the work-place with new knowledge & ideas need managers who are conscious of the supporting activities that deliver skills from newly acquired knowledge.LML provides the complete skill development package.
Adding PM skills to staff competencies is 40% "know what to do" and 60% supportive culture


text:
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my God and Saviour and that You have scheduled every day of my life and are teaching me so gently to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to make the longings of my heart known to You, Lord.
Lord, You know the desire deep within my heart that You bring that precious partner to me, with whom I may spend my life. I pray that You would bring the right man to me to be my future husband, that special one with whom I may spend my future, and I pray that You would bring him to me at the right time and in the right way.
Lord, I don't know what You have planned for my future, but I do know that Your plans and purposes for me are so much better than my own, and that You already know what tomorrow holds. And You know the man whom You have prepared to be that special person in my life.
I pray that You would prepare us both mentally, spiritual, emotionally and physically for the time when You bring us together in loving union. Fulfill my hearts desire I pray, and I will give You all the praise and glory. In Jesus' name,


text:
Who is Ill Bill? By now the question should be a rhetorical one, but despite his hustle Ill Bill is still far from a household name. The underground hero has been putting in work for years, getting critical acclaim for his old group Non-Phixion and creating super-hype for his new group La Coka Nostra. Despite being a beast on the mic and behind the boards, Ill Bill is still trying to put his name out there. It's odd considering his brother Necro has a fraction of the skill that Ill Bill does but probably has more fans. I could attribute Necro's fame to his shock rap lyrics, but if getting fans were that easy Ill Bill would have taken the cake with his controversial "White Ni**er." The answer to the riddle lies in the man himself. Who is Ill Bill? Ill Bill is whoever he wants to be and that is what prevents him from giving in to the demands of mass consumption. Ill Bill speaks his mind. So unlike Necro, he doesn't cater to shock rap fans looking for controversy. Instead of a formulaic album, "Hour of Reprisal" is a surreal trip into Ill Bill's mind. Ill Bill is a conspiracy theorist. Ill Bill is a Slayer fan. Ill Bill's uncle struggles with addiction problems. Ill Bill is a goon. Ill Bill is many things and he manages to convey them all in one hour on this album.
Ill Bill took this album dead serious. The intro says it all as he basically chose to try to depict his life and identity in one short hour. "Babylon" kicks things off and lets you know just how bleak Ill Bill's outlook on life is:
"This operation doesn't exist
The revolution will be classified live broadcast from the abyss
Out cities are crackpots and cardboard condominiums
Visions of track marks cross minds lost in delirium
The towers dropped, blind fools, confusion, who knew?
Now the world watch Saddam's execution on YouTube
Propaganda machines wage media jihad
A teen walks into a crowded movie theatre with bombs
Reading the Koran, silently obedient to God"
This is definitely some depressing music, but who can blame Ill Bill given the life he's experienced. Despite hitting on many current events, "Hour of Reprisal" is still a very personal album. On "White Ni**er" he addresses the volatile situation he faced as a white kid growing up in the projects:
"Hip Hop brought cultures together
I remember cuzines in camaros pumping "Tougher Than Leather"
Yankel Rosenbaum still got stabbed in Crown Heights
Gavin Cato got hit when they ran that red light
over a decade of healing but the scars remain
both families involved still harbor the pain
age 13 - 70's baby raised in the 80's
mad fights with blacks and whites
and both sides hated me for nonsense
the white kids was playin it wack
cos I'm from the projects and my neighbors is black
I had to prove whiteboys could thump too
but fuck skin color - I was proud to call myself a tough jew
I guess I'm mad lucky to be raised in NY
the world's capitol - my attitude was take em to war
other places would've raised me in a useless format
in Texas they dream about hunting jews with Borat"
"My Uncle" addresses Ill Bill's struggles trying to help a loved one kick addiction:
"My uncle shoots heroin, bathroom floor found a syringe
When I was on the Hiero tour, Howie went out on a binge
This snake bitch I was fucking even took him to cop
A month later he was on the floor looking for rock –
I missed a flight to the Czech Republic
Walked in the path of Howie living in his own puke, dying from crack
Cocaine poisoning – he shot heroin since fourteen –
February, 2003 he wants clean
I helped him out, he kicked crack, dope and meth
Hosted shows, free clothes, bubble baths, autographs, t-shirts
Soon I'ma make a Howie action figure
before his latest relapse I'm glad I captured pictures
I love Howie, homie used to change my diapers
To save him I'da jumped in front of spray from snipers
But this is just something that he's gotta do on his own
I'll try to get through to him with this song yo"
On "Too Young" Ill Bill is joined by Hero and Slaine of La Coka Nostra to deliver a word of warning to the youth:
"I was, too young to fall in love like Motley Crue
Too young, I pulled a gun and I shot this dude
It was over a girl, foolish pride, I was crucified
Just another youth for juvenile, doin' time
Forgive me mama, I never meant for you to cry
Went to trial, I was sent to juvy two to five
Handcuffed, a back of a bus, forty of us
Life as a shorty shouldn't be so rough
And I ain't no punk, here you fix a face or get your face fixed
Facelift credit keep colored you get you face ripped
The'y'll bust your shit right open and make you leak
You better chill out, before I birthday-cake your feet
Not a bad guy, I don't wanna catch mantime
So I chill with work-release in the back of my mind
But the guy that I popped wasn't dead, he's locked up in here now too
And wants revenge, I got shanked in my bed!"
The man is quite skilled at making interesting and entertaining music, even when it is highly personal. Take "U.B.S. (Unauthorized Biography of Slayer)," a track that has appeal despite the fact I am not a fan of Slayer nor could I really care less about their career. Despite that, I still don't skip the track since it has thumping beat and I'm fascinated by both Ill Bill's dedication to the band and the way he put together his words.
After one listen, you easily get a feel for who Ill Bill is. Even through his conspiracy heavy rants on "Doomsday Was Written In An Alien Bible" and "Society Is Brainwashed" Ill Bill's paranoid personality finds a way to shine through. The personal tracks completely seal the deal as far as showcasing Ill Bill's skill. Were it not for a few lack luster beats ("The Most Dangerous Weapon Alive" and "I'm A Goon" come to mind) this would be close to a perfect ten. As it stands, "Hour of Reprisal" is still an extremely solid album and definitely one of 2008's best releases.
Music Vibes: 8.5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 8.5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 8.5 of 10
Originally posted: February 24, 2009
source: www.RapReviews.com


text:
Boltaron® 4355 offers superior chemical resistance, clarity and durability compared to other materials. Meet long-term hygiene and safety standards without having to worry about the negative effects of cleaning products, crazing or bending.
* Independent lab tests. All tests at 73 °F (23 °C) in dry conditions unless otherwise noted.


text:
Okay, warning, today is a rant.
I've had a few people think it was "dirty" that I have dogs in my house, or that I touch them regularly in my job as an animal trainer. Okay, not everyone likes dogs, that's fine, and I guess if you're seriously weirded out about them you can imagine airborne cooties flying through the room or something. (Though the service dog under the table is not a risk to your food and isn't going away.) But the weird thing is, the people who voice such protests say nothing to or about parents doing actual gross stuff with their kids in eating areas.
I have long been disgusted by parents who change diapers on restaurant tables. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE, how is that okay, and it's not like there aren't legally-mandated changing tables in the restrooms just a few steps away. But I guess they figure they're busy and special, and anyway no one should be stupid enough to eat off a restaurant table or have their eyes open while eating. If I didn't want to see exactly how much nastier strained peas are post-processing, I shouldn't have chosen a restaurant which serves families. And anyway, breast-fed babies' diapers are so much better than formula-fed babies' diapers, see the difference? so they don't know how I could be upset.
Sorry, but that reasoning isn't good enough. And do not counter that you don't want to use a changing table because it might be germy, as I've been told several times. If that changing pad (if you're even using one) is good enough to protect my eating surface, it's good enough to protect your baby's poop dispenser. If your baby's poop can't be where other baby's poop has been because that's gross, then it's not too far a stretch to see that my food shouldn't be where your baby's poop has been because that might also be gross. The only possible rebuttal is that your baby doesn't actually poop like other babies do, in which case there's no need to change his diaper on the table.
I recently encountered a new low, though. (I've delayed this post to obscure the guilty.)
I watched a woman — an adult woman, without obvious signs of either sociopathy or dementia — take a sucked-on cucumber slice from a toddler who'd been carrying and slurping it for ten minutes and replace it on a vegetable tray. A tray set out for everyone to share. She didn't mention to anyone that she was doing this, no warning so others could avoid the masticated cucumber slice; I was the only one who saw. (I, um, stopped eating.)
What is it that makes some people think their offspring are so special that, to paraphrase a line which is strikingly literal here, their fecal matter doesn't stink? That their spit is okay? That their spit is okay on my food?
This is a place where I am not supposed to wear shoes, lest I track in dirt or germs, and where I have been criticized specifically for having a job where I touch animals, ew. But it's okay to serve me pre-masticated baby spit veggies.
Not to brag, but you're probably better off eating at my house even with my dogs lying on their beds in the same room.


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Perfect processes
The first 250 copies of my new book were shipped to bookstores with some of the pages upside down.
How does this happen? It's a 500-year-old technology… What does it mean to do work in a shop where your clients are pitched on perfect and you are expected to provide it?
Some thoughts to consider:
- If you traffic in perfect, it pays to turn your perfect into a system, not simply wing it. In the last fifty years, thanks to Deming and Crosby and others, we've gotten significantly better at creating perfect outputs that don't rely on heroism and luck. Design a better system, you'll get better outputs.
- If those you compete against also promise perfect, perfect is no longer sufficient. That's one reason why it's so difficult to be a book printer. Since perfect = all the same, then why not buy the cheapest version of perfect?
- I'm grateful every day for the nearly invisible perfect things that I count on. My car starts every single time. The water in my tap doesn't make me sick, ever. The thing in the jar is the same thing that was in the jar the last time I bought it… but, and I feel spoiled to say this, I take the perfect for granted. I'm way more interested, and spend far more time and money on the imperfect things, the things that might not work, the ideas and services and products that dance around the edges. If you're going to offer something that's imperfect, by all means, make it as good as you possibly can, but embrace the fact that you're not selling perfect. You're selling interesting. You're selling possibility. You're selling connection.
PS if you got one of the 250 books, my publisher is delighted to replace it and include a bonus. Or you could sell it on eBay, who knows, maybe it's a collectible.


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Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development (3rd Edition)
I am currently half-way through the following book:
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough in terms of learning a real-life, professional-grade, practical approach to drafting and applying a well-formed and iterative design strategy before diving into code.
I, too, read the "Head First" book and felt that I was much better off for having read it.
After having a few years of working-world experience, I now view the Craig Larman book that I am recommending to be a perfect "next step" for me.
About the Presence of "UML" in this Book Title:
Whether you have positive feelings or negative feelings about UML notation, please do not let that influence your decision to buy the book (ISBN 0131489062) in either direction.
The prominence of "UML" in the title is misleading. While the author does use and explain UML notation, these explanations are extremely well-woven into relevant design discussions, and at no time does this book read like a boring UML spec.
In fact, here is a quote taken directly from the book:
What's important is knowing how to think and design in objects, which is a very different and much more valuable skill than knowing UML notation. While drawing a diagram, we need to answer key questions: What are the responsibilities of the object? Who does it collaborate with? What design patterns should be applied? Far more important than knowing the difference between UML 1.4 and 2.0 !
This book at times seems like it is "speaking to" a lead architect or a project manager. What I mean to say by that is that it assumes that the reader has significant control over the planning and direction of a software project.
Nonetheless, even if you are only responsible for some very small piece of your company's projects and products, I would still recommend this book and encourage you to apply some "scaled down" modifications of the book's advice to your piece of the project.
Might I suggest Peter Coad's Java Design as a good guide for doing OO/Java design? Something much more heavy weight and rigorous: http://www.amazon.com/Applying-UML-Patterns-Introduction-Object-Oriented/dp/0131489062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288364561&sr=1-1
As for starting with Reqs- I suggest writing brief use cases and tie reqs to them so the reqs are in context.
This is a pretty common problem - and there are different solutions for different scenarios.
If the different types of product and their attributes are fixed and known at development time, you could look at the description in Craig Larman's book (http://www.amazon.com/Applying-UML-Patterns-Introduction-Object-Oriented/dp/0131489062/ref=sr_1_1/002-2801511-2159202?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194351090&sr=1-1) - there's a section on object-relational mapping and how to handle inheritance. This boils down to "put all the possible columns into one table", "create one table for each sub class" or "put all base class items into a common table, and put sub class data into their own tables".
This is by far the most natural way of working with a relational database - it allows you to create reports, use off-the-shelf tools for object relational mapping if that takes your fancy, and you can use standard concepts such as "not null", indexing etc.
Of course, if you don't know the data attributes at development time, you have to create a flexible database schema.
I've seen 3 general approaches.
The first is the one described by davogotland. I built a solution on similar lines for an ecommerce store; it worked great, and allowed us to be very flexible about the product database. It performed very well, even with half a million products. Major drawbacks were creating retrieval queries - e.g. "find all products with a price under x, in category y, whose manufacturer is z". It was also tricky bringing in new developers - they had a fairly steep learning curve. It also forced us to push a lot of relational concepts into the application layer. For instance, it was hard to create foreign keys to other tables (e.g. "manufacturer") and enforce them using standard SQL functionality.
The second approach I've seen is the one you mention - storing the variable data in some kind of serialized format. This is a pain when querying, and suffers from the same drawbacks with the relational model. Overall, I'd only want to use serialization for data you don't have to be able to query or reason about.
The final solution I've seen is to accept that the addition of new product types will always require some level of development effort - you have to build the UI, if nothing else. I've seen applications which use a scaffolding style approach to automatically generate the underlying database structures when a new product type is created. This is a fairly major undertaking - only really suitable for major projects, though the use of ORM tools often helps.
According to Wikipedia:
A Controller object is a non-user interface object responsible for receiving or handling a system event.
From Applying UML and Patterns:
What first object beyond the UI layer first receives and coordinates ("controls") a system operation?
Controllers, across the board - be it in MVC or GRASP or Patterns of EAA - are all about receiving input and responding to events.
I conceptualize it very literally: think of a video game controller.
It responds to input events - the user pressing buttons. It doesn't necessarily know what to do when you hit a button, but it at least receives the event.
Looking at the controller, one can easily figure out what the system events are - that is to say what inputs it responds to and how the user interacts with the system. On a Nintendo Controller, it's evident that system events are:
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
- Press
If we were to take all these events and build a software controller to deal with them, it would be an MVC controller: these events are all concerned with the physical controller as presented to the user - it's "view", if you will. But there's a second layer of input events for most video games, where button mashing maps on to specific system operations. For example, if you're playing as Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 2, pressing
← ← B triggers one of your special moves. In that case, the system could need different controllers which deal with these different kinds of events:
Here, the
NES Button Controller is a MVC controller which would keep track of the state of UI elements - for example, remembering what buttons were pressed in what order. Depending on application state (see Application Controller - another one!) the
NES Button Controller would response to certain button combinations by invoking methods on the other controllers - for example the
Scorpion Controller - which are Use Case Controllers.
What's important is that by looking at the design of these controller objects, you can quickly and easily enumerate the system events they respond to.
Altogether, in the end, the MVC Controller is still a kind of GRASP Controller - as its methods tend to represent system events, which respond to user input. But there are other GRASP controllers which are not MVC controllers: Use Case controllers. A GRASP Use Case controller might respond to system events such as "user creates a new sale" while an MVC controller would respond to events like "system receives a PUT request for
/sales/new" or "a
java.awt.event.ActionEvent fires`".
The famous coffee maker problem from Martin Fowler.
- Coffee Maker
- Another to look at
- Interesting problem to solve without procedural code Jeff Bay mentioned it in this post: OOD / OOP Etudes / Code exercises
- Problems with solutions explained. This is very good
Finally buy this book specifically for its treatment of the GRASP principles
Many examples of Adapter are trivial or unrealistic (Rectangle vs. LegacyRectangle, Ratchet vs. Socket, SquarePeg vs RoundPeg, Duck vs. Turkey). Worse, many don't show multiple Adapters for different Adaptees (someone cited Java's Arrays.asList as an example of the adapter pattern). Adapting an interface of only one class to work with another seems a weak example of the GoF Adapter pattern. This pattern uses inheritance and polymorphism, so one would expect a good example to show multiple implementations of adapters for different adaptees.
The best example I found is in Chapter 26 of Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development (3rd Edition). The following images are from the instructor material provided on an FTP site for the book.
The first one shows how an application can use multiple implementations (adaptees) that are functionally similar (e.g., tax calculators, accounting modules, credit authorization services, etc.) but have different APIs. We want to avoid hard-coding our domain-layer code to handle the different possible ways to calculate tax, post sales, authorize credit card requests, etc. Those are all external modules that might vary, and for which we can't modify the code. The adapter allows us to do the hard-coding in the adapter, whereas our domain-layer code always uses the same interface (the IWhateverAdapter interface).
We don't see in the above figure the actual adaptees. However, the following figure shows how a polymorphic call to
postSale(...) in the IAccountingAdapter interface is made, which results in a posting of the sale via SOAP to an SAP system.
I like Craig Larman's Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development (3rd Edition). Most PHP programmers would do well to learn habits like design patterns and GRASP.
You could also "keep it in the family" and read the free online book Building Skills in Object-Oriented Design by Stack Overflow top-ten scorer Steven Lott.
The solution of Strategy was already proposed https://stackoverflow.com/a/32798708/1168342, but this answer has some advantages.
Discounts and Orders are common domain problems. This wheel has been reinvented a few times. I'll cite a solution from chapter 26 of Craig Larman's "Applying UML and Patterns" book:
In this solution, a
Sale is like your
Order and
ISalePricingStrategy is like your
ISalePricingStrategy is an application of the Strategy pattern (the name is in the interface), and Strategies are always attached to a context object. In this case, it's the
Sale (or in yours,
Mapping to your problem
Here's the UML of how I see your problem fitting into Larman's suggested use of pricing strategies:
Both your cases are composite instances of the
AbsoluteDiscountOverThresholdPricingStrategy if I understand properly. Let's take the code from your conditional for OnlineOrders:
if (order.GetTotalPrice() < 100)
return 2;
return 5;
This is like adding to your order two instances of
onlineOrder.addPricingStrategy(new AbsoluteDiscountOverThresholdPricingStrategy(2,0)); // orders under 100
onlineOrder.addPricingStrategy(new AbsoluteDiscountOverThresholdPricingStrategy(5,100)); // orders >= 100
So, Larman goes a step further and explains that you can combine such strategies using the Composite pattern. I'll apply it to your problem (the hint is in the
add... method above):
The two classes I put in pink are optional. If you always give the best strategy to the customer (as in the pseudocode of the note I attached to
GetTotalPrice) you don't need them. Larman explains you can go a step further and say that if more than one strategy applies, the calculation is either in favor of the store or the customer. Again, it's a question of instantiating the class and attaching it. The code to do this could be run from a "Configuration" menu command in your software.
The code to use this would look something like:
IOrder onlineOrder = new OnlineOrder(); //...
CompositePricingStrategy comp = new CompositePricingStrategy();
comp.add(new AbsoluteDiscountOverThresholdPricingStrategy(2,0)); // orders under 100
comp.add(new AbsoluteDiscountOverThresholdPricingStrategy(5,100)); // orders >= 100
// repeat as above for instoreOrders ...
There are more flexible ways again to do this, using factories. See Larman's book for very cool examples in Java/.NET.
Since this answer is similar to another one, I want to explain some advantages of this method, even though it's more complicated. If you use
GetTotal() in the discount logic, it has some advantages over
GetTotal()handles (encapsulates) all the logic to calculate the total.
- If multiple strategies apply (e.g., online orders get 5% discount, orders over $200 get 10% discount) you may want to code how this is handled. Larman gives an example using Composite pattern where again
GetTotal()works impeccably without the client code having to do anything special.
- You can extend other types of Strategies and instantiate them as needed. For example, for any order over $500 you can make the discount 50. It's a question of instantiating the new class in the code (not coding the logic).
The standard work on object oriented design is Larman:
Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development


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No. 20 Texas 84, Sam Houston St. 50
The losing coach was respectful.
The star player cracked a joke about him getting old.
That's how it is for Texas coach Rick Barnes: Earn career win No. 500 with an 84-50 victory over Sam Houston State and he gets praise from his peers and friendly jabs from his own team.
''I think he's getting old, that's all,'' said sophomore Jordan Hamilton, who scored 25 points for the No. 20 Longhorns on Tuesday night.
The win made Barnes just the 12th active major college coach to reach the 500-win milestone and just the 50th in NCAA history.
Barnes, whose career record is 500-250, got sentimental about his 24 seasons at George Mason, Providence, Clemson and Texas.
''I've been extremely well blessed. I have an incredible family. It hasn't been easy on them all the time,'' Barnes said. ''I thought about some of the players I've coached. Some of them are in their 40s now. Life is a vapor, it goes by so quick. I can tell you exactly what I wore in the first game. It seems like yesterday.''
For the record, it was a blue pinstripe suit and a green tie.
''It looked good,'' Barnes said.
First-year Sam Houston State coach Jason Hooten is 2-1 in his career and pondered what it will take to get 498 more.
''That's a long way'' to 500, Hooten said. ''It couldn't happen to a greater guy. I just want to win one more.''
On Tuesday night, Barnes simply had the bigger, faster, better team.
Hamilton, who is averaging 25 points, continued his early-season tear with 9 of 12 shooting. Senior point guard Dogus Balbay had an unusual scoring night for him with a career-high 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting.
''I just ran up the court and tried to get easy baskets,'' Balbay said.
Defensively, Texas (4-1) held Sam Houston State to 29 percent shooting. Texas shot just 3 of 10 from 3-point range but scored 40 points in the paint and went 15 of 19 from the free throw line.
Balbay was the only returning starter from last season's squad that started 17-0 and rose to No. 1 before falling back to unranked six weeks later.
Texas began this season unranked before a 3-1 start that included a win over No. 19 Illinois and a 68-66 loss to No. 5 Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The Longhorns were sluggish through the first 10 minutes against Sam Houston State. Balbay, hardly a scoring threat in most games, led the Longhorns with six points in that stretch.
Balbay and J'Covan Brown had layups off steals before Hamilton made the game's first 3-pointer from the left wing. Consecutive turnovers by Sam Houston State's Nafis Richardson led to baskets by Hamilton and Corey Joseph as Texas opened up a 23-8 lead late in the first half.
Hamilton started finding his shooting stroke, scoring 11 in the first half. The Longhorns forced 11 turnovers - and had 12 of their own - in taking a 33-18 lead into halftime.
Texas pushed the lead to 46-26 early in the second. Balbay scored on consecutive layups and Jai Lucas beat two defenders for a twisting shot in the lane to put the Longhorns up by 20 with 14 minutes to play.
Hamilton was able to pick and choose his shots against the smaller Bearkats and had little trouble working his way in for easy looks at the basket. His dribble past one defender for a short bank shot over another put Texas up 60-39.
''I'm a shooter, but I can post up too,'' Hamilton said.
Antuan Bootle scored 16 points and had nine rebounds for Sam Houston State. He did a good job defensively on Texas freshman forward Tristan Thompson.
Bootle bottled up Thompson most of the night, allowing him just three points and four rebounds in 28 minutes. The Bearkats won't face many forwards as talented as Thompson in the Southland Conference.
''I like it,'' Hooten said. ''If a guy can play like that all year long for us, he's going to be one of the best centers in our league.''


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Tag Archive for: team building
Team Bonding & Why It's Important/by Jennings
When I hear trainers who conduct serious team building events say that team bonding activities aren't important, I start to resemble our wild hare mascot, Wild Harry. My nose starts twitching and I thump my foot down in frustration.
Yes, it's beneficial to companies to host skills-based programs to enhance team knowledge. But, it's equally beneficial to host play-based events to enhance team bonding. And, here is why:
Team bonding activities allow employees to, well – bond!
And, to see one another as real, flesh-and-blood people. They're no longer "that number cruncher from Accounting." They're now Alan with two kids who has a hysterical sense of humor. It's easy to let "the number cruncher from Accounting" down. But, it's not as easy to let Alan down. That's what really well planned and effective team building activities can do.
It's hard to feel close to your team when you work in a cubicle or remotely all day.
Technology is a beautiful thing, but email means you can interact with fellow employees without the need to see or speak to a human being all day. If you want your people to care about your company and their fellow employees, they have to interact face-to-face and team bonding activities allow them to do just that.
Team bonding games and activities are fun! Fun energizes your team. Fun makes people happy.
Think about a typical school day. Teachers know they need to educate students with skills-based activities. Teachers know students have to work. But, teachers also know students need to blow off steam at recess. In fact, according to Stanford research, recess helps students feel more engaged and positive about their day. Just because we're grown up, doesn't mean we don't still need recess. And, don't you want your employees to feel more engaged and positive about their day?
Hosting team bonding events can make your employees feel more appreciated.
When you host a skills-based activity, they know your investment went towards making them better at their job, which translates into money for your company. But, when you host a team bonding event, they know that investment didn't go directly towards the bottom line. It lets them know you are investing in perks and making them happy. Interestingly enough, however…
Team bonding activities do help your bottom line!
When employees are happy, like the people they work with and feel that their company cares about them, they stay at their job. Recruiting and training new employees takes a lot of time and money, so why wouldn't you want to encourage team bonding?
Finally, don't believe those trainers and academic types who tell you that team bonding activities don't build skills. They do!
Yes, a treasure hunt is a team bonding activity, but clues can reinforce company information and help people hone their problem-solving skills. Sure, your employees may get a little silly when they do a creative event, like a "make a movie" team bonding activity. But, the theme of the movies can focus on corporate goals or product benefits and even showcase your team's hidden talents! Host a variety of team bonding activities to put their different abilities into play each time.
And, what does the company that plans team building events for a living do as a group to encourage team bonding? We've treated ourselves to a spa day, gone shoe shopping, walked together in a 5K, had a girl's game night, done a charitable team bonding experience at Fallin' Pines Critter Rescue, and, challenged ourselves with Escape Room experiences to name a few! And, today we did it again! We had lunch, took new head shots and team photos, got massages and broke out the Easter baskets. Come on, admit it…doesn't it make you want to work here too (just a little bit)? And, that is the importance of team bonding!
Team Building in Phoenix and Scottsdale/by Jennings
Wildly Different, which offers events worldwide, has a history of operating team building in Phoenix and Scottsdale for years.
But, we're happy to announce that we now have an office based in the area, making it even easier for us to offer team building in Phoenix!
Our very own Manager of Making It Happen, McKenzie Kaufeld Counts moved to the area in November. She's been busy making contacts and learning as much as possible about her new home. Here are some insights she's made that may help if you're looking to host a team building in Phoenix or Scottsdale:
It's possible to do team building in Phoenix that goes beyond the Jeep tour
Many groups love to take a Jeep tour for their team building in Phoenix. We think it's a "hot" (in more ways than one) activity too! But, it does have its limitations. For instance, you'd be hard pressed to take a large group out, as the number of Jeeps are limited. Thankfully, Wildly Different has options for team building in Phoenix and Scottsdale that can be done at or around your event venue in the Valley including:
Hunts that allow you to explore while doing a team building in Phoenix & Scottsdale & beyond
There are so many places to visit in the area – from Phoenix, to Old Town Scottsdale, downtown Tempe, or even the beautiful Papago Park etc. And, there are equally as many different types of hunts you could host for your team building in Phoenix. It all depends on the profile of your group. Traditional team building treasure hunts are an ideal way to get your team to use creativity, strategic thinking and communication skills. They're also a great way to weave in company information! But, if you simply want your team to have fun and explore the area, something like our Epic Selfie Quest would be perfect, as teams simply have to collect photos and scavenger hunt items. For those looking for a high-tech option, our iTech Trek outlines a variety of challenges on a team iPad. And, we've hosted Amazing Race-themed events that are, well…amazing!
Western-themed events – the perfect theme for a team building in Phoenix & Scottsdale
Some of the favorites that we've hosted here include an event that has guests making chuck wagons out of fruits, vegetables and other parts and then racing them on a track!Or, if you prefer something more life-sized, there's Wagons Ho, which has teams transforming a regular cart into a wagon and their people into horses that pull it and a rider along a race route. Another one you can lasso is our Make a Scene event. It puts your team's creativity to the test, as teams must recreate a famous western film with a company themed twist. And for those who like to puzzle out conundrums instead of using their creative flair, there's Escape The Gold Mine. This popular favorite builds on the popularity of Escape Rooms, but can be done for any size group! If you need team building in Phoenix or Scottsdale, Wildly Different has a host of options or we can create a custom themed team building event just for you.
A golf-themed team building event in Phoenix & Scottsdale is a no-brainer!
Teams can build their own golf course using items that are donated to charity afterwards. Or, they could build their own 19th hole in our event that has teams creating their own tiki bar. There's also our Golf Game Show that is a duffer's delight, but wouldn't tee off any non-golfers either.
You can do your team building in Phoenix at your event venue
There's no need to go offsite to do your team building event in Phoenix. That just adds on a lot of additional expense and time to your event schedule. Most event venues have huge ballrooms and beautiful outdoor spaces. We have events that work well in ballrooms, outside, or a combination of the two.
If you'd like to talk to our expert on team building in Phoenix and Scottsdale, don't hesitate to "butt in" (pun to accompany the photo above) and reach out to McKenzie! Simply contact us and mention that you read this blog and would like more information.
Treasure Hunts – Tips on Writing Clues/by Jennings
People always ask us what makes our corporate treasure hunts and clues "wildly different." Our short answer is usually, "We don't just tell you to look at a sign and tell us what the third word is. You have to work for it!"
For those of you who want to know what we do to create unique treasure hunts and clues, here are some tips. We:
Make the scavenger hunts and clues challenging…but not too challenging
If you make clues too easy, participants will get bored easily. Make the clues too hard and they'll get exasperated and give up. You want the Goldilocks of treasure hunts – make the clues just right! Know your audience. We've created a lot of family treasure hunts and they are easier than our treasure hunts for corporate groups. You'll know you have it right when people claim, with a big smile on their face, that they were stumped at first. But, they were able to solve it in the end.
Incorporate props into the treasure hunts and clues
A lot of our treasure hunts and clues incorporate puzzles on paper. But, don't forget to throw in some props as well. People love to play with "stuff." For instance, a puzzle on paper may find teams having to read letters on a page backwards instead of forwards. But, how cool is it to step it up a notch and make them find a mirror, so they can see which letters in a phrase don't get reversed to solve the clue? Or, to make hunters do a physical challenge before they're handed the mirror they need to solve the clue?
Integrate the event area into our treasure hunts and clues
There's no sense creating treasure hunts in cool places like a theme park, city center or park and not spotlight the area. For instance, a tower sculpture with different color blocks can become the key to unlocking a cipher clue. I.e. if the top block is blue, then hunters know the word written in blue on their clue page is the first word in the solution. A word of warning though. It's best if all clues can be solved from walkways/outside. Don't require hunters to go inside stores. You don't want to upset store owners and other shoppers. And, if in a theme park, don't make hunters go inside an attraction or on a ride to solve a clue. Long lines will frustrate them and could prevent them from finishing the theme park hunt in the time allowed.
Reinforce your message with the treasure hunts and clues
We love taking company information and weaving it into our treasure hunts and clues. Not sure if your group has retained training information? Put it to the test by ensuring the only way hunters can solve the clue is by knowing that information. For instance, in what year a product was launched, or what a side effect of your product may be. This goes beyond simple question and answer or multiple choice. Utilize the information in a unique way and it will become even more memorable.
Weave a theme into the treasure hunts and clues
If you're creating a Christmas hunt, make all the clues tie into the theme (see our sample clue below). But, it doesn't have to be a holiday to have a theme! Hosting your hunt in a park? Incorporate a nature theme. Or, borrow a theme from popular culture. Chances are good that a hot movie will provide inspiration. It could be spies, pirates, aliens – you name it!
We'll be posting a new clue each month for those of you who would like to see examples of fun treasure hunts and clues. See if you can solve them first before looking at the answer. Happy hunting! And, if you don't want to write your own treasure hunts and clues, visit our site to see what we can offer!
Sample Scavenger Hunt Clues
Clue #1
Clue #1 is a sample of a Christmas Hunt we created for families to play at home.
Answer to Clue #1 – If you change the letter below the hat to something Christmas-themed, you get snow, candy, canes, toys and star! When you put the new letters together, they spell out Santa.
Clue #2
Clue #2 is a sample of a sports-themed hunt we created for families to play at home. The solution to each clue took them to a location where they could find their next clue.
Answer to Clue #2 – Instead of numbers, there are letters on the jerseys. Where do you find letters? In the mailbox of course! And, that's where player's next clue could be found.
Clue #3
Clue #3 is an example of treasure hunt clue we use in our Epic Selfie Quest. Teams must solve the clue to reveal where they need to take a team selfie.
Answer to Clue #3 – Each letter of the alphabet stands for a number. When teams crack the code, it spells out "Take a photo of your team interacting with a sculpture."
Clue #4
Clue #4 was taken from a fitness themed hunt created for a pharmaceutical company.
Answer to Clue #4 – If you follow the maze, starting at the opening on the right side of the square, the letters spell out "desserts (the correct answer)." The red herring? If they start on the left path, it spells out "stressed!"
How Can Wildly Different Help With Your Corporate Scavenger Hunt?
Well if you want to plan a the ultimate scavenger hunt in Orlando, look no further. Wildly Different is based in Orlando and has held wildly successful team building hunts at Disney, Sea World, Universal and other Orlando area locations. But don't get boxed in with our Orlando location. We've held fun hunts in numerous in cities across the U.S. and can help you plan the perfect scavenger event for your team. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Team Building Consulting – Is It For You?/by Jennings
I've got a secret to share with you. Wildly Different doesn't always implement the best team building events…sometimes we provide team building consulting, so your team can self-implement their own amazing events!
Would team building consulting benefit your organization? If the descriptions below apply to you, then the answer is "yes!"
You have a team that has the ability to self-implement an event.
Many who we do team building consulting for have the experience and know how to run events. We've worked with recreation departments at resorts, cruise ships and summer camps that have staff who can easily operate an activity. Activities to entertain both leisure guests or team building events for corporate groups. We've also provided team building consulting for human resources departments and meeting planning teams looking for a DIY activity at their meeting or conference. If they have the ability to do so, why do they use a team building consulting firm? Read on…
You need an event quick and you don't have the time to develop it.
What we hear a lot of from our clients that we do team building consulting for is they have the staff. They have the ability. But, what they don't have is the time to create the event they need. We're all doing more with less people, so don't fret if this is you. You're making the best use of your time by hiring someone who can create a fabulous team building event quickly and efficiently. This way your time can be spent accomplishing your important day-to-day activities.
You want new offerings for your target market.
The next best reason we hear why people need team building consulting is that they need a fresh idea that will wow their guests. This reason actually goes hand-in-glove with the section above, if you ask me – time. It takes time to be creative. So, if you have a lot on your plate it doesn't mean you can't come up with the unique idea. You just don't have time to focus on it! Another plus of using a team building consultant is perspective. Sometimes you're too close to the "we've always done it this way" approach to come up with the next new thing. If that's the case, it's smart to tap into an outside perspective.
You're looking for something unique that you can't buy "off-the-shelf."
Sure, there are events you could buy or even "borrow" from other companies. But, do you want to be the same as everyone else? Or, do you want your guests to go, "Wow – that was something special?" When we do team building consulting, we weigh up what differentiates you from everyone else. That could include tying in what's cool about your property and working it into the event. Or, taking your company information and weaving it into the design of the activity.
You need help with a high-tech event.
High-tech is everywhere these days. But, if you're not Bill Gates it may be overwhelming for you to figure out how to create your own signature high-tech event. In our team building consulting, we partner with MobileXpeditions to produce iPad games, as well as games that can be accessed through participants' own smart devices. These events won't break the bank. In fact, they turn out to be more cost-effective over time. That's because you produce them once and can deliver them again and again without incurring printing charges, buying event equipment, etc. And, the beautiful thing is, our games aren't accessed through an app. They're housed in loaner iPads or accessed through a website. This means your guests won't be put off by having to download a strange app. Nor do you have to worry about getting approval from Apple for your app – a long and expensive process that could end up with Apple not granting permission for your app at all.
We've had the pleasure of doing team building consulting all over the globe – Copenhagen, the Bahamas, on the high seas, around the US and now we can add Dubai to our list! We had a wonderful time exploring Atlantis, The Palm to come up with two different hunts they can host for companies looking for a unique way to experience their stunning property and water park. And, we got to take in a camel ride, sand dune 4×4 "surfing" and a fabulous tour of both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Our opinion? If you get a chance to go to Dubai, don't hesitate! It's a wildly wonderful place!
We've helped a wide assortment of clients with team building consulting. If you'd like to explore how we can help you, contact us to chat more about your needs!
Custom Team Building Events & Tips/by Jennings
Sure, we have 100 stock team building events in our repertoire. But, one of the reasons we're called Wildly Different is because we specialize in and love creating and implementing custom team building events for our clients!
Here's some of the reasons why you should do custom team building events instead of "off-the-shelf" experiences that anyone can participate in and some tips on the little things you can do to create custom team building events:
- Put your logo and branding on any handouts teams will receive. This lets your participants know this is something special that was created just for them.
- Work your messaging into the event to drive home the point. For instance, if your company just went through a merger and the focus of your meeting is "coming together as one," your event should be customized to highlight that. So, something like one of our custom team building event ideas, The Big Picture in which teams compete in themed challenges to collect squares that get hung up on a numbered grid to reveal a custom message, would be ideal.
- Re-enforce training information to see if employees remember and are able to use it. That's why, in our iTech Treks, we test participants' knowledge of corporate information by weaving it into challenges. I.e., teams may see a jumble of letters and receive a hint that "If they know the number of products they're launching next year, they can 'count' on a solution appearing." If participants know 5 new products will launch, they realize that if they take every 5th letter, it spells out the location where they must go to take a team photo.
- Add extra touches to get people into the spirit of the meeting. A good example of this is one client who had their event about a "revolutionary" new product in Philadelphia. One of our custom team building event ideas was to create a meeting-long, ongoing Treasure Hunt that revealed locations on a treasure map. For one clue Betsy Ross mingled with guests during a break and players needed to view the flag she was carrying to find the location. During another break, players were told to view a vignette on the snack bar and remember Paul Revere's ride to figure out a coordinate. When they got there, they saw two lanterns. Clever hunters recalling the famous phrase associated with Paul Revere, "One if by land, two if by sea", realize the coordinate they needed for the map was 2C (two lanterns = by C)! How's that for custom team building activities?
Looking for custom team building events your team can run themselves? Consider consulting with us!
Our very own Jane and McKenzie went out to Chicago a couple of weeks ago to run one of our custom team building events for Chiesi, that put a different "spin" on things and got attendees to experience the Navy Pier!
And customization doesn't always mean corporate! Gaby and her team ran a "clown college" for a financial company that wanted to entertain kids at a circus-themed family party. The kids got to don a clown nose and decorate their own clown collar, tie and hat. Of course, our team couldn't resist clowning around while they were there!
Team Building In Orlando, Florida/by Jennings
Although we travel worldwide with our clients, Wildly Different is proud to call Orlando home, making us the ideal choice if you're thinking of hosting team building in Orlando, Florida.
Here's why it makes sense to work with us if you're hosting team building in Orlando, Florida:
- We don't only do team building in Orlando, Florida – we live here and know it like the back of our hand! We know what can and can't be done in certain locations, such as the theme parks, with whom we work closely with and for.
- We have relationships with many organizations throughout Orlando, Florida. Everything from vendors to venues to charitable contacts that are eager to benefit from your CSR events.
- We can easily run out to your event site to ensure there are no surprises on the day of your event. For instance, whenever we do a hunt for team building in Orlando, Florida, we head out to that location in the days leading up to your event to ensure all clue locations are intact.
- Wherever you have your team building in Orlando, Florida, chances are good we have an existing event on tap for that location. For instance we have them for every major attraction in Orlando – such as the Disney, Universal and SeaWorld theme parks, I-drive 360, Pointe Orlando, etc. – and some of the lesser known ones as well, such as Kings Orlando, WonderWorks, Skeletons and more. We can easily advise which one would work best for you!
- Want to keep your group on-site at their meeting hotel? Chances are good we have a team building event designed specifically for your property, such as a rock-themed event at Hard Rock Hotel!
Here are a few of our favorite events for team building in Orlando, Florida:
- Site-seeking Treasure Hunts, designed to put the spotlight on what your participants want to see at a local attraction. We pride ourselves on the fact that our hunts are designed so participants don't have to waste valuable time standing in line for rides, or disrupt locations within a theme park – all clues can be solved from walkways and public spaces.
- Amazing Chase is a team building event where guests have to travel from location to location to complete a challenge, while getting to explore an area of interest. For instance, teams may have to rewrite the words to a popular song and perform it in a piano bar or look for I-Spy pictures as they ride in a pedi-cab along a popular street.
- Outdoor activities that can take place in one of our beautiful parks (there's a reason we're called The City Beautiful – we have some stunners)! Favorites include Camp It Up, that has teams participating in summer camp-themed challenges such as seeing how fast they can pitch tents or row a kayak across a lake. And, SurStrivor that finds teams searching for immunity necklaces as they compete in head-to-head games and in individual activities, such as seeing how they can work together to plug the leaks in a piece of bamboo so that it can be filled to the top with water.
For more events you can do for team building in Orlando, Florida, visit our Event List or contact us!
Speaking of Orlando, I'd be remiss if I didn't say how proud I am of our city during the tragedy that occurred here this week. Orlando truly personified the spirit of team building by pulling together to focus on the love they feel for those affected by the senseless loss of life at Pulse, rather than the hate. The picture below speaks volumes, as does this quote by Eric Hoffer – "Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding with us." #OrlandoUnited.
Team Building In Any City/by Jennings
- Consistent results – If you had a great experience, why would you want to "spin the wheel" in the hopes that another company will be just as good? We hear horror stories from some of our clients who have done just that and lived to rue the day.
- Relationships – We get into a flow with the clients we work with all of the time. They know how we work and what we can handle for them(and what we don't), which makes their job faster and easier because they understand the roles. But more importantly, we get to know their company's culture, objectives, likes and dislikes making it a better experience for their attendees. And, we understand how you like to work, meaning no surprises (except for good ones) for you.
- Creative ideas – When you put out a blanket request for proposal, you never know what you're going to get back. When we develop relationships with clients, we know what you've done already, so we don't suggest similar events. We also know what your attendees will – and more importantly won't – respond well to.
Despite all of these positives, some people hire different team building companies in each meeting locale to organize events. Here's some of the reasons why they do so and why you shouldn't let them sway you:
- Price – Yes, it costs us a bit more to produce your team building event when it's not in Orlando, Florida. But, surprisingly, not by much.. We use local staff and DJs for the remainder of our team. A small price to pay for peace of mind that you'll be getting a top-notch team building event.
- The perils of "not being a local" – We've done events in hundreds of out-of-state and out-of-country locations, so we know how to do our research. We have equipment and vendor sourcing down to a science, with several trusted partners who have local branches that assist us around the world. And, we always ensure we travel the day before an event – never the same day – so there's no worries about traffic or missed flights.
Speaking of travel, Jane Schuliger and I took some time out to do an owner's retreat in Little Corn Island in Nicaragua last week. I'm almost afraid to share news about this because the island truly is a hidden gem and we'd hate for word to get out to too many people! If you've ever thought about going – don't. Just go! You'll have an amazing time!
While we were gone, several of our teammates traveled as well. Aeme and Gaby were running an Escape! program in Atlanta and Mac spent some time in Miami and Denver. Then, I hopped on a plane on Memorial Day to head to New York for client visits. Yes, we're racking up the frequent flier miles here at Wildly Different!
Corporate team building doesn't have to be ho hum! Let Wildly Different handle your next team building event. From large groups to small, we'll plan a memorable event your team will love. Our wide range of team building activities include charity events, icebreakers, high tech scavenger hunts and more. Wildly Different is nationwide, so let us plan your next event.
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Established in 1977 we are a long standing multi-disciplinary contractor operating across London and Southern Counties.
Kenson Highways provides Highway Term Maintenance services to many London Boroughs, Transport for London, Department for Transport and Crossrail. We currently hold multiple Term Maintenance Contracts.
Kenson Highways have, for many years, been specialised in all disciplines associated soft and hard landscaping works and completed them to the highest standards.
Kenson Highways have carried out numerous civil engineering projects of various sizes throughout London and Home Counties. Our management team have a wealth of knowledge and experience along with a motivation and drive to consistently deliver to our Clients' specifications safely, on time and within budget.
Who Are Kenson Highways?
Established in 1977 we are a long standing multi-disciplinary contractor operating across London and Southern Counties. One of the elements of our operation we pride ourselves on is building a collaborative partnership with our clients. The aim is to develop a better understanding of the needs of our clients and what they aim to achieve.
What We Do
We undertake public and private sector highways maintenance, primarily involved in civil engineering contracting including;
Core Services
Highways Term Maintenance Contracts
Civil Engineering Projects
Hard and soft landscaping Projects
Specialist Services
Surfacing, Including Specialist Surfacing
Traffic management
Why We Are Different?
Our approach to partnering is underpinned by our values of 'openness' and 'integrity', we want our relationship with our Clients to be based on trust and reliability.
We have a highly skilled, dynamic and motivated team who understand and share the Company's attitude of bringing traditional practices and innovative techniques to solve the complex and varied needs of our clients on any project.
Through our UKAS Accredited Quality Management System (ISO 9001) we strive to deliver high quality through continual improvement, creating satisfied customers through professional excellence.
How We Work
We are committed to creating a long-term, measurable and sustainable strategic systems of work to ensure we deliver high quality services, on time and safely.


text:
"The Friedberg Genizah Project was initiated by Mr Albert D Friedberg of Toronto, Canada, who foresaw the fascinating possibilities of harnessing modern information technology in order to advance international research into the riches of the Cairo Genizah. The hundreds of thousands of Genizah fragments around the world include Bible texts and commentaries, rabbinic dictionaries, halakhic works, poetry, liturgical texts, philosophical and polemic treatises, commercial documents and letters. This sea of primary source material – written in Hebrew, Aramaic, Judeo-Arabic, Arabic, Judeo-Persian and Yiddish – dates from the 8th century until after the 15th century. The Genizah is a window on nearly 1000 years of Jewish and Middle Eastern history, scholarship and daily life. The FGP will open this window wider than ever before, launching a new era in Genizah scholarship..."
Support for ETANA has been provided by funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (8/00 to 2/02, 6/01 to 8/02)
and the National Science Foundation (Continuing grant IIS-0325579)


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QUIZ: Which Cake Is Your Personality Most Like?
29 November 2016, 16:44 | Updated: 8 May 2017, 17:09
Are you a pound cake or a pop-punk cake?
You know that saying 'you are only the cake that you eat'? No, you don't, because I just made it up.
The point is this: cakes have personalities just like humans. So what is your cake personality? Well there's only one way to find out init.


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Planet Waves is running a membership drive.
Read more in Solstice Fire and the Art of Service, by Eric Francis.
Today's Oracle takes us to the Capricorn monthly for July 1, 2006
Be realistic about the importance of an encounter later this month that relates to the subject of shared finances or tax matters. You will need to adopt an entirely new approach to such questions, whether you're motivated by progress, or the need to avoid a crisis — and there is a fine line between the two, particularly now. This may well be a situation involving turning a crisis into an opportunity. What you've had going for you up until this point is how solid and steady you've been. But there have been key moments when you had to rethink your strategy, and this is one of them. You will not need to wait for the rewards. A long cycle is coming to a close, perhaps as long as two years, and by one month from today you will stand in a new place. But between here and there, you need to take each step carefully.
The Daily Oracle offers a horoscope selected randomly by our Intelligent Archive Oracle program, unique to Planet Waves. It's also a database of my horoscopes going back to the late 1990s. You can use the Intelligent Archive Oracle to answer questions and give you ideas for how to handle problems and situations you cannot see through. This feature is available to our All Access and Core Community members. See this link for more information.


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Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:How to Prepare for the New Homeschool Year
_______________________________________________________________________WELCOME to HOME feature week of the August "You're the STAR" blog hop!
Meet your HOME week Hosts
This week is HOME feature week
Swing by the Home Hosts' Blogs:
Bev @ Eclectic Red Barn
Kippi @ Kippi at Home
Liberty @ B4 and Afters
There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories. Just to be clear – this is NOT a themed party – you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month.
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#4 HOME – recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home – even history posts – all while remaining family friendly)
(All features were chosen from the July "You're the Star" blog hop)
Victorian Chair Makeover by The Old Summers Home
Make Your Own Starfish/Sea Star by Fresh Vintage by Lisa S
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…


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Recognizing how influential the event has become, Chicago's newly-elected Mayor Lori Lightfoot appeared on-stage at the Chosen Few Picnic and Music Festival last weekend.
Lightfoot – the first black woman elected as mayor of Chicago, which with her election became the largest in United States history to have an openly LGBTQ+ mayor – paid tribute to the Chosen Few Picnic. The Chosen Few DJs are likely the oldest house music DJ collective in the world.
"House music began in Chicago," Mayor Lightfoot posted on Twitter. "And now it's all over the world. Thrilled to swing by the Chosen Few Picnic and House Music Fest. Hope everyone enjoyed some great music and weather!"
House music began in Chicago. And now it's all over the world. Thrilled to swing by the Chosen Few Picnic and House Music Fest. Hope everyone enjoyed some great music and weather! pic.twitter.com/ueFaKDYEyZ
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) July 7, 2019
In its 29 year history, the Chosen Few Picnic has gone from an informal gathering of friends to a ticketed outdoor festival held in Jackson Park on the Southside of Chicago. In that time, official recognition of the festival has gone from one of ignorance (even the alternative press more or less ignored the festival for its first two decades) to one of active cooperation and now wholehearted endorsement. Then-President Barack Obama sent a videotaped greeting to attendees at the Chosen Few Picnic in 2015 and later invited the celebrated Chicago old school house music and disco crew to the White House.
In other news, the Chosen Few also announced Roy Davis Jr as the recipient of the "Frankie Knuckles DJ Hall of Fame" award. Which was both a grand gesture and a well-deserved one.


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Where to Stay?
If you want to stay along White Beach, we would recommend Mindorinne Oriental Beach Resort, owned and operated by the Del Mundo family. This beachfront establishment is located in the middle of White Beach, and it is at the center of the night activities because of its Hiyas Bar.
This is where we stayed when we attended the Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival.
One of the advantages of staying in a family-operated resort is that the family is hands-on (and they usually have a good network of local connections around the area). One of the issues with family-operated resorts, though, is the consistency of service.
Make sure to coordinate properly with Brian Del Mundo (+63 917 857-8425) who runs the resort.
Puerto Galera White Beach Series:
- OAP | Malasimbo Music and Art Festival
- OAP | Puerto Galera's White Beach Guide 2012: What Happened?
- OAP | Puerto Galera's White Beach Guide 2012: Where to Stay and What to Eat?
- OAP | Puerto Galera's White Beach Guide 2012: How to Get There?
- OAP | Le Bistro d'Agathe – Puerto Galera's Famous French Bistro replaces Fat Michael's
- Inquirer.Net | Lessons from the Puerto Galera tragedy
Mindorinne Oriental Beach Resort has a beautiful garden square in front of the rooms, which provides much-needed breathing space in the crowded White Beach area.
It is also a bit expensive versus the other places along White Beach.
Mindorinne Oriental Beach Resort
White Beach, Puerto Galera
Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
For reservations, inquiries and more details, please contact:
Telephone Number: +632 535-3988
Mobile Number: +63 917 857-8425 Brian Del Mundo
Email Us: email@example.com
We stayed in the newly-renovated standard room, with basic amenities — airconditioned, with a refrigerator and cable TV.
We loved the new restrooms with hot and cold showers. 🙂
When you're there, walk along the white beach, and you'll see the other inns and resorts, one after another.
I also checked out Dreamwave resort, which has standard rooms (non-peak standard rates) that start at P1,500/night on a weekday and P2,000/night on a weekend. The rooms and the resort feel a bit claustrophobic and stuffy because there's really no breathing space and no real windows.
You can check out Trip Advisor for Puerto Galera White Beach resorts, but most of the B&Bs and inns that "promote" there are typically the ones inside and not along White Beach.
As you stroll towards the end of the cove, you can cross the boulders and arrive in Aninuan Beach, the quieter side of Puerto Galera.
The most popular place to stay in the area is the Sunset at Aninuan Beach Resort. Although it is well-rated, it gets mixed reviews in Trip Advisor. It does have a good beachfront sunset view, a swimming pool, and a nice, relaxing ambiance.
Another resort to consider is Tamaraw Resort, where most of the artists during the Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival stayed.
The beach in Aninuan is pebbled, brown and disappears during high tide.
Breakfast is usually included in the room rate. It would be better if you lowered your expectations.
Food is simple — there's no signature breakfast to eat along White Beach.
You can try the local kakanin for 3 for P50, but they're nothing to rave about.
Beside Hiyas Bar is a 24-hour Food Trip venue with unlimited garlic rice. It is quite popular to eat there at night or during breakfast. But as mentioned previously, don't expect too much from the food.
Here is the menu of Hiyas Bar to give you a sense of how much the food and drinks are along White Beach. It's a bit expensive and priced like you are in Manila (but with lower quality).
Main Dish, Set Meals | Breakfast, Pinoy's Favorite, Salad, Burgers, Sandwiches, Soup, Dessert |
Cocktails, and Shooters | Pitchers, Shakes, Warming Drinks, Beverages, Bottles, Refreshments
Hiyas Bar is popular because of the beautiful sheboys. Plus, they have a complete line-up of Alcoholic Pitchers. Don't forget to try the signature Puerto Galera drink — the Mindoro Sling (P180)!
Food along White Beach is either served grilled, sizzling or pizza-style. As is usual in most provincial areas, they tend to copy each other and end up with poor quality of food.
We ordered the Beef Pepper Steak with Mashed Potato (P280) in Hiyas Bar. The meat was yucky and rubbery — I don't even want to ask where they source their beef.
We recommend sticking with simple comfort food like Lechon Manok (Half-P150) or Liempo.
There's really no great food along White Beach, and the over-commercialization also killed the competition in terms of coming up with unique and better food quality in the area.
If you have good food recommendations in Puerto Galera, let us know in the Comments section.
Puerto Galera White Beach Series:
- OAP | Malasimbo Music and Art Festival
- OAP | Puerto Galera's White Beach Guide 2012: What Happened?
- OAP | Puerto Galera's White Beach Guide 2012: Where to Stay and What to Eat?
- OAP | Puerto Galera's White Beach Guide 2012: How to Get There?
- OAP | Le Bistro d'Agathe – Puerto Galera's Famous French Bistro replaces Fat Michael's
- Inquirer.Net | Lessons from the Puerto Galera tragedy
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Contact me: firstname.lastname@example.com
Full Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. We paid for all our trip expenses. We are not connected in any way with the owners or promoters of the establishments featured in this post.
P.S. Any personal recommendation on where to stay and eat in Puerto Galera?