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We all know someone who loves to talk politics but sounds like a jerk every time they do. Talking about politics may be taboo for many of us but it doesn't have to be. Discussing—not arguing—politics is important to broadening our horizons, cementing our opinions, or just understanding others. Here's how to do it without frothing at the mouth, in an actual intelligent way.
Of course, one way to make sure you never sound like an idiot when discussing politics (or have to suffer someone else who does) is to just avoid discussing politics in polite company. That said, sometimes a spirited discussion on current events is fun and informative, and sometimes you have the opportunity to talk to someone with an opinion or background you'd like to benefit from. In this post, we'll show you how to approach those political conversations from an informed, civil angle, without a conversation with someone you may disagree with devolving into a mouth-frothing mess like you'd see on Sunday Morning talk shows.
Go Back to Civics Class
As someone who enjoys following politics but doesn't always enjoy talking about it, I'm frequently surprised when I hear very smart people conflate issues with people or the power they hold. People are very quick to blame spending/taxes on the president du jour, even though Congress holds the power of the purse (and the House is the only chamber that can introduce bills that have to do with the budget). The President can draft and propose the national budget to Congress, but cannot change taxes and spending by himself (once funds have been allocated that is—the President can direct federal agencies to not spend as much money as they have.) Angry about cell phone unlocking? In that case, your target should be the Library of Congress. While White House petitions help raise awareness, you're barking up the wrong tree (as you can tell since that the official response to the petition essentially says "Yes, we agree, but we can't do anything about it").
Unfortunately, all of these nuances are far too lengthy for a talk show interview, so it gets condensed, often inappropriately, into a tiny snippet that's often used to shove the responsibility for an issue onto a political rival or specific party. The only way to see through this kind of political fog is with education. Think back to your Civics or Social Studies classes, and try to regain an understanding of what the basic branches of government are, what they're responsible for, the powers they hold, and the checks and balances among them. For those of us in the United States, this fun little exercise and video from BrainPop is aimed at kids, but is informative for citizens of all ages.
The next time you hear about some crazy law that is "working its way through Congress," stop and look up the bill at THOMAS, the Library of Congress' legislative information database, or at OpenCongress.org. See if the bill has cosponsors, or has even made it out of committee. Many of those "crazy bills" never have a chance at becoming law, and everyone knows it. There's an old saying in Washington: "The House does as the House does, and the Senate is the crucible of lawmaking." It doesn't matter which party is in control of which chamber: bills fly around the House like confetti just because there are more people (435 people!), opinions, and agendas in that chamber, but the slow, churning negotiations required to get anything done in the smaller, more public-facing Senate make sure things happen slowly and deliberately (in most cases.)
It can be frustrating to look at political leaders on any level and wonder why nothing seems to get done, but its important to understand why those bodies were designed and structured the way they are before you get so angry you want them destroyed.
Study Sources that Offer Multiple Viewpoints (Even If It Doesn't Change Your Opinion)
Once you have a grasp on the governmental bodies and the powers and authority they hold, you're already a more qualified speaker on political issues than most pundits (and in many cases, the people who hold those offices.) The next step is the most challenging one, and the one we've mentioned again and again, specifically in regard to science. Confirmation bias is our own natural tendency to seek out and prioritize sources of information that back up our own opinions and preconceived notions, while marginalizing information and evidence that may contradict our long-held opinions and positions. Image by Francis Carnaúba.
Since politics are often so personally and emotionally charged, it's natural to seek out people you agree with. It's for that very reason you need to be able to check your bias at the door and be open to (or actively seek out) information that may contradict your position. Sometimes being able to see the complete picture—including the flaws in your own position—are the key to strengthening it.
You don't have to change your opinion just because there's a flaw in your argument, you just have to be willing to acknowledge it. Remember, polite political conversation doesn't have to model those Sunday morning talk shows I mentioned earlier. Reserve the right to change your mind. You have the right to have multiple opinions and multiple stances that may not always fit with a political label or party.
Take Your Emotions Out of the Equation and Stick to Facts
Confirmation bias is a tough beast to slay, and many people would argue that you can never tamp it down completely. If you can make yourself open to new information, you've already come a long way from putting your fingers in your ears every time you're confronted with someone with a different opinion than yours. When you're talking to people about politics, make the conversation as fact-based as possible. That's not to say you can't be passionate about your opinions, but fervor is what leads to heated arguments, while facts and information are the components of a calm and reasoned discussion. Here are some sources to help you:
FactCheck.org, a non-partisan project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, is always a great resource to get down to the numbers and data behind a political statement or position, whether it's election season or not. Any time you hear a politician say something questionable, or trot out a study or some statistics to support their position, head here to get the whole picture.
Politifact is another great site that keeps track of the public statements that political officials make every day, and grade them on the objective data available, or the actual quotes or statements being referenced. If you prefer to take your fact-checking on the go, Politifact's iOS, Android, and Blackberry apps are free and ready to sway a polite conversation right then and there.
Super Pac for iPhone is a mobile app that's most useful during election season when you're being inundated with television ads. The app listens to the ad and will tell you more about who paid for it, who sponsored it, who approved it, and who paid for it. The app also shows you the claims made in the ad, and whether there's any truth to them.
OpenCongress.org is a non-partisan web service designed to give you more access to what's going on in the halls of government. Current bills in either house, their status, voting results, and the voting records of public officials are all available, along with issues in front of government and the full text of bills and laws. If someone brings up an official's voting record, or wants to talk about a controversial bill in front of Congress like SOPA or PIPA, OpenCongress.org can give you the tools to see who supports it, who opposes it, and how to read the bill and contact your elected officials to let them know how you stand as their consituent. OpenGovernment.org is like OpenCongress.org, but for local, state, and regional governments. it offers many of the same tools available at OpenCongress. OpenSecrets.org is another non-partisan resource to track the actions and positions of your public officials, and offers a wealth of information on how money plays a role in public policy.
Follow The Money tracks the influence of money in politics, and is a handy resource to help you find out which lobbies are really supporting which politicians, which politicans avoid such money, and how money and influence peddling play a role in political decisions on the national, state, and even local levels. Before you go off complaining about lobbyists this and PACs that, Follow The Money will help you make sure you're drawing lines between the right companies and the right politicians. Similarly, Influence Explorer, MapLight, and the Sunlight Foundation can show you how influential individuals, companies, and lawmakers are all connected, and give you a rundown of bills currently in the news (including how the public debate has shifted the flow of money to and from politicians and causes.) Some of what you read may be surprising, but it's all part of intelligent discourse and being a more informed citizen.
MyCongress for iPhone, Congress for Android, and Congress for Windows Phone are all great tools to use to see what your legislative officials are doing right now. The apps use your device's GPS to tell you who your officials are, how long they've served, how they're voting, and more. You can use any of the three apps to look at current events and controversies, bills in the news, and get a good idea of current events before you talk to anyone about them.
Don't just fact check the things you hear from other people, either: Make sure to run your own long-held "facts" through the wringer as well. There may be more to the story than you know, or maybe you're holding up half of the statistics in a multi-sided study or report. You may be supporting a politician who's taking money from a cause you fiercely disagree with, or who has co-sponsored an awful bill. You'll never know until you do your own homework. Get closer to the source, and avoid taking information that's spoonfed to you without thinking critically about it—especially before you plan to use that information in your own political conversations.
Finally, make sure the statements you make and hear are as truthful as possible. Keep an eye out for logical or rational BS, and avoid engaging on topics where you don't have authoritative information to back up your opinion. Most importantly, don't let a difference of opinion rile you up. The fastest way to head down the slippery slope from "honest conversation" to "gibbering nutjobbery" is to let your emotions take control and start issuing ad hominem attacks left and right. If you've spent any time on the internet, you know what I'm talking about.
Separate People and Parties from Their Policies
It's okay to separate someone's policies from the person, and a person from their party (assuming they deserve the distinction.) Sit me down in a room, and I can talk to you about politicians that I respect but who have policies I strongly disagree with. Much of the discourse around political issues, especially online, comes down to "X is bad and Y is good," when its extremely difficult to find a politician or party you'll agree with completely. Photo by Hillary.
Be willing to take even politicians you vote for to task openly when you disagree with them, and support them when you do. Similarly, be willing to separate a politician's policies from their personality or persona. Policies are things that can transcend offices, people, and even parties. If you can strive to avoid the cult of personality or the allure of a political party and focus instead on the issues that matter to you, you'll be a more well rounded citizen, a more informed voter, and a more level-headed conversationalist.
Disengage When You're At An Impasse
Finally, if you're at an impasse, don't be afraid to disagree and disengage. We mentioned that our brains are addicted to being right, but much of our goal here is to shut down that need to "win" a conversation. Remember, there's a big difference between discussing and arguing, and staying on the civil side of that line is key to maintaining your composure and having informative, intelligent discussions with people. Of course, you'll run into people for whom that distinction is lost, so knowing when to walk away and cool off is critical. Part of not sounding like an idiot is knowing when you're not getting anywhere, stopping yourself before you lose it, and knowing when to stop talking to someone who's either antagonizing you on purpose or just wants to push your buttons. Photo by mast3r.
I think most of you would prefer to be judged on more than your political leanings, so give other people the same benefit. If your politics are personal to the point where you have no desire to associate or speak with people who disagree, your best bet is to avoid talking about politics whenever possible. You never know when you may be confronted with a coworker, friend, or family member you'll never be able to talk to again. If you're able to keep the conversation dispassionate, fact-based, and focused on the information you know rather than the opinions you hold, you'll be able to associate with people who disagree without just hating them all the time.
Or, Just Don't Talk About Politics
We mentioned earlier that sometimes the best way to avoid sounding like an idiot is to keep your mouth shut, and there's nothing wrong with that. Keeping your political discussions close to pocket and only with people who you know are safe space and open to civil conversation with you is a good way to openly talk about the things that matter to you in a safe environment. Photo by Duard van der Westhuizen.
The problem with such safe environments is that if you're never challenged on your opinions or presented with new facts, your opinions will never grow and mature, and you'll never learn things you may not already know. You'll fall victim to your own confirmation bias, and you'll only seek out news sources and people that agree with you, and wind up with such a narrow point of view that you'll never be able to think critically about or see the complete picture of an important issue.
Alternatively, you don't have to talk to people about politics to get a well-rounded view: you can do all the research you like in the privacy of your own home, from your own web browser. You could also start your own blog, or join a community on a political blog or website that you enjoy reading to exchange ideas, share your opinions, and be challenged on them by others. Just don't be a troll, remember to contribute as much as you take, and pick your battles wisely. Once you do, you'll benefit from the great conversations you have, dismiss the bad ones, and most importantly, always come off knowledgeable, intelligent, and like you know what you're talking about.
Title Photo made using Tomadoll (Shutterstock) and PSDGraphics.


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Scene of the Crime
Tatort is a long-running German/Austrian/Swiss, crime television series set in various parts of these countries. The show is broadcast on the channels of ARD in Germany, ORF 2 in Austria and SF1 in Switzerland. The first episode was broadcast on November 29, 1970. The opening sequence for the series has remained the same throughout the decades, which remains highly unusual for any such long-running TV series up to date.
Each of the regional TV channels which together form ARD, plus ORF and SF, produces its own episodes, starring its own police inspector, some of which, like the discontinued Schimanski, have become cultural icons.
The show appears on DasErste and ORF 2 on Sundays at 8:15 p.m. and currently about 30 episodes are made per year. As of March 2013, 865 episodes in total have been produced.
Tatort is currently being broadcast in the United States on the MHz Worldview channel under the name Scene of the Crime.
Actor: Jan Josef Liefers, Manfred Krug, Charles Brauer, Götz George, Axel Prahl
Production: ARD/Degeto Film GmbH
Country: Austria, Switzerland, Germany

subset: commoncrawl


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This is FRESH AIR. When the bombs went off Monday, my guest Amby Burfoot was seven-tenths of a mile from the finish line. Burfoot has a special place in the history of the Boston Marathon - he was the winner 45 years ago in 1968. To celebrate the anniversary of his win every five years he runs the Boston Marathon again. Many runners have turned to Burfoot for advice over the years.
He's written several books around running, and he's been an editor or writer at Runner's World magazine since 1978. We called him at his hotel room in Boston to talk about some of his Boston Marathon experiences and to reflect on the attack.
Amby Burfoot, thank you for taking a few minutes to talk with us. In all the years that you've been running in marathons did you ever think what if there's a terrorist attack?
AMBY BURFOOT: You know, the truth is while we have never spoken of that, of course we thought that. Because we know that as runners covering 26.2 miles of public spaces that we are vulnerable. And no one quite imagined what happened here in Boston, anything quite this horrific, but, you know, we're not naïve. We did realize that things can happen on public streets.
GROSS: The attack was around the finish line. It's where a lot of spectators and runners were and the finish line has great symbolic value. What does the finish line mean to you as somebody who actually won the Boston Marathon?
BURFOOT: The finish line has great symbolic meaning for everyone who wants to cross the marathon finish line. I have never experienced - I don't know that too many people have experienced - the race that suddenly closed down and which did not allow them the chance to finish it. I was literally about seven-tenths of a mile from the finish when the road was suddenly blocked and we had no place to go.
GROSS: How did you realize something had gone wrong?
BURFOOT: Yes. You know, at first I saw this congestion ahead of me on the road and I thought, well, more Boston drunken college students. Because that's what goes on on Patriot's Day. We'd seen a lot of it. But then I realized it was all the runners, my own kind, in the street ahead of me. And we just backed up against the barricades. People pulled out cell phones. We were all trying to figure out what happened.
And my wife called me quite quickly from the other side of town. She had received a text from my cousin and sister who were at the finish line directly across the explosion. And they witnessed it in real time, called my wife, and she called me and said you're not going to finish this race. Just try and get back to the hotel.
GROSS: Did your wife sound panicked?
BURFOOT: She didn't sound panicked because at that point there was, you know, the word, I think, explosion was being used but nobody knew what it meant and there was no full details of the story. So she was concerned and wanted me not to try and go towards the finish line which would be my natural inclination. But she didn't sound panicked.
GROSS: Because you've run the Boston Marathon so many times and because you've won it once in 1968, what is the importance of the Boston Marathon? What makes this marathon so special?
BURFOOT: The Boston Marathon is really the holy grail for marathoners. It starts with the history of it being the first and oldest annual marathon in the country from 1897. The fact that our grandfathers and fathers, and the greatest runners in the country and the world have always flocked to this location to run. Because it has the Wellesley girls screaming in the middle of the course followed by the treacherous Heartbreak Hill at the 21 mile mark.
There is just so much vaunted history to this race that every runner who can get themselves in shape to qualify - and it's very difficult. Only 10 percent of the marathon population actually is able to qualify for this race. But everyone who does qualify wants to come here and be part of it because it's the grand daddy and it's so special.
GROSS: Most of the people injured were spectators. Is it important to have people who you care about cheering for you when you're running?
BURFOOT: Oh, it's so important to have people that you care about cheering for you as you run, because people have this notion that running is about having long legs or big lungs or something. But it's really all emotional and all mental. And the people who are supporting you, be it at the course or knowing that your family and friends are going to be waiting for you at the finish line is a huge part of the drive to get there and be reunited with them and to celebrate what everybody's experienced on the day.
And the fact that that was so violently interrupted yesterday was a real tragedy.
GROSS: You trained for the Boston Marathon for a long time. It affects what you do physically, it affects what you eat, it affects when and how you sleep. And so, you know, this week you're running the marathon. You're very close to the finish line and there's, you know, two bombs that go off. You have to turn around. You don't get to finish. In the scheme of things, that's relatively - that's pretty insignificant in the scheme of things.
But still, I'm just wondering what it feels like to have worked so hard to be able to complete the race again and something horrible, tragic, happens. And not only don't you get to finish, which is pretty trivial by comparison, but also it's proven once again that life is so unpredictable, that no matter how much you prepare for something you never, ever know what's going to happen.
BURFOOT: Well, you've captured something that I actually experienced yesterday and I'm a little chagrined and embarrassed to admit that the first 15 seconds when we were turned around I was mad and angry. And it's like who's spoiling my party? You know, this was going to be my 45th anniversary celebration and now I'm not crossing the finish line.
And then when you gradually, over the next coming hours, learn the actual truth, you were reduced to loathing yourself that you ever had that thought. But I guess it's just human nature that that would happen. And I have been running this thing long enough - actually, my first Boston was in 1965. There was a time when my entire soul hungered for nothing but winning this race. And I was lucky enough for that to happen.
But now, you know, I run it with the full knowledge that every mile out there is a gift and every finish line is a gift and knowing that I don't know when it's going to end and be taken away from me or when it will be taken away from others as it was at this year's marathon. So it does teach you some lessons. Marathoning teaches you great humility because it is difficult and you are often defeated along the path.
But we do try to spring back and stay as positive and resilient as we can.
GROSS: Amby Burfoot, I wish you well. I thank you for your time and I'm glad you are safe.
BURFOOT: Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it.
GROSS: Amby Burfoot won the Boston Marathon in 1968 and has run it every five years since. He's an editor-at-large at Runner's World magazine. He spoke to us yesterday from his hotel room in Boston. You can download podcasts of our show on our website freshair.npr.org. and you can follow us on Twitter at #nprfreshair and on Tumblr at nprfreshair.tumblr.com. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Sometimes good things come to those who wait!
Heard that one before? Well hey, I have been waiting. Patiently!
Almost exactly one year after I sent in my first photo entry for Does My Blog Look Good In This (DMBLGIT), I have made it to one of the finalist. I now get to flaunt this badge on my blog! And as it is my first one, believe me I will be flaunting it!
I am quite proud that my photograph "Luscious Figs", as part of the post for Figs in Cherry Caramel, was selected by the hostess herself, Jennifer of Bake or Break, as one of the finalists. I thank you Jennifer and all the judges for all you efforts. You will find the final roundup for DMBLGIT October 2007 here.
Postcards and stuff!
I have also used this photograph and created a lovely postcard for anyone who would like to send sweet, juicy greetings to their friends. Or you can simply frame it and hang it up in your kitchen.
Save 13% on a set of 8 for US$ 6.64!
You'll also find two other fig motives on my Zazzle Gallery. Have a browse through!
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2007 Meeta Albrecht unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


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We really like the animation and communication of the concept by T0R0YD. Modelling was carried out in 3D Max with rendering via Mental Ray.
The Clockwork City
We really like the animation and communication of the concept by T0R0YD. Modelling was carried out in 3D Max with rendering via Mental Ray.
34 comments:
Judging by the shadow on the surrounding plain from the first overview shots... it appears that there would be some space underneath, therefore the possibility of 'loading docks' and service tunnels that can be used for delivery of heavy goods.
Anyway, in a future where something like this is possible, I assume we have found a cheap source of energy, and probably invented exoskeleton suits that enable people to lift heavy construction materials.
I love it! Looks like something out of a Final Fantasy game (or should have a FF or an anime series set within a context like this!)- Anonymous4:19 PM
Lol... maybe you have heard of it, it is called NOISE.
What about Energy Consumption?
I'm sorry to say that this is the most stupid idea I have ever seen for a City Project.
Since when "to be on time for work" is the most important thing in the world? Maybe it's important in some sense, but a city should be designed for PEOPLE not workers so: No noises and no floor movement. Parks, big streets, bicycles and preferably no shops, no advertisements... just people. - Anonymous4:40 PM
ACtually you could have transport systems without having to relly on cars. Right now I´m living in Tokyo, and most people conmute to work on train, and most cars you see on the streets are long distance or heavy delivery, and it´s simply great. By doing this you take out lots of noise and polution, so I can see the benefits of having a "walking only" city.
Question is ¿how much energy would be needed to run a system like that? I guess that too much, and actually we can get results quite close to this with a decent public transport system.
Anyway it might be a good idea for a space station, as you could also use the movement to create gravity.
Actually there´s a game that features that same idea, it´s called Anachronox.
Anyway I loved the animation and the idea. Thanks for sharing it with everyone I'm not sure that I've got the maths right here, but leaving aside energy consumption, there's a more basic problem:
1. Assume it takes 15 minutes for each cycle of the residential ring (I'm basing this on the 10 minutes until your building is nearby bit)
2. Assume that the outer edge of the residential ring is 2km from the central axis.
3. Then I think you're looking at 0.007 radians per second (2*Pi/900)
4. And the circumference of the residential zone is 12,600m (Pi * 4km)
5. Then aren't you travelling at 14mps (i.e. 50kph), of which some significant component will be tangential?
That will make stepping on and off the platform quite interesting, at the same time as you'll find just about everything sliding towards the outer edge of whatever surface it on...- Anonymous12:02 PM
What about the weight of the building structures, how much force and energy will be required to move the entire district? Maybe it is feasible on the moon where there will less gravity, so the whole structure can maybe float a bit and pushed a bit to go in circles. I have never experienced making love while the whole room with the bed is moving. I hope that will be fun for a while.
ReplyDelete - Anonymous2:39 PM
This is something come from an anxious mind, out of reality. Beyond the energy comsuption and mechanics maintenance where are the trees, the gardens, the streets and reference places where people get used to it? In this system everything moves all the time. Forget it. It does not contribute to the individual happiness.
ReplyDelete Although not fully resolved, this concept can be a quantum leap in urban sustainability. Not only does it maximise space utility by eliminating roads for cars, it also replaces thousands of engines with several running parts to service the basic function of mobility. I think we can easily dismiss criticism about the sense of place if we recognise that this is a city based on ritual and time (the essentials of place making). The main technical challenge here is to reduce friction and control the city's buoyancy, a simplified problem.
Just an opinion from an architecture graduate. Don't agree with most pessimistic critiques. I think this idea if pulled through is a very practical one!- Anonymous8:48 AM
Well you have to agree that this is not very good idea for future city. Way too much different kind of problems and inconveniences. But still I liked the idea a lot! Very interesting approach and it gives me visions of my own.
Do not shoot it down just because its too unrealistic and spent a little time to admire the nice modelling and idea.


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Earlier this week, a Japanese company announced a $20 billion bid for a majority stake in Sprint-Nextel, America's third-largest mobile carrier. The deal was launched by the CEO of Softbank - an executive who says he has a 300-year business plan and who is fond of making investments his peers call crazy.
Lucy Craft has this profile.
LUCY CRAFT, BYLINE: In a society where conformity, conservatism and harmony are virtues, CEO Masayoshi Son breaks all the rules, says his biographer, Shinichi Sano.
SHINICHI SANO: (Through Translator) For better or worse, Japan runs slowly, by building consensus. But at Masayoshi Son's company, decisions can be made in a second.
CRAFT: Waseda University business professor Koji Aiba says no other Japanese executive has Son's appetite and skills for taking on risk.
KOJI AIBA: He understands what capitalism is. Unlike the traditional Japanese managers, who think the company is a family.
CRAFT: Japan's second-richest man was born in a hardscrabble Korean ghetto in southern Japan without running water, the son of a pig farmer who brewed moonshine.
Son's father would later own a restaurant and pachinko game parlors - the default occupations for Japan's ethnic Koreans, who were shut out of mainstream corporate Japan.
In a stark and poignant speech to students last summer, Son described the unbearable weight of growing up Korean in Japan.
MASAYOSHI SON: I was living in Japan but I felt I don't belong to anywhere. I don't belong to this country. I don't belong to the friends that I was surrounded with. So to me, I almost - was almost committing suicide. I didn't tell to my friends, of course. But it was that much feeling that I was struggling with.
CRAFT: But Son's life turned around when he moved to California, studied at Berkeley, and met Bill Gates and Steve Jobs - right at the start of the tech revolution. He brought his own revolutionary ideas back to Japan, where he started Softbank, a computer software wholesaler. He's now worth almost eight billion dollars.
SON: If I didn't go to the States, if I didn't go to UC Berkeley, if I didn't meet with all these people in the States, my life was totally different. There's no SoftBank, there's no Masayoshi Son. I may have had totally different life.
CRAFT: Son used SoftBank to enter the mobile market in 2006, buying the then-unprofitable Vodafone Japan and aggressively undercutting his rivals with outrageous discount plans for consumers.
The company took off after Son won exclusive rights to sell the iPhone in Japan. Under his leadership, SoftBank launched one of the quirkiest and most successful ad campaigns in Japanese history.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Foreign language spoken)
CRAFT: A gruff-talking, white dog became a smash hit, replacing human actors, the story goes, because Son dreamed up new marketing ideas so fast, the only way his ad men could keep up was by using a talking-dog that could be voiced-over quickly. Marketers wonder whether similar tactics could be used to goose sales in the U.S.
Son has complained about slow network speeds in the U.S., and his capital will accelerate the rollout of a faster network for Sprint. The deal will make it the world's third-largest mobile carrier - an important step for a man with outsized ambitions.
For NPR News, this is Lucy Craft in Tokyo. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Martial-Arts in Wealdstone
What is Aikido?
Aikido is very different from disciplines such as Karate, Kick Boxing, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Kempo and Krav Maga where there is emphasis on kicking, punching or wrestling.
By choosing Aikido don't expect to spend hours kicking bags or learning boring katas!
Aikido is versatile with flowing circular movements and you will practice a variety of differing attacks and defences (applications) during a typical evenings training. In essence Aikido is turning an opponents power against him.
Is Aikido for me?
Regardless of your size, body type and current level of physical ability or disability. If you are looking for a healthier, more confident way of life, then the modern art of Aikido may well be for you.
Many real life attacks begin with a grab, either to pull you off balance or to move you away. Aikido students learn to defend against many different grabs, usually starting with the wrists and progressing to being gripped by both hands and then on to punches.
A Group of experienced martial-arts instructors at Pinner Aikido Club London can help you achieve:
- Self-defence skills
- Self-esteem and confidence
- Better posture and body language
- Flexibility and fitness
Club and Martial-Art Training
Pinner Aikido Club London runs a mixed martial art class with separate changing facilities. The classes are quite social affairs and training partners are encouraged to help each other with fair practice and advice.
Training partners are changed frequently so you won't be stuck with one person all night. Our Aikido students work at their own pace during the training sessions and no one is forced into doing anything they are not comfortable with.
How to join? - Martial-Arts in Wealdstone
You don't have to sign up straight away. Please feel free to come along and visit - join in or just watch from our seating area if you prefer.
Either way you'll be welcome and hopefully you'll have an interesting time at our friendly aikido club.
Please visit our FAQ section, that contains all the common questions related to club and training.
See our New Starters Guide to find out what to wear and what you can expect when you come along.
"Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love. " - Morihei Ueshiba
"To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury in the Art of Peace. " - Morihei Ueshiba
If you are searching for Martial Arts in Wealdstone and area you are the right place. Remember it is not wholly about combat, self defence and mastering the ability to kick ass. It teaches the individual about mental discipline, building confidence and personal fitness. If you are willing to embrace these facets, why not read more about Martial Arts in Wealdstone?
The Pinner Aikido Club have been helping people improve their lives through Martial Arts since 1995. By following our clubs path you will learn how to bring together the mind and the body to achieve your goals, be it weight loss, getting fit or boosting confidence and social skills. Our Martial Arts instructors are all highly qualified, well trained and motivated to help you get where you want to be by learning and practicing Martial Arts.
The philosophy is simple; "Everyone can learn and develop their bodies and minds by learning martial arts to achieve self-defense skills, self-esteem, confidence, and fitness in a relaxed, exciting and fun way."
The modern Martial-Art of Aikido is versatile with flowing circular movements and you will practice a variety of differing attacks and defences during a typical evenings training. Aikido is performed in pairs, at your own pace, with one taking on the role of attacker whilst the other defends.
Martial Arts in Wealdstone
For those who are interested in Martial Arts our classes are are held every Tuesday and Wednesday evening at our Harrow dojo, and Thursday evening at our Pinner dojo in NW London.
If you are living in Wealdstone and you are looking for some place to train Martial Arts you can easy find us by clicking at How to find us link.
If you are located in in Wealdstone please feel free to come along and visit - join in or just watch from our seating area if you prefer. Either way you will be welcome and hopefully you will have an interesting time at our friendly club.
Find out more details about Martial Arts in Wealdstone and area: timetable and fees.


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Saturday, March 6, 2010
Cranberry Cocktails - Pink Saturday
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...There was a time when I'd have blanched if asked to bring wine or drinks to a party. In my mind, there was always something about that request that indicated incompetence or the inability to cook. I'm no longer quite so proud and was delighted when asked to supply libations for a party we'll be attending this Sunday. We live on the West coast, so, for us, the Academy Awards begin and end at a human hour and allow us plenty of time for people watching and raucous rounds of applause or cat-calls. We do eat, but on this occasion fancy drinks become slightly more important than they might otherwise be. One of the drinks I've planned is designed specifically for the gals. While it's served in martini glasses there is nothing about it, save vodka, to tie it to its more potent cousin. It's a great, if strong, drink for luncheons, showers and other special occasions. Be forewarned, the snake oil salesman in me is about to surface. Ready? It's also good for you because of all the calcium rich cranberry juice that's used to make it. I also sell bridges and oil wells if you're in the market. This is really simple to do and cranberry flavored syrup can be made several days before using if it's refrigerated. Here's the recipe.
Cranberry Cocktails...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Martha Stewart
Cranberry Syrup
Finely grated zest of 1 large orange
Finely grated zest of 1 large lime
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/2 cup water
2-1/2 cups plain cranberry juice
12 ounces vodka
1) Combine orange zest, lime zest, sugar and water in a medium pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cool slightly. Place cranberry juice in a 1-quart jar that has a lid. Add sugar syrup and close jar. Shake to combine. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
2) To make one drink, combine 1/2 cup of cranberry syrup and 2 ounces of vodka in an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a cold martini glass. Yield: 6 drinks.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Poinsettia and Champagne Cocktail - One Perfect Bite
Hot Mulled Cranberry and Apple Cider - One Perfect Bite
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur - One Perfect Bite
This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.
45 comments :
- Mary | Deep South Dish said...
Sounds yummy to me!
- March 6, 2010 at 2:36 AM
- Unknown said...
I so want one, right now! Can you just pass it through the monitor screen please Mary?
- March 6, 2010 at 3:20 AM
- Deb in Hawaii said...
It looks delicious--and such a pretty color too!
- March 6, 2010 at 4:45 AM
- Allie and Pattie said...
Mary, along with any cooked dish, I am always told to bring my Pomegranite Martinis! It's always an honor! This looks wonderful and I always love it when the color is beautiful too
xoxo Pattie - March 6, 2010 at 5:01 AM
- Zurin said...
beautiful colour! vibrant and alluring !wld be hard to refuse a drink like that.
- March 6, 2010 at 5:57 AM
- dana said...
Now THIS is the type of recipe that I can probably make successfully--and really enjoy! I will certainly give this a try!
Happy Pink Sat!! L, Dana - March 6, 2010 at 8:50 AM
- Big Dude said...
Sounds like a drink the wife would love and since I like the cranberry flavor, maybe me too if its not too sweet. We'll give it a try.
- March 6, 2010 at 8:55 AM
- Bob said...
My girlfriend would love those! Heh, I probably would too, but I think I'd have to drink them in the dark. ;)
- March 6, 2010 at 9:56 AM
- Nancy said...
So, there IS cooking involved! :-) Sounds great. Thanks so much for your posts. (Right now, I am tossing old scraps of paper recipes and moving on to web ones! Space, love it!)
Sounds wonderful and it is good for me, too. Love that part! Happy Pink Saturday! - March 6, 2010 at 10:08 AM
- NKP said...
Wonderful! I could drink a pitcher of them.. ;-)
- March 6, 2010 at 11:06 AM
- Barbara said...
Gorgeous! Going to bookmark this for next Christmas! I just love the color!
Happy Oscar party! - March 6, 2010 at 11:11 AM
- Sylvia (at) Lily's Pad and Petals said...
Thanks for visiting my blog Mary and I am going to try this cocktail - yummy.
Sylvia - March 6, 2010 at 11:14 AM
- bj said...
O, Mary...you so crack me up..
This drink is a MUST try for me. It sounds and looks delicious. I wish I had a huge drink of it right now...and it's not even noon. But...hey....it's 5 o'clock somewhere, right!!
Have a blessed weekend...
xo bj - March 6, 2010 at 12:05 PM
- Maggie said...
Oh I want a whole pitcher of these!
Happy PS!
In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie Mae
"Do these shoes match this purse?" - March 6, 2010 at 12:53 PM
- Regina said...
Sweet and refreshing.
Happy Pink Saturday Mary.
Have a wonderful weekend. - March 6, 2010 at 1:06 PM
- Karen said...
Cheers! Such a pretty color.
- March 6, 2010 at 1:10 PM
- ♥ Kathy said...
I like pretty drinks...and pretty food :)
- March 6, 2010 at 1:32 PM
- Tiffanee said...
You amaze me. I featured you on my blog today!! Happy Pink Saturday!!
- March 6, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Delicious to the eyes and the imagination! I could use one right about now ;-)
Hugs and blessings, - March 6, 2010 at 2:57 PM
- Janine said...
Sounds SO good!!
- March 6, 2010 at 3:21 PM
- MaryMoh said...
What a sexy drink!
- March 6, 2010 at 3:23 PM
- chefany said...
OOOOO my favorite femmy drink! I am going to make this one for sure! Thanks!
- March 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM
- Joie de vivre said...
How FUN! I wish I'd thought of an Oscar party earlier. Perhaps I can still get some girls over. I love looking at all of the dresses too and the men just don't understand. You'll have a great time, especially with these pretty drinks.
- March 6, 2010 at 3:33 PM
- Big Dude said...
As it turns out, we had no cranberry juice on hand but some raspberry instead. So I made up a batch and they are indeed good, but like any martini, can definately hurt you. thanks for the recipe.
- March 6, 2010 at 5:10 PM
- Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...
I love cranberry! This looks amazingly delicious. I so wish I had one of these now! I'm going to print this out for one of the gals nights, it would be perfect. Thanks!
- March 6, 2010 at 5:22 PM
- Miss Melanie said...
cheers to this...feeling the thirst! - March 6, 2010 at 6:38 PM
- Inspired by eRecipeCards said...
that's a pretty drink... And put $5 on "Up in the Air" on me, best movie I have seen in a long time (which means it is doomed)
- March 6, 2010 at 6:40 PM
Love your post! Happy Pink Saturday!
- March 6, 2010 at 6:45 PM
- Arlette said...
what a delicious and refreshing drink... Love the color
- March 6, 2010 at 7:15 PM
- Kathleen said...
This sounds like a lovely cocktail!
- March 6, 2010 at 7:29 PM
- Mary Bergfeld said...
Larry, I'm so glad you liked the drink. Thanks for letting me know.
- March 6, 2010 at 7:58 PM
- Jennifer(Savor) said...
Mary, mary, mary...I really wish I lived earby. I mean, I can picture coming by and baking with you while we sip lovely drinks....this would occur every Saturday.
- March 6, 2010 at 8:18 PM
I couldn't wait to see what your pink dish would be.
It looks y-u-m-m-y!!! My problem is that when they're that tasty (and I can tell that one is!) all my sipping skills are forgotten and I want to gulp it rigt down. Best to serve me an awful tasting drink so that I can maintain my dignity. :) - March 6, 2010 at 9:39 PM
- Elena said...
It sounds & looks delicious - love the colour too.
Happy pink saturday Mary! Have a great week.
Elena :) - March 7, 2010 at 7:09 AM
- Joanne said...
Cranberry and vodka are definitely a match made in heaven. I love that you added lemon and lime to it. A great balance of flavors!
- March 7, 2010 at 8:24 AM
- Cookin' Canuck said...
Now this is my kid of cocktail. I love the combination of cranberry and vodka - it goes down far too easily.
- March 7, 2010 at 10:54 AM
- Foley said...
I'm in! Keep them coming...
- March 7, 2010 at 11:10 AM
- Foodiewife said...
Cape Cods are my #1 favorite cocktail. I like your version and it looks like I have a new Happy Hour cocktail to add to my Friday night tradition with hubs. Thanks!
- March 7, 2010 at 11:12 AM
- Laura in Paris said...
What a weekend with cranberry thoughts and vodka!
- March 7, 2010 at 11:58 AM
- Cathy said...
I'm not a fan of sweet drinks, but this one is very tempting, Mary. I would like the combination of juices that you've used. And fruit juice is good for us...right?
- March 7, 2010 at 11:59 AM
- Hungry Dog said...
I would love to sip a few of these while watching the awards tonight. Have fun!!
- March 7, 2010 at 12:04 PM
- Chef Aimee said...
I will be sure to try this cocktail recipe, because I sure could use a cocktail!
- March 7, 2010 at 1:15 PM
- Katy ~ said...
This sounds YUMMY! I drink Cape Cods and this sounds much nicer!
- March 7, 2010 at 7:27 PM
- Claudia said...
love cranberry and vodka. Your recipe is grand and it is so very pretty and celebratory.
- March 7, 2010 at 7:49 PM
- Diana's Cocina said...
Love cranberry and vodka and I'm a fan of sweet drinks. This one is a must.
- March 9, 2010 at 10:49 PM


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