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Six of the UK's finest young chefs gathered at Westminster Kingsway last week, but only one could be crowned this year's Roux scholar. Fiona Sims joined the judges for a front-row seat
A hush descends over the restaurant at London's Westminster Kingsway College. The usual dining tables have been cleared to make way for six individual chairs and small tables for each of the finalists of the Roux Scholarship 2019. Their chatter ebbs away as the judges enter the room in a solemn single line.
Says Michel Roux Jr, chef-patron at Le Gavroche, London: "You're here because we know you are good enough. The next Roux scholar is in this room. Let that sink in.
"We might look scary – especially Sat. But we're very friendly really," quips Michel, playfully slapping his cousin Alain's bottom, lightening the mood instantly.
Shoulders now a little more relaxed, the competitors finally get to hear what they are about to cook – monkfish blanquette and langoustines with saffron basmati rice. "The dish is based on a classic but there's a lot of room there for imagination. We want to see your personality in the dish," challenges Michel.
It sounds straightforward enough. It's a French country cooking classic, more typically a ragoût of white meat (veal, lamb or poultry) cooked in white stock or water with aromatic flavourings, says Larousse Gastronomique, which also goes on to say that, theoretically, the sauce is made by making a roux and adding cream and egg yolks, but that the roux is more often than not omitted. Blanquettes are also made with fish, particularly monkfish.
Of course, this recipe has been given the Roux spin; they in turn were inspired by a recipe from Jules Gouffé (1807-1877, a pupil of Antonin Carême). This Roux version has a velvety Champagne sauce and is garnished with seasonal vegetables. Instead of the traditional accompaniment of rice à la creole, it's served with a saffron basmati rice and asparagus subrics (Larousse translation: small croquettes sautéed in clarified butter, using ingredients bound with allemande or béchamel sauce, eggs, flour, cream, et al).
The list of ingredients that the finalists have been given to use can be adapted or omitted according to their preference, says the recipe in front of them, among them samphire, nutmeg, monkfish liver and cheeks.
The finalists bury their heads in their chosen reference books in the allotted pre-cooking study time, among them Escoffier, Larousse and assorted Roux, plus a couple of Le Répertoire de la Cuisine by Louis Saulnier, first published in 1914.
The chefs, who must all be under 30 years old to qualify, will have just two and a half hours to cook the dish, which must be served two different ways – two portions plated and two portions served in a cast iron casserole (a nod to its Bourgeois roots), the lot placed in front of the eight judges.
Competing in the final for the second time is Michael Cruickshank from Bohemia in Jersey, who reached the final in 2017. Joining him is the only female chef in the group, Olivia Burt from Claridge's in London, and Ryan Baker from the Ritz London hotel, who is joined by his colleague Spencer Metzger, and then Adam Harper from the Cavendish hotel in Baslow, Derbyshire, and finally Lewis Linley from contract catering company Vacherin.
This year's honorary president of judges is Australian cooking star Peter Gilmore of Quay in Sydney, alongside joint chairmen Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr. They are joined by Brian Turner, president of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts; Clare Smyth, chef-patron of Core, London; and James Martin of James Martin Manchester; alongside earlier Roux scholars André Garrett (2002), executive head chef of the Corinthia Hotel London, and Sat Bains (1999) of Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham. The winner is set to be announced later that day at an awards ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London.
There is gaping hole where head scholar Andrew Fairlie once stood, winner of the very first Roux Scholarship in 1984, and who died in January following the diagnosis of a brain tumour 14 years earlier. "Andrew was always smiling, always positive and he would not have wanted us to be sad on this occasion. The competition very much mirrors the person Andrew was: uplifting and about giving back," Michel said later that day at the award ceremony.
Burt is first up. She's the only woman in the final – indeed the only woman in the final for four years (the last was Sabrina Gidda in 2015). "Olivia did very well in the cook-off so she's here on merit, as it should be," says Michel, as he watches her prepare asparagus.
"I don't think timing will be an issue this year. The biggest hurdle, I think, will be getting those fish cooked right, and how they serve it will be interesting to see. We don't specify whether it should be small pieces of fillet or a whole fish. And not many of them will know how to approach the liver," he ponders.
Smyth is equally intrigued by how each finalist will approach the liver. "I'd serve it on toast, or in a ballotine," she says, scrutinising their vegetable prep, and wondering why some are peeling the asparagus for the subric. "You only need to remove the woody part. People just peel it without thinking. You need to respect vegetables, which means they need to think about how each vegetable should be prepared."
James Martin approves of the finalists who have chosen to turn their mushrooms. "It gives the dish that little bit extra. In fact, I'd turn all my veg for this one," he says. "The biggest hurdle after cooking that fish perfectly is the sauce. If they use egg yolks, will they end up scrambled? But it tastes so much better with eggs."
"Last time I made something like this, I was at Orrery [in London's Marylebone]," whispers Garrett. "It takes a lot of kitchen organisation to turn out a dish like this in a restaurant. The sauce is a key element that will bring it all together. We're looking for consistency in the sauce and maximum flavour," he says, armed with a spoon to try various stockpots.
Bains frowns when he clocks a couple of the finalists failing to smash the langoustine claws before adding them to the stockpot. "It would have extracted so much more flavour. That's a basic – they should have been taught that," he observes, also noting a finalist's long ago-cooled, blanched monkfish left uncovered on the side. "Put it in your pocket, I don't care, as long as it's covered," he mutters.
Turner has a grumble, too, when he watches a finalist walk past his bubbling stockpot and ditch his mushroom trimmings in the bin. "You need to get enough body in the stock before you start reducing it. It's a different generation," he mumbles. Turner has covered every Roux Scholarship final bar one. "You only have to look at the machines they're using now to see how much has changed," he says.
Gilmore, meanwhile, is on constant patrol. "It's interesting to see all their different approaches – only one of them is keeping the fish on the bone. But overall, I'm pretty impressed with their working methods," he says.
Gilmore leapt at the invite to become honorary president of the judges. "The Rouxs are legends in the industry; winning this carries a lot of weight and opens a lot of doors. Just entering is important as it gets you thinking about your career and where you sit among your contemporaries. It's also a great opportunity to meet your contemporaries – these relationships will last your whole career," he says.
It appears things aren't any different in Australia when it comes to the skills shortage. "It's so important for all young chefs to have a grounding in the classics. You can't reinvent the wheel. There's always so many little things you can take from this sort of recipe that you can apply to modern cooking," says Gilmore.
But as you probably won't see blanquette of monkfish on the menu at Quay in Sydney any time soon, how does Gilmore keep his staff well versed in the classics? "We rotate our young chefs on the staff meals, asking them to make a classical dish or pasta from scratch – that sort of thing. I think the onus is on established chefs to encourage young chefs this way. You can't put all the blame on young chefs for their lack of skills. The structure has changed so much these days that it's tempting to fast-track people, but chefs need to have 10 years of hard graft behind them. You need that background knowledge and experience to progress," he warns.
Alain is happy with the way all the chefs are conducting themselves. "There's no signs of stress or panic. If that happens, it will be in the last 20 minutes. Some might think this isn't a difficult dish, but our aim is not to make the chefs panic. That's not the purpose of this competition," he says.
Smyth says: "It's so important for a chef to enter these competitions. You need to measure yourself against others. You learn so much that way and gain so much experience."
So what did the finalists learn? "I'd hoped the recipe would be something like that – though I've only cooked a blanquette once before,"confesses Burt. "The subric was the trickiest bit. I'm so glad I've done it, though. You meet so many people and it teaches you a lot about yourself: from how you work, to how fast you do something. It's like learning to cook again, entering this."
It's the last year for Lewis, as he has just turned 30. "I always thought I'd never be ready, but this year I thought, why not go for it? You're always better than you think you are. It was really good, in fact. Stressful, yes, but brilliant. Getting to the final was a real ego boost."
Harper was surprised by how calm he was throughout. "You've got all the best chefs looking over your shoulder, so there is this immense pressure there, but it was OK. I kept telling myself, you've got to the final. And I'm getting my name out there."
Baker, who is a chef de partie at the Ritz London, wasn't at all happy with his subric. "It didn't set, but it doesn't matter. This whole exercise has taught me so many things – not least to keep a clear head. I'll learn from those mistakes."
And Cruickshank will return to Jersey knowing he got very close once again to becoming a Roux Scholar. "It's a good competition as it tests you in so many ways. I'll be back," he says.
But it was Metzger who won the day – on a first attempt, too. "I went into that final thinking I could win it, but it was important to enjoy it, too – I cook so much better when I'm smiling. I could see that the recipe had a lot of room for interpretation but I kept remembering something John [Williams, executive chef at the Ritz London] told me. He said 'do what you do, but respect the classics and fundamentals and you'll be alright.' And he was right, wasn't he?"
On the winner: Spencer Metzger
"We have a super-talented new scholar. Spencer understands flavour; the sauce for the blanquette was sublime – so much so that the judges fought over the last drop."
Michel Roux Jr
"He executed the dish immaculately. It was really hard to find fault. The presentation was great but also the depth of flavour was fantastic. When it came out we all looked at each other and said: 'yes, that is how it should be done!' He has been outstanding throughout the competition, he really deserved to win."
Clare Smyth
"It was his command in the kitchen that impressed – you could just see his discipline, his work ethic and the way he spoke and gave instructions to his commis. His dish had depth in the sauce; the fish was perfectly cooked; everything was very well seasoned. He has a great future ahead of him and let's not forget his mentor – John Williams."
Sat Bains
"Spencer's dish showed that he understood all the elements of the dish in its original classic form, while still allowing him to put his own signature on it. I have known and watched Spencer over the years; his character and his classic training under chef John Williams will make us all proud to have him as a Roux scholar."
Brian Turner
"Spencer will be a great ambassador. He's eloquent, intelligent and well rounded – a good guy. He smashed it on the day. He got everything right. The fish was cooked perfectly – even the cheek, which is not so easy. His sauce was velvety; the asparagus subric was perfect – one of the only finalists to get that right.
Spencer was a clear winner."
André Garrett
Profile: Spencer Metzger
Spencer Metzger is the latest to join the cohort of chefs to have won the Roux Scholarship the first time around: most recently Luke Selby in 2017, Ian Scaramuzza in 2015, and now Metzger. This is the country's toughest chef competition, yet Metzger sailed through the regionals and semi-finals to take the top spot.
Who was the first person he thanked on receiving his prize? John Williams, executive chef of the Ritz. "I didn't get emotional at all until John gave me a hug to congratulate me. He's my mentor – he has always guided me," he credits.
Metzger, 26, is one of six sous chefs at the Ritz. He has worked at the prestigious hotel for nine years, first as an apprentice, then working his way up to sous chef, a position he has held for three years.
The bug bit when he picked the Ritz for work experience while still at school, aged 15.
"I wasn't sure what I wanted as a career. I did some cooking at school and was really good at it. I Googled the Ritz, got through to HR and asked whether I could come in for a few days. I loved it. John encouraged me to apply to catering college at Bournemouth and that was it, really. The course was unbelievable – I even did a blanquette while I was there. You think that you are never going to use these kind of classical skills, but you do, time and again," says Metzger.
"My mates thought I was mad. They said that being a chef would be too hard, the hours too long. But the more I studied, the more I got into it. And it was good fun," he says.
"Now I spend all my money on travelling to eat. High points? Noma [Copenhagen, Denmark] and Fäviken [Järpen, Sweden]. I've eaten my way around the whole of London. I love seeing the different approaches, how the chefs' personalities come through – that's key for me. At Restaurant Sat Bains, for example, you can really see him in that restaurant."
Best and worst moments of the final? "I love making sauces. The worst moment was getting the subric out of the mould – I could see others struggling, but I managed to ease them out. This is why every chef should enter: you need to see what you are up against, to keep testing yourself. You learn so much from your mistakes. I admire the Roux family and what they stand for and I wanted to be a part of that, to help inspire the next generation of chefs."
To prepare, Metzger watched every video of the competition since its inception in 1984. He practiced dishes, too. "Recipes that are seriously classical and seriously expensive – such as a sole soufflé with lobster and sauce Nantaise. I even boned a duck and stuffed it."
Future goals? "I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have dreams about running my own place one day. But I love being at the Ritz, and I'm so happy with where we are with the food right now, so I'm not looking at anything else. I'll be right here for a long time yet."
The winning dish: monkfish blanquette
"It might look like a simple French country dish but it's deceptively tricky. Getting the maximum flavour into that sauce, which has got to coat that fish in a velvety way, and then poaching that monkfish without shrinking it too much, and getting the texture of that subric right – it's quite something to pull off."
André Garrett
"It's a very classic dish. It's not the sort of thing that's cooked very often these days, but it levels the playing field. You can practice and practice until you get a dish right, but this one takes them out of their comfort zone so you can really see how they cook."
Peter Gilmore
"Their goal is to create a dish which ticks the boxes classically but allows them to put their signature on it. I think the subric will be the real test – to get that texture, look and flavour right. The true measure will be when people ask, 'Can I have some bread to mop it all up?'"
Brian Turner


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Machine Learning with TensorFlow and R
TensorFlow™ is an open-source software library for numerical computation using data flow graphs. TensorFlow was originally developed by researchers and engineers working on the Google Brain Team within Google's Machine Intelligence research organization for the purposes of conducting machine learning and deep neural networks research, but the system is general enough to be applicable in a wide variety of other domains as well. In this talk we'll explore the use of TensorFlow from R (https://tensorflow.rstudio.com/), describing the complete workflow including data ingestion, training, and deploying models into production.
About the Speaker
J.J. Allaire
Founder and CEO, RStudio
J.J. is the maintainer of the R interfaces to TensorFlow and Keras.
More videos in this track
Tidyverse discussion
Jenny Bryan, Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel, Max Kuhn, Hadley Wickham, / Mara Averick (moderator)
R in industry discussion
Eduardo Ariño de la Rubia, Tanya Cashorali, Eric Colson, Elaine McVey, David Robinson / Tareef Kawaf (moderator)

subset: commoncrawl


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National Committee for Heat and Mass Transfer of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 17A Krasnokazarmennaya, IVT Ran, Moscow 111250, Russia
In the paper, a review of calculation methods and of experimental results for heat transfer under film cooling is presented. The effects of arrangement of film cooling, longitudinal pressure gradient, nonisothermality and compressibility of the gas, injection of a foreign gas, surface roughness, swirling of flow, and turbulent pulsations of the main gas flow on the effectiveness of film cooling are considered. A generalized correlation for the effectiveness of film cooling, is proposed, which makes it possible to take into account the influence of the above factors. It is shown, that in determination of the heat transfer coefficient in the region of film cooling, it is necessary to take into account the influence of injected gas on the development of the thermal boundary layer. A method of calculation for combined cooling (film, porous or transpiration and convective), which accounts for effect of longitudinal heat conductivity of the wall on the film cooling effectiveness is proposed. An estimation of profile losses on a gas turbine blade is given for the cases of film and porous or transpiration cooling.
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Set sail on this grand One Piece ADVENTURE!
A unique One Piece adventure to be enjoyed in co-op, with characters designed by Eiichiro Oda and a game-exclusive scenario!
The Straw Hat Crew encounters and befriends a cheerful yet mysterious raccoon named Pato who possesses a shadowy power to create anything drawn onto a leaf. In order to help their new friend, the Straw Hat Crew agrees to assist Pato on an ambiguous mission "to meet someone" Pato then leads the crew to the Forgotten Island where all the Straw Hat Crew members except Monkey. D. Luffy are successively kidnapped by a wicked pirate named The Red Count, who had escaped the lower depths of Impel Down two years ago. With Pato's help, Monkey. D. Luffy must fight to recover his crew from the enemy's grasp and find out exactly what The Red Count's evil plots are…
A remaster of the latest installment of the "Unlimited" series, with All DLC's included.
First One Piece game on Nintendo Switch.
New Story and Characters: Pato and "Red" designed by Oda.
All of the Straw Hat Crew playable.
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Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement
The DataVita Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2018
We are committed to running our business responsibly and to the highest ethical and professional standards, including in relation to combating slavery and human trafficking.
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We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our Anti-slavery Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.
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To date, we have not been aware of any instances of slavery and human trafficking in our business or supply chain, but we will continue to monitor this.
Any queries in relation to this Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement should be addressed to email@example.com.


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Lazier has never been easier thanks to the pillow that's not just a pillow, it's a functional remote control.
Just imagine yourself hardly having to move a muscle while relaxing on the couch with a pillow that changes the channels!
This is an excellent gift for your favorite couch potato!


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How do you feel about trying new things? Personally, I hate it about 97% of the time, but when something new does work out, it's like "how did I ever live without this?!" with a choir of angels singing in the background. The following were those items, groups, and methods for me in 2015. :D
Camera tripod: While it's super helpful to have a human behind the camera, telling you where to stand and how to position yourself (and letting you know if you're barely in the frame, haha!), having a tripod is AWESOME. I love being able to just set it up and take pics whenever I want. Sure, there's a lot of misfires... and accidental scenic shots when Pops interrupts me, but it's a fantastic option to have in the ol' blogging arsenal. I linked to the exact tripod I have (although mine is red, randomly!), which is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to set up.
Blogilates water bottle: I'm really bad at drinking enough water in a day. I like water, and it's the main thing I drink, but it takes me forever to finish any drink, water included. Enter the Blogilates bottle with its timer on the side. I'm still not getting enough water, but now I can't totally ignore it! In fact, seeing just how little I've drunk during the day (thanks to the timer) often motivates me to drink more water than I would otherwise!
Target watch: This is for my fellow tiny-wristed girls out there! Finding inexpensive and cute watches that actually fit me out of the box is almost impossible. (Do I own a leather punch so I can add more holes to a watch band? No, not at all...) So I fully expected this one from Target to be ill-fitting, look clunky on me, and get dirty easily (being white and all). I'm happy to report that I have had none of these problems! There is space in between the woven part of the band, so I simply use that as extra holes to customize my fit. Perfection! (See below for an illustration of that sentence that otherwise makes no sense LOL)
Exposure therapy: Full disclosure: exposure therapy is one of the most terrifying and rewarding things I've ever done in my life. The results speak for themselves: I went from not driving in two years (not even around the block) to driving 45 minutes on two highways to work regularly. And driving alone, something I hadn't done in roughly five years. As a stubborn person who was absolutely petrified of getting behind the wheel, I'm still a bit in shock that exposure therapy produced such extreme change... but I guess big change is possible when you finally face your fears. I'm incredibly grateful that my therapist pushed me to do it and so proud of myself for accepting the challenge. I would highly recommend exposure therapy to anyone with a major fear/avoidance issue around something, like I had with driving. You can read more about my experience (as it was happening!) here, and I linked to the program I used (at UPenn), if you want more info about it.
H54F link-up: I think I first stumbled on H54F because I fell in love with Katie's blog. And then I found out that she ran this weekly link-up. I had A LOT of reservations about joining in--like, why would people care about the random little things going on in my life? But I pushed through those anxieties and am so glad I did. I've made so many friends from H54F (Tif, Ashley, and Nicole, to name a few!), and writing my H54F posts is so much fun! Plus, it's become like a weekly gratitude practice for me. Even in weeks that are less than awesome, it's usually not too hard to come up with five good things that happened!
Bullet journaling: One of my friends from grad school, who's also a blogger (hi Kel!), posted about Bullet Journaling last summer, and the concept blew my mind. While I haven't embraced all aspects of the bujo process, writing down all my tasks for the day, and especially breaking down a task into all its smaller ones has been tremendously helpful in keeping me focused, organized, and less stressed. I honestly don't know how I kept anything straight before adopting my bujo-esque process!
Battery Buddy: As you saw in my Day in the Life post, I spend a lot of time of public transportation. Having a back-up battery for my phone, ESPECIALLY one that I don't have to charge constantly (because I never remember to do it), is clutch. Bonus that this one is super cute! It can give your phone five full charges before needing to be charged itself, AND it can charge two phones at once! Dream.come.true.
DevaCurl Heaven in Hair: I have super thick, coarse hair, and this product actually makes it feel SOFT, which is a miracle. It works amazingly, even if I put it on a minute before getting in the shower. (This is fantastic since I'm the worst at remembering to shower pre-game with masks and deep-conditioners.) Mind=blown.
White board: I got the idea for a white board while at the Hay House Writers' Conference last March. Maybe one of the speakers directly suggested it, I don't know. What I do know is that I ordered one from Amazon in the middle of someone's talk at the conference! (Oops.) I'm a visual person who needs reminders in her face all the time, so adding a white board to my bedroom has been hugely helpful. I write my weekly tasks on there (mainly upcoming posts and appointments), as well as my monthly goals. (This has been a total game changer in terms of getting shit done!) It's also a great spot for inspirational quotes.
What are your favorite things you've bought or started using in 2015?! Fill me in--I love to hear about what other people love!


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AAA: American Trust in Autonomous Vehicles Slips
May 22nd, 2018 by AAA Public Affairs
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 22, 2018) – Following high-profile incidents involving autonomous vehicle technologies, a new report from AAA's multi-year tracking study indicates that consumer trust in these vehicles has quickly eroded. Today, three-quarters (73 percent) of American drivers report they would be too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, up significantly from 63 percent in late 2017. Additionally, two-thirds (63 percent) of U.S. adults report they would actually feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle while walking or riding a bicycle.
"Despite their potential to make our roads safer in the long run, consumers have high expectations for safety," said Greg Brannon, AAA's director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations. "Our results show that any incident involving an autonomous vehicle is likely to shake consumer trust, which is a critical component to the widespread acceptance of autonomous vehicles."
Additional Resources
Surprisingly, AAA's latest survey found that Millennials – the group that has been the quickest to embrace automated vehicle technologies — were the most impacted by these incidents. The percentage of Millennial drivers too afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle has jumped from 49 percent to 64 percent since late 2017, representing the largest increase of any generation surveyed.
"While autonomous vehicles are being tested, there's always a chance that they will fail or encounter a situation that challenges even the most advanced system," said Megan Foster, AAA's director of Federal Affairs. "To ease fears, there must be safeguards in place to protect vehicle occupants and the motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians with whom they share the road."
AAA supports thorough testing of automated vehicle technologies as they continue to evolve, including testing under progressively complicated driving scenarios and under varying conditions, but not at the expense of safety. Additionally, to help prevent the accidental misuse of the systems, AAA advocates for a common sense, common nomenclature and classification system, and similar performance characteristics of future autonomous vehicle technologies.
"There are sometimes dozens of different marketing names for today's safety systems," continued Brannon. "Learning how to operate a vehicle equipped with semi-autonomous technology is challenging enough without having to decipher the equipment list and corresponding level of autonomy."
To help educate consumers on the effectiveness of emerging vehicle technologies, AAA is committed to the ongoing, unbiased testing of automated vehicle technologies. Previous testing of automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, self-parking technology and lane keeping systems has shown both great promise and great variation. Future AAA testing will look at how well systems work together to achieve higher levels of automation.
AAA provides more than 58 million members with automotive, travel, insurance and financial services through its federation of 36 motor clubs and nearly 1,100 branch offices across North America. Since 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safe mobility. Drivers can request roadside assistance, identify nearby gas prices, locate discounts, book a hotel or map a route via the AAA Mobile app. To join, visit AAA.com.
Double Digits Means Double Trouble for Vehicle Breakdowns
April 17th, 2018 by AAA Public Affairs
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 17, 2018) – As 64 percent of family travelers gear up for a road trip this summer, AAA warns that the majority of U.S. vehicles are at a higher-than-average risk for a breakdown. A new analysis of AAA roadside data shows that vehicles 10 years and older are twice as likely to end up stranded on the side of the road compared to newer vehicles and on top of that, the odds of needing a tow quadruples. With more than half of cars on the road aged 10 years or older, AAA urges drivers to minimize the chance of a breakdown by getting their vehicle road-trip ready to keep their summer travel on track.
Additional Resources
"It's no surprise that older vehicles are more likely to encounter a serious breakdown, but it is surprising just how many people are at risk," said John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. "All vehicles – even the newest ones – are prone to typical roadside headaches like dead batteries, flat tires and misplaced keys, but vehicles 10 years and older are four times more likely to encounter a problem serious enough to require a tow to a repair facility."
Fortunately, most roadside trouble is avoidable. For vehicles of any age, old and new, AAA advises drivers make a good B-E-T to stay on the road by having a vehicle's Battery, Engine and Tires checked before embarking on a summer excursion. Long trips coupled with hot weather places additional strain on vehicles and in some cases may accelerate a dormant issue. When these key systems are in good working order, AAA data shows the odds of encountering a serious breakdown are greatly reduced. The top three types of vehicle issues that could derail a road trip are:
- Battery-related issues, including faulty starters or alternators. A battery on the brink of dying rarely warns a driver before it fails, but having a simple battery test will. Through its mobile battery program, AAA offers its members free testing of a vehicle's battery and electrical system.
- Engine cooling system failures, such as the radiator, thermostat or water pump or engine parts such as the timing belt, most prominently in vehicles age 10 years and older. Much like a battery, the components of the engine cooling system may fail without warning. Drivers should look for fluids such as coolant pooling underneath the vehicle when it is parked as an indication of an impending problem.
- Tire damage severe enough to require repair or replacement. Drivers can minimize this risk by checking tread depth, tire pressure and whether their vehicle is equipped with a spare tire.
A professional and thorough vehicle inspection can help reduce the chance of a serious breakdown. If a car does end up at a repair shop, not only will a road trip be interrupted, drivers can expect to spend anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars to get back on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers may hesitate to schedule an inspection. Not only are the majority of U.S. drivers leery of repair shops, one-in-three cannot afford an unexpected vehicle repair.
"Drivers may skip taking their car in for an inspection, hoping to avoid an expensive repair bill," Nielsen said. "But, when you factor in the cost of an interrupted trip, having a vehicle inspected and proactively repaired will cost much less in the long run."
AAA helps take the guesswork out of finding a trusted repair facility with its Approved Auto Repair (AAR) facilities. These shops must adhere to a stringent set of standards for certifications, technical training, cleanliness, insurance requirements, and customer service set forth by AAA. Shops with the AAR designation signal to drivers a vetted facility, inspected annually, that will offer fair pricing and quality service. To locate one, drivers can visit AAA.com/AutoRepair. Additionally, AAA also offers a free repair cost calculator, also found at AAA.com/AutoRepair, that provides drivers the ability to estimate the cost of a repair or to verify a quote received for their vehicle.
AAA provides more than 58 million members with automotive, travel, insurance and financial services through its federation of 36 motor clubs and nearly 1,100 branch offices across North America. Since 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safe mobility. Drivers can request roadside assistance, identify nearby gas prices, locate discounts, book a hotel or map a route via the AAA Mobile app. To join, visit AAA.com.
Roadside Breakdowns Preventable with Proper Maintenance, Finds AAA
October 8th, 2015 by AAA
One-third of Americans ignore vehicle maintenance needs
ORLANDO, Fla. (October 8, 2015) – A new analysis of AAA roadside assistance data reveals that millions of roadside breakdowns each year could be prevented with basic vehicle maintenance. Despite this, a recent AAA survey found that 35 percent of Americans have skipped or delayed service or repairs that were recommended by a mechanic or specified by the factory maintenance schedule.
Additional Resources
"According to a survey of AAA's certified Approved Auto Repair shops, consumers that forget or ignore recommended maintenance ultimately pay higher repair costs," cautioned John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. "These repair facilities estimate drivers can save an average of one hundred dollars per visit simply by properly maintaining their vehicle."
In 2014, AAA responded to more than 29 million calls for roadside assistance, with the majority (17 million) due to battery failure, flat tires and keys locked inside the vehicle. To prevent these common roadside problems, AAA offers the following recommendations:
- Batteries: Automotive batteries typically last between three and five years, with reduced battery life in hotter climates. To avoid an unexpected battery failure, AAA recommends that drivers have their vehicle's battery tested when it reaches three years of age and on an annual basis thereafter. According to a recent survey, two thirds of Americans have never had their car battery tested prior to their vehicle failing to start. AAA's Mobile Battery Service offers free battery testing to AAA members.
- Tires: Keeping tires properly inflated and routinely checking tread depth is critical to safety, yet AAA found that 60 percent of Americans do not check tire pressures regularly. Tire pressures, including the spare tire, should be checked at least once a month, and when tread depth reaches 4/32" AAA recommends replacing tires. Additionally, while locking lug nuts are helpful in preventing tire theft, missing keys prevented roadside assistance technicians from changing 21,000 tires in 2014. AAA recommends storing the locking lug nut key with the spare tire or in the glove box.
- Keys: Despite the rising popularity of Passive Keyless Entry systems, AAA has not seen a significant reduction in the number of calls related to drivers being locked out of their vehicle in the last decade, proving that it is difficult to prevent this common mistake.
"While problems with batteries, tires and keys are the most common reasons that members call AAA for help, there are more than 12 million calls each year related to engine trouble, fuel issues and other mechanical mishaps," warned Nielsen. "AAA will always be there to save the day, but this study reveals drivers can save time and money by investing in routine maintenance."
Other key findings from 2014 roadside assistance data include:
- AAA towed more than two million vehicles for engine-related issues and an additional 600,000 vehicles for transmission failure.
- More than 235,000 vehicles were towed due to brake system failures.
- While most modern vehicles are equipped with low-fuel lights, AAA provided gasoline fuel delivery to more than half a million vehicles in 2014.
- Due to members incorrectly fueling their gasoline-powered vehicle with diesel fuel, or vice-versa, AAA towed more than 13,000 vehicles to repair facilities.
"While today's vehicle technology incorporates maintenance reminders and dashboard alerts designed to prevent roadside trouble, drivers still must take action," cautioned Josh VanWynsberghe, AAA's automotive technical engineer. "Finding a mechanic you trust and allowing that shop to perform all of your vehicle's maintenance will result in improved reliability, higher resale values and increased safety."
AAA's Approved Auto Repair (AAR) program was created more than 35 years ago and includes nearly 7,000 facilities across North America. Once a shop meets AAA's high standards, including certifications, technical training, cleanliness, insurance requirements and background checks, it becomes part of the AAR program where it's re-inspected annually and monitored for customer satisfaction. AAA members receive several unique benefits by selecting an AAR facility, including priority service, a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty, discounts on repairs, free inspections, AAA assistance with dispute resolutions and more. To find an AAR facility, visit AAA.com/Repair.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
Americans Steer Away from Autonomous Parking
September 22nd, 2015 by AAA
AAA finds self-parking technology lacks consumer trust, outperforms drivers
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 22, 2015) – As automakers increasingly integrate self-parking features into new vehicles, Americans say they are not ready to give up control. According to a new survey from AAA, nearly 80 percent of American drivers are confident in their parallel parking abilities and only one-in-four would trust this technology to park their vehicle. Despite this, AAA testing found self-parking technology outperformed unassisted drivers in four key areas.
Additional Resources
- Fact Sheet
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"Autonomous features, such as active park assist, are rapidly being introduced into new vehicles, yet American drivers are hesitant to let go of the wheel," said John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. "While the vast majority of Americans say they would not trust self-parking technology, AAA found these features performed well in tests and warrants consideration of new car buyers."
In partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center, AAA tested self-parking features on five vehicles: a 2015 Lincoln MKC, a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML400 4Matic, a 2015 Cadillac CTS-V Sport, a 2015 BMW i3 and a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited.
Compared to drivers that manually parallel parked with the aid of a standard back-up camera, AAA found:
- Drivers using self-parking systems experienced 81 percent fewer curb strikes.
- Self-parking systems parallel parked the vehicle using 47 percent fewer maneuvers, with some systems completing the task in as little as one maneuver.
- Self-parking systems were able to park a vehicle 10 percent faster.
- Self-parking systems were able to park 37 percent closer to the curb.
"AAA's testing found that self-parking technology outperformed manual parking in number of curb strikes, number of maneuvers, speed and accuracy," said Megan McKernan, manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center. "While Americans report feeling confident in their parallel parking abilities, this technology proves there is room for improvement."
While the tested self-parking systems performed well and parked quicker and more accurately than an unassisted driver, the technology is not without flaws. AAA found that some systems parked the vehicles exceedingly close to the curb, leaving wheels and tires vulnerable to scratches and costly repairs.
"AAA recommends that drivers leave six-to-eight inches between the vehicle and the curb when parallel parking," warned Nielsen. "With some systems leaving as little as a half-inch buffer, AAA urges automakers to increase this distance to prevent vehicle damage."
To learn more about AAA's vehicle testing series, designed to educate and inform AAA members, the automotive industry and the general public, visit NewsRoom.AAA.com.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
Self Parking Image Gallery
AAA Statement Regarding Consumer Recalls
March 21st, 2014 by AAA
By Bob Darbelnet, President and CEO of AAA
WASHINGTON, D.C, (March 21, 2014) – "AAA believes that the safety of motorists should be a top consideration in the handling of consumer recalls and urges Federal regulators and the automotive industry to review recall procedures and requirements to ensure that they are designed to best protect motorists. Delays in vehicle recalls erode motorists' confidence in the national recall system and confidence in the cars they drive."
"Right to Repair" Agreement Does Not Go Far Enough in Ensuring Access to Car Data
January 23rd, 2014 by AAA
More Must Be Done to Guarantee Consumer Choice and Control
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 23, 2014) –The "Right to Repair" agreement should help consumers with auto repair, but it does not go far enough in ensuring access to car data as vehicle technology advances.
"AAA has promoted this issue for years because most consumers want the ability to choose their preferred mechanic," said Bob Darbelnet, President and CEO of AAA. "While this agreement has benefits for consumers, it is not a comprehensive solution. Vehicles are changing rapidly and more must be done to guarantee consumer choice and control of vehicle data in the future."
AAA believes that automakers must help ensure the consumer rights of transparency, choice and security as cars increasingly transmit data outside the vehicle.
AAA's Consumer Rights for Car Data
- Transparency – Consumers have a right to clearly understand what information is being collected from their vehicle and how it is being used. Businesses and the government should be transparent about the collection and use of vehicle data.
- Choice – Consumers have a right to decide with whom to share their data and for what purpose. This includes ongoing monitoring of vehicle systems, repair and any data of the vehicle owner's choice. Customers should not be forced to relinquish control as a condition of purchasing or leasing a vehicle or of receiving a connected-vehicle service.
- Security – Consumers have a right to expect that connected-vehicle manufacturers and service providers will use reasonable measures to protect vehicle data systems and services against unauthorized access and misuse.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 54 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
AAA Mobile App for iPhone and iPod touch Adds Passbook Support
July 17th, 2013 by AAA
Members can now access their AAA membership conveniently from the home screen on their iPhone® or iPod touch®
ORLANDO, Fla., (July 17, 2013) – AAA members can now add their AAA membership card to Passbook on any iOS 6.0, iPhone or iPod touch device through the AAA Mobile app. With a touch of the "Add to Passbook" button, users' can display their AAA membership card electronically.
"AAA Mobile provides convenient solutions to members on the go. The Passbook capability is just one more way AAA is addressing market trends and member needs and expectations in new and innovative ways," says AAA Managing Director of Mobile Products and Commercial Markets Jeff Green.
To add a AAA membership card to Passbook users need to download the AAA Mobile app from the App Store and enter their membership information. Once the card displays, tap "Add to Passbook." AAA Mobile is available to all mobile users; however some services and benefits are only available to AAA members such as roadside assistance and discounts.
Along with the digital AAA membership card, AAA Mobile offers digital access to services, such as mapping and gas price comparison, as well as member-exclusive benefits including location-based roadside assistance and discounts. The AAA Mobile app, available for iPhone and iPod touch, as well as iPad and Android smartphones is the perfect companion for any member.
AAA urges motorists to minimize distractions behind the wheel by not using wireless devices, such as cell phones with mobile applications, while driving.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited at AAA.com.
President Obama Talks Gas Prices in One-on-One with AAA
March 23rd, 2012 by AAA
Washington, D.C., (March 23, 2012) – With prices climbing more than 60 cents a gallon since January 1, President Barack Obama discussed energy and rising gas prices—a top-of-mind issue for motorists across the country including AAA's more than 53 million members—in a meeting with AAA yesterday.
Following his speech on energy issues in Cushing, Oklahoma, the President spoke to a representative of the nation's largest auto club that serves one-in-four American households.
As an advocate of motorists nationwide, AAA asked the President questions likely to be foremost in the minds of drivers feeling the pain at the pump.
Additional Resources
When asked by AAA to comment on the frustration and confusion that U.S motorists are experiencing with rising gas prices, the President said, "I understand what folks are going through because it wasn't that long ago that I was having to fill up my gas tank and drive to work, shuttle the kids back and forth to school or events. It takes a big bite out of folks' paychecks." The President went on to say that the U.S. has experienced cyclical gas prices for decades and stressed the importance of America having more control over its own energy security.
AAA also inquired about the role of the President in addressing prices at the pump given the global forces and political tensions abroad that drive the oil and energy markets. The President elaborated on points from his earlier speech, saying, "The most important thing I can do as the President is not to simply focus on tomorrow. It's focusing on getting America properly aimed toward our goal of continuing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil." The President also highlighted the importance of maintaining growth and productivity while further reducing U.S. oil consumption. Mr. Obama noted that pressure on oil prices in the coming two decades will be difficult to reverse.
Even as a 110-year old organization whose origins date to the earliest days of the motor vehicle, AAA continues to explore new vehicle technologies to offer enhanced and improved services to members. Responding to member interest, AAA began testing a roadside service vehicle capable of providing charging assistance to electric vehicles.
As to public acceptance of new technologies, the President said, "People need to feel confident that when they get into an electric car they're not going to get stuck. To the extent that we start having both more efficient batteries and distribution capacity, people can feel confident that they're never going to get stuck, or at least not any more stuck than they do when they forget to fill up and then call AAA."
The President also shared insight about the role of alternative-fuel vehicles as a possible solution to current high fuel costs. Mr. Obama noted that fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks have doubled, which will result in fewer trips to the gas station and a savings for the average family of about $8,000 over the life of the car. As to the future, Mr. Obama is optimistic. "If we unleash American creativity, if we properly incentivize people to think about fuel economy as part of overall design, Americans can make great cars."
While Mr. Obama is no longer able to do his own driving, AAA couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask President Obama about his first car. Noting he had been a AAA member for years , he said, "I have to confess, my first car was my grandfather's car, which was a Ford Granada. It rattled and it shook, and I don't think the girls were particularly impressed when I came to pick them up in a Ford Granada. But you know what? It moved, and so I have fond memories of the fact that it got me to where I needed to go."
AAA is a non-partisan organization providing unbiased reporting of gas prices through its popular weekly Fuel Gauge Report, and supports the national dialogue on gas prices by offering objective and accurate perspective to the media and motorists year-round.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
Full Transcript:
AAA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (Cushing, Oklahoma – March 22, 2012)
President Obama sat for an exclusive interview with Yolanda Cade, AAA's managing director of public relations, in Cushing, Oklahoma to speak directly to AAA's 53 million members on the topic of high gasoline prices.
AAA: As you know, AAA proudly serves 53 million members, many of them, like most Americans are confused and they're frustrated about the rising gas prices. So what would you say to drivers that are feeling that pain in the pocketbook when they're filling up at the pump?
President Obama: Well, first of all, I understand what folks are going through, because it wasn't that long ago that I was having to fill up my gas tank and drive to work, shuttle the kids back and forth to school and their events, and it takes a big bite out of folks' paychecks. The challenge is that we've been going through this kind of cycle of ups and downs in gas prices for decades now. We don't have the control over our own energy security the way we need to. And so what we talked about today was an all of the above strategy that involves higher oil production here in the United States but also involves making our cars more fuel efficient, expanding biofuels, using all the resources we can to try to lessen our demand for foreign oil, which makes us less vulnerable to price spikes over the long term.
Right now the key thing that is driving higher gas prices is actually the world's oil markets and uncertainty about what's going on in Iran and the Middle East, and that's adding a $20 or $30 premium to oil prices, and that affects obviously gas prices. What's also driving it, and this is something that's not going to reverse, is increasing demand in countries like China and India. In 2010, for example China added 10 million cars just in that one year. So as more and more people around the world see their standards of living rising, they purchase cars, they have demand for oil, that creates a greater demand worldwide and that raises the price. That's why we've got to make sure that we don't just focus on production. We've also got to focus on fuel efficiency; we've also got to focus on alternatives. If we don't, we're going to continue to be subject to these kinds of price spikes anytime something happens around the world.
AAA: And just to pick up on that thread, talking about global forces – and you alluded to that today – given the global forces that are driving the oil and energy markets, what is the role of the President, if any, in addressing the price of gasoline that Americans are paying at the pump?
President Obama: Well, there are a couple of things that we can do right now. There are some bottlenecks in distribution that we're trying to impact, and building this pipeline from Cushing down to the Gulf is an example of where you get more oil to refineries faster that can hopefully be distributed more efficiently across the country. We are looking at making sure that we're enforcing laws preventing illegal speculation in the oil markets. That can have some modest impact potentially, if something is going on there that shouldn't be going on. But the most important thing I can do as a President is not to simply focus on tomorrow; it's focusing on getting America properly aiming towards our goal of continuing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. And we've had success over the last three years, we've actually seen every year our oil imports decline even as we climbed out of a recession so the economy was growing. We've now doubled fuel efficiency standards on cars and trucks, and by the middle of the next decade we can expect the average car to be getting 55 miles per gallon. And that's going to mean you only take one trip to the gas station instead of two, and could end up saving the average family about $8,000 during the life of their car. That would obviously be a big help. So, those are the kinds of strategies that I have the most control over, not the day-to-day spikes in the oil market.
AAA: And you talked about the economy, and if I can follow up on that there are signs that the American economy is improving. Do you have any concerns that the rising gas prices may at some point stifle the recovery?
President Obama: Well we saw that happen last year, where consumer confidence was building and then suddenly pulled back sharply. People are very sensitive to oil prices. The one thing that I think is important for us to remind voters, and I know this is a small consolation, but the payroll tax cut that we passed at the beginning of this year and then we've now extended to the end of the year, saves the average family about $1,000 a year. And that is helping to buffer some of these rising gas costs. So some of this we anticipated, and we said to ourselves: that's part of the reason why we've got to make sure we continue to extend this tax cut at least through the end of this year so that we don't see as much of an impact on what people actually have in their pockets as there would have been if they were socked with both a tax increase and rising gas prices at the same time.
AAA: Mr. President, you've advocated increased fuel economy and you talked about the fact that it is really an integral part of the solution to our overall energy needs. And then today we heard you talk about the importance of infrastructure and continued innovation. But speaking of balance: how do you effectively balance fuel efficiency and ensure there is appropriate infrastructure and at the same time preserve consumer vehicle choice?
President Obama: Well look, one of the great things we've been doing with the auto industry over the last couple of years is not only are we producing more fuel efficient cars, but they're better cars, more attractive cars, and safer cars. What we've been arguing consistently is that if we unleash American creativity, design, we properly incentivize people to think about fuel economy as part of overall design, Americans can make great cars. And if you look at the cars that are being built in Detroit right now, they're getting more gas mileage, they're safer than they were – they're not compromising on styling – and part of that is everything from figuring out the aerodynamics, to tire drag, to air conditioning systems that are more efficient. All those things, all those technological advances, are making a difference and we are continuing to spur advanced technology improvements in our auto vehicles. That includes conventional cars, but it also includes electric and hybrid cars.
So, I'll give you a small example. We've recently provided a $4 million grant to a company that it appears may have gotten a breakthrough on battery technology that could actually reduce the cost and expand the power of the batteries that are used in electric cars two-fold. That could bring down the price point. That could make the capacity to run further on a single charge much greater. It could reduce the amount of room that a battery takes up in a car. So all of that could make a huge difference in terms of us and Detroit being able to produce the very best, most fuel efficient cars in the world.
AAA: And in anticipation of that, at AAA, we're actually pilot testing delivering energy at the roadside, delivering an electric charge to electric vehicles. And speaking of American creativity and design ingenuity in electric vehicles, you said that when you leave office, that you will buy and drive a Chevy Volt. So what role then do you think that electric vehicles and other alternative vehicles help in preventing the kind of gas price fluctuations that we're now seeing? What role do you think they'll play in the future? Do you think they'll play an integral role?
President Obama: Look, you identified the big challenge. That is, people need to feel confident that when they get into an electric car that they're not going to get stuck because of range anxiety – and so to the extent that we start having both more efficient batteries but also distribution capacity, so that people feel confident that they're never going to get stuck, or at least not any more stuck than they do when they forget to fill up and then they call AAA. Then I think that we can see a substantial expansion in the use of electric vehicles over the future, and anything that we're doing to reduce oil consumption, while maintaining our growth and productivity, that's all good. Because frankly, the pressure on oil prices to go up over the coming two decades is going to be very difficult to reverse. You've got hundreds-of-millions of people in China, hundreds-of-millions of people in India, billions of people around the world, who want the same stuff we've got. They aspire to the same standard of living and having a car as we do. Demand is going to outstrip supply. We've got to come up with new technologies. That's what we're going to be working on.
AAA: Finally, Mr. President, and we've asked this of others in your Administration, tell us, what was your first car and do you have any fond memories of your driving experience that you'd like to share with us?
President Obama: Well, first of all, I was a AAA member for years, up until they [Secret Service] told me I couldn't drive anymore. But I have to confess; my first car was my grandfather's car, which was a Ford Granada. Now Ford is doing great now. The Ford Granada was not the peak of Detroit engineering. It rattled and it shook, and I don't think the girls were particularly impressed when I came to pick them up in a Ford Granada. But you know what? It moved and so I have fond memories of the fact that it got me to where I needed to go. That's about all I can say about the Ford Granada.
AAA: Thank you, Mr. President, on behalf of our 53 million members.
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Central Unified School District Workshops
For Central Unified School District Teachers Only.
Early Childhood Education Guiding Documents - ECE-1000C
What does it mean to be a practicing early childhood professional today? This course is designed specifically for California Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten educators to help make connections between the many California Department of Education guiding documents including but not limited to: CA Preschool Learning Foundations and California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks Volumes 1, 2, 3, California Early Childhood Educator Competencies, and Alignment of CA Common Core Standards to Key Early Learning Resources. Emphasis is on best practices and practical applications of guiding documents into classroom curriculum, designed specifically for California teachers. All course materials are included through the online course website.
Social/Emotional Development - ECE-1002C
Explore the current research on the importance of social and emotional development in young children. Design classroom application activities to support the social and emotional development of the young learner. Implement techniques to help your students develop positive social skills.
Inclusion Children with Exceptionalities - ECE-1004C
Discover how to plan and implement curriculum in a classroom that addresses the needs of all children. A focus on autism is included. Experience the challenges children with exceptionalities face in an all-inclusion classroom. Include teaching strategies in all curricular areas to meet the needs of all students in the Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten classroom. Use the Guiding Documents to design lesson plans that align with Foundations and Standards. Explore current research for inclusion of students with exceptionalities in early childhood classrooms.
Early Literature for English Learners - ECE-1006C
Examine models of reading and writing processes and the interconnections between oral language, reading, writing, and spelling. The course emphasizes patterns of development for children from birth to age eight with special emphasis on ages 3-6. Attention is given to factors that support literacy development with an emphasis on English learners and those factors that place children at risk of failing to reach their educational potential. The course focus is to explore how English learners acquire the foundations for literacy, and develop instructional skills for both young English learners and young native English speakers.


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Cemetery Confessions 018 - Goth Without a Scene/
On this month's episode we discuss public discrimination, whether music has any meaning to the goth subculture anymore, and why Peter Murphy is so arrogant. We are reviewing the new album from The Rezillos, and finally we talk about leaving the goth scene and what it's like to be goth without social participation.
Our guest this month is Moose, aka DJDirtyMessiah
Thanks for supporting us on Patreon! 15:50
Big Announcement: The Belfry is now live on iTunes and the new website. 17:00
What Are you Drinking: 23:00
Westvleteren 12
-Cybergoth kicked out of pub 26:00
-Music subcultures are losing their definition 35:30
-The Goth Phase: An exploration in persona 1:10:42
-Peter Hook on Bauhaus 1:39:15
Quick News:
-Twin Peaks reboot update 1:54:35
-Pope concerned about sexy vampires 1:57:25
-Goth habitats quickly disappearing 1:59:00
Album Review:
The Rezillos return with their first album since 1978. 2:00:35
Philosophy Corner: 2:15:30
It's been said, the core of goth culture revolves around the club. That is where we meet, mingle, create friendships, express ourselves, and explore the culture. However what happens for those who don't have a goth club, or those who are disabled, or have children, or a 60 hour a week job, etc. What happens when we get fed up with the local scene due to infighting or politics? How do you carry on in your daily life still knowing who you are in your "gothdom" without needing that coveted approval.
Listener Response 1
Listener Response 2
-Listener Feedback and E-mails- 3:21:00


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Brief Information on
Funded by: United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)
Implemented by: ACORAB Nepal
Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB) Nepal is implementing Institutionalizing Social Accountability of Community Radio in Nepal since June 2012 funded by United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). The duration of is 24 months and coverage across 74 district of Nepal. The aim of this project is to strengthen the institutional capacity of community radios to effectively serve as legitimate watchdogs for social accountability issues, ensuring that they work as agents of social transformation at the community level while themselves operating within the parameters of accountability principles.
The project strategy focuses on capacity building for community radios, to improve their journalistic capacities and advocacy skills, promote the effective use of media, strengthen the legitimacy and quality of their news coverage, as well as their business and internal accountability practices, and enhance the breadth and scope of community participation.
Beneficiaries: The project intends to strengthen the professional capacity of 220 radios to deliver media services, with increased institutional capacity of 100 member community radios and accountability capacity of 30 radios from across the country, so as to institutionalize their social accountability mechanism. Each community radio station has an estimated listenership of 3000 dedicated people in average, so the improvement in services will directly benefit these people as well.
Outcome 1: Improved internal governance, oversight, financial and operational management of 100 community radios (Target: More than 60% of member stations (at least 132) are run with defined organizational and financial systems, standards, norms procedures, including good governance policy, GESI policy, long-term strategy and social auditing).
Accountability Status Review of CRs
Enforcing internal governance oversight and accountability measures in 100 community radios
Outcome 2: Transparency, equity and social accountability actively promoted across Nepal by community radios (Target: 220 CR journalists are trained on accountability issues; trained journalists use skills in organizing public hearings and social audits; Trained journalists regularly contribute to programming on accountability)
Journalism Capacity of CR journalists enhanced for enhancing advancing watchdog role of CRs for in promoting accountability
Media advocacy on locally identified issues on related to transparency, integrity and accountability related issues
Capacity of CRs developed in social accountability tools and their active engagement in governance across CR sector
Under this project, ACORAB had prepared a training manual for providing capacity building training to the community radio professionals on social accountability. Click here to download a copy of the publication.
ACORAB Nepal conducted a research to assess the current social accountability status of Nepalese community radios and also study to whom are they accountable and whether their activities alienating or galvanizing the democratic ideals of accountability. Click here to read the research findings online.


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Monthly Archives: August 2017
The Environment Centre Joins Terracycle Recycling Programme
Fantastic news! The Environment Centre will soon be collecting specific items of waste to be recycled that can't go through the normal council recycling collections. Terracycle has big brand partners that sponsor free collections of different waste streams, and for each item we collect, money will be donated to our charity. We will be a drop off point for items including baby food pouches (washed), clean biscuit wrappers, air freshener packaging and clean beauty product packaging.
TerraCycle is Eliminating the Idea of Waste® by recycling the "non-recyclable." TerraCycle can collect and recycle almost any form of waste. We partner with individual collectors such as yourself, as well as major consumer product companies, retailers, manufacturers, municipalities, and small businesses across 20 different countries. With your help, we are able to divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills and incinerators each month.
Once the recycling boxes are in place we will release a full list of items that you can drop off. In the meantime, find out more about Terracycle here!


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Havelock Ellis
When stopping for our Sunday edition of the Eagle we were in for a shock. Seems that, once again, the paper will scale back it's coverage and we will no longer be able to go down after church for a copy.
Now of course this irritated me to no end. Kansas has the distinction of at one time having the most newspapers in the country. It has been a long tradition that the news be put out at a regular pace and many places had competing papers that lead a spirited battle with each other.
Many papers in the country used to relish the shared copies of several Kansas newspapers because of the unique insights and coverage of events. The roots of the Eagle can be seen in Old Cowtown museum at the recreated offices of the WICHITA CITY EAGLE. The Eagle has been a part of the development of Kansas since the 1870's.
When Marshal Murdock was recruited to come to Wichita in it's early days it was a booster that helped the fledgling town grow and prosper. The mark of the Murdock's can be found in numerous places both around Wichita and the state.
The town of Murdock in Kingman County, Murdock Avenue in Wichita, the town of Marshal (now gone) in Sedgwick County and many other things bear the name of the publisher and family that owned the paper for three generations.
Since the sale of the paper and subsequent resale's there has been many changes over the years. The change in the newspaper business has been overwhelming for every paper. It is an instant information age and many names have simple gone away from the list of papers. The era of corporations owning multiple papers all over the country has delayed the inevitable demise of many but also the local investment in the communities they serve.
Some newspapers and publications do a better job of serving their readers than others such is the state of doing business. This never changes. It was a disappointment when the Eagle pulled back from statewide coverage and distribution several years ago. This latest pull back from distribution is also a disappointment.
One thing that is constant is change. We all hope that the change is for the better and that everything is being done for positive change rather than negative change. The blessing of youth is that change is not noticeable for a while, until some time passes and they have the reference to look back and decide if what is change is for the better.
So for now I can be irritated that I will not have my Sunday Eagle but I will have to get along.


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You're probably wondering why I would write about searching for a soulmate on a blog about improving your success as a entrepreneur. Recently, I have noticed that there are parallels between how you approach your professional and personal life. Your willingness to take risks and open yourself up to new experiences, for example. Last year, I supported a friend when we attended a singles mixer to kick off the summer. There, I realized the key to success in finding a soulmate was similar to the key to success in achieving your business goal.
The event began in the same way as business networking events, only with more booze and loud music. The place was crowded when we got there. We were each handed a number, a paper with questions, and a matchbox that would lead each of us to our soulmate counterpart. As I caught up with my girlfriend, I saw glimpses of men, some strikingly good looking, others forgettable. So the adventure began, with the goal of finding my special match by the end of the night.
Step 1: Leave Your Comfort Zone
To find my soulmate, I had to be willing to try out new places and activities. If I hadn't found him yet, there was the possibility that he wasn't where I normally frequented. Time to change my routine. This night was unusual for me. Having a number stuck on my arm, like I was an item at the auction house was atypical also. I'm more accustomed to carrying a business card for identification.
When I walked into the room, I reminded myself to check off all the pointers on that mental list for making myself more noticeable. Look confident. Check. Meet guys with solid eye contact. Check. Smile. Appear as if searching a crowd of singles for the guy who had the corresponding matchbox was a totally normal activity. Check and check.
Step 2: Engage in Conversation
We were given a piece of paper with statements in a grid pattern, like a game of Bingo. The purpose was to approach guys and ask them questions from the paper. For example, I had to find someone who owned a truck. If the guy I spoke to owned a truck, then he would sign his name in that square. When I filled all the squares with names, I could enter my paper in a draw for a prize.
The benefit of this set up is that shyer folk would have a purpose for approaching a complete stranger and speaking with them. The questions could begin a conversation, or, if the conversation fell flat, you had a reason to move on and ask another guy another question from the paper.
The disadvantage of this set up is that more outgoing folk had to ask questions about things that weren't relevant to their interests. In the spirit of completing the questionnaire, I had to find a guy who liked the colour pink, and another guy who used to wear braces.
I can hold my own in a conversation with a stranger, and I would have preferred the chance to just mingle and ask questions about what I really wanted to know, such as what brought him to this event. Or whether he was there as a wingman for a friend (like I was… as winglady). And I would ask if there was one thing he could change about the world, what would it be. The writer in me wanted to feast on these insightful bits of information.
The most important tip for getting to know someone, though, is picking the right venue. The music was blasting into our ears, dampening the atmosphere for mingling. I spent the next few hours yelling at people, or screaming into their ears.
I would rather have gone on a coffee date in a quieter place. If the chemistry is right, no conversation is ever dull.
Step 3: Look for Common Goals and Interests
At the singles mixer, we were each given a matchbox. When I slid the box open, the word handwritten inside was WEALTH. A guy in the crowd supposedly had the matching word. Someone, maybe, who shared my dream of having a successful business that would allow for early retirement.
I wondered what he looked like. I dreaded that he would turn out to be the much older man by the table who might converse about politics until I drowned in his words. Or that he would turn out to be the younger man who was ambitiously drinking several bottles of beer at once. A few guys looked at my Wealth box, and said, I wish I had that, and showed me their box with their non-matching word. But all night long, my box's mate never appeared.
At least I could still dream, and consider it a metaphor for my life – I was still searching for this soulmate who would say the magic words: We share the same dream.
Step 4: Don't Give Up, Don't Give In
My girlfriend was disappointed in the mixer and returned to her previous belief that she'd met so many guys – none were The One. If he hadn't appeared in her life by now, he wasn't going to. There was someone in her life at the moment – they fought a lot – but she thought he was okay and she was pushing him to discuss having a common-law relationship. I really hope that she won't settle.
My soulmate wasn't at the singles mixer. I laughed, thinking that maybe the matching box had never been made, or the owner of that box had left early. One of these days, we would cross paths if we continued to do the things that interested us. Just not that day. After I returned home, I placed the matchbox on my kitchen counter. It's a beacon for The One.
Life, whether personal or professional, is about the small steps you take. Every lesson learned will eventually get you closer to where you are going.


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Sanya Kaushal 10 months ago in Home & Family 0
Tag: reverse mortgage
Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for Me?… Let's Weight the Pros and Cons
Like many Americans in retirement, you may find yourself wondering about the best financial course to take and how to best use the money and assets you have worked to build over time. For many baby boomers, the home is the largest asset they have. You probably have built up your equity over the years and you may even own your home free and clear….


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'sita haran'
Ad Viewed : 2333 Times |
"Stunning contemporary resonance ... performers dazzled the audience with both their mastery of Kathak and enactment of one of India's most beloved epics."
- India West
SITA HARAN (the abduction of Sita) -- choreographed, composed, and directed by celebrated Kathak icon, Pandit Chitresh Das, is a dynamic and original interpretation of an excerpt from the great epic of India, the Ramayana.
Sita Haran brings this ancient epic to life with an international all-female cast of dancers, sumptuous multimedia, Sanskrit poetry and an original score. Pandit Das delves deeply into the characters, creating a unique contemporary perspective, shedding new light on this story of greed, lust, distraction and divine intervention.
Venue Address :
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 7380 E 2nd St Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 7380 E 2nd St Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone : (415)333-9000
Email : email@example.com
Website : http://www.kathak.org/
www.PhoenixDesi.com All rights reserved.


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Whether you have a hearing loss or interact with those who have are hard-of-hearing – I am here to help you glean understanding, sensitivity, and tips to make communication and connection possible.
I have been profoundly hearing impaired birth. I did not understand the dynamics of my hearing loss, how it is I manage to hear with what little hearing I do have, and the emotional impact of my loss until I forty-five years old. And that was just the beginning. A much broader awareness continues to emerge to this day – almost twenty years later.
When it comes to hearing loss, it's all about connection
Have you interacted with a person with a hearing loss? If you have not, chances are likely you will. There are millions of us who are hearing impaired. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD) (2012)
- Approximately 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss.
- Approximately 15 percent (26 million) of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have a high frequency-hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds or noise at work or in leisure activities.
- Approximately 18 percent of American adults 45-64 years old, 30 percent of adults 65-74 years old, and 47 percent of adults 75 years old or older have a hearing loss.
Why care about hearing loss?
You should care because when you do, that person may be a family member, friend, customer, client, employer, employee…or even you. And you want to connect with them. They want to connect with you. YOU want to connect if you are the one who has the hearing loss.
My experience echoes the millions who struggle with being hard of hearing.
- The negative consequences of not accepting the hearing loss (or one's limitations in general)
- The avoidance of people or organizations/businesses that make it difficult for me to communicate with them.
- The isolation and depression that accompanies hearing loss.
- The strain hearing loss has on family and friends.
- The inconvenience of a hearing loss in a business setting.
- The diminished confidence due to a hearing loss.
- The negative, sometimes dangerous, consequences of "faking" that I hear
- The frustration and embarrassment of interacting with those who do not know how to talk to a person with imperfect hearing
- The pain of being rejected because of my diminished hearing
- The challenges of being a Toastmaster leader with a hearing loss (I was a Distinguished District Governor 2003-2004 for District 52).
- The liberation that comes with embracing the loss and working with myself and others to help me get along in my world.
- The satisfaction others experience when they successfully interact with me.
- The satisfaction of being connected to my world.
On this site, I will address myths associated with hearing loss. I'll impart knowledge about how to create satisfied and loyal clients, customers, family and friends that are hard of hearing. I'll share the technologies that are available to assist those of us with imperfect hearing I'll share insights for successful, meaningful connection. I share the lighter/humorous side of hearing loss
It all comes from my personal experience, observations, and study.
Hearing Loss CPR – the book
My book, "Hearing Loss CPR – Keep the Connection Alive" is a wonderful resource for understanding and dealing with hearing loss. It is the updated and expanded version of my original book published in 2014.
I invite your thoughts, experiences, and feedback. You can submit them via the contact form on the "about" page.
Here's to meaningful connection!


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24KGLD Beatles
- Altenn51$127.00 USD
- sfcbuchan$126.00 USD
- Altenn51$125.00 USD
- sfcbuchan$124.00 USD
- Altenn51$123.00 USD
The Beatles 24K Gold Ill Follow The Sun Framed Display
The Beatles "I'll Follow The Sun" SingleThe Beatles "I'll Follow The Sun" Framed Limited Edition 24K Gold Record Single. This Framed 24K Gold Record Comes With A Certificate of Authenticity. Included in the Frame is "Baby its You" single photo cover featuring The Beatles, as well as a 24K Plated "I′ll Follow The Sun" 45 rpm single.
Featured on this single was "I′ll Follow the Sun", "Baby It's You", "Devil in her heart", and "Boys."Frame Size 13" x 16" Laser Etched "Baby It's You Lyrics on RecordGreat Collectors Item to Be Displayed in Your Home! - I'll Follow The Sun - I′ll Follow the Sun" is a song by The Beatles. It is a melancholy ballad featuring Paul McCartney as the lead vocalist. The song was written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney.) The song was released on the Beatles for Sale album in 1964 but was written long before that year. (In the United States it appeared on the Beatles ′65 album.) The song is somewhat of a cult favorite; it was released as a mono extended 45 in 1964 on Parlophone/EMI (and in 1995 as a B-side). The song′s lyrics center around a man who feels he is unappreciated by a woman. The song is believed to be him giving her an ultimatum, and that, as the lyrics state, "One day, you′ll look to see I′m gone." There is an unwillingness on the part of the song′s narrator that adds a tenderness and tragedy to his leaving: "And now the time has come, and so, my love, I must go. And though I lose a friend, in the end, you will know..."
- 24K Gold Clad 45 Record
- Beatles: I'll Follow The Sun Album Art
- Rockola Certified Sales: The Golden Age of Rock N Roll
- Dimensions: 13" x 16"
- Laser Etched Lyrics
- Limited Edition
- Ready to Hang
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Want to do a DMF Lake Party like the DAMFAM??
Who is the DAMFAM?
The DAMFAM is any fan, friend, sponsor, employee, volunteer who believes in the dream of a DAM GOOD Lake party! Anyone of any age can be part of the DAMFAM.
Want to do DMF Lake Party like the DAMFAM??
Well DAMFAM always camps at the DMF Camp Sites! Why? Because DMF Campers get a 3 day show instead of a 2 day show!! That's right, Thursday night there is a Campers Only Private party!
That's not all…..
DMF Campers get to come and go all we want! Yesssss! Re-entry Full Event!
We go to the beach and we do some hula hooping and Pound in the morning on Friday and Saturday.
We enjoy special adult only treats like Claffeys Frozen popsicles and Wheatstate cocktails at 12pm
We lounge on the beach with LIVE music and a Bar! With games, prizes and Dam House DJ "E"!
We have an adventurous scavenger hunt and win awesome prizes!
We can park our water toys at our DMF campsites!
Why does the DAMFAM Love El Dorado lake?
For starters it has 98 miles of rock skipping shoreline
18 miles of trails for hiking/biking, kissing your best girl on a trail kind of Lake Day!!
9000 acres of water fun
A marina where you can probably find a friend with a boat or bring your own water toys!!
Then after a day of fun in the sun the DAMFAM meets back up to watch Top Country artists perform under the stars! But we don't stop there! We head over to the after party with DJ "E" and shake our money makers until 2am.
The best part of doing a lake party like the DAMFAM is we have the time of our lives and take-home memories that last a lifetime! Well til next DMF….When the DAMFAM meets again and we make new ones!!!!


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Do you want to reduce your business overhead costs, enhance your working environment and have your business located in premier Wollongong CBD office space? Then consider Diamond Offices' contemporary and modern serviced offices.
Diamond Offices offers an alternative to standard office leasing in Wollongong CBD. With no lock in contracts, low set up costs and many additional services, moving to Diamond Offices is a smart business decision.
Our serviced office packages offer all your office space needs in the one venue.
And so much more!!
Each in-house clients also receives the convenience of having access to our corporate meeting rooms within the same premises at a 20% discounted rate.
Our customer service standards provide information on how we will handle your enquiry. There is also compliments and complaints information to help you when you lodge feedback with us.