text:
American Solidarity
By: Wayne Brown
I recently read a rant posted by a writer friend who discussed how we as Americans have become so entrenched in our belief structure politically that we are all but handcuffed from using our own common sense. She cited several examples of her own pointing out her views on environmental issues while at the same time claiming a conservative slant on politics. Her point was that our labels do not always serve us so well and many times we are prone to hide from the label for fear that it will cause us problems.
Looking back over her thoughts, I think she made some very good points. She also made me stop to think what I really believed and how important that was to me in the big picture of things today. Our country is probably more divided over politically-inspired issues that it has ever been other than maybe at beginning of the Civil War. There is a lot of pressure on people to decide where they stand and to support that stand once they take it. Remaining outside the fray in today's world can only be a function of either isolation or sheer ignorance.
As I look at my own beliefs politically and culturally, I think I probably fit well into the slightly skewed bell-shaped distribution of the American population. That distribution is distributed fairly evenly between the left or liberal poll and the right or conservative poll with the moderates or self-described independents lining up somewhere along the mean of the distribution. This leaves America statistically slightly skewed to the right or conservative side. Amazingly that skew does not show up as commonly as one might think and thus we hear a lot of references to the thought processes of the "silent majority."
For too long now, that so-called silent majority has remained a bit too silent hiding in the closet on some issues and holding back on others. That portion of the population which forms the skew to the right can and are easily swayed outside the polls of effect in many instances. Sometimes, the right candidates do not end up in the race and the voters drop out. Sometimes the voter feels like the day is lost and gives up on voting. Any number of things can come to light which can kill the small edge in the statistical distribution.
That said, where does it leave us as a country and as a people? Political affiliation and party line have been a tradition for many demographics of America over the entire time of the country's existence. Family names pass the gauntlet from generation to generation to uphold the family's political tradition. Personally, I grew up in a very democratically dominated southeast of the 1960's. Most everyone I knew in those days were born democrats and voted the party ticket religiously. Today, as I look back on the south of my youth, I see just the opposite, most of those states that were once heavily democratic are now heavily conservative. Did the people change or did the politics change?
I think that you can say that it is a little of both. In my days in the south, agriculture was still pretty much the bread and butter of life there. The impact of FDR's post depression efforts had saved the south though much suffering had been witnessed. Over time, especially in the latter part of the 20th century, manufacturing and jobs began to roll into cities and towns of the south. People moved from the farms into the towns and began to enjoy life from a different perspective. Their needs changed; their desires changed; and their world was affected by more and different things. So, we can conclude that people did change and those changes in turn caused a shift in the political climate of America.
I contend that there are certain landmarks in history which are connected by dots. Those landmarks are associated with change, significant and permanent change which shows up in the years that follow the timing of the event. If we looked at and plotted examples of those landmarks in our recent history, we could easily conclude that events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy Assassination, the events of 9-11-2001, all had permanent and significant impact on the years following that event. There are others as we go back through time but I think you see the significance of what I am pointing to here.
Certainly there are other events of significance which dot history and are worthy of mention in any permanent record in history. The difference is that these events, no matter how big they seemed at the time, did not have any real long term effect on the behavior of people on a broad basis.
As an example, we can look at the period directly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. America was, in those times, a rather simple place in many ways compared to the complexities of today. We were a people who had not yet experienced the rapid growth of technology driven by the race into outer space. We were a people with only one working parent, a one-car garage, and a modest home normally just large enough to cover the needs of the family occupying it. With the death of Kennedy came the years of the Vietnam Conflict and America's deep involvement in it. What had started as a small "beatnik" movement of poetry readers in the coffeehouses of New York soon turned into a "love generation" of "hippies" obsessed with free love and drugs. Over time those who lived these experiences and survived became adults and brought their influence to bear on the politics and population of America. The era of the 1960's dug the ditch of political division considerably deeper in this country than it had ever been before and it would remain so until present day.
Out of that era came a lot of "labels" like some of the one's I mentioned above. With regard to war, there were the "hawks" and "doves" that split across the aisles to argue solutions in Vietnam. "War Monger" was a term readily used to describe anyone who supported the actions of the USA in Vietnam. Terms such as "love child", flower child", "pothead", and "peacenik" were common to the vocabulary. It seemed that the untimely death of Kennedy signaled a new awareness in the world. It was an awareness very much of self and self-actualization. It was no longer a time when young people did what was expected of them. It was a time of revolt, not just in America, but in many areas of the world. The feelings of that time dripped down on to the fabric of this country like a bucket of paint tipped from the top of a ladder. There was little that it did not touch and change in the process; a change of permanence but not necessarily of progress and improvement.
Those of us living in America today who can look back on those times in our history see that line of change and the impact that it has had as those generations have past into adults and now are moving into senior citizenship status. We see the ties in environmentalism, animal rights, global peace, world hunger all woven into the fabric of that time since the death of John Kennedy. We also see it in our politics and the division in our mindsets. We see it in our stubbornness to hold our ground and not compromise. All of that goes back to a time when Americans became a bit more selfish and changed history forever.
Where does that leave us today? I think if I had to put one word on it from my personal perspective, I would call it "victimized". Over time now, as a people, in all our selfishness, we have unconsciously done something of harm to ourselves. We have placed ourselves and our opinions first and foremost and shoved our place as Americans to secondary levels of priority. We stopped asking "What's good for America?" and asked "What's in it for us?" "What can we get out of this that will benefit us?" For all the waking up America did in the generations of the post 1960's, we did more to move to the position of a selfish nation than any other accomplishment.
Going back to the earlier concept of labels. We now divide ourselves across the aisles between liberal and conservative ideas and fight to the death to prevail over each other. It is more important to us that our side wins; that our side is right, than it is to ask what is best for America in a given process or consideration. Being on the winning team provides us with more self-satisfaction than supporting a direction which makes sense for the overall health of our nation.
Having thought this through, I have come to the conclusion that my principles as a conservative take a backseat to my concern for my country. I believe that "patriotism" is defined simply as wanting what is right and good for our country so that not only we but generations after generation who come after us can see, feel, and touch all that was and is great about a place called America. I believe that "patriotism" is our last hope and our last bridge across that great void that now divides us politically. I believe that we as Americans must recognize that fact and adapt our behavior to fit it. We cannot depend on our politicians to lead us there for they, driven by their own selfish desires, have been responsible for much of the void that separates us today as a people.
Harry Truman had a plaque on his desk that read, "The buck stops here." Truman paid for many of his own meals and expenses of his presidency because he did not want to burden the American people with it. He held the Office of President at a level of esteem that he did not set for himself. He knew the admiration of the American people was with the high office and not the man occupying it. On that basis, he too held the office at a level of respect and awe and was keenly aware of his responsibility to fill the requirements of the job the American people had given him. When his term was over and the new President was sworn in, Harry Truman, along with his wife Bess, quietly got into their car and drove home just like any other citizen of America. In Harry's mind, the high office still remained, but Harry Truman was just another average Joe heading home to supper.
Much of that has been lost now in America. We have occasional glimpses of it at times but it never seems to last. It always seems to come back to the "me" aspect; to the power and the greed which particular people can and do glean from the high elective offices of America. Nixon attempted to use the power of the Presidency to cover his criminal tracks in a two-bit botched burglary, Clinton couldn't keep his mind and hands off women long enough to keep them from tainting the high office. That list gets longer and far more populated when we move to the Senate or The House and look at the behavior there. And in the end, we are now in an era, when far too many Americans want to shrug their shoulders and say, "you are making too big a deal of this" after an elected official has tainted his high position. We have come to the time when our culture no longer has expectations that reach to the esteem Harry Truman might have assigned. That seems to be our "modern day heritage."
We argue about birth certificates, about conspiracies, about education records, stains on blue dresses, off-shore bank accounts, paid prostitutes, and pay-offs by PAC's and big unions. We argue among ourselves about the impact and value of that behavior in our society while acknowledging the presence of it. These are not things we should be arguing about. These are not things that should be acceptable to us as Americans. These are nothing more than political divisions and diversions created by our elected politicians and those hoping to replace them to draw dividing lines in our population. The poor despise the rich; the race card gets played at the mere mention of the fact; those who seek to make money off the naïve public hide behind the virtues of environmental activism, and the list goes on and on and politicians open up a new can of them every day in the hope that it will bring more voters to their side of the tent. We have finally come to a point where we are willing to kill each other to prove that we are right and standing on the winning side. In doing so, we have totally lost our sense of patriotism.
Until we come to an awareness of this fact, our ability to find solutions and compromises which will address the issues will not be at the forefront. Until we come to this awareness, we cannot even properly identify the problem because we have too many sitting in elected office more than willing to sit there and tell us what it really is. As a result, we no longer have to think, someone else has taken that burden off of us. All we need to know is the guy across the way is a "damn liberal" or a "redneck conservative" and our needs are filled. We don't need their viewpoints. We don't need their respect. We don't need their opinion. Ah, but we do, for in the end we are but one nation which will surely vanish if we continue to live in a house so divided.
America is here because somewhere way back there some people of varying backgrounds came together and had a vision for the future, a vision which would emboldened liberty, equality, and justice for everyone protected by it. That nation was founded on the basis of Christian religious beliefs and formed with the idea that the "will of the people" would be served by the government necessary to the cause. In turn, those people swore an allegiance not only to the republic but to God and each other to support what was good and best for America. It is our duty and responsibility as patriots and citizens to see that the sworn allegiance is upheld not only for us but for those who come after us.
© Copyright WBrown2011. All Rights Reserved.
I have always thought that Harry Truman was probably one of the better and more practical presidents. Glad you brought him up in this hub WB. Keep on Hubbing. Blake4d
Whidbey - BRAVO!!!!
Hi Wayne, great read. Yes we have lost something along the way. In this age of political correctness our values have been jeapordized. We need to get back to our Judeo Christian values that our forefathers so graciously believed in and fought for. America has lost it's power, it's honor and patriotism due to the far left ideals and policies - I am saddened but know there is also HOPE in the horizon, a change of personnel at the White House would work for starters. Blessings to you and thanks for this amazing hub.
Hi Sheila,
I don't think either of the parties were taken over by extremists.
The Democrats have been pushed in a socialist direction by the administration, and the GOP is very heavily weighted with centrists.
While the Democrats have been led to an extremist position, people with hard core extremist views (e.g., self-avowed socialists) are a small portion of Democrats in Congress. Most Democrats are mainstream liberals, being led by the nose by Obama, his Czars, and most likely some crazies on major Congressional committees.
I agree with you on the TPM. The only way to fight the Democratic onslaught is to retire the RINO's and Democrats, and replace them with true conservatives. In this regard, 2010 can only be viewed as a partial victory. It's true the GOP took alot of seats, but very few went to TPM freshmen. We have to do better in 2012.
My idea is that both political parties were taken over by extremists. Rather than voting enthusiastically, many, many of us have been left with choosing 'not as bad as the other'. The republicans are playing their dance now, determined to nominate a 'party' man they can control. Luckily, we do have a voice now - the tea party. And the internet. Our only hope is that the 'silent majority' speaks loud and clear in 2012.
Stu - It's an art my friend.
"bit of a problem" - You have a gift for understatement.
Stu - TPC has a bit of a problem concentrating and staying on topic. Usually one of two things contribute to that, maybe both.
What does any of this have to do with the Koch brothers? ONE member of the Koch family runs ONE major conservative group (Americans for Prosperity, of which I am a member), which advocates for free markets. What could be more American than that? Why should the government be picking winners and losers with selective bailouts, subsidies, export tariffs, etc.? Wouldn't consumers be best served if business were subject to free market competition, resulting in lower cost and higher quality? Whenever the government "picks winners," it creates lazy oligopolies that overprice, underproduce, and cut corners on quality (because they have reduced competition).
Again, the union issues in Wisconsin and Ohio relate to STATE EMPLOYEES, not private sector workers. Nothing in the Wisconsin or Ohio labor bills impact private sector workers one iota. So I fail to see how any of this relates to the Koch brothers.
Stu and Frog:
The Koch Brothers have taught you well. . .
Thankfully there's folks like me, and Warren Curtis here on HubPages to point out and speak out against them.
I have no desire to give more power or tax loopholes to corporations. I simply want to free them from red tape, export tariffs, etc. so they can operate efficiently. I would like to see the FIT go away for both corporations and individuals, and just go to a VAT or end consumption tax. This would broaden the tax base almost 50%, allowing for much greater federal revenue without imposing a high tax rate. And all loopholes for corporations and the wealthy would be eliminated.
Wisconsin and Ohio are not engaging in "pro-corporate" activity. They are trying to end monopoly labor unions from bankrupting the state. The fights in Wisconsin and Ohio are about state employee unions, not private sector unions.
Sadly, the "me generation" well describes about 2/3 of voters. And of the other 1/3, only about 20% of them even vote, and only a fraction of the 20% are activist.
In our form of government, ultimately the people are to take credit or blame for what happens in government, because we decide who to place there, or accept what others decide by not voting.
It's the old saw "be careful what you wish for, because you might get it."
Unfortunately, Obama has divided this country so deeply that we now have three completely incompatible factions: conservatives who demand constructionist interpretation of the Constitution, centrists who have no ideology at all, and mainstream liberals who have been goaded into being near socialists who view the Constitution as an artifact of history (or at best something to be interpreted activistly to achieve whatever the "goal of the day" is).
These positions cannot be reconciled through negotiation, because they are too far apart. The only solution to our legal and financial crisis is to elect very strong conservatives who will take us back to Founder principles by repealing the legal damage of the Obama tenure, impose draconian fiscal restraint to run surpluses and pay off the official debt, and phase out the big federal transfer programs so their treasury assets can be abrogated (they are too large to ever pay off with any amount of fiscal restraint).
What the centrists/liberals don't understand is that the government "provides" nothing; it really only borrows money when it provides handouts, and these debts have to be repaid. The federal debts in total (on and off balance sheet) are now 700% of GNP and totally non-collateralized. We are broke.
Very much a thought provoking and well written hub. This hub has made me revisit my thoughts and beliefs, to determine whether they are based on selfishness or a love and concern for country and my fellow Americans. Very well written and a timely piece as well. It also shows your open-mindedness to other ideas, an asset that we should all try to develop.
No, TPC. It's all about "YOU" if you think the course the nation is now on is acceptable. Keep your grubby little paw out and expect Uncle Sugar to fill it. That's about to end, whether you like it or not.
You couldn't see your hand in front of your face son. There's a chump a minute. Don't be one.
And you think giving MORE power to corps and their CEO's MORE tax cuts to said corps and MORE tax breaks to those CEO's is going to help?
Like I keep saying--the folks in Wisconsin and Ohio have woke up, they see what the Tea Party is all about an America of by and for CORPORATIONS.
That is not the kind of America I want to see!
Seems to me that the cons are the 'ME Generation', it all about GREED and ME. You folks just can't turn off Beck and Limbaugh long enough to see it. Folks like myself and my fellow 'Crashers'; folks see this.
Stu - Some people want to live for today without a care in the world for what their children and grand children and their children have to face. That's the "ME" generation. It's all about them.
Who is misleading who to vote against theor economic interest? How is it in our "economic interest" to overspend and print gobs of fiat money, rather than exercising fiscal prudence to reduce the national debt? You are not looking at the problem at a macro (national) level. You don't care that we could suffer a currency collapse and resultant depression. All you care about is getting your handouts today, and to hell with tomorrow. What happens today DOESN'T MATTER. What's important is where will we be 30 years from now, solvent or bankrupt?
Good post, Stu
I think TPC has more in the ideology department than actual facts. See my post above.
You have a very wrong impression of what the TPM stands for. It's planks are:
(1) Constructionist legal interpretation
(2) National debt reduction
(3) Free markets
Both unions AND corporate America HATE the TPM, because it won't compromise these principles for tax loopholes, earmarks, and other special interest goodies in exchange for contributinos.
The TPM is not anti-union; it's merely against MONOPOLY unionization (forcing people to join a union as a condition of accepting a job).
Regarding corporate America, go to some federal or state Chamber of Commerce sites. You will see nothing but contempt for the TPM, because the TPM wants to end government handouts to business.
One final note: I should have said "such divisiveness…"
Both sides of the partisanship issue have important things to offer and to value. I just don't agree with the all-or-nothing/us- versus-them premise, and do not view this as patriotism. Is this what our founding fathers had in mind?
I got to worrying about Wayne not answering so I called him. We talked last night and he's fine. He's visiting his Mother and has no computer access. He'll be back on shortly.
The Frog
Thanks for reminding me, Wayne, of the decency, wisdom and ethics of our former president, Harry S. Truman. If only Obumma could have taken a page from his book.
Your self-promotion seems to be on a lot of Hubs, Just an observation. And it isn't appropriate.
Not really. Just trying to show people how their being (mis)lead to vote against their economic interest, IMO.
Wayne, this is one of the best hubs I have ever read. I shudder every time I see or witness someone reverting to ignorant labels as some kind of quickie index-card solution. It isn't. I fear I no longer understand people who view partisanship, today, as the answer. It just seems to have denigrated into immutable extremism that fans the flames of ignorance and distrust. Perhaps that's the Independent in me. Divisiveness solves nothing and only creates more havoc and impenetrable chasms.
Up and awesome, btw.
I agree with you. I belong to that small age group (or generation) stuck between the WWII generation and the baby boomer. In general we have a view that agrees with some of both of those groups and disagree with other aspects.
I find it important to be clear on meanings. For example, "patriotism." Patriotism should not be confused with "chauvinism" which means agreeing with you countries actions no matter what. Patriotism requires an intelligent loyalty. To some extent in the 1960's both the anti-war people and the pro-war people were wrong to some extent. Those supporting the war, to some extent, were often blindly loyal. Those against it were often self seeking opportunists (some of whom are in our present administration I think) or "useful idiots"
When everything is extreme it is hard to get a balanced view.
Tea Party Crasher - You seem to have a tendency to want to crash another person's article to "not so subtly" promote your own. Are you have problem attracting a readership.
I could never imagine why!
Conservativism winning the day, IMO, would lead to the kind of society I spoke of in my comments; a sort of 'USA Inc'.
I think people in Wisconsin and Ohio have gotten the first taste of what 'USA Inc.' might be like, and are rightly not happy.
Always nice to see someone who hasn't swallowed what Beck, etc are told by folks like the Koch's. We'll stand together once enough folks see who's dividing us.
Also, all this talk about the 'Founders' might make a look at my hub 'We The People?', worth the time.
Wayne, This is an awesome beautiful hub. I don't like seeing our country so divided either. Hopefully we will one day stand together and put our country first.
Ambitious hub, Wayne.
Near the end you say,
"That nation was founded on the basis of Christian religious beliefs and formed with the idea that the "will of the people" would be served by the government necessary to the cause."
Jefferson didn't even want the US to celebrate Thanksgiving officially for fear it would look like an embrace of a religious holiday. And in 2011, with a country far more diverse than the America of the late 18th century, we can't simply focus on a "Christian" society when the constitution asks us to respect all faiths and those of no faith.
So all this wrapping oneself up in the flag may sound "patriotic" and feel "patriotic" but, in fact, for constitutional scholars it is often viewed as very anti-American.
I always admire your passion and the lengths to which you go in your writings to try to make your point, but frankly I am still not sure where you are on the political spectrum. I don't like labels either, and I agree that as we mature we are pretty much a blend of many political views across the board, but an embrace of the Tea Party doesn't seem to leave much room for flexibility in a lot of crucial social areas that, frankly, most Americans want government to stay the hell out of. So are you a Tea Party guy or not?
Great hubs make us all think, so congrats on that score!
Hi Wayne,
I would take somewhat an opposite position. At the present time, the divide is so wide that any "meeting of the minds" for the sake of moving forward will be probably be a move in the wrong direction, as it will be a chimera of two completely incompatible philosophies (essentially, state vs. federal locus of power).
Your conclusion was certainly correct in the Founders' time. The republicans led by Jefferson and Madison were not that far apart from Hamilton's federalists. The former were midwat between what we today call libertarianism and conservatism, and the latter were midway between what we today call conservatism and centrism. The ultimate compromise was ordered liberty based on state locus of power, very small federal government, and inalienable individual rights. Essentially, the meeting of the minds led to a final Constitution that reflects the spirit of today's mainstream conservatism.
The problem we have now is that to "heal the divide," we must somehow reconcile constitutional democracy with "socialism lite" (progressivism, socialism without formal dictatorship). The two are irreconciliable. The divide can't be healed. Either one side will win, or alternatively we'll have a perpetual culture war. For the past 120 years, the progressive camp has certainly been winning from a federal lawmaking and judiciary point of view. Now the task is to first halt that advance, and then reverse the damage.
I'm not happy that this has to be a culture war, but in reality, that's what it is. And if we don't roll back the progressive agenda quickly, we will collapse, financially, geopolitically, and ethically.
WB - great hub - voted up and awesome.
I have said so many times that our kids are not as patriotic as we were taught to be. I remember being a child and knowing I was proud to be an American. I don't think we hold that value as close to our hearts anymore. I am not sure many kids would even identify with Patriotism. It's sad to me. Most of the men in my family were in the service - most of them put in 20 years. I have an nephew in Korea now and a cousin who has past his 20 years but is still in the Air Force - he a pilot too:) I hope they are not risking their safety for a country that doesn't care.
Wayne - Nice read and now having met you, I get a better grasp on who you are and what you believe. Staying "above the fray" is another term for apathy to me. That is a chief cause of where we find ourselves.
People go through life trying to make ends meet, raise their children and provide a decent standard of living in most cases. They have placed too much "TRUST" in those who can't be trusted. Then there are those who want that free lunch and there is no such thing. Someone is paying the tab for what they consider their rightful entitlements. To me you are entitled to what you worked for and paid into. Anything above that isn't yours in the first place.
Another chief cause is all this being politically correct crap that we have to endure. If a spade is a spade then
dammit call it a spade and not anything else but. I prefer to go straight to the point and it irritates me to no end when some bonehead wants to start in with the name calling and allegations of being a racist. What stinks stinks no matter what color it is.
We have strayed so far from the US Constitution that it is truly pathetic. That to me is a hallowed document that requires strict interpretation as the Founding Father's wrote it that way. I am very concerned about the present path we find ourselves on and what we will leave as our legacy. The federal government, collectively, is totally out of control.
The mind set that "they sitting on The Hill know what is best for us" totally ignores the fact that "We, the People" are the rightful government in this nation. That fact needs to be now addressed head on if need be.
The "Great Uniter" has turned out to be "The Great Divider." The failure to recognize that by any citizen of this nation stuns me. I've been trotting around this earth for 6 decades now and have never witnessed what I am seeing now - NEVER, EVER. I thought Carter was bad but he was a kitten compared to what I am watching.
The government needs to be returned to the common man with common sense. Of that I am sure. Everyone knows what needs to be done up there, yet no one has the balls to step out there and take the necessary steps to throttle the monster. Of course, they helped create the monster in the first place. Rather than accept that responsibility they create Boogie Men to point the finger at.
The federal government can't be everything to everybody, nor should it be. The Constitution is based upon a limited federal government and not the loing tentacled monster that wants to invade every facet of a citizen's life. We need to get back to the basics of individual responsibility. I, for one, don't want to be my brother's keeper.
Okay, I'll get off my soap box now. People need to jump down off their high political horses and take a good, hard look at what is going on up there, how it is going on and who is doing or nor doing what. All the partisanship in the world isn't going to solve one problem - not a single one.
The Frog
Politics should never be a volatile topic but it always is. This is our government we are talking about and yet there are so many people who really prefer to bury their heads in the sand. The long arm of the government reaches into every aspect of our lives. We had better find a way to talk to each other and solve our mounting problems. I say let the facts speak for themselves and let common sense rule the day. With those principles in mind, we might just get somewhere. Forge the labels, let's get to the core of the problem. Voted up and awesome.
Hi Wayne, i lived in the Uk until i was 25 and have lived in Oz for the past 34 years so i have had to adapt to two different forms of government. Your hub can certainly relate to these two countries, with the same outcomes. I have never been aligned to one political party, so being a fence sitter, i've always been in an uncomfortable spot. Who should i vote for is the perennial question. There are ten thousand pros and cons with no clear answers. About fifteen years ago there was a big debate about whether to privatize one of the power industries. I wanted to join in the debate so i gained as much info as i could find available and joined in a discussion where about a dozen people had already made a decision on the issue. I wasn't really for or against as i felt i hadn't enough knowledge to really know what would be the most beneficial. I was staggered to discover that the twelve people i was discussing it with didn't really have a clue about the ins and outs of the issue and were really deciding on political ideology rather than facts and figures. We know that the real problem is that our leaders have to use short term answers to long term problems. Until that situation changes, which it probably never will, we are stuck in the same old mud pit. I've got mucky boots, but i eat well, i've got a roof over my head and a few bucks in the bank. So i'm not complaining. They had a coalition government in the UK during world war two, if only our current leaders could achieve that outcome, without squabbling. Cheers for a fascinating insight into a 'global' problem.
Wayne I wrote a hub over a year ago about the new civil war going on in America and it is not being fought with guns but with Ideas and the new weapons of choice are on the internet and cable television. I have gotten to the point where I do not trust any news source. But I do know that the America of my youth is nothing like the America I see these days. And while it was far from perfect there did seem to be some semblance of stability.
That is no longer the case. And you are correct in your assessment that the majority of people were dormant and indifferent. But now it seems all Americans are engaged. I think the Tea Party was the first result of this new anger. Because this was a group of Americans that said I have had enough ! Obama gave a message of hope but the reality is that he was voted in because of anger at Bush. And the last elections in 2010 where the GOP took over congress was also a vote of anger. What's the message ? We are angry !
The way I see it. Those at the top have divided America against itself so they can create a society, of, by and for them.
People in places like Wisconsin and Ohio are catching on to this and fighting back; see my hubs 'Wisconsin Wakes Up' and '(Re)Organized Labor'.
Wayne - you perfectly describe the changing conditions of a society, of its needs and pains. Because society changes, always new and altered dividing lines show up.
It is my understanding that political groups and parties in a democracy try to latch on to those cleavages. While doing so, political groups are also subject to change. Parties change, new parties appear, others simply vanish, because the cleavage a particular party had a hold on, disappeared.
Not so in the US. There is the GOP and the Dems and not much else. Cleavages in society evolve and disappear, the party system remains unchanged.
It appears to me, the political system in the US and their parties are kind of separated from the real society. There seams to be Teflon between parties and society. Is it possible that this situation causes some of the uneasiness and pain in the US of today?
Wayne, I have long felt this division of the people is a planned effort that is working well. United we stand, divided we fall, has never made more sense than it does right now in this country. The constant bickering about issues like the Birth Certificate, Abortion, and other things accomplishes two goals. One is to further divide us into two separate groups, the other is a diversion to keep us from looking at important issues like the budget and spending issues. While we are busy arguing among ourselves about trivial issues, things we should know about are sailing through without our knowledge. I believe much of this is an intentional smoke screen to divert our attention from things that really matter.
I only hope it is not to late for our citizens to wake up and realize what is happening.
This is very well written. I come from a family that was mostly comprised of democrats until the last couple of presidents. There are still issues in my family that tends to lean that way, such as union support. I find myself viewing things nearly opposite of my family, yet have them to thank for my outspokenness and desire to be my own person. I agree that we are too divided in America. I wasn't around for most of the examples you provided, but putting what is best for America first is something we need to get back to.
I am not an American but an Indian. I am a citizen of a democratic country. On the stand point of democracy if American people now a day's thing differently, it is rather good of the people. In a democratic set up people's thinking will lead the nation to the best of its citizen.
I generally avoid any articles involving politics but I'm glad I read this one. You have presented a picture of a nation and all of it's growing pains. I think you have a good handle on the history that shaped today's ideals and I was one who grew up being shocked into fear by the darned air raid sirens when the schools would have you duck under your desk or line up in the hallway, crouched down with your arms over your head ... YEAH ... like that would do any good. I think the prevailing attitude as we (my generation) grew was one of live for today, which of course furthered the hippie movement and also brought forth "free thinkers."
I am a registered Independent and have only paid rightful attention to what is going on in the world for perhaps the past 25 years. I miss the days of one parent workers, one car in the garage, a time when children could actually play outside until dark and houses and cars were left unlocked. I am not naive enough to believe we can go back to those days, but I do believe we could do a much better job of being the "United We Stand" land that I grew up believing in.
What can I say other than this is a detailed and really profound article. I agree that our nation is divided along way too many lines. I realize I am an ultra-conservative, some may call me a wing nut, but I know who I am, I know what I believe, and I know what I want from my government. I try to live my life in accordance with my ideals and voice my opinions often. I enjoyed your perspective here.


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The Australian architecture firm Alexander Symes has choreographed used-materials into a wonderful new home. Using their "closed-loop zero-waste" concept they have managed to re-purpose materials to construct an amazing home. Their 'upcycled' house (a 1,100-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath family home) is located in Blackheath, Australia and predominantly employs upcycled materials.
The home's 'collaged' feel creates a beautiful sculptural quality to the construction, developing a myriad of unique material and spatial 'moments' within the overall design. The building's 'green credentials' are further improved by aligning the structure along an East-West axis to offer optimal daylight and reduce energy consumption.
On its inside, the design is 'Scandinavian minimal' with a life-enhancing simplicity. Bookshelves and hidden storage help occupants avoid everyday clutter, with colorful recycled mosaics adding contrast. Here we have a building as 'work of art'. Truly inspirational!

subset: commoncrawl


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HashRoot Limited provides Outsourced 24/7 Technical Support, Remote Server Administration, Server Security, Linux Server Management, Windows Server Management and Helpdesk Management to Data centers, Hosting companies and ISPs around the world. We specialize in Extended Server Security, Server audit, Server Hardening, Support of Linux/UNIX/Windows servers, products and services.
Server attack mitigation
We are well equipped to rectify issues such as brute forcing, inbound and outbound spamming, DDoS attacks, etc, which ultimately effects the reputation of your IP. HashRoot experienced staffs are able to detect attacks early, blocks attackers, and recovers blacklisted IPs and hacked sites.
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We provide quick resolutions to service issues at any time of the day. We provide support through any channel such as live chat, phone support etc. And hence enable your customers to choose as per the needs. And that's why we provide 24/7 presences over phone, help desk and live chat.
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We have to configure the new features to the customers as the web technology changes constantly. We will provide the right technology for your business and helps you to remain competitive. We will also help you to setup and configure servers.
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Website owners often need assistance in configuring and troubleshooting their hosted services. HashRoot helps your customers to quickly recover from all sorts of service issues. We help them to meet their business needs.
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HashRoot provide 24/7 support with our expert engineers. We work 24/7/365 days and we have no holidays as well. We will always provide fast and friendly support.
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To streamline your business, you need to implement systems to more efficiently conduct daily activities. HashRoot helps you to setup and customize systems.
Comprehensive server hardening
New vulnerabilities are disclosed for server software all the time. If a new vulnerability is reported for server software, HashRoot are enhanced to tackle that and hence provide monitor security channels, and server patching. WE also server auditing on a periodic basis for all services and ports.


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Be sure you are signed up for JPFO's periodical Email Alerts.
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Read these classic
rebuttals to "Gun Control"
The Psychological Problems
of Gun Haters
The Seven Varieties of Gun Control Advocate
May 10th 2014
It was announced as an operation to prevent fraudsters from getting into innocent people's bank accounts. What could be more noble? What could possibly go wrong?
Maybe that's why, when Operation Choke Point first became public in March 2013, everybody from the mainstream media to the most eagle-eyed freedom bloggers basically ignored it.
As it turns out there's nothing noble about it and a lot is already going wrong. As usual with these secretive federal programs, we may not learn for years how much evil has already been done under the pretense of good. One thing we can be sure of: if these tactics aren't halted, they'll grow inexorably and will end up threatening not only our gun rights and our freedom, but the very concept of a society based on fairplay and honest dealings....... -->
Want an easy way to keep track of what's going on, not only here at JPFO, but in the gun-rights world? Check out JPFO's brand new Twitter feed, and now too, we are on Facebook.
♦♦ Now at sale price -- "Gun Control Gateway to Tyranny",
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Back by popular demand is the JPFO window sticker - 3½ x 3½ in size and the adhesive is placed such that adhesion can be to the inside of glass, thus keeping it out of the elements. It is now available from the JPFO Store - get yours today.
Refer to the "Sandy Hook Index" for an archive collection of valuable material accrued during the months following the events at the Newtown Elementary School.
Yours in Freedom, The Liberty Crew at JPFO
Protecting you by creating solutions to destroy "gun control"
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Films and CDs


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Agilent's 709-DS Dissolution Apparatus implements competent visibility of the dissolution environment in a bath-free apparatus.
It has a Direct Vessel Heating (DVH) TruAlign vessel that joins a clear vessel coating for durability and visibility for enduring performance, as well as cutting-edge heat-sensing technology in the vessel wall. The DVH capability lessens media heating time while protecting the vessel from environmental factors.
For more information, check out the 709-DS interactive demo and the Dissolution Exchange, an interactive resource to solve laboratory challenges, explore the science of dissolution and tackle topics that are deemed applicable to the dissolution industry.
Go to the Agilent Technologies – Life Sciences and Chemical website for more information


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The central location for applying for your Nigeria visa in London is via the official government Nigeria immigration service based in London. This centre allows for applications to be made for two people:
If one applies as a member of the general public, the Nigerian immigration service in London require all documentation to be checked at the door, however prior to this an appointment is required. This can be done via the Nigeria visa online application website. Generally submissions are made in the morning and collections from the visa centre towards mid to end afternoon.
As a visa agency, we are registered and authorised by the Nigerian immigration service to make daily submissions for all our applications which arrive from all around the country. We submit on a same day services, which allows the visas to be processing in either 2 or 7 working days. Generally we collect from our sorting office very early in the morning thus allowing us enough time for submission on a same day.
Before we submit an application to the Nigerian immigration service, we do a thorough audit of all the documentation, however on occasion the High Commission in London might request further information based on their own procedures and at their own discretion. Therefore although a predicted release date can be planned for, the acceptance of a visa at the Nigerian immigration service is by no means a guarantee of issuance. Therefore we would advise that all travel arrangements are made only after the visa has been issued.
We welcome all customers to contact us via email or phone if there are any queries or lack of clarity with regards to the process. It is our core goal to ensure all applications are submitted properly.
Our lines are open 7 days a week from 9am - 6pm, so we please call one of our visa service consultants.


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Contego recognizes that people are in many cases the last line of defense against threats, such as malicious code, disgruntled employees, and malicious third parties, which introduce costly tangible and intangible losses to organizations, therefore; people need to be educated on what your organization considers is appropriate security-conscious behavior, and also what security best practices they need to incorporate in their daily business activities. An Information Security Education and Awareness Program (ISEAP) can also be used as an effective accountability mechanism by overcoming a common obstacle faced by several organizations. This common obstacle is an organizations' inability to hold their personnel accountable for their actions due to not executing information security and awareness programs to address what they do not know or understand.
Information security awareness, education and training is one of the most critical aspects of any organization's information security strategy and supporting security operations. For the most part we find that IT Departments are the ones that get the responsibility of developing, designing, executing, and providing ongoing maintenance of these programs. This brings many challenges to a predominately technical mind set of most IT organizations. A comprehensive ISEAP should include content that can be easily understood by the entire organization. Learning and training skills, graphics, media information and interactive content should also be included. Most IT organizations do not have these skill sets readily available. Therefore a comprehensive, sustainable, program needs to be implemented that will resonate across the entire organization.
To further support IT professionals with the process of establishing and executing ISEAPs, Contego has created an approach to developing, managing and maintaining an ISEAP in "everyday business." These cost effective courses can be taken online and at the pace of the individual.
Tenets of Learning
When developing a strategy to increase the level of information security awareness, subject matter expertise, and the ability to apply principles and concepts to common business activities among your organization's workforce, it is critical to understand the two tenets of learning: a) awareness; and b) training. These two tenets of learning should always be applied to the ISEAP. The ISEAP process begins with establishing awareness. The primary objective of establishing information security awareness is to change your employee's behavior by reinforcing acceptable security business practices. This objective is achieved by imparting an understanding of information security considerations and enabling individuals to apply them accordingly in all settings.
A role-based information security training process follows the completion of the information security awareness process. The skills that are acquired during information security training are built upon a foundation that was acquired during the information security awareness process. The primary objective of role-based information security training is to impart relevant and necessary information security skills and competencies to your employees, regardless of whether their professional responsibilities involve information security. The most significant distinction between information security training and awareness is that training focuses on teaching skills, which enable employees to perform specific functions, while awareness directs an employee's attention on a particular issue or series of issues.
The ISEAP needs to be an ongoing process for two primary reasons. The first reason is information security threats continue to evolve. In order to effectively react to evolving threats, new technologies and operating procedures are developed, therefore requiring ongoing information security learning practices. That is, new information security considerations and subject matter will continue to surface, therefore requiring an ongoing learning process. The second reason is it is impractical to expect employees to consume and absorb all aspects of information security within a concentrated amount of time; information security principles, considerations, concepts, techniques, and technologies need to be delivered methodically at a pace that is comfortable for all audiences.


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Harvard Victim of Another Hack, Observes MIT Appreciation WeekBy Jesse Kornblum
The MIT tradition of hacking the Harvard-Yale game took on a new twist at last Friday's intercollegiate dance competition when the Harvard Crimson officially recognized three MIT students as distinguished guests as part of "Harvard's MIT Appreciation Week."
During halftime, as the Harvard Dance team took the floor, the stadium announcer read a statement prepared by several MIT students. "The Harvard Crimson would like to recognize our distinguished guests from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology," the statement read, "who are here tonight as part of our continuing support of Harvard's MIT Appreciation Week."
At this point three MIT students sitting in the front row of the bleachers stood and waved to the crowd. Members of the Dance Team began applauding and the rest of the crowd followed. Soon the entire arena was saluting the honored guests.


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We want to continue using Spiceworks for inventory purposes but want to use barcode scanners to do this and make things quicker for entering and accountability.
This topic was created during version 5.3.
The latest version is 7.5.00107.
2 Replies
I've not tried using a barcode scanner with Spiceworks, as we don't have barcodes on our machines. However, you should be able to take a USB barcode scanner and use it to scan whatever you need. The computer should view the information the same as if you had typed the value of the barcode on the keyboard. If you're in a text box, the value should go there.
On the USB scanners we have, we were able to do some "programming" (scanning a bar code to modify settings) so the scanner added a carriage return after each scan.
We are currently switching our labels to have QR codes and using this plugin http:/
This way we use our phones, scan the code, and indicate that the device is inventoried from the spiceworks page.
We utilize internal wireless for this so we can get to the spiceworks inventory.


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'Redneck' Scares Away Raccoon With 'Hannah Montana' Repellent
Got a raccoon problem? Get a bottle of Hannah Montana Coon Repellent. Not sure what we mean? You will.
We wonder what's in the bottle this "redneck" is pedaling. Our only guess is something along the lines of perfume or cologne, something that "normal" people wear to make themselves smell somewhat attractive.
But this guy, it seems the raccoon has taken all too well to his natural, uh, musk, obviously loving every bit of it until he gets the smell of civilized folk under his nose.
While the raccoon hates every second of it Old Johnny Mountain Man can't get enough. What Hannah Montana has to do with all this, we're still not sure.


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Metal Maintenance Services
Our experts understand the unique properties and finishes of each type of metal, including:
- Stainless steel corrosion repair
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- Stripping
- Waxing
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Stone Cleaning and Maintenance Services
We'll be happy to help you with any stone maintenance task, including:
- Stone cleaning and removal of embedded stains
- Grinding, sanding, honing and polishing
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- Pressure/Jet washing
Wood Restoration and Maintenance Services
We apply our special knowledge to all aspects of care for every type of wood: refinishing, reconditioning, repairing, touching up, and maintaining of the wood.
Depending to the type of wood and finish, we offer:
- Cleaning and conditioning of the wood.
- Restoring its color, removing minor scratches.
- Wood staining
- Hand polishing and waxing


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every time your words pierce my fragile mind, i find myself six years old again. staring at my thighs and wondering why they can't look like yours
why i can't be what you want
you have a funny way of pushing me away, then dragging me back into your twisted games, your crooked lies. i never wanted to see that the most lethal danger to my peace has been you
but yet again, i am taken back to when i am nine years old
and you don't allow me an ice cream cone
not really a big deal, except i watch my friends eat guiltlessly as i sit staring at my thighs wishing i could burn them away
and now i think to myself, it's always been the same with you.
because now i am thirteen years old and i step on that ruthless black pit every morning like clockwork
the digits burn into my mind, as i cry because another tenth of a pound is going to make me lose you
but i never had you, did i? i was always asking for things you couldn't give
how selfish of me
unconditional love is too much to ask
and now, six years later and i find myself hunched over in the bathroom, doors locked, eyes watery, red scratches on my thighs
my finger has found a home in my throat and i think about how i could never find a home in you, and never will.


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Alumnus Eliud Garcia (BM '14) and a recent graduate of Yale with a master's just released his first album!
Tag Archives: trombone
Trombone prof in Kentucky
Dr. Martin McCain was recently an artist in residence at the University of Kentucky. On April 17th, he performed a concert for the Central Kentucky Chamber Music Society. The following day McCain coached the University of Kentucky Trombone Choir and taught lessons throughout the week. On April 19th he was a guest soloist with the UK Repertory Jazz Band in addition to giving a masterclass to the studio the following day.
McCain was also recently invited to join the faculty at the 2016 International Trombone Festival at the Juilliard School where he will present a masterclass, conduct a participant trombone choir, perform in the Cramer Choir comprised of American university trombone professors and serve on the jury panel for the George Roberts International Bass Trombone Solo Competition.
Busy trombone professor
After hosting the United States Army Brass Quintet at Texas State in January, Dr. Martin McCain was invited to be a guest soloist with the ensemble at the American Trombone Workshop in Ft. Myer, VA. He also served on the jury panel for the National Bass Trombone Solo Competition.
Before heading to the DC area, McCain gave a masterclass for the Round Rock High School Trombone Choir and coordinated masterclasses with Texas State applied faculty for the Rowlett High School Band program.
McCain and his chamber ensemble, the Minor 4th Trombone Quartet, were also guest soloists with the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra as a part of the quartet's 10-year anniversary. Additionally, McCain was invited again to serve on the TMEA audition selection committee and will choose the All-State bass trombone repertoire for the 2016-2017 year.
Trombone czar activities
Dr. Martin McCain started the spring semester with several residencies, including the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Southwestern University and the University of Texas – San Antonio where he presented masterclasses, performed recitals and taught lessons. He performed in the pit orchestra for "Cinderella the Musical" and also performed a series of school concerts with the Austin Chamber Music Center. In February, he hosted the 6th Annual Texas State Trombone Symposium, which featured trombone artists across the world and included the final round of the Conn-Selmer Tenor Trombone, Edwards Bass Trombone and Rath Jazz Trombone Solo competitions, which are competitive on a national level. A week later, McCain hosted guest artist Christopher Davis from Northwestern University.
McCain's CD "Trombone Czar" was featured recently on Toronto's CKWR and Austin's KMFA and KUT radio stations.


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Teach Them To Fly
When you give, you begin to live~~ Capturing the love of learning
Monday, May 5, 2014
CInco De Mayo
It's Cinco De Mayo! What fun! Our school has been studying Mexico throughout the school year and we took advantage of the Mexican Holiday to embrace their culture. We attended a school wide assembly with authentic Mexican lunch and Mexican Dancers! But before that we made our very own sombreros!
Our sombreros were made out of leftover Easter Eggs.
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Discerning medical professionals and their in surgery medical assistants qualified to use these instruments all concur. The surgical and diagnostic endoscope is one of the most important tools on their medical inventory list. While it's regular use is not as damaging as other medical instruments that will be utilized directly in surgical procedures, the fact remains that this instrument, daily in use, does consume and extensive amount of power and will be susceptible to wear and tear. Hence the need to always have professional and qualified and specialist endoscope repair services available at short notice.
What makes the technicians involved in this important work qualified are the years of technical experience servicing the health services and other related or similar industries. For example, the ability to equip, service, repair and maintain photographic equipment may include skill sets similar to the intricate work been done to endoscopes. Academic qualifications are always essential and all multi-skilled technicians are required to have the industry standard OEM camera repair training.
This industry standard allows for repaired equipment to be brought back to its original condition before it was damaged or worn out and in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Technicians are required to have a sound knowledge of known brands such as Olympus, DVonics, Karl Storz and Linvatec. So far, two features of this business have been mentioned to the advantage of medical practitioners and their patients. The third feature is that of its ability to adhere to quick turnaround timeframes of no less than two working days.
It must be noted for the reassurance of the abovementioned professionals that such turnarounds do not detract from the ability to deliver qualitative and precise work. The turnarounds are necessary due to the critical environments within which the technicians and their clients all operate.


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Table of Contents
"The concepts of telerobotics, and more generally teleoperation extension of human sensing and manipulating capability by coupling through communication means to artificial sensors and actuators are discussed, along with related concepts of telepresence, robotics and supervisory control" (Sheridan, 1989).
Telerobots are machines which can be remotely controlled and monitors by humans using a technology called supervisory control. In most cases they are used in place of actual humans in situations considered to be a high risk if exposed to humans. Sheridan in his 1989 article on telerobotics states that they communicate irregularly with computers about goals, restrictions, assumptions and orders related to the goal which is restricted. They then execute tasks based on the information supplied by the user or operator and its artificial intellect
Telerobots are vastly used in multi-various disciplines examples of such disciplines are
- Astronaut: Robots that are sent into space
- Marine: Remotely operated vehicles
Reading List.
- Sheridan TB(1989) , Telerobotics


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Sassy-To's Blog.
Fashion, Entertainment, Gist Plus More!!
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Paul Okoye Of PSQUARE And Anita Isama's Pre Wedding Photos
Paul and Anita are long time couple they both have a child together and their wedding is on 22nd of March in the bride's hometown in Port Harcourt. more pre-wedding photos after Cut
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Olutosin Afolabi 'Tsmile'
Saturday, March 15, 2014
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Informational resources
Thousands of children younger than 5 years are hospitalized from flu complications every year. CDC estimates that since 2010, flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years ranged from 6,000 to 26,000 in the United States. Influenza causes more hospitalizations among young children than any other vaccine-preventable disease. The single best way to protect against seasonal flu and its potential severe complications is for children to get a seasonal influenza vaccine each year. Flu vaccination is recommended for all children aged 6 months and older. Making healthy choices at school and at home can help prevent the flu and spreading flu to others. For more information on preventing flu as well as guidance and additional resources visit the CDC page on Influenza Information for Schools and Childcare Providers.
School officials can also learn how to properly clean and disinfect school facilities by visiting the CDC page on How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Slow the Spread of Flu.
School located vaccination clinics
If you are interested in hosting a school located vaccination clinic, please visit the CDC page on Planning School Located Vaccination Clinics. In addition, you can find more information and resources on how to plan vaccination clinics by visiting the MPDH Vaccine Guidelines and Tools page.
Flu Symptom Check List
MDPH created a resource, Flu Symptom Check List for Families, Schools and Child Care Programs (DOC), to determine when a sick child should stay at home and when to return to school.
Flu Guide for Parents
MDPH also created a resource entitled Flu Guide for Parents in English (DOC), Spanish (DOC) and Portuguese (DOC) for parents to understand common questions regarding flu. School nurses can use these resources to fulfill the legislative requirement to provide education on influenza.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130


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Exposed: Hillary Clinton gifts Barack Obama an espresso machine!..
Coffee and cats come together on Instagram...
Pokemon Go PokeStops near cafes in the United States...
Don't let doomsday keep you from brewing good coffee...
It's that time again: The 2015 World Barista Championship is now upon us, bringing 49 of the world's best baristas to Seattle, Washington, for a..
A passenger has reportedly been banned for life from US Airways following a mid-air incident involving an AeroPress. It all happened this morning on Flight 369, an Atlanta to..
From Glasgow to Gothenburg to Gainesville, Florida, well-meaning coffee professionals around the world are committing the same aural error: playing the music of Tom Waits to..
It's been a big couple months for our friends and partners at La Colombe on the celebrities-drinks-our-coffee tip. Taylor Swift drinks it down, Sam Smith..
During a recent trip to Los Angeles, the Sprudge editors made a delicious discovery in the form of a pastry. This said pastry was none..
Sam Smith is going on a #SamSmithCoffeeTour while on the road in North America! Where should he go next?..
Munchies is a new food-forward vertical from Vice Media. In the few months it's been around, they've covered a number of coffee related stories. After..
Alex From Target is the internet's latest viral Twitter crush. He's a hunky teen Target bag boy, and everyone is lining up to wait at that register...
Drag Queens Bianca Del Rio And Adore Delano Give This Starbucks Commercial LIFE
As reported in NewNowNext, RuPaul's Drag Race queens Bianca Del Rio and Adore Delano star in a brand new OUTtv + Starbucks commercial. The ad was shot..
The Mighty Mug is a six-figure-funded Kickstarter, claiming to be a travel tumbler that won't fall down. However, a video from 2013 has resurfaced online, proving..
Is "Bunker" action-filled suspense drama about a rogue group of counter-terrorists or is it an adorable Australian cafe in Brisbane? Take this quiz to test..
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D23 Expo: 'The Last Jedi' Cast Reveal Behind the Scenes Footage
The Last Jedi Director Ryan Johnson took the stage during the Walt Disney Studios Live Action Films panel on Saturday at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. He was joined by stars of upcoming film Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro, and later, Mark Hamill.
In commenting about what Finn will get to do in the upcoming Star Wars film, Boyega glared up at the significantly taller Christie and hints that we'll likely see a proper confrontation between Finn and Phasma. "Finn's about to have a fight with a formidable opponent."
Throughout the Star Wars: The Last Jedi section of the panel, the audience was shown behind the scenes photos, including one featuring Rose wearing an Imperial costume.
Johnson said that Rose treated the set like an episode of Mister Rogers. She would pop in everywhere and want to know what people were doing all over the production. Rose said that she wanted to do as much as she could without getting into trouble (she never got into trouble).
Another photo showed Dern wielding a gun. Apparently she had some trouble not saying "pew!" every time she pulled the trigger — much like when Ewen McGregor always felt tempted to make whooshing sounds every time he swung around his lightsaber. I mean…wouldn't you do the same?
When Hamill finally walked onto the stage, Johnson couldn't help gushing at the actor, saying that he was proof that the advice "Never meet your heroes" doesn't always apply.
At the end of the presentation, the gang unleashed a brand new, behind-the-scenes look at The Last Jedi. You can take a look below!


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Complementary Copper
Its simple elegance is what really struck the judges about the Genevieve and Wayne Gratz Center at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Cloaked in a weathered copper skin, the five-story, 82,000-square-foot center provides more space for the church's educational, outreach, music and fellowship programs including tutoring, day school, and the Academy for Faith and Life. It contains classrooms, a preschool facility, versatile chapel that can accommodate more than 350 people, gathering spaces, dining room and kitchen facilities.
Project Strategy
The architectural firm, Gensler, Chicago, was challenged to add onto a historic, 100-year-old church, while building something that described the church's desire of heading toward the future without disrespecting the past. "Even though they had this very historic, cherished and well-loved building, they wanted a building that was going to look forward and would point toward the vitality of the next 100 years of the church," says Brian Vitale, design director.
To do that, Vitale and Todd Heiser, design principal, started out with a robust strategy that had them meeting with hundreds of user groups of all ages and levels of participation within the church to understand their needs. By spending a lot of time with the stakeholders, Heiser says there were able to create a really strong point of view from which to embark on the project. "[This process] allows us to create a very cohesive story around the materiality and design, and it is one story as opposed to a story for the architecture and a story for the interiors," Heiser adds.
Design Framework
Heiser and Vitale's initial design work developed a framework that the entre project could live under. Built in 1912, the original gothic church features one-of-a-kind craftsmanship and limestone detailing. Initially, the architects concentrated on all of the limestone details, but after seeing a photograph of the original church taken from the neighboring Hancock Tower, they re-focused their attention on all of the copper details, which included the roof, dormers, downspouts and gutters. "What was interesting was that we were looking at the same building, but at the same time we were seeing a completely different material," explains Vitale.
The discovery of the church's copper detailing made it the material of choice for the new building, which the architects wanted to complement, not mimic, the original structure. "We wanted to do something different, just like complementary colors, things that are opposite make each other stronger," says Vitale. "And when we did that, we realized that the copper would be a great building material because it was truly an accent, or a foil, to the mainstay of the church.
"So once we decided that the new building should be copper, with that patinated color, it immediately took on an accessory role and allowed the original structural to be the main structure, while the new building, even though it kind of had to stand alone, was always going to be seen as an accessory to the main sanctuary."
All of the material decisions were based on the story, Heiser explains, which removes the possibility of multiple options, creating clarity and a single option."Materials weren't chosen based on arbitrary likes and dislikes," he says. "They were chosen based on a structure that had been set up for the project."
Copper Cues
Craftsmen at Tuschall Engineering Co. Inc., Burr Ridge, Ill., custom-cut, bent and hand-rubbed approximately 14,160 square feet of 20-ounce flat lock copper panels. The 1,800 individual copper panels are 16 by 84 inches, which matches the proportions of the windows on the original church, creating synergy between the two buildings.
The copper panels wrap inside the building, where 148 hand-rubbed copper panels form a backdrop to the chapel. Rather than use the same patina green as the exterior, the architects decided to go with a warm, dirty penny patina, since copper located inside wouldn't patina the same way as the exterior copper. While many people don't consider metal warm, it was copper's natural quality, much like a veneer, Heiser says, that helps create a cohesive design and story throughout.
"It's really interesting to see how the material transitions from the outside to the interior, and changes color in the same way, just because of the way that it would have reacted to the environment," says Vitale.
Earl A. Hernandez, director of sales and marketing at Tuschall, explains that the patina was achieved with a proprietary hand-applied chemical solution. A slightly different treatment on the copper was chosen for the interior applications to achieve the desired distressed brown/copper look. Hernandez explains that these copper panels will darken slightly with time, but not actually develop a patina and turn green. "This design brings the outside in, but still offers a contrast," he says. "This was a great design and use of copper complementing two very different design styles."
Community Outreach
The Gratz Center's south façade cantilevers out over the entryway, creating a natural enclosure for the building. The chapel, which sits above the cantilevered entry, symbolically reaches out toward the community and features a 38-foot-tall vertical window that acts as a modern steeple.
Expected to achieve LEED Silver certification, the Gratz Center features three green roofs visible to surrounding high-rise neighbors. The clearstories allow for light to come into the building and views going out, while the green roofs provide a beautiful foreground from which people can look at the original church, Vitale describes. Additionally, classrooms on the third and fourth floors are located entirely on access to daylight as well as views.
One thing that's interesting about this project, Vitale says, is that because of the copper, people immediately recognize the building and have nicknamed it "the copper building." "Because copper is really unusual in the way that we used it, it gets a lot of attention," he says.
Attention that even the judges of the 2014 Metal Architecture Design Awards felt that it warranted, selecting the Genevieve and Wayne Gratz Center as the overall and natural metals winner.
Genevieve and Wayne Gratz Center, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
Completed: 2013
Square footage: 82,000 square feet
Owner: Fourth Presbyterian Church
Architect: Gensler, Chicago
General contractor: Turner Construction Co., Chicago
Metal fabricator/installer: Tuschall Engineering Co., Burr Ridge, Ill.
Copper: Canadian Brass and Copper Co., Concord, Ontario, Canada
Curtainwall: Kawneer Co. Inc., Norcross, Ga.
Glass: Viracon Inc., Owatonna, Minn.


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THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minnesota, USA - November 19, 2009
Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation, recognized by design engineers as having the industry's broadest selection of electronic components available for immediate shipment, today announced it has stock for Weidmuller's new line of AC DIN rail receptacles.
The following DRAC line products are now available for purchase on Digi-Key's global websites and will be featured in future print and online catalogs:
- 6720005420 (Digi-Key # 281-2579-ND) Module Outlet AC Dual 20A 120VAC
- 6720005421 (Digi-Key # 281-2580-ND) Module Outlet AC Dual 15A 120VAC
- 6720005422 (Digi-Key # 281-2581-ND) Module Outlet AC GFI 15A 120VAC
- 6720005423 (Digi-Key # 281-2582-ND) Module Outlet AC GFI 20A 120VAC
Compact at only 2.9-inches wide and 4.6-inches wide, these new receptacles are fully enclosed and touch safe. They include 15A or 20A power outlets, which provide a simple and convenient power source inside a panel or closure for such applications as laptops, test equipment, lighting, and solder irons.
The DRAC line offers design flexibility and savings on setup time. Ready to be put into place right out of the box, these receptacles can be installed onto 35mm DIN rail or, for added convenience, directly panel mounted. They accept solid or stranded wiring from 20AWG to 10AWG. Additionally, the DRAC line is UL approved for use in any UL panel or control system. THE UL508A and cULus approvals coupled with NEMA ratings make it effortless to add to a control cabinet or system.
About Weidmuller
Weidmuller is a leading provider of solutions for the transmission of power, data, and control signals in industrial environments. The company develops, produces, and sells industrial electronics, network infrastructure components, and connectivity solutions such as industrial Ethernet, relays, power supplies, I/O modules, printed circuit board connectors, terminal blocks, and complete DIN rail assemblies. The Weidmuller group has a strong international focus with manufacturing and sales locations in over 70 countries. For more information, visit www.weidmuller.com.
About Digi-Key Corporation
Digi-Key Corporation, based in Thief River Falls, Minn., is a global, full-service provider of both prototype/design and production quantities of electronic components, offering more than three million products from over 650 quality name-brand manufacturers. With over one million products in stock and an impressive selection of online resources, Digi-Key is committed to stocking the broadest range of electronic components in the industry and providing the best service possible to its customers. Additional information and access to Digi-Key's broad product offering is available on the Digi-Key website.
- Editorial Contact for Digi-Key Electronics
- Kayla Krosschell
- PR & Marketing Communications Specialist
- 1-800-338-4105 x1098
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- firstname.lastname@example.com


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BOAT CRUISE from Vilamoura Lince or Puma Sunset "Emotions" cruise 2:30 hrs The Sunset boat tour departs from Vilamoura Marina , to sail westward following the coast while enjoy the ever changing light at the end of the day. Relaxed on our comfortable boat you will be taken alongside and inside of caves and rock formations of Galé and Benagil (weather permitting)! Time for a swim is allowed.Throughout the cruise you will be always accompanied by an experienced crew that will explain to you, all cultural and ethnographic landmarks.Welcome Drink included
Group bookings available
This website accepts bookings for the next year, should you wish to book in advance.
Regular Cruises operation on the Algarve coast.During the winter period, between 1th November and 31th March every year, regular boat cruises do not operate.In April restart the regular 3 hours cruises along the coast and in May restart the cruises with BBQ on the beach.
This cruise operates between June and mid September only...


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BenQ TK800 4K Projector
4K On the Go
No sooner had the dust settled (7 months ago?) on the recent news of the arrival of the bench mark shifting BenQ W1700 DLP 4K projector, the highly adaptive Taiwan based digital display manufacturer has once again announced the release of yet another 4 K projector, the TK800.
Looking aesthetically similar, except for the front panel colour, to the W1700, the TK800 offers essentially the same level of performance as the W1700 but is tweaked to offer a higher level of enhanced visual performance when used to project fast moving visuals common in sports programme.… Read the full article


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Lyquid Agency's Support and Phone Policy
By visiting our website or opening an account, you accept all policies.
Lyquid Agency Support and Phone Policy
Topics Covered:
- Support Time
- Discussions with Site Managers
- Coaching and Consultation Appointments
- Missed Appointment Policy
- Website Overview and Quoting Policy
Support Time:
If you have chosen to add our ongoing support to your account, or it is included within your service plan, Lyquid allows for 30 minutes of free Professional Support each month which is currently supported via email only. This time does not "roll over" and is kept strictly to 30 minutes each month. Support time is only calculated when our team performs work on your website as well as answering in-depth questions about your website. This includes if you contact your Site Manager for consultative assistance. Basic questions regarding how to work on your website or other tools available from Lyquid are not counted against this allotted time. In most cases, the Support Team does not provide email consultation above general support directly related to your website.
If you hit 30 support minutes at any given time, you will be required to purchase additional Support Time and/or Consultation time as needed.
Stay up to date with our support hours and availability.
Discussions with Site Managers:
From time to time, clients choose to contact their original Site Manager they were assigned to during the initial website build to help consult them on a variety of topics which may include billing support, general website assistance, guidance, consultation and more.
Please note that Site Managers are mainly available during website builds, website redesigns, to discuss additional website features and private coaching and consultation only. Due to time constraints; Site Managers are not able to provide general ongoing website assistance and billing support.
If you would like to discuss your business website with a Site Manager, the allotted support time of 30 minutes will be counted towards this phone call. As with our current policy, upon utilizing the allotted 30 minutes each month of support, time passed that is currently charged at $35 per 30 minutes, whether it is support related or questions on how to perform better with your website.
Coaching and Consultation Appointments:
All clients are welcome to setup a consultation appointment with a Site Manager, in which our Expert Coaching and Consultation service is billed at $85/hr. Coaching and Consultation appointments include anything that is beyond the ordinary discussion of general support (such consultation items may include brainstorming new features for your website, third party services that may assist your business, business goals and plans, SEO strategies, marketing strategies and more).
Missed Appointment Policy:
Unfortunately, appointments may be missed. If an appointment is missed by a client, the allotted 30 minutes will be charged against the monthly support time. If support time is already spent for the month, a minimum charge of $35 per call will automatically be charged to the account. For an Expert Coaching and Consultation appointment, the missed appointment fee would be that of one hour of time and will be automatically charged at $85. If a Site Manager with Lyquid Agency misses an appointment without providing clear communication, clients account will be credited $35 for the missed appointment or $85 for an Expert Coaching and Consultation appointment. Appointments are considered "missed" if either person is unable to reach the other within 15 minutes passed the appointment time.
A minimum 24 hour cancellation notice via email is fully acceptable to avoid any missed appointment fee.
Website Overview and Quoting Policy:
Clients that are discussing new add-ons to be integrated with their website and/or a website redesign and website upgrade, no time or fees will be charged up to the point of receiving a quoted fee for the services at which time any further discussions and appointments will be in line with the above appointment time and fee structure, which includes missed appointment fees.
If you are a current or prospective client and receive a quote or website overview for your new or existing website, you are able to accept the plans in which we proceed or if you would like to discuss the plans further, a retainer in the amount of 15% of the quoted amount will be charged accordingly. Upon initiating the plans, the retainer fee will be deducted from the initial costs.


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It began with rudimentary construction materials: chickenwire, cardboard boxes, plaster of paris and the like. But in a matter weeks this mesh of inspired creativity will become a regal lion, pulled by a delivery truck down Main Street.
"We've been spending a lot of time and effort on it," said Kevin Doyel, who is constructing the 8-foot-long parade entry with his wife Denise.
Members of Living Waters Church on Main Street, the Doyels were assigned by church pastor Ben Perea to create the lion, which is commonly mentioned in the Bible.
"We're dependable and capable, so they call us," Doyel said. "Our pastor called the other day and asked, 'How's it coming?'"
Doyel created the frame and basic structure using his 8-foot bed as a rough size guide. ("It was a little of trial with error.") A basket and cardboard box will be used to create the lion's head.
While Doyel utilizes engineering and construction skills, Denise brings artistic sensibilities.
"She's pretty good at arts and crafts," her husband said.
She blended a mixture of flour, water and starch to create a goopy plaster of paris. Taking newspapers donated by the Hesperia Star, she painstakingly covered the wire, bit by bit.
After the lion construction is completed, the Doyels will transport it to their church, which acts as a central location for a food ministry that helps 3,700 familes four times a month. There, many seniors who work feverishly to help the needed will apply tan-colored tissue paper as a final touch.
"It's kind of like a pi�ata," she said.
Before beginning the construction of their lion, the Doyels picked up Hesperia Days Parade entry paperwork from the chamber office. The lion-building project will culminate on Saturday, Sept. 19, when the lion is pulled down Main Street along with numerous other community floats and figures.
But for the Doyels, who have been married for 27 years, the Hesperia Days Parade entry is just one of many creative projects they help oversee at their church.
"We're always willing to do what's necessary," Kevin Doyel said.
"We've been doing it for years," added Denise Doyel. "We feel great. We love our life."


text: Yes, you read those words right… money, sex, power, beer. Let's stop tiptoeing around topics such as these and explore what the heart of what God's word says about this. What does Jesus teach about living life in this world? How do we live joyfully yet biblically? How does this all fit together? Not saying this is all good stuff… not bad either. But how do we integrate these two to glorify God?


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Physiological aspects of the menopausal hot flush.Br Med J 1978; 2 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.6135.501 (Published 12 August 1978) Cite this as: Br Med J 1978;2:501
Article usage
Article metrics provide readers and authors with an indication of how often a specific article has been accessed month by month. It counts three formats - abstract/extract, full text and pdf. The page is updated each day.


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Car parking at Surrey Hills countryside sites
Surrey Hills is a great place to come and visit but have you ever stopped to consider the impact of parking your car in the countryside?
Why we ask you to pay to park
Visitors often ask us why they should have to pay to park in the countryside. The answer is almost the same as anywhere else - upkeep and maintenance. However we must also take into account the conservation of our special natural areas.
Looking after these special places and undertaking mundane tasks such as litter clearance costs us thousands per year, so the income from our pay and display machines goes towards these costs, with anything left over being used towards conservation projects and improvements for the benefit of wildlife.
New parking tariffs
We've also listened to visitors who have asked why we only offer an all-day parking rate. From late November 2016 we've introduced a new range of tariffs at several of our car parks:
- £1.50 per hour for the first 2 hours
- £4.00 for 4 hours
- £6.00 all day
Please remember the National Trust's charitable purpose when making your payment - we are here for the benefit of the public, not for profit and if you're a member it's free to park at all of our Surrey Hills car parks.
Park for free
Did you know it costs from as little as £5 per month to join the National Trust and this will give you free parking at almost all National Trust site car parks along with free entry into a wide variety of properties and gardens? On the Surrey Hills you'll find staff at Box Hill and the Devil's Punch Bowl who will be able to help you with membership, and what's more if you join with one of our onsite recruiters your subscription money goes straight towards that particular location and helps us even more.
Alternatively if you want to join from home, please click here.
Thank You for helping us to keep our places special for ever, for everyone.


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By following an extremely low-calorie diet, Type 2 diabetes has been found to be curable.
It's Diabetes Month across America, and people are taking notice. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S and as former president Barack Obama noted two years ago, it often results in huge health and financial costs for Americans.
If you live with Type 1 diabetes, you were born with an inability to produce insulin in your body, and you live with this all your life.
Those who suffer from Type 2 often feel as though their predicament is a life sentence as well. Taking medication for the long haul is seen as the only way to approach it.
Related: How Apple is Trying to Tackle Diabetes
But a new study from Newcastle University in England has an alternative view. Through adherence to a low calorie diet, it's been shown that type 2 diabetes is indeed a reversible condition.
It may not work for everyone, but here's the scoop.
Professor Roy Taylor at Newcastle University, UK has spent almost four decades studying diabetes. To be scientific, he's found that Type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat in both the liver and the pancreas.
When this fat sets in, multiple things happen. The liver responds poorly to insulin and produces too much glucose, and this negatively affects the pancreas.
But when patients lose excess fat from the pancreas through diet, they can re-start the normal production of insulin in their body, thus reversing Type 2 diabetes.
Amazingly, it was found that individuals are able to reverse their diabetes up to 10 years after first being diagnosed with the illness
The study showed that within just 7 days of starting a very low-calorie diet, normal insulin sensitivity returned to patients' bodies.
Dr. Taylor's patients typically lost about 33 pounds during the study. For tips on how it was done, examples of very low-calorie diet meal plans and other information, check out Newcastle Univeristy's Magnetic Resonance Center online.
Consult a physician before adjusting your diet and beginning new treatments for diabetes
Photo credits: urbans/Shutterstock.com


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Free Breakfast, Pay what you want Lunch, Cinematic Drinking plus the latest foodie news
For this week's coolest events, latest restaurants & bar news, as well as delicious food & drink ideas and exclusive offers, check out our free weekly e-magazine! (And don't forget, this is just the archive version. If you want this news delivered to your inbox on-time every Wednesday, simply subscribe to the newsletter by filling in your details in the form on the right!)
News & Events…
Free Breakfast & Gig with The Drums @ Floradita, W1. 1 March
New York Bakery Co has signed up New York band The Drums to treat Londoners to an exclusive early morning gig over a bagel breakfast. The Drums will travel from Brooklyn to serve up a bite-sized 20 minute acoustic set for hungry Londoners who want to kick start their working day the New York way. The morning gig will start at 08:15am at Floridita on Wardour Street. Sign-up for free tickets at www.facebook.com/newyorkbakery
Pip Dundas has become a bit of a food hero up in Islington, mostly due to his somewhat virtuous approach to business. Firstly, back in December, he took over an old Citroen garage and together with the owner of Farm Direct, created a food space selling some great produce by day and hosting suppers using the produce by night. Now, he has decided to operate a policy of 'pay-what-you-think-it's-worth' on Friday and Saturday lunches. Why? For no reason other than to fund free lunches for groups of local pensioners. Somebody pass this man a knighthood! www.pipsdish.co.uk
'La Festa Della Donna', known worldwide as International Women's Day, is a celebration of the achievements of women in history, but in Italy is also used as an annual excuse for a girls' night out. This year, Cantina Del Ponte is celebrating the occasion in true Italian spirit with a fabulous 3-course dinner, Prosecco all round and most importantly, a line-up of topless waiters! Tickets are £50, with proceeds going to Marie Curie Cancer Care's Great Daffodil Appeal. www.cantinadelponte.co.uk
New Openings…
Boqueria, SW2
Named after Barceolona's famous food market, Boqueria has born out of a desire to showcase the very best of Spain. Opened by Barcelona-born Jaime Armenter, the restaurant promises great tapas in a contemporary setting that no doubt reflects Jaime's mere 24 years of age. A theme of stylish simplicity runs throughout the bar and restaurant, with handmade tables and doors, as well as photo exhibits to add warmth and colour. Dishes on the menu stay traditional, including Bunuelos Bacalao (cod fritters), Canelones Cantalanes (Aubergine cannelloni with goats cheese and mushrooms) and classic Tortilla's and Croquetas; as is now de rigueur for Spanish restaurants, selections of cured meats including Jamon Iberico and Lomo Iberico are also available. www.boqueriatapas.com
Marc Dalla Riva and Matt Rix have taken over and revived the beautiful old Queen Boadicea on St John Street to create their ideal drinking den – a traditional alehouse and gin palace with an old-school look but a youthful feel. With their roots in Yorkshire, the boys are all about providing an honest and welcoming pub experience, so expect great quality British food and straight-talking drinks. Cocktails are kept to the simple and traditional, whilst a regular roster of guest ales also features. The no-nonsense menu features a selection of bar snacks, including Black pudding scotch eggs, Potted duck and British cheeses, as well as daily changing roasts and hotpots. Guests will also be kept entertained with a regular calendar of live music and pub quizzes. www.theblacksmithandthetoffeemaker.co.uk
Remember when you were younger and you used to get hammered before you went to the cinema, or perhaps used to take a cheeky tipple into the screen with you? (or maybe it was just me!). Well, like all great ideas, Ambar has decided to exploit and premiumise misspent memories of youth with the opening of a swanky new bar at the Odeon in Swiss Cottage. Arising from the £3 million restoration of the 1937 built cinema, the late night bar offers cinema goers a plush place to settle for a few cocktails and bar snacks before heading into their movie; because we're grown-ups now, you can even take the drink into the movie with you. With everything from Belvedere vodka cocktails to Dom Perignon (at £35/glass!) available, it's certainly a far cry from the bottles of White Lightening that you probably had the first time round!
Vegetarian restaurants have historically had a tough old-time convincing London's meat hungry crowd that they are deserving of their custom. However, Vanilla Black has more than established itself as a serious player with numerous accolades including a Michelin recommendation to its name. Owners Andrew Dargue & Donna Conroy have now embarked on their second vegetarian restaurant with the opening of Orchard. Comprising a small grocery store and an all-day restaurant, diners can expect rustic dishes based on seasonal British ingredients. The menu includes dishes such as Toasted parsnip bread, Ribblesdale sheep cheese & cracked hazelnuts; Mixed beets & picalilli with soda bread soldiers; and various pastries and sweets such as Dark Chocolate Sponge Cake with Ale Ice Cream. 11 Sicilian Avenue, Holborn, London, WC1A 2QH. Tel: 020 7831 2714
Try This Week…
Mozart Chocolate Liqueurs
We've started to notice a rising trend in dessert-style cocktails of late and we all know that you can't have a dessert menu without a few chocolate options. When it comes to chocolate liqueurs, the bartenders choice is by far and away this range of chocolate liqueurs by Mozart. Like the famous composer's finest musical pieces, these liqueurs provide a bitter- sweet symphony of flavours that are ideal for cocktails or perfect enjoyed over ice. Available in range of flavours, including Dark, creamy Gold and White, the Mozart range will satisfy the most passionate chocolate fans. www.mozart-spirits.com/en. Available from good spirits retailers, including www.thedrinkshop.com for around £14.
From soups and sauces to salads and ketchup, it's pretty difficult to go any length of time without coming across the humble tomato in your diet. In fact it's probably fair to say that this most versatile, delicious and healthy of fruits (technically it's not a veg!) is taken for granted. However, the people at the Tomato Stall have decided that it we should be championing tomatoes, so have come up with a range of products all based around them. Using a variety of tomatoes that they grow themselves on the Isle of Wight, the range includes everything from fresh Tomato Juices made with super-sweet piccolo cherry and yellow limoncita tomatoes, to delicious relishes that are ideal for a meat and cheese platter. Widely available from quality retailers and online at www.thetomatostall.co.uk