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Does the cost of managing owned PBX equipment outweigh the cloud based solution?
The choice of cloud based or premise based solutions for most companies is often one of control versus economics. A premise based system give the highest flexibility in configuration and administration, but for most companies the cost of managing owned PBX equipment outweighs the cloud based solution.
Costs versus Control over a PBX lifespan
- Physical System or Cloud Installation
- Configuration and Management
- Software development
- Maintenance
PBX Installs
While cloud solutions trump premise based PBX in the area of installation, you need to be sure the associated recurring fees of your cloud solution are included in your TCO over the period you plan to keep your system. When comparing a premise based PBX, keep in mind the life span is likely to be no more than five years- conversely a Hosted PBX solution is always up to date.
Another risk with premise based solutions is the pre install evaluation of your network. With a cloud solution, your provider is more likely to have an experienced person evaluate your network quality to be sure it can handle the solution. In house appraisals might miss bottlenecks or performance stumbling blocks on your networks. Also, cloud solutions have less on-site to go wrong and an inherent reduction of risk as a result.
Ease of Install- while a on-site PBX often requires a forklift upgrade, hosted PBX allows for installations to occur a line at a time in parallel with the existing system. this means that future additions and changes can also be performed on a line basis without a truck roll or associated disruption of business.
Configuration and Management
The cloud PBX shines in this realm as well with most solutions providing administrative features matching and often exceeding premise solutions. Features may be added on an ad-hoc basis often in seconds. Managing upgrades is handled by the service provider who often will have many years of experience in providing seamless changes and upgrade rollouts. Management of your system as it expands is also handled by your cloud vendor- and those often sporadic bursts in activity won't require a major change to accommodate- depending on the vendor, you should be able to arrange to have a call overflow capacity on stand-by for much less than a premise system deployment. Consider how often that last line or two in your hunt group actually is used and you see cloud systems are on the plus here.
Software Development
Premise based PBX may have a suite of vendor apps ready to go but many cloud deployments offer enterprise level applications with remarkable flexibility for a fraction of the cost of premise solutions as the development costs are shared amongst all users rather than a hefty up-front application cost or the cost of hiring in-house staff to write apps connect to an API.
PBX Maintenance
Saving the best for last- the higher reliability and predictable costs of hosted PBX really show when maintenance comes into play, but the lack of recurring costs on a premise solution seems an attractive alternative.
With a cloud based Hosted PBX you know in advance what expenses to expect- it's not as subject to unpredicted expenses as an on-site solution.
Uptime of a cloud solution is improved as distributed infrastructure and architecture allow for a rapid expediting of service issues. Unlike a premise solution with repairs often requiring an on-site visit and the associated delays, or a dedicated set of technicians on stand-by.
Maintenance costs for a hosted PBX are including in your monthly product fees- there are no extra agreements to execute and hardware and software upgrades are included and managed as part of the service subscription itself and much more easily than any premise solution.
Which to choose?
Your choice in the end comes down to a variety of requirements. For most small to medium businesses- Hosted PBX will make sense and save money. Larger companies may require the flexibility and control of premise based systems.
Have you deployed a cloud or premise based PBX recently? What other concerns or benefits would you share?
Is a Cloud Based PBX system a good choice for your business? Contact AVATAVA for a no cost PBX consultation.
About the author: William Laakkonen is a consultant for AVATAVA which first offered cloud services worldwide in 2000. Among many solutions, AVATAVA offer hosted VoIP solutions for small and medium enterprises across the US.
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Tim Kearns necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 88 diseños de 14 diseñadores freelance.
Need a creative, engaging "Home" page design template for Members to display their videos and interact with their visitors
PLEASE REVIEW THIS PDF (https://www.thinkbigworksmall.com/f…static.pdf) layout example that includes notes on the different elements. This is an example ONLY to show the elements required (some elements are of fixed size, see in the PDF notes). Layout should be clean and professional, remembering that the final design will be required to work in at least 5 different color schemes. This is the primary page our Members use to communicate with their clients and prospects via Videos and Blog entries.
*** Additional Comments/Design Refinements under Main Discussion ***
- Banner
May be only logo but can span the entire width of page
Member uploaded/Various color
- Video Player
Layout must be able to size for both 4:3 (400px X 300px) and 16:7 (512px X 288px) formats.
- Video Archive List
List of other videos to watch represented by 100x75px thumbnail using a Flash-based "cover-flow" style display
- Profile Information with Picture (136X90)- REQUIRED (always shown)
- First, Last Name
- Company Name
- Email
- Business Phone
Web Site (might be long)
Cell, Fax Numbers
- Broker License #
- Video Description- Content varies in amount of content (could be text, could contain images). Can be fixed size using scrollbars
- Blog- Variable content, area should be fixed size with "scrollable" content.
- Social Networking link- Icon (125x16) from http://addthis.com/web-button-select- Please review referenced PDF; also review full-screen Smart Player on http://www.5min.com for another example of a design we like.
- Sophisticated, engaging
- 3D look OK (buttons, drop shadows on elements)
- Not too "high-tech"
- No serif or fancy fonts
- Video is the primary focus of page, do not overwhelm action of viewing the video with the other elements.
- Page should not be too long or wide (around 900px wide) to avoid page scrolling; elements like Blog and Video Description can be made a fixed size and scroll within themselves.

subset: commoncrawl


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Royals release Mendoza to allow him to sign with Japanese team
Right-hander Luis Mendoza, who became a little-used long reliever last season after losing his job in the Royals' rotation, is heading to Japan to rebuild his career.
The Royals requested release waivers Monday on Mendoza to enable him to sign with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan's Pacific League.
Mendoza was 2-6 last season with a 5.36 ERA for the Royals in 22 games, including 15 starts. He lost his job in the rotation after allowing five runs in 1 2/3 innings in a 10-4 loss to Oakland on July 7.
Thereafter, Mendoza made just six relief appearances, totaling 12 2/3 innings, over the Royals' final 78 games. He did not pitch after allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings on in a 16-2 loss to Detroit on Sept. 6.
Mendoza, 30, was eligible for arbitration this winter after making $532,000 in 2013. The Royals were unlikely to agree to arbitration, which meant they were likely to release him if they couldn't trade him.
Technically, players aren't traded from major-league clubs to clubs in foreign leagues, although the Royals received an undisclosed sum from the Fighters for agreeing to release Mendoza.
Procedurally, the major-league club must reach such an agreement with the foreign club, which then must reach an agreement with the player.
Once that happens, the big-league club releases the player, who then signs with the foreign club. The net effect is a player can't be sent to a foreign league against his will.
The Fighters finished 64-78 and in last place in the Pacific League. Former Royals manager Trey Hillman guided the club during 2003-07 and led it to the Japan Series in 2006 and and 2007. The Fighters won the 2006 crown.
Mendoza was 12-17 with a 4.72 ERA in four seasons for the Royals after arriving in an April 2, 2010, trade from Texas. He spent most of 2010 and 2011 at Class AAA Omaha.


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A's re-sign Bartolo Colon to 1-year deal
Oakland's work on bringing back key players from a successful 2012 season began Saturday with something of a surprise: The A's re-signed right-hander starter Bartolo Colon, who was suspended for using performance-enhancing substances in August, to a one-year deal.
Colon, who will turn 40 in May, must serve the final five games of the suspension next season. Despite Colon's age and his suspension, the A's will pay him $3 million next year, and an incentives package could push the deal to between $5 million and $6 million - including provisions in the event that Colon pitches in relief.
The A's have not shown objections to signing players serving drug suspensions, adding Manny Ramirez on a minor-league deal last season after his second steroid bust.
"We understand these suspension situations are handled by the league and the players' association under rules set by the CBA," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "Over the years, there have been quite a few players in this situation. That's why there is an agreement: Once he's served the suspension, he's paid his debt."
The A's continue to have interest in their other free-agent starter, right-hander Brandon McCarthy, Beane said, and Saturday's transaction will not impact the team's efforts to bring him back.
"They're independent of each other," Beane said. "And like Bartolo, we have a history with Mac. That makes everyone a little more comfortable."
Pitching depth is something Oakland has emphasized the past few years, and Colon, McCarthy, Brett Anderson and A.J. Griffin all were on the disabled list at various points in 2012.
Pitching depth might be particularly useful, considering that the A's will need a shortstop if they are unable to re-sign Stephen Drew. Beane said that making a deal for a shortstop "is very much a possibility," but he emphasized that the A's won't trade any of their young starters.
That's why the incentive clauses for Colon as a reliever are particularly interesting. Should he move to the bullpen, the A's could deal from another area of strength: relief pitching.
Colon earned $2 million in 2012 (minus the nearly $500,000 he forfeited during his suspension). The A's, like many teams, expect salaries for starting pitchers to rise and one-year deals to become rarities. McCarthy could well be among those to get a significant offer, one the A's cannot match.
Beane said the A's valued Colon's contributions in 2012, especially when it came to serving as a pitching role model for the young starters. The team liked the fact Colon pounded the strike zone and didn't back down, often throwing just fastballs. The A's have scouted Colon in the Dominican since his suspension, and he showed no signs of decline; he has a 2.89 ERA in two starts. He also has returned to action since getting hit in the mouth by a liner, requiring several stitches.
The A's did make an effort to retain another of their free agents, offering outfielder Jonny Gomes a two-year deal in September, according to a source. But the team couldn't come to terms with Gomes' former representatives before acquiring Chris Young from Arizona.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @susanslusser


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The Guardian
The Guardian
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For those of you out there fiddling around with – the yet unreleased – Firefox 3, and miss using the Google Browser Sync add-on, Mozilla Labs has a project called Weave, which essentially does the same thing, only natively. Find out more on their blog, and share your experience in the comments. I'll try and get my PC's to sync tonight, so I'll post an update ASAP.
Mozilla Labs, Weave
Article No :327 | June 6, 2008 | by Constantinos Demetriadis
November 6, 2009
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June 9, 2008
[UPD Jun 9]: I've installed Weave on my home PC, and sync'd up with the one at the Office. It all went well. The only thing that didn't seem to sync properly were the saved passwords. Bookmarks, which are my main concern, worked great!


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B60 is the UK's Leading Mobile Consultancy and App Development Agency. We house an award-winning team of iOS app developers who have worked on projects for some of the world's leading organisations. Whether it's a consumer or enterprise app, we'll help develop a bespoke iPad solution for your business.
We help the world's leading businesses and brands drive growth and attain key objectives through the successful deployment of iPad applications.
Our experience spans a wide range of industry sectors and we house a team of highly skilled iOS developers with experience of developing bespoke mobile solutions. With vast experience in consumer and enterprise mobile developments, B60 will help develop the right solution for your business.
By allowing faster reporting and faster decision making by the customer, B60's Brother sales app has significantly improved conversion rates in the field. This application has now been deployed in 19 Languages around the world, improving efficiency and increasing profits.
Sales reps are now able to process sales and write up new business through their iPad's 'always on' 3/4G link, allowing them to move on to the next opportunity without 'checking in' and increasing their overall efficiency.
Click here to find out more about our iPad app development case studies.
Our lean and agile development process is controlled by a team of experienced project managers through the industry standard Jira platform. They harness the skills of our world-class development team who create cutting edge bespoke apps iOS devices.
B60's team of UX and UI experts offer a user-centric approach when designing a cutting-edge application. Our seamless design process comprises of several stages: Discovery, Wireframing and UI Layering.
If you have an enquiry or would like to learn more about the services we offer, please get in touch for your free consultation.
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Evidence-based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM, Volume 1
Churchill Livingstone, 2000 - Medical - 261 pages
EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE is the bible of EBM. Known as the ultimate authority on the subject, this text was written by the foremost experts in the field. Instead of basing medical decisions on tradition, this resource teaches doctors how to integrate individual clinical expertise with the available external evidence from systematic research to provide patients with the best possible care. Readers will be taught how to ask, translate, critically appraise, and integrate clinical questions. The book is packaged with a FREE CD-ROM containing extended descriptions and sample web pages of several current evidence sources.
Spanish version also available, ISBN: 84-8174-511-1
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You are here : Home \ Sector \ Conservation / Environmental
Campaign to Protect Rural England
CPRE is one of the longest established and most respected environmental groups, influencing policy and raising awareness ever since we were founded in 1926. We are the champions of England's countryside and we welcome the support of all who care about it. CPRE is a registered charity with over 60,000 members and supporters living in our cities, towns, villages and the countryside.
We operate as a network with over 200 district groups, a branch in every county, a group in every region and a National Office. Over 2000 parish councils and 800 amenity societies belong to CPRE. This makes CPRE a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning.
Registered Charity No. 1089685View website Watch video
Campaign to Protect Rural England Kent
CPRE Kent is an independent charity that fights to protect and preserve the Kent countryside for future generations and for our rich flora and fauna that make our countryside so unique and special. Although we come under the umbrella of CPRE national, we are solely self-funding and survive because of the kindness and generosity of our members and supporters.
CPRE Kent are experts in planning, fracking, water, transport and ecology, we help and empower local communities to take back control from decision makers who threaten their peaceful way of life.We promote brownfield development in favour of inappropriate development on Greenfield, AONBs, SSSI's and Greenbelt.
We actively campaign and seek to influence policy from the top down, giving the little person a voice.
Registered Charity No. 1092012View website Watch video
Devon Wildlife Trust
Registered Charity No. 213224View website Watch video
Earthwatch is an international environmental charity which supports scientific field research projects around the world. Earthwatch's research is vital as effective conservation relies upon good science. We also work with people worldwide, aiming to inspire, educate and engage them in conservation - creating a global community of informed, impassioned people to take action to protect the environment.View website Watch video
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth wants a healthy planet and a good life for everyone on it. The UKs most influential environmental campaign group, weve inspired many of the biggest wins for the planet from curbing acid rain to laws bringing recycling to every doorstep and, through our Big Ask campaign, ensuring the UK takes a lead in tackling climate change. Most of the money we spend comes from members of the public these 100,000 supporters in the UK are part of the worlds largest environmental network acting together to make life better now and for future generations.
To view their Privacy Policy please visit: friendsoftheearth.uk/about-us/privacy-policy
Registered Charity No. 281681View website Watch video
Greenpeace Environmental Trust
Greenpeace Environmental Trust aims to further public understanding in world ecology and the natural environment. It does this by :-
- looking at the effects of human activity on the natural environment
- conducting scientific research, and
- relieving sickness or suffering of people and animals as a result of changes in their natural environment.
Scottish Wildlife Trust
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is dedicated to preserving and protecting native species and their habitats and we are continuously working in various ways to achieve this.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust have over 125 reserves where we work all year long to maintain Scotland's natural beauties. Many of these reserves provide a natural, safe habitat for rare and endangered species to live and breed. We also use these same reserves to educate and inspire thousands of visitors each year. And as always, we are dedicated to lobbying government at all levels for stronger environmental protection policies.
Help us in our vital work by signing up for payroll giving today.
Sustrans is the UK 's leading sustainable transport charity. Our vision is a world in which people can choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. Every day we are working on practical, innovative ways of dealing with the transport challenges that affect us all.
The Gaia Foundation
Through a global network of partners, the Gaia Foundation assists local communities to strengthen their resilience to deal with the multiple crises we face today – from ecosystem destruction and climate change to social and economic inequities. Together we aim to:
- Return full control to local people over what food they grow, eat and sell, over the care of their natural environment, over how they ensure a sustainable life for their community.
- Ensure that the ecological knowledge held by these diverse communities is respected and drawn upon in the international search for ways of dealing with climate change and loss of biodiversity.
- Assist them in resisting further destruction and exploitation of their land, forests and rivers.
A monthly donation from you will ensure that we can continue our 25-year track record of support to communities across Africa, South America, Asia and Europe.
Registered Charity No. 327412View website Watch video
The Rainforest Foundation UK
The Rainforest Foundation tackles deforestation locally and globally. Locally it helps forest communities to gain land rights, challenge logging companies and manage forests for their own wellbeing and protection of their environment. Globally it campaigns to influence national and international laws to protect rainforests and their inhabitants.
Working with Forest communities, we have protected more than 100,000 square kilometres of rainforest; and we are on our way to protecting another one million.
Registered Charity No. 1138287View website Watch video
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Wetlands are vital to ALL life on earth and are, literally, the lifeblood of our planet. WWT was established in 1946 by the naturalist and artist Sir Peter Scott (1909 – 1989). His lifelong aim was to conserve wetlands and their wildlife for future generations to enjoy. The impact of the decline of wetlands and its effects on wetland birds and other wildlife remains a major focus of WWT's work as it aims to
- Raise awareness of the importance of wetlands
- Promote action to save wetlands
- Reverse the trend of wetland loss
- Safeguard wetland biodiversity
Unfortunately, wetlands are threatened as never before because they are :-
- Reclaimed for building and agriculture
- Polluted and degraded
- The first casualty of human development
These threats grow year on year and time is running out. WWT is dependent on the generosity of individual donors and regular, pre-tax donations from your salary will help ensure the survival of wetlands for generations to come.
Registered Charity No. 1030884 England and Wales, SC039410 ScotlandView website Watch video
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity. We own and care for over1000 woods across the UK. By supporting us through payroll giving you can help us to:
- Purchase, plant and care for new saplings as well as protecting and conserving our irreplaceable ancient woodland
- Regenerate the woodland environment so that the habitats belonging to our precious woodland wildlife is protected and vital plant species can flourish and grow.
- Provide woodland discovery activities to inspire children with the magic and power of trees and run planting events for communities across the UK
- Raise awareness of climate change and how individual actions can help us reduce our national carbon footprint, as well as offsetting through tree planting
- Maintain access to our woods for everybody to enjoy in peace, tranquillity and safety
Registered Charity No. England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885).View website Watch video
WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. We do this by:
- conserving the world's biological diversity
- ensuring that the use of renewable resources is sustainable
- promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
WWF is the world's largest independent global conservation organisation. We are best known for our programmes to protect endangered species and their habitats, and much of our work is in areas where the most critically endangered wildlife and the least protected habitats are found. However, this is only part of what we do.
We also work to address global threats such as climate change, the consumption of natural resources and the use of toxic chemicals. We influence attitudes and behaviour through lobbying, campaigning and education, and work with people at all levels - both in the UK and around the world - to seek long-term sustainable solutions for the benefit of people and nature.
How your contribution can help us:
- £10 could pay a Rhino Protection Unit Ranger's salary for 4 days.
- £15 could enable the orang-utan project in Malaysia to buy a Global Positioning System, so that the exact location of orang-utan nests can be recorded.
- £20 could pay the wages of an educational assistant teaching Colombian rainforest children about the environment.
- £30 could buy a camera to help monitor the movements of tigers in Nepal.
- £72 could help protect the greater one-horned rhino by covering the costs of supplying park rangers with an elephant to carry out anti-poaching patrols in Nepal.
- £100 could buy a medical kit for staff in Dudwha National park in India.
- £240 (or £20 a month) could pay one Ranger's salary for a year for the International Gorilla Conservation Programme in Rwanda.
Registered Charity No. 1081247View website Watch video


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I had a startling realization a few years ago: I discovered that not everyone thinks science is good for humanity. How can that be? Scientific discovery makes our lives better, richer, longer, and healthier.
The end of World War II not only showed us that science could deliver us from evil; it was also recognized as the deliverer of evil. In the mind of the public, the giant, faceless machine of science had created the atomic bomb. Science, particularly chemistry, gave us chemical weapons (Napalm, Agent Orange), pollution (dioxins, PCBs, chlorofluorocarbons), pesticides and herbicides that caused animal mortality, pharmaceuticals that caused birth defects, and well-intentioned products (breast implants, vaccines) that were claimed to cause diseases. Science wasn't necessarily the savior anymore. Its reputation was tarnished.
Most of what the public consumes regarding science comes from the media and cultural filters. Chemistry suffers badly from this filtration process.
"Chemical" Has Become a Very Bad Word
Once upon a time, the chemical-producing DuPont Company used the advertising slogan, "Better Things for Better Living…Through Chemistry." They ditched that in 1982. Another one of America's iconic companies, Dow, has dropped the word "Chemicals" from its name. Does that mean these companies don't make chemicals? No. It means the idea about chemicals and chemistry has radically shifted and these companies have had to adjust their image to accommodate this shift.
Various events, well covered in the media, helped cement the association of chemicals with toxins and pollution. Through the 1970s, there were explosions and fatal spills at chemical plants. In Japan, the long-term release of unsafe levels of industrial pollutants into the water where the locals obtained food revealed the horrendous effects of mercury poisoning. The world's worst chemical disaster was the 1984 chemical leak at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India where hundreds of thousands of villagers around the plant were exposed to the noxious gas while they slept. Approximately 3,000 died in the accident, plus thousands more who later died from gas-related diseases.
Love Canal gave the American public iconic imagery of leaking barrels of chemical waste, pools of chemicals where kids played, and high rates of birth defects.
Just imagine this in your neighborhood:
Corroding waste-disposal drums could be seen breaking up through the grounds of backyards. Trees and gardens were turning black and dying. One entire swimming pool had been had been popped up from its foundation, afloat now on a small sea of chemicals. Puddles of noxious substances were pointed out to me by the residents. Some of these puddles were in their yards, some were in their basements, others yet were on the school grounds. Everywhere the air had a faint, choking smell. Children returned from play with burns on their hands and faces. Eckardt C. Beck in EPA Journal (January 1979)
The Valley of the Drums in Kentucky also helped ensure that people were left with little respect for or trust in chemicals and the industry that produced them.
Can You Go Chemical-Free?
Mothers don't want chemicals in their kids' foods. It's environmentally unfriendly to use chemicals on your lawn or garden. You are encouraged to "go green" and use chemical-free products around the house and on yourself.
The truth is: you cannot go chemical-free.
Chemical is a hard word to define. I asked someone who had an associate's degree in Chemistry, "What's the definition of a chemical?" He paused. He couldn't explain it. That difficulty in explaining (and the overall low quality of public science education and appreciation these days) may have something to do with how the word was hijacked to mean "harmful or toxic substance."
The best description of chemical is matter resulting from a reaction of atoms and molecules. Anything made of matter is a chemical.
Water is a chemical. That fact makes the idea living of chemical-free ludicrous. Writer Deborah Blum found a reference to "chemical-free water" on the completely unscientific website Natural News. In "Chemical Free Nonsense" she notes all the various products marketed as "chemical-free".
Marketers take advantage of the poisoned meaning of the word chemical to tout their products as being safe, healthy, and chemical-free. It's another gimmick. In 2008 in the U.K., a Miracle Gro compost product was labeled "100% chemical free." That's not truthful, according to the scientific definition of chemical. Yet the advertising authority decided that most people interpret chemical-free as synonymous with "organic" and okayed the use of the term "chemical-free." Organic products are not only made with and contain chemicals but can be produced with natural pesticides (also chemicals). Natural or synthetic, you can't be free from chemicals. It's ridiculous to use the term "chemical-free".
In fact, to illustrate the silliness of the term, Britain's Royal Society of Chemistry offered a Million Pound Challenge to anyone who can produce a 100% chemical-free material. So far, no one has claimed this prize.
Perhaps the folks at Dow know something we don't. In a May 10, 2012, interview on the radio show Marketplace, the CEO of Dow, Andrew Liveris stated that [only] "95% of all products out there have chemistry in them",
"..[H]ave chemistry in them?" What does that even mean? He went on to say that modern humanity and "emerging humanity" need chemistry. Sadly, the atomic theory of matter has gone over even his head.
The website "Go Chemical Free" advocates for a chemical-free lifestyle, claiming that steering clear of toxic industrial chemicals can eliminate many disorders such as symptoms of Aspergers, ADHD, eczema, and more. They also claim chemical-free living results in an improvement of autism symptoms. Their evidence? Testimonials. That's all.
The chemical-free marketing ploy is intertwined with the naturalistic fallacy, or appeal to nature, where natural is better. "All natural" sounds very positive (as opposed to synthetic or artificial). But that is a fallacy. There are plenty of synthetic products that are perfectly safe and effective and are better than their natural versions. Besides, it's not hard to find several examples where natural does not mean good.
Chemical-free advocates tell us that the world is a toxic, hazardous place. History tells us the opposite. Environmental laws weren't always in place. Gone are the days when industries freely belched chemicals into the sky or discharged them in waste water. We get much less exposure to lead paint or pipes, mercury thermometers, or PCB-filled electrical transformers. Hazardous pesticides and insecticides were removed from production. I don't intend to downplay the very real scenarios of chemical waste dumps and leaking underground tanks that contaminate our water and soils today but it's a far cry from when farmers were allowed to apply lead arsenate to apple orchards.
Yeah, those were some good old days.
Fear of Chemicals Is Multi-level Misunderstanding
In the 1950s, allergist Dr. Theron G. Randolph introduced the idea of chemical sensitivity. He thought that humans were not adapting to modern man-made chemicals and experiencing physical symptoms. The concept had a number of names. Today, this collection of non-specific symptoms is known as MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity. Spinoffs of MCS are Gulf War syndrome, sick building syndrome, toxic carpet syndrome, and people who say they are allergic to almost everything (including water). Diagnoses of such syndromes are problematic. So far no basis for MCS has been found except psychological.
A majority of the public may perceive chemicals—with names they can't pronounce, produced in big factories or delivered in barrels—as hazardous. However, rejection of products or treatments because of the misunderstanding about chemicals is a more serious problem. The more I thought about the fear of chemicals ("chemophobia"), I saw this disconnect from science fueling the controversies about issues like water fluoridation and fracking. Anti-vaccination groups who despise the preservatives or other chemicals in vaccines that help them work spread misinformation that results in the resurgence of communicable (and preventable) diseases. Cancer patients forgo chemotherapy as treatment, resorting to unproven, implausible alternatives. Chemophobia can kill.
Stretched to its limit, chemophobia is absurd. There is a famous hoax and Penn & Teller BULLSH*T segment regarding the banning of "dihydrogen monoxide" as a dangerous substance.
Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death. From Snopes http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp
That's some toxic stuff!
It was supposed to be humor. Let's just say, not everyone got the joke. (Dihydrogen monoxide is H₂O or water.) Sensational presentations (and emotional ploys) can completely blind you to rationality.
It's not possible to stop the common cultural meaning of chemical from evolving based on events and perceptions. Education may help but countering misinformation is an uphill battle. The connection between chemicals and evil stuff is held fast by a lack of trust in the industries that produce chemicals and people's fears of disaster.
Purchasing a chemical-free product provides a sense of control for those who choose it over other products. They may feel that they are doing something good that does not contribute to unhealthy consequences or pollution. Choosing to live chemical-free is integrated into the person's/family's identity. Those are very difficult motivations to overcome.
The answer may be simple attention to absurdities. Chemicals are everywhere and in everything. If you have a chance to do this, try it. Let manufacturers know that a chemical-free label is inaccurate. Question businesses on their chemical-free claims. Ask that they be more specific about what these products and services are actually "free" of. Tell your organic, chemical-free pal to put down that coffee (Yikes! Coffee contains scads of chemicals like caffeine, organic acids, and water) as an example of why not to buy into the chemical-free absurdity.


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lagopixel necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 29 diseños de 10 diseñadores freelance.
A a stylish, modern redesign for our website is needed.
The website will be integrated with the cms-system "typo3" (but from you we only want the psd-file, no coding needed). The website should transport the feeling of holliday at the Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Germany.
Here is the URL to the current site: http://radolfzell.net
As you can see it needs a redesign. The current design looks like it's from the last century...
Have Fun designing!
We need a unique, creative and modern redesign of our existing website.The website is of the nature providing information about the Town RADOLFZELL and the surrounding area of Lake Constanze (Bodensee) in Germany.
We want you to to come up with something creative, there are no specifications except that the website should create a "feel-lucky"-feeling :-)
Maybe the Lake can make up as main theme for the site? (not a must).
You can google the town (Radolfzell) to get an impression of what it is about.
Ifyou enjoy being creative, and coming up with your own ideas for designwithout being told what to do, you are right in this contest!
- Maybe some sort of theme or "path" that you can recoginze all around the site
- Stylish and maybe funny design
- Own ideas for the design and concept
- Innovative and "different"
- Maybe (not a must) shades
- "The Lake" as a part of the theme
- Finished work as photoshop-file with layers
- "Old" design


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Marianne Binetti
Month brings end-of-winter gardening tasks
The second week of February is the time to finish up any winter pruning of fruit trees and grape vines, and use a dormant oil spray on roses or other leafless plants.
You can find safe and organic dormant sprays at garden centers now. They work by coating a dormant or leafless plant with a thin layer oil that will suffocate overwintering disease and insects. Follow instructions, don't spray during windy or freezing weather and remember that the oil can stain walkways and cement driveways.
The end of winter also has local gardeners wondering which of their plants survived the freezing weather. Well, only spring will tell the tale of the survivors. Some plants such as hardy fuchsias and hibiscus may look dead and leafless until June before signs of life are detected.
Here are some reader questions with answers that should help you get growing.
Q: When is the right time to start mowing the lawn? We are new homeowners and our front lawn looks a bit shabby. Also, what type of mower to buy? — J.T., Tacoma
A: Congrats on the new home – now get growing.
In Western Washington you can mow when the ground is not frozen and the soil dry enough to run the mower without the wheels sinking into the turf and leaving ruts. If your soil is well-drained that means mid-February may be the time to shave a little off the top – but if your grass grows in the shade or in damp soil, wait until it dries out a bit more — usually by the end of March.
Invest in a mulching mower so you can recycle the grass clippings back onto your lawn – this returns up to one-third of the nitrogen to your soil – and leaving the clippings does not cause thatch build up.
You'll also need to fertilize, add lime and perhaps level and edge the new lawn. Don't panic, lawn care gets you outdoors exercising in the fresh air. Plan to make your first lawn fertilizer application in mid-March and keep reading this column for weekly yard care updates.
Q: Help! I now know I do not have a mole problem, I have a mouse problem and my lawn is sinking as my yard is riddled with burrows and tunnels from field mice. What can I do to save my yard? — P.A., Kent
A: Mouse traps to the rescue. The local field mouse or meadow mouse in our area is called a vole and this is the animal that goes underground to nibble on plant roots and devour bulbs.
Voles will colonize and use mole runways as their new underground highways and one way to discourage this is to bury dead moles in their own runways — nobody wants to move into a new home if the previous owners are still in residence. The best way to capture voles is a simple spring-type mouse trap.
Set the trap above ground just in front of the small opening hole in the ground. Put the mouse trap, or better yet two traps, spaced six inches apart so that they are situated at a right angle to the opening. Protect your traps from pets by covering the opening and the traps with a bucket.
You can prop one end of the bucket with a stone to allow the voles to enter.
Peanut butter seems the preferred bait, but a bit of cotton works as well – voles like cotton as a nesting material. There are mouse traps that catch the rodents alive, but be warned that rodents can be carriers of a serious disease as well as parasites – do not handle even a dead vole without gloves. Use a shovel to place your victims inside a plastic bag for disposal. Now be prepared to set a lot of traps. Voles reproduce at a rapid rate and if your lawn is sinking, you probably are hosting more happy mice than Disneyland.
Q: Is it safe to plant strawberry plants in February? I notice a local hardware store is selling strawberry plants for a very low price – but the plants themselves are in a tied bundle and not in pots. It is tempting to buy cheap. — S., Renton
A: Dig in and celebrate your dirt cheap score on bare root berries. You can plant strawberries, raspberries, roses, fruit trees and bare root trees and shrubs as soon as you see them for sale. Plants sold without soil around their roots are dormant and less expensive than potted plant material. Soak any bare root plant in water overnight before planting. Then be patient. You strawberries may stay dormant for another month or so before waking up and putting down roots in their new home.binettigarden.com


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An intense study of the global Vacuum Concentrators market based is dubbed as Global Vacuum Concentrators Market Report. The report evaluates the present as well as future performance of the Vacuum Concentrators industry, apart from latest trends in the sector. The primary participant of the Vacuum Concentrators market (Labconco, SciQuip, ScanVac, Analis, Welch Vacuum, Labtron Equipment ltd, Analis, Neutec Group) are also comprised in the global market report. The report predicts the future of global market based on this study.
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Written by active U.S. Tier 1 Operators while deployed overseas and inspired by real world threats, Medal of Honor Warfighter™ delivers an aggressive, gritty, and authentic experience that puts gamers in the boots of today's most precise and disciplined warrior. Medal of Honor Warfighter is an up close and personal look at today's battlefield and the fight against the ongoing global terror threat.
Following on the heels of 2010's Medal of Honor that took the game series out of World War II and introduced players to today's most elite U.S. warriors, Medal of Honor Warfighter takes players out of Afghanistan to continue to experience gameplay missions with a dotted line to real world incursions. This is Tier 1 on a global scale, featuring real world hotspots and international Tier 1 Operators in Multiplayer.
Medal of Honor Warfighter tells the story of U.S. Tier 1 Operator, "Preacher" as he returns home from overseas only to find his family torn apart from years of deployment. Trying to pick up the pieces to salvage what remains of his marriage, Preacher is reminded of what he's fighting for - family. But when an extremely deadly explosive (PETN) penetrates civilian borders and his two worlds collide, Preacher and his fellow teammates are sent in to solve the problem. They take the fight to the enemy and do whatever it takes to protect their loved ones from harm.
Limited Edition - Players that pre-order the Medal of Honor Warfighter Limited Edition will receive the U.S. Navy SEAL Tier 1 Sniper pack as an exclusive early multiplayer unlock at launch.
Pre-Order the Medal of Honor Warfighter Limited Edition to get access to the Exclusive Battlefield 4 Beta.
Dotted Line to Real World Events - From rescuing hostages in Abu Sayyaf's Basilan, Phillipines stronghold to assaulting Al-Shabaab's "Pirate Town" on the Somali Coast, gamers step into the boots of Tier 1 Operators as they hunt down the global threat of PETN. Medal of Honor Warfighter is the only game that gives players a view into these real world events and lets them experience the action as it might have unfolded.
- The Power of Frostbite 2 - Leveraging the power of the ground-breaking Frostbite 2 engine, Medal of Honor Warfighter delivers incredible video and audio fidelity to enhance the intensity of the battle and deliver this year's most authentic war experience.
- War is Personal for the Entire Family - Medal of Honor Warfighter goes beyond the battlefield and reveals the heartbreaking side of war, told through the eyes of military families. With a story written by Operators from this community, Medal of Honor Warfighter unveils intimate insights into the sacrifices of the warriors on the ground – and their families.
- National Pride Online with Global Tier 1 - Internationally, allied military forces also possess their own elite units with similar capabilities. With Medal of Honor Warfighter gamers can represent their nation's Tier 1 Operators on the global battlefield. For the first time, the Medal of Honor brand introduces multi-national Tier 1 blue-vs-blue team play where the world's best of the best warriors go head-to-head in combat. The game features 12 different Tier 1 units from a variety of nations including the British SAS, Australian SASR, German KSK and Polish GROM.
- One Studio, One Vision - Developed by Danger Close Games in Los Angeles, California, Medal of Honor Warfighter sees the return of key development leads who helped reboot the multi-platinum hit in 2010. The core team is bolstered by industry veterans who hail from DICE, Treyarch and more. Together, this team is united behind a single vision for the game – authenticity, respect and honor for today's warfighters, with real emotion, real threats and a game designed to highlight the extraordinary nature of the material.
When will my order be dispatched?
This item will usually be dispatched within 24 hours (Monday – Friday)*. Orders placed outside of these days will be dispatched on the next working day.
* Excluding UK public holidays
How will my order be sent?
Our standard delivery option is FREE in the UK via Royal Mail First Class, with large or high value orders sent via Parcelforce courier service. Delivery to Europe (from an additional £2 per item) and other Worldwide countries (from an additional £4 per item) are sent via Royal Mail International who work with trusted delivery partners to deliver to the destination country.
We also offer a guaranteed Special Next Day service* on this item for UK delivery at an additional cost from £5.95, which is guaranteed to be delivered before 1pm the following day or we'll refund the postage cost!
* Available until 3:00pm (Monday – Friday) excluding UK public holidays.
When can I expect it to arrive?
- UKDeliveries to destinations in the UK usually arrive within 1-2 working days after the order is dispatched with the vast majority arriving on the next working day.
- Europe
Deliveries to destinations in Europe take on average 3-5 working days, but times will vary depending on the import regulations and postal service in your country. Please check with your local postal service for an estimate on how long it takes to ship items from the UK to your country.
- Worldwide
Deliveries to destinations outside of Europe take on average 5-7 working days, but times will vary depending on the import regulations and postal service in your country. Please check with your local postal service for an estimate on how long it takes to ship items from the UK to your country.
If your order has not arrived by the expected delivery date this is usually no reason for concern - see our delivery help pages.
|Windows PC
|Electronic Arts
|Like New
|Release Date
|26th Oct 2012
|Age Rating
|Age 16+


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The No. 8 Harvard women's hockey team opens the 2009-10
season by visiting Colgate and Cornell this weekend.
Photo courtesy of Harvard Athletic Communications.
Live Statistics at Colgate
Live Video at Colgate (with subscription)
Live Statistics at Cornell
Live Video at Cornell (with subscription)
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
The Particulars
For the second consecutive season, the eighth-ranked Harvard women's hockey team opens the year on the road. The Crimson will face Colgate Friday and Cornell Saturday in ECAC Hockey contests. Harvard has won the last two ECAC Hockey regular-season titles.
Last season, the Crimson posted a 19-10-3 overall record, going 16-4-2 in ECAC Hockey en route to its second straight ECAC Hockey regular-season title. The Crimson also went 8-2 in Ivy League games, clinching its second consecutive Ancient Eight crown.
Follow From Home
GoCrimson.com will provide live statistics for this weekend's games at Colgate and Cornell, all home games and most road contests this season. Friday's game at Colgate will be available via a subscription at GoColgateRaiders.com, while Saturday's contest will have video with a subscription at CornellBigRed.com.
Series History
Harvard owns a 3-0-1 record against Colgate in its last four games, dating back to 2007-08. Overall, the Crimson has a 14-1-2 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1978-79. The teams last met at Colgate on Feb. 14, 2009, a 2-1 win for Harvard. In that contest, Jenny Brine '09 and Sarah Wilson '09 each scored a goal, while Christina Kessler made 25 saves in net.
Saturday's game will be the 60th in the series between Ivy League rivals Harvard and Cornell. The Crimson boasts a 50-17-2 lead in the series, and has won the last 10 games between the schools. Harvard defeated Cornell, 3-0, and 4-0, in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series last year at Bright Hockey Center Feb. 27-28.
Last Time Out
Co-captain Kathryn Farni scored a shorthanded goal and assisted on three other Harvard tallies, as the eighth-ranked Crimson defeated McGill, 4-1, in an exhbition contest Saturday afternoon at Bright Hockey Center. Kate Buesser notched two goals, while Katharine Chute added the fourth Harvard score. Between the pipes, Christina Kessler picked up the victory, making 22 saves.
Harvard Coach Katey Stone
Katey Stone is in her 16th season as Harvard's head coach, and she brings a 319-136-22 record into Friday's game. Stone, who ranks second all-time in Division I victories, has led Harvard to all seven of its NCAA tournament appearances. Stone is also the active leader in victories among Division I women's hockey coaches.
Rank And File
Harvard is ranked No. 8 in this week's USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll and No. 9 in the USCHO.com/CSTV poll. The Crimson is one of only two teams ranked in the top 10 who has not played a game yet.
Crimson Captains
Leading the Crimson will be two senior captains: Cori Bassett (Anchorage, Alaska) and Kathryn Farni (Minnetonka, Minn.).
Preseason Prognostications
The ECAC Hockey coaches picked Harvard second in their preseason poll and voted senior goaltender Christina Kessler to the preseason all-conference team for the second straight season.
Team (first-place votes) Points
1. St. Lawrence (3) 107
2. Harvard (3) 103
3. Dartmouth (5) 93
4. Princeton 89
5. Clarkson (1) 85
6. Rensselaer 74
7. Cornell 68
8. Colgate 52
9. Quinnipiac 37
10. Yale 34
11. Brown 24
12. Union 11
New Faces
Seven freshmen will don the crimson, black and white this season. The class of 2013 is comprised of goaltender Laura Bellamy (Duluth, Minn.), Margaret Chute (Wayzata, Minn.), Jillian Dempsey (Winthrop, Mass.), Hilary Hayssen (Orono, Minn.), Josephine Pucci (Pearl River, N.Y.), Kelsey Romatoski (Woodbury, Minn.) and Kaitlin Spurling (Byfield, Mass.)


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We are enrolling a new session of the PBH Master Class starting today.
Currently we are not planning another class until spring of 2018 so we hope you can join us now!
Class will run from April 3 through May 12 (six weeks) and costs $175.
You can read a detailed class description and student testimonials here.
We've already done early-bird enrollment so space is limited!
If the timing isn't right for you, you can join the early-bird announcement list for the next class.
Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions!
I liked this thing I read this week:
My daughter pointed at the haircut she wanted, and [the hairdresser] asked "So what do you like best about this picture?" This seemed like a really good question. — poet Jenny Browne
My daughter pointed at the haircut she wanted, and [the hairdresser] asked "So what do you like best about this picture?" This seemed like a really good question. — poet Jenny Browne
• • •
Anything you want to discuss? Ask? Share? Do it here! It's your thread.
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. — Anna Quindlen
We start out the new school or "school" year (for homeschoolers, when the playgrounds are suddenly gloriously empty during the day! and all the new groups and classes start…) with new supplies and new plans — it's a fresh start.
How long does it take for us to feel that first wave of disappointment when things don't go the way we'd hoped?
When we struggle with perfectionism, we have the opportunity to learn something we can share with our children. We have the opportunity to struggle in front of them and show them how real learning and doing works.
When we pay attention to our fears and frustrations, we can learn about theirs. When we give up on being perfect, it allows them to give up on being perfect.
Perfection doesn't exist — it isn't real. You are imperfect, flawed, with talents and deficits, successes and struggles — you are real. The only things getting done in this world are getting done by real people, like you.
Do you find it hard to let go of your ideal imagining and get on with the flawed but real work? Do you find it hard to help your kids do it?
How do we work on developing a learner's mindset vs. getting bogged down in our perfect fantasy?
Perfectionists aren't people who do something perfectly. Perfectionists are people who fantasize about doing something perfectly. — John Perry
Perfectionists aren't people who do something perfectly. Perfectionists are people who fantasize about doing something perfectly. — John Perry
Being the person that always knows and always has an answer, doesn't leave a lot of room for learning. — Andrew Zuckerman
Open threads will normally be started on Friday mornings but yesterday I was having a big day out with my son helping him run errands for his latest project — starting a business. Self-directed learning isn't something you graduate out of — it just keeps leveling up!
The Zuckerman quote could refer to mentoring — if we are know-it-alls, it doesn't leave room for our kids to do much learning. If we respond to every question with an answer, they never have the opportunity to research. We need to leave room for them to become experts — we need to leave room for them to teach US.
It could also refer to our own learning. If we stay in in our comfort zone, where we always know the answers (because that makes us feel smart and safe), how much learning do we do?
To really keep learning, we have to keep moving into the areas where we have more questions than answers.
What motivates you to learn something new?
[W]e have to discuss more fully the role that children assume in the construction of self and knowledge, and the help they get in these matters from adults. It is obvious that between learning and teaching, we honor the first. It is not that we ostracize teaching, but that we declare, "Stand aside for awhile and leave room for learning, observe carefully what children do, and then, if you have understood well, perhaps teaching will be different from before. — Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children
[W]e have to discuss more fully the role that children assume in the construction of self and knowledge, and the help they get in these matters from adults. It is obvious that between learning and teaching, we honor the first. It is not that we ostracize teaching, but that we declare, "Stand aside for awhile and leave room for learning, observe carefully what children do, and then, if you have understood well, perhaps teaching will be different from before. — Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children
Words create worlds. Accordingly, positive words will create (mostly) positive worlds — whereas negative words will create (mostly) negative worlds. So use your words wisely, especially your questions — as they tend to create the worlds within other people's minds. — David Cooperrider
If you received my newsletter last weekend, you know why it's been quiet around these parts for several months (and why I had to cease publishing the Tip Sheet). If you're already on the PBH mailing list, but didn't see the newsletter in your inbox, check your spam folder (or, if you have gmail, your social and promotions tabs); if you want to get the one I sent last weekend, sign up fast and I'll get it to you before the new one goes out on Sunday.
Easing back into things, I'm reinstituting an open thread most weekends! Have anything you want to discuss? Ask? Share? Do it here! It's your thread.
Love what David Cooperrider says above about words creating worlds — and the importance of being careful with your questions. When we talk with children about their interests and plans, we can accidentally kill their enthusiasm with the wrong question. We can create possibilities — or we can accidentally squelch them. I'll put some of my ideas for engagement-killing questions in the comments!
So what's on YOUR mind this weekend?
We won't be having another class until spring 2017!
Class will run from September 5 through October 15 (six weeks) and costs $175.
Thank you, and please feel free to e-mail me with any questions! Hope you can join us! :"D)
Here's an article I ran across this week:
Are we obsessed with children's interests?
Reading that title I preemptively started rocking back and forth and whimpering in anticipation.
The article is actually a very good description of how many educators whiff the opportunity to help children dig into their interests ("whiff" as in swing the bat but fail to connect with the ball).
A better title would be "Why do we keep giving kids OUR ideas and lame activities instead of helping them make their own ideas happen?" — because the problem isn't with children's interests, the problem is in how we respond to them. Let's toss out the bathwater, but please, please, let's keep the baby. Children's interests are key to generating the important ideas this writer values.
The problem isn't supporting children's interests, the problem is how we respond to them.
If we respond with attention and support in an environment where kids are in charge of doing what they want the way they want, interests are a gateway to deep and lasting learning.
If we respond to every question or spark of interest with a flurry of our own ideas, we take away children's autonomy — we make their ideas unnecessary. When autonomy goes, motivation and engagement follow.
The writer of this article bemoans the fact that teachers aren't engaging with children's thinking — a definite problem. But why turn on children's interests? Or our interest in their interests? That's moving a further step backward — now we want them to do challenging work in an area that WE have chosen. We're not just saying, "Your interests are crap — here, do this instead" … we're saying "School/learning isn't about doing things that interest YOU."
The last thing we want is to have children think of learning as something that has nothing to do with them.
You won't see children's best work if you maintain 100% control over what they do and how they do it. You won't help them become self-directed learners and doers. And you risk children coming to believe learning is "stuff other people give you to do and then they judge it and tell you whether you did it right or not."
The writer describes an unfortunately typical response adults have to a perceived interest — we do not want to do this:
"A recent example was an educator who noticed a small group of children playing 'restaurants' in the sand play area — on one occasion — and interpreted this to be children's interest at play. The very next day she had set up a dramatic play area in the shape of a restaurant and was ready with activities for menu making, cooking and a party for the mums that Friday. However, when the children arrived, they completely ignored the restaurant and went off on another 'interest' based play activity for the day."
"A recent example was an educator who noticed a small group of children playing 'restaurants' in the sand play area — on one occasion — and interpreted this to be children's interest at play. The very next day she had set up a dramatic play area in the shape of a restaurant and was ready with activities for menu making, cooking and a party for the mums that Friday. However, when the children arrived, they completely ignored the restaurant and went off on another 'interest' based play activity for the day."
All that work of creating a restaurant in the dramatic play area should, of course, be done by the children themselves — and it should happen organically, not because an adult suggests it. For it to happen organically, the environment must be ready, the interest must be genuine, and the adults hanging around must be attentive and appreciative without getting in the way.
As we say so often in the master class, the process itself teaches you how to support children's interests. If the interest fades away quickly, if you overstep and they tune out, if it is abruptly dropped because of a lack of space or materials — all of these outcomes help you figure out how to do better the next time. To become better, you must practice.
But this doesn't mean children's interests aren't key to the enterprise; it just means you need to do a better job of supporting children to make their own ideas happen.
I'm concerned about why "interest" is in quotes up there (and elsewhere in the article). Are interests not real? Not worthy of our attention? Are children's interests so fleeting they aren't worth bothering about? Is the writer saying the teacher in the example is confusing anything the children focus on for five minutes with long-term interests? (I'm hoping it's the latter.)
Agree 100% with what the writer says here:
We should seek those experiences that children return to time after time — and listen deeply to what children are telling us about the attraction of these experiences and how they might help us better understand our work with these children — rather than popping in and out of our meer cat holes looking for the puzzle, book, game or activity that we can give to children as our input in to this serious endeavour of searching for new meanings.
Classic PBH advice — Are you choosing the books, materials, and activities? Are you researching the field trip and making the fun plans? Let the kids do it! They'll be more engaged, they'll acquire more life skills, and they'll retain ownership over their work. The more we do, the less they can do.
Yet parents have said to me, "I like being the one who plans things. That's my role. It's fun for me."
Of course it's fun for you — but as Capt. Picard points out, how engaged are kids if you're the one doing the fun part? How much ownership do they feel when you're the one doing the important stuff?
I've been reading a great book called The Psychology of Parental Control: How Well-Meant Parenting Backfires, and one basic idea it shares is that parents don't just control kids through threats and punishment, they also control them through positive-seeming actions like rewards and managing their activities.
Some quotes for you:
"[P]arental control does not simply mean yelling or using physical punishment. … Some parents' most controlling behavior comes from their desire to provide the very best for their children and to be certain that their children are not missing out on a single opportunity."
"Parents and other caretakers can control through physical punishment, but they can also control through rewards and even praise."
"If the goal of a parent is to assist in the development of a self-reliant, competent individual, then there are many ways in which control, although well meant, backfires."
"If parental control is one end of the spectrum, what is its opposite? One answer is parents' support of autonomy in their children. Autonomy support is an active process, which involves taking a child's frame of reference, supporting independent problem solving, and involving the child in creating rules and structures. Using this approach, parents also provide choices for children and encourage their children to initiate their own activities. The goal of autonomy-supportive parenting is to facilitate a sense of self-initiation in children and to support their active attempts to solve their own problems."
It is easy to see how PBH aligns with autonomy-supportive parenting.
If we're the ones who choose materials, arrange activities, control the budget, make decisions, and take the role of providing exciting experiences both at home and on the go, we are maintaining control. That puts our child into a passive role. We have every good intention, but we rob our children of agency.
No matter how *awesome* the experience — and the life — we make for our child, they are passive and they don't feel ownership, agency, or control. They don't get the critical experiences they need to make their own awesome life — defined however they see fit.
— — —
We are constantly trying to explain to parents new to PBH that they shouldn't ask for resource suggestions but should instead help their child find their own resources.
The parents are confused — shouldn't they want to find the *best* books, the *best* resources, the *best* activities?
But that's a short cut, isn't it? Asking for help locating the *best* resources means you don't have to go out and laboriously find them yourself. It means you don't have to spend time checking out and bringing home and flipping through those books that looked good but were actually useless. It means you don't have to sift through a lot of possibilities online.
Of course, we don't want you to do that boring slog yourself — we want your child to do it!
Slowly locating the best resources seems like a waste of time. But it is how children learn. And it is never a waste of time for children to do their own meaningful work, at their own pace, in their own way.
When it comes to learning, we don't want to take a short-cut.
If they don't have the opportunity to compare and contrast different books and other resources and decide which are the best — which have exactly the information they need, which present it in the most easily understood way, which are more entertaining and fun to read — they don't develop the ability to do that. They don't practice critical thinking; they don't learn to set their own goals and make good assessments. They become passive recipients of other people's suggestions.
They may even look at the "best" book and think (silently), Oh well, this isn't what I wanted, so I guess what I wanted doesn't exist, since this is the *best* book.
They learn that the way to find what you need is to ask other people or find a blog post listing the "10 best" xyz. They are trained away from active, hands-on research. They don't develop the skills to wade through all the options and determine which best meet their needs and desires.
When we become a filter for our child, we take away their need to learn how to filter. When we depend on someone else to filter for us, we're choosing from a subset created by a random person who doesn't know us or our child. Our child is now two or more degrees away from doing their own research and making their own discoveries.
PBH is slow learning, and we should be in no hurry to find great resources. All of the work that goes into researching, discussing, comparing, rejecting, branching out, talking to experts, and so on — *that's why we're here*.
"The ways we control can be subtle and can be laden with good intentions.
Think of a small boy holding a bunch of tulips. To keep the flowers together, he grasps them tightly. By the time he arrives at his grandmother's, the stems are crushed. But he meant well. That same sort of thing can happen to parents who hold on too tightly to their children."
…and to their children's learning experiences.
"When children go through the motions, complying with adult directives and contingencies, even the positive outcomes they accrue — good grades, trophies, and so on — do not facilitate a positive feeling.
Only when the person feels a sense of ownership of his or her actions can positive experiences translate into healthy self-esteem and well-being.
The goal of parenting for positive self-esteem is not necessarily to ensure that things go right. Ultimately it doesn't matter if the child has one more trophy on the shelf.
What parents must do is to create conditions under which children can take pleasure in their own choices and accomplishments because they are theirs." — The Psychology of Parental Control: How Well-Meant Parenting Backfires
I haven't done an open thread in a long while, but I'm hoping to make it a regular Monday thing.
For those who haven't participated before, you can ask any question or share/discuss whatever you wish in the comments — it doesn't have to be related to the above discussion. The thread will stay live so don't hesitate to jump in after it's already been up awhile!
Teaching with his little brother as his assistant.
This week's small win is from Sarah:
My six-year-old son Luca had the idea in early March to teach a pottery class at our home. The motivation behind doing the class was to make money, and the motivation for making money is (naturally) to buy more LEGOs. Luca has a strong interest in money and an entrepreneurial spirit.
He took a lot of steps to get to make this happen. He created and hung up flyers around town, worked on perfecting the process of making the teapots he was going to teach his friends how to make, met with the local art teacher on his own about how to structure an art class, and created (with my help) an invitation on Facebook.
Going out to hang the sign
He'd been putting a lot of energy into this project and we'd been writing down progress and things we needed to remember in our project journal. He was halfway though making a large sign to hang off the front porch the day of the class when we left on a long trip.
I didn't hear a single word from him about the clay class or pottery for three weeks. I was wondering if he would pick it back up again, especially since there were about 40 (!!!) people coming to my house on the scheduled day to participate. I wondered if by leaving for three weeks we'd broken the momentum for the project.
Exactly one hour after walking through the door of our home he came to me and said, "Mom, can we get out the journal and see where I'm at with the pottery class project?" We read through our notes. He went and pulled out the sign on his own and picked up EXACTLY in the place he left off three weeks before.
The clay class went great. We set up the classroom space just the way Luca envisioned it. As the class started Luca took his seat, then got super shy and didn't want to say a word. So, my husband stepped in with his kindergarten teacher magic to get the class rolling. Kreg taught for about the first 15 minutes of the class. At some point Luca started to jump in on his own with instructions and by the 30-minute mark Kreg stepped back almost completely and Luca had gotten comfortable enough to do the talking for the remainder of the 60-minute class.
Kreg and I are both working hard on backing waaaay off of Luca and his work. Having a project that culminated in a public event like a class was an interesting mix of figuring out when to step back and when to step forward. I think we did well.
The 15 kids in the class made some terrific pieces and it looked like everyone had a great time (I did!). Luca made enough money to buy the LEGO set he'd been saving for and he even gave his little brother (who was his assistant) a cut of the profits. ;-) I also think Luca might have inspired his dad to start teaching again, which is way cool.
If we'd never found Lori's book it probably never would have happened!
Luca editing a photo he took of his pottery for use in the Facebook invite for his class.
All ready and waiting for friends!
Finished work. Class participants' ages ranged from 4 to 37.
Dear Principal Jones, teachers, school board members, and parents,
My name is Carrie Smith. I'm here to disrupt your school.
People have been telling me for years that I shouldn't be homeschooling — I should be improving the lives of all kids, not just my own! This year, it finally sank in.
We've been homeschooling for 10 years and hoo boy, I think we've tried it all! Montessori, classical, unschooling — you name it, we tried it. That's what you do when you love your kids, I guess — you just keep fiddling with the recipe till you find what works. And now you'll all benefit!
Our oldest, Margaret, was six when we pulled her out of school, and she still struggles with needing a bit of structure. Even after all these years of homeschooling she has a hard time taking advantage of the freedom she has to do it her own way. Her self-motivation still isn't back 100%. But that's okay — fewer changes for you to make! Ha ha!
Unfortunately, Margaret is a real crank bear if she has to get up before 9. But it turns out there's abundant research showing that teenagers need more sleep and would benefit from a later start time. Circadian rhythms or something. I'm not sure how you'll work it out with working parents and your bus schedule and so forth, but I'll leave you to figure that out.
Carl is our oldest boy; he's 12. Now, self-motivation is not a problem there. He's never seen the inside of a classroom and he won't stand for anyone telling him what to do or how to do it! Self-directed learner all the way. He really thrives in maker situations. You've probably read about maker spaces online — they're all the rage. So much good stuff there, you're sure to love it. You'll have to mark out some really big blocks of time because the only way kids can think up their own ideas and then make them happen is if you clear the decks and throw your schedule out the window. I'll let you work out what you want to drop from your current schedule to accommodate that.
Now Carl is like a lot of 12-year-olds — I don't think the seat of his pants sees a chair all day. But no worries — talk about abundant research! Kids need to be up and moving around, not sitting down all day. And now they will be!
My younger daughter Luna is 9. She was born in France while we were living there for a year for my husband's job and even though she was only 3 months old when we left, she must have picked up something from the air. The girl doesn't walk when she can dance; she doesn't talk when she can sing. She paints all day long.
Of course an artistic soul like our Luna would be miserable in school with all of the cutbacks in art education over the last several years — but not anymore! Ha ha! We'll be reinstituting those art and music classes tout suite.
Our youngest, Joe, is 5. He's a special case, but all our kids are, am I right? Strangely, what's worked best for Joe is Waldorf, which didn't work at all with the other kids. Waldorf is a little bit picky about … well … everything! You'll see! I've prepared some handouts to send home about diet, special toys, no TV, and so forth. We'll be switching to a Waldorf curriculum in all of the Kindergarten classes immediately.
Finally, in closing, I would like to sincerely apologize for taking so long to wake up and see that I should be taking my educational improvements to the school and putting them in action there. I honestly didn't realize I had that power.
I mean, that's why we homeschooled in the first place — because we didn't think school could (or should have to, honestly!) accommodate the various needs of our four kids … not to mention the fact that we were figuring it all out as we went along! It certainly was a learning process.
Who knew that I could have stayed and improved things not just for Margaret, Carl, Luna, and Joe but for ALL kids. My husband and I had quite a laugh about it, I can tell you. I mean, we haven't been able to afford a family vacation in ten years! We would give each other a rueful look every year writing out our property tax bill, looking at all that education money we couldn't use — and now we can!
P.S. See you on Monday!
See it on Amazon
"The book spells out the different steps in implementing student-directed projects, and every chapter has an inspiring list of specific ideas/formats. My only complaint is I want more — I can't wait to read what Pickert publishes next."
"[A] must read for all parents and educators who are interested in raising/encouraging children to take charge of their education and make learning a lifestyle and not just a chore. This book is filled with practical advice…"
"There is so much practical, useful information in this book. … Pickert gives us the tools to be great mentors to our kids."
"PBH actually assisted me in focusing on my own unique style and listening more closely to my own creative voice (as well as that of my children, and being less seduced by everything new and shiny when things lagged in our learning), not just as a parent, but as an individual. The positive impact that this focus has had in my personal and family life is profound."
"I've noticed big changes in my child's play since I began doing the things suggested, and I am utilizing it for my own projects!"
"In addition to teaching how to do project-based homeschooling it's like a manual on how to live."
"Do yourself a favor and read this book with a highlighter and pencil in hand."
"PBH is hands down my favorite book on homeschooling."
See it on Amazon UK
"Although the title says 'Project-Based Homeschooling,' it is really something that any parent could incorporate into their lives, homeschooling or regular schooling."
"Brilliantly written book, easy to read, easy to follow, well organised, stuffed full of easy to follow and idea-provoking tips for enjoying learning and supporting children of all ages. ... As a librarian and advocate of life long learning, I can't tell you what a joy this book is to read — affirming, inspiring and practical."
See it on Amazon Canada
"Her writing style is really accessible, witty and flows beautifully; she paints a picture of a world you can't help but want to be a part of. This isn't a vague philosophy, this is a how-to book that empowers parents to empower their children."
"For those new to homeschooling and even those such as myself, who have been homeschooling for years, this book will be the one you have on hand at all times. Easy to read, intelligent, heartfelt, inspiring and honest!"
"Wonderful resource! This will help every parent to keep their children's love of learning alive. Project Based Homeschooling will be a favourite for years to come in our home."
"It has been an inspiration to our homeschool and to our daily life."
See it on Barnes & Noble
"I can't recommend it highly enough."
See it on Goodreads
"[H]er new book … synthesizes so much wisdom about homeschooling from a project-based perspective."
"[O]verflowing with ideas for any parent who'd like to encourage more self-directed learning in their kids."
See it on LibraryThing
See it in the iBookstore
See it in Kobo Books
Amy's review
"Anyone who considers themselves the ultimate guardian of their children's education … will find ideas to think about and act upon."
Lula's review
"[A] rare book that both inspired me to make changes in the way I homeschool and gave me the practical means to make them."
Annie's review
"[T]his isn't just a homeschooling book. It is a guide to parenting."
Shelli's review
"What Pickert has done with her book is explain in an easy-to-read and practical manner what parents can do at home to ensure that children will take charge of their own education and gain essential skills. If that sounds far-fetched, I suggest you read the book."
Dawn's review
"There are only a handful of books that I can honestly say have changed my life. This … is one of those books."
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Tired of feeling "outdated" and "old-fashioned" in relationships, ladies? Try a dose of Cosmo advice: hook up on date one.
Women's magazine Cosmopolitan has unleashed its "Sex on the First Date" piece bashing the waiting rules for sex. "Along with not wearing white after Labor Day (seriously?) and waiting for a guy to ask you out (eff that), you can add 'Don't have sex on a first date' to the list of rules that are now considered one hundred percent outdated."
Cosmopolitan, a self-described, "lifestylist for millions of fun, fearless females who want to be the best they can be in every area of their lives," latched onto the topic in its August issue by questioning 1,000 18 to 35 year-olds on their reactions towards first date hook-ups. It sent the results to more than three million subscribers, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation.
Cosmo turned to research from Jeff Wilser, the New York-based coauthor of "It's Okay to Sleep with Him on the First Date: And Every Other Rule of Dating, Debunked." The magazine's poll found that sleeping with a guy on the first date doesn't ruin the prospect of a relationship later on - or, as Wilser explained, "If there's chemistry, there's chemistry, and from the guy's perspective, it doesn't really matter if we hook up on date one or date seven."
In the name of 2013, "when the world is a lot less sexist that it used to be," Cosmo slammed "hard-and-fast dating rules" and "old fashioned expressions" about waiting for sex as "antiquated and harmful" while polluting the dating world with "unnecessary anxiety and shame about something normal and natural."
As social psychologist at Harvard, Justin Lehmiller, Ph.D, urged to the magazine, "It's important to establish sexual compatibility early on, and having sex might be the right move."
Cosmo admitted that getting "nekkid with some dude you've known for only 2.5 hours" isn't for everyone. Wilser provided a few legitimate reasons to wait on a guy: if he appears "sketchy," says YOLO (You Only Live Once) or gushes about "Fifty Shades of Grey." Virgins, moral and religious adherents, and STD-infected women should give pause as well.
After telling stories of relationships formed after first-date sex, Wilser advised women to focus on the "you": "Don't wait because you think the guy will lose respect or interest. Wait because of how it will affect you. It's really not about him."
If a guy doesn't call back, "Maybe he's too picky, maybe he doesn't feel a spark, maybe he's commitmentphobic, or maybe he's a just a game-playing douche," Wilser says, but, when it comes down to it, "men are unfazed by first-date booty."


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From Variety
Posted: Sun., Sep. 23, 2012, 7:43pm PT
New U.S. Release
(Documentary — Canada)
By JUSTIN CHANG
An Area 23A (in North America) release presented with Kevin Miller Xi Prods. Produced by David Rempel, Miller. Executive producer, David Krysko. Directed, written by Kevin Miller.
With: Sharon Baker, Glen Benton, Mike Bickle, Gregory A. Boyd, Evan Brown, David Bruce, Jaime Clark-Soles, Ray Comfort, Ron Dart, Kevin DeYoung, Mark Driscoll, Richard Duke, Hank Hanegraaff, Michael Hardin, Chad Holtz, Scott Jandik, Brad Jersak, Guy Johnson, Peter Kreeft, Bob Larson, Robert McKee, Brian McLaren, Kevin Miller, Necrobutcher, Eddie Oertell, Robin Parry, Lazar Puhalo, Frank Schaeffer, Todd Sims, Justin Taylor, Oderus Urungus, David Vincent, Jerry Walls, Ole Luger La'fay Walsh, Timothy Preston Woody, William Paul Young.
Admirers of nuanced theological discourse, an admittedly small and underserved segment of the moviegoing public, have a welcome conversation-starter at hand in "Hellbound?" By narrowing its range of voices to Christian leaders, thinkers and writers, Kevin Miller's sober, stimulating documentary on the hot topic of eternal damnation necessarily limits its audience, but achieves a level of rhetorical eloquence that would theoretically appeal to open-minded viewers of any religious stripe. Likely to offend more than a few evangelicals with its support for a universalist point of view, this civilized provocation could generate considerable discussion in faith-based theatrical play and ancillary.
A British Columbia-based writer-director making his feature debut, Miller has received writing credits on a number of Christian-themed documentaries, including 2008's anti-evolution polemic "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." He's on much surer footing here. Wisely confining his line of inquiry to strictly spiritual matters, the helmer elicits a considered range of smart, well-articulated opinions that, as mediated by Simon Tondeur's tight editing, maintains a lively discussion while carefully moving a dominant perspective to the fore.
The docu is bookended by footage shot in Lower Manhattan on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 (backed by Marcus Zuhr's somber score), an initially tacky touch that eventually develops into a thoughtful leitmotif on the morality of punishment and the very human desire to see one's enemies suffer. Visiting the memorial site also allows Miller to interview several picketing members of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church, who share their healthy, balanced perspective that the whole world is going to hell. The quality of the debate can only improve from there, and it does.
At the core of "Hellbound?" is the question, more perplexing for some than others, of how to reconcile a merciful, compassionate God with the fiery fate that supposedly awaits nonbelievers and unrepentant sinners. Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll draws on Old Testament scriptures to lay out the classical Western view of heaven and hell as a foundational element of the gospel, while screenwriting guru and self-professed atheist Robert McKee, of all people, comes forth to argue that a Christian worldview without hell is essentially meaningless; if choices have no real-world consequences, he notes, then life has no meaning.
But the film ushers in an opposing position fueled by discussion of Rob Bell's controversial book "Love Wins," which caused a stir in the evangelical community by expressing uncertainty about hell as a literal place. Among the many speakers sympathetic to Bell's doubts are Chad Holtz, who lost his pastoral post after renouncing his belief in hell; author/teacher Brad Jersak, who suggests the Bible's references to the fires of Gehenna are historical rather than prophetic in nature; and author William P. Young and pastor Gregory A. Boyd, who note that the church has a major investment, financial as well as spiritual, in the idea of hell.
Most outspoken of the bunch is author, filmmaker and Orthodox Christian Frank Schaeffer, who wryly suggests that any proper evaluation of the hell-worthy would have to include the most rigid fundamentalists, whom he likens to modern-day Pharisees. Overall, however, the discussion is more temperate, led by smart, engaging interviewees who combine a high level of biblical scholarship with warm, unforced compassion. Riffing casually on theological literature ranging from St. Augustine and Dante to C.S. Lewis, they wear their beliefs and their erudition with easy grace.
Miller wisely doesn't try to answer all the questions posed here, though simply by dint of the speakers chosen, his film comes down largely in support of a universalist perspective. Whether Christians agree or disagree with this conclusion, which cuts across political lines as well as sectarian boundaries, non-Christian viewers may be refreshed and even inspired by the sheer number of believers here extolling the virtues of Christlike character, introspection and compassion, while warning against the fear-mongering intimidation tactics that have turned the church, in the words of pastor Brian McLaren, into "a hell avoidance plan.
Tech credits are straightforward but sharp.
Camera (color), Ben Eisner; editor, Simon Tondeur; music, Marcus Zuhr; sound designer/re-recording mixer, Murray Stiller; second unit director, Eisner. Reviewed on DVD, Pasadena, Calif., Sept. 22, 2012. Running time: 85 MIN.
Contact Justin Chang at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Sprint has confirmed that they will indeed be offering the recently announced 128GB variant of the iPad 4. This also leads us to assume other carriers will follow suit.
Fared Adib, senior vice president of Product Development at Sprint confirmed they'd be carrying the 128GB model today:
"Sprint is delighted to confirm that we will be offering our customers additional iPad options with the new 128GB iPad with Retina display."
As iPads become everyday devices for a lot of people, sometimes even replacing desktop computers and laptops, more storage capacity options are always welcome. The 128GB capacity iPad 4 will be available for purchase on February 5th.
Anyone out there readying their money to pick up the larger capacity?


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For a particular work, I need old style footnotes, that are typeset before the word they refer to.
So I call
\footnote before the word and it works fine, but it adds a space after the footnote mark. How can I get read of this space (in essence, the opposite of