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When I began this blog, a little over a year ago, its stated purpose was to contribute to the growing conversation about America's Criminal Justice System, and the crucial need to reform it, and that remains its core focus. However, at a time when our country is experiencing major political, economic, and social divisiveness, it entered my mind that a brief pause to reflect on baseball, a subject that historically served well to bring Americans of widely divergent backgrounds joyfully together, would provide a welcome change of pace.
Spring is a time of renewal, a time when Mother Earth, having rested, gifts us with rebirth, with sunshine, and flowering trees and shrubs, and the hopeful smile they engender. And when April rolls into view, and skips into May, Baseball also renews its role in our lives, and with its rich traditions, draws us together instead of apart, as James Earl Jones so simply but eloquently argued in the poignant film Field Of Dreams.
Years ago, sitting in Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, I began to write a poem that spoke to the value of Baseball, and its ability to bind generations together. I entitled it Bottom Of The Ninth, and I am sharing it with you today in the hope that it will gift you with a smile, and water the seeds of unity within each of us.
Went to a ballgame tonight,
took along a buddy, my
son, aged just 7.
As we enter the stadium,
he squeezes his small hand
inside mine,
just as I had inside another's a
long time ago,
Or was it just yesterday?
The squeeze says, "Gosh, this
place is big, I didn't know there
were this many people in the
whole world."
I nod, knowingly,
We stroll, find our seats,
settle in.
The Star Spangled Banner
sounds, Old Glory waves proudly
in the warm summer night, and
the home team explodes onto the
field, propelled by the cheering
crowd and the umpires' age-old call
to action: "Play ball!"
Fastball, curve, change-up,
Single, double, a steal,
Cheers, jeers, a sigh,
We're winning, we're losing, it's
all tied up,
Matty's eyes wide with excitement
as we munch hot dogs, cokes, and
just like mine were a
long time ago,
Or was it only yesterday?
"Gee, Dad, this is fun" he
"For sure, son," I answer,
renewing my smile,
feeling the delight,
the innings speeding by till
we reach the seventh and
The game's still even,
tension building—questions
darting into the intoxicating
atmosphere: the difference between
hit and run, run and hit,
slugging percentages and
pitching strategies.
I explain,
teaching, just as I was taught a
long time ago,
Or was it just yesterday?
Then, with single loud crack of a bat,
it's over:
Bottom of the ninth, a home run!
Thunders of cheers and applause,
and a hug and a kiss from a tired but
exhilarated little boy,
just as I had been a
long time ago,
Or was it only just yesterday?
"Thanks, Dad," he murmurs faintly
as we shuffle slowly to find our car.
"You're welcome, son, my pleasure,"
I reply through a fresh smile, then
add silently, an ache crushing my
And thank you, Grampy, God bless!
I know you were here tonight,
sitting right between us,
I could feel the gentle pat of your
See your kind loving smile and the
wise eyes,
my heart swelling with satisfaction
from the shared gift of
I know, because that's why
it was so special, so extra
special, I end,
smiling yet again,
this time through my tears,
nodding firmly,
this time with hope,
Both of my last two blog posts have honored Black History Month. The first was devoted to the monumental work, From Slavery to Freedom, A History of African Americans, by the eminent historian John Hope Franklin and his distinguished colleague, Alfred Moss, Jr. And the second post followed with a review of the excellent book, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, and the Struggle for Racial Uplift, by Jacqueline M. Moore.
As this year's final tribute, I am adding The Souls of Black Folk, by the great black intellectual and civil rights leader, W.E.B. DuBois. As the note introducing this masterful and eloquent volume states: "Part social documentary, part history, part autobiography, part anthropological field report, The Souls of Black Folk remains unparalleled in its scope." And I would add, not only true at the time of its publication in 1903, but equally true today.
When I began this work, I knew many things about W.E.B., facts like he was a great intellectual, of his differences with Booker T. Washington, on how best to uplift the black race after their emancipation, and that he was one of the prime founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. And while I had read that he was a fine writer, I had never met him on the printed page in person, and was therefore unprepared for his masterful abilities with language.
In his preface, W.E.B. introduces himself to his reader and instantly forms a personal relationship with him or her by humbly asking, "I pray you, then, receive my little book in all charity, studying my words with me…seeking to find the grain of truth hidden there." And when the reader accepts this kind and generous offer, he or she is very quickly rewarded with such an in-depth exploration of the struggles of the freed blacks to survive and slowly progress in the hostile world they faced after emancipation, a struggle so vividly portrayed by W.E.B., with a rare combination of pathos and dignity, that the reader will come as close to possible to stepping into the shoes of the oppressed people portrayed.
In just 164 pages, W.E.B. takes the reader on a journey from the Reconstruction Era to 1900, educating him or her with first-hand accounts of what it was like for a black person seeking help from the Freedmen's Bureau, then struggling to create a hardscrabble living from farming, and learning to read and write, all in the face of a hostile white society. Further along the path, when blacks began migrating north, W.E.B. then takes the reader further inside minds and hearts of those blacks seeking to find housing and acquire skills and having done so, being rewarded by facing virulent racial bias in the job market.
Religion and music, and their important roles in the cultural lives of blacks, during slavery and onward along the slow and painful path that they traversed as freedmen is also treated by W.E.B. Once again, the first-hand accounts so vividly described in detail leap off the page to surround the reader to experience both the positive and negative effects of these great influences on a people seeking desperately to live.
In the end, after years of effort that resulted in personal success, an exhausted W.E.B. formed the opinion that the white bias of inherent superiority was so deeply ingrained that blacks would never be treated as equal members of American society, and he emigrated to Ghana and lived out his life there. Today, despite the progress that has been made, despite the gains resulting from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and even despite the election of an African American President, race remains a major problem for America. In The Afterthought attached to his vitally important book, W.E.B. did offer what to me is a prayer for justice that is as fully applicable today as it was in 1903.
"Hear my cry, O God the Reader; vouchsafe that this my book fall not still-born unto the world-wilderness. Let there spring, Gentle One, from out its leaves vigor of thought and thoughtful deed to reap the harvest wonderful. (Let the ears of a guilty people tingle with truth, and seventy millions sigh for the righteousness which exalteth nations, in this drear day when human brotherhood is mockery and a snare.) Thus in Thy good time may infinite reason turn the tangle straight, and These crooked marks on a fragile leaf be not indeed."
This book inspired me to try harder to do my share to make that prayer come true. I wholeheartedly recommend it to all who would seek a similar experience.
Since I began my blog in 2014, just before publication of my novel Gideon's Children, I have argued that the foremost problem facing our Criminal Justice System, mirroring American society as a whole, is the issue of race.
Because this serious problem has its origin centuries before our country was colonized and then transformed into the United States, for those who seek to fully understand the long, tragic history of racism, I highly recommend reading From Slavery to Freedom, A History of African Americans by the eminent historian John Hope Franklin, and his distinguished co-author, Alfred Moss, Jr.
Meticulously researched by Franklin and Moss, this highly readable book begins by presenting a broad view of early African empires, Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, dating back to before the Middle Ages. In fascinating detail, the reader is presented with societies that were remarkably sophisticated, with a sharp focus on their political, economic, and social systems, as well as art and music.
After this foundation is carefully laid, the authors then sweep forward to The Slave Trade and the New World, followed by Colonial Slavery, thus providing a vivid portrait of the roots of racism and the problem that has haunted America ever since their development. No detail is spared in depicting the tragic irony involved as the founders of the colonies, and thereafter the United States, idealized freedom and democracy, while simultaneously permitting the abominable institution of slavery to exist and flourish.
Building upon this base, eras are then explored, depicting the role of Blacks from the New Republic to Manifest Destiny, to Slavery and Intersectional Strife, to the Civil War, then followed by Reconstruction and Economic Adjustment. And adding to a well-rounded narrative that incorporates opposite viewpoints, from white supremacy to abolitionist philosophy, along with governing political, economic, social, and religious factors, the authors further spice their comprehensive story-line with Eyewitness Accounts from a cross-section of individuals who lived during the various times.
In the last third of this monumental work, the authors offer a vivid picture of the enormity of African Americans' struggle to survive and become full citizens, from the latter part of the 1860s through the turn of the century and World War I, then continuing from the 1920s through the Great Depression and World War II, and further from the post war through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to the turn of the Twenty-first century.
Each era is explored thoroughly from a political, economic, social, and religious perspective, with chapters also devoted to cultural revolutions such as The Harlem Renaissance.
I began by recommending From Slavery to Freedom to those who seek to fully understand the long, tragic history of racism. I feel compelled to add that everyone would benefit from reading it. For while those of us living today are not to blame for slavery and the racism underlying it, I would argue that we are responsible for eliminating the cancer of racism in our country and in our world, and working steadfastly as individuals and through our political, social, economic, and cultural institutions to create a just society for all members.
As Hanukkah and Christmas approach, I deviate from essays focused on our Criminal Justice System to suggest several books (in addition to Gideon's Children, of course) that are entertaining, educational, and inspirational, and whose receipt would provide pleasure, knowledge, and spiritual growth to the recipients and their families and friends with whom they are sure to share.
Below, you will find full reviews of each of the books I am suggesting, which originally appeared on Goodreads. These works are true treasures, and my holiday wish for everyone my words reach is that you will gift yourself, as well as your loved ones with a present that will last a lifetime.
Thank you for listening. And all good wishes for a joyous Holiday Season and a brighter 2016 for our world!
#1: Beauty by John O'Donohue
As an author who fancies that he has some facility for using language, reading Beauty was truly a humbling experience. In fact, other than Thomas Wolfe of You Can't Go Home Again fame, in my sixty-nine-year reading odyssey I have never encountered a writer with such a gift of language as John O'Donohue, and I highly recommend reading Beauty to experience of the author's incredible ability to depict the various aspects of beauty and describe thoughts and feelings about it alone. Add to this gift, the author's immense powers of observation and wise insights, and my opinion is that Beauty is one of the ten most important books that one could read.
Language…ah, yes, language. I will not attempt to use adjectives and adverbs to further describe O'Donohue's gift, but instead supply a few of his phrases which were my favorites. "Time had come to rest in the silence and stillness of Loch Corrib;" "the tired machinations of the ego are abandoned;" "the interior geometry of things;" the automatic traffic of functioning;" "addicts of the familiar;" "imagination has retained the grace of innocence;" and "the silent majesty of the ordinary." And speaking of majesty, Tom Verducci, a columnist for Sports Illustrated recently opined that "Defining majesty drives man to his literary boundaries." I realized how true this was when I was faced with trying to adequately communicate how gifted John O'Donohue is, and I would opine that John's boundaries were wide indeed!
Content…ah, yes, content. After treating the reader to an Introduction, defining beauty and its vital importance to our lives and our world, O'Donohue then separates his exploration of the subject into ten chapters. Looking back on Beauty, I think of it as a wheel with ten spokes: The Call Of Beauty; Where Does Beauty Dwell; The Music Of Beauty; The Color Of Beauty; The Joy Of Shapes That Dance; Imagination: Beauty's Entrance; Attraction: The Eros Of Beauty; The Beauty Of The Flaw; The White Shadow: Beauty And Death; and God Is Beauty. And in only 249 magnificent pages, the author presents the reader with a wealth of knowledge and insights in the various aspects that compose the circle of beauty. Each chapter is so full of thoughts and feelings, that one reads and rereads constantly in an effort to drink it all in and hold it. Then, as I did, the reader most like will say to his or herself, "I'm going to read and reread these chapters one at a time over the rest of my lifetime."
I conclude by again quoting Tom Verducci, who observed of another writing that "The knowledge and wisdom was so great as to invite our most ambitious attempts at commemoration." My most ambitious attempt to commemorate O'Donahue's Beauty is indeed feeble next to the genius of his work. I can only urge my fellow readers to enter its pages and experience for yourselves. It will change your life for the better! I received this absolute wonderment as a gift for my 75th birthday from my dear friend, Julienne Givot, for which I give heartfelt thanks!
#2: Consolations by David Whyte
I am very excited to recommend to you, Consolations, The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, by David Whyte. My excitement stems from the fact that I have rarely read such a valuable book, and by that I mean that this 245-page collection of two-to-four page essays rewards the reader with a treasure trove of insights into what it means to be a human being. Whyte, a poet of considerable renown, with seven volumes of poetry to his credit, (as well as four books of prose), takes words like Alone, Beauty, Friendship, Joy, Pain, and Work, to name just a few, and presents a short essay on each that is filled with discoveries that stir both an intellectual and emotional reaction.
Whyte utilizes a beautiful lyrical style to explore the depths of meaning for each word, and one will find his or her head nodding in agreement with one paragraph, and smiling and shaking one's head in amazement at discovering something entirely new in the next. And because the author manages to capture so many angles of insight in a short space, one can easily return to a chapter for rereading and the further reward this offers.
The genius of David Whyte was introduced to me by a good friend, Julienne Givot , and the best way I know to thank her is to introduce it to others.
#3: Ordinary Light by Tracy K. Smith
Tracy K. Smith is the author of three books of poetry. Her first, Duende, won the James Laughlin Award, her second, The Body's Question, won the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, and her third, Life On Mars, won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize. Even though I am a lover of poetry, I was unfamiliar with Tracy's work, and when my daughter Amy gifted me with her Memoir, Ordinary Light, I ordered Life On Mars to read alongside it, which latter volume I'll review in my next post.
To begin, I'd like to share with you my feeling that in my seventy-five years I've never read a memoir that brought me greater satisfaction. Tracy's use of language alone makes her memoir worth reading, her lyrical style, born from her poetic foundation, singing and dancing with metaphors and similes as sentences flow effortlessly into one another, while the warmth of her personality combines with her naked search for truth to create an intimacy with her reader.
Ordinary Light shares with its reader Tracy's development from childhood through graduation from college as the youngest of five children in a remarkable African-American family. Born in 1972, as Tracy grows year by year in Fairfield, California, one learns the background of her beloved mother and father, including their roots in Alabama courtesy of Tracy's grandparents who the reader also meets. Watched over carefully by her mother, her best friend, Tracy's remarkable memory traces her thoughts and feelings about her mom beginning at age five, then expands her scope to include her dad and two brothers and two sisters. Artfully, she interweaves the influence on her young and developing life of each member of her family, then adds friends, school, and church to paint a picture so full and so real that the reader feels as if he or she, too, is included in the various relationships, and is traveling right alongside Tracy as she develops from a gifted kindergartner to a mature young woman learning from her mistakes as well as her successes.
Having been raised steeped in the Christian faith, but also to believe equally strongly in the power of education, as Tracy matures she, and her siblings, face questions that bring both building blocks into conflict. And what makes Tracy's memoir so valuable is the depth of her thoughts and feelings she shares as she probes honestly and fearfully to find the truth and her own pathway into the world, a journey most of us can relate to in varying degree. In the end, Tracy learns and teaches that personally there is more than one truth, that her's can differ from her mother's and father's without rejecting theirs, but instead taking a part of theirs and adding to it her own.
Ordinary Light is an extraordinary work by an author whose exceptional mind and memory are matched by the size of her heart. Exquisitely honest and sensitive, and wise, it is one of the very most memorable books it has been my privilege to know in my seventy-five years, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to my fellow readers.
#4: The Private Lives of the Impressionists by Sue Roe
This work is a true treasure, like the paintings of impressionist painters who are its subject. And like the artists she chronicles, Sue Roe begins with a large blank canvas, then with a novelistic style masterfully fills it in with her subjects and their individual stories until the reader is presented with a full and satisfying group portrait.
First up is Paul Durand-Ruel, the art dealer who from 1860 to 1886 supported and nourished the impressionists economically and with steadfast encouragement. Arriving in New York City in 1886 with 300 of their paintings, he introduces impressionism to America, and subsequently fosters prosperity for himself and his artists.
Then, retreating to the beginning of the movement in 1860, as time ticks forward Roe introduces her cast of nine artists one by one. And as the reader meets Monet, Pissarro, Cezanne, Renoir, Sisley, Bazille, Manet, Degas, and Morisot, and they meet and connect with each other, the reader is treated to short but amazingly full mini bios that make each individual come alive as a real person. And with individual backgrounds and separate personalities established, Roe then treats the reader to the group's twenty-six-year journey forward, during which these nine future hall-of-fame artists share struggle, failure, and success. And as they form a collective friendship, as well as separate friendships within the group, their private lives are illuminated. Affairs, marriage, children, illnesses, friends, exhibitions of their work, and the landscapes and people who inhabit their painting all spill forth to add to the reader's knowledge of each artist's separate life and the amazing interaction between their life as a group.
To further paint a complete picture for the reader, Roe weaves in the historical events surrounding the artists, from the development of Paris from a medieval city to the City of Light that Baron Haussman made possible, to Louis Napoleon and the Franco-Prussian War.
Roe's writing is so rich with insights into the humanity of each of the artists she features, that after only 270 pages, the reader comes away feeling that he or she has far more than a survey-course understanding of each, and of what together they gifted to the world with their art.
#5: Julius Rosenwald by Peter M. Ascoli
Last October, in a newspaper article about philanthropists, there was a reference to a man who built schools for blacks in the rural south in the early decades of the Twentieth Century. His name was Julius Rosenwald. And intrigued, I consulted Wikipedia, which informed that Mr. Rosenwald was a major founder of Sears, Roebuck & Company and after becoming enormously wealthy, devoted himself to philanthropy on a massive scale, with particular interest in assisting the downtrodden. I also learned that there was a biography, which amazingly Amazon could not provide, but which Book Depository in England could.
Bearing the sub-title The Man Who Built Sears and Advanced the Cause of Black Education in the American South, Julius Rosenwald was written by Peter M. Ascoli, a grandson who never met him because Julius died ten years before Peter was born. Thoroughly researched, and written in a style that makes the reader feel as if Peter is telling one a very interesting story, the author begins with by introducing Julius' father Samuel and his immigration to the United States and subsequent success in business and marriage to Julius' mother to whom he was devoted his entire life. Subsequent chapters inform the reader as to Julius' early years, his dropping out of high-school after two years, and his steady rise thereafter to become one of the most successful businessmen in American history.
Having stated in the Introduction that his primary focus was on the philanthropy of Julius, who the author personalizes by referring to him as JR, Peter then devotes the last three-quarters of the book to JR's charitable endeavors, interweaving from time to time subsequent business successes of JR at Sears, and providing mini biographies of individuals who played important roles in both areas of JR's life, from Rabbi Emil Hirsch, who greatly influenced JR's charitable work, to luminaries such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, and those who personally assisted him in his charitable endeavors such as Richard Graves and Edwin Embree, all the while filling in with fascinating episodes about JR's interaction with Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover, as well as his beloved wife, Gussie, and their children.
What makes this book so readable is the author's ability to make the reader feel as if he or she is meeting each of the cast of characters and knowing them. Through JR, a truly exceptional individual, the reader is both entertained and educated by his enormous success in business and philanthropy. In the latter arena, amazement also creeps in. For during the early decades of the Twentieth Century, a time when most of white America did not hold African Americans in high regard, JR established a program that over the next twenty plus years resulted in the building of 5,337 elementary schools for blacks in 15 southern states. And the fruitful way in which he did it is also amazing. JR worked with local black leaders, and local city-county governments to construct the schools. He would provide $5,000 ($150,000+ in today's dollars) if private donations by blacks, and the local governments matched it. JR's philosophy was that the best way to help poor blacks was to allow them to contribute so that they had a stake in the endeavor, and to draw government involvement so that as the years passed they would make the necessary investment to keep the schools running. As a result, millions of rural African Americans received a basic education, as well as vocational training.
JR also contributed to African-American higher education, becoming a Board Member of the Tuskegee Institute, and contributing to Fisk, Howard, and Dillard Universities. The list of his other charitable endeavors is well covered by the author, with The University Of Chicago, The Chicago Museum of Industry & Science, Hull House, and numerous Jewish Charities featured.
In conclusion, I heartily recommend this book, not only for its fascinating treatment of a special man and his times, but because it is highly relevant to the issue of social justice today, and has interesting suggestions about how American society can work toward achieving it.
It's a sad fact that fifty years after the Gideon v. Wainwright decision mandated representation for every person charged with a crime, Public Defenders are still drastically underfunded, understaffed, overworked, and often disrespected by prosecutors, judges, court personnel, and sometimes their own clients.
As illustrated in my novel, Gideon's Children (http://www.amazon.com/Gideons-Children), Public Defenders are outnumbered by prosecutors by as much as 3 to 1, depending upon the jurisdiction. When I served as a Los Angeles County Public Defender in the late Sixties, and was stationed in the Compton Judicial District, I faced calendars of 10 Felony Preliminary Hearings or 25 Misdemeanor cases alone, while the prosecution had two or three Deputy DAs handling the State's interests. And while the prosecution had the assistance detailed below, I had me, myself, and I.
The job of a Public Defender is both difficult and lonely in equal measure. It is difficult because the power of the State is enormous. The prosecutor has at his or her disposal the officers who arrested the defendant, an investigating officer, handwriting experts, ballistic experts, a crime lab, and if further assistance is necessary, the services of the FBI. And it is lonely, because against this arsenal, the Public Defender almost always stands alone with the responsibility of defending his or her client resting solely on his or her shoulders. Even the defense's placement at the counsel table reflects the unequal footing between the prosecution and the defense, with the Public Defender and the defendant seated furthest from the jury box and the prosecutor, who represents The People, closest, an implied good-guy/bad-guy status.
I cannot therefore emphasize strongly enough the tremendous value of the services offered today to Public Defenders by the Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project (http://acjusticeproject.org/) and their invaluable program of Participatory Defense!
In organizing communities and educating them with respect to the workings of the Criminal Justice System, then encouraging the active engagement of families in the defense of a loved one who is currently involved in this System, ACJP is providing an extremely helpful service to communities, the families of one charged with a crime, and to the overworked Public Defender who is representing the defendant. By knowing where to go to obtain a copy of the arrest report, family and/or friends can familiarize themselves with the allegations, contact witnesses on behalf of the jailed defendant if there are any, and take photos of the crime scene if relevant. Recalling my own experience as an overworked Public Defender struggling to give each and every defendant on an overcrowded court calendar the best representation possible, and the countless times I wished that I had an investigator to perform such tasks, the value of what ACJP is providing for Public Defenders is incalculable.
And building upon this foundation, ACJP then makes the further contribution of offering training to Public Defender Offices around the country on how to engage client communities and form partnerships with local stakeholders in order to increase the effectiveness and capacity of the program outlined above.
There are few win-win-win situations in life. But in helping individuals in our poorer communities gain knowledge of their own rights within our Criminal Justice System, then training them to further use this knowledge to assist a loved one charged with a crime, and in so doing, lessen the highly stressful burden under which Public Defenders operate in providing the best defense possible under the circumstances for each and every person they represent, ACJP is acting as a Godsend to all parties involved. As a former Public Defender, and one who has never lost his passion for pursuing social justice, heartfelt thanks to everyone at ACJP for the vitally important work they do!
I'm pleased to donate all of the proceeds from the sale of my book, Gideon's Children, during the month of November to ACJP in support of their continued efforts to promote equality and justice.
On August 12, 2015, I read an OP-ED in the New York Times by Law Professor Julie Seaman of Emory University, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/opinion/when-innocence-is-no-defense.html?_r=0, the essence of which aroused in me intense feelings of frustration and outrage, to the point of tears.
In 2001 a young woman in Thunderbolt, Georgia was sexually assaulted by a burglar wearing gloves, whom she discovered upon arriving home. Subsequently, the police found stolen items in the home of Sterling Flint's girlfriend, who told them Sterling had stated that they were his. Thereafter, Flint made a deal with the prosecutor and testified at trial that an acquaintance of his, Sandeep Bharadia gave the items to him. Flint received a 24-year sentence, and Bharadia, who maintained his innocence and claimed he was 250 miles away at the time of the crime, was sentenced to life without parole.
Mr. Bharadia's trial attorney, for unknown reasons, did not request DNA testing of the gloves worn by the burglar-assailant, but his appellate lawyer did, as well as made a motion for a new trial. The appellate court granted the request, and the testing showed female DNA on the outside and male DNA – but not Mr. Bharadia's – on the inside, but the appellate court declined to allow DNA testing of Flint, and no new trial occurred.
Several years later, however, the Georgia Innocence Project took up the case in 2012, and had the DNA results run through the national Codis DNA database, and scored a hit: The male DNA belonged to Flint.
Great news for Mr. Bharadia, right? WRONG! "Under Georgia precedent, a defendant is not entitled to a new trial based on new evidence if the court finds that he could have discovered the evidence at the time of the original trial, had he or his lawyer been diligent enough. Such requirements, which are common, are designed to prevent convictions from being endlessly re-examined."
First of all, the overwhelming majority of convictions are not endlessly re-examined. And in this case if the appellate court had allowed Flint's DNA to be tested, the result that it was his that matched the gloves would have been discovered in the first and only re-examination. So where does endlessly come into play here?
But far more importantly, while no one knows why Mr. Bharadia's trial attorney did not request DNA testing of the subject gloves, why should a defendant be held responsible for his lawyer's mistake? As described in my novel, Gideon's Children, Public Defenders (and private defense counsel) when they begin practice are inexperienced, and frequently exhausted by the overwhelming caseload they do their best to handle. Maybe that was the case here, I don't know. What I do know is that no person charged with a crime, let alone a serious one, should never be penalized for his attorney's mistake!
I ask you, dear reader: Stop and fully concentrate on the above-described situation. Then, ask yourself how you would feel if you were in Mr. Bharadia's shoes, having already served 12 years in prison for a crime you most probably did not commit, and now having a court agree with that proposition, but advise you that because of your attorney's mistake, and the expediency employed by the Criminal Justice System to avoid endless re-examination of convictions, you'll still have to spend the rest of your life in prison.
I feel confident that if you do so, you'll join me and Lady Justice in feeling outrage so intense that it spawns tears!
© 2018 Howard G. Franklin
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subset: commoncrawl


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Laura Recuero received a double training of engineer and economist. Master of Science in radiocommunications on mobile, radar and satellite communications from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and Master in International Trade from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, she also received a PhD in Economics from the Toulouse School of Economics.
She works on Industrial organization, economics of regulation, development economics, economic growth, applied economics, in Africa and Latin America.
She has a specific interest in Reforms of public utilities and regulatory institutions in Africa and Latin America, budgetary institutions, fiscal performance.
Recent publications :
2009, "Political accountability and regulatory performance in infrastructure industries – An empirical analysis,"
with Farid Gasmi (Toulouse School of Economics) and P. Noumba (World Bank).World Bank Economic review. No. 2591,
2009, "Macroéconomie et les Télécoms," with M. Bacache (Télécom ParisTech), chapter in Les Dilemes de l'Economie Numérique, in FYP Editions, April 2009.
2009, "Innovation and ICT in Africa," chapter for the overview of the African Economic Outlook 2009, OECD Publishing
2009 "Togo" with J. Gijón (OECD). Country note (structural part) for the African Economic Outlook 2009, OECD Publishing
2009 "Mozambique" with F. Marzo (OECD). Country note (structural part) for the African Economic Outlook 2009, OECD Publishing
This post is also available in: French


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Released: October 05, 2017
Monopoly Man photobombs Senate hearing on Equifax
Source: Selena Larson, CNN Money
The Monopoly Man made an appearance at the Senate Banking Committee hearing on the massive Equifax data breach. Wearing a top hat, monocle, and white mustache, the character sat directly behind former Equifax (EFX) CEO Richard Smith as he testified before the committee on Wednesday.
The ruse was organized by progressive nonprofits Public Citizen and Americans for Financial Reform. The organizations want to raise awareness of Equifax's forced arbitration clauses in their terms of service.
Read Full Article: Monopoly Man photobombs Senate hearing on Equifax
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Fashion Week Destination: Milan's Davide Diodovich Hair Studio
Milan is a city of glittering treasures hidden behind closed doors—a fact that did not go unnoticed by the handsome Italian hairstylist Davide Diodovich when he returned home after more than a decade of editorial work in London. "I was having everyone come to my apartment for appointments. They felt comfortable there," he says of the steady stream of models, actresses, and social girls that dropped in for custom cuts and espresso. "At some point, they all ended up at the kitchen table."
Realizing the need for a warm, discreet, distinctively non-salon experience, he opened The Studio by Davide Diodovich just under a year ago. "I wanted it to feel like a home," he says of the elegant 1930s-inspired space, which functions as a base for the stylist when he's not on set for editorial shoots or ad campaigns for designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Moschino.
To that end, there are just three spacious treatment rooms, each equipped with its own discreet black shampoo station, vanity-style mirror, and handmade brushed-gold lamp with adjustable lighting. "That way, you don't have to move from one room to another and another. There's total privacy," says Diodovich, who works closely with star colorist Susanna Celin to create a highly personalized look for each client behind closed doors.
Chances are, however, that you will want to wander over to the kitchenette to pick up a Ladurée macaron and an espresso—a revamped version of the aforementioned kitchen-table experience—or admire the fine workmanship on a set of Jean-Michel Frank–inspired wooden cabinets. "I saw the [real ones] in the Hermès store in Paris last year and I loved them," he says of seeking out a similarly minimalist luxe set for his own space. By the time he leads you out to the vine-covered outdoor patio, you may never want to leave, and that's exactly the point. After all, "hair is such an expression of identity," says Diodovich. "To get to know the client, you have to get them to actually relax."
The Studio by Davide Diodovich
Via Torquato Tasso 4
+39 02 89283420


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Shocking CCTV footage shows a security guard being attacked outside a Wirral florists.
The incident was posted on Facebook by the owner of Flower Flies, based in the Cherry Tree shopping centre in Liscard, Wallasey.
The CCTV video has been shared more than a hundred times after it was posted under the username "Becki Flower Flies Lowe".
She wrote: "OMG....this has just happened outside my shop to the security guard" on Saturday afternoon, October 17.
The video shows a man dressed in dark clothes struggling with another man wearing a high visibility top.
The man in dark clothes then runs off but reappears and gets a bicycle before finally leaving.
In the comments "Becki Flower Flies Lowe" says: "I don't know who they are or why they did it, think they were getting told off for being on there bikes. There not aloud in because of health and safety".
She later added: "Police have been in shop to look at footage, I don't know who it is, tight in the security guard".
Another comment said: "Bloody hell, I walked through just after that, I saw the Police car drive into the car park. Hope the Security Guard is o.k. Presume it was those scallies that smashed the glass doors on the way out?! Xx".


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Rhythm sticks help your students to further develop their rhythm and motor skills. Get a whole set so your students can begin tapping away! All sticks are made of wooden dowels cut into 10" lengths.
Applicable for Many Skills
There are a variety of different motions for which you can use these sticks, which makes them extremely versatile. Some examples include pushing, tapping, side-to-side motions, hopping, kicking, hammering, flipping, tapping high, and more! All moves are demonstrated by the illustrations found in the included guide. As students practice these motions, they will develop their fine and gross motor skills, coordination, concentration, creativity, and overall rhythmic awareness.
Four Sections
There are 4 sections of instructions available with each set. The first is an explanation of the format, followed by count-by-count written instructions, then teaching of these instructions needed in the routine, and finally illustrations of the activities used in the routine. Routines are arranged to "I Believe in Music," "Leroy Brown," "Godspell Medley," "Carousel Waltz," "Alley Cat," and "12th Street Rag." All instructions, as well as music and instrumental tracks, are available on the included CD.
Rhythm Sticks Set Options
Rhythm Sticks Sets are available as a Complete Set with CD/Guide or as a Set of 24. CD/Guide also sold separately.
- Complete Set
- Sticks Only (Set of 24)
- CD/Guide


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Summary: The Mayor of London has announced his intention to reconvene the London Finance Commission to develop enhanced devolution plans for London following the Brexit vote. What is or was the London Finance Commission (LFC) and what were its original principal recommendations? What is the potential focus of the reconvened LFC?
The LFC was established by the previous Mayor of London in May 2012. The LFC was chaired by Professor Tony Travers of the LSE and members were drawn from different political parties, the private sector and relevant professions from across and outside of London. The terms of reference of the LFC was to examine the potential for the greater devolution of both taxation and the control of resources in London to improve London's tax and spending arrangements and to finance additional infrastructure.
The general conclusion which the LFC reached was that London Government should have the freedom to make appropriate investments in its own infrastructure to cater for both current forecast economic growth and also future potential economic growth.
The LFC recommendations can be grouped into four broad areas:
- greater control and certainty over capital investment decisions where the relevant specific recommendations included, the Mayor should champion infrastructure planning and seek to delegate commissioning of infrastructure to London Boroughs;
- greater incentivisation for economic growth should be built into government funding where the relevant specific recommendations included, (a) the Government and London should explore incentives in local tax system similar for example, to the so-called Manchester "earn back" and (b) the Mayor should work with London Boroughs to create City deal type initiatives within London (a London wide City deal was not thought appropriate due to scale) and (c) in the context of prudential borrowing and borrowing caps Government should distinguish between borrowing that will be used to promote growth and thus be repaid and other types of debt;
- restrictions on borrowing should be reduced or abolished altogether where the relevant specific recommendations included (a) Greater London Authority group borrowing ceilings should be removed and (b) the housing revenue account borrowing limits for London Boroughs should be relaxed or removed; and
- a ring fenced pool of devolved funding sources should be created where the relevant specific recommendations included, (a) 100% business rates should be devolved to London and London should set the multiplier (subject to appropriate safeguards) (b) a full suite of property taxes (Council tax, business rates, SDLT, annual tax on enveloped dwellings and capital gains property development tax) should be devolved to London Government which should also assume responsibility for setting tax rates, revaluation, banding and discounts and (c) London Government should be able to introduce smaller new taxes and once property taxes have been devolved then devolving or assigning income tax to London should be considered.
Although few advances have been made generally on most of the recommendations since the LFC report there have been advances in specific areas covered by the LFC particularly in business rates with the Government's proposals for 100% business rates retention in return for the phasing out of government Revenue Support Grant. However, this is very much a national initiative and does not address the London specific issues raised in the LFC report (although London has been singled out as a pilot for an increased share of business rate retention although short of 100%). In particular, the Government consultation paper on 100% business rate retention, "Self Sufficient Local Government: 100% Business Rate Retention: July 2016" seems to suggest that any new regime will necessarily still retain the current features, to achieve equalisation across local government (the so called tariffs and top ups) and to insulate against "shocks" (the 7.5% safety net payments and parallel material growth levy). The suggestion also seems to be that the 25 year business rate retention in Enterprise Zones will also be retained.
Within London we also have some excellent recent examples of leveraging on business rate retention. The £1bn in funding for the Northern Line Extension (NLE) will be serviced from incremental business rates generated and retained within a new Enterprise Zone and developer contributions under section 106 Agreement and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) regimes. So far the Greater London Authority has raised a £480m loan from the European Investment Bank and a further £200m will be raised from indexed linked bonds through the same funding vehicle as that used to raise bond finance for Crossrail. The Treasury have also agreed to make available a £750m stand by facility for the NLE which acts as a quasi-guarantee.
A further example is the Croydon growth Zone, a funding mechanism for infrastructure to service the Croydon Opportunity Area. Initially conceived on the back of a concept which involved the devolution of property taxes the Growth Zone has evolved into a model based on ring fencing 50% of growth in business rates over 25 years. In addition a £7m revenue grant has been agreed with Government to cover interest costs associated with borrowing in relation to the Growth Zone prior to any business rate uplift. All this will enable circa £300m in infrastructure investment.
What can the reconvened LFC take forward from all of this? First there needs to be a more meaningful investigation into the devolution of property taxes, how can devolution be achieved? What would be the mechanics? What would such a system look like? What would be the issues to overcome? Should it be piloted in defined London Growth Zones? What would be the funding model for infrastructure? Secondly, there needs to be work on part London City deals. What should be the right incentives? Although individual deals would focus on discreet areas of the capital what should be the strategic approach across London? How should potentially damaging competition and displacement be addressed? Thirdly, the relationship in terms of devolved funding between the national system and London and between the Mayor and the London Boroughs needs to be resolved. Fourthly, and perhaps most importantly how should all of this be brought together as a financial tool for infrastructure?
One such financial tool could be a London Infrastructure Fund (LIF). The LIF would be separate from the existing infrastructure funding mechanisms for example the Large Sites Infrastructure Fund whose operation in London is currently delegated by the Mayor to the HCA. The LIF would be a growth model funded from devolved business rates and property taxes. It could be initially focussed on pilot growth areas benefitting from ring fenced property taxes and devolved business rates for a period of time which would enable the amortisation of borrowing. The LIF would invest or lend on a commercial basis within State Aid guidelines. The LIF may require some initial prime pumping through a separate stand by facility or guarantee to cover interest costs until business rates and property taxes flow. The fund would grow as surplus tax payments increase. There could also be future possibilities for refinancing the fund once income streams are stabilised through the securitisation of the revenues to financial institutions.


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The Real Fascism is the American Democrat Leadership
Fascism is Governor Malloy of Connecticut using an executive decree to deprive people of their second amendment rights. Even the ACLU is ready to challenge it. Governors can't rule by decree neither can Presidents. I won't hold my breath waiting for the New York Times to use the term as quickly as it does for Donald Trump. Democrats want to use everything from Climate Change to crime to deprive you of rights. People on a terror watch list are on a watch list not a conviction list. If the government wants to use background checks to know if they are buying weapons, that is smart. To use it to ban people when there is not even enough information to arrest them is inconceivable. We know that the watch list has people because they have similar names to people they don't even know. 70 plus people in Homeland Security who passed background checks are on the list. The government can put you Read more


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Ages 2 - 5
Toddlers love to dance! Twinkle Toes enjoy 30 minutes of dance with music and song as the backdrop. We use a little bit of all forms of dance. Tap challenges our toddlers' auditory and fine motor skills; and while they soften their steps in Ballet, they develop the early grace and balance essential to dancers. Jazz helps develop the coordination to hop, skip and hip shake which always adds plenty of fun to the class!
For the older preschooler/kindergartner, this program provides the important foundation for developing your child into a well-rounded dancer. The curriculum allows your child to choose from, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop and Jazz. Emphasis is placed on age appropriate proper technique. Students learn in a performance based environment, mastering technique while learning the music and choreography to dance routines. Young dancers love to perform.


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Links for products mentioned: PowerPoint; Keynote; Flypaper; Xtranormal
« August 2008 | Main | February 2009 »
Links for products mentioned: PowerPoint; Keynote; Flypaper; Xtranormal
Posted at 05:04 PM in Design Tools, Game Design, Games, Learning Design, serious games | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: elearning, game design, imserious, learning design, serious games
Every so often, while in a fit of agita, I run across a nugget that I appreciate just as much as when I first found it. Richard Van Eck is a frequent author of these treasures, and so it was today.
About a year ago, a question popped up on the serious game listserv run by Ben Sawyer. The discussion actually had to do with guided learning/discovery learning, but detoured at one point to scaffolding as a component of serious game design. Richard offered the following thoughts:
Regarding the idea of scaffolding a game, I would encourage us all to also consider how games provide scaffolding already, and to incorporate those strategies. First, games almost always begin with a tutorial which walks you through the main interface components and skill demonstration. Second, games often provide learner control over challenge (a la Malone and Lepper) in the form of selecting amongst levels of difficulty (usually akin to easy, medium, and hard). Third, games invariably proceed from the simple to the complex, require small, graduated steps in skill level until we "level up", at which point we usually face all the challenges of the first level plus increased challenges that require new learning (e.g., combination of a run and jump comm[a]nd in an action game, or combining two items in inventory to make a third thing). And this does not include the myriad of other features in the game that provide feedback and guidance (direct and indirect) such as journals that are automatically updated with important information, the availability of goal reminders (e.g., Bioshock or Neverwinter Nights), text options for possible actions, etc. So if we are going to scaffold learning in games, we need to [be] cognizant of the ways of scaffolding that are appropriate for games, and to make use of established tools and game strategies to do so.
And all of these ideas are just limited to what is part of the game itself--the game manual, cheats and walkthroughs, and game player social communities are also all arguably part of the game, and certainly allow players to self-regulate access to assistance (a kind of self-imposed scaffolding, I think).
I appreciate not only Richard's discussion of scaffolding, but his wholistic view of the game. If each of the components he refers to are also part of the game, then aren't they also part of the learning? Both learning about and learning from the game? Since these components often provide the player's "intro" to and "outro" from the game, don't these component's also have a good chance of influencing learning transference?
Good reminders, Richard. Thank you.
I'm serious,
Posted at 03:51 PM in Game Design, Learning Design, learning transference, serious games, serious learning, Social networking | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: immersive environments, serious games
Purdue University has announced the opening of its Center for Serious Games and Learning in Virtual Environments. A reception is being held February 12 to mark the official opening.
As readers know, I have many times decried the lack of formal programs for those wishing to study the design and implementation of games and other immersive environments for learning. Kudos to Purdue and Dr. William Watson for bringing this center to life.
I'm serious,
Posted at 09:22 AM in Game Design Education/Training, serious games, serious learning | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: education, immersive learning, imserious, serious games, virtual worlds
Things are looking scary out there. First Electronic Arts, then Sony, now Microsoft - not to mention tens of smaller studios - have all moved forward (?) with plans to cut back, even eliminate, game studio personnel. Projects are being mothballed, titles have been removed from catalogs.
This is not the time for those of us on the learning and productivity side of the map to waver. The solutions our industry offers are precisely what is called for in this era of diminished resources and changing priorities. We bring people together; we foster communication, collaboration, creativity and efficiency. We advance "green" initiatives by reducing, if not eliminating, the need for travel. We advance knowledge, and the application of knowledge and know-how to everyday problems, large and small.
Rather, now is the time to heed the words of the great abolitionist, Harriet Tubman:
If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are
hungry, keep going;
if you want to taste freedom, keep going.
I'm serious,
Posted at 11:34 AM in Business Issues, Games, serious games | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: anne derryberry, immersive environments, imserious, serious games, virtual worlds
Bill Brandon, editor at the eLearning Guild just reminded me about Albert Mehrabian's conclusions regarding how humans determine whether we like one another. Mehrabian and his colleagues wanted to determine the relative influence of facial expressions and spoken words in human relations. After various experiments where subjects read words, listened to words spoken, and watched someone speak specific words, Mehrabian et al. concluded that the totality of interpersonal communication is conveyed:
To be sure, these exact numbers can and have been challenged. But the relative influence of these communication modalities is generally accepted.
These findings have important implications for those designing immersive environments. Take, for example, a frequent in-world situation where a user must gather information and apply it in a new, potentially ambiguous context. The designer must decide the best way to present the new information and the best way to present the context for the user to apply it. Is a block of text the right way to set this up? Perhaps voice-over will assist in smoothing out ambiguities. Maybe an NPC with a facial expression or a gesture will be necessary to convey the full meaning, particularly when feedback is involved.
The process of design can be greatly informed by this awareness, as well. How do you develop and review storyboards? Is this an entirely paper-based process? Or, do you do storyboard walkthroughs with reviewers taking different "roles" so that the review is active, participatory, and more "life-like"?
While these details may seem to be more trouble than they're worth, it's this attention to detail that can make the difference between a transformational experience for your users and just another (maybe) learning event.
I'm serious,
Posted at 03:38 PM in Design Tools, Game Design, Games, learning transference, serious games | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: anne derryberry, design, immersive environments, imserious, serious games, simulations, virtual worlds
Health Games Research: Advancing Effectiveness of Interactive Games for Health is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that funds research to enhance the quality and impact of interactive games that are used to improve health. The goal of the program is to advance the innovation, design and effectiveness of health games and game technologies so that they help people improve their health-related behaviors and, as a result, achieve significantly better health outcomes. In this round of funding, approximately $2 million will be available to support outstanding research projects that study one or more games designed to increase physical activity and/or improve self-care.
Go here to see the Call for Proposals (PDF). Proposals are due April 8, 2009.
Posted at 11:16 AM in Evaluation, Game Design, Games for Good, learning transference, serious games | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: imserious, serious games
Do you have a great serious game concept? Looking for a reason to build it? How about world-wide renown and a pile of money - is that reason enough? OK - I'm stretching it a bit, but this is a great chance for students and professionals to try their hands at designing and developing a serious game. Prizes will be awarded!
Whosegame, an alpha version from Orange (a French? developer), intends to be a portal for serious games built in Flash. In this early stage of the portal's life, a serious game design contest is being conducted at the site.
According to the site, "[y]ou can submit as many serious games as you want on the following topics:
They even give you some examples to get your imagination going.
C'mon now - you have 3 months. Any professors out there looking for a class project?...
I'm serious,
Posted at 04:16 PM in Game Design, Game Design Education/Training, Learning Design, serious games, serious learning | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
The folks at Windwalker are sure churning up the business. Stop by the Opportunities section to see three new full-time serious games jobs they have open!
I'm serious,
Posted at 09:33 AM in serious games | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
We have some new contract announcements in the Opportunity section. Be sure to check them out. But be warned - deadlines are looming.
I'm serious,
Posted at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I had a nice chat with Eva Kaplan-Leiserson several weeks ago. She was interviewing me for her December article in ASTD's Learning Circuits. You can read it here - I thought Eva did quite a nice job.
I'm serious,
Posted at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: anne derryberry, immersive environments, imserious, serious games, trends, virtual worlds


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Roy Tippett is the owner and operator of Tippett Baseball LLC and has been providing personal and professional instruction for over a decade. Roy is the former Head Coach at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park where he led the Highlanders to four winning seasons (2003-2007) and an NJCAA DII World Series appearance in 2006. He was the Region XVI Coach of the Year 2003-2006 and the Central District Coach of the Year in 2006. Roy is also a coach at Clayton High School in Clayton, MO.
As a player Tippett was the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year as a Senior at Belleville West High School in 1993. He was a starting DI pitcher for the Saint Louis University Billikens in Conference USA (1995-1998). Tippett also pitched for the Gateway Grizzlies and River City Rascals of the Independent Frontier League in 2001.
Roy is married to Lissie Tippett and they are the proud parents of Bobby Tippett born in April 2011.


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This has ended. Click Here to see more upcoming events from Shalom Austin!
|0 Remaining
|Age Limit
|16 and up
We are doing collection drives for a variety of organizations and need volunteers to sort and deliver donations to the various groups.
Please arrive by 9 AM to help collect items as people drop them off at the community gathering.
Here are the organizations we are working with:
Blood and Tissue Bank-to sign up in advance go to https://ww2.inyourhandsonline.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/36483
Foster Angels of Central Texas
Area Food Bank of Texas /Hill Country Community Ministries Food Drive
Green Doors
Handbags for Hope
After collections have been organized we could use help cleaning the toys at Shabbat n' Play which is held in the same room.
List of Collection Items we hope to receive that day:
JCC Senior Programs
• Yarn for Mitzvah Knitters program
Capital Area Food Bank: Food Drive
All non-perishable food items are needed – but critical items for the month are listed
• Canned low sodium vegetables
• Canned fruit in its own juice (no added sugar)
• Dry pinto beans
• Brown Rice
• Non-Fat Dry Milk Powder
• 100% Whole Grain Cereal
Hill Country Community Ministries
All non-perishable food items are needed – but critical items for the month are listed
• Stew*
• Chicken*
• Spaghettios*
• Tomato sauce*
• Peanut butter*
• Jelly*
• Apple juice*
• Spaghetti/Pasta (1 or 2 lb. pkgs. only)*
• Cold cereal*
Personal Care Items/Items for Green Doors & Hill Country Ministries:
• Bar soap
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste*
• Dish soap*
• Laundry detergent*
• Toilet paper*
• Paper Towels
• used movies (dvds) (Green Doors)
• popcorn maker
• affordable projector
Foster Angels of Central Texas: Gift Card Drive
• Gift Cards of any amount to the following places:
• Walmart
• Target
• Ross
• JCPenney's
BookSpring: Book Drive
• Books needed in particular:
• Children's picture books
• Board books
• Bilingual books
• Donations of new books are very welcome but must be developmentally appropriate for children ages 6 months to 5 years of age and not be on subjects such as religion, death, divorce, or medical issues
Handbags for Hope:
• New or gently used purses, which will then be given to children in shelters to give to their moms on Mother's Day. Each purse will have a tag with Texas Advocacy Project's life-saving legal domestic hotline number and pamphlets on how to get out and be safe from abusive situations at home.
6 Positions Filled | 2 Impacts | 5 Hours


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These days' garage floors are nearly as important as your kitchen flooring.Although deciding which one to use is the biggest problem.Then again it will depend on whether you have just moved in to your home or if you have lived in the home for several years.
After all a garage is exactly that.Have you treated it as a place to store everything under the sun and what about the oil leaks from the cars?If you have a lovely finish on the floor how will you protect it from future oil spills?Do you have extended shelving which would make it difficult to cover the whole floor?
Then if you decide to improve the look you will have to consider whether you would really want to spend another half an hour sweeping or vacuuming out the garage after cleaning the rest of your home. Or from the wife's point of view would that be the husbands domain so it will not affect you until the oil starts to leaks and it really will spoil the new look.
These are all things you need to consider before deciding which floor finish best suits you.
Garage flooring mats
Instead of covering the whole floor it may be better to use several floor mats.Most PVC mats are made with a non porous surface.So they can be taken out and washed with soap and water.Fully covered flooring would not be so easily cleaned.These would also help avoid the risk of accidents from slipping on wet floors.
Garage or patio floor paint or coatings
Years ago when you painted your concrete drives or patios it would look great when first done.Then after a couple of years the paint would wear off.If pouring new concrete you could have the coloring mixed in with the concrete before it was laid which lasted much longer.This was the best and most successful.
In recent years manufacturers have come up with an epoxy (sometimes still called garage floor paint) this is the best wearing covering for your garage or patio floor.Although you will need to realize this is a lot more expensive and there are different types of epoxy some require more applications of coats. This is also available in a choice of ten different colors so you should not have a problem finding something to match the coloring of your home.
Most epoxy flooring is easily cleaned and is a durable surface for heavy use areas. This would be a far more superior choice to using tiles or vinyl.
Application and clean up
Most of these products can be sprayed or painted on with a brush and using water to clean up with. (Always read the instructions before using any products)You would not want to think it is water based then find you do not have the required cleaning products when you have finished the job.
Tiling your garage floor
The best thing about using garage floor tiles, they are easy to lay and remove.Therefore when you decide to leave town and shift to another location you pick them up and take them with you.How good is that, especially after outlaying that money you are not leaving it for the new owners of your home to benefit.
Tiles come in a variety of colors and you can lay them in whichever pattern formation you choose.The interlocking stops them from moving when you drive on them and turn your vehicle wheels.Most of these tiles are resistant to oil and gasoline
Another benefit with this type of tile is when you drop oil or someone drops that bottle of sticky cordial there is no problem.Just lift up that section and take outside and wash, dry and put back again.What could be simpler?
My personal opinion
This tiling would have to be the most reasonable and serviceable garage floor covering.
What with its ease for cleaning and if one tile is damaged for any reason you can simply replace it and the real advantage is you can take them with you when you leave.
Choosing the right floor coverings for your home
There are so many different types of floor coverings for your home that it is not an easy decision to pick which type would be the right one for you.
How to remove linoleum from your floors
If a lino is glued to the floor then it will not be a simple job to remove it. You will require special equipment to do this.


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Felt Mistress – Creature Couture
Felt Mistress – Creature Couture is a 400 page hardback book collecting the work of Louise Evans (AKA Felt Mistress). As well as featuring all the work with her partner and long time collaborator Jonathan Edwards it also features her collaborations with other artists such as Pete Fowler, Jon Burgerman, Ben Newman, Jon Knox and Nobrow.
External Link: Jonathan Edwards – "Felt Mistress – Creature Couture" out now.


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Read What the Media is Saying About the Book!
"Her focus is on crafting a customer experience that caters to people not like you, including social media aficionados, to bring in new customers and create a competitive advantage. Every startup these days must adopt this focus to survive and prosper."— Forbes, Martin Zwilling
"If your customers are all exactly like you, it's time to branch out. A customer's experience is shaped by theentire interaction with your brand, product, service, or company–from beginning to end."— Fast Company
Business Book Haiku
Being sensitive
And thoughtful to
Helps you sell stuff.
About Crafting the Customer Experience for People Not Like You
If you could grow your business simply by marketing to your existing customers, making money would be a cakewalk. But to generate new revenue, you have to win over the customers you're not getting. Who are these mystery customers? How are they different from your current clientele? Most importantly, how do you forge a bond with them across these differences?
The #7 Bestselling Business Book of 2011!
Kelly's first book, "How to Market to People Not Like You" was a 2011 Business Book Bestseller. After frequent appearances on the monthly list, the book came in at #7 on the 2011 ranking by Inc. magazine and leading business book reseller 800-CEO-READ. The annual rankings are based on total sales numbers, as well as length of time and rank on the monthly list.
Meet Kelly McDonald
Kelly McDonald is president of McDonald Marketing, named one of the top ad agencies in the U.S. by Advertising Age. Despite her blond hair and blue eyes, Kelly is an expert in multicultural marketing and marketing to consumer values. She has been featured on CNBC, in BusinessWeek, on CNNMoney.com and on Sirius/XM Radio.
Free Sneak Peek
Read the First Chapter
Want to read the first chapter of "Crafting the Customer Experience for People Not Like You"? Click below to take a peek inside!
Sign Me Up
Want to stay up to date on additional content, discussions and event dates in your area? Sign up below and we'll keep you informed of events in your area and book-related updates. No spam, ever.


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The big whale round-up at Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, is brought to the screen with a realism not often found in fish stories. Cameras are on hand to record the annual sea drama as herds of pothead whales are driven inshore by fishing boats and killed in shallow water. There is tense excitement as, their escape cut off, the marine monsters fight for their lives. Reporter Fred Davis is told about the commercial uses of whale meat and whale products, particularly in mink farming.
Les évaluations professionnelles et les guides pédagogiques sont réservés aux abonnés CAMPUS.
Des fonctionnalités conçues spécialement pour les profs! En savoir plus
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Finding the Perfect Moving Firm.
Relocating a household or office needs much of planning, and an essential role in the entire process is that of the moving company. Getting a real negotiation on the relocating firm can make your whole relocation simple with going the extra mile for your expenses. You can consult your pals as well as siblings who might have the services of a relocating firm to come across a dependable one or studied the following for some essential advice on how to come across a perfect relocating company. Here's a good read about
Movers Atlanta
, check it out!
The expense of a moving company can be calculated and approximated on some aspects which consist the size of the automobile as well as the distance it will cover. State wide companies may charge a fee than your local moving company, which might be charging lower charges and suits you well. All you require to do is to keep the aspects of reliability and safety of your products in consideration. Whether you intend to have a local relocation, international or even global move, the relocation organization character, dependability, instant delivery and security of the goods are what are essential. To come across an appropriate relocation firm, you may consult local directories or even search on the internet that specializes in relocation companies. With a broad range of service provided moving companies, you can get in touch with a whole relocation firm, a package only firm, a drive only relocation organization, or even a trailer rental for you to pack and move your personal belongings. A lot will be dependent on whether you are carrying out the entire move yourself or need the assistance of moving specialists. The expense of relocation trucks and technicians come at varying rates about what you need. To gather more awesome ideas on
Moving Company Atlanta
, click here to get started.
There are different pricing for every relocation firm upon the nature of products being relocated, the space covered by a truck as well as the size of the tow. Thus, it's advisable to carry out enough survey first, get quotations from a variety of firms on the expense and insurance, and then conclude on the most appropriate organization for you.
The moment you are in possession of all the discussed details, do some study with the relocation company name on the internet and see if you can come across any client service testimonials. Realizing that your goods are being well taken care of, or that the relocation truck will be responsible is tremendously essential during a relocation. Put into consideration that the cheapest relocation firm may always not be costly in the long run in case you incur some damages or loss. Kindly visit this website
for more useful reference.


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The semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation awards were announced today with only two recognitions for South Florida plus eight nods from other areas in Florida. The JBF Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America; which include all aspects of the industry: chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, food journalists, restaurant designers and architects.
The final Restaurant and Chef Award nominees, as well as the nominations for Book, Journalism, Broadcast Media, and Restaurant Design Awards, will be announced at the James Beard House in New York City on Tuesday, March 24.
The 2015 James Beard Awards gala will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 4. The Foundation's Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards Dinner will take place at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City on Friday, April 24. Congratulations to all the nominees!
The two South Florida contenders for Best Chef of the South:
Jose Mendin, Pubbelly, Miami Beach, FL
Giorgio Rapicavoli, Eating House, Miami, FL
And the other seven Best Chef of the South nominees throughout Florida are:
Greg Baker, The Refinery, Tampa, FL
Kathleen Blake, The Rusty Spoon, Orlando, FL
Scott Hunnel, Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, FL
James and Julie Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig, Winter Park, FL
Steve Phelps, Indigenous, Sarasota, FL
Hari Pulapaka, Cress, DeLand, FL
Brian Whittington, Restaurant Orsay, Jacksonville, FL
Outstanding Wine Program
Bern's Steak House, Tampa, FL
Click here to view the entire list of nominees.
"The James Beard Foundation is at the center of America's culinary community, dedicated to exploring the way food enriches lives. A cookbook author and teacher, James Beard was a champion of American cuisine who helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by offering a variety of events and programs designed to educate, inspire, entertain, and foster a deeper understanding of our culinary culture. These programs include educational initiatives, food industry awards, an annual national food conference, Leadership Awards program, culinary scholarships, and publications. In addition to maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City's Greenwich Village as a "performance space" for visiting chefs, the Foundation has created a robust online community, and hosts tastings, lectures, workshops, and food-related art exhibits in New York City and around the country." -excerpted from: The James Beard Foundation website.
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2011 Guru Purnima Retreat and Sunday Celebration
Prerequisite: Shaktipat in this lineage
July 15 – 17
4pm arrival on Friday the 15th
2pm departure on Sunday the 17th
Fee: $201
Guru Purnima is a unique event and the fullest expression of love between Guru and disciple. There is no day during the year like this full moon day. All the sixteen energies of the moon manifest through the Guru Tattwa and are further magnified by the love and grace of the Guru to catapult disciples toward their spiritual goal.
Shri Anandi Ma will be in seclusion this year during Guru Purnima. However, she has asked us to meet as a group for a Guru Purnima retreat on each coast as we usually do.
The schedule will include Guru Puja, Ram malas, chanting and meditation.
If you cannot attend the retreat, another option is to attend the Sunday celebration and participate in the Guru puja on July 17th.
Find more details about these events here.


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- What: BRAINPIPE: A Plunge To Unhumanity
- Where: Gamers Front (Shrapnel Games Store)
- Current Price: ~£3.08 ($4.95)
To celebrate ten years of Indie development, Digital Eel have slashed the price of their bizarre and beautiful Brainpipe: A Plunge To Unhumanity down to £3.08 on Game Front. This will save you over £3 compared to the likes of Gamersgate, and grant you a seriously twisted and groovadelic voyage into the human mind along with "creepy eyeball buttons." It's great fun and instantly accessible, though it's worth noting that an overall lack of depth stops Brainpipe from stacking up with the arcade greats. Note that you can pay via PayPal.


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Tavin Interview featured on
Yello by Smashbox Studios
Yello by Smashbox Studios
My Top 5:
Erin Tavin of Tavin Boutique x Culture Mix
Posted by Kathryn Wahl on Monday, May 21, 2012
Erin Tavin of Tavin Boutique x Culture Mix
Posted by Kathryn Wahl on Monday, May 21, 2012
If you're craving a shopping experience that's exactly that: an experience, look no further. Former clothing buyer, stylist, actress, and costumer Erin Tavin combined her love and knowledge of fashion, fantasy,and travel and opened her very own TAVIN BOUTIQUE in Echo Park back in 2009. Full of one-of-a-kind gems, the shop is a lovely blend of old and new, nostalgia and modern. Erin describes herself as having, "One foot in a world one hundred years ago and one foot in this world today, and somewhere in a circus tent I live as well." As unique and interesting as the choices are in her store, Tavin shares her well-rounded "Top 5 Culture Mix"…
Getaway: Big Sur. "Especially the hot springs at Essellon,my favorite place in California for total peace and a slice of heaven."
Song: Suzanne but Leonard Cohen. "It sounds old fashioned but I'm still hooked on Leonard Cohen's song; it always makes me cry after thousands of times hearing it."
Novel: Madame Bovary. "One of my all time faves, it's got everything you could want in a novel. I'm a HUGE reader so I also have to mention Flaubert's Sentimental Education, it's fantastic."
Poem: "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman. "A very beautiful poem that's on my wall in my yurt/studio. Everyone should read it!"
Designer: Comme des Garçons. "I'm drawn to ethereal clothing. My shop, TAVIN, has a lot of romantic qualities."
Get with Tavin for the hottest Summer 2012 fashion items:
~ Thanks Yello!See original Blog Post @ Smashboxstudios


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Last Tuesday a lucky group of food bloggers was treated to a day in Miele's Experience Centre, to cook some St Patrick's Day fare and test out the technology. I travelled down to Oxfordshire along with Joanna of Joanna's Food, Joy of Almanzo's Belly, Sam of Antics of a Cycling Cook, and my namesake Alex from Just Cook It.
The theme of the day was, of course, Irish recipes. After some coffee and pastries, we split into four teams and got cracking on the cooking, with the chance to play with some of Miele's toys at the same time.
I tried out the integrated steam oven and the Tepan-Yaki hotplate. Steaming rhubarb to make a Roscommon Pudding meant that the fruit really kept its colour and shape. We also made a really simple leek and watercress soup and I was surprised to find that it didn't need any seasoning. Steaming the vegetables kept the flavours fresh and vibrant. It's a very healthy way of cooking too.
The Tepan hotplate was lots of fun. If you haven't seen one before, it's a flat, smooth hob that lets you cook directly on the surface, Japanese style. It took a while to heat up, but once it was searing we grilled some prawns on it with the minimum of oil. You could just as easily use it for a full English (or should that be Irish?) breakfast.
After a few hours of toil in the kitchen we had the chance to taste our just desserts. It was quite a spread, with soda bread, beef in Guinness and Roscommon rhubarb pudding amongst the dishes on the table.
We were then shown around the centre to learn more about Miele. The technology was innovative to say the least. I was particularly keen on the dishwasher that opens its own door when it has finished (no more nasty water marks on my glasses!), the fridge that keeps a cabbage fresh for 6 whole months, and the wireless meat probe that lets you cook your meat to medium-rare perfection.
The Miele Experience Centre isn't just for food bloggers either; Miele run regular Let's Do Lunch events to help prospective purchasers test out the products. So if you're thinking of decking your kitchen out with some top end gadgetry (can I come and live with you?), why not try it out first?
My favourite dish of the day was this Bailey's chocolate cheesecake. It's too good to eat just one day a year, and although it takes a little bit of effort it can easily be made ahead and is very impressive.
Bailey's Chocolate Cheesecake
For the base:
150g digestive biscuits
110g butter
3 tbsps cocoa powder
2 tbsps caster sugar
For the filling:
300g cream cheese
120ml double cream
1 egg
75g icing sugar
120g plain chocolate chips
4tbsps Baileys liqueur (plus extra if you like a tipple whilst you're baking)
For the topping:
75g plain chocolate
2 tbsps golden syrup
30g butter
1) Preheat the oven to 150c
2) First make the base. Crush the digestive biscuits. Melt the butter in a saucepan or the microwave. Mix the melted butter into the crushed biscuits, cocoa and sugar. Press the mixture into the base of a 22cm springform tin.
2) Bake the base for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool. Leave the oven on as you'll be using it again later.
3) Now for the filling. Beat together the cream cheese, cream, egg and icing sugar until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips and slug of Baileys.
4) Pour the mixture over the base and return the tin to the oven for 35 minutes or until the filling is just set. We used the Miele oven's Moisture Plus setting, which injects an automatic burst of steam to keep the cheesecake moist and lovely. If you're not lucky enough to have one of these then just bake it at 150c. If you're feeling brave then you could try using a bain marie, but my Leith's Bible doesn't seem to think it's necessary so I didn't bother.
5) Cool the cheesecake in the tin and then pop it in the fridge overnight.
6) Finally, you need to make the chocolate topping. Break the chocolate into small pieces and put it into a small saucepan with the golden syrup and butter. Gently melt the ingredients together. Give it a stir and then pour the topping over the cheesecake. Chill again to set the topping.
The Princess
Saturday, March 21, 2009
St Patrick's Day cooking with Miele
Posted by Alex English at 8:33 AM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: cake, food, home cooking, Irish, recipe
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Yauatcha, Soho
Yauatcha, Broadwick St
Tucked away in the heart of Soho lies London's second Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant. Formerly part of Alan Yau's empire, Yauatcha takes dim sum to a chic new level. Luxe ingredients like caviar, scallops and even gold leaf add some bling to the traditional Cantonese "little pieces of heart".
The decor is sleek and sexy, with low tables lit by candles, fish tanks and plenty of blue glass. It's not a typical fine dining restaurant, in fact it feels more like a glamorous cocktail bar.
We start by ordering some cocktails from our elegant waitress. I am not in the least bit elegant, so I can't resist the kitsch Lady Penelope, a startlingly alcoholic pink concoction. It slips down nicely, as fruity cocktails tend to do. I order another.
After reading reviews I am expecting the worst, but service is good. Not great, but good. Our waitress knows the menu, and although her politeness errs on the cool side, she is pleasant, courteous and, of course, perfectly turned out.
The dim sum at Yauatcha are things of beauty. They taste great too, and the dumpling casings are some the lightest and least obtrusive I have tasted. Highlights are the scallop shumai, decorated with pearls of roe, the crisp Mongolian lamb in flaky pastry and the Salt & Pepper Quail, crispy and delicious.
Scallop dim sum
Mongolian crispy lamb
Salt & pepper quail
Pre-dessert, I try one of Yauatcha's much vaunted teas. There is a dizzying array, but once I have eventually chosen I find it is a disappointment. Green tea always tastes a bit like water that you've boiled the vegetables in, and this is no exception. My advice would be to stick with the cocktails.
Cola & lemon tart
I usually skip dessert when I'm eating in Chinese restaurants. Not here though. Yauatcha has a French style patisserie counter where you can choose from an array of delicate delights. In fact, when we arrive for our early dinner there are still several groups taking afternoon tea, and feasting on tiers of elegant French pastries. I sample a citron & cola cube tart, which was equal parts sour and sweet, traditional and modern. Just like Yauatcha itself.
15-17 Broadwick Street, W1F 0DL
Posted by Alex English at 10:06 AM 4 comments Links to this post
Labels: Chinese, food, London, michelin, restaurant


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exploding spores
ritual sacrifice
probably should be combined with the first part.
leaving the cave,
the curtain of darkness
Ascendant campaigns can view previous versions of their pages, see what has changed (and who did it), and even restore old versions. It's like having a rewind button for your campaign.
We've already been saving your edits, so if you
upgrade now
you will have instant access to your previous versions. Plus, you get a 15-day free trial, so there's nothing to lose.


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Zeyad Al-Omar: Training, development employees positively impacts KFH indicators
Human Resources and General Services General Manager at Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Zeyad Al-Omar asserted that training and developing employees positively impacts all KFH indicators, in addition to upgrading its regional and global status.
He highlighted the importance of training courses and workshops, since they hone the skills of employees, and boost their productivity.
Al-Omar added during a speech he made at the closure of a training course that was attended by Wholesale Banking General Manager Peter Verhoven, and Learning and Development Executive Manager Emad Mirza, that the course prepared by KFH for Finance Sector employees includes financial analysis, credit risk analysis, treasury management, monetary and trading management, administrative sales skills, and credit applications.
He noted that such courses are part of KFH's strategy to develop its human resources to meet their job requirements; especially that employees are an asset, and a long and short-term investment.
He explained that KFH trained employees who are capable of supporting and developing Islamic banking industry, which is considered to be an added value to the economy and the society.
Moreover, he mentioned that KFH leads the private sector in training, which is evident by winning a training award from the Civil Service Commission.
He also pointed out that KFH has extensive experience in setting training programs that are custom tailored to the needs of each employee.
Meanwhile, Verhoven stated that shedding light on the main aspects of credit, the appropriate financing means for every business, the risks associated with various businesses, and the means to cover those risks, are the cornerstone of banking.
He went on to say that courses in credit analysis are vital because they play a pivotal role in reinforcing the bank's results and performance.
He said that all banks seek to maintain financial stability and the money of depositors. He stressed the importance of having sufficient knowledge and skills to work in the field of wholesale financing, liquidity management, and treasury management.
It is worth noting that certificates were distributed to 40 employees. Three of those employees were from KFH-Bahrain, which underscores the bank's efforts to cement cooperation across the group in various fields.
Adnan Sumak
T +96522445050 ext 4237
- Ambareen Musa
by Souqalmal.com
- Scott Rea
by DarkMatter


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|courtesy of: eclecticala.com
Few hair styles hold up through the ages as well as the Chignon ( pronounced: "shin-yawn " ) This French name refers to the " nape of the neck, " where the design is worn. The classic Chignon resembles a beautiful, smooth, low knot or bun.
|courtesy of: S&C Artist Amber B.
|courtesy of: boards.weddingbee.com
First made popular in Athens, Greece, women wore the style fastened with gold or ivory pins. Today the Chignon is just as gorgeous and can be worn a variety of ways!
Try it with a braid:
|courtesy of: hotbeautyhealth.com
|courtesy of: confessionsofaplasticsurgeonsdaughter.com
|courtesy of: thenewhairstyles.com
The Chignon is so versatile that it was a "must have" hair do in the 1940s - Woman would wrapped a scarf around their style before they left for work in the factories!
|courtesy of: etsy.com
|courtesy of: clubvibes.com
From Classic to Modern - with a twist - a Chignon can work for everyone!
|from the Notebook.