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KettlePizza Review
Who doesn't love a fresh baked, home made, wood-fired pizza – the flavor is amazing, right? The idea of making it in your own backyard sounds pretty cool, but buying a wood-fired pizza oven can cost several thousand dollars. Building one yourself requires that you have the space, that you're allowed to build one, and that you'll use it enough to make it worth the time needed to build it.
…enter KettlePizza
Luckily, a genius little company called KettlePizza started making grilling accessories so that you could make restaurant-quality pizza in your backyard for cheap, with some very basic accessories that work with your current grill. KettlePizza, named after the kettle-style grill it works with, is top dog in the backyard pizza oven space.
They make quite a few different accessories at this point, but I wanted to start of my reviewing their flagship product, the KettlePizza charcoal grill insert.
Note: Although there are other brands of kettle style charcoal grills out there, I highly recommend using a Weber. KettlePizza was designed to work with this specific size and shape. It may work with other brands, but I've never actually seen anyone do this.
I was surprised at how small it was when it arrived in the mail. The shipping box is only 15″ x 15″. Keep this box for when you decide to store your KettlePizza for the winter.
Depending on where you live and the size of your garage, it may be difficult to find space for a 22.5 inch, round thing. I just leave my grill outside because I'm in California, so it doesn't snow at all, or rain much in the winter. However, I don't want to leave my KettlePizza outside all year long!
How The KettlePizza Weber Grill Insert Works
Essentially what you're doing with the KettlePizza insert is making an alteration to your charcoal grill so that it can get up to a higher temperature. Normally, using just charcoal, your grill will cook at between 300ºF – 500ºF.
While this can cook a pizza in about 20 minutes, it's not "Neapolitan style" cooking that you get with a wood-fired pizza oven. Not only that, you only get charcoal smoke, instead of wood smoke, which is what's going to flavor the dough as we cook.
While this can cook a pizza in about 20 minutes, it's not "Neapolitan style" cooking that you get with a wood-fired pizza oven. Not only that, you only get charcoal smoke, instead of wood smoke, which is what's going to flavor the dough as we cook.
A wood fired oven gets up to 1,000ºF, although a good cooking range is anywhere between 700º-1000.
First, with the opening in the front of the grill, it means we don't have to take the lid off the grill so we never lose heat. Second, because we're using wood and getting flames, we are going to burn at a hotter temperature.
Our coals and wood are at the back of the grill, making the back hotter than the front, which also contains the opening. This is going to give us nice air flow over the pizza, mimicking an actual wood fired pizza oven! With a pizza stone sitting on the grill grates, there's not a whole lot of difference between a hundred-dollar grill accessory and a six-thousand-dollar construction project.
I know for country people, you usually have a pile of wood somewhere from a tree you cut down, or know someone that can sell you a box of wood. For city-folk like myself, you can buy chunks of wood at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Amazon.
It costs between $5 – $10 for 5 lbs depending on the type of wood you get. Applewood is kind of expensive, but the only other one available was hickory. I tend to avoid hickory and mesquite because the flavor can be quite pungent.
Other good options are cherry, pecan, or maple. Get chunks, not chips or pellets! The chips will burn up way too quickly. The pellets will just smolder and not cause any heat.
Once downside to cooking pizza this way is that you end up using a lot of fuel. I used about 2.5 lbs of wood and a couple pounds of coal to cook just 3 pizzas. Of course, I was learning how to use the KettlePizza insert, so was making mistakes along the way, so take that into consideration as well. But even if you're working efficiently, you may end up spending about $10 on fuel to cook up a couple pizzas. That, of course, depends on where you're getting your coal and wood!
Even with expensive fuel, it's still cheaper than a $20 artisan pizza (plus tip) in hipstertown! Including ingredients and fuel, it probably cost me about $5 to make a pizza, and I am confident I could cut that down with practice.
Video: KettlePizza Charcoal Tested & Reviewed!
Cooking Experience
I had a tough time learning how to use the KettlePizza Weber grill insert. Yup. I'll admit it. My first pies were not a success. Actually, the first time I used it I couldn't even cook them because I put it together wrong. The grilling grates go INSIDE the KettlePizza, not inside the grill. See my mistake in the image below?
The grilling grates are sitting below the KettlePizza, meaning that I was unable to get the pizza in and out without angling the pizza peel. The grate sits on the wingnuts of the insert. Oops. Not only that, but I didn't know I need to use wood to get the temperature high enough. Oops x2.
Once I figured that out, it was time for round 2. The next day was slightly better, but still had some mishaps.
- Make sure your dough has enough flour or it will stick to your pizza peel!
- Make sure you know how far back the pizza stone is. I missed it a couple times!
Other than that, my main recurring mistake is overestimating how long the temperature lasts. Load up your grill with enough coal and wood to get that sucker hot. Don't be shy. In fact, I recommend getting a charcoal basket to hold your coal & wood. Or, if you plan on spending some dough to get your pizza perfect, consider the Prograte + Tombstone Combustion Kit below. It comes with a bigger pizza stone, and a charcoal basket in one.
That'll solve two of the problems I had getting started right out of the gate!
The dough here is looking a little pale – not quite like a true Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, but it was my fault. I was cooking at too low of a temperature. I was losing heat and ran out of wood! Still tasted great though.
After about 5-6 pizzas I started to get the hang of things. Don't get me wrong – I ate all of the pizzas I made. They were delicious! But they weren't "restaurant quality", which is what I'm aiming for. I'll update with more photos after I start producing some more photogenic pies.
Actually, I found that working with the KettlePizza Gas Pro was much easier. I just tossed the device on my gas grill, and was cooking amazing pizzas in minutes. They don't have that same wood-smoke flavor, but they are still delicious. I may experiment with KettlePizza's gas grill smoker device at a later date.
Technical Stuff
- Unit Size: 22.5 x 22.5 x 7 inches, 7.2 lbs
- Max Temperature: 800ºF+
- Construction Material: Stainless Steel
It was interesting to find out exactly how the KettlePizza Weber grill insert could work with both 18.5 and 22.5 inch charcoal grills. The design was simple! Using wing nuts and bolts, you just choose which holes to bolt together, like rolling a newspaper on itself. They actually sell an extension plate on their website for 26.75 inch grills as well.
The temperature dial for the grill insert goes up to 700ºF but I've read online about people using an infrared thermometer that read almost 1000º (with the baking steel accessory). Keep in mind the back of the grill will be way hotter since that's where the flames are. The front of the insert, which has the opening, is where the temperature dial is located.
Comparing The KettlePizza To Other Charcoal Grill Pizza Cookers
One feature of the KettlePizza brand Weber grill insert that no other brands haas is wooden handles! I actually found this very useful for refueling. I was able to move the stone with my tongs, then turn the insert around, open up the grate, drop in some coal and wood, then reverse to get the pizza cooker back in order.
Although this is a minor detail, I also just prefer the design of this brand. It's a lot more professional looking, with the cool brand name etched into the front of the device.
One other thing to consider is how many more options you have with KettlePizza. As you'll see in the very bottom section of this review, there are a lot of upgrades available with this brand.
This is not just a "one off" product from a company that makes a lot of other things. This is their focus, so they do it 110%. Potential upgrades include a made-for-charcoal grills extra-large pizza stone, a steel cap (baking steel) which helps you get even hotter temperatures for more authentic pizza cooking, and handy pizza turners.
Plus, all their products are made in the USA, which means high quality craftsmanship and supporting your local economy. This brand is a bit more expensive than other competitors, but in my opinion you get the quality that you pay for!
PizzaCraft PizzaQue Deluxe Kettle Grill Kit
PizzaCraft PizzaQue is really the only true "competition" for KettlePizza. Although I definitely prefer the KettlePizza, there still are some advantages to going with this alternative brand.
Most importantly, the price. It's significantly cheaper than KettlePizza – a little more than 1/2 the cost if you compare a similar kit which includes the peel and stone.
The kit also comes with a "charcoal fence" that you can see in the image below. It helps you spread the charcoal and wood around the entire grill without dumping it right in the center which would risk cracking your pizza stone and burning the crust of your pizza.
However, I'm not completely sold on the design. Those clips sitting on the outside of the grill do not look as nice as the KettlePizza look. Plus, those brackets that hold your pizza stone up do not look very sturdy.
If you accidentally push the stone too far back, could it tip your pizza into the coals? I'd rather be working on a full grate, or more preferably the tombstone (see below). I just bought this a few days ago so will text it next week for an official opinion, and will update with a link when I do!
OnlyFire Pizza Oven Kit
OnlyFire is another brand that makes a pizza oven accessory for kettle charcoal grills. You can see in the image below that the design is a little different, but the basic concept is the same. One interesting feature is that the kit sits on the outside of the grill instead of on the inside (see the metal ring?).
A major design flaw raised a number of complaints in the early days of OnlyFire. The grill grate sat below the opening, meaning it was hard to get the pizzas in and out of the oven. Since then, they've introduced "chips" that come with your kit. Place these in the grill and they'll raise the height of your grilling grates.
Honestly, I'm not looking forward to keeping track of these. Plus, the PizzaCraft PizzaQue is still cheaper (by a little bit), so if I'm looking for a different brand other than KettlePizza, I'll stick with PizzaCraft.
LandMann Pizza Kettle Charcoal Grill
This is an interesting product in that you cannot buy the pizza accessory separately – it comes an an entire grill package! The advantage here, obviously, is that everything comes in one. You get the grill, the grilling rack, and the pizza accessory all in one. It's a more expensive than the other options here, but comes with the grill. You also get a pizza stone and pizza peel in the package, so in all, it's a pretty good price.
The downside to this product is that it comes in a lot of pieces! On top of the grill, you have a metal ring that sits on the grill, a separate rack, then the pizza ring on top of that. Plus, to refuel, you have to take everything apart.
This would only be an option if you don't own Weber grill already and would prefer to get the Landmann brand products all in one package. ==> Get It Here
Who Is The KettlePizza Weber Grill Insert Best For?
If you love outdoor grilling and want to try your hand at making some delicious pizzas at your next barbecue event, then the KettlePizza Weber grill insert would be perfect for you. Everyone loves pizza, and everyone will be really surprised that there's such an interesting product out there. I'll be you inspire some of the other people to buy their own as well!
If you have kids and want to teach them about cooking, or just spend some time outdoors, this is a really good project to have. You can take your pizza grill camping, tailgating, or even just stay in your backyard and enjoy being outside instead of stuck in front of the TV while a pizza cooks in the oven.
Or, if you're like me, just a dude that likes making creative food, this is a lot of fun to play with. I've made some awesome creations so far, including a spicy bacon pineapple pizza, a brie + fig jam pizza, and basil chicken pasilla pepper pizza that were amazing. There's nothing better than impressing your girlfriend with a homemade, fresh, hot, wood-fired pizza with her favorite toppings!
This was a great buy. I'm having a lot of fun with it, and it's only April. As summer comes around and my pizza skills are more in order, I'm going to be impressing some of my friends. I also make my own beer, so the party is at my house this year.
That being said, if you're in a pinch for time, the Gas Pro is a lot faster to get set up and cooking. I'm working on a comparison between the two KettlePizza products and will post a link when its done. Both are great!
- Great design/look
- Creates authentic, restaurant quality pizza
- Very cheap compared to traditional wood-fired ovens
- Portable
- Fun backyard activity
- Great for people with kids
- Made in USA
- Wooden handles for easy maneuvering
- Takes some practice to make perfect pizza
- Requires a lot of fuel to maintain "pizza temperature"
- Difficult to store (keep the original box!)
==> Get The KettlePizza Insert Here!
Upgrades To Improve Your Pizza Quality And Cooking Experience
Below is a list of upgrades you can buy for your KettlePizza Weber grill insert. I'm sure you're thinking, "wow, this is getting to be an expensive hobby!". But keep these things in mind:
- You're still saving a ton of money by not building or buying a proper wood-fired pizza oven. Even with all of the upgrades listed here, you'll still spend less than $500 for a legit wood-fired pizza oven. Your oven will reach 800º-1000ºF and have smoky wood flavor. Plus, yours will be better because it's portable.
- It's a portable pizza oven. You can take it with you if you move, or even if you just want to take it to a friends house or tailgating. Compare that to building or buying your own oven.
- You don't have to get all of them. Personally, I really want to get the tombstone insert first because it'll make getting the pizza in and out easier
- It will improve your pizza making experience. Pizza is fun, until you're struggling to get a floppy, sticky dough off your pizza peel. These make it easier, which makes pizza-making more fun.
- They'll last forever. Everything here is stainless steel, high quality, and made in the USA. Plan on using this gear for the next decade, it'll pay dividends in chewy crust and gooey cheese. It's not just spending money, it's investing in your culinary skills, investing in your family and friends, and investing in happiness.
Note: Regarding the pricing of Amazon, I can't post the exact price here for two reasons. One, the price fluctuates depending on the exact seller, as well as fluctuations in the Amazon Marketplace.
Even a price change of less than $1 would be unfair to you and the seller. Plus, it's against Amazon's TOS to post an exact price. However, I will note that in some cases, the Amazon price is cheaper than KettlePizza. In other cases, the opposite is true.
My recommendation is to pick one place to order everything. Many of the KettlePizza accessories do not have Prime Shipping on Amazon, but some do. This may change in the future, so check!
Upgrade #1: ProGrate & Tombstone Combination Kit
This is the upgrade that I'm gunning for. I haven't got it yet – too busy testing other pizza stuff right now, but I think this is really going to up my pizza game. It's a grill grate made especially for the KettlePizza insert. There are no actual "grates" though, because you don't need them to cook the pizza. It's an extra large pizza stone in the shape of a tombstone, with a basket in the back to put your charcoal and wood.
That keeps the fuel to a nice spot in the back so the stuff doesn't fall in the center of the grill beneath the stone, potentially cracking it or burning your dough.
Bigger cooking area = fewer lost pies in my opinion! I'm had a few incidents where I overshot my pizza stone and burned on the grill 🙁
- Amazon: Click For Price
Upgrade #2: 22.5″Stainless Steel Baking Steel
This is a very cool accessory, but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger just yet. Technically, it's made so that you can bake your pizza and grill stuff on the top at the same time.
But what it also does is it makes the heating chamber smaller, meaning you get your grill up to pizza temperature faster, and you can also get the temperatures hotter. That means more authentic Neapolitan style pizza.
I've got it on a "wanted" list on Amazon. Maybe Christmas next year 🙂
- Amazon: Click For Price
Upgrade #3: Pizza Spinners
A very cheap accessory that will just make your life easier. Sure, you can get out your peel and shimmy your pizza 180º, or remove the pizza completely, turn it with your fingers, then reinsert.
But it's a lot more efficient to just use these two long metal spinners to turn the pizza inside the kettle. You lose less heat, and waste less of your time.
- Amazon: Click For Price


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Branko Vlahović (b. 1924, Bjelovar, Croatia; d. 1979, Zagreb, Croatia) was a pioneer of formalism in Croatia, working in relative isolation from the international art establishment. Within a context of more traditional artistic production, Vlahović's work departed from the legacy of figuration and prioritised formal objectivity. Due to a tragic early death at fifty-four, it is only recently that Vlahović has been recognised as a pioneer of Minimalism in Croatia. His work is an example of important Minimalist sculpture produced outside of the dominant Modernist canon.
Vlahović's sculpture, from the 1960s, examines the idea of the module and the construction of component parts in sculpture. The work, often in relief, is based on ideas of post-war architectural forms. He soon removed the base of the sculpture, moving away from traditional modes of display or hierarchy. His early sculpture played with the delicacy and texture of plaster to form hard, solid shapes whilst his later sculpture explored the industrial qualities of black sheet metal and chrome. Vlahović's drawings are also an important aspect of his work, and were consistently made alongside his sculptures. Their structural, hard-edges resemble technical drawings or production plans, and work as a backdrop to his sculptural thinking.
Vlahović's work was most recently included in the seminal exhibition Other Primary Structures (2014) at The Jewish Museum, New York. The exhibition was a reworking of Primary Structures: Younger American and British Sculptors (1966), also at the same museum. This brought together, for the first time, artists whose work formed the foundation of what we would now term Minimalism. Other Primary Structures, revisited the exhibition with a more global perspective, counteracting the limiting geographic parameters.
Vlahović graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1951, where he was taught by Grga Antunac, Vjekoslav Rukljač and Vanja Radauš. He completed his postgraduate studies in 1953, overseen by Professor Frane Kršnić. In the same year, he left for a period of study of three-months in Paris. In 1955, he worked as a visual culture teacher at a school in Zagreb, then later in Karlovac. An exhibition of his sculptures was held outdoors in the central park in the city of Kutina in 1969.
During his lifetime his work was exhibited in five solo and forty group exhibitions. More recently, a major retrospective exhibition of Vlahović's work took place at the Technical Museum, Zagreb (2013). This was accompanied by a comprehensive monograph by Guido Quien and Darko Schneider.
Vlahović's work has been acquired by several Eastern European museums including Museum of Contemporary Arts, Zagreb; Croatia Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb; Modern Gallery, Zagreb and Glyptotheque, Zagreb.

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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Indicators'.
Found 16 results
Unchecking "Set as Default" button not working
ehjump posted a topic in Bug Reporting - PublicHello Jerry/Mike; If I change my mind & uncheck after clicking the "Set as Default" button in any indicator's parameters window, the indicator default parameters don't revert to the default state before clicking the button. In other words, the "Set as Default" feature sets the default once the button is clicked instead of after clicking the "OK" button and exiting the edit parameters window - and so, does not allow user to change his/her mind before hitting "OK".
"Show Hidden Indicator" option on Right-Click Menu
ehjump posted a question in Feature RequestsPlease can we have an option to unhide indicators on the right-click menu? Currently we can hide or delete indicators by right-clicking the indicators. But, the only way to unhide indicators is to open the indicator selection window - would be nice to have the option of a quick right-click with sub-menu listing the hidden indicators & user can click desired indicator to unhide. Thanks in advance.
Several QuestionsHi, I've been trying out Medved for a few days and was wondering if it has the following; 1. automatic bracket orders with Interactive Brokers -- Stop loss and take profit orders attached to parent order. 2. Previous day OHLC indicator -- Indicator that plots horizontal lines for the Open, High, Low and Close from the previous session. Preferably with the ability to select/deselect the overnight session. 3. DOM Window - Depth of Market vertical order style window found in software like Ninjatrader etc. Thanks, Stefan
Indicators, set as defaultWhen you select "set as deault" on an indicator is it just for that template or is it universal for all future uses of that indicator in any template?
VWAP glitch
vrtrader64 posted a topic in Bug Reporting - PublicI am seeing strange VWAP values on occasion. Example: Note the volume on the bar in question is a large negative number. Perhaps this affects the calculation?
Not sure if this is a bug or was deliberate, so will post this as a feature request: Would like to include indicator colors to default when "set to default" is clicked on the indicator panel of "main chart" indicators. This currently works for indicators in the "Usually on Separate Chart" section e.g. MACD, RSI; but does not work for indicators in the "Usually on Main Chart" section like Bollinger bands. Thanks in advance.
Extending chart with padding area
vrtrader64 posted a topic in Bug Reporting - PublicWhen padding is added to a chart, a couple things should be different (i think) : 1) Pivot line indicators should be extended into the padding area, to help visualize potential support and resistance levels. Example of how Stockcharts.com does it: http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=GDX&p=D&yr=0&mn=7&dy=0&id=p37160368203 2) The time scale should extend into the "future" as necessary and display upcoming date/time values in the x-axis, accounting for the selected trading calendar. 3) When pivot line indicators are selected, if a chart has padding and the data permits, "future" pivots should be displayed. Example: a 15min intraday chart is padded with 3 hrs of extra bars; after the close of the session, tomorrow's pivots are available and could be shown.
Min/Max values ?
vrtrader64 posted a topic in SupportI need to track min/max values of bid and ask over a specified period (typically 1hr), as an indicator on intraday charts. Is this something MT can do currently, or in upcoming release ? Also, I would like to add these values as columns in the QuoteGrid. Are custom QuoteGrid fields coming soon ? ( Similarly, some people may want to have max volume, or min / max of "indicator X" on charts or in the QuoteGrid )
Charts: indicator quick-hide
vrtrader64 posted a question in Feature RequestsRight now we can click to select trendlines, and use right-click menu (or 'Del' key) to delete them. This is good. Can you apply the same trick to make it easier to Hide indicators ? (Left/right click to select; right click menu, or 'H' key shortcut to Hide.) Also, a couple pet peeves about the "edit indicators" dialog : 1) it uses a huge window that can obscure an entire chart; please make the window smaller. 2) in the right pane, it requires a left-click to first select an indicator, followed by a right-click to access the menu - could you change it so the right-click selects the entry *and* brings up the menu ? Save mouse clicks! 3) could you give the Hide/Show action immediate effect (not require "Apply") ? Thanks as usual for considering my suggestions and once again, let me know if I am throwing too many your way. I can dial it back.
Chart Bid/Ask Lines
vrtrader64 posted a topic in SupportIs there a way to choose the color of bid/ask lines if displayed on charts ? If there is not yet a way, could you add a color selector like you have for other indicators ? I like to toggle bid/ask lines on&off, but having them default to red/green interferes visually with other indicators I use that are those same colors. Thanks.
Simple way to turn on/off all indicators?
vrtrader64 posted a topic in SupportIs there a simple "one-click" way to toggle on/off ALL indicators in a chart (short of loading a different template) ?
Help understanding Volume by Price extd range candles
Bigbocarat posted a topic in SupportHi, I understand the basics of the volume by price detailed indicator on MT (VbPd(30b,70%)) but what do the extended ranges ( yellow outlined candles with extended tails) tell you and how are they calculated? thanks
RSI Indicator Horizontal Lines
vrtrader64 posted a topic in SupportRSI indicator has default horizontal (dashed) lines at 30, 50, 70. Shading in green/red also occurs when RSI value is over 70 / under 30. I guess these give the "standard" overbought/oversold indicator. In some cases we may want to deviate from the standard...so is it possible to: 1) allow customization of the lines' values (i.e. other than the default 30,50,70) - for each chart ? 2) optionally suppress the display of horizontal lines/corresponding shading - again, for each chart ? If not currently possible, could you consider that for a future release? Thanks
Formula Language
vrtrader64 posted a question in Feature RequestsThis may be asking too much, but is it possible that in addition to built-in indicators, MT could implement an easy-to-use language so end-users may code custom indicators or functions? (See AmiBroker and Quantshare for examples of such languages, along with Tradestation, Multicharts, SierraChart and NinjaTrader)
Available indicators
whereRU posted a question in Feature RequestsInstallation intuitive and connectivity couldn't be simpler for Win 8.1/Interactive Brokers. Beginning to learn the product and replicate functionality used in QuoteTracker. Please include the following indicators if possible: Volatility Stop - On the chart In QuoteTracker I select hide the indicator and show the value -- the value shows on the right scale with my selected color of the indicator, but the indicator does not show on the chart. In MT, when I select hide the indicator and show the value, both the indicator and value are hidden. Could MT be changed as it is helpful to see the value? Weighted TSI - True Strength Indicator The same as the TSI indicator, but with WMA (Weighted Moving Average) used to calculate it instead of the EMA. WTSI (Long term, short term, signal) Bottom indicator Stochastic Money Flow Index (MFI) This is a stochastic of the MFI indicator. StochMFI (Period, St period, signal) option for Wilder's smoothing Bottom indicator DeMarker This indicator is an oscillator - between 0 and 100, and tries to predict price reversals. Bullish price revesal is indicated by the oscillator rising above 70, while bearish price revesale is indicated by the oscillator falling below 30. The formula is as follows (H,L - current candle's high/low, PH,PL - previous candle's high/low) if H > PH then DeMax=H-PH else DeMax=0 if L < PL then DeMin=PL-L else DeMin=0 DeMark = 100*SMA(DeMax) / (SMA(DeMax) + SMA(DeMin)) Demarker(Period) Bottom indicator Tomorrow I will test performance with my first chart template during market hours and may have some additional feedback. Many thanks.
multiple time frame?
vrtrader64 posted a topic in SupportIs it possible to overlay indicators from a longer time frame chart onto a chart for a shorter time frame? (or vice versa) E.g. 10-day EMA on 15min Intraday chart. (i don't mean synthetically by converting units and plotting a 10*(60/15)*6.5 bar EMA on the 15min chart)


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When people find out I'm a Nutritional Therapist they often tell me that they eat a healthy diet. But what does that mean? I have my own understanding of healthy diet and it may not match with someone else's definition. To some it may mean they eat as the Government recommends, that they use artificial sweeteners rather than sugar, they eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. There is so much conflicting advice around now that it has become a real minefield as to what we should or should not be eating to be as healthy as we can. Should we go Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, low carb, low fat and so on and so forth!
Here are my 5 top tips to help you to enjoy a healthier diet.
|Eat food as close to its natural state as possible
|If your Great-Grandmother wouldn't recognise it as food, think twice before you eat it. By keeping food simple and as minimally processed as possible the amount of nutrients available to you if maximised along with the co nutrients needed to gain the most benefit. It also reduces unnecessary ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives and colours.
|Eat more plants
|Research has shown that people who include lots of plant foods in their diet tend to experience lower levels of serious disease. The fibre from plant foods feeds our gut bacteria as well as helping us get rid of toxins.
|Reduce your sugar intake
|All types of processed sugary foods and refined carbohydrates can contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance (a stepping stone towards Type 2 diabetes) and inflammation. Small amounts of fruit and natural sweeteners such as maple syrup and raw honey will contribute to the range of nutrients available to you as part of an overall balanced diet.
|Eat healthy fats
|We need fat in our diet, both saturated and unsaturated. Choose organic full fat dairy, olive oil, nuts & seeds, coconut oil, oily fish. The right kind of fat helps keep our bones and immune system strong, our brains functioning well, keeps our cells healthy and our helps our nerves communicate. It is now accepted that the fats found in processed foods can cause damage to our bodies and should be reduced or eliminated wherever possible.
|Keep well hydrated
|We only need to be dehydrated by 2% to start to feel the effects. Not everyone likes drinking water, but it really is the best thing we can have to keep hydrated. Try flavouring water with different herbs, slices of citrus fruit, different fruits, ginger or even herbal tea bags whatever you like. Remember though that herbal tea, green tea, white tea as well as small amounts of tea or coffee all counts. We also get water from our food so actually drinking 8 glasses of water a day isn't entirely necessary, just remember to get what you need from a variety of sources.
We lead such busy lives now, it can be difficult to find time to cook from scratch to provide the lovely nutritious meals we would like to give our families. There is also the added complication of who likes (or doesn't like) what, different schedules making it more difficult to sit down to a meal all at the same time, special dietary needs and so on and so forth. Hmmm, so what can we do? Well, as much or as little as you can. Don't feel guilty about not being able to cook from scratch every night, but do what you can. If that means using a ready made sauce choose one with the least amount of sugar and salt and add your own vegetables. Add an extra portion of fruit or vegetables to each meal. Add a handful of berries or some banana slices to your breakfast porridge, add tomatoes, mushrooms and a handful of greens to your breakfast eggs. How about some sliced avocado with your lunchtime salad or a handful of spinach in your soup. Get creative. As Michael Pollan says "if it comes from a plant eat it, if it's made in a plant, don't!"


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Half cop, half man
Watched all three RoboCop movies earlier in the week. Thoughts!
RoboCop: One of those films I'd been meaning to see for a long time, so it was nice to finally catch it.
Cop gets killed on duty, and is harvested as part of a cybernetic police enforcement system, turning him into the machine-man RoboCop! Drama ensues over RoboCop retaining memories of his human life, holding a grudge against the thugs who murdered him, and his correct executive manufacturers seeking to replace him with their own project.
It's a brainless, macho action movie about invincible cops wrecking everybody's shit, but there's a certain wit and heart to it. Commercial breaks and newscasts break up the film both to establish plot points, or simply to establish the futuristic society it takes place in, but they have a very dark humour to them, satirising the Cold War dread, showing nonchalant attitude to wanton destruction, death and other issues. They're small inclusions that are easy to forget about, but they genuinely help craft the atmosphere that surrounds the film.
Also, for all the corrupt executive backstabbing and crime clobbering, the human drama plays out very nicely. All sides of the story have decent, engaging storylines – the OCP company and their internal power struggles, the police going on strike, and Murphy as he struggles to come to terms with his identity. You come to see RoboCop shoot motherfuckers, but you stay because it does have a decent story going on. For an 80s sci-fi action flick, at lesat.
And really, it's hard to dislike it – it's an action movie icon! RoboCop's a macho movie powerhouse and it's hard to hate a robot that fills baddies full of lead in the name of justice.
RoboCop 2: One of those movies where I wasn't expecting anything memorable, but was hoping for at least a decent bit of entertainment. I'm not sure if it even amounted to that.
A group shilling a drug called Nuke are making things bad for Detroit, and RoboCop is taken apart by them, but when rebuilt he's filled with new directives in an attempt to make him a good role model – and a useless policeman. Meanwhile, OCP are looking to make a new robot police unit, and one of the Nuke cultists is chosen as its brain.
RoboCop 2 lacks a lot of the punch of the first movie. Basil Poledouris's booming score is absent; newscasts and advertisements are barely present, thus losing a lot of the original's satire and fast pace. Heck, RoboCop himself barely even has a story in this one. A lot of shit happens to him, but he himself does very little.
The movie begins with him having memories of his wife and child and is seen driving past their house everyday – his wife is brought in and RoboCop is effectively forced to deny that he is Alex Murphy. It's a very bitter scene for RoboCop, and demonstrates just how nasty the OCP execs are… and it's never brought up again. His wife leaves in tears, Murphy watches after her longingly, and that's it, no further expansion. A number of plot points in the film really seek to establish this as a direct continuation of the first one, but this doesn't add anything to the greater sum of things, and just seems to rub in the viewer's face, "hey, you interested in this sub-plot, huh? Well TOO BAD. We're gonna make RoboCop's wife cry."
And again with things that don't go anywhere, RoboCop gets rid of OCP's family-friendly reprogramming by erasing all of his directives. All of 'em! No "uphold the law" or anything, it says there's no directives at all. Does this mean RoboCop will go rampant and have no sense of right or wrong? Will he look at a human corpse and think that's good enough to feed a family of four? … who knows, because it doesn't mean anything! RoboCop still busts bad guys and shoots motherfuckers like he usually does. It's probably just shorthand to say that all of the two hundred directives the OCP gave him are gone, but you'd think something basic like "protect the innocent" would be nice to have in writing.
There's nothing personal at stake here. There were lots of plots in the first movie, but they were all tied to Murphy in some way – the police, the criminals, his manufacturers. Here, there's nothing. The bad guys are just generic drug dealers who just happen to get the focus. There's a RoboCop 2 who's going to replace him and has the brain of one of the dudes Murphy killed, but he had little conflict with the guy as a human, and fighting him as a robot offers no real engagement outside of neat stop-motion robot animation.
The film is two hours long, and although it doesn't drag, it does feel a bit slow-paced, especially without the frequent newscasts casting a bit of light on the weird future society. Basically, it's missing a lot of what the original so engaging, and has very little (if any) charms of its own to make up for it. It's pretty funny to see RoboCop trying to act like a good role model rather than a godless killing machine. Seeing him ride a motorcycle makes me chuckle. There's a scene in an arcade that's fun for game nerds to identify the wares, and the aforementioned stop-motion robot animation is bound to appeal to folks who appreciate the art.
But aside from those very niche draws, there's really not much worth seeing. It's the sort of thing you can have on in the background, watch a few bits, and know you're not missing an awful lot.
RoboCop 3: My expectations were really low after the rather pointless second instalment, but I was pleasantly surprised at how fun this was!
"Urban Rehabilitators" are in force to destroy housing and shuttle people to camps in preparation for building a new city, and the residents are fighting back. After the head of the organisation kills his partner, RoboCop sides with the 'rebels' to fight for what is right, rather than what is lawful. Meanwhile, a new brand of robot mercenary is out to snuff RoboCop.
RoboCop 2 lacked action, lacked humour, lacked heart… lacked a bit of everything, frankly. The third one can't restore it all, but it makes a decent effort. RoboCop is made a proper character again – he's much more human this time around, having more emotional scenes and a lot more snappy one-liners, and is taken in new directions. Having to disobey his lawful directives in favour of what he, as a human being, believes is right, is a very cool direction to take, and seeing some human interaction with the girl and his partner helps round out his character again. There's also a lot more whimsy to him this time – in the sense that he's got some wicked firepower to shoot motherfuckers. He not only has a machine gun arm replacement with built-in flamethrower, but he gets a freakin' flight suit. RoboCop with jets and smart bombs! It is exactly the sort of incredibly badass imagery that makes you pump your fist and exclaim, "fuck yeah!" And let's face it, that's what you should do anytime you see RoboCop. He's an icon worthy of fist pumping.
There's a more light-hearted vibe this time – the gore isn't anywhere near as brutal in the other films, and combined with the rather toy-etic enhancements to RoboCop (and the fact a kid is a main character, I suppose), it looks like it aims for a slightly younger audience. And to be honest, I'm almost surprised they didn't do that sooner – RoboCop kicks ass, man, and he's the sort of icon kids love. He's an image crafted for coolness, and it's no wonder everything from anti-smoking ads to fried chicken commercials seek him out. It results in a film that's a lot less gritty with a lot less satire… and I'm not sure what to use as a positive point, but if it gave us RoboCop with a jetpack and a flamethrower, I ain't complaining.
It's also nice that after two movies, we finally get to see the Detroit police actually do something rather than strike, and get to show their practical, human side by throwing away their badges and defending the town from the Rehabilitators. On the downside, it does kind of round off all the already-established plots – the OCP go down the tubes, Detroit is adamantly protected by RoboCop, and the tin man gets in touch with his human side. It takes care of everything, but not with a ball-bustingly extravagant conclusion.
It's the sort of movie you walk out of with a smile on your face, and then later think back on it and go, "it wasn't that great." It ain't a perfect movie, and it's still nowhere near the first one in terms of quality, but it's a fun ol' romp, which is more than I can say for the last film.


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Seven Fascinating Facts about Diamonds
Diamond engagement rings and stud earrings may be the current fashion, but there's much more to this centuries-old jewelry tradition.
Before diamond stud earrings and diamond engagement rings adorned the fingers and lobes of modern women everywhere, the Romans were using them to ward off evil spirits and Indians were wearing them as talismans.
As fascinating as this ancient practice may be, it's only the tip of the iceberg. Here are six more fun facts about the sparkling jewels beloved by us all:
- The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas," which means "unconquerable and indestructible" - making diamond engagement rings the perfect symbols of everlasting love.
- About two-thirds as old as the Earth itself, most diamonds are between one and three billion years old. And the sparkly stone on your diamond engagement ring? It was likely formed somewhere between 100 and 400 miles below the Earth's surface.
- Diamond jewelry didn't appear in its modern sparkling, brilliant form until 1456 - that's when facet-cutting and polishing were introduced in Europe by Louis Berghen of Bruges.
- The ring given to Mary of Burgundy from Archduke Maximillian of Austria in 1477 is the first recorded diamond engagement ring. Today, they're a standard around the world.
- Any woman who has ever owned a pair of princess-cut diamond stud earrings knows how beautiful this royal shape can be. But what you might not have realized is that the gems adorning your lobes were actually cut to bring out the fire of the diamond rather than its luster. (Which means your Princess-cut diamond stud earrings may actually appear more brilliant than your round diamond stud earrings.)
- General Electric has been producing synthetic diamonds for industrial purposes for years. However, until Gemesis cultured diamonds began commercial production in 2002, gem-quality lab-created diamonds that were large enough to cut for diamond stud earrings or diamond engagement rings were unavailable.
A beautiful gem with a remarkable history, diamonds have piqued the imagination, inspired lovers and given countless women glimmering to make them feel just a bit more beautiful for centuries. Discover your perfect diamond jewelry today.


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Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru 34 Days 23 August 2020
Amazonian rainforest, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white sandy beaches, and unique wildlife - the wonders of South America make for an incredible experience! Take...
World Journeys Countries
Peru is simply magical, overflowing with ancient history and packed with culture. The ancient Incas followed a sacred route all the way from Quito in Ecuador to the "navel of the world" Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca onto La Paz in Bolivia, and into Argentina. The route is oft followed today by travellers, soaking up sights, sounds and people along the way. Among many of Peru's other highlights there are the mysterious Nazca Lines, the Amazon rainforest where you can take a comfortable cruise or stay in a jungle lodge, the White City of Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, a breathtaking place where you can watch the majestic condors soaring high into clear blue skies. In addition to the variety of places you must visit is just to experience the culture of the people of Peru today at the local markets, in the cities and in the countryside.
• Machu Picchu
• Cuzco & the Sacred Valley
• Peru's Amazon
• Arequipa & the Colca Canyon
• The Nazca Lines
Peru is suitable all year round to visit most areas of interest, though the best season to travel if you are considering hiking the Inca trail is in the winter months Jun – Aug. A moderate wet season occurs during the summer months Dec – Mar and typically most of the remainder of the year you can expect clear blue skies and temperate climate. Naturally though, in the rainforest it rains year round – however the rain stops almost as soon as it starts.
Over the years having visited Peru many times, I have seen huge changes in the infrastructure for tourism which has only made this beautiful country even more appealing. There are more hotel options than ever before and a wide range from basic and cheerful, right up the glorious hotels such as La Casona in Cuzco, built from the 16th century mansion of the ruling Spanish conquistador family in the region. The transport system and facilities for travellers have also much improved, although I am glad that there have never been roads built right through to Machu Picchu. There is something so romantic and adventurous about only being able to make your way to the site by train journey, or by foot on the Inca Trail. The town of Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Picchu has seen the most change I feel, with what was a community of very poor local Indians, to now being able to see those are in employment, the children go to school and are being educated and there are lovely and colourful markets which help fund the local community. My very favourite hotel here is the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel which is a stone's throw from the main square and accommodation is in white-washed casitas superbly decorated, with your own terrace.
A visit to Machu Picchu, no matter how many times you go, is one of those awe-inspiring, thought provoking experiences that you will never forget in your lifetime.
A recent visit to the Peruvian Amazon was a real highlight – I like to travel in "comfort" these days and was a little skeptical how this could be achieved in the Amazon! However, after a short flight to Puerto Maldonado and a road transfer to the (very) small port, we took the 2 hour boat trip up the Madre de Dios to our wonderful lodge, the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Situated in its own reserve and surrounded by the tropical jungle canopy, there are private cabanas laid throughout the property each featuring soft crisp white beds, hammocks and a porch and most importantly, private bathrooms with flush loo and shower!
Full or half day excursions are offered each and every day with excellent guides taking you on hikes, canoe rides, canopy climbs and fishing trips. The jungle is home to many varieties of wildlife and hundreds of species of avifauna in their own habitat and it is so sad to leave!
There are so many other wonderful experiences in Peru, and many reasons to return again.
Currency Nuevo Sol
Language Spanish and Quechua are the official languages of Peru
Why we love it The cultural traditions, people and history enchanced by such diverse
landscapes as the Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the coastal plains. A visit to Peru means stuffing your suitcase full of treasured handicrafts that you have had fun bargaining for at one of the many markets, an endless supply of photos and video, a sudden fondness for the local beverages Coca Tea and Pisco Sours, and many reasons to return. The bustling red-roofed city of Cuzco is a destination worthy of several days exploring the colonial and Incan sites, followed by heading to the mysterious Incan ruins of Machu Picchu – lost in history and undiscovered by the Spaniards. En route make sure you include an overnight or two in the Sacred Valley – a soulful place of beautiful scenery and of course the Pisac Markets! For the most adventurous take the route the Incas used and walk the Inca Trail to enter Machu Picchu through the Gate of the Sun. For archaeologists or history buffs a visit to Northern Peru will be a treat as important ruins are still being unearthed even now! For the adventurers at heart we recommend heading to the Colca Canyon, arguably the deepest in the world and the Colca Valley – dotted with towns founded in colonial times and home to the majestic Andean condor.
Weather Peru is suitable all year round to visit most areas of interest, though if you are planning to hike the 'Classic Inca Trail' then it does not operate Dec-Mar. A moderate wet season occurs during the summer months Dec – Mar and naturally in the rainforest areas it rains a lot – though people visit year round as it usually rains for 2-3 hours of the day and the remainder of the day is sunshine.
Social customs & quirks Peruvians are an incredibly gracious and friendly towards visitors and will gladly pose for a photograph with their llamas or children, but please be sensitive and ensure that you ask first. As this is the real world, generally one or two Soles (a matter of cents to us) should be given. Peruvians have quietly preserved the traditions and cultures of the ancient Inca civilisations and here you will still get the most real experiences with locals who live their lives in much the same way for centuries. Music is a large part of society and you will enjoy the unmistakable sounds of the zampona long after you have left Peru.
Festivals & events Festivals in Peru are incredibly elaborate and colourful events with much parading through streets, dancing and costumes. One of the most important is the Incan Inti Raymi festival – Festival of the Sun – which takes place in Cuzco on June 24 in accordance with the winter solstice or more essentially celebrating the Sun's new year. It is a spectacle spanning several days and includes live concerts, expositions, street festivities and parades.
Health* There are currently no health requirements entering Peru, although there are recommendations for Yellow Fever vaccination and/or Malaria precautions dependant on the areas to be visited. Please note that some areas in Peru are at high altitude and we recommend ensuring that you allow rest days on arrival to those areas.
Please contact your health practitioner for full and current details.
Visas* NZ passport holders can obtain a tourist visa on arrival
Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru 34 Days 23 August 2020
Amazonian rainforest, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white sandy beaches, and unique wildlife - the wonders of South America make for an incredible experience! Take...
Cuba, Peru 20 Days 30 October 2020
- new date -
Trapped in a time warp as a result of the Cuban revolution in 1959 and subsequent economic embargo, there is nowhere else like Cuba.
Cuba, Peru 20 Days 30 April 2021
- new date -
Trapped in a time warp as a result of the Cuban revolution in 1959 and subsequent economic embargo, there is nowhere else like Cuba.
Amazon, Peru 16 Days / 15 Nights
A Luxury Journey
Explore the mighty Amazon on foot and on the river. In Cuzco, stay in a 16th century mansion once occupied by the first conquistadors...
Amazon, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru 22 Days / 21 Nights
Ancient cultures and rich heritage await you in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. You'll marvel at spectacular wildlife in the Galapagos Islands with massive tortoises,
Peru 10 Days / 9 Nights
Explore the heart of South America, Peru - rich in history, customs and culture. Visit the wondrous Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons...
Peru 3 Days / 2 Nights
Travel from Arequipa to Cusco
Travel from Arequipa to Cuzco in unforgettable style. Savour the unforgettable indulgence of the Belmond Andean Explorer train as you are whisked through Peru's...
Peru 3 Days / 2 Nights
Cusco to Lake Titicaca to Arequipa
Embark on the ultimate Peruvian escape and journey from Cuzco to Arequipa in luxury and style, visiting charming Puno and majestic Lake Titicaca. Excursions...
Peru 2 Days / 1 Night
Puno to Cusco
Discover the Spirit of the Andes as you journey aboard this luxury train from Puno to Cuzco. Let yourself be enchanted by some of...
Peru 2 Days / 1 Night
Cusco to Puno
Be swept up in the beauty of Lake Titicaca, the stunning final destination as you travel from Cuzco to Puno. Train journeys aboard the...
Bolivia, Peru 13 Days / 12 Nights
Travel from Cuzco to Puno and Lake Titicaca through the heartland of the Inca Empire. Begin by touring Lima, for so long the most...
Peru 6 Days / 5 Nights
An ideal introduction to Cuzco and Machu Picchu and the delightful Sacred Valley of the Incas. This area is very rich in history and...
Peru 4 Days / 3 Nights
Framed by summits which once housed the Inca civilization and zigzagging along the waters of the Urubamba River, the Sacred Valley, Cuzco and Machu...
Argentina, Brazil, Peru 20 Days / 19 Nights
South America is simply magical, overflowing with ancient history and packed with culture. On this journey through Argentina, Peru and Brazil, you'll tick off...
Amazon, Peru 3, 4, or 7 night Cruises
Explore an area of unspoilt wilderness! Two and a half million hectares of protected, Amazonian jungle offering an abundance of natural wonders, dramatic scenery,
Amazon, Peru 5 Days / 4 Nights
Explore one of the world's most intriguing environments; five million acres of protected, flooded Amazonian jungle offering an abundance of natural wonders, dramatic scenery,
Bolivia, Peru 12 Days / 11 Nights
Experience the very best of Peru and Bolivia in complete luxury. Starting in Lima you will explore this fascinating city with it's mix of...
Peru 6 Days / 5 Nights
Discover Cuzco and Machu Picchu while staying in stylish historic hotels and enjoying a famous journey on board the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham train...
Peru 7 Days / 6 Nights
Follow in the footsteps of the Inca on this once in a lifetime physical, cultural, and spiritual journey that will take you through the...
Peru 4 Days / 3 Nights
On this four day hike along the famous Inca Highway you'll enjoy stunning mountain and cloud forest scenery and explore ruins dating back to...
Peru 5 or 7 Days
The Lares Trail, a wonderful alternative to the more heavily travelled Inca Trail, is noted for its cultural attractions, including traditional weavers attired in...


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Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a happy week!
#1 is gorgeous - you had me at gray ... then you top the whole post off with #2 and #3 and BOOM!!! mind blown, TaeEun!!! What a gorgeous color combination ... off to learn how to do every little thing ... xx
Three gorgeous cards TaeEun and the colour combination is so pretty. I love the roses and the pretty white embossed lattice stamp, and the stamped peonies together with the die cut peonies go beautifully on the second, and I love the striped background stamp which gives a good contrast to the white die cut peonies on the third. x
Da merkt man nichts davon, dass Du mit diesen Farben Schwierigkeiten hast. Die unteren zwei sind traumhaft schön!
You did an amazing job with this color combo, TaeEun! All three cards are absolutely gorgeous!


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Academics Departments
Department Info:Supervisor: Renny WhittenbargerEmail: firstname.lastname@example.com Head: Erin HattabaughEmail: firstname.lastname@example.com Assistant: Ruth GardnerEmail: email@example.com
Programs Offered:
*Automotive*Business Technology*Cosmetology*Criminal Justice*Culinary Arts*Digital Media Production*Engineering*Health Science*Marketing*Robotics*Work Based Learning*School Based Enterprise*Computer Science AP
Department Links:
Department Info:Department Head: Athena DavisEmail: email@example.com: Anna Spears, Jennifer Colbaugh, Athena Davis,Kaitlyn Poulakis, Caitlyn DeLoach, Brian DeLoach,Patricia Flowers, Amelia Ribeiro, Linda Lemons,Mallory PickertMission Statement: Blogs, tweets, journals, resumes,reports, essays, research, stories, poems, or even novelsare all part of the writing skills used today. Thediversity of skills needed throughout life is met by theEnglish Department at Cleveland High School. Studentsearn the required four credits for graduation and alsohave the opportunity to take elective classes. The EnglishDepartment wants CHS graduates to leave with the skillsthey will need in their future personal and professionallives.
Courses Offered:*English I; English I Honors*English II; English II Honors*English III; English III AP Honors*English IV; English IV Honors/AP;English IV Honors/Dual E*Holocaust Literature*Creative Writing*Bible as Literature*Yearbook I-IV*Public Speaking*Film and Media
Department Links:
Fine Arts:
Department Info:Department Head: Don Markham
Email: email@example.com
Faculty: Chip Atha, Colin Campbell, Sigrid Orr, Jim Burton, Rhonda Ferguson
Courses Offered:
* Art I & II
* Art III & IV: Honors Courses
* Theater I, II, III
* Music Appreciation
* Ebony & Ivory(Coed Choir)
* Silhouettes(All Girl Choir)
* Renaissance(Show Choir)
*Marching Band
*Concert Band
* Survey of Fine Arts
Department Links:
Follow CHS Theater on FB
Foreign Language:
Department Info:
Department Head: Jeremy Smith
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: Jeremy Smith, Carole Dale,Micah Bradbury, Nicole Williams, Susan Rodriguez,Karina BurguenoMission Statement: The Language Department atCleveland High School consists of three languages:Spanish, French, and German. Students will not onlylearn to read, write, and speak the language, they willalso learn about the culture behind the language. Thereare many creative projects in each class centered aroundthe geography, traditions, and people of each foreigncountry.
Courses Offered:*French I and II*German I, II, and III AP Honors*Spanish I, II, III, IV, and V
Department Links:
Department Info:Department Head: Mark MilesEmail: firstname.lastname@example.com: Bridgette Matthews, Brad Self,Valerie Capps, Delisa Dismukes, Jon Stanford,Heather Turner, Latishua Scurlock,Catherine Seymour, Donna Lett, StephanieGarcia
Courses Offered:*Algebra IA and IB*Geometry and Geometry Honors*Algebra II and Algebra II Honors*Trigonometry*Pre-Calculus Honors*Statistics*Statistics AP Honors*Calculus Honors*Calculus AP Honors*Bridge Math
Department Links:
Department Info:
Department Head: Andi Wendorf
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: Jeanie Long, Eric Blackburn,Sean Russell, Ben Cantrell, Holly Parker,Richard Boyd, Keith Elliott, Jo Miles,Bella Krecklow
Courses Offered:*Physical Science*Biology I and Biology II*Environment Science*Chemistry I and Chemistry I Honors*Chemistry II*Physics and AP Physics*Aquatic Biology
Department Links:
Social Studies:
Department Info:
Department Head: Julie Phillips
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Faculty: Melissa Adams, Nick Cantrell
Adam Renshaw, Brad Benefield, John Brose,
Jeremy Finch, Steve Stephenson, Steven Mullins, and Seth LaManga
Courses Offered:
*Human Geography AP Honors*Modern World History Honors*American History GL/AP/DE/H*American Government/Economics*American Government Honors*Contemporary Issues Honors*Early American History Honors*Economics Honors*European History AP/DE/H*Psychology GL/AP/DE/H*ACT Prep*Music History
Department Links:
Physical Education:
Department Info:
Department Head: Eric Phillips
Email: email@example.com
Faculty: Miles Christian, Jason McCowan, Scott Cummings, Preston Scoggins, Jamie Baird, Tom Marino, Tony Williams, Dustin Fromm, Brandon Harmon
Courses Offered:
* Wellness* Driver's Education
* Personal Finance
* Body Sculpting
* Physical Education
* Weight Lifting
* Personal Fitness*Lifetime Fitness
Department Links:


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Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:
April 2
The New York Times on the Supreme Court and racism:
In the last speech of his life, on April 3, 1968, in Memphis, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. laid out the case for the dignity and equality of African-Americans as simply as he could. "We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are determined to be men. We are determined to be people," he said. "All we say to America is, 'Be true to what you said on paper."'
The moral clarity of that appeal is bracing, and so is the difficulty of achieving it — a fact that is evident nowhere as much as in the fight for voting rights. As Dr. King knew well, the history of voting in the United States was, and is, in large part the history of white people in power devising endless ways to keep black people from casting a ballot.
It's been true all along, from the complete disenfranchisement of slavery to the effective silencing of the Jim Crow era up to now, when a welter of clever and at times subtle laws operates to make it harder for minorities to get to the polls, and to have an equal voice — or any voice at all — in the choice of our representatives and policies.
This is always a serious matter, but especially now, as the midterm elections approach with control of Congress at stake. As recent elections in Virginia and Alabama have shown, minority voters can make all the difference.
Dr. King understood this half a century ago, which is why he considered the right to vote the centerpiece of the civil rights movement. "Voting is the foundation stone for political action," he wrote in an essay titled "Civil Right No. 1," which ran in The New York Times Magazine in March 1965, days after the march and bloodshed in Selma and months before the Voting Rights Act would become law.
The right to vote wasn't just "the most fundamental of all privileges of democracy," Dr. King wrote; it would, if truly enjoyed by black Americans, transform the entire country. "Our vote would place in Congress true representatives of the people who would legislate for the Medicare, housing, schools and jobs required by all men of any colour."
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is arguably the most popular and effective civil rights law in the nation's history. Soon after it passed, black registration and turnout skyrocketed. In Mississippi, 7 per cent of eligible black voters were registered in 1965; two years later, 60 per cent were. Still, the law shouldn't have been necessary. The constitutional amendments it codified had been passed about a century earlier but then were systematically undermined by a racist regime determined to protect white power. And even though Congress has reauthorized the law four times — the last time, in 2006, the Senate approved it 98 to 0 — it still requires frequent care and tending by the federal courts, especially the Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, the court's conservative majority has severely weakened the protections the law was intended to provide. The biggest blow came in a 2013 decision, Shelby County v. Holder. In that case, the five conservative justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., gutted the heart of the act, which identified several states with long histories of voting discrimination, most in the South, and required them to get federal permission before changing their voting laws. While that remedy may have been a necessary response to 1960s-era racism, the chief justice wrote, "things have changed dramatically."
In one sense, he was right: Racial discrimination in voting is no longer as blatant or systemic as it was in 1965. But the idea that the American fixation on race and power had magically evaporated in just a few decades was, at best, strikingly naive. It was also disproved within hours of the court's ruling, when Republican lawmakers in Texas and North Carolina, both states that had been covered by the Voting Rights Act, rammed through discriminatory new voting laws that they had been gunning to pass for years, including some that had been blocked under the act.
If this wasn't enough evidence that things have not, in fact, changed dramatically, the point was driven home by the election of Donald Trump in 2016, and the resurgence of overt racism and white nationalism that has followed, with no meaningful pushback from the president.
In the years before Mr. Trump's election and in the time since, Republican lawmakers around the country aggressively pushed through laws to make voting harder for certain groups, particularly minorities. Poll taxes and literacy tests have given way to voter-ID laws, cutbacks to early voting and same-day registration, polling place closings, voter-roll purges, racially discriminatory redistricting and felon disenfranchisement laws — most of which, though justified on race-neutral grounds, harm minority voters more.
They can also depress turnout, when voters who are not in fact blocked from voting become discouraged by a state apparatus that exudes hostility toward their attempts to exercise their fundamental right.
Are these laws, passed almost invariably by Republican lawmakers, intentionally racist? Or are they merely taking partisan advantage of the fact that black people today vote overwhelmingly for Democrats? It shouldn't matter. Either way, black voters are targeted, their right to vote hampered.
In the past couple of years, lower federal courts — notably in Texas, Wisconsin and North Carolina, home to some of the worst voting laws in the country — have begun to recognize this. They have become more skeptical of lawmakers' rationales for passing voting restrictions and have zeroed in on the real impact of such laws on minorities and other vulnerable groups. In striking down a remarkably harsh North Carolina law in 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found that lawmakers had targeted black voters "with almost surgical precision."
This is an important step toward a robust judicial defence of voting rights. Now Congress must repair the damage the Supreme Court inflicted on the Voting Rights Act. The most important fix is to restore and strengthen the federal government's oversight of states and localities that continue to discriminate in voting. This would stop bad laws before they could take effect. It would also eliminate the years of delays that are part of most election-related litigation.
Fifty years after his death, Dr. King's message is as urgent as it ever was: Justice delayed is justice denied. That may be the most insidious legacy of the court's Shelby County decision. Lawmakers get free rein to discriminate, while citizens must file private lawsuits and then wait, often years, while elections keep being held, representatives keep getting elected and policies keep getting made.
The Supreme Court has two options. It can follow the lead of the lower federal courts and be more honest about discriminatory voting laws, or it can stick with the wilful blindness of its 2013 ruling and let discrimination flourish.
To make the right choice, the justices need only look to someone like Representative John Lewis, the 16-term Georgia congressman who was nearly beaten to death while marching in Selma. Or they can look to Dr. King himself, who would have turned 89 in January. America was legally an apartheid state in living memory. That fact should serve as a corrective to the dangerous notion that "things have changed" enough in the short time since to let our guard down.
Online: https://www.nytimes.com/
April 2
The Charlotte Observer on Sinclair Broadcast Group's required scripts:
A TV anchor stares at the camera and recites a seemingly-benign script about the dangers of fake news and why her station prides itself on "quality, balanced journalism." But it's not just that one anchor; it is dozens across the country, all working for Sinclair Broadcast Group, all literally reading off the same script.
"We're concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media," the script reads. "More alarming, some media outlets are publishing these same fake stories without checking facts first. Unfortunately, some members of the media are using their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control 'exactly what people think' … This is extremely dangerous to our democracy."
Sinclair, which owns or operates 193 stations and is the nation's largest broadcaster, provided the script. It's what the anchors don't say that's so disturbing and, frankly, embarrassing to every journalist who participated in what many are comparing to hostage videos – that they were mandated to do those spots, which strongly resemble President Donald Trump's words. They were told to use time slotted for news, not for advertising, and to repeat the message often. The anchors don't mention that inside their newsrooms, journalists have felt uncomfortable because their integrity is being undercut by a corporation seeking to expand its reach by buying Tribune Media.
Sinclair, which has several stations in the Carolinas, became infamous late in the 2004 election cycle when it forced its stations to air a misleading segment about Democrat John Kerry. It has recently forced stations to air commentary by a former Trump campaign official known for making false claims, as well as something called the "Terrorism Alert Desk."
According to CNN, a Sinclair news station director sent this email to his newsroom: "Let me be absolutely clear here … These MUST run. If they do not, my job is on the line. I don't say that to scare you by any means but I do say this so you understand how serious (Sinclair) is about this project."
An investigative reporter told the cable network: "It sickens me the way this company is encroaching upon trusted news brands in rural markets."
Journalists have a responsibility to serve as a bulwark against threats to a free press. It won't be easy. Local reporters are under enormous pressure to do more with less. It's no small thing to ask someone to risk his job. But that is the stance journalists ask others to take, including the politician pressured to take extreme positions and the man forced to choose between a paycheque and reporting unscrupulous banking practices.
Many consumers want only news that confirms what they want to believe. But journalists are called to respect news consumers enough to give them truth. They can't do that by dutifully following commands that undercut their own credibility.
That's why this shouldn't be a wake-up call only for Sinclair employees. All media outlets must redouble their commitment to more responsibly – and fearlessly – wield the power they've been granted.
Online: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/
April 2
Billings Gazette calls for Yellowstone Gateway protections:
With time running short on temporary protection for public land north of Yellowstone National Park, the U.S. Forest Service last week released the draft environmental assessment needed to withdraw federal minerals from mining for up to 20 years.
The protection process requires the Forest Service to complete that document, but additional steps are needed to keep 30,000 acres of forest land unimpaired by large-scale gold mining that two firms with foreign financing are threatening.
The public lands at issue adjoin two proposed mine exploration sites: one at Emigrant about 25 miles south of Livingston on the east side of the Yellowstone River, the other at Crevice Mountain on the northern border of Yellowstone Park east of Gardiner. For the past few years, hundreds of residents of Paradise Valley and neighbouring areas have asked federal authorities to prevent commercial mining by putting public minerals off limits to leasing.
Former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell issued a two-year pause on any mineral leasing in Paradise Valley effective Nov. 22, 2016. Although the land is managed by the USDA Forest Service, the underground minerals are the purview of the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management. Secretary Ryan Zinke will decide whether to extend the mineral withdrawal past Nov. 22.
"We really want this to be done and completed by then," said Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition spokeswoman Karrie Kahle. "The clock is ticking."
With more than 400 members, the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition has led efforts to prevent mining on these two tracts of public land. The mineral withdrawal wouldn't apply to private land or existing mining claims.
"The Forest Service should be commended for producing a detailed and comprehensive plan to help us prevent pollution of our clean water and the erosion of our local businesses and way of life," said Dale Sexton, a Livingston business owner and founding member of the Gateway Coalition. "Montana businesses will pursue the maximum protections allowed by the EA to divert foreign mining companies from developing industrial mines on the doorstep to Yellowstone National Park."
Zinke supported the Yellowstone Gateway mineral withdrawals in statements he made while Montana's lone congressman and again since he became Interior secretary. We call on Zinke to put his words into action by approving the maximum protection he can: a 20-year withdrawal order issued before Nov. 22.
The bipartisan Gateway Coalition will continue to seek action from Montana's delegation because only Congress can permanently protect this public land from mining that is otherwise controlled by the long-antiquated Mining Law of 1872.
To their credit, Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Greg Gianforte have introduced bills to permanently protect the 30,000 acres split between Emigrant and Crevice Mountain. However, Sen. Steve Daines has effectively blocked Tester's bill, which had a hearing in a Senate subcommittee Daines chairs.
Oddly, Daines' office issued a press release Thursday quoting the senator saying he is "glad . the U.S. Forest Service is following the local community's wishes to protect this area that is critical to Montana's outdoor economy. I will continue to explore opportunities to move forward with permanent protection."
So far Daines is all talk and no action. He need not "explore;" Tester and Gianforte have already put their constituents' request into legislation. With Daines' support, those public lands could have been protected in the big budget bill that passed last month. Yellowstone Gateway protection won't become permanent unless Daines acts. Montanans are watching what Daines does — not only what he says about Paradise Valley.
Online: http://billingsgazette.com/
April 2
The Seattle Times on a ruling that coffee must come with warning labels in California:
Don't worry, coffee-addled Seattleites: You and your morning ritual are safe.
Despite a Los Angeles judge's ruling that in California coffee must carry a warning label, there's little cause for concern.
California's Proposition 65 labeling certainly delivers a jolt, notifying consumers of the presence of chemicals the state has listed as causing cancer and birth defects.
And while it's smart to be cautious about food and drink, here's something to ease your caffeinated mind. California's coffee shop warning relates to acrylamide, a chemical produced when coffee beans are roasted. Acrylamide has been shown to cause cancer in rodents, but that's when they are given doses up to 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than what people might be exposed to in foods, according to the American Cancer Society.
In 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer cited a lack of evidence that coffee drinking causes cancer in humans. In fact, drinking coffee can reduce people's risk of developing common cancers and heart disease. A British Medical Journal review of more than 200 studies published last fall found that drinking three or four cups of coffee a day "is associated with health benefits across a range of diseases," including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
California's toxics labeling initiative is well intended, but by attempting to condense an entire body of scientific literature into a placard, the java warnings are not helpful.
Such labeling may steer some consumers away from a product that may actually help reduce their cancer risk. In other words, don't be afraid of your morning — or afternoon — coffee.
Online: https://www.seattletimes.com/
March 30
The Boston Herald on the return of 'Roseanne' and the appeal of Donald Trump:
The return of the hit TV sitcom "Roseanne" couldn't have come at a better time. It's an opportunity for many Americans to be introduced to the working class.
In the show, Roseanne Conner (Roseanne Barr) is a Trump supporter. She's got a bad knee but can't get treatment because her insurance won't cover it. Her husband, Dan, played again by John Goodman, wears a sleep apnea device and does drywall work for a living, though he should probably be retired.
The Conners represent a typical Midwestern blue-collar family. But it could be many blue-collar families everywhere. They love God and serve their country. They own guns, drink beer and shop at Target and Walmart. They are good and decent people.
And they are struggling. That is front and centre in explaining their support for Donald Trump.
In the show, Roseanne's sister Jackie, played by Laurie Metcalf, asks, "How could you vote for him?"
"He talked about jobs, Jackie. He said he'd shake things up," Roseanne shot back.
Exactly. That is the life of the working class that elites in this country never bothered to learn about or understand. Instead they called them dumb and deplorable. Not one thought was given to the struggles of the "Roseanne class."
Their plight is on display everywhere, including in Massachusetts, where it happens in our neighbourhoods.
Parents whose kids see children across the street in Little League uniforms and want to play. But mom and dad can't afford it and so they make up a reason at the block party for public consumption but feel a stab of pain every time they think about it.
Working families who use the self-checkout at the grocery store not because the cashiers don't look like them, but because they know they're going to have their credit cards rejected multiple times before one finally works and they don't want anyone to see.
Right now somebody is probably reading this Herald in a break room somewhere, exhausted, wondering why two jobs isn't enough anymore.
While the most fortunate in our country make the agonizing choice as to whether or not to wear their $1,000 Canada Goose jacket for another season, there are many who've been out of work so long that their self-esteem is shattered and they just want to feel like real people again.
The "Roseanne class" is trying to survive and stay positive at the same time. They'd love to be in a position to complain about one of their Amazon Prime deliveries being a day late but they're too busy trying to fend off poverty.
The "Roseanne class" doesn't need lectures from coastal elites and they don't need to endure never-ending insults. They are not so dumb. When the smartest, most well-heeled dandies in high society with all their degrees scoffed at working Americans as moronic rubes for thinking Donald Trump could be president, blue-collar Americans knew better.
The "Roseanne class" voted for Trump because they needed jobs and they needed things to be shaken up, and we had better start respecting that. They are living week to week and need help now and have little time for Stormy Daniels, Russian conspiracy theories and smarmy late-night talk hosts telling third-rate jokes about orange Cheetos.
We'd be wise to quell our knee-jerk impulse to mock their accents and attire because though they may not know how to dress for West Hollywood they certainly know how to dress for war and they do every time they are called to defend this country.
The redux of Roseanne includes a nod to the troops and law enforcement and also just happens to be a hilarious show. More importantly we can also hope that it may be a way to finally bridge the gap between the two Americas of 2018. In the show, both sides are gently skewered with clever barbs tossed back and forth on an equal level, but the comedy is brilliantly used as covering fire for important conversation.
Conversation. Remember that?
Online: http://www.bostonherald.com/
April 4
Business Day (South Africa) on the legacy of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela:
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who died on Monday, was a divisive character in life and is proving so in death too. But beyond the acrid debates about how she is "seen" or "understood" stands a powerful, iconic, somewhat misunderstood, somewhat flawed figure who had an enormous influence on South African politics. For that alone, we all owe her a debt of recognition and honour, even if those sentiments incorporate the requirement of forgiveness too.
To Madikizela-Mandela's many supporters, she could do no wrong, even when doing wrong because of a depressingly frequent response to many of the dilemmas into which she was willingly and unwillingly thrust. To her many enemies, she could do no right, even though her resilience and passion were just two of her very obvious strengths.
It is a rare person who contains contradictions so grand that her weaknesses were also, in a way, her strengths and her strengths sometimes mutated into weaknesses. In a life filled with ironies, Madikizela-Mandela endured with superhuman strength not only her own incarceration but the incarceration of her husband, Nelson Mandela, for 27 years, only for her marriage to fall apart two years after he was released from prison.
Arguably, her greatest political act was selflessly keeping the name of her husband alive while he was in prison. But doing so involved its own internal contradiction because as soon as he was free, her notional political function all but fell away.
To add irony to irony, Mandela himself was torn not only by his wife's infidelity but by her politics of hatred and anger. The duo constituted a kind of yin and yang of South African politics, representing in their own way the supremacy of revenge over reconciliation and vice versa.
For those who would castigate Madikizela-Mandela for her choice, it is worth bearing in mind the awful fate inflicted on her by the apartheid authorities: incarceration, torture, banishment and living for years under a banning order aimed at isolating her from her political supporters. This in addition to living a kind of distant parallel life with her husband whom she could visit only infrequently and always separated by a pane of glass.
Yet Madikizela-Mandela somehow always managed to make things worse. There is a good chance the apartheid security forces used her wilfulness and anger to try and split the struggle movement, yet even the most active supporter cannot but acknowledge her active contribution in this process. Her anger made her impressively defiant, but also a tempestuous liability.
The lowest point was perhaps the notorious Mandela United Football Club incident. Even before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, hardly an instrument of apartheid oppression, Madikizela-Mandela refused to show remorse for abductions and murders carried out in her name. Only after pleading from anguished commission chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu did she admit grudgingly that "things went horribly wrong".
And they kept going wrong. Her frustration and anger only grew over the years. She became progressively more angry and distant from the ANC, the party she once declared she was married to, and happily so in contrast to her own marriage. How corrosive that must have been to her psyche.
How embarrassing that must still be to her political spouse. It is no wonder she is championed now with real feeling not by her own party but by the EFF, the radical group she openly supported. In a sense, she divorced twice, and was twice embittered by it.
Yet, she did reconcile with her actual former husband during his final days, displaying once again the courage she always had. In the end, Madikizela-Mandela deserves to be honoured if not for her politics then at the very least for her personal resilience, courage and fortitude. May she achieve in death the peace that eluded her in life.
Online: https://www.businesslive.co.za/


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Another hump day, another "prompt" for #1lineWed. Today's word is **NOD**. Holy cannoli but my characters nod a lot–at least in the first draft. Which this is. So, cut me some slack, 'kay? Those nods/nodded will mostly change to chin tucks and other physical descriptions of affirmation. *nods* 😉
So this snippet from NIGHT MOVES is pretty self-explanatory. Enjoy!
Chapter 3 – Hollywood
Digger and I met up with Deadhead and a few of his boys at a truck stop outside of Topeka. There were three unknown bikes parked at the motel next door. When we discovered the desk clerk was female, the brothers decided I should saunter on over there to question her. I wasn't sure I appreciated the rep but whatever. I like women. Women like me. They went away satisfied. My dick was happy. Win-win, right?
When the front entrance doors slithered open, the clerk looked up with a bright smile on her face–until she saw me. She backed away from the desk, her eyes wide and frightened. I held up my right hand, palm toward her in that universal sign of "I won't hurt you."
"Easy, babe. Take a breath." I thought she might actually pass out. "I'm just here for some information. That's all." I stayed back from the counter trying to look all shucks and grins. Totally harmless. Easy should have been the one sent on this ride because he wore that look naturally.
After a few breaths, she nodded at me, straining to put a professional face on. "How may I help you, sir?"
I offered one of my charming grins. "I'm Hollywood. The bikes outside, who do they belong to?"
She blanched and her hands shook. Motherfuckers. This was a girl just trying to make a living but she was scared shitless.
"Were they wearing cuts?"
Her brows scrunched a little and I caught a slight shake of her head, as if she was confused by the question. I pointed to my vest. "A cut. Colors. Either a vest or jacket with patches."
Her mouth formed an "O" and for once I wasn't thinking about how sweetly it would feel around my dick. The girl was too scared and that just pissed me off.
I half-turned so she could see the leaping wolf with the comet tail that was the Nightrider patch. "Does their patch look like this?" She shook her head and took a relieved breath. "Ugly-ass dog with horns?" She pressed her lips together and nodded. "They been hassling you?" Wide-eyed, she nodded again. "Don't go anywhere."
What about y'all? Do you have nodding characters? Are you nodding over any books? Share!


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Many Americans may be dissatisfied with Congress, but three of the Houston-area's nine House members won't face a challenger in next year's elections. And three others face little-known primary opponents who are new to the political stage.
Veteran Reps. Al Green, D-Houston, Gene Green, D-Houston, and Ted Poe, R-Humble, won challenger-free returns to Capitol Hill in 2012 with the end of candidate filing in Austin on Monday.
Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones said the three incumbents without challengers enjoy safe districts, strong support from party faithful and allied interest groups as well as reliable funding by partisan donors.
"These are entrenched incumbents," said Jones. "Their seats are unwinnable by a candidate from the other party."
Additionally, Poe faces no challenge from tea party activists in the GOP primary because he is widely known as reliable conservative. "He isn't considered a moderate Republican by the tea party or anybody else," Jones said.
Three Republican lawmakers face little-known GOP challengers in the Texas primary April 3 to win the opportunity to square off with a Democratic challenger on Nov. 6 – Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, and Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands.
McCaul, chairman of a subcommittee within the House Homeland Security Committee, will face Republican Ernie Beltz Jr. of Austin, a founder of the Warrior Transition Project, Inc., and a former veterans employment program manager for the federal government. The winner will face Democrat Dan Grant of Austin, a State Department consultant who sought the seat four years ago.
Olson, a second term lawmaker and member of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, faces Republican Barbara J. Carlson of Sugar Land, a widow with two grown sons who took over her late husband's insurance business after he died in 1996. Olson has raised $509,000 for a re-election drive that he hopes clears the way to face the winner of a three-way Democratic contest. The rival Democrats include: KP George of Sugar Land, an India-born immigrant who owns an independent financial planning practice; Kesha Rogers, of Stafford, a follower of Lyndon LaRouche; and Doug Blatt of Pearland, an information systems specialist in Houston.
Brady faces opponent
Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, vice chairman of the House-Senate Economic Committee and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, also faces a GOP challenge by Larry Youngblood, of Hilltop Lakes, a fifth generation Texan and graduate of Texas A&M University who sold his financial and economic forecasting business to enter retirement. If he prevails in the primary, Brady would square off in November against Democrat Neil Burns of The Woodlands, a former Shell Oil executive.
Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, chairman of a subcommittee within the powerful House Appropriations Committee, does not face a primary challenger but will face the winner of a Democratic two-person primary contest pitting James Cargas of Houston against Phillip Andrews of Sugar Land. Nor did Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, draw a primary challenger. But she faces a Republican, Sean Seibert of Houston, next November.
The retirement of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, who has served in Congress since 1989, has unleashed the busiest scramble in the greater Houston area. No less than 10 Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to succeed Paul, including John Gay of Dickinson; Tim Day of Galveston; Mark A. Mansius of West Columbia; Felicia Harris of Pearland; Robert Gonzalez of Friendswood; Randy Weber of Pearland; Bill Sargent of Galveston; Michael Truncale of Beaumont; Jay Old of Beaumont; and George Harper of Brazoria.
Four new House seats
With Texas' population growth leading to creation of four new congressional districts, two will stretch into the greater Houston area to give the metropolitan area greater representation on Capitol Hill. A new 34th Congressional District has drawn six Republicans into a primary to potentially face Democrat Murphy Alade Junaid of Corpus Christi.
And the new 36th Congressional Cistrict, which includes part of Greater Houston, has drawn seven Republicans into a primary to face Democrat Max Martin of Houston in November.
With final boundaries for Texas' congressional districts in 2012 awaiting a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, candidate filings are expected to reopen in January in time to meet a new Feb. 1 filing deadline to set the stage for an April 3 primary. Candidates could withdraw their names from the ballot at that point.


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Venue: Zouk Club, Singapore
Date: 17th May 2014
Promoter: Zouk Entertainment Pte Ltd
Review by: Hanis A.
Special Thanks: Charmaine, and the Zouk Club team
Two Saturday nights ago, we had the pleasure of having Guy and Howard Lawrence of Disclosure grace us with their magic technique.
Debuting in 2010, the duo only broke through the scene in 2012 with a cleaner, more pop-oriented sound featuring artist collaborations. They had their first UK hit in October 2012, with the single "Latch", featuring vocals from Sam Smith. This got them more attention from around the world leading to more international gigs, and finally landing here in Singapore. When their album, Settle, was released in May 2013, they gained a Grammy nomination, not too shabby for a new up-and-comer.
Playing at Zouk for Bassic presents, the Lawrence brothers managed to attract a huge crowd to Zouk that evening. So much such that there was only enough space for people to do the side step on the dancefloor, which probably was not satisfying enough for anyone to express their love for Disclosure's entrancing beats. Nevertheless, everyone found their own space on the dance floor and let Guy and Howard take over the room.
The boys knew exactly what the crowd wanted and unleashed the crowd favourite, "When A Fire Starts To Burn", almost immediately. As soon as the words "when a fire starts to burn" played on the speakers, the crowd went crazy, singing along to every word and using up every square inch of their little space on the dance floor to move their bodies. This thankfully distracted everyone from the crowdedness and set them all into high spirits.
Of course they played the inevitable "White Noise" and "Latch" to maintain the mood. It was almost impossible to keep yourself from moving to the beat, and with the booming speakers, it was inevitable that you realize how proficient the Disclosure boys are, from behind their computers all the way to their live set up. The boys are proficient producers but they were also flawless in delivering a perfect mix and flow during their live performance.
At some points during the set, Guy and Howard addressed the crowd and thanked them, setting the crowd off again. To close, they played their remix of Outkast's "Ms. Jackson". It was, in my opinion, a classy way to close a set; who wouldn't go crazy to Outkast? It was a nice change of pace for the crowd to calm down to.
By the end of the set, Guy and Howard said their thanks and left the DJ podium, leaving the crowd with nothing but their almost satisfied appetites. Hopefully the two of them come back in the future to quench that little bit of thirst, and also play a bigger venue so people can have a little more room to dance according to their magic technique.


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As we start the first work week of the New Year, much of the country finds itself in a deep freeze. Today, our immediate concern is for the service techs who are making repairs, in-out-under-around the house in the freezing temperatures. It will be important for technicians to pay closer attention to changes they experience with their bodies while working outside in the extremely cold temperatures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following essential safety tips when working in extremely cold conditions:
- Wear layers of loose clothing and avoid tight clothing, as it can restrict blood circulation.
- Ensure the ears, face, hands and feet are properly covered.
- Wear waterproof and insulated boots.
- Take frequent break and move into warm locations during them. If working in remote areas with no access to heat, use air-activated heat packs to provide warmth for your hands and feet.
- Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
- Most importantly, workers should watch out for one another. Monitor your physical condition as well as that of your co-workers.
Preparation and prevention is the key to avoiding cold-related injuries. Thank you service techs and be safe!
For more information on the symptoms of cold weather stress including hypothermia and frostbite and what to do if you experience it, visit https://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340104_Frostbite_and_Hypothermia.pdf


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2016 Compensation Planning Thoughts
2016 Benefits Discussion - Consideration Points
More and more employers are looking at "Group Benefits" as part of the overall employee compensation packages. Flex time, flex working locations ( at home), and many other flexible employment variables should be considered. It's time to add flex benefits to the discussion.
Just like time and location, each employee's benefit needs are different as well. Let's discuss the main points and talk about the new current view in the marketplace: Sorry for a little longer than normal message.
- Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dependent Life Insurance. This is a very inexpensive benefit and has been the basis of traditional benefit plans for years. Today, utilising FlexBenefit planning it is no longer required as a building block for many plans. If utilized, a basic fixed amount starting at $25,000 to as much as 3x earnings is common.
- Critical Illness. Pays a fixed amount of benefit usually $25,000 to $100,00 for a diagnosis of a specific disease such as cancer, or the happening of an event, such as a heart attack Becoming more common in benefit plans as it is relatively inexpensive and provides "living benefits" to employees. Most plans terminate at age 65, however since many employees now work past 65, make sure you extend your program to age 70.
- LTD (long term disability). As a cost control measure, some companies are changing from an age 65 benefit to a two or five year benefit. Some companies are concerned that their employees won't work there till 65 so they don't want to cover to 65. Others want to keep it. Some companies are looking at "injury LTD only", as a cost saving measure. Last week RBC Insurance was the first to announce that LTD benefits will now extend past age 65 to age 70. At this point a minimum of 35 employees are required in order to get post 65 coverage. We expect other insures to eventually follow.
- Prescription Drugs. Time to consider a cap? Many expensive drugs are coming into the market and one large claim in your group can adversely affect your future costs. Most small to medium companies are capping at renewal even if reluctant to do so.
- Parameds; i.e chiro, massage, etc. Many groups have about 8-10 paramed services in their benefit package, with coverage from $350-$500 for each service. Insurers are experiencing excessive claims in these areas, which in turn pushes up costs. Time to consider the clause of "to a combined total of $1500 or whatever", limits the maximum and narrows to an employee's needs rather than wants.
- Dental. Consider negotiating a fixed amount of costs for each employee to spend on the required needs. More personally structured to needs and cost controlled with a cap in each category.
Things are changing on the employee and employer landscape. The Benefit Guys can provide simple solutions to meet your needs. Let us put our current experience to work for you.
"No matter how many employees you have - it's perfect. And it starts with one!"
Our Best Practices Annual Review is available for download. You need to reduce your benefits liability exposure. The content in this document will help you. Click on any of the links on the top menu bar for further, more detailed information.


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Rabbi's Adult Education Class
June 11 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Rabbi Cohen leads a weekly adult education class on a variety of topics. The group meets every Thursday at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm. All are welcome to attend and all are welcome to join the group at any time.