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Reading right now: Story Time by Linell Jeppsen

I bought "Story Time" a while ago after talking to Linell Jeppsen on an Amazon discussion board. Since then, it has napped in my Kindle. I've had a bad conscience for not even looking at it, but the time wasn't right. I started reading it the other night, and I've read about half.

Story Time is a post-apocalyptic epic. Anything that could possibly happen to Earth happens. The book has rather short chapters which skip between a number of main characters, and it took me a little while to get into who is who, and where and when they are. I need some time to establish rapport with characters, and I would have liked to follow each a little longer at a time, at least in the beginning of the book, but that is my personal preference.

Some parts are written in first person, as one of the characters actually tell her story, and other parts in third person. That could be really weird, but since the "I" parts are actually told by the character to an audience, it works.

I mentioned how anything that could possibly happen to Earth happens. If you can imagine a natural disaster, it's in the book. On top of that, aliens arrive. Not just one kind of aliens, but three, and I have to admit I zoned out for a bit when they were introduced. I write science fiction, and love the very idea of aliens, but for a little while, it was just too much to be believable. Jeppsen has a good explanation for their appearance, and they are vital for the story line, but I still had a "Really?" moment when they were introduced. A couple of chapters later I got over it. :-)

If you're looking for some good entertainment, Story Time is definitely worth looking into.

In the not too distant future a young woman bears witness to the end of her world. Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions rock the planet, reducing cities to smoking rubble, burying entire islands and coastlines beneath cataclysmic waves.

Religious fervor and human evil erupt and entwine, becoming a maelstrom of madness in the days after, bringing with it the horror of apocalyptic war.

As a population in the depths of despair struggles to overcome insurmountable odds, can a single glimmer of hope flare into a beacon for the survivors?

This is her tale…the world is ours…and now, it’s STORY TIME.

Story Time is available as e-book or paperback Click here to see it on Amazon.

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What would it take to really improve student success? According to author William Ouchi, it’s primarily about decreasing Total Student Load. If teachers had fewer students each term, this would foster more bonding and higher achievement. In his new book, “The Secret of TSL,” Ouchi explains how to transform public education.

William Ouchi, author of "The Secret of TSL: The Revolutionary Discovery That Raises School Performance" (Simon & Schuster)

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Big Bang Leads Big Push for Expedited US Hits on FTA TV

TV2 will screen the next season of The Big Bang Theory within two days of the US.

Season nine will launch September 23 as part of a big boost to TV2’s mid-week comedy block that will include new episodes of The Middle and Black-ish, from 7.30-8.30, and continuation of the current post-Bang line-up of Mom, Mike & Molly and Brooklyn Nine Nine.

While TV2 promoted TBBT’s express-from-the-US programming during last night’s re-run, it’s yet to announce the additional third hour of comedy pencilled in on its ratecards.

Network ratecards are subject to change for delivery and strategic reasons but with TV3 preparing to launch The Block: Villa Wars and The X Factor UK, along with new, fast-tracked episodes of The Blacklist and Heroes Reborn, TV2 will be harnessing all the firepower it can.

This will include not only the comedy block bonus but also the stripped return of My Kitchen Rules NZ and express-from-the-US episodes of The Walking Dead on Mondays and The Flash and Arrow on Thursday nights.

Such free-to-air acceleration of shows from the US is due to not only the impact of social media and piracy but also Sky and its streaming rivals debuting more series here within hours of Stateside.

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2 Responses to “Big Bang Leads Big Push for Expedited US Hits on FTA TV”

  1. Good to see TV3 have got some more great shows coming soon, looking forward to Heroes Reborn 🙂

  2. I hope that they do bring The Big Bang Theory fast from the US. I was considering watching the next series via Channel Usenet.

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September 2006, Part 3

Jim Miller on Politics

Pseudo-Random Thoughts

The Elusive Mt. Jefferson:  Mt. Jefferson is said to be one of the most beautiful mountains in Oregon.  And so it is.  It is easy to see from from the east or northeast.  But the road I took across the Cascades, Route 22, gives you only occasional glimpses of the mountain.  And so, though I was watching for the Jefferson, I missed several good opportunities for pictures.  Finally, I spotted it through a logging area, stopped the car, walked back, scrambled up through some brush, and took several pictures, including this telephoto.

It would have been easier to find a place to stop if I had had a spotter in the car or if there had been less traffic.  But I wasn't the only one enjoying the mountains yesterday.

I did get good looks at Mt. Washington and Blue Lake Crater, but I was in a hurry to get to Lava Lands, so I got only a few pictures of the first, and none of the second.   (Blue Lake Crater is close to the main highway, but there is no quick way to get down to it.)   I had to rush because Lava Lands closed for the season at five PM yesterday.  They are planning to do some work on the visitor center, why I am not sure, because it looked fine to me.

And, now off to see the Newberry Caldera.  Hope to have a picture or two from Lava Lands for you tomorrow, and maybe even a political post.
- 8:49 AM, 24 September 2006   [link]

Today I Have Been Packing for another disaster area tour.  I'll be car camping part of the time, so packing takes longer than usual.

The weather forecasters are predicting excellent weather for the areas I will be visiting.  And the odds are on my side, since Septembers are usually quite nice in that part of Oregon.

Though I will be car camping part of the time, I am taking a laptop with me, and hope to put up a post or two almost every day.  You should be able to reach me by email, but since this is the first time I have tried this, I won't promise that everything will work.
- 2:32 PM, 22 September 2006   [link]

Think Education Will Reduce Terrorism?  Then you will want to find this column in the library.  (Assuming you don't subscribe to $TimesSelect.)

Two economists, Efrem Benmelich and Claude Berrebi, studied the "productivity" of Palestinian suicide bombers, productivity being defined as success in mass murder.  They found the usual relationships:
. . . for terrorists, just like for regular workers, experience and education improve productivity.   Suicide bombers who are older — in their late 20's and early 30's — and better educated are less likely to be caught on their missions and are more likely to to kill large numbers of people at bigger, more difficult targets than younger and more poorly educated bombers.
This is an argument that I have been making for years.  But I take no pleasure in seeing evidence that supports my conclusion that better educated terrorists are more deadly enemies.

In principle, the right kinds of moral education could reduce terrorism, but those kinds are increasingly rare in the Western world.

(There's nothing new in this argument.  For instance, almost everyone who has studied World War II has concluded that the relatively high level of education in Nazi Germany made them far more dangerous.  And it is not hard to think of many more examples.)
- 1:14 PM, 21 September 2006   [link]

Americans Are Dissatisfied With Congress:  Will this mean that the voters will throw out many incumbents?  Not necessarily.

First, the latest poll findings.
With the midterm elections less than seven weeks away, Americans have an overwhelmingly negative view of the Republican-controlled Congress, with substantial majorities saying that they disapprove of the job it is doing and that its members do not deserve reelection, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The disregard for Congress is the most intense it has been since 1994, when Republicans captured 52 seats to end four decades of Democratic control of the House and retook the Senate as well.  It underlines the challenge the Republican Party faces in trying to hold onto power in the face of a surge in anti-incumbent sentiment.
But that isn't the whole story, because if you look at the historical poll results, you will find that Americans are almost always dissatisfied with Congress, and that peaks of dissatisfaction do not necessarily coincide with big electoral shifts.   For example, just as they say, 73 percent were dissatisfied with Congress in November, 1994, and there was a big electoral shift.  But, in June, 1996, 71 percent were dissatisfied (though that had fallen to 58 in the next month) and there was no big shift in that year's election).  And you can find other examples as you look through the table accompanying Question 9.

Why do Americans keep re-electing their congressmen, if they are dissatisfied with Congress?  Because, as the Times concedes farther along in the article, most are not dissatisfied with their own congressman.
Overall discontent with Congress or Washington does not necessarily signify how someone will vote when they see the familiar name of their member of Congress on the ballot.  Thus, while 61 percent of respondents said they disapproved of the way Congress was handling its job, just 29 percent said they disapproved of the way their own "representative is handling his or her job."
(As it happens, I am in the minority here; I have mixed feelings about the performance of Congress, but almost entirely negative feelings about my own congressman, Jay Inslee.)

One reason for this gap between views of Congress as a whole and the views of one's own congressman is that many congressmen run for Congress — by running against Congress.  And they often do so, even if they are in the majority, sometimes even if they are in the leadership.  Some of the strongest criticism of Congress comes from congressman who are trying, almost always successfully, to get re-elected.  One congressman might rail against wasteful pork barrel spending, another, representing a different kind of district, will tell his constituents that he has been fighting to get them their fair share of spending.  A congressman representing a rural district will talk about how he has been trying to protect family farmers, a congressman from an urban district might rail against the wasteful subsidies to millionaire farmers, and so one.  All will criticize Congress in order to appeal to their own constituents.  And when you look at the incumbent re-election rates, you can see how successful this strategy is.

(Those who look closely at poll results will note that the respondents were not likely voters, or even voters, but either "Americans", or "adults".  (Most likely the respondents were "adults", which, these days, includes many who are not citizens.  Fifteen percent admitted to not being registered and a quarter of those who said they are registered admitted that they had not been paying much attention to the election.)  Using adults doesn't make the poll meaningless, but it does slant the results toward the Democrats.)
- 9:29 AM, 21 September 2006   [link]

Some Thoughts Are Best Left unexpressed.   Especially if you are the chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Company.
- 6:38 AM, 21 September 2006   [link]

Is Karl Rove just trying to make the Democrats nervous?
In the past week, Karl Rove has been promising Republican insiders an "October surprise" to help win the November congressional elections.
Maybe.  And I'll bet this deliberate leak does have that effect on some Democrats.
- 6:03 AM, 21 September 2006   [link]

And Now For Something Lighter:  Yesterday's column by libertarian John Tierney, hidden, alas, behind the $TimesSelect wall, gives an elaborate equation for predicting the chances of success (or, more likely, failure) of celebrity marriages.  Some highlights:
Younger couples have worse prospects than older couples do, particularly if they rush to the altar before getting to know each other.
. . .
Fame, as measured by Google hits, is no good for a marriage.
. . .
A crucial predictor is the sex-symbol factor, determined by looking at the woman's first five Google hits and counting how many show her in sexy attire (or no attire).
Using this equation, Tierney (and Garth Sundem, author of Geek Logik, who did most of the work) predict that a few celebrity marriages have good chances of lasting, specifically those of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.  But for most other celebrity marriages, definitely including that between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Tierney advises skipping the monograms if you send them gift towels.

Tierney doesn't mention the thing that struck me most about his equation.  He may not even have noticed it — he is, after all, a libertarian not much inclined to to credit traditional ideas.  But when I looked at the factors that made for success in these celebrity marriages, I was struck by how similar they were to the advice that most of us might have gotten from — our grandparents and great-grandparents.
- 2:21 PM, 20 September 2006   [link]

Democratic Corruption In New Jersey And Senate Control:  Most political observers think that, for the Democrats to win control of the Senate, they must win nearly all the endangered Republican seats — and not lose any of their own.  But a perennial problem, Democratic corruption in New Jersey, is making the second part of that less likely.

I've mentioned other cases of Democratic corruption in New Jersey, for instance, here and here, but have not discussed the problems of Senator Robert Menendez.  (Incumbent, but not elected.  When Democratic governor Jim McGreevey was forced to resign because of corruption and flamboyant behavior, Menendez helped then Senator Jon Corzine become governor — and Corzine appointed Menendez to fill his place in the Senate.)

Here's Senator Menendez's latest problem:
But another name has emerged as a major factor in an election that is less than two months away: United States Attorney Christopher J. Christie.  Mr. Christie's office extracted a plea agreement on Friday from the former State Senate president, John A. Lynch Jr., one New Jersey's more influential Democratic politicians, and has recently issued a subpoena to examine the records of a community agency that paid rent to Mr. Menendez while getting millions of dollars in federal grants.
The New York Times isn't quite sure whether it is fair to investigate an incumbent Democrat for corruption, at least not when the election is this close.  As for me, I have no doubt that Menendez is corrupt, whether he is guilty in this case, or not.  As the Times delicately says, Menendez is "a veteran of Hudson County's bruising brand of politics".  A more honest way to say that would be to say that Menendez is a leader of a political machine infamous for its corruption.  (For an example of that corruption, see this post.)

The polls show that the Republican candidate, Tom Kean, Jr., currently has a small lead.  And if the corruption scandal continues to simmer, there is good reason to think that he will keep that lead, since he is a good fit for the state.  And, if Kean captures this Democratic seat, it is hard to imagine a plausible scenario in which the Democrats take control of the Senate.

(The coverage of this race is so partisan and error-filled as to be amusing — unless you believe that you can trust "mainstream" journalists.  For instance, this AP story claims that: "Menendez has never been charged with any wrongdoing during his 32 years in political office."  Never?  He may never have been indicted, but it is impossible to believe than his opponents did not, from time to time, suggest that his record may have a flaw or two.

And this article from the New York Observer manages to fail both ethically and factually.  The author, Steve Kornacki, does not doubt that Menendez — and many other New Jersey Democrats — are corrupt; he just hopes the issue doesn't give Republicans a win.  And to make his argument, he has to exaggerate how Democratic New Jersey is.  It is true that Republicans have had trouble electing a senator there in recent decades; it is also true that Reagan won the state in 1980 and 1984, George H. W. Bush won it in 1988, and George W. Bush lost it by just 6 points in 2004.  And the Republicans controlled both houses of the New Jersey legislature for much of the decade of the 1990's.  As I said in this post, New Jersey leans Democratic, but can be won by the Republicans.)
- 11:55 AM, 20 September 2006   [link]

Fish Detectors are helping to protect the water in some large cities.
A type of fish so common that practically every American kid who ever dropped a fishing line and a bobber into a pond has probably caught one is being enlisted in the fight against terrorism.

San Francisco, New York, Washington and other big cities are using bluegills — also known as sunfish or bream — as a sort of canary in a coal mine to safeguard their drinking water.

Small numbers of the fish are kept in tanks constantly replenished with water from the municipal supply, and sensors in each tank work around the clock to register changes in the breathing, heartbeat and swimming patterns of the bluegills that occur in the presence of toxins.
Living things have had billions of years, literally, to devise detectors, and have developed some excellent detectors.  It is smart to find ways to use these detectors to protect ourselves, from terrorism and from other hazards.  (And these bluegills would probably prefer living in a tank with food supplied, and no predators, to life in the wild — if they were smart enough to understand the choice.)

(Perhaps the most impressive known detector is that found in some male moths.
The first pheromone ever identified (in 1956) was a powerful sex attractant for silkworm moths.   A team of German researchers worked 20 years to isolate it.  After removing certain glands at the tip of the abdomen of 500,000 female moths, they extracted a curious compound.  The minutest amount of it made male moths beat their wings madly in a "flutter dance."
The male moths have such good detectors for this compound, which the researchers named "bombykol", that, according to some researchers, they can detect single molecules of the compound, though it takes more than one molecule to stimulate the male moths to begin their mating behavior.  I don't think that these moths will be of any great use as detectors, but they give us an idea of what might be possible with other organisms.)
- 2:03 PM, 19 September 2006   [link]

As Usual, the primary election ballot provided by King County was poorly designed and the little wobbly voting stations inadequate.  The stations are so small that they provide little privacy, and they wiggle so badly that I have trouble filling in the ovals on the optical ballots.  This time, as I was trying to fill out the ballot, the light on the first station I tried kept blinking on and off.  This is a wealthy county, which could easily afford decent voting stations.

The lousy voting stations were annoying; the bad ballot design could affect the results of the election.  Because of court decisions, Washington state was forced to give up its popular blanket primary.  As a result, the ballot actually covered three separate elections, the Democratic primary, the Republican primary, and the nonpartisan races.  There is, I think, an obvious way to design a single ballot to cover all three.  You put the party choice at the very top, in the middle, by itself.  You then put the Democratic primary choices in one column and the Republican primary choices in a separate column.  And you separate the three with strong visual clues.  The nonpartisan races go on the back.

Instead, whoever designed the ballot put the party choice in the left hand column, just above the Democratic party choices.  The Democratic choices extended into the right hand column; the Republican choices extended on to the back of the ballot.  This was needlessly confusing.   (Though they did color code the two parties, using, as is now common, blue for Democrats and red for Republicans.)  And, unfortunately, these kinds of design mistakes are what I have come to expect from King County.

Cross posted at Sound Politics.

(I said as usual because this was exactly the same experience that I have had in previous elections, for instance, in 2002 and in 2004.)
- 1:16 PM, 19 September 2006   [link]

AccuVote Versus My Ballot:  This morning I voted in the Washington state's primary election and had my ballot rejected, multiple times, by an AccuVote optical scanner.  It wasn't because of any mistake I made; the ballot was rejected long before the machine even got to my filled-in ovals.  Finally, one of the election workers got it to work by pressing on some contacts at the front of the machine.

I like this kind of voting system better than most, but I have to admit my experience made me wonder about the design — or, possibly, the maintenance — of this particular machine.
- 12:34 PM, 19 September 2006   [link]

More On The Scandal At UMDNJ:  The monitor appointed to investigate fraud at University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Herbert Stern, continues to investigate — and continues to find open corruption.
A powerful southern New Jersey politician was paid for a no-work job at a scandal-ridden state university while helping the school garner millions of dollars in new state funding, according to a report released Monday.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey paid state Sen. Wayne Bryant, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, $35,000 a year "to lobby himself in his capacity of state senator," according to the report of a federal monitor who had investigated the school's finances.

The report said all Bryant appeared to do at the university's School of Osteopathic Medicine was show up for three hours most Tuesdays to read newspapers.
Nice work if you can get it.

Stern estimates that "losses from fraud and abuse there could exceed $243 million", which isn't chump change, even for a state as wealthy as New Jersey.

(You can find more about the scandal in this New York Times story.  From it, I learned that Senator Bryant is not a lazy man; he "has held as many as four government jobs simultaneously".

You can find earlier posts on this scandal here and here.  And for those who live in Washington state, I'll just mention that we, too, have a state senator with a university job.  I have no reason to believe that Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles is as openly corrupt as Senator Bryant appears to be, but her two positions have resulted in ethical conflicts.)
- 9:15 AM, 19 September 2006   [link]

John Kerry is Running For President In 2008:  How do I know?  Because he is now claiming to have returned to the Catholic Church almost two decades ago.
Kerry said in Malibu, Calif., that he "wandered in the wilderness" after the Vietnam War but came back to the Roman Catholic Church after a sudden and moving revelation in the late 1980s.
. . .
In yesterday's speech, Kerry said he was "born, baptized and raised a Catholic."  In Vietnam, he said, "my relationship with God was a dependent one -- a 'God, get me through this and I'll be good' relationship."  As he became disillusioned with the war, he said, he struggled with "the problem of evil, the difficulty of explaining why terrible and senseless events are part of God's plan."

"For 12 years I wandered in the wilderness, went through a divorce and struggled with questions about my direction.  Then suddenly and movingly, I had a revelation about the connection between the work I was doing as a public servant and my formative teachings," he said.

Kerry did not describe the revelation in the speech.  But in a telephone interview afterward, he said it occurred in 1987 or 1988 after a friend, whom he declined to name, died of cancer.
That's a touching story, but it would be more believable if his "revelation" had been followed by any change in his behavior.  But, as far as I know, Kerry did not stop being pro-abortion, did not begin attending church outside campaign season, did not even begin contributing modestly to the Catholic church.

I'll repeat the advice I have given before.  Politicians such as John Kerry would be better off if they did not pretend to hold religious beliefs.  Instead, they should show some respect for those who do.

(I suppose that it is possible that Kerry is telling the truth about his "revelation".  If so, we must conclude that his "revelation" made Kerry feel better, but had no effect on his behavior otherwise.  I am not an expert on Catholic doctrine, but I am fairly sure that few Catholic leaders would be impressed by that kind of "revelation".)
- 7:37 AM, 19 September 2006   [link]

What Interrogation Techniques Does The CIA Want To Use On Terrorists?   The Guardian — which is no friend to the Bush administration — has a little list.
The techniques sought by the CIA are: induced hypothermia; forcing suspects to stand for prolonged periods; sleep deprivation; a technique called "the attention grab" where a suspect's shirt is forcefully seized; the "attention slap" or open hand slapping that hurts but does not lead to physical damage; the "belly slap"; and sound and light manipulation.
Are those techniques torture?  Some would say they are.  My own opinion is that it depends on the individuals being questioned and how severe the techniques are.  There are, for instance, medical conditions that make standing for even short periods of time quite painful.  There are levels of sound that are physically painful and would certainly be torture if they were continued for any length of time.

Saying that it depends is, as I have said before, unsatisfactory.  For many reasons we would like to have a clear definition of torture — but no such definition is possible.  To begin with, reasonable and decent persons will disagree on the definition, even when they agree on the facts.   And what is torture to one man will not necessarily be torture to another.  Unsatisfactory, but inescapable.  Most discussions of this subject assume that we can find a clear line between torture and tough interrogation, but there is no such line, however much we might wish otherwise.

Are the techniques "humiliating and degrading"?  Some certainly are.  In fact, the purpose of the grabs and slaps is to humiliate the prisoner, to show him that he is helpless.  It is forbidden by the latest Geneva Conventions, as I said yesterday, to treat prisoners from a regular army in a "humiliating and degrading" fashion.  Should that same protection be given to terrorists?  I don't think so.
- 6:42 AM, 19 September 2006
More:  This New York Times correction illustrates my point about the lack of agreement on what constitutes torture.
- 10:51 AM, 19 September 2006   [link]

Why Are Gas Prices Falling?  Mainly because the summer driving season is over.
As for the drop in gasoline prices, which a number of readers also attribute to an election-related conspiracy, the case is even clearer.  For starters, that $15 drop in the price of a barrel of crude works out to about 36 cents a gallon.  Since oil accounts for about half the price of making a gallon of gasoline, there's 18 cents off the price at the pump right there.  The seasonal drop in demand, a milder-than-expected hurricane season and the flight of money out of the gasoline futures market has also helped drive pump prices down by 40 cents since the start of August.

Though the drop at the pump is bigger and faster than usual, it's about as predictable as the coming of winter — whether or not it's an election year.  With demand from the summer driving season falling, and the heating oil season not yet here, the price of refined products generally falls this time of year.
Even though gas prices fall almost every year at this time, some leftists will still conclude that the Bush administration and the evil oil companies are trying to rig the election.

(Oh, and here's a prediction for you: Heating oil prices will rise during the coming winter.   How much will depend (partly) on how severe the winter is.)
- 6:14 AM, 19 September 2006   [link]

Here's Something Different:  Muslim victims of terrorism — and they weren't killed by Muslims.
Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels hacked 10 Muslim laborers to death and badly wounded another in eastern Sri Lanka at the weekend, the army said on Monday, the latest in a string of mass killings and abuses.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) blamed the killings, near the island's Yala National Park, on the military.
The Tamil Tigers come close to matching Muslim extremist groups in their terrorist tactics.   The Tigers are, if you are wondering, Hindus, and they have been fighting the dominant Buddhists in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) for decades.
- 5:31 AM, 19 September 2006   [link]

If You Don't Stop Calling Us Violent, We'll Kill You!  That's the message coming from many Muslim extremists after the Pope offended them.  (And he is not the first to become the target of that kind of threat.)  Some Muslims have already followed through on the threats, so we can not consider them idle talk.

I suppose that it isn't easy for reporters to ask such questions, but shouldn't at least one reporter ask one of the spokesmen for these extremist groups if he doesn't realize that this combination is both crazy and morbidly funny?

For a longer take see this post by Reverend Sensing, who makes this sobering point.
But we also need to understand that violence does not occupy the same theological space in Christianity as it does in Islam.  Christianity has historically had to justify the use of violence even for just reasons, such as the maintenance of public order, punishment of criminals or making war.   Violence just does not have a natural place inside the world view of the New Testament.  It can be justified, but only uneasily, with great caution and no little difficulty.  The times in history when Christian societies or Christian armies embraced violence as a means of propagating the faith are not held as exemplars today.

But in Islam, violence's theological space is not uncomfortable at all.  It is a natural fit.  Conversion at the point of the sword was not a regrettably necessary means to expanding the caliphate because there was no other way, it was an inherently praiseworthy, indeed, desirable, means.  And this is mainstream Muslim history, not "radical."  Warfare has never been denied by the main streams of Muslim theology to be other than an acceptable (though not always desirable) way to propagate their religion.
And this little historical tidbit will strengthen his point:  As far as I can tell, after Mohammed came to power in Medina, he fought battles in every year of his life, and in most of them he was the attacker.  And his four immediate successors, the Caliphs accepted by both Sunnis and Shiites, built a vast empire by conquest.  In short, all five were almost continually engaged in aggressive war.  The limits on their attacks were not theological, but practical.
- 2:25 PM, 18 September 2006   [link]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers is not a group that I know much about.  In fact, before today, I could not have named a single song they have done.  But after reading of their effect on one audience, I am becoming a fan of the group.
According to unnamed sources in the [New York] Times article, the FBI and CIA clashed over whether to use soft or tough questioning methods on the captured terrorist.  Because it had jurisdiction, the CIA took over and the inquisition began.  Agency interrogators stripped [al Qaeda operative Abu] Zubaydah, put him in a freezing room and subjected him to Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Not the vegetables, the rock group.

Apparently, the CIA sadists cranked up the volume on some Red Hot Chili Pepper recordings and Zubaydah broke.  Wouldn't you?
Not a big enough fan to buy one of their CDs, but a fan nonetheless.

Now, to be more serious for a moment, let me ask these questions:  Was what was done to Zubaydah "humiliating and degrading treatment", which is forbidden by the latest Geneva Convention?  Was it, perhaps, even torture?

O'Reilly is sure that it is not torture.  But I would give high odds that one could find, without much effort, international lawyers who would disagree.  And I am certain that it would be easy to find international lawyers who would argue that it was humiliating and degrading treatment.  As for me, I don't think it was torture, and I don't see any moral problem with subjecting terrorists to "humiliating and degrading treatment".  In fact, I think that's what they deserve — at the very least.

When you read high-minded discussions about this subject in "mainstream" newspapers, you should know that those who disagree with me think that Zubaydah should not have had to listen to the Peppers.  If that is your view, we'll just have to agree to disagree.  And I will hope, for your own safety, that your view does not prevail.

(If you are as unfamiliar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as I am, you can learn more here and here.)
- 10:18 AM, 18 September 2006
Correction:  A sharp-eyed emailer noticed that I had one too many negatives in the first sentence of the next-to-the-last paragraph of the original post.  I've corrected the the mistake.  I think Zubaydah should have to listen to the Peppers, but there are some who think that goes too far.
- 1:51 PM, 18 September 2006   [link]

AP Stringer, Enemy Agent:  There isn't much doubt that Bilal Hussein, who has been working for the Associated Press in Iraq, has also been working for the enemy.  Consider the latest evidence from — an AP story.
The military said Hussein was captured with two insurgents, including Hamid Hamad Motib, an alleged leader of al-Qaida in Iraq.  "He has close relationships with persons known to be responsible for kidnappings, smuggling, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and other attacks on coalition forces," according to a May 7 e-mail from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jack Gardner, who oversees all coalition detainees in Iraq.

"The information available establishes that he has relationships with insurgents and is afforded access to insurgent activities outside the normal scope afforded to journalists conducting legitimate activities," Gardner wrote to AP International Editor John Daniszewski.
And there's much more evidence against Hussein, as you see in these posts from John Hinderacker and Michelle Malkin.

American journalists generally seem to think that Hussein is a fine photographer; in fact, he shared a Pulitzer prize with other Iraqi photographers.  The Associated Press is trying to get him released.  They say, charged or released, but I can't find any reason to think that they actually want him charged — in spite of the mountain of evidence against him.

This statement from the Associated Press explains what may seem, at first glance, bizarre:
That Hussein was captured at the same time as insurgents doesn't make him one of them, said Kathleen Carroll, AP's executive editor.

"Journalists have always had relationships with people that others might find unsavory," she said. "We're not in this to choose sides, we're to report what's going on from all sides."
In the war between terrorists and the civilized world, the AP prefers not to choose sides, prefers to be neutral between those who murder innocent civilians and those who try to prevent those murders.  Remember that the next time you read an AP story or look at an AP photograph.

(Any chance the Pulitzer Prize will be retracted?  Somewhere between slim and none, but closer to none.  If Hussein were shown to have been working for the Republican party, the chances might be greater.

You can find my earlier posts on Hussein here and here)
- 7:19 AM, 18 September 2006   [link]

When I Heard About The Contaminated Spinach, my first reaction was to think that Popeye wasn't going to like this one bit.  But then I recalled that Popeye always ate canned spinach, which is not affected by the recall.

My second reaction was more serious.  I suspected that the contaminated spinach was raised on "organic" farms.  And the first reports suggest that second reaction was correct.
An outbreak of E. coli has been linked to a California spinach processor, but government investigators are looking into other producers as well.

"We're clearly evolving and it is very important to keep an open mind whether there are other products potentially implicated," said Dr. David Acheson, the chief medical officer with the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Natural Selection Foods LLC was linked to the E. coli outbreak that has killed one person and sickened nearly 100 others.  Twenty-nine people have been hospitalized, 14 of them with kidney failure.  FDA officials said they had received reports of illness in 19 states.
My reasoning was simple.  Strains of E. coli that are harmful to people often come from animal manure, especially cow manure.  And where is cow manure used as a fertilizer on modern farms?  Why, on "organic" farms.  Most "organic" growers are aware of the risks from manure, but there are many places in the production chain where a single careless worker can introduce contamination.  Most likely, that's what caused these illnesses and, so far, one known death.

(As you probably know, most strains of E. coli are harmless; in fact, the strains that nearly all of us have in our lower intestines make vitamin K, so they are, to some extent, beneficial.

You can find more on E. coli here and here.)
- 6:12 AM, 17 September 2006
More:  After I wrote this post, I ran across this New York Times article, which tries to minimize the possibility that the contaminated spinach came from "organic" farms.   I continue to think that's the most likely source, and another New York Times article gives additional support for that conclusion.  The most likely source of the bacteria, according to an expert on food safety is "water that has been contaminated by animal waste".
- 5:41 AM, 18 September 2006   [link]


text:
Geoff Antrum &    Matt Antrum Welcome to Search Calgary Homes

How Do First Time Buyers Break into Calgary Real Estate Market?

Tue, 09 Jul by Geoff Antrum & Matt Antrum (Father & Son Team)

What Do First time Buyers need to know to break into Calgary Housing Market in 2013?

Homes & Condos under $450,000 are selling faster than past few years. Its a Sellers market. So good quality homes that are priced right will not be on the market for very long. A matter of days in a few key areas of Calgary. There can be multiple Offers and homes can sell at List price.

Buyers who keep waiting for a home to drop in price can be disappointed since it could easily sell if it is close to market value. This is where Buyers need a REALTOR® to guide them on price and market value.

Buyers can get caught up in the hype and over pay.  Speak to your REALTOR® about market value for the community you are buying in. Ask your REALTOR®  “What is the Average Drop Price for community you are planning to buy in”?

Buyers who procrastinate and are indecisive will miss out!
  If you see a home or condo that stands out from the crowd and looks like great value, don’t wait. The 2013 market is fast and many buyers will be looking at the same property, for the same reasons. A REALTOR® can help Buyers make an informed decision in a fast market that is in the interest of the Buyer.

Before You Make an Offer: Ask your REALTOR® is this home at market value?

Please check out First Time Buyers Check List for 2013.

The Calgary Flood of 2013 has made the rental market very tight and this is impacting the market for Starter homes in Calgary.

The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, MLS®,  are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Used under license.

Coventry Hills Real Estate – Where is Coventry Hills in Calgary?

Thu, 30 May by Geoff Antrum & Matt Antrum (Father & Son Team)

Many buyers say they want to view homes for sale in Coventry Hills, but they are not sure where it is? Is it in NE Calgary or NW Calgary?
Coventry Hills as far as the CREB City of Calgary Map goes, shows Coventry Hills in the NW Calgary zone, known as Zone A.
However from a postal point of view this community is in NE Calgary, since it is east of Center Street.
REALTORS®show Coventry Hills as though it in NW Calgary, since its proximity to the other north west communities is very close.
Geographically it is also west of Deer Foot Trail which puts it in Zone A  “NW Area”.

Coventry Hills boarders with the communities of Country Hills Village (NE Calgary), Panorama Hills (NW Calgary) and Harvest Hills (NE Calgary).
If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Coventry Hills please call Matt Antrum, REALTOR® at CIR REALTY, 403 608 5684 or Geoff Antrum, REALTOR®, at CIR REALTY, 403 608 5682.

 Please check out this link for homes for sale in Coventry Hills in Calgary.

Or if you are looking for Calgary Real Estate in other communities please check out this link.

Planning to Sell Your Home in Coventry Hills? Please check this link out.

The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, MLS®,  are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Used under license.

Coventry Hills Calgary : Community and Real Estate Information

Mon, 27 May by Geoff Antrum & Matt Antrum (Father & Son Team)

Coventry Hills Calgary : Community & Real Estate Information

House price’s in Coventry Hills range from approx. $250,000 (apartment) upto $600,000 for a new large family home.
Coventry Hills real estate has brand new homes and homes that were built in early 1990’s. Coventry Hills is close to Deerfoot Trail, Stoney Trail, and Country Hills Blvd. It also has good access to Calgary International airport and Airdire. This is a family community with affordable homes, with many starter homes, townhouses and larger family homes. There are some great deals in Coventry Hills please  search  for all the homes for sale in Coventry Hills.
Matt Antrum REALTOR®  &  Geoff Antrum REALTOR® buy and sell homes in Coventry Hills with CIR Realty. Please call us for buying your next home or do you want a free home evaluation. Matt Antrum lives in Coventry Hills so he knows the community well and has a good understanding of the Coventry Hills real estate, shops, schools and amenities that are available to Coventry Hills residents and home buyers.

The Northern Hills Community Association (NHCA) was established in 1998 and is comprised of Coventry Hills, Panorama Hills, Harvest Hills, Country Hills, and Country Hills Village.

These communities are all relatively new residential developments located on the northern edge of Calgary. The current population of these communities is in the order of 50,000 people and is expected to grow to about 60,000 people when completely developed. The population encompasses a wide variety of ethnic and socio-economical backgrounds.

There are several golf courses in the area, as well as numerous restaurants, shopping facilities, theatres, and indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. The area includes commerical and retail business enterprises and light industrial business parks. The Northern Hills area is home to numerous public and separate elementary, middle, and high schools, and is serviced by police, fire, library, and other City of Calgary support services. It is bounded on the south and west by Beddington Trail, on the north by Stoney Trail, and on the east by Deerfoot Trail.

The NHCA currently maintains an office in Cardel Place. Being the recognized voice for these rapidly developing communities, the NHCA is active in the areas of community planning and development, community advocacy, beautification and enhancement, sports and recreation, and traffic and noise issues.

The NHCA operates the largest community-based youth soccer program in Calgary with some 1200 registered children and also publishes a monthly newsletter that is delivered free to 15,000 residents and businesses in the area.

Please check out this link for Homes For Sale in Coventry Hills

Matt Antrum: 403 608 5684  and Geoff Antrum: 403 608 5682               Check out Our Website for all Calgary Real Estate for Sale

The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, MLS®,  are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Used under license.


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Friday, June 28, 2013

First Five for Friday

I am so excited to be linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching, for today's Five for Friday.  This will be Kacey's last Five for Friday until August, but don't fret, Friday blog posts, in July, will still feature greats from the week.

This week has been filled with organizing, relaxing, and packing.

1. Washi tape!  Where has this stuff been all my life?!  I am in love with how easily is transforms Blah! into BOOM!

2. Pathways to the Common Core.  Over the last couple years, I have been preparing myself for the transition to CCSS.  As an ESL teacher, I worked on breaking down the standards to determine what language forms and functions my students would be required to use.  Now, as a classroom teacher, I have jumped head first into the CCSS.  This books has severed as a fabulous resource throughout all of my work up-to and with the CCSS.  I highly recommend it!

3. Creating for TPT.  I love being able to let my creative juices flow, while sharing the final products will all of you.  This week, I added a set of I have...Who has...? and a super cute word family activity.
4. My Monster.  I love being home during the summer to walk and play with this terrific fur ball.

5. Erin Condren Life Planner.  I did it, I splurged and got my first Erin Condren Life Planner.  I chose to go with the Life Planner because I use a digital format for my lesson plans.  I love that I was able to personalize this planner, it inspires me each time I look at it.  I am eagerly waiting to start writing in it!

I am off to HOTlanta for the National Education Association's Representative Assembly (NEA-RA).  This annual event is an incredible experience where members from all over the nation come together to monitor and support our rights as pubic educators.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

What I'm Loving...

Forgive me for not posting this yesterday.

I am linking up with Covered in Glitter and Glue for today's post, What I'm Loving Wednesday (or Thursday).

Summer is definitely a time when I work on reorganizing and pre-organizing.  Here are two of my current organizing loves:

Editable Chevron Binder Labels:
You can find these in my TPT store (click the image).  I love the colors and the fact that they are editable!

Sterilite Tubs:
These bad lads are going to house all of my monthly center materials.  I love creating centers, but it is hard to keep them all organized.  Ashley, over at That's So Second Grade, did an amazing job creating the labels that I will be using for these tubs.  Thanks, Ashley!
I found these great tubs at Target, on sale!

I love the chevron and chalkboard graphics!

Happy Organizing!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Monday Made It and a New Center Activity

I am so grateful to be teaching summer school.  I know that I should be resting and regaining my life balance, but this girl can't sit still.  Our summer school is being funded through an incredible grant that my colleague wrote.  You should check out her blog documenting her daughter's language acquisition, it is super interesting.
The focus of our summer program is to "Jump Start" literacy skills for our kindergartners going into first grade.  Due to the fact that our class sizes hit a record high this year, too many of our students' individual needs are not being met.  We wanted to create a way to support our youngest students to hopefully enhance the beginning of their educational careers.
My group of kiddos have mastered their letter names and sounds.  Therefore, I will be focusing on sight words and basic sentences.  This is where my Monday Made It comes in...Sandwich Sentences!  I found these incredible coasters at Dollar Tree a few weeks back, and knew I had to pick them up; I just wasn't sure how I was going to use them at first.
I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out sentence options.

This is the scaffolded set, which provides my struggling students with sentence options.
I created 2 versions of Sandwich Sentences: the first is very scaffolded for my struggling writers; while the second allows them to pick and choose components to create their complete "sandwich." I cannot wait to get out the white boards and allow my students to practice their sentence writing skills.  If all goes well with this activity, I will create a TPT product with cards and recording sheets to share with everyone.  Make sure to check back for updates!
I wrote the different parts of speech, on the back of each sandwich piece,
that students will have to use in order to make a complete "sandwich."
I am linking up for the FIRST time, with 4th Grade Frolics, and so excited about it!
I am in love with the final product and can't wait to use this activity with my summer school kiddos!
Also, this activity has allowed me to reuse a couple of my IPSY envelopes I just can't part with.

Happy Creating!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Yoga In and Out of the Classroom

Like all of you, I love my job!  I love it so much I let it take over my life sometimes.  Although, I have been teaching for 8 years, I seemed to have entered the career at a difficult time, like many professions. This has caused each spring, of not knowing if I have a position the next year,  to be ridiculously stressful.  Two years ago, I hit an elevated stress level my body couldn't handle.  I tried adding extra walks with the dog, more sleep, and a closer look at my diet, but wasn't feeling better.  I knew I needed to do something to relieve my stress.
I had been seeing more and more articles about yoga, so a-reading-I-went.  I started reading Yoga Journal and other publications to better myself with the benefits and terminology.  I even began playing around with poses on my Wii Fit.  It wasn't until I built up enough courage and entered a local studio that I started to feel better.

We are fortunate in this day and age to have yoga studios all over the place, but finding a studio that makes you happy can be tricky.  I chose a small studio that had a family like feel and offered a variety of classes.  I was quickly hooked and feeling better than ever.

Yoga has taught me that making time for "me" is essential, but more importantly that everyday is practice.  It is practice that makes us stronger and ready for tomorrow; something that I teach my students.
Since yoga has opened the door to a more balanced life, for me, I knew that incorporating it into my classroom was essential.  I started by introducing breathing techniques to help my students that struggle with self-control.  By counting their breaths in and out my students learned that stopping and focusing on their breath made the frustration disapate.  This took crazy amounts of practice, but it was well work the time.  The quality of self control my 1st graders gained was incredible.
The ABCs of Yoga for Kids is a fun book that shows a great variety of poses.
I have also been an active user of Brain Breaks (more to come).  What better time to incorporate yoga than Brain Breaks?  One Brain Break and position that my students have come to love is eagle.  I began by teaching my students eagle arms which allows both brain hemispheres to be stimulated simultaneously.  This pose builds coordination, balance, concentration, and stamina, all traits I want my students to possess.

During Brain Breaks, I also have my students practice stretching.  I have found this absolutely vital to do before sitting down for Read-to-Self and Writers' Workshop.  The stretching allows students to let go of their tension before committing their concentration to one discipline.

I am so grateful for what yoga has done for my student and I.  I would love to hear from those of you that have found yoga to be beneficial in and out of your classroom, or if you have any questions for me.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Where would we be without volunteers?

I don't know about you, but without my classroom volunteers I would be lost!  At the beginning of the year, I had a handful of parents interested in volunteering in the classroom.  I knew I would need their assistance, so I created this form to indicate where I needed help and to keep everyone organized.

Throughout the year, I learned several things about having volunteers in the classroom:
  • always have more for your volunteer to do than time allows
  • do not ask your volunteers to grade student assessments
  • if you want something prepared a specific way consider prepping if yourself
  • parents that can volunteer from home are just as helpful as those in the classroom
  • volunteers during Centers or Daily 5 are irreplaceable
  • always show your appreciation
In order to show my volunteers how much I appreciated them, I gifted each one with these adorable herb plants.  Ashley over at That's So Second Grade, give me the idea with the brilliant term "sup-HERB."  I picked up the pots from HomeDepot and the herb plants at Trader Joe's.  I also purchased patio paint (it doesn't fade) from Michaels and a paint pen for the writing.  I was amazed at how quick the project came together, and thrilled with how they turned out. Plus, my volunteers loved them.  I would enjoy hearing what you have done to say "Thank You" to your volunteers.

Monday, June 17, 2013

How Pinterest Has Made Me a Better Teacher

Like many of you, this past year, I experienced a teaching shake-up.  I was laid-off and recalled to a position I had not taught before.  Although I have several years of classroom experience, it was all at the intermediate level, making the thought of teaching 1st grade daunting.  With only a few days before the start of the school year, I knew I needed to learn how to organize a primary classroom FAST!

My sister introduced me to Pinterest the previous spring, as a visual learner this site became my haven for DIYs and decor ideas.  The most powerful pins I have found are definitely those aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  With 45 states having adopted the CCSS, I am intrigued by the ability to share ideas nationally.  Having taught in 3 states,  I love that I can now share ideas that former colleagues can use.

It wasn't until I started playing around with the search feature that I came across a multitude of classroom resources.  The search feature allowed me to explore first grade ideas, without getting overwhelmed with everything else.  I loved the ability to glimpse inside other teachers' classrooms, while building a bank of ideas.  I can't wait to take the spastic pinning I did this year, to survive my first year in 1st grade, and "Rock the Socks" off of this coming year's classroom and teaching!

Throughout my use of Pinterest I have learned the following:

  • make sure the pin is active BEFORE pinning it to your boards
  • double check that you have "Permission to Pin" ideas that you find on blogs and websites
  • organize your boards to make reviewing ideas simple

  • monitor your time (Do you get sucked in like me?)
Happy Pinning!

Searching for Balance

Over the course of the last 8 years, I have jumped head first into the greatest career I could ever imagine.  Teaching has provided me with a happiness to fill my heart for eternity, as many of you know.  However, it have also sucked a boatload of energy from me.  As I bound into the blogging world, I am excited to share ideas and creations which have allowed me to swim upon the surface with a smile on my face.


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Airline dumps mom with fussy toddler

It’s happened again. A parent with a fussy child was booted off an airplane. This time, it was Canadian singer Sarah Blackwood. According to several reports, her not-quite-2-year-old was crying loudly and squirming in her lap before takeoff. The child fell asleep, but the plane returned to the gate and she was asked to get off, despite the support of several fellow travelers.

What strikes me most about this isn’t that it happened. After all, it’s not the first time. It’s the mean-spirited comments about it that disturb me. “The business has to take the reins, since so many selfish, entitled Millennial parents [sic] buy into their specialness and the 'takes a village' crap by refusing to be considerate toward the rest of the world,” wrote one commenter on this ABC News report.

“Here is a hint keep your loud, stinky brat at home where it belongs instead of inflicting it on everyone else,” wrote another.

I was on a flight several years ago, and a young child was having some sort of meltdown. The flight attendants were trying to help calm him. As the crying continued, an older man several rows back muttered, “That’s just spoiled is what that is.”

Really? Why is that we can’t accept that life won’t be perfect? Why can’t we show some compassion? I get that listening to a screaming child isn’t fun (it’s worse for the parents, because they’re also worried about those around them).

To be sure, there were people who supported Blackwood. But perhaps we could consider this a teachable moment and help model something we all could use in many situations: tolerance.

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26 March 2007

Why Wait?

Yes I spent 10 minutes trying to come up with a clever "wait"-based title and that's all I could come up with. I even Googled for "wait" to find some inspiration.

And now to tell you why "wait" ... the Oracle 10g wait interface!!!!!11 Feel my excitement. I just recently read some articles by Robin Schumacher about the 10g wait interface to analyze possible reasons for why a query might take so long. Is it waiting for disk I/O? Is it waiting for CPU? Well Oracle 10g provides some great views to see exactly what is waiting on what. The Schumacher articles are "Response Time Analysis Made Easy in Oracle Database 10g" and "Exploring the Oracle Database 10g Release 1 Wait Interface". The latter has the "only applies to Release 1" disclaimer, so caveat emptor. The articles do overlap a bit, so perhaps the first article will suit you enough.

I have to admit that a lot of it has left my brain already. I'll have to take timeouts and do random checks. I did run the query to get database wait time and CPU time ratios. Let's just say that my production database was nowhere near the great ratios that Robin was seeing. Hopefully some of the adjustments I plan to put in next month will bump things in my favor.

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21 November 2007

Scalar::Util on CentOS5 is Bustinated

While trying to install pastebot on my CentOS5 sandbox for interal IRC usage, I found that I had to install a number of other perl modules upon which pastebot depended. This however became very frustrating as nearly all of them failed.
I ended up following the dependency chain to eventually find out that IO::Compress::Base was failing because the Scalar::Util module, installed stock by CentOS, lacked the “XS” extension. A Google search led me to this bug report confirming it. Fortunately the problem is easily solved by doing a “force install Scalar::Util” in cpan.
I assume that this problem also exists in RHEL5, and some LUGmates have reported similar breakage inFedora.

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COMME DES GARCONS PLAY Heart-appliqué striped cotton-jersey top (Navy/white
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  • Headed up by Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo,  Comme des Garçons Play creates casualwear that captivates with its avant-garde, offbeat and always influential aesthetic. Classically cut from the softest cotton jersey, this slim-fitting top is printed with strong Breton stripes and appliquéd with the label's signature heart-shaped logo at the chest – cementing this wardrobe staples standout style. Wear yours with jeans or chinos.

  • REF: 236-2000022-P1T009NAVY

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ZELENS Youth Concentrate Supreme age-defying serum 30ml
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  • A revolutionary anti-ageing serum developed by Dr. Marko Lens based on the research inspired by a Nobel Prize winning discovery on the role of telomeres in aging.  Telomeres are DNA sequences regulating the life of the cells. Telomere protection helps maintain healthy cell division and extends cells’ youth life span. Powered by a unique complex of potent anti-ageing actives extending the youth span of skin cells, Youth Concentrate Supreme Anti-Defying Serum helps combat all aspects of skin aging.  Perfectly hydrated, skin appears smoother, firmer and younger looking with visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles.

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Murphy Shock and Vibration Switch with Clamp Mount - VS2C
The Murphy Shock and Vibration Switch with Clamp Mount VS2C is a shock sensitive mechanisms for shutdown of engine or electric motor powered equipment. This switch uses a magnetic latch to ensure reliable operation. The VS2 and VS2C are designed for use in non-hazardous locations. They have leaf type SPDT, double make contacts that can be used for shutdown and/or alarm. They have a slotted sensitivity adjustment located on the side of the case. Ideal for use on engines, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and pumping units, the VS2 Series can be used anywhere shutdown protection from damaging shock/vibration is desired. Switches are field adjustable to sensitivity required in each application. FEATURES:Fully AdjustableManual ResetIncludes Magnetic Latching FeatureDesigned to Detect Shock/Vibration in 3-Planes of MotionC-clamp mount includes 45 ft. (13.7 m) 2-conductor cable, and 5 cable clamps PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:Part No.: VS2CCase: Equal to NEMA 3R. Suitable for non-hazardous areasContacts: SPDT-double make leaf contacts, 5A @ 480 VACShipping Weight: 7 lb (3.2 kg)Shipping Dimensions: 12 x 7 x 5-1/2 in. (305 x 178 x 140 mm)
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A House Divided by the Donald

You may be familiar with the 2011 YouTube sensation showing 18 month-old identical twins Sam and Ren McEntee, “conversing” animatedly in the family kitchen.  This video immediately went viral that spring, and remains a popular selection, with over 136, 730, 000 views thus far.

I have shown this video in my past Early Childhood Education courses and department meetings, always to the delight of students and colleagues.  The toddlers engage in what is often termed by language development experts as “autonomous language” (or, if you’re feeling especially pedantic, “cryptophasia” or “idioglossia”).  Twin language has often been perceived as a “secret language” between siblings, but more recent research suggests that it is actually the result of one twin imitating the early speech patterns of the other.  Twins may also be more likely to use less intelligible speech perhaps due to their parallel developmental patterns and built-in availability as playmates.

This video is charming for the brothers’ clear enjoyment of each other, the animated tone in their facial expressions and body language, and the patterns of early speech, which to them, are quite clear, given the numerous exchanges (I count 17).

Many guesses have been made on social media regarding the content of this kitchen conversation between brothers.  Even the boys’ parents, though,  have  expressed uncertainty about the focus of their exchange, suggesting there may have been some concern over one twin’s missing sock.

I figured I’d give it an interpretive whirl myself.   Given the timing of this effort — mid-presidential campaign season —  I’d like to apply a  political spin to this toddler dialogue.  The boys certainly do not see eye-to-eye on whatever it is they are discussing.  The particularly vitriolic tone of this interminable tromp to a peaceful transition of power and the vivid polarization of the US electorate  make it an interesting exercise.

The new school year looms as well.  Millions of young children are entering preschool in the coming weeks.  This event is a milestone in children’s early development, and an attitude-shaper around their perspective on school.  So let’s combine presidential politics and early education.

I invite you to click on the link below, and watch the video twice — once, for the its sheer enchantment, and a second time, while following the imagined dialogue supplied below.

Twin 1:  “We’re going to day care next week!  Aren’t you excited?”  Twin 2:  “I’m not putting one toe in that joint.  Nah!”

Twin 1:  “You’re kidding me!  We’re going to Trump Day Care,* man.  Aren’t you stoked??”                                                                                Twin 2:  “Ha ha!  You’re funny!”

Twin 1:  “Don’t you wanna be a ‘Trump Kid?’  They call us “Trumpateers!’  Got it?”                                                                                Twin 2:  “No.  I’m rockin’ pee wee gymnastics.  I’m into the Olympics.”

Twin 1:  “Cool!  Did you know you’ll get your own exercise mat and pommel horse?”                                                                                Twin 2:  “Hee hee!”

Twin 1:  “Seriously!  Plus you get a deputy badge and a pad of blank citations on the first day of school!  Great, right?”                              Twin 2:  “Stop.  Don’t need it.”

Twin 1:  “Dude.  Always the Debbie Downer.  Don’t you want a Trumpateer t-shirt?”                                                                                Twin 2:  ” No-no-no.  Hey — see how limber I am already?”

Twin 1:  “It’s state-of-the-art child care.  Sweet, right?”                  Twin 2:  “Hee hee!  You’ve been watching too much Shark Tank.”

Twin 1:  “You get twenty lunch selections daily.  Is that cool, or what?”                                                                                Twin 2:  “Naw.  No need.  I’m in the middle of a cheese jag, anyway.”

Twin 1:  “Listen.  We get our own personal IPAD and set of toys.  There’s no sharing at Trump Day care!”                                                     Twin 2:  “Hee hee!  I don’t care.  Huh?  I can’t seeee youuuuu …”

Twin 1:  “You’re gonna regret not going.  Can you live with that?”  Twin 2:  “Hee hee!  No!  Hmmmmmm …”

Twin 1:  “The Trump Day Care motto is It’s always about me!  Is that not awesome?”                                                                                Twin 2:  “Hee hee!  No!  Hmmmmmmm …”

Twin 1:  “This is you:  ‘Naw, naw, naw!’  Can’t you dig all that swag?”                                                                                Twin 2:  “Hee hee!  You tickle my funny bone!”

Twin 1:  “Are you telling me you’re not stoked by field trips to Trump construction sites?  Hi, Daddy!”                                                      Twin 2:  “I keep telling you no!  C’mon.  Let’s not fight.  Even if it’s appropriate for our age.”

Twin 1:  “Did you know that if other kids make you mad, you can put them on time out — in an actual jail cell?”                                           Twin 2:  “That’s just not me.  I’m focused on executive function and floor exercises.”

Twin 1:  “You can do that!  Plus there’s an indoor pool and a 9-hole miniature golf course!  OK?”                                                                             Twin 2:  “No!   Oooh … look.  I can see myself in the fridge.”

Twin 1:  “OK.  Are you not even aware that they’re giving every classroom a set of blocks to build a giant wall around each Trump Day Care?”                                                                                Twin 2:  “Nohhhhhhh!”

Twin 1:  “Gaaa!  Can you not see tremendous when it’s staring you in the face?  Yer’ killin’ me here!                                                                                Twin 2:   “Deal with it.”

Imagined final utterance, off-camera:

Twin 1:  “Daddy!  We’re discussing Trump Day Care.  You’re gonna get a tax credit on our tuition.  Um … what bracket are we in?”

*Upon initial preparation for this essay, I was under the impression that Trump Day Care actually existed, based on Trump’s responses to a presidential candidate forum in Iowa last fall.  He explained that he offered on-site child care for his employees, saying, “You know, it’s not expensive for a company to do it.  You need one person or two people, and you need some blocks, and you need some swings and some toys.  It’s not an expensive thing, and I do it all over.”  Well, alright, then.

Jill Colvin and Catherine Lucy of the Associated Press discovered this is not exactly the case.  “Trump Kids” and “The Trumpateer Program,” advertised as on-site employee child care centers, are actually limited services for families who register at hotels in the Trump Hotel Collection or visit the Trump National Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.

American Presidential elections, like the airlines — and, yes, early childhood centers as well — offer choices.  Choice is valuable, and implies perspective-taking, of course — one of those essential skills we could all practice more consciously and consistently.  It doesn’t come naturally.  It does us well to listen, study, and get the whole story.

At 18 months, Sam and Ren have provided a glimpse into early language development and sibling relationships.  They are probably about 6 1/2 years old by now —  the very time when they are shifting into a more complex stage of cognition that enables them to take in other points of view.  This is an important transition in their ability to think critically, make friends, and get along with many different  kinds of people.

I’m guessing  they are well on their way.

4 thoughts on “A House Divided by the Donald”

  1. Sheila, congratulations on executing a difficult and creative post! The blending of your academic expertise with the ingenious idea to ascribe words to an animated conversation between 18 month old twins struck the right chord in this contentious political season. Well done!

  2. Thanks so much, Jack! As you know, it took some time, but it was great fun imagining how these brothers might perceive a potential first child care experience during an election year.

  3. Awwww! Thanks, dear brother! So glad you enjoyed. Sam and Ren have special place in my heart.

Comments are closed.


text:
Seventeen Intern Takes a Jog in Newton Running Shoes

Summer is just around the corner and for me that means its
time to throw out the worn out running shoes that I've used this winter and
invest in a new pair. Running shoes can only last so long. My father, who is a
physical therapist at ProFitness Physical Therapy in New York City, told me
that if you keep running shoes for too long and their sole and heel has worn
down too much, it could cause injuries. It just so happened that amidst my
search for running shoes I got a chance to talk with Marco Borges, our
Seventeen trainer for the month of March. When we got on the topic of running
shoes, he said that Newton Running Shoes would be what he suggested.

I decided I wanted to try them out. I went to their website
and did some research. The shoes focus on a new school way of running, on your
toes. At Newton they believe that puts less stress on the body. Both Marco and
the Newton website suggested starting out with short workouts until you get
used to the new way of running.

I decided I would wear my shoes around a little to break
them in before I started running. When I first tried to walk in them, because
of the extra padding under the toe, I felt like I was walking very funny,
almost like I was on pegs. However, I quickly became used to the feeling and
stopped noticing it.

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It was time to put the shoes to the test. I put on my shoes
and my iPod and started my run. I probably ran for about 30 minutes before I
decided to stop because I didn't want to over do it. I remembered being told
the shoes needed to be broken in. When I got home I made sure to stretch for a
while, especially my calves cause I could already feel them burning.

If I thought my calves were sore after the first run, I
wasn't prepared for the next morning. It actually hurt to walk up and down the
stairs. However, I remembered my coaches back in high school and my
dad saying that when you are sore, running can help loosen you up—not a hardcore 10
mile run, but a run to get your body warm. So I put my Newton Shoes back on and
got back out there.

I've been running almost everyday since I got the shoes. My
calves are a lot less sore now that I broke the shoes in. I know that the fact
that I was sore the next day really meant the shoes were not only providing my
feet with support to run on, but they were also working other parts of my body.
They are also the lightest shoes I've ever held, which is always good in a
running shoe; that way it doesn't weigh you down. All in all, I would say if
you're in the market for new running shoes, check out Newton's. It doesn't hurt
that they come in bright neon colors as well!

Is it time for you to get a new pair of running shoes? What kind are your favorite and why? Sound off below!

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text:
Dec 19 2017

Rites of Passage Training – Sexual Energy.

Sexual energy. The strongest energy within our bodies. Tonight Eva would show Matt just how to harness that power.

Eva made Matt wait three weeks before she scheduled him to meet her and Jenna at the same hotel with the European decor that reminded her of Barcelona. She stood looking out the window and watched the hustle of urban Seattle ease as the day moved into evening.

Matt was scheduled to arrive first. The memories of other young men that had passed through that hotel lobby on their way to her world started to fill her thoughts. From her position, she could see them entering the hotel. She would watch as they paused before going through the revolving door, checking their attire and their reflection in the glass panels before walking through. A smile crossed her face when Adam came to mind. He had been her favorite. But more than that, he had brought her Matt. That boy … she thought to herself. Wondering if she would eventually keep him to herself.

Eva was thankful for Jenna. She had been a good student and beyond that had remained single and always willing to train a new man when the opportunity came along. Both Jenna & Anna were used in Adam’s training.  And as sometimes happened, Adam and Anna developed an energy between them that continued to grow.  Both were willing to participate in any pieces of training if needed. Being a part of Matt’s initial introduction was Adam’s idea.  Since that night Eva mapped out her strategy for Matt, choosing Jenna to effortlessly move the continuity of the training forward.

Tonight’s lesson would be on Sexual Energy. Eva’s favorite part of the training.

The ambiance of the room was set. Melodic music flowed from her laptop and two bottles of her favorite red plus three wine glasses sat on the coffee table. Matt was due to arrive at 7 pm and Jenna at 8 pm.

Matt stood staring at the revolving glass doors that would usher him into the hotel lobby. The past three weeks of waiting increased his hunger, questions and curiosity of what kind of training laid ahead for him. Adam had been no help when questioned multiple times of his training and what Matt was to expect. Everyone is different, buddy. It all depends on what kind of connection Eva has with you and how easy she’s able to read and determine what you really need to know. He offered nothing more. Matt assured himself that if what he saw in the changes with Adam, resulting now in his new relationship, was an indication of what might lie ahead… well he was ready. He took a deep breath, straighten his shoulders and walked forward into those changes.

Eva greeted Matt at the door to her room with a glass of red. “Come in Matt. You’re right on time.”  She stepped back and watched as he entered her domain and stood before her. She closed the door and handed him the glass of red. She had forgotten the warm feeling he was capable of stirring in her loins at the sight of him.

“You’ve been missed,” she smiled and meant it. Yes, she had missed him and a familiar flushing was now building between her breasts.

They sat on the cushions of the luxurious purple velvet high back couch lightly chatting about his day and drinking down the first glass of red. Well, Matt was drinking it down. Eva was sipping and watching Matt finally relax.

Eva patted the cushion separating them, “Come closer, Matt.”

Matt scooted his jean clothed bottom closer to her. She turned him more towards her and took his free hand in hers. She could still feel a bit of tenseness in his fingers and could almost predict his thoughts. When would his training start? What would be her first move? Her grabbing his hand…was this the beginning?  She smiled, flattened out his palm and started to trace his lifelines with her middle finger.

“Tonight is about learning to understand and master the role of sexual energy in your life.” She rested her palm on his, her fingers lightly wrapped around his thumb.

“Matt, sexual energy is the strongest natural energy we make, store and expend from our bodies. When used properly it keeps us happy, healthy and can even boost our immune system. This is not to be confused with lust. Lust is a part of that energy but only a part.

Lust is experienced when two people first meet. Their emotions are fueled by passion and romance but eventually, lust will disappear. It’s commonly called NRE. New Relationship Energy, involving heightened emotional, sexual feelings and excitement. It’s a chemical change in our bodies that actually helps to increase blood flow. We all seek this chemical reaction because it temporarily floods us with excitement, happiness, and fulfillment. The world tends to seem a bit brighter and problems lighter. What we need to understand is we all seek the sexual chemistry, excitement, pleasure, passion, but not all want sexual intimacy.”

Eva took the empty wine glass from Matt’s hand and placed it on the coffee table next to hers. She moved closer and this time took both of his hands in hers. Palms touching palms. She could feel the heat in her hands increase and hoped that he could feel it too.

“We each have an energy vibration and what we call connection to another being is the vibration of two energies flowing together in harmony. This training is to teach you to recognize your energy flowing and that of your partner’s, then blending the two together to create intimacy.

Sex is natural and good for you. As the hormone DHEA increases, tissues can be repaired and stress levels lowered when sexual energy is fully released. Love and intimacy bring healing to the human body. You’ll learn with Jenna tonight how to feel, how to touch and how to listen. You’ll learn to create intimacy.

You’ll start with the kiss. You’ll need to learn how to feel and listen with your lips. Your kiss will be your first taste of her. You’ll move your lips over her cheeks, forehead, down around her neck. You’ll learn how to feel like a blind man. You’ll feel with your lips the texture of her skin, its taste, you’ll discover the smell of her hair.”

She paused and moved closer. “Let me show you. Don’t move, close your eyes and only feel.”

Eva cradled Matt’s face in her hands, feeling the energy continuing to build as she brought his face to hers. Her lips brushed lightly against one cheek, passing over his lips to the other. Bending his head slightly down, she swept her lips over his forehead and slowly down, over his closed eyelids. One hand traced the outline of the bridge of his slightly crooked nose that she guessed was from some car or sporting accident. Down her fingers traveled now outlining his lips, she automatically wet her own as she leaned in cradling his head and brought her lips a hair’s breath from his own.

“Can you feel me, Matt?” she whispered against his opened lips. “Keep your eyes closed, breathe and feel me.”

She could feel the crackling of energy along their lips as her breath moved across his.  She couldn’t resist dipping her fingers into his eager mouth. His lips pulled them further in and his tongue ran along their sides. Eva’s stomach clawed at her spin as a brief thought surfaced to call off Jenna and tonight train Matt herself.  She instead whispered against his mouth, “Smoke and fire first ignite through a kiss.”

Eva slowly removed her fingers, “Jenna will be here in a few minutes. Remember what I have shown you. She knows what to do but she’ll follow your lead.” She reached for her glass of red and sat back on the cushion.

Matt sat still, eyes open and watched Eva’s mouth as she spoke.

“I want you to take your time. Touch without sight. Let both of your excitement grow.” She could see the arousal almost clouding him.

“And for tonight, no orgasm for either of you. It’s all about learning to feel, exchange and build the sexual energy.”

Eva thought for sure she heard Matt sigh…

If you missed the first installments and parts (5) of ‘Rites of Passage’ you can start here:
Rites of Passage ~ Part 1
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Medium Tits ('My Topless')

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Tit Flash: Medium Tits - Laura from Brazil
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SFB 1078 - Workshop on IR Spectroscopy of Peptides and Proteins

Oct 19, 2016
10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

The SFB 1078 kindly invites you to the Workshop on IR Spectroscopy of Peptides and Proteins [link to complete program].

The workshop will address topics related to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of IR spectroscopy of peptides and proteins. Special focus will be laid on protein secondary structure changes.

The idea is to have sufficient time for discussion, such that the lectures that will be presented should be kept as short as possible. Instead, all participants (not only those listed below) are encouraged to contribute to discussion, also by presenting one or two slides, if appropriate.

Introduction  –  10:00
Peptides  –  Contributions

Prof. Timothy A. Keiderling (University of Illinois, Chicago, USA)
Calculation of amide modes

Dr. Jacek Kozuch/ Prof. Maria Andrea Mroginski (TU Berlin)
Peptide-membrane interactions – a theoretical approach

Dr. Marius Horch (TU Berlin)
Side chain modes

Proteins  –  Contributions

Prof. Karin Hauser (University of Konstanz, Germany)
Protein dynamics and amide band changes

Dr. FrancicscoVelazquez Escobar (TU Berlin)
Secondary structure changes in phytochromes

Prof. Maria Andrea Mroginski / Dr. TillmannUtesch (TU Berlin)
MD approaches towards secondary structure changes

Jan Daldrop (FU Berlin)
Theoretical approach towards the IR continuous bands of hydrogen-bonded water

Everybody is welcome!

Link to future events.

Time & Location

Oct 19, 2016, 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Library Room PC 305 - PC Building - Technical University Berlin
Str. des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg
How to get there.


text:
Daniel Loeb

Hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb, who runs $14 billion Third Point LLC, disclosed a huge stake in Blackberry Ltd.

In his fund's latest 13F filing, Third Point held 10 million shares of BlackBerry during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013.

BBRY shares closed at $8.98 today, but are up 3% in after-hours trading.

Hedge funds only have to disclose their long equity holdings in these securities filings. Also, keep in mind 13Fs are filed 45 days after the end of each quarter.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:


text:
Trump Is Our Greatest Threat to National Security

That Donald Trump is the greatest threat to the United States' national security is hardly a new idea. He was a threat, if not the biggest, even before he was president — back when he was merely a candidate, standing at a podium and inviting the Kremlin to hack federal government email servers.

But now that he is the president, his capacity for causing harm has expanded exponentially. And whether it's his provocation of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un or his embrace of Philippine dictator Rodrigo Duterte, his sexism toward German Chancellor Angela Merkel or patriarchal posturing with French President Emmanuel Macron, his hostility toward NATO or his indifference toward climate change, Trump is continually subverting U.S. leadership in the international community and alienating us from our allies.

But perhaps nothing makes Trump more dangerous to this nation, and to the rest of the world, than his position on Russia and his affinity for Vladimir Putin.

In an extraordinary and critical piece of reporting for the Washington Post, Greg Miller, Greg Jaffe, Philip Rucker, Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima, and Julie Tate make abundantly clear how vast this peril truly is: "Doubting the Intelligence, Trump Pursues Putin and Leaves a Russian Threat Unchecked."

There is a lot there, but I strongly encourage you to read the whole thing.

What emerges is the portrait of a president whose ego and temperament make him catastrophically unfit for the presidency, and whose stubborn fealty to the remarkably stupid idea that a friendship with Putin is both possible and integral to world peace renders him uniquely unsuited to lead at a moment in time when taking seriously the international threat of Russian destabilization of democracies is critical to global stability.

Simultaneously, what is painfully clear here is that there is no one — no one — in Trump's orbit who presents a meaningful challenge to his authoritarian insistence on not being questioned. The idea that Trump would surround himself with "smart people" was always a foolish one, because his refusal to abide criticism or dissent always meant he would surround himself with sycophants.

So here we are. This anecdote, as but one example of that chilling dynamic, is horrifying:
[National security adviser H.R. McMaster] gained an internal ally on Russia in March with the hiring of Fiona Hill as the top Russia adviser on the NSC. A frequent critic of the Kremlin, Hill was best known as the author of a respected biography of Putin and was seen as a reassuring selection among Russia hard-liners.

Her relationship with Trump, however, was strained from the start.

In one of her first encounters with the president, an Oval Office meeting in preparation for a call with Putin on Syria, Trump appeared to mistake Hill for a member of the clerical staff, handing her a memo he had marked up and instructing her to rewrite it.

When Hill responded with a perplexed look, Trump became irritated with what he interpreted as insubordination, according to officials who witnessed the exchange. As she walked away in confusion, Trump exploded and motioned for McMaster to intervene.

McMaster followed Hill out the door and scolded her, officials said. Later he and a few close staffers met to explore ways to repair Hill's damaged relationship with the president.
Trump's intractable misogyny led him to assume a Russian expert was a secretary, and then he got angry at her for insufficient deference. That is troubling enough, but McMaster knew who she was, and scolded her anyway, for the president's benefit.

Clearly, there is no one prepared to stand up to Trump. We are in very deep trouble.

One final note: Mike Pence is mentioned exactly once in this piece: "Trump took a seat at one end of a large table, with Vice President-elect Mike Pence at the other."

The article doesn't say what Pence's position on Russia is. It doesn't say what he's doing when Trump throws tantrums at having to hear even a mention of Russian interference. It doesn't address Pence's accountability for allowing this garbage, despite being a career politician. It doesn't address his accountability for abetting it.

It continues to be absolutely scandalous that Pence is just skating through all of this with seemingly nobody in the media caring about the critical role he is playing in the accelerated downfall of this nation.

He is significantly less of a concern at the moment than Trump, but, one day, he might not be.

Shakesville is run as a safe space. First-time commenters: Please read Shakesville's Commenting Policy and Feminism 101 Section before commenting. We also do lots of in-thread moderation, so we ask that everyone read the entirety of any thread before commenting, to ensure compliance with any in-thread moderation. Thank you.

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Selbyville Church Directory

Selbyville Church Directory

The Selbyville Church Guide provides descriptions of local Christian churches, cathedrals and other places of Christian worship in Selbyville Delaware. Maps are included. If you are a resident, visitor or are preparing to relocate within the city limits, you will find this information useful. With it you can connect with other congregations in your area, find a like-minded church to worship while visiting, or have the information you need to begin searching for a new home church.

About Selbyville - Background Information

Total population1645
Median Age: Female40.1
Median Age: Male34.5
Number of households615
Median Income$36,250

Source: 2000 census, U.S. Census Bureau


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