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It’s very easy to bypass or indeed forget about Sligo. The county that’s tucked just a bit too far up the touristy parts of the Wild Atlantic Way, can seem somewhat out of reach to those doing a whirlwind trip of Ireland.

But after experiencing the flavour of this great county, we’re dying to come back already.

With thanks to Sligo Food Trail, Sligo Tourism and Fáilte Ireland, Mom and I were invited as guests to experience the county like never before (this also coincidently coincided with our Wild Atlantic Way journey, which you can read about here).

To kick things off, our press group started in Dublin where they were greeted by pianist Kieran Quinn in Connolly station with a grand piano, much to the amusement of passers-by. Mom and I weren’t in Dublin at the time because we were weaving up Ireland’s coast, but you can see what happened in fellow blogger, Val Robus’ tweets below:

One for the foodies: Sligo Food Trail

While we didn’t experience a Food Trail in a traditional sense, we did get a fantastic overview of a variety of trails that Sligo had to offer (the lucky ducks on the train – see above- got a fabulous welcome of food and my friend Val kindly saved some for me! The beetroot burgers from Beltra Country Market were astonishingly amazing).

The Sligo’s Food Trail isn’t simply a one-off, but rather a selection of experiences that you can choose to head to. From Farm to Fork dinners, to eating seafood by the shore and going on a craft beer tour, their tagline “the secret’s in the mix” certainly seems appropriate.

But let me get back to where I was! It was in Sligo train station that we joined our group and met with our fellow food enthusiasts. Here’s what happened:

One for the nostalgia: The Sandbars

How many people can say that they were greeted off the train to the sounds of a barbershop quartet and glasses of bubbly? Mom and I were at the station when we noticed four gentlemen in red, preparing their vocal chords with gusto! Based in Strandhill, The Sandbars can certainly hold a tune and we loved the old-worldly feel that they offered. Iarnród Eireann staff, if you are all reading this, entertainment like the Sandbars would be most welcome in train stations across Ireland!

One for the historians: Lissadell House

Waving “goodbye” to our singing friends, the next stop was Lissadell House, a neo-classical Greek revivalist style country house that was built between 1830 and 1835. We were met by its owner, Constance Cassidy, a formidable woman with a presence that fits in well at Lissadell – we also got to eat delicious oysters in the courtyard shucked by Glenn Hunter from Wild Atlantic Oysters.

Constance and Anthony Gray of the RAI
Constance and Anthony Gray of the RAI

The grounds are simply laden with history and the collection of historic artefacts they house are captivating. What we personally loved were the Alpine Gardens, just a short stroll away from the main building.

The two-acre Alpine Garden was created in 1740 as a pleasure garden and was restored in 2004, having been neglected when nature was allowed to run its course. Today’s a place of reflection with an ideal view of the sea!

As a treat, we got to eat in Lissadell House, with a meal prepared by the Eala Bhán Restaurant chefs and it was superb:

Amuse bouche!
Amuse bouche!
Taste of the Wild Atlantic Way: Pan-seared Lemon Buttered Scallop, Kataffi Prawn, Charlie Kelly Lissadell mussels, Lemon Foam and Saffron Aioli
Taste of the Wild Atlantic Way: Pan-seared Lemon Buttered Scallop, Kataffi Prawn, Charlie Kelly Lissadell mussels, Lemon Foam and Saffron Aioli
Sherlocks of Tubercurry Sligo Lamb: French-dressed Sligo lamb rack herb crust with red wine and rosemary reduction, mint courgette purée with soft creamy seaweed mash.
Sherlocks of Tubercurry Sligo Lamb: French-dressed Sligo lamb rack herb crust with red wine and rosemary reduction, mint courgette purée with soft creamy seaweed mash.
Assiette of Desserts
Assiette of Desserts

One for the adventurous: Prannie Rhatigan’s Seaweed Walks

Mom and I are foraging addicts and when we heard that the brilliant Prannie Rhatigan would be bringing us out for a mini-seaweed adventure, we were very excited.

Showcasing just some of the many seaweeds that Ireland had to offer, Prannie gave us all a taste of what’s our shoreline as well as stressing the importance of sustainable harvesting. We have her book on seaweed and it’s excellent!

You can really tell that seaweed is at the heart of everything that Prannie does. See her website for updates on events.

One for real food lovers: Eala Bhán Restaurant

Owned by Anthony Gray, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Eala Bhán (white swan in English!) in Sligo town is on the quays. With a tasting menu of six courses, we were treated to an absolute feast. Service was done with a smile and the décor and indeed the food is top-notch. See more on their website here.

Each one of our courses was teamed with craft beers from the White Hag Brewery, and we got everything from rich, chocolatey stouts to light and fruity ales with natural ingredients taking over our taste buds with the flavoursome brews. In truth: it was all heavenly!

One for the craic-seekers: Thomas Connolly’s

Topping the night off, we headed along to Connolly’s. Some may dub it an “old-man” pub, but Thomas Connolly’s captures the true experience of craic in Ireland.

It’s the best spot to top off your evening. Connolly’s was first given licence in 1861 and is said to be Ireland’s oldest pub in the North-west. We were greeted by musicians and the drinks flowed for the night. There’s something definitely special about hearing Anthony Gray belting out he Fields of Athenry in both French(ish) and English. Quelle surprise!

One for the walkers: Seatrails

The next day we were given the option to choose a seaweed bath with Voya or head on a coastal walk. As much as we LOVE seaweed, after a long day of eating and drinking, a walk seemed like a better option. Run by archaeologist Auriel Robinson a Wild Atlantic Way ambassador for Sligo, Seatrails is perfect for those looking to hunt out something different. With a wealth of knowledge, Auriel is well-informed but is also willing to part with information on her heritage trails.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous she can even organise a shellfish experience where you can dine “al fresco” at a midden site! (Special shoutout to Auriel’s dog Zara too).

One for the kids: Mammy Johnston’s

Based in Strandhill, this is run by a pair who are passionate about real gelato and icecream. And it’s not only the Irish who love it, Mammy Johnston’s won title of the best honeycomb at the Sigep Rimini trade show in Italy. Even the Italians approve! I fell in love with their mango flavour.

Where to stay? Strandhill Lodge and Suites

Our media entourage was staying in a few different places, but we got to stay in Strandhill.

This 4* accommodation overlooks Strandhill Bay and we stayed in a beautiful twin room with access to a patio. They even had a really cool Nespresso-esque coffee machine!

Everything was comfortable and clean and we couldn’t hear a thing in the corridors or outside. Brownie points as well for having the plugs by the beds. Businesspeople would definitely approve of this retreat.

In the morning, I was surprised that they didn’t offer a cooked breakfast and just continental (there were hard-boiled eggs though) but in one way it was a nice change because I tend to overload on a fry when I’m staying somewhere fancy!

A few things worth mentioning:

  • A day isn’t enough for Sligo, between the food trails, walks, dinner and nights out, you could easily spend a few days experiencing new things (we’d highly recommend you drive, though!)
  • Book Eala Bhán in advance if you plan on eating there. It’s a very popular restaurant and worth heading to!
  • Bring the right clothing when you’re heading along on a Seatrail. The sunshine can be very deceptive in Ireland; a windproof jacket can do wonders.

We’re truly grateful for the hospitality that Anthony Gray showed us throughout the entire day, but also very thankful to Marie Brouder, who contacted me to organise us joining the Sligo Food Trail experience. Everything we experienced over the day and a half was completely complimentary for us, but no money exchanged hands.

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Throwing Darts: Dialing up four dogs

You should know the rules by now. Five games go to post, using the spreads from Yahoo! Pro Football Pick'Em. Join us, pick with us, talk football with us. Everyone is on the lookout for the Telltale Dart.

One Week 8 disclaimer: I settled on these selections Friday night, and I didn't go into deep analysis of the weather forecasts. I'll consider the weather news on Sunday morning - for fantasy only. My picks below are my picks below, they'll stay as called, come hell or high water. Be merciful, Mother Nature.

Panthers +7.5 at Chicago: Sometimes you have to go ugly with some of these picks. The Bears are on a short week. Carolina hopefully is ready to weed out the read-option - and make a commitment to a more traditional running game. Chicago's offensive consistency comes and goes. All I'm asking here is for the Panthers to hang around.

Eagles -2 vs. Falcons: Andy Reid's bye week resume speaks for itself (13-0), and while the Falcons are also rested, this looks like a spot where they could easily hit a pothole. Matt Ryan's career numbers on the road have been mediocre (not so much this year, but in previous years), and the foundation of the Atlanta scheme works better at home, in the dome. Get ready for ambush week.

Redskins +4.5 at Steelers: I haven't seen a bad run from the RG3 Redskins yet, and Pittsburgh still has exploitable flaws on both sides of the ball. The healthy amount of points provide for a significant backdrop; the Redskins can easily secure a cover simply from a competitive day, or they could play like dirt for three quarters and then reel in a comeback cover late. It's nice to have different paths to the end prize.

Colts +3.5 at Tennessee: Maybe the Colts simply got caught in a New York meat grinder back in Week 6 - the Jets are playing much better on defense than many realize. Indy's offense earned its share of cred with wins over Minnesota and Green Bay, and even last week's TCOB job over Cleveland had some value to it. Getting above the standard three against a Tennessee club with its share of fleas, I'll gladly accept the spot.

Cardinals +6.5 vs. Niners: Legitimate home-field edge, strong defense, rivalry game. The key to making the number will be limiting John Skelton's mistakes. Punts are okay, even in bulk to some extent; handouts are not.

Last Week: 3-2
Season: 24-11
2011: 41-39
2010: 49-34

What to Read Next

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Oregon Little League holds raffle for semiautomatic rifle, but parents want to stop it

Cameron Smith
Prep Rally
The poster advertising the St. Helens softball raffle — St. Helens Girls Softball
The poster advertising the St. Helens softball raffle — St. Helens Girls Softball

Earlier in March, Prep Rally brought you the story of Atwood-Hammond Little League in Illinois and the association’s bizarre decision to raise funds by raffling off an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. While the attention generated here at Prep Rally and other outlets brought additional scrutiny to the raffle, the fundraising was steadfastly defended by league officials because of the money generated by raffle itself.

Of course, part of the success of that raffle came from parents’ willingness to support and buy tickets for the raffle itself. Now that dynamic has been flipped on its head in Oregon, where a youth softball league planned to auction off a similar AR-15 assault rifle only to have the fundraiser openly criticized by parents themselves. Now the planned fundraiser may not go ahead, even though all the raffle tickets have been sold.

As reported by The Oregonian’s Stuart Tomlinson on Oregon Live, the St. Helens girls softball league will hold a public hearing to decide whether or not to hold its scheduled DPMS Panther Oracle A-TACS AR-15 assault rifle raffle, which was not reported to the Oregon branch of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) until Tuesday.

“I was shocked,’’ Oregon ASA Commissioner Mike Wells told the Oregonian. “Apparently a good samaritan offered the gun up for the raffle. When it came up the board probably should have asked for approval.”

As it turns out, Wells and his staff may not need to issue an official ruling on the raffle themselves, because parents of league members may veto the fundraiser on their own. A letter that was sent to The Oregonian by “concerned parents and citizens of Saint Helens” pointed out just how troubled they felt by having a league that serves children aged 8 to 16 profit on a semiautomatic weapon.

“[Opposed parents] feel that this type of raffle is unacceptable with regards to being linked to a youth sports organization. The board members are refusing to listen to our concerns and issues regarding this raffle. They have made it very clear that they do not care about how we feel about this fundraiser and will continue to sell tickets accordingly.”

Those board members are no longer selling tickets because they have already sold out. According to the league's Facebook page, the raffle raised just less than $1,600.

Now, the question is whether the raffle will go ahead against the wishes of the parents who might receive some of the financial relief that the funds from the raffle provide themselves.

Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Rankings: Lions not backing down from anyone

Michael Silver
Yahoo! Sports

The head coach went ballistic after a salty postgame handshake, creating a spectacle akin to a bench-clearing baseball brawl.

The star defensive tackle has repeatedly and unapologetically run afoul of officials and NFL disciplinarians, and he spent Tuesday getting a refresher course on the rules from the commissioner.

Pro football's outspoken outlaws were called classless after allegedly taunting a star quarterback who'd suffered a seemingly serious injury and, the following week, were dubbed sacrilegious after mocking the prayerful pose of America's most popular scatter-armed passer.

[ Related: Were Lions out of line for 'Tebowing'? ]

Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the 2011 Lions, a team depicted as "evil" by the NFL's own website even before they disrespected Tim Tebow(notes).

Now allow me to let you in on a little secret: They just don't give a damn.

In fact, there is a very clear message behind the Lions' insolence: We're not the pushovers we used to be. We're here, we're fierce – get used to it.

Determined to break an extended cycle of futility, the 6-2 Lions are exuding 'tude at every turn. They are very much in step with the ethos of the city they call home: tough, industrious, proud and very far from subtle.

Think transplanted "Beverly Hills Cop" detective Axel Foley meets "8 Mile" rapper "B-Rabbit" meets the 1980s Pistons Bad Boys, and you'll get a sense of the way the Lions view themselves.

It all starts with head coach Jim Schwartz, Detroit's most pugnacious mentor since the late, great Chuck Daly. After inheriting a historically bad team coming off an 0-16 season and gutted by the wreckage of Matt Millen's seven-year stretch as team president, the former Titans defensive coordinator knew an attitude adjustment was as necessary as a roster overhaul.

Midway through his third season, Schwartz has a locker room that feeds off his swagger.

"Coach Schwartz has a lot of fire in him," says defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch(notes), who played for him in Tennessee. "I think it's reflected in the team. We follow his lead. I think when he feels disrespected, he's not the kind of guy that's just gonna stand back and take it."

Another ex-Titans defender, middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch(notes), says of Schwartz: "He's cool, man, someone guys definitely enjoy playing for. We come to work every day knowing we have somebody that's gonna ride with you, be in your corner no matter what. He don't take stuff from nobody."

Schwartz certainly didn't back down when 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, in the aftermath of a 25-19 victory at Ford Field last month that knocked Detroit from the ranks of the undefeated, gave him a vigorous handshake, dismissive backslap and, according to two witnesses, uttered a two-word insult that recently served as the inspiration for a Cee Lo Green hit.

When Schwartz subsequently charged Harbaugh as the San Francisco coach headed toward the locker-room tunnel, he was talking smack (one witness said he was "speaking in tongues") and looking very much like a man who wanted to back up his words with physical deeds.

Many of us thought it was a bit over the top, but I believe Schwartz was interested only in the reactions of his players – and his fellow residents of the Motown area.

To borrow a line from one Lions source, if Schwartz had allowed Harbaugh to punk him like that in plain view and didn't respond forcefully, he'd have had his Detroit Card revoked.

The following morning, Schwartz told his players exactly what had gone down between him and Harbaugh, and no apologies were necessary. Similarly, sublime second-year defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh(notes) hasn't flinched in the face of repeated fines and rampant criticism for his aggressive on-field behavior.

Called a dirty player by some opponents, Suh insisted he wouldn't change his style. Penalized financially as a repeat offender, Suh initiated a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday. And cast as the face of Team Evil in the walkup to Sunday's game against the Tebow-led Broncos in Denver, Suh embraced the notoriety, telling reporters after Detroit's 45-10 victory that "evil prevails."

In that game, Tulloch and tight end Tony Scheffler(notes) taunted the deeply religious Tebow by imitating the prayerful pose he'd made on the sidelines after a dramatic victory over the Dolphins the previous week. Many offended observers saw this as a repudiation of Tebow's faith, but both Lions expressed through Twitter comments that they meant no intentional slight against Christianity.

My belief is that, because the "Tebowing" clip had become an Internet sensation, Tulloch and Scheffler were more concerned with mocking the unproven quarterback's popularity.

There was another motivating factor: After consecutive home defeats to the 49ers and Falcons, the Lions desperately wanted their edge back, and conspicuously reverting into Bad Boy mode was the surest way to underscore that point.

Schwartz's players aren't poseurs; they have a clear understanding of their potential. Detroit is not a finished product by any means, but skeptics waiting for this team to collapse like the 2007 Lions, who finished 7-9 after a 6-2 start, may be in for a rude awakening.

[ Related: Absurdly Premature Playoff Picture for Week 9 ]

"Hey," Tulloch says, "we've got a good team."

If we've learned anything through the first two months of the season, the Lions are quite comfortable letting everyone know how good they think they are. And if you look at things from their perspective, the backlash provoked by their audacity is a welcome development.

Think about it: The Harbaugh-Schwartz incident happened because an opposing coach couldn't contain his enthusiasm after beating the Lions. The Falcons, last year's top playoff seed in the NFC, were nearly as giddy after their 23-16 victory at Ford Field the following week, a reaction partially fueled by the belief that Suh and teammate Cliff Avril(notes) had gloated when Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan(notes) was writhing on the turf with a seemingly serious leg injury.

"The two teams that beat us were partying down afterwards, jumping up and down, cheering, getting fired up," Schwartz says. "That says a lot. We've come a long way as a team and as a franchise."

Some Pistons fans undoubtedly believe the Lions have gone back to the late '80s, when Rick Mahorn, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman and company were throwing down and throwing elbows and reveling in their renegade image.

They've also bullied their way back into the 32Q Top 10:

Jermichael Finley(notes) celebrates one of his 4 TDs.
(Getty Images)

1. Green Bay Packers: Will the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce build a "For One Thing, There's Nothing To Do … " ad campaign around tight end Jermichael Finley?

2. San Francisco 49ers: What are the odds that Harbaugh's next bar fight will take place at, say, Mo's of Indianapolis – at this guy's table – during next February's NFL scouting combine?

3. Pittsburgh Steelers: If Aaron Rodgers(notes) didn't exist, would Ben Roethlisberger(notes) be a viable MVP candidate, in addition to being the most underrated quarterback of his era?

4. New England Patriots: After hearing Andre Carter(notes) describe the Pats' defense as a "circus," was Bill Belichick tempted to shoot back, "At least it's a three-ring circus"?

[ Video: Brady taking too many hits in pocket ]

5. Baltimore Ravens: Am I the only one who thinks the story of Joe Flacco(notes) giving John Harbaugh a cut under his eye while the two were "horsing around" sounds like a bunch of horse manure?

6. New York Giants: Will Brandon Jacobs(notes) use his new "fast-ass car" to zoom past all the people living their miserable lives?

7. Buffalo Bills: If Fred Jackson's(notes) wife waited until the fifth round to take him in her fantasy draft, is a visit from Clive Bixby in order?

T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes) is reunited with QB Carson Palmer(notes).
(AP Photo)

8. Oakland Raiders: Why do I get the feeling that newly signed wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh will have a much better January 2012 than he did earlier this year?

9. Atlanta Falcons: Even though it makes no logical sense, doesn't it seem like Julio Jones'(notes) absence allowed the Falcons' offense to get back in sync – and will the rookie's return disrupt that newfound rhythm?

10. Detroit Lions: When lauding Suh's "great skill and passion" on Twitter following their meeting on Tuesday, did commissioner Goodell think about including a smiley-face emoticon?

11. New Orleans Saints: When the cat's away, will the mice hiss at one another?

12. Philadelphia Eagles: Who's better after a one-week break – Andy Reid or President Obama?

13. New York Jets: Is it fair to say that Rex Ryan would agree with my insistence that a certain ex-quarterback put a sock in it – and should the grumpy legend's new nickname be Low-Blow Joe?

Brian Cushing(notes) was a big pain for Blaine Gabbert(notes).
(Getty Images)

14. Houston Texans: In retrospect, does Blaine Gabbert wish he'd gone with the classic "Whoa there, Hoss" after Brian Cushing dove at him near the Reliant Stadium sideline last Sunday?

15. Chicago Bears: If Gabe (The Bear Jew) Carimi returns to the starting lineup, will I be able to talk my wife into letting me watch "Inglourious Basterds" in bed for the 12th time?

16. Dallas Cowboys: When Andy Reid was reading Rob Ryan's mail, did he check out the Victoria's Secret catalog?

[ Related: Rob Ryan believes we would be better head coach than brother ]

17. Kansas City Chiefs: Is it possible that Todd Haley is doing an even better coaching job in 2011 than he did in 2010?

18. Cincinnati Bengals: After being called "one of the most overrated receivers out there" by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman(notes), did A.J. Green(notes) bust out Stanford's 2008 game tape and laugh at the irony?

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Is there any other industry in which an employee could be rewarded like Tanard Jackson(notes) upon returning to work following a year of forced rehab?

20. Tennessee Titans: As a way of honoring poor, neglected Pacman Jones when he returns to LP Field on Sunday, how awesome would it be if 69,143 fans made it rain in unison?

Philip Rivers(notes) was sacked three times and intercepted twice by the Chiefs.
(AP Photo)

21. San Diego Chargers: Seriously, what's wrong with Philip Rivers?

22. Cleveland Browns: Given that the Browns have been outscored a combined 73-9 in the first and third quarters this season, might rookie coach Pat Shurmur consider asking his boss, Mike Holmgren, for some advice on pregame speeches, scripting plays and halftime adjustments?

23. Minnesota Vikings: How big is my Y! Sports colleague Jason Cole's man crush on Christian Ponder(notes)?

24. Carolina Panthers: After calling the official who flagged him for a crucial holding penalty in Sunday's defeat to the Vikings "a 70-year-old man gimping down the field," might Steve Smith be plotting a touchdown celebration in the offending zebra's honor?

25. Washington Redskins: Did Mike Shanahan find some deux deux deuxs before Sunday's game in Toronto – or did his failure to score extend to the entire weekend?

26. Seattle Seahawks: When Pete Carroll gets "hormonal," do Seahawks fans reach for the Midol?

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Given that his team has gone three consecutive games with fewer than 100 passing yards, is it time for Jack Del Rio to consider yet another abrupt quarterback switch?

Tim Tebow has completed just 31 passes and has been sacked 13 times the past two weeks.
(Getty Images)

28. Denver Broncos: When John Fox said "all things are possible" in relation to Brady Quinn's(notes) potential insertion into the starting lineup, was he making a subliminal plea for Kurt Warner(notes) to come out of retirement?

29. Arizona Cardinals: Whose pocket presence is more unsightly right now – Kevin Kolb(notes) or the lint-covered, cinnamon-flavored Altoids I keep next to my car keys?

30. St. Louis Rams: So, um, can the Cardinals come to every game from now on?

31. Miami Dolphins: To Brandon Marshall(notes), is "positioning" a euphemism for "tanking"?

32. Indianapolis Colts: Are we witnessing the most precipitous collapse in NFL history?

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
Frank McCourt finally gives up senseless fight, will sell Dodgers
Lou Gehrig's last home run bat has ties to famous actor's dad
Billy Hunter's actions in NBA labor talks weaken union
College football's 10 best 'Games of the Century'

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New Overwatch Hero Released!

The first post-release Overwatch hero is here, and she’s the Crusader’s Crossbow personified. I know, I’m having trouble believing it myself! Ana’s sniper rifle will heal teammates or damage enemies; all that matters is who you hit. Likewise, her E-attack is an area-of-effect radius that heals teammates, similar to Soldier 76’s biotic field, but it also damages enemies in range. Finally, she has a sidearm she can fire every 12 seconds that temporarily knocks out any unlucky enemy in its crosshair, kinda like a mini-Reinhardt ultimate. Ana’s ultimate is a buff dart that grants one lucky teammate increased damage resistance, damage boost and… [Continue Reading]

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Tag Archives: leadership

The Confessions of Young Nero (Margaret George)

23 Jun

I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this book.  If the only thing you know about Nero is that he blamed Christians for a great fire, then you really need to pick this title up!

Confessions of Young Nero Squinklethoughts

1.  I am embarrassed to admit that even I fell under the trap of skating over Nero and relegating him as merely one in a list of inefficient emperors of the Early Roman Empire.  When I teach my favourite course, Classical Civilizations, we give him maybe 15 minutes of airtime, and then we move on.  I just can’t do that anymore after reading this book.

2.  You know my life revolves around middle-grade stories, and that even the YA or adult choices I make are usually historical fiction (like this one) or retellings of old favourites (like Mechanica and Eligible).  The drawback of being immersed in MG is that I don’t find enough good supplementary reading material for my high schoolers.  Teachers/parents, in case you’re wondering, this book is totally appropriate for a senior-level history or English class.  It’s clean and, obviously, written at an adult reading level.  I very well might add it to my Classical Civs course if I can restructure the units somehow.

Confessions of Young Nero Lesson

3.  This is my first Margaret George book, and I’m keen to try more of her work.  Her prose is gorgeous and polished, making her narrative voice completely unobtrusive to Nero’s story.  I have the unfortunate habit of being able to recognize (and see over and over again) the phrases that denote an author’s voice or style, but in this case, I was just so engrossed in the story that I didn’t even think of analyzing the prose.  Really, Nero’s story is so well told that you might, as I often did, think that Nero, himself, is telling the story.  Also, Locusta is such a great instrument.  I don’t know if she’s real or not, but her chapters really make the plot sizzle.

4.  I rooted for Nero the entire time I was reading this book.  I mean, history has relegated him to the halls of the crazy/evil/useless leaders, but my heart broke time and time again over the sad moments of his life.  (I kept thinking about Crispus until the end of the novel.)  So, now, I keep wondering whether history has completely messed up his story.  He was a product of his time, for sure, but in so many ways, he rose above expectations.  For one thing, he actually cared about what happened to his people.  I don’t know if that’s solely George’s interpretations of events, or if she read historical papers that actually mentioned his kindnesses, but it was a really good feature of the Nero in this book.  You know the saying, “History is told from the perspective of the victors”?  Well, in this case, the victors were Nero’s enemies, so most (all?) of the stories that exist of him reflect their belief that he was a terrible leader and person.  No one tells the story of how beloved he was by the citizens of the Rome that he led.

5.  I imagined Simon Woods as Nero about a quarter of the way into the story.  I’m not sure if that’s because I had just rewatched the TV series Rome or what, and I don’t think he quite fits the traditional images of Nero, but if there’s ever a movie of The Confessions of Young Nero, I think Woods would be a good choice.

6.  The ending was rather abrupt, and I wish I had known that the book wouldn’t cover everything in Nero’s life.  Well, I guess I could have figured that out for myself if I had tried to work out his timeline in comparison to the book length.  Anyway, I was left hanging!  But not in a terrible, terrible way.  Now that I know that this is the first in a duology, I can admit that this one ends in the perfect spot.  The great thing is that it seems like you can read both books as standalones.  But if you enjoy the story and writing as much as I did, you’ll be just like me … eagerly anticipating the follow-up.

7.  This is at the top of my list of best books I’ve read in 2017 so far.  I highly recommend this to all lovers of history, Ancient Rome, character-driven stories, and engaging prose.

5 Squinkles

Margaret George’s Online Corners
Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Chapters/Indigo

Thank you, Berkley and Penguin Random House, for sending me a copy of
The Confessions of Young Nero in exchange for an honest review.

All Squinklethoughts expressed herein are entirely my own.

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Paper Sweeties MAY Release Party!

Monday, May 15, 2017

 Yippee!!  Today is Paper Sweeties MAY Release party!!  All the new goodies are now available for purchase in the boutique!

How utterly sweet are Jake in his Howdy Y'all outfit and Abigail in her coordinating Giddyup outfit?!!  You'll also see the new Scallop Circles Sweet Cuts layered behind them!

Check out the amazing projects from the rest of the Design Team:

 Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties

There's still plenty of time to play in this month's Inspiration Anything Goes Challenge and a chance to win a $25 Paper Sweeties gift certificate! You can link your submission from the Paper Sweeties Blog or on our Facebook page.

  1. Jake and Abigail are just too cute as cowboy and cowgirl, Kathy!! Love the addition with the rope and western style papers!!

  2. I love the card....such sweet images...and I love the papers you used too....but that lasso was the perfect addition :) Hugs...Janie

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Standard icon

IEEE Std 1528-2003 - IEEE Recommended Practice for Determining the Peak Spatial-Average Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human Head from Wireless Communications Devices: Measurement Techniques

Description: IEEE Std 1528-2003 specifies protocols and test procedures for the measurement of the peak spatial-average SAR induced inside a simplified model of the head of users of certain handheld radio transceivers. These transceivers are intended to be used for personal wireless communications services, operate in the 300 MHz–3 GHz frequency range, and are intended to be operated while held against the ear. The results obtained by following the protocols specified in this recommended practice represent a conservative estimate of the peak spatial-average SAR induced in the head of a significant majority of persons, subject to measurement and other uncertainties that are defined in this standard. The results are representative of those expected during conditions of normal use of a handheld wireless device. It is not the intent of this recommended practice to provide a result representative of the absolute maximum SAR value possible under every conceivable combination of head size, head shape, handset orientation, and spacing relative to the head. The measurement of SAR induced in the external tissues of the head, e.g., the external ear (pinna), is not addressed in this standard. The following items are described in detail: measurement concepts, measurement techniques, instruments, calibration techniques, simulated-tissue (phantom) models, including homogeneous anatomical models of the human head and simple phantoms for validation of the SAR measurement system, and the limitations of these systems when used for measuring the spatial-peak mass-averaged SAR. Procedures for calibrating electric field (E-field) probes used for SAR measurements and assessing the SAR measurement and system uncertainties are provided in the annexes. This recommended practice is intended primarily for use by engineers and other specialists who are familiar with electromagnetic (EM) theory and measurement techniques.
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Time Passing

This week, I thought that I would bring you the blog in a slightly different format then normal – via a video. Earlier this year, the Larkspur bedroom and dressing room went through a little bit of a makeover and was repainted in Standen White (do not worry the wallpaper is still there!) In order for the rooms to be painted, all of the furniture, paintings, ceramics and fixtures had to be removed  in order to protect them. The video below is a time lapse video that was taken over the 4 days it took the house team to empty both rooms. To add a bit of humor it is set to Tchaikovsky’s Trepak Russian Dance so make sure that you have the volume turned up:

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Washing Wallpaper…

Willow Bough wallpaper, William Morris 1887

Willow Bough wallpaper, William Morris 1887

Wallpaper is one those items in a house that seems replaceable; a product of mass production that can be changed to suit your furniture or your mood. However, in the past, wallpaper was an incredibly rare thing and actually very valuable.

Wallpapers started out as a product that the slightly less elite (though still very wealthy) could use in place of tapestries. In fact they were hung like tapestries too – as a large sheet of paper. Now this is around the 16th century so they were hand printed and hand painted. Now as you can imagine, these wallpaper hangings did not last very long and as such not many still survive today – the earliest surviving piece dates to 1509 and is only a very small piece.

Silk Wallpaper found at Polesden Lacey

Silk Wallpaper found at Polesden Lacey

Fast forward to Henry VII and his decision to split the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, this caused a huge falling out between trading companies in Europe (especially between France and England) and as the aristocrats no longer had access to large Flemish tapestries that were oh so fashionable and popular so they turned to wallpaper instead.

Hand painted Chinese wallpaper made around 1780

Hand painted Chinese wallpaper made around 1780

By the mid 18th century, England was the leading wallpaper manufacturer in Europe and started to make more affordable designs aimed at the middle classes. As they were more affordable and more available, manufacturers had to make certain wallpapers that would still appeal to the aristocrats and the mega rich so they started experimenting with wallpapers that acted like materials, like leather, silk and velvet. the most popular turned out to be flocked wallpaper, where a designed was pressed onto paper and then pieces of wool or silk were blown across it and they only stuck to the printed design. Oriental designs were also becoming increasingly popular so plain wallpapers were shipped off to the China and Japan, whereupon they were hand painted with oriental designs and images of everyday life.

Along came the 19th century and the development of steam-powered printing presses, this meant that wallpaper became available to everyone, not just the rich and aristocracy. It also heralded an age of more scenic wallpapers with French influences.

By the time of the 20th century, wallpaper had established itself as one of the most popular items in a house but unfortunately its reign had to come to an end and the idea of wallpaper gave way to pain painted walls towards the late 1900s.

Cleaning Wallpapers:

So over the last few hundred years that wallpaper has been around, there have been suggested many different ways of keeping it clean.

Play-Doh - known as Kutol - originally invented as a wallpaper cleaner

Play-Doh – known as Kutol – originally invented as a wallpaper cleaner

As most wallpapers were regarded as insignificant, there was little bother in cleaning them. However,  it where finer wallpapers are involved that it gets interesting. For these wallpapers, light levels were kept to a minimum and some were even varnished to protect them. Some maids dusted the wallpapers whilst others used bread dough to help get rid if dirt. unfortunately bread dough leaves behind traces that insects and molds love or they became greasy and streaky. Play-doh, the beloved children’s toy, was originally invented as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s. However, when a classroom of children started using it to make models, the marketing changed and it became a children’s toy.

Nowadays with historic wallpapers we use methods that involve less chemical and avoid taking the wallpaper off the wall unless strictly necessary.

Why we clean wallpaper:

We clean wallpaper in order to preserve it for longer. If we left it dusty or with stains a) it does not look very nice and b) often dirt and stains hide a bigger problem.

Cleaning wallpaper at Standen:

The water stain behind the wallpaper in the South Spare

The water stain behind the wallpaper in the South Spare

We had a similar case with the wallpaper in the South Spare bedroom. With all the rains last spring, one of the chimneys sprung a leak and seeped down through the house. The wallpaper got wet and then later dried out leaving a brown water mark. If we had left the leak the water would eventually have flooded the room and done a lot more damage. By catching it at the water mark stage we managed to repair the leak and re-point the chimney to ensure it is watertight. However with that fixed, the wallpaper needed to be inspected and cleaned to check for any further damage – damp walls tend to grow mold and attract silverfish who eat away layers of paper.  The wallpaper was dampened until the adhesive gave way and the wallpaper sheet was gently peeled away – it takes a lot of skill to keep damp wallpaper in one sheet. It was then wet cleaned – a sponge slightly dampened with a mild soap and water is applied gently to the wallpaper removing the water stains.

Left: Dirty Right: Cleaned

Left: Dirty Right: Cleaned

When the chimney sprung a leak, it also damaged some of the paper in the Larkspur bedroom. This had already been wet cleaned once (which can only be done once in its lifetime) so  historic larkspur wallpaper was pasted over the top – so seamlessly it is difficult to spot which is the original.

Our Wallpaper Conservator cleaning the Trellis wallpaper in the Dog Leg Corridor

Our Wallpaper Conservator cleaning the Trellis wallpaper in the Dog Leg Corridor

while our wallpaper conservator was here we thought it wise to ask him to clean the trellis wallpaper in the dog leg corridor. Being trapped in a small space created by a false ceiling caused dust and dirt to build up. A smoke sponge, was used to clean this wallpaper, gently erasing away any buildups of dirt and marks.

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Front of House

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One of our very welcoming volunteers on duty on the Porch

One of the most important jobs that we do here as staff, is to ensure that our volunteers are happy and enjoying what they do for us. We do this mostly through front of house duties.

Doing front of house basically means ensuring that the house runs smoothly on a daily basis. This is a role that we split between myself, the Assistant House Steward, House Steward and House Manager.

We start off the day with a briefing. This is to update everyone, staff and volunteers, on things that are happening that day, such as if there are any groups coming or if there is a new exhibition starting. It also means that any information from other departments like the garden team, are passed on to keep everyone updated, such as updates on the Garden Revival project. We also let each volunteer know what room they are guiding in for that shift.

Once  we are open, we will go around the house and see how the room guides are doing – It gives me an excuse for a quick catch up as well. We are also on hand to answer any queries or requests that the room guide feels unable to answer fully or generally lend a hand if it is busy.

Larkspur Bedroom

Larkspur Bedroom

Front of house does bring its own challenges especially with us being open 363 days of the year now. Often I find myself going from room to room covering tea breaks or covering the room whilst the guide goes and does an introductory talk – one of my favorite rooms to cover is the Larkspur Bedroom and Dressing Room. However  this does give me the opportunity to connect with our visitors and find out what they like and dislike about the house.

Being front of house is always an interesting way to spend the day. Every day is different, with new questions, challenges and demonstrations. I always find that I learn something new, whether from a visitor, volunteer or member of staff.

Happy New Year

A Happy (if rather damp) New Year!

Happy New Year!

After a wet and blustery end to 2013 and start to 2014, we’ve been assessing the storm damage across the estate. There’s been some serious damage in the garden, and although we have been a little more fortunate in the house, some rooms were affected by the high winds and driving rain.

Staff living on site had been able to check the house over the Christmas break for immediate problems, but it was not until we all arrived back at the start of this week, and were able to check rooms in detail that we were able to establish what damage had been caused.

Silverfish damage to Larkspur wallpaper

Silverfish have eaten the wallpaper down to the plaster in some places

Some rooms in the house have a history of leaks and damp patches, and these were made worse by the recent weather. The Larkspur Bedroom and Dressing Room in particular have suffered in the recent weather – not only have old damp patches reappeared, but the relative humidity in the room rose to worrying levels; resulting in mould patches and damage to the Morris & Co. Larkspur wallpaper. We set up a dehumidifier, and fans to circulate the air, which should help bring down the RH to a safer level in time for opening in mid-February.

While inspecting the dressing room, we also found that silverfish had caused significant damage to the wallpaper; something that I mentioned in a previous post about caring for wallpaper. It’s likely that the high humidity levels in this room contributed to the silverfish infestation; however the insects had not made much of an appearance in the traps we use to monitor them. Because of the risks to the wallpaper in both the bedroom and dressing room, we’ll be starting wallpaper monitoring as a priority.

Christmas clean up

The fallen pine needles outline where the Christmas tree in the porch stood

Post-Christmas, we also needed to take down the wonderful decorations our band of volunteers had installed. We had so many compliments from visitors about the decorations, so full credit has to go to the team of ladies that spent hours collecting, making and installing the decorations. It was a much messier task to take down the Christmas trees than it was to put them up – real trees are great, but pine needles get everywhere!

Finally, this week we’ve also been continuing with our annual deep clean. This is done on a rolling basis throughout the year, and this week was the turn of the North Bedroom and the Larkspur Bedroom and Dressing Room. This really enables us to check the Larkspur in particular for any further problems it might have. As the room is mainly roped off to visitors to protect the historic carpet, this can provide an undisturbed environment for unwanted problems – from mould to carpet beetle. As I speak, members of the house team are checking the room in minute detail, so fingers crossed they don’t find any other serious problems.

Hannah - deep clean

Hannah in the process of giving the North Bedroom its deep clean


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The good folks at PJ Media have kindly published my article on the inapplicability of so-called “less than lethal” methods in stopping school shooters.  There is reluctance, even by some who recognize that the only sure way to stop an armed killer and save lives is armed school staff, to adopt complete policies.  There seems to be a tendency to try to employ half measures, measures that might somehow magically render unnecessary the use of deadly force against those who would slaughter innocent children.

It may be worth your time to stop by PJ Media and see why that is a particularly bad idea.  If you’ve never visited PJ Media, I’m sure you’ll see why it is one of the most informative and important sites on the Internet.


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Privacy Policy

The Palaeontological Association (informally known as 'PalAss') is committed to safeguarding and preserving the privacy of visitors and our membership to our websites. Please note that we do update this Privacy Policy from time to time so please do review this policy regularly. Last modified: 17/07/2017.

What is this Privacy Policy for?

This policy explains what happens to any personal data that you provide to us, or that we collect from you whilst you visit our websites. This privacy policy is for the websites,,, including all subdomains, and governs the privacy of users who choose to use them.

The privacy policy sets out the different areas where your privacy is concerned and outlines the obligations & requirements of the user, the website and website owners. Furthermore the way our sites process, store and protect your data and information will also be detailed within this privacy policy.

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The Palaeontological Association takes a proactive approach to the privacy of visitors and members and ensure the necessary steps are taken to protect your privacy throughout their visiting experience. Our websites complies with all UK national laws and requirements for user privacy.

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In running and maintaining our websites we may collect and process the following data about our users:

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Cookies are small files saved to the user's computer hard drive that track, save and store information about the user's interactions and usage of the website. This allows our websites, through our server to provide the user with a tailored experience within this website. Users are advised that if they wish to deny the use and saving of cookies from this website on to their computers hard drive they should take necessary steps within their web browsers security settings to block all cookies from this website.

Our websites uses tracking software to monitor visitors to better understand how they use it. This software is provided by Google Analytics which uses cookies to track visitor usage. Where used, these cookies are downloaded to your computer and stored on the computer’s hard drive. Such information will not identify you personally. It is statistical data. This statistical data does not identify any personal details whatsoever.

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If you have previously purchased goods or services from us we may provide to you details of similar goods or services, or other goods and services, that you may be interested in.

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In operating our websites it may become necessary to transfer data that we collect from you to locations outside of the United Kingdom/European Union for processing and storing. By providing your personal data to us, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing. We do our upmost to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to make sure that your data is treated stored securely.

Unfortunately the sending of information via the internet is not totally secure and on occasion such information can be intercepted. We cannot guarantee the security of data that you choose to send us electronically. Sending such information is entirely at your own risk.

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Users contacting The Palaeontological Association do so at their own discretion and provide any such personal details requested at their own risk. Your personal information is kept private and stored securely until a time it is no longer required or has no use, as detailed in the Data Protection Act 1998.

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We will not disclose your personal information to any other party other than in accordance with this Privacy Policy and in the circumstances detailed below:

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Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii

These photos were first sent to me last year and blew me away with their intensity and beauty. It is an amazing collection of photographs by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii of the Russian Empire taken between 1909 and 1912– just years before the Russian Empire as known by the previous 200 years of history would cease to exist. The collection gives some insight into the unfathomable diversity in the Russian Empire’s cultures, architecture, ethnicities and geographies.

For more information on how Prokudin-Gorskii took color photographs in the early 1900s I will refer you to his Wikipedia page…

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For the entire collection, please visit the following


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Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Representing the 21st District of New York

Stefanik Schedule Week of December 7

Monday, December 7, 2015 - 12:01am to Sunday, December 13, 2015 - 11:59pm

Monday, December 7th

Attend White House Christmas Ball

Tuesday, December 8th

Meet with Assistant Secretary of State Frank Rose on Bilateral Nuclear Arms Control

Meet with IOMAX Executives on ARCHANGEL War Fighter

Meet with Navient on Higher Education Issues

Wednesday, December 9th

Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Hearing: “How the Administration's Regulatory Onslaught is Affecting Workers and Job Creators"

House Armed Services Full Committee Classified Briefing: “Command and Control, Rules of Engagement, and Limitation within Operation Inherent Resolve”

Meeting with a Constituent from Westport

Thursday, December 10th

Meet with Fort Ticonderoga Board of Trustees Member

Classified Bipartisan Briefing on Terrorist Attacks in San Bernardino, California

Meet with Doug Elmendorf, new Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School

Friday, December 11th

Meet 2016 Army Fellow CPT Adam Sperry


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Tag Archive | notable advantage of granite

Granite Grandeur: Why Choose Granite Countertops

Some time ago, granite countertops became the most popular kitchen additions in the country. It might seem like a passing fad, yet granite still remains a very popular material among homeowners as a countertop choice. Granite’s fame isn’t accidental, as the extremely durable material has several advantages and benefits that make it one of the most perfect substances to use in the kitchen.

Perhaps the most notable advantage of granite is that it seldom hosts harmful bacteria, at least with regular cleaning. Kitchens need to be extremely clean in order to prevent food-borne diseases, and it’s a very big plus that granite is a very sterile substance. It also helps that granite’s surface is easy to clean of stains, and it keeps its luster for a very long time.

While being a clean surface is reason to use granite as a countertop, there’s no denying the aesthetic appeal the surface also has. Granite is available in a multitude of colors, and its geological patterns are both organic and mesmerizing. The material is so well-recognized, that having them as countertops easily raises the entire property’s value considerably. All these considered, granite countertops are durable and stylish investments that every homeowner should seriously consider, even without the hype surrounding them.