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UIDAI Continues to Lie About the Sham ID called, "Aadhaar"

The CEO of UIDAI is either not aware of the facts or is distorting them by making false claims and comparing India's UID (which, is NOT unique) with SSN. SSN is NOT mandatory under the SSN Act. UIDAI is copying the SSN practices, without understanding it and without the purposes for which, SSN came into being. He says all this in an article in 'Indian Exp.ress' of 13 May 2017, under the heading, "Criticism without "Aadhaar".

SSN has a host of serious problems. UIDAI is importing these to India.

Worse, USA does not share the SSN database with foreign agencies. UIDAI contractually gives access to ALL UID / Sham ID (– because biometric identification is fallible, proven scientifically and mathematically) to foreign firms and they are authorized by contract to do whatever they like with it!

In justification of the Sham ID / "Aadhaar" Scheme, the UIDAI CEO makes false claims of huge savings though use of the Sham ID.

He says that “fakes and ghosts” in welfare databases have been eliminated by this.

Who created the so-called “fakes and Ghosts” and entered these into the databases? Why is it that no investigation has been done by any department in the past several decades into theft of welfare funds? How has UIDAI and government arrived at the Sham ID solution without such investigation? Is there any rationale for it? Where is the "Aadhaar" of "Aadhaar"?

Its basis, "Aadhaar" is unique ID by use of biometrics. Can the UIDAI CEO explain how 80 million fakes or duplicates were found (mentioned in counter affidavit to my writ in Supreme Court) in about 800 million enrolments? Does he know about False Positive Matches? Does he know the error rate of his Sham ID / "Aadhaar" Scheme?

Why has the Real ID Act of 2005 still not been implemented in USA?

Why did THE UK scrap the National ID Card Act? Is he aware that the THE UK’s health database was brought down just two days back by ransom-ware?

The UIDAI CEO would like to debate the Sham ID / "Aadhaar" Scheme. I challenge him through your newspapers columns to such and public debate. Could he organize one on TV?


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The Forum Tickets
Ticket Information
Inventory We are a resale marketplace, not a box office or venue. Ticket prices may exceed face value. This site is not owned by The Forum .
Guarantee 100% Buyer Guarantee. Tickets are authentic and will arrive before event.
3900 W Manchester Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90305, United States
The Forum
The Forum Inglewood has had a great history and with the recent acquisition by Madison Square Garden the future is looking up. For nearly 30 years the LA Forum was the home to the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only known for sports the Forum has quite the history of musical performers. Some of the past great concerts have included Three Dog Night, The Jackson Five, Led Zepplin, and Barbara Streisand. With all of the history in the Great Western Forum and a new infusion of capital via MSG there will be many more concerts and events scheduled here. is not a primary vendor, supplier, or affiliated with any official website. We proudly provide access to a wide selection of al secondary market events. Ticket prices may be well below or above face value and will fluctuate with the market. To purchase tickets for all The Forum Inglewood Events simply click on the show of interest or call our operators at anytime.

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• Double Diamond Dhurrie Rug
  • Double Diamond Dhurrie Rug

Double Diamond Dhurrie Rug

From $850.00

5.5 x 8ft (168 x 244cm)
Editor's Notes

The Double Diamond pattern is a perfect addition to any living or dining room. It works fabulously in larger proportions as the design is visible but not overwhelming. Blend greys and taupes in natural, undyed wools for a more subtle look, or go bold with contrasting colours for a standout piece.

Our dhurrie rugs are handmade in Northern India, blending cotton and wool, flatwoven in contemporary designs to add softness underfoot. Please note that all fibres used in our rugs are dyed specifically for each order. There may be slight variations in colour shades as colours may vary between computer screens.

Details & Dimensions

80% wool, 20% cotton

Dimensions & Prices

Available in 5 standard sizes:

    • 5.5 x 8ft (168 x 244cm) - $850
    • 6.5 x 9.9ft (200 x 300cm) - $1,250
    • 8 x 10ft (244 x 305cm) - $1,500
    • 9 x 12ft (274 x 366cm) - $2,050
    • 10 x 14ft (305 x 427cm) - $2,650

Customised dimensions are available on request. Please email us at info@thegreyhouseonline.com for a detailed quote.

All rugs are reversible. Learn how to clean and care for your item here.

We offer a bespoke and custom order service on all rugs. Customise your rug by selecting one of our designs and choosing your own size and colour combination or speak to us about a fully bespoke piece where we will bring to life your own design and colour ideas. For further information, please email us at info@thegreyhouseonline.com.

All customised and bespoke rugs are hand-woven to your specific size and design, and can take between 8-10 weeks for delivery.

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Six Degrees hostel – Jakarta, Java.

Six degrees is fairly easy to locate given that they give you very clear directions.

It’s a large hostel with a relaxed vibe. The receptionist was very friendly and a great laugh as well as being super knowledgeable and helpful with what to do in Jakarta. She gave us all the information we could need and clear directions on how to get there and what to do.

Downstairs is a simple movie corner with a couch and projector. The main area downstairs has a fair amount of seating with charging ports and a pool table.

Breakfast was included in the price and consisted of three choices:

Nasi goreng (fried rice topped with fried egg and usually options of chicken or vegetarian).
Fruit platter
Rice porridge

(Although I felt the word “platter” was a bit misleading as the portions were quite small. “Fistful of fruit chunks” may have been more accurate).

Extra or other options are available for a price, as well as various meals and snacks available for purchase throughout the day.

Free tea and coffee is available as well as water from dispensers, however, not all the water dispensers were cool water, some came out luke warm.

There is a larger kitchen upstairs where you can store your own food in the fridge and cupboards and use the amenities to cook your own meals, and a large table to eat at.

Further up from the second kitchen there is a rooftop terrace. The terrace is quite pleasant considering where it is located, I feel they did a lot with what they had. There is a bamboo pagoda to sit in as well as picnic style tables, there is a bar that serves beers and has happy hour every night, ann area for boxing and yoga, and up some precarious stairs there is a small seating area with a view of the city skyline.

The dorms are pod beds and whilst not particularly stylish in decor were quite spacious and comfortable with lockers big enough for a day pack/valuable to be stored in.

There are shared toilets and shower which seemed moderately clean, clean enough to be hygienic but could probably have done with a bleach and a scrub.

You can pay upon check-out and can cancel at 24 hours notice. I decided to cancel one night off my booking so that I could get out of Jakarta ASAP and there was no fuss.

They offer various tours and day trips and have a notice board for cab shares.

There is a rather cute cat called Nemo who would sleep all day and then stand outside my door at 5am and meow as loudly as he could.

Six degrees is a great hostel with a good vibe and they do the most they can with their location. Jakarta is not really a place that people want to spend too long in.

I felt it was god value for money and did enjoy staying there, however, Jakarta was not for me and unfortunately I was quite eager to leave.

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Tag: Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn, Piano Concertos – Brautigam, Kölner Akademie, Willens

Felix Mendelssohn, Piano Concertos Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano) Die Kölner Akademie Michael Alexander Willens (conductor)BIS Records

Mendelssohn, Scottish & Reformation Symphonies, Manacorda

There are many things to cherish in this new recording of Mendelssohn's 3rd and 5th symphonies. The Kammerakademie Potsdam with conductor Antonello Manacorda seem...
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A New Ebook

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My newest eBook went live today.  Dollar Tales from the Morbid Museum: Flash Fiction.  It includes four flash fiction stories and an introduction that is in its own way a story.  It’s a little introduction to the Morbid Museum and the curator of the museum, Mister Siris Grim.  There will be one, or possibly two, more installments of Dollar Tales from the Morbid Museum leading up to the release of the full collection of short fiction titled The Morbid Museum.  This will be a collection of horror, true crime, science fiction, and other genre fiction curated around the theme of death.  So exciting!

The first story in this new release is titled “Clyde.”  It’s about the ghosts of the Pac-Man game from the perspective of Clyde, the orange ghost.  Fun Fact: the orange ghost in the Ms. Pac-Man game was named Sue.  The next story is titled “Highway 491.”  This is a real highway that goes through New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah (partially).  Prior to 2003 it was called the Devil’s Highway because it was U.S. Route 666.  What kind of spooky things happen on the Devil’s Highway?  You’ll have to read to find out.

The next story is “Blue Ridge Mountain Hop,” a ghost story set in the Appalachian Mountains which are sometimes called the Blue Ridge Mountains because of the misty hue they reflect during certain times of day.  This is followed by the last story “Jesse’s Lament.”  This is a tale about a young man during the Civil War feeling homesick and missing his twin brother.  This story takes place during the Battle of Gettysburg on Culp’s Hill.  “Blue Ridge Mountain Hop” also includes some apparitions from the Civil War which is why I put those two together.

This new eBook will be available for free this week on Wednesday, July 4, only.  The promotion is in celebration of Independence Day and will only be available for free on that day.  As always, reviews are greatly appreciated, and any feedback will be heard and considered.  Who doesn’t love free stuff?  If you don’t have a Kindle device, you can download the app for free to any device from the App Store or Google Play Store.  I hope you enjoy the stories and I hope you’ll keep an eye out for any future works I publish.  I promise more are coming.  You can check the Projects page to see what else I’ve published.

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Quarter Life Crisis

It counts as quarter-life when you’re twenty, right?

If you are, like me, a student about to enter your final year of study at university (although, to be honest, even sixth form would do), then there’s a good chance you’ll be familiar with the feeling I’m struggling with right now: the ‘wtf am I doing with my life’ feeling.

If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s like a heart-squeezing, stomach sinking, brain numbing type of stress that probably has many different facets all feeding into it at once. And no matter how many times you tell yourself that it’ll all work out in the end, it persists. I basically feel like I’m looking out at a permanent mist. I’m standing on a ledge, looking at the drop.

It’s also not helped by the fact that, at this point in your life – or in mine, certainly – other people are taking a particularly keen interest in what’s next. Parents, other relatives, friends, friends’ parents, parents’ friends – you name it. For some reason, they all start showing sudden interest in you.

Personally, I’ve always had a sort of plan. I’ve had it since I was about five or six years old, and it hasn’t really changed since, aside from gaining a bit more detail in the interim. But this plan has a drop-off point where it goes from specificity right into the vague grey area. That drop-off point? That’s going to be next year. In May, specifically. Five-year-old-me’s plan went like this: primary school, secondary school, GCSEs, A Levels, English degree, be an author.

I basically feel like I’m looking out at a permanent mist.

In actuality, I did do basically all of that – I obviously completed primary and secondary school, I did my A Levels (in English, History, and Geography), and I’m doing my degree in English and History. I’ve written a manuscript and am working on a second, hoping to get them published at some point.

But that’s not exactly enough, is it? Authors don’t get paid much even when they’re successful, so I’ve always had it in my mind that I’d have to find something else to do alongside my writing. I didn’t know what that something else was going to be for a long time – I’d have daydreams of various paths: editor of a magazine, or working in a publishing house, or something.

More recently, I’ve expanded my horizons. In the last couple of years I’ve gained an interest in not only writing manuscripts, but also screenplays. And with that came a shift from simply considering magazines or publishing houses, to daydreams of working on film sets. After all, journalism has never been something I’ve particularly wanted to do – I’ve done it in various voluntary roles, and I know I could make a career of it if I put my mind to it, but it’s not where my heart lies, and it never has been.

So now I’m left to wonder… where does that leave me? I finish my degree in less than a year, and I’ll need to support myself both financially and creatively thereafter. I don’t like relying on my parents, and goodness knows they’re ready for me to stop needing to. And I could go into a bazillion rants about how difficult it is to start out doing anything in terms of paid employment these days – I’ve never managed anything more than temporary retail and marketing positions, and even those were hard to get. Things are made especially difficult by the fact that the area I live in when I’m not at university has extremely little in terms of any opportunities whatsoever. Even finding a simple retail job here is a nightmare. But ranting about that won’t help. I’m not always successful at it, but I try not to dwell on things I can’t change.

So now I’m left to wonder… where does that leave me?

In pursuit of that, then, I’m trying to figure out what my next steps are. I’ve signed up to a couple of websites that are, for lack of a better term, film-orientated, and the (admittedly somewhat bleak) hope is that I can find something like work experience over the summer. And in case that never materialises, I’m also signed up to a website called Skillshare, in the hopes that I can learn something from it and build my knowledge of the film-making process.

As it is, I’m sadly inexperienced in anything film, partly because I never really thought of myself as a person who could work on a film set until more recently, and partly because I have honestly never had the opportunity to do such things. I was forever taking up whatever exciting opportunities came my way back in secondary & sixth form – I went on an app-making course, I went to Microsoft’s Think Computer Science events, I volunteered on the Youth Council, I wrote for a website, I got published in a science journal… but filmmaking never crossed my path. And I seem to be at the one university in the country without any student film society.

Aside from that, I’m still working on my manuscript. I’ve started making a list of places and positions I’m going to start applying for in early 2019 for when I graduate. I have a couple of possibilities for post-graduation in my head, but they’re far from certainties.

DSCF4239 (2016_08_27 10_47_15 UTC)
I’m standing on a ledge, looking at the drop.

But I do know some things for certain. I know I’m going to work my arse off in my third year. I know I’m going to throw everything I have at it and hope to all that’s good in the world that it pays off. I’m know I’m going to continue working on my manuscripts, and I’m going to figure out how to write a screenplay. I know I’m going to keep searching for every opportunity I could take.

And I know I’m going to stay determined.

One thought on “Quarter Life Crisis

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Just Because It Fits…

Hey ladies. Summer. Its hot. Do you know what that means?
Some ladies turn perfectly normal public places like the mall, the supermarket, a restaurant, etc into Skank City.
Just because it fits it does not mean you should wear it, friends!
No, this is not a jealousy issue (ok, maybe a little) but when you get to a certain age, size, place in life, body structure, etc, there are certain things that (maybe) we were able to get away with wearing at age 19 that we should probably say goodbye to at age 32. One might argue that most, if not all of the items below, shouldn’t be worn by anyone (I am one of those people) but if you must wear any of the following…
Short Shorts
Backless tops & dresses
Mini-skirts & Mini-dresses
Shoes that boarder on whore-ish
…then please let me show you some versions of the items that, I believe, are acceptable to wear into public places as adults. I was also going to address a bare midriff, but honestly – if you’re an adult, and you’re not wearing a swimsuit for the purpose for which it was intended, we shouldn’t see your naked belly in public. Ever. Period. End of story. Sorry!
Here are some looks that I think are skanky, and similar looks that I think are wearable.
Do I wish I had this girls (clearly photoshopped) body? Yes, of course I do. Would I wear this item if I did? Only if it was in my 10th grade dance recital and the top of the ensemble involved some sort of a fringed elbow length glove and a silver cowboy hat.

You’re thin, we get it. The world does not need to see your bedazzeled ass cheek.

Here is the exception. If you’re a man about town in a golf shirt and you want to squeeze yourself into a pair of junior size 3 shorts, I say go ahead. I’m entertained.

You CAN wear “short” shorts. I don’t, personally, wear them b/c I have the legs of an old Italian lady, but you can wear them. Just, please… we don’t need to see any body parts that are integral in bathroom activities when you’re out food shopping in them. Personally, I opt for a 6 inch inseam, but these are 3.5 inches (from Loft) and I think they’re very classy.

This pair, also around 3 inches in the inseam, is from Old Navy. You’ll be comfortable and people won’t cover their children’s eyes when you walk past them.

Backless is tricky. Its very easy to go slutty, like this painful looking number:

Or this, one, which appears to be from some sort of a Motley Crue video circa 1985.

You can do backless and not look like a street walker, though:

I’m not sure I’d go with the pink lace under-bra thing, but this top is backless and classy, I think. I’d probably go with a neutral bandeau, or maybe one of those sticky bras so that I could go completely backless. From VS.

Mini-dresses and mini-skirts. Its a slippery slope, ladies. I’m going to be blunt with you. Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you should. Many disagree with me, but once you’re on the wrong side of 25, I say that mini-anything, with few exceptions, is off-limits.

Clearly this lady has had a few too many.

If you MUST go super short, for God’s sake, please do a shift shape. The looser body of the dress definitely helps a mini-dress look less hooker-ish. From Anthropologie:

From Dolce & Gabbana (probably like $5000, but isn’t that worth it in order to look like a lovely spring garden?)

Now here are some summer shoe do’s and don’ts.

Just don’t. Boots go up to the knee. Any other type of shoe just cannot. CANNOT.

A gladiator can go to the ankle – and no higher!! These are lovely, from Steven Madden.

If your name is something like Snowy, Candee or Bambi, I suppose these might be a great pick for you:

I broke an ankle just looking at these:

If you’re not a pole dancer, try a pair like these instead; this pair is from Nine West, makes me think of Greece, where I have never been. But I’d still like this shoe.

This pair, from Jimmy Choo may cost 2 paychecks, but its a classic shape.

There you have it. My guide on how to not be a skank this summer. We’re adults now, ladies. No one needs to see your nipple.

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Emergency Kits and Other Forms of Self-Protection

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What would you pack in your emergency kit in case of a hurricane, earthquake or other unexpected disaster?  What do you need to survive?

Pasta, tins of tuna, bottled water, a phone charger, batteries, contact information, rope, pocket knife, emergency money. These items were only some of the things we mentioned at a recent MCC retreat in Cail.

As we discussed possible scenarios, someone brought up the possibilities of paros. Armed or nonviolent, these strikes and shutdowns often determine that we stay indoors. Available food dwindles as no transportation can reach our cities and communities.

IMG_0424At one moment during the conversation, Giovanni, a farmer from Boyaca, leaned over to tell me his experiences, not as someone trapped at home, but as the person on strike. “It was just like that during the agricultural strike. We were out on the highway, rolling boulders and placing them across the road, so that no trucks could get through to Bogota and so that the government would know we were serious about our demands for change. It’s true. People should all be keeping extra food in their houses.”

IMG_0567.jpgBack at work the next day, Justapaz held a security meeting. The Colombian Ministry of Health is implementing new labour requirements and worker compensation policies. A Labour Risk Administration (ARL) employee, Paula, is present to inform us of all of documentation that must now take place to ensure safe working conditions. For instance, Justapaz must register all work trips before they take place. Paula tells us that any change itinerary during a trip must be reported immediately to the ARL so that Justapaz remains eligible to receive compensation if an accident should occur during the trip.

A number of people around the table raise their hands. “What if we are in areas without any cell signal? What if there is no electricity to charge our phones? What if the normal conditions in many of the areas where we travel mean we often have to change our plans and can’t communicate?”

Paula seems unsure about how to respond. Finally, she asks if the Colombian army is present in these areas. Couldn’t we simply approach the state public forces and ask for their assistance?

A wave of angry laughter greets her comment.

Not so gently, someone responds that the public forces are either not present or represent significant security threats in the parts of the country where Justapaz works.

To illustrate the point, one of the Justapaz lawyers shares the story of her participation during recent humanitarian investigation and observation trip to Tumaco. “In fact,” she states, “the public forces, in this case the police, were directly shooting at me. It was the state that created a security incident. I was almost killed. How do I report that?”

“I am the most unsafe in my work when I go to military bases to advocate around themes of conscientious objection.” Another member of the team chimes in. “Should I be making a special report around those visits?”

The theme is left unresolved as we move onto the next issue. Who is responsible for the safety of participants invited to Justapaz meetings and workshops, especially when they take place outside of the city? Paula suggests that each invitee must fill out their own safety plan, including their own employer provided health care insurer and itinerary, before the start of each event.

Her proposal is once again met with objections. Many community members cannot read and write. The vast majority don’t have a health plan. There are no safe and regulated forms of transportation in many areas. Instead of preparing for an eventual emergency, many people live in a constant state of emergency.

IMG_0585As the meeting continues, I think about Giovanni and the paro agrario of 2013. What does it mean to be safe? For Giovanni, and countless other men and women, nonviolently demanding state attention was an attempt to guarantee the safety of their families and communities: fair agricultural policies would provide better opportunities and an alternative to migrating to the city. Despite the fact that the riot police at one point opened fire on the strikers, killing and wounding several, the campesinos saw protesting as the only option left in their emergency kit. What happens when the best way to seek safety in the end is not to safe at all?

These anecdotes reveals a deeper problem of state legitimacy. What we determine to be important in our emergency kits also reveals what we fear. In a whatsapp conversation in the Cali airport waiting to get back to Bogota, my friend Elizabeth live texted me a panel about Colombia at an anthropology conference in Chicago. During the question period, there is a discussion about how to talk about the lack of state presence that still continues in much of the areas of the country. Is is state abandonment or state refusal? Who matters, and who decides?

IMG_0510 “Peace means generating spaces of legitimacy between the national and the territorial and between the territories and the territorial actors, that allow us to re-encounter each other, that allow for trust building, and that bring together local authorities, national authorities, the international community, and the diverse living forces in every territory…. Peace is not simply a signed accord. Peace means constructing state legitimacy from the territories. This doesn’t mean taking the state to the territory, but that the state, as a legitimate entity, emerges from the territory.” Borja Paladini, director of the  Kroc’s Institute Barometer Initiative in Colombia, shared on a recent episode of Sintonizate con la Paz.

The best hope for peace in Colombia, and for legitimate human security, requires not only listening to Giovanni and the communities Justapaz accompanies, but actually recognizing their knowledge and authority as peacebuilding actors who are already transforming the areas where they live. The implementation of measures for political participation, for protection, and for active dialogue are tools for statebuilding that start from the ground up. Only  then can we move out of a constant state of emergency into something new. And safe.

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Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad WolfSeveral years back, there was quite a stir when a study suggested that Vitamin A, in smokers, was a bad thing.  There was a small, but significant increase in lung cancer, in smokers who took vitamin A and in those with asbestos exposure.  Since that time, those studies (there were actually 2 of them, dating about 12 and 9 years ago respectively) were questioned and the findings flawed, but that was back page news and not front page news.  To this day, these ancient studies are still cited on the internet, when the agenda of the writer calls for it. This type of “journalism” is nothing new.**

A well known alternative health guru released an article, while back citing a study that suggested Vitamin A might increase colon cancer by interfering with Vitamin D absorption. I read the study and it had nothing to do with Vitamin A causing colon cancer and that was not even the point of the study.  Still, by virtue of position of this individual, the audience they command, for better or worse, took up the cross. I have read Dr Michael Holick’s extensive tome on Vitamin D and there is not one word about Vitamin A interfering with Vitamin D, or causing colon cancer, either.

There has been some controversy about Vitamin A and gastric cancer, especially in the Japanese population.  While the debate will likely continue, the most recent published articles suggest that Vitamin A may indeed prevent it!

Most recently, the Vital Study showed a probable decrease in Melanoma, in people taking huge doses of Vitamin A (retinol).  Specifically, up to 40% reduction of this deadly cancer, a cancer which is on the rise because of sun exposure.

Lots of people forget the association of Vitamin A deficiency with many diseases.  In a nutshell, Vitamin A has an essential role in energy metabolism and regulation.  This includes fat burning, by the way- something to note if you are struggling with your weight.  Now, it would be rare for a Western person to have a full blown Vitamin A deficiency.  But Vitamin science is, just now, beginning to understand relative deficiencies, especially those associated with aging. Vitamin A’s essential role in energy metabolism should be considered, when we look at the aging of our cellular powerhouses, the mitochondria.

Finally, Vitamin A is an absolute must for a healthy immune system, healthy skin and of course healthy eyes and immune responses.

So what can we make of all this?  Well, I hope you are not too disappointed, but I can conclude only 4 things for sure, from my review of dozens of studies over the past decade.

1)      Don’t smoke and if you do quit now!

2)      If you are at high risk for melanoma, (see Melanoma Risk Factors) you might want to consider adding Vitamin A to your routine, or at least taking a multi with 5000IU or more.

3)      Conspiracy sells, far more than fact.

4)      Science does not help with #3 as much as we’d like, since answering questions, once and for all, puts an end to grant money!

Please, do not be afraid of Vitamin A!

**The internet has given rise to many conspiracies that are hard if not impossible to stop once they are started. Here is one example.

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  1. […] If the guy really believed that, he would have kept it to himself, because he would have gotten dozens of lawsuits for causing cancer. Instead, because of social proof, he was lauded for his position and people sent ME emails, stating I was using dangerously high Vitamin A levels, in some of my supplements.  If you want to find out the truth on Vitamin A, see my blog: The Return of the Big Bad Wolfe – Lessons Learned from Vitamin A Studies. […]

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Black is the new Black

I have heard it said several times by many people, ‘gray is the new black.’ I can appreciate the sentiment – if not the attempt to replace one of the most flattering colors on the spectrum. I am a strong fan of the color gray, particularly the ice gray shade. However it doesn’t matter how the color is styled or arranged, it simply cannot take the place of black. Gray is not the new black. Black is the new black. It is better than ever.

Long gone are the days when black was worn as an expression of mourning or to symbolize formality. Wearing all black is much more in vogue and it just looks good. There are so many reasons why black is the perfect staple color for your wardrobe and why it is irreplaceable.

Black never goes out of style, no matter the season. One-hundred plus degrees be damned! A slinky, black tank with a black skirt and black heels of some sort….check. Summer, little black dresses – the ubiquitous LBD – will always be on trend and with good reason. LBDs are timeless, iconic and extremely versatile. Everyone looks sensational in them. True #summervibes.

Black flatters a multitude of figures and it is a very forgiving color. The color is very dominant and when the look is monochromatic it increases the effect of the sleek silhouette. Whether it’s chic, edgy or laid-back, it flatters the wearer.

Let’s not forget about accessories! You can really show off your accessory game with this color. Rock the metallics, add a splash of color or, go full contrast with white accessories. All of it plays well against a black backdrop. Some dope accessories and an all-black ensemble is a winning combination and an effortless way to put together a stylish look.

If the mood strikes you, a monochromatic black look can also be very low-key. Rather than couple pieces together that might normally stand out you can also create understated, low-key looks to blend in with others. For instance a simple black sweater or blazer with black pants. A black jumpsuit is another alternative. Accessories should be skipped or very minimal if the goal is to create a look which integrates seamlessly with that of others.

The list goes on, I’m just scratching the tip of the iceberg. Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto summed it up perfectly when he said, “Black is modest and arrogant at the same time. Black is lazy and easy — but mysterious. But above all black says this: ‘I don’t bother you — don’t bother me.'” Give me a color with more dimensions!

For me it is unequivocal, black is the new black. There are some imitators, but there is only one color that comes through in a clutch, tried and true. Nothing looks better than an all-black outfit. It is the equivalent of the wardrobe king.

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Pompeo and Mistura meet regarding situation in Syria

As the Syrian conflict continues, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura met with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for a private meeting on Thursday. During the meeting, according to a press release from the State Department, the two men discussed the need to move forward on a political track to resolve the issues in Syria before any discussion of reconstruction could commence.

“Pompeo and Special Envoy de Mistura agreed that all parties needed to move ahead on the political track and that any discussion of reconstruction was premature absent a political solution leading unalterably to both constitutional reform and free and fair elections as described in UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” said the press release.

Refugees should return to a safe, secure Syria

While the U.S. clearly supports the return of Syrian refugees to their home country, Secretary of State Pompeo made it clear that the conflict needed to be resolved first, so that they could return to a safe and secure country. There also needs to be involvement with the UN agencies to help in the reconstruction effort of Syria.

On Wednesday, Hussein Makhlouf, the Syrian Minister of Local Administration and Environment, indicated that Western sanctions against Syria are going to hamper any restoration efforts. He pointed out that the sanctions need to be lifted and that doing so would also benefit the Syrian refugees.

Syria’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry indicated that it has developed a strategy to provide energy resources to the country through 2033. Other Syrian agencies indicated that they would be working to rehabilitate the country, thus providing jobs and services to Syrians in the country and those returning.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has previously said that rebuilding Syria was going to take approximately $400 billion in light of the damage from the conflict, which has been raging through the nation since 2011. In June, Assad said he would not accept assistance from Western powers after they indicated that funds for rebuilding Syria would only be available after he was no longer in power.

Syrian conflict divides International Community

The civil war in this country is seven years old and involves government forces fighting rebels, along with various terrorist organizations. Russia, Iran, and Turkey are the guarantor of a ceasefire in the country that does not appear to be sticking. Iran and Russia are backing Assad, while Turkey appears to be divided on the issue. Western nations appear to be backing the rebels, but with so many splinter groups, progressive talks to end the conflict have proven difficult.

The meeting between Pompeo and de Mistura occurred as the Syrian government ramps up its efforts to retake Idlib, which is a rebel stronghold. Part of the meeting discussed the potential for a humanitarian crisis in Idlib and ways to avoid that happening.

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Stories with 'miami ramen' tag

Where to get ramen in Miami

Craving ramen? It’s not exactly everywhere, but you can track some down if you know where to look.

/ August 10, 2017

There’s talent west of I-95. Come and get it.

The west side of Miami doesn’t have the creative collisions of Downtown and Wynwood, but if we don’t trek there, we’ll miss some big opportunities.

/ April 4, 2017


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Hulu+ universal app is in the App Store. Here’s a quick first look.

Hulu+ universal app is in the App Store.  Here’s a quick first look.

Just a bit ago, we told you about Hulu’s new subscription service, called Hulu+.  The gist is it’s $10/month for all episodes of all shows that Hulu services.  Pretty slick deal, if you’re asking us.  This might just make Hulu+ appear on the ever-growing list of essential iPhone applications.

For now, Hulu+ is an invite-only program.  However, if you’re not one of the ones lucky enough to get an invite for the full service, you can still do the test drive option by downloading Hulu+ from the App Store.

In the end, what matters is how it works.  For that, we turn to the trusty iPod Touch and take a first look:

From the main screen, you’re given a choice of looking through some free galleries, or you have a selection menu.  The menu takes you through Episodes, Clips, Movies, Trailers or you can select to view All Videos.  It’s a decent first look at the service, and might just be enough to entice some into subscribing.

Video quality on the iPod Touch is, predictably, fantastic.  Of course, viewing on the iPhone 4 should be even better given the new display.  This screen shot doesn’t actually do the quality any justice, but it’s as good as the built in iPod Touch function will allow me to show.

Back into the rest of the application, you have a selection bar across the bottom that will show you what’s available, as well as adding some functionality to the application.

  • Free Gallery
  • Featured
  • Popular
  • Search Function
  • More

The More function takes you into a submenu screen where you’re able to select some more in depth features, including your subscriptions and recently added material.  You can also manage your Queue and view your Hulu+ History, just in case there’s something that you want to revisit.

The rest of the choices across the bottom give you predictable results, with each selection giving you new choices to watch.  Nothing too surprising here, but the app is certainly clean and a pleasure to use.

Will this make people pay $10/month for Hulu?  It’s possible, honestly.  In 10 minutes of using it on the iPod Touch, I’m quite enamored with the function.  If I had an iPad, it would be a no-brainer decision for me.

Thanks to our own @ChadCat, we also have some iPad screenshots for you.  To say that they’re stunning is an understatement:

So what are your thoughts?  Anyone have an iPhone 3GS that they’d like to give a report on?  I’d love to hear how the streaming works over 3G versus WiFi.

This post is part of our contributor series. The views expressed are the author's own and not necessarily shared by TNW.

Read next: Up for a crying session? Watch Windows running on the iPhone [Video]


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Google could steamroll digital music

Google could steamroll digital music

When discussing what Google do these days, it’s more of a case of identifying what they don’t do.  From books to operating systems, price comparison and translation services, and now potentially music, as TechCrunch have been reporting.Google Music

In the scheme of things, it’s not surprising, especially as they have been operating a service in China, with streaming and downloading functionality.  With their substantial investment in the recent books deal, it was always seemed inevitable that they would turn to digital music at some point.

Eric Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, reported 7% year on year growth recently, and with healthy profit figures to satisfy music labels demands,  he was quoted as saying:

“We’re going to invest,” Schmidt said on a conference call with analysts. “That, I think, ultimately is good for the long term of Google.

Good for Google long term indeed, though a Google music service, with the traction it would undoubtedly generate, could potentially see dire repercussions for other web based competitors.  I imagine the likes of iTunes and Spotify will be relatively safe, well, as safe as you could be with a company like Google hovering over your industry.  It’s the browser based services that i fear for.  The likes of Raphsody, Amazon, MSN Music as well as many others that will take the full brunt of this, in hard sales and active users.

It will somewhat depend on the makeup of the service, if it includes both streaming and downloading for starters, but the mere presence of Google will send shockwaves across the industry.

Read next: Windows 7 Selling Like Greased Lightning In The UK


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The Quietus - A new rock music and pop culture website

Film Features

All You Old Bastards Should LEARN Something From This - The Cult Of Chris Needham
The Quietus , June 4th, 2008 10:32

An appreciation by Taylor Parkes

In the old days, when ordinary people got on TV, it was as murder victims or game show contestants. Humiliated by circumstance, or by some wig-wearing mansion-dweller. After a decade of docusoaps and dubious reality shows, little has changed: the general public are interchangeable (except for those whose mental problems might amuse you), there to be sniggered at by gutter-press gutbuckets, sworn at by jumped-up cooks, exposed in the limelight as peons who don't know their place. It's always been the way.

Except that in 1992, there was a series called Teenage Diaries. The BBC handed high-end video cameras to mouthy adolescents, told them to film their lives, then edited the results into 45-minute shows, each subject getting final approval of the finished product. No one was dropped into some contrived situation and poked until they cried, although some cried anyway; Teenage Diaries lurked in the everyday lives of averagely-extraordinary young people and just... watched. The results were painfully real " that is, hilarious, touching, absurd, worthwhile. There was, however, only one star: the unforgettable Chris Needham, whose astonishing programme passed instantly into legend. If anything better has been on TV " ever " I must have missed it.

Everyone between the ages of 14 and 25 watched In Bed With Chris Needham, or that's how it seemed at the time (when the BBC repeated the show shortly afterwards, heavily trailed, anyone who'd missed out caught up). We all recognised Chris, or thought we did, the heavy metal freak in wire-rimmed specs, skinny jeans and jumbo trainers, taking A/S levels in Loughborough and struggling to put a band together with his loyal, hapless mates. Of course, it was easy to laugh. That hair, hanging in clumps like spaniel ears; the proto-moustache, frothy and diaphanous. The callow pomposity and self-importance of youth...

...The full version of this article is available in Point Close All Quotes: A Quietus Music Anthology. Buy it now in the Amazon Kindle store.

If you love our features, news and reviews, please support what we do with a one-off or regular donation. Year-on-year, our corporate advertising is down by around 90% - a figure that threatens to sink The Quietus. Hit this link to find out more and keep on Black Sky Thinking.


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The Real Movement

Communism is free time and nothing else!

Tag: full employment

How fiat currency killed Marxism

Part One

“I remember quite clearly watching with comrades in a Capital study group on Sunday August 15, 1971 the broadcast of Nixon’s announcement that he had ordered the “closing of the gold window.” Given that we were reading for the previous few months passages like the following from Capital: “money–in the form of precious metal–remains the foundation from which the credit system, by its very nature, can never detach itself” (Marx 1994:606), we left each other that night with the thought that either Capitalism or Marxism was coming to an end before our very eyes! —George Caffentzis, Marxism After the Death of Gold

What crippled and ultimately killed off the Marxian theory was the realization that capitalism, although severely damaged by the Great Depression, did not die. The confidence Marxists felt before the depression that capitalism was a historically limited, relative, mode of production was shattered by the post-depression recovery of the Golden Age of Fascism.

Critical to the difficulties post-war Marxian theory has suffered is it inability to come to grips with the significance of the collapse of the gold standard. That collapse is the subject of this two part series.

Read the rest of this entry »

Reply to LK: Notes on the historical and monetary implications of the transformation problem

One of the big problems with a discussion of Marx’s formula for transformation of labor values into capitalistic prices of production is that no one, not Marxists nor bourgeois simpleton economists, seem to understand what he was doing. Now, I will admit this argument is pretty arrogant, because it implies that I, somehow, have figured out what everyone else didn’t, but bear with me and decide for yourself. If my argument doesn’t make sense at the end, please correct me.

As I stated in my last post, the transformation problem expresses an irreconcilable contradiction within the capitalist mode of production. Marxists will not be surprised at this assertion; digital_money_764bourgeois economists, on the other hand, deny the existence of this contradiction and have an ahistorical conception of capital. In their view, the bourgeoisie has invented the ideal state of man which, having been invented, can continue indefinitely unless interrupted by an exogenous event. So, when they look at the transformation formula, they see in it a contradiction and assume Marx has failed to make his case.

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Husson’s and Treillet’s call for labor hours reduction: Important but seriously flawed

I just finished reading this article by Michel Husson & Stephanie Treillet on the significance of labor hours reduction, Liberation Through Vacation. I want to offer some thought on why I think it is, on sfweek29ethe whole, as important as it is disappointing. I make these points, not because I disagree with what I think was the intended thrust of their article, but because certain folks will go after Husson’s and Treillet’s argument. For instance, A. Kliman has already taken David Graeber and others to task for their weak arguments on labor as just another attempt to rebrand social democracy. (See Kliman’s, Post-Work: Zombie Social Democracy with a Human Face?) My point here is to expose weaknesses in their argument because Husson and Treillet’s main thrust is, after SYRIZA’s election, the most important development to emerge from the crisis in 2015.

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How the state began systematically privatizing profits and socializing losses

In my previous post I showed that unemployment in the capitalist mode of production has its genesis in employment. Unemployment is not the result of a lack of means to employ the unemployed, but results from the fact that the steady bankers-dont-go-to-jailimprovement of the productive power of labor displaces an ever larger portion of the working class from all possibility of being employed productively.

In the mode of production, to be employed productively means the worker is employed directly for production of value and surplus value. It has to be understood that capitalism is not the production of useful objects in general, but useful objects only insofar as these objects also contain surplus value, i.e., profit.

With development of the productive forces — of machinery, technology, science and the division of labor — an ever larger mass of useful commodities can be produced in the same period of time. On the other hand, a given mass of commodities can be produced with a diminishing expenditure of human labor.

The capitalist is not concerned with the ever growing mass of useful objects that can be produced, but with the diminishing expenditure of human labor necessary for production. This human labor alone is the source of the profits that is the sole aim of capitalist production.

Read the rest of this entry »

Capitalism’s Dirty Little Secret: Employment creates unemployment

bushquoteIn my previous post, I argued the aim of fascist state “full employment” policy is maximization of profits, not maximization of employment. The term “full employment” is a deliberately misleading label chosen by the fascists to present the policies of the fascist state as necessary to promote employment in the interest of both classes. In fact, “full employment policies” do not in any way address the need of workers and are only designed to maximize the profits of capital.

This is a significant finding at odds with how the issue is often presented on the Left. To put it simply, “full employment” is only necessary for the working class insofar as the worker is treated as a draught animal to be kept constantly at work.

Read the rest of this entry »

‘Full Employment’ and Profits: An introduction

CTW-SpeakoutForGoodJobs-2coThis new paper, by Hornstein, Kudlyak and Lange, shows how simpletons are trying to minimize unemployment by constructing a new measure of what they call “resource utilization in the labor market”. The message of the paper seems to be clear: If you have no hope of ever recovering employment to pre-2008 crisis levels, explain it away with statistics.

Read the rest of this entry »

Employment or Profit: The Left must decide

employment-population-ratioEarlier this week, I had an exchange with @marissaluck7 about an article in the New York Times, In Tepid Wage Growth, a Potent Sign of a Still-Fragile Economy. The NYT piece is part of the debate over fascist state interest rate policy and, in particular, which is a better gauge for when interest rates should be raised: the official unemployment rate or the nominal wage level. Federal Reserve bank policy right now is said to be tied to the unemployment rate — which sits around 6.3% — while two economists, David G. Blanchflower and Adam S. Posen, make the argument Fed policy should be focused on changes in the nominal wage level.

For the Left, this is a phony debate: Workers cannot survive without jobs and the only rate of unemployment we should accept is zero. Hours of labor must be reduced until every worker who wants a job has one — no matter how much this hurts profits.

Read the rest of this entry »

Open Marxism’s Unspoken Prescription for the Current Crisis: Vote Harder

Continuing with the discussion of Holloway and Picciotto’s paper, “Capital, Crisis and the State”, which makes up chapter 3 of Simon Clarke’s book, The State Debate.

hatebushIn my last post, I showed how Holloway and Picciotto arrived at the conclusion that the definition of capital as the production of value and surplus value was insufficient basis to explain “the political”. I think the critical part of this story was the struggle to place the post-war full employment policies of the fascist state and implementation of “progressive” legislation of the 1960s and 1970s in some consistent theoretical context. “Open Marxism” was trying to explain policies that appeared to contradict Marx’s infamous base-superstructure analogy of “the political”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Open Marxism and the “Benefit” of Longer Hours of Labor for the Working Class

In a paper that forms chapter 3 of Simon Clarke’s book, The State Debate, Holloway and Picciotto, having decided “the political” is relatively separate from “the economic” must explain why this is so. But they have to do this while avoiding being associated with “orthodox Marxist determinism” prevalent in the Third International variant of Marxism.

As I argued, to do this, they redefine capital as a historically “specific form of class domination” and set this definition against Marx’s definition of capital as the production of value and surplus value. Within this historically specific form of class domination, “the political” and “the economic” are two separate moments of the totality. This, they argue, avoids the “iron economic determinism” by providing “an understanding of the determinants and limits of state action”. base-superstructureThe state sphere is separate from the sphere of direct exploitation, but it is not separate from capital as a specific form of class domination.

The solution, however, is made more difficult because Holloway and Picciotto cannot employ Engels as their convenient whipping boy: Engels’s “positivism” did not lead to the formulation of the foundation-superstructure analogy; Marx’s “dialectical method” did.

Ignoring for the moment that their definition of capital as an historically specific form of class domination flies completely in the face of Marx’s definition of capital as the production of value and surplus value and his elaboration of the whole base-superstructure thingy, what is gained by this redefinition of capital? While this redefinition might be useful in critiquing the reformism of Second International Marxism, it still doesn’t explain how “the political” is actually determined by “class domination”, since there is no obvious mechanism outside Marx’s own base-superstructure analogy. Holloway and Picciotto admit:

“If we insist on starting with the category of capital because it is the contradictions of the capital relation (as the basic form taken by class antagonism in capitalist society) which provide the basis for understanding the dynamic of social and political development in capitalism, the problem of the nature of the relation between the actions of the state and the accumulation of capital remains.”

This, I really need to emphasize, IS NOT a mere theoretical question: “Open Marxism” is trying to grapple with the fascist state, in order to explain so-called “progressive” legislation. In the United States, for instance, since the end of WWII, we saw, among other things, the collapse of segregation, the Civil Rights Act, the Environmental Protection Agency, the establishment of a woman’s right to choose, and a host of other reforms. Any argument on the relation between the mode of production and the state had to explain how this “progressive” legislation came about. At the same time: we have Vietnam and Chile, which horrors requires little or no elaboration, not to mention Thatcher/Reagan neoliberalism. The state appeared to accommodate a very wide spectrum of activity that could not be directly traced to exploitation in the factory.

“Open Marxism” argued the whole base-superstructure analogy did not seem to captures the true nuance of the relation between state and the mode of production. Holloway and Picciotto ask:

“[Should] this problem simply be dismissed as being no problem, the autonomy of the political denied, the correspondence between the actions (and structure) of the state and the requirements of capital accumulation taken for granted?”

The key phrase in the question is “Should this problem simply be dismissed as no problem”. The writers are reacting to the tendency among Marxists to simply dismiss the range or spectrum of fascist state action. If, in the end, all fascist state action boils down to the requirement of capital, even profound developments like the end of segregation can be ignored.

But ignored by whom? Certainly black workers did not ignore the end of a century of segregation; women workers did not ignore the end of the prohibition on abortions in the United States; and anyone concerned with the environment did not ignore the establishment of the EPA by the Nixon administration. Finally, no Marxist could ignore the collapse of Bretton Woods, which signaled either the death of capitalism or the death of labor theory.

Placing these real historical events in a consistent theoretical context seemed necessary, but neither 2nd International Marxism nor 3rd International Marxism seemed up to the task. In this regard, the example Holloway and Picciotto refers to in this section is telling because it deals with a cornerstone policy of the fascist state. Some writer named David Yaffe pointed out that the fascist state policy of full employment runs into the problem, “that there are limits to the extent and effect of state expenditure which result from its unproductive nature and hence the requirements of accumulation.” The constant extension of total social hours of labor came at the cost of an increasing mass of unproductive fascist state expenditures. There is, in Yaffe’s view, a limit to the policy of full employment. The argument is compelling and relevant to our situation today — unfortunately Holloway and Picciotto tells us little else about the paper. However another of Yaffe’s papers along these line can be found here.

In their response, Holloway and Picciotto criticize Yaffe for not expanding on his analysis of the state in this discussion:

“What results is a rather monolithic view of the state in which the growth of the state apparatus is attributed simply to the state’s post-war commitment to full employment, and in which the effect of state expenditure is seen as being adequately grasped by its classification into the categories of ‘productive’ or ‘unproductive’

However no matter their criticism of Yaffe for neglecting the state, Holloway and Picciotto are forced to concede his analysis “may” be crudely valid:

“But then how are we to understand the role of bourgeois democracy, and how are we to see individual state actions which apparently do not correspond to the interests of capital?”

Yaffe’s argument, they explain, focuses on one aspect of the limitation of fascist state action: that its expenditures represent a deduction from the total surplus value! In this assertion, Holloway and Picciotto are not only wrong, but horribly off-base in their criticism of Yaffe, which appears to make three questionable assumptions: First, they assume that the full employment policies of the fascist state were undertaken for the benefit of the working class. Second, they assume this alleged benefit is paid for by a deduction from the total surplus produced by capital. Third, they assume this deduction is “limited by the competing claims of private capitals on that surplus value which must be met if accumulation is to continue.”

All three of these assumptions were terribly wrong.

The constant extension of hours of labor (so-called full employment) was itself the “class domination” imposed on the working class for the purpose of expanding (not deducting from) the production of surplus value by unproductively consuming the resultant product of labor. Holloway and Picciotto (and perhaps also Yaffe, it is not clear) all begin their analysis of full employment with the totally outlandish assumption that longer hours of wage slavery is a benefit for the working class!!!!

From their point of view, if there is anything to be explained regarding this “benefit”, it is the limit on the state’s ability to grant it. Apparently it never occurred to these bumbling fools that the interest of capital is always to extend hours of labor even if this can only happen in the form of increasingly unproductive activity on behalf of the fascist state. Having assumed (apparently along with Yaffe) that ever longer hours of labor is a “benefit” for the wage slave, Holloway and Picciotto then have the gall to chastise the writer for not recognizing,

“the other limitations arising from the nature of the state’s structural relation to, and separation from the immediate process of exploitation — limitations which greatly restrict or render impossible state action in the rational interests of capital, irrespective of the limits of state expenditure.”

Which is to say, since longer hours of labor benefit wage labor, not capital, there must be a separate political limit on the state providing this benefit that arises from the nature of the state itself.

Platypus Question No. 6: Is there a concrete demand for the immediate abolition of wage labor?

In question 6, Platypus asks if there is a concrete political demand for the immediate abolition of wage labor:

“If the abolition of wage labor should indeed be a goal of emancipatory politics, what forms of politics or concrete demands should be pursued to attain this goal? How do we get from ‘here’ to ‘there’?”

The question is somewhat confused: Since the state itself is maintaining and enforcing the conditions for capitalist reproduction by extending hours of labor, a political demand for the abolition of labor is not possible. The problem is further complicated by the fact the Left faces is that it conflates opposition to fascist state economic management with opposition to social progress. To resolve these complications, we need to go back to my definition of overwork and unemployment.

Read the rest of this entry »


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Mariano Santiago

Blunted Athletics: Imperial Beach Session

San Diego Shadow representative Mariano Santiago and good friend Jack Acosta headed to Imperial Beach Skatepark to put down some moves for the lens of Blunted Athletics. Check out the always refreshing Mario steeze below then pick up some new Blunted gear here!

Video: Blunted Athletics


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Mark Burnett’s Field Notes: ATL, Georgia

Mark Burnett continues his travels and this time we get a behind the scenes look at the Shadow/Subrosa team trip to Atlanta, Georgia. You’ve seen the ‘ONE’ full video, but now watch what happened behind the scenes and what wasn’t featured.
Check out riding and everything else that happened from Trey Jones, Simone Barraco, Matt Ray, Joris Coulomb, Seth Kimbrough, Ryan Sher and more in this latest installment of “Field Notes.”
Filmed and Edited By: Mark Burnett
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Tuesday , March 26 2019
Home / South Africa News / Bloemfontein / Man in court for murder of elderly woman in Bloemfontein

Man in court for murder of elderly woman in Bloemfontein

A 48-year-old man is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday, in connection with the murder of a 86-year-old woman.

On Thursday, Free State police spokesman Captain Chaka Marope said the elderly woman was found murdered at her house in Gardenia Park and the man, her gardener, was arrested after her neighbour found her body.

The neighbour peeped through the window on Wednesday and noticed the woman’s body lying in a pool of blood in a supine position on her bedroom floor, Marope said.

“She was also half-naked. The police were immediately alerted,” Marope said.

“Upon their arrival they [the police] broke open the door to enter the house. The victim was found having head injuries and it is suspected that she was attacked with a blunt object. The blood stains were scattered all over the walls and the bedrooms were ransacked.”

Marope said it was not known what household items were stolen. A case of murder was opened for further investigation.

“The possibility of additional charges of robbery and rape cannot be ruled out as the investigating team is still awaiting the autopsy report to determine whether the victim was sexually assaulted or not.”

The suspect was staying at the backroom of the woman’s house. During the preliminary investigation at the scene, the suspect’s cap and blankets were found with blood stains and the suspect failed to provide the police with satisfactory reasons to that effect, Marope said.

He was arrested on a charge of murder.

– African News Agency (ANA)

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Pecan Pumpkin Butter

Um…who doesn’t love any kind of nut butter right? Well in my abode we can’t even have it present because it will be gone before the day ends!

However, I found this lovely recipe that is more of a healthy treat than a “spoon in the jar and feel guilty” kind of deal. It is a quick & simple butter that is not as heavy as most nut butters. Delicious recipe for fall because it incorporates pumpkin – ahhh I love autumn squashes 🙂

On to this delicious nut butter…

  1. Soak 1C raw pecans for 4hours (drain & rinse)
  2. Combine the following in a food processor:  soaked pecans, 1C almond milk, 3/4C pureed pumpkin, 3T maple syrup, 2T chia seeds, 1T coconut oil, 1.5t cinnamon, 1/2t ground ginger, 1/4t ground nutmeg & the seeds from half a vanilla bean
  3. Blend til pecan pumpkin butter is smooth

Enjoy it by the spoonful or serve it with a sliced up apple!

Nutritional Info Per Tbsp (Serves 36): 36 calories – 3 grams of fat – 2 carbs – .5 grams of protein

Continue reading for ingredient list & original recipe…

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Ex-Contacts, Huskies on Allan Cup-bound Shellbrook Elks

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There are multiple reunions going on with the Shellbrook Elks — Saskatchewan’s lone senior AAA men’s hockey representative — as they head to Steinbach for the Allan Cup.

Shellbrook has assembled a team that features a number of former University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Saskatoon Contacts along with a sprinkling of former Prince Albert Midget AAA Mintos.

“There’s a large group of us, probably eight guys that were all together at one point or another,” says Elks forward Andrew Bailey, a former Huskie.

“It’s pretty cool to play with those guys again.”

The prestigious tournament dates back 108 years and, during that 100-plus-year history, Saskatchewan has won the Allan Cup only three times. After Regina Victorias won back in 1914, no Saskie team won until the Lloydminster Border Kings claimed crowns in 2001 and 2007.

Saskatchewan opens against the host South East Prairie Thunder on Monday. The tournament will wrap up next Saturday with the final televised on TSN.

Shellbrook was 16-2-0 in Fort Carlton Hockey League during the regular season. After losing the FCHL title in two straight to the Prairie Outlaws, the Elks have since added Chris Durand from the Outlaws, along with goalie Ryan Holfeld (LeRoy Braves), SaskValley Hockey League MVP Steve Dasilva (Beechy), SaskWest Hockey League MVP Travis Granbois (Bigger Nationals), Jon Redlick (Beechy), Steve Makway (Bigger), Derek Keller (Wilkie Outlaws), Will Rathje (Wilkie), Russ Nielson (Bethune Bulldogs) and Andrew Perrault (Lumsden Monarchs).

“The majority of our team,” says Elks assistant coach Maurice Lemire, “has played major junior hockey or college hockey — probably 75-80 per cent of the guys — so there’s a lot of skill there, and a lot of great leadership from guys we’ve picked up as well as the team we had all season.”

SASKATOON, SASK.; APRIL 5, 2016 - 0407 sports shell brook elks The Shellbrook Elks hockey team built around ex U of S Huskies, Saskatoon Contacts, and P.A. Minto players were practicing at ACT Rink in Saskatoon with the team headed to the Allan Cup, a senior AAA mens championships, April 5, 2016. (GordWaldner/Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

“That was the biggest thing, getting together with guys we grew up playing with and against, and getting another chance to play at the national level,” Kyle Bortis said.

Bailey, Durand, Dasilva, Holfeld, Kyle Bortis and Zach Sim are former Huskies.

Bortis, Durand, Dasilva, Cody Danberg, Patrick Cey and Craig Valette are former Contacts.

“That was the biggest thing, getting together with guys we grew up playing with and against, and getting another chance to play at the national level,”  Bortis said.

“We have that experience with a short tournament, going to nationals with the Huskies. Hopefully we can come out on the right side.”

Bailey, Cey and Valette have professional experience, as do fellow Elks like captain Chris Thompson, Makway, Keller, Perrault and Tyson Turgeon.
Unlike past years, there was no senior AAA clash between Shellbrook and the Rosetown Red Wings, as Rosetown opted out and nobody else jumped in. That gave the Elks an automatic berth into the Allan Cup. Manitoba is hosting this year so there was no need for a Saskatchewan-Manitoba playdown.

“Senior hockey, for most guys, it’s a way to keep playing,” Bailey said. “But playing in the Allan Cup, which has been around for a lot of years … there’s a lot of history there. We’re all pretty excited to compete and try and win it.”

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Eutawville resident and retired businessman William "Woody" Binnicker is a World Endurance Record-holding skydiver whose adventurous life has also included powerlifting, running and biking. And at age 80, he continues to exercise and enjoy a life filled with blessings.

After joining the U.S. Army at the age of 20, Binnicker developed a passion for extreme sports and physical activity. He and his friend, the late Bobby Frierson, set a world record for parachute jumps in 1973.

With Frierson serving as pilot, Binnicker established the first record for the most parachute jumps in a 24-hour period with 201 jumps.

"I volunteered in the Army, but then I became interested in the 82nd Airborne Division and went through jump school. During the last part of my enlistment, I was privy to see two of the most experienced skydivers at that time," Binnicker said.

"But then I met my future wife and she wasn't interested in a service career," so he got out of the armed services, came home and started skydiving as a sport in 1962, he said.

He and Frierson, who he trained in 1964, ran a Barnwell-based skydiving business, Vikings of Denmark, for several years.

"He and I became partners. We had our own aircraft in Barnwell and we had a parachute center. We trained and flew jumpers and also competed all around the country in parachute meets," Binnicker said.

At the end of his career, the Denmark native had logged more than 3,600 jumps and won many competition meets all over the Southeast.

"I placed eighth in the national meet up in Orange, Massachusetts, in 1965. Orange has a big drop zone. As a matter of fact, it's still thriving today in Orange," Binnicker said.

He said he began delving in weightlifting in preparation for his record parachute jump.

"I got really interested in weightlifting. After about 1974, I had a wife and three children and had to kind of tend to my business. So I got more or less into the powerlifting that way and out of the parachute business," Binnicker said.

"I competed in powerlifting for five or six years and in 1977 went up to Mount Clemons, Michigan, and won the national powerlifting championship. I guess I was in what you would call the light/heavyweight class."

That's when he began having some back trouble, but he continued to work out and got more into biking, running and competing in triathlons, he said.

"That kind of kept me active and on the go. I even made a 600-mile ride down to Miami, Florida, from Denmark one summer."

Binnicker said he also completed a more than 100-mile ride from downtown Spartanburg to the summit at Mt. Mitchell State Park in North Carolina, a vertical ascent of more than 10,000 feet.

"I, of course, began to incorporate swimming. That's what the triathlon is: swimming, biking and riding," said Binnicker, who completed a triathlon during Schuetzenfest in the Bamberg County town of Ehrhardt more than 30 years ago.

Binnicker ran a grocery store in Denmark for several years. He eventually sold the business, and he and his wife, Janice, with whom he will celebrate a 58th wedding anniversary this year, moved to Eutawville in 1995.

"I bought an IGA grocery store that was in existence and worked there until 2007," when he retired after turning 70, he said.

Continuing back problems could have sidelined Binnicker, but they didn't. He was diagnosed with sciatica, a type of pain that radiates from the lower back down to one or both legs, and was experiencing spinal complications. Rather than have surgery, he turned to low-impact fitness exercises.

He focused on incorporating workouts that strengthened his back muscles, including training on his bike and completing workouts on his Bowflex Max Trainer cardio machine. A year and a half later, he is virtually pain-free and has the stamina to keep up with just about anybody, Binnicker said.

"It really alleviated my back problems to the point that I didn't even notice it that much. So it was kind of a blessing for me. Plus, it kept (me) in pretty good shape. I still use it today," he said.

While some seniors may become less active in their retirement years, he is not one to sit around doing nothing -- and fishing doesn't excite him either, Binnicker said.

"I still enjoy working out. Everybody says, 'Do you go fishing?' I say, 'No.' I tried fishing when I was a youngster, and they wouldn't bite for me. All I got was mosquito bites so I don't fish," he said.

He urges other seniors to remain active and watch their diets.

"You got to take all of that into consideration and keep on going. At one time, I had taken shots for my back, but that didn't help a whole lot. I just felt that I needed to do anything I could to try to keep active because I didn't want to just have to go get an operation as the only other option," Binnicker said.

His children -- Raini, 57; Woody Jr., 55 and Becky, 54 -- have all taken after him, leading healthy lifestyles of their own.

"My oldest daughter is a triathlete and my son ... works out and rides his bike all the time. My youngest daughter is a jazzercise instructor. So, they pretty much all got into the ways of fitness, which I was real happy about," Binnicker said.

He said he always had a gym in the back of his house, a playground of sorts for his family.

"I had one downtown in Denmark. I trained guys to powerlift. My son got into it at that time and the girls did, too," said Binnicker, adding that fitness is largely a state of mind.

He said he genuinely enjoys exercise.

"I can go all day, and so it really benefited me. The thing about it is, I enjoyed it to start with. A lot of people will start working out and they don't enjoy it so they quit. But just like anything else, it's what you make of it," he said.

Binnicker said he has no plans of slowing down and enjoys traveling and visiting his children, along with participating in church activities as a member of Eutawville United Methodist Church.

He said, "I'm thankful every day that I can open my eyes and get out of bed. It's a blessing."

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Contact the writer: or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter @DionneTandD.

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Dionne Gleaton has been a staff writer with The T&D for 20 years. She has been an education reporter, regional reporter and currently writes features with an emphasis on health.

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The importance of observation skills for coaches…and players?

Observation is a crucial component in the coaches tool kit.

But if can we also teach our players to observe effectively, might they become better players?

Another important coaching skill is knowing when to let go!

You are the Analyst!

Why not set your players the challenge during practice sessions – what do they see when they really watch the game?

I have tried this a few times with groups of young cricketers – with a little prompting, it is encouraging to see how quickly the analysis can become genuinely perceptive and constructive, even with a group of 7 year olds.

“She didn’t fall over when she hit that one.”

“The bowler followed through towards gully.”

Which allows the coach to deploy another important tool from the tool kit – the question.

“OK – so now you know what is going on, how would you do it better?”

But what are you looking at?

This is the real challenge to effective observation, both for the coach and the players.

It is not enough to watch the action and compare it with some idealised model of the perfect player.  The coach has to understand which elements of the technique are non-negotiable and which are open to personal interpretation.

Can you teach this skill to your players?

Why not?  Simply by reinforcing the key coaching points, that is exactly what you are doing.

For batting, this list (from ECB Coach Education) applies to pretty much every situation.

  • Balanced & comfortable set-up
  • Head in optimal position so the player can see the ball
  • Decisive & balanced movements to establish a stable & balanced base
  • Clean contact with the full fact of the bat

Not so difficult to watch out for.  And if your players can spot this (or the absence of any of these elements) in top batsmen, then they must have a better appreciation of what they should be aspiring to for their own technique.

The coaching tools

ECB Coach Education now lists 9 “coaching tools”:

  • Instruct
  • Demonstrate
  • Observe
  • Analyse
  • Intervene
  • Praise
  • Use silence
  • Question
  • Feedback

Different tools will be needed at different times, but some will have to be deployed more often – given that every coaching intervention needs to be related to what is happening (on the field or in practice sessions) and relevant to the players, observation is going to be the most important coaching tool, and the most frequently deployed.

The “observe” skill is then further broken down.

  • Have I taken enough time to observe?
  • What are the players trying to do and what is the outcome?
  • Is the skill safe (for the players)?
  • Have I observed from different positions?

The emphasis is now on outcomes (desired and achieved) and safety – if the technique works (consistently), and is safe, what you are seeing is

This current ECB Coach Education definition has evolved from an earlier “observe” “coaching bug”:

  • Break down [the skill under observation] to focus on one part or coaching point at a time
  • Observe from different angles
  • Observe several times
  • Check if the outcome is effective

The old ECB Coaching Bugs were an important part of the “how to” coaching skills taught when I took my level 1 (2009) and level 2 (2011) qualifications.  They can look a little prescriptive (“if you are going to [insert appropriate coaching skill], you must  [list the four relevant actions in order]” but it still works.

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Andrew Beaven

Cricket coach, fascinated by the possibilities offered by the game. More formally - ECB level 2 cricket coach, working at the MCC Academy, the Essex Indoor Cricket Centre, and with the junior sections at Oakfield Parkonians CC & Regent's Park CC; All Stars Cricket Activator & Tutor; Chance to Shine; ECB ACO umpire.

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Holloway Cottages

Looking for that special place to get away from it all??

Check out more pictures of each cottage here!

   Holloway Cottages offer the following amenities:

- full kitchens and living area
- spa bathrooms
- 1000-count sheets and down comforters
- custom cabinets with granite counter tops
- hard-wood floors
- private gardens
- water features
- stone patios and screened porches
- high speed internet and cable tv
- central location to gardens and shops and State Park

Check-In Time is 3:00pm.  If check-in time later than 7pm is needed, please call 770-775-5350 ahead of time.
Check-out Time is 12:00pm.  Additional time available at $20/hour if cottage not rented.  Cottage stays are subject to 7% sales tax, 3% county hotel/motel tax, and the $5.00 per night Georgia State Hotel-Motel Fee.

After hours number is 770-312-7665 or call 911 in case of an emergency.

Each cottage set for max listed occupancy.  Additional persons at $20 per person per night.  We will gladly help with extra bedding upon request.

Sorry, we can recommend a good sitter for your furry friend. We had to adopt a no-pet policy because of bad past pet owners.  We apologize for any inconvenience...and pets are welcome in the gardens!

Not sure which cottage is where?  Click on the map to see!

Cottage Rates
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A $109.00 (USD) 1 2
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D $139.00 (USD) 1 4
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G $139.00 (USD) 1 2
Ivey House $300.00 (USD) 1 8
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Rates are exclusive of County Sales Tax, County Hotel/Motel Tax, and State Hotel/Motel Fee.

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Parents have many reasons for raising their children with multiple languages. Some hope for better career opportunities for their offspring, while others focus on the reported cognitive and intellectual benefits of learning an additional tongue, including better attention skills, improved memory, and a quicker decision-making process. Still others, as Ben Faccini at Aeon argues, want to fight against the worldwide dominance of the English language.

Finally, for countless families, multilingualism is simply a way of life, a tradition that they want to bestow on their children. But no matter what the motivation behind the parents' desire for giving their children a multilingual upbringing, the questions and worries are the same. How can I manage to teach my child all these languages? What is the best method for achieving this goal? And how can I stand firm against the challenges and difficulties that inevitably come with raising a family that differs from "the norm?"

First of all, there has been some confusion concerning the terms. Many people use "bilingual" and "multilingual" interchangeably. Traditionally, the first term referred to the knowledge of two languages, while the other meant that someone spoke three or more. Annick De Houwer, a professor of language acquisition and multilingualism at the University of Erfurt in Germany, uses the term "bilingual" to describe a person who knows two or more languages.

Most books and articles aimed at families raising bilingual children claim that the best way to teach a child a language is OPOL, or the one-person, one-language method. According to this approach, one parent speaks one language (often the majority language) while the other speaks the minority language. For many reasons, this method is not ideal. In fact, when De Houwer analyzed a huge sample of bilingual children living in the Flemish part of Belgium, she found that only a part ended up speaking both languages. The success rate was especially high when both parents spoke the home language while the children learned the other language at school. Moreover, even if the parents spoke more than two languages, the children acquired only the ones that the parents actively used at home. This makes sense, given that there is a direct correlation between the amount of time spent talking to a child and the success of language acquisition. However, the exact amount of time needed is not known. Some believe that a child needs to hear a language more than 30 percent of waking hours in order to speak it with ease, but there is no scientific evidence to support this.

In the first half of the 20th century, multilingualism used to be a dirty word, and speaking more than one language was associated with a lower IQ and decreased cognitive skills. While these negative assumptions are wrong, many of them still prevail. Countless families have been asked to stop speaking their mother tongue to their children, out of fear that speaking an additional language or two will not just confuse children, but also hamper integration in children of immigrants. These fears are unfounded, and based on a distrust of differences in skin color, culture, and religious identity, said De Houwer.

The prestige that a language enjoys also plays a role in the success of multilingualism. In Europe, languages such as English, German, and French are respected and acknowledged, while eastern European languages such as Russian or Polish, as well as Middle Eastern languages such as Arabic or Turkish, are regarded with suspicion. De Houwer warns that this could lead to children losing the motivation for learning their mother tongues. When their languages are not accepted, she noted, the children don't feel accepted either. What's more, language discrimination violates article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Parents can consciously decide to send their children to a school where the language and culture will be respected.

Thanks to the work of researchers such as Ellen Bialystok at York University in Canada, bilingualism has become something of a fashion. In the United States, bilingual and immersion schools, designed specifically to help minorities retain their languages, are currently attracting families from white, middle-class backgrounds who jumped at the opportunity of giving their children the gifts of multilingualism. This goal, while commendable, might actually push out the very target groups that these schools were built to support.

Middle-class families were also more likely to engage in what the sociologist Annette Lareau at the University of Pennsylvania called "concerted cultivation," an approach where parents actively fostered the children's skills and abilities in order to maximize success. But this group of children were also overscheduled, exhausted, and lacked time to play, get bored, and just be children. Now, multilingualism has become a part of the intensive parenting trend.

Some parents today approach raising multilingual children the same way that they approach nutrition, discipline, or schooling: a zero-sum game where the only right way to success is through sacrifice and surrender of all parental needs. This is not necessary, and can even be harmful. Research showed that parents, especially mothers, who believed in the tenets of intensive parenting were more likely to be depressed.

Also under attack is the idea that "more and earlier is better." De Houwer said that children learn a foreign language best after the age of 12, noting that the current trend in European countries of teaching children English at an ever-earlier age is not showing the right results. Starting a language too early — especially if a child is already learning a language at home from one of his or her parents — could cause the child to lose all motivation to learn.

The sheer amount of information available to parents of multilingual children can be overwhelming, especially on top of all the other parenting advice mothers and fathers get. As a result, parents can become anxious, nervous, and unsure of themselves and their teaching techniques.

While raising multilingual children is hard work, it's time to relax. Ultimately, the goal is not even that unique. According to estimates, perhaps half the world's population already speaks two languages or more, and many speak a dialect on top of that.

And the very act of learning languages could be an emotional boon. The biggest benefit, as the linguist Amy Thompson at the University of South Florida found, was that multilingualism makes people more tolerant, because it helps them acquire two very important skills — cultural competence (a better understanding of various ways that people behave and communicate), and tolerance of ambiguity (how people approach new situations). It follows, then, that the biggest lesson to learn from bilingualism isn't really the mechanics: the how, or even the why, of it. It's much bigger than that. Raising multilingual children is about raising open-minded, tolerant, and globally aware citizens. And if that's the case, parents should overcome challenges and lead the way.

This article was originally published by Aeon, a digital magazine for ideas and culture. Follow them on Twitter at @aeonmag.

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Organizations & Associations

High School Welding Students Compete

Welding Manufacturing Day, Puma Steel, Cheyenne, Wyoming - Oct 1, 2017Please view the story by Mariah Ellis (KGWN TV Cheyenne, WY)

CHEYENNE, Wyo.- Ten Wyoming high school finalists competed in a state welding competition at Puma Steel in Cheyenne. The students competed for more than $10,000 worth of scholarships to help them further a career in a field of interest.

Cheyenne East High School senior, Conner Wilson, said he's never competed in anything in school until the welding competition came to his attention. Wilson said his interest sparked at a young age and added, "When they offered this competition for welding, I was super excited."

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The New

The New site screen shotThe American Welding Society (AWS) has recently updated their website to become an even stronger resource for people in the welding industry.

If you’re looking for certifications, you can now find all the information you might need in one easy to navigate location. From documentation and educational requirements to online courses and exam schedules, everything you need to get certified, renew your certifications or simply refresh your knowledge base is right there, together on one page.

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The Welding Leader - Resources for the Welding Industry