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FEfocus Editorial - A democratic IfL would be more palatable

"It is not really about pound;68" - that is what this column argued back in February when plans to more than double the compulsory membership fee for the Institute for Learning (IfL) were first revealed.

The case for forcing lecturers to join a body that few of them would sign up to by choice has still not been made convincingly. But the apparent progress in addressing the pound;68 fee is nevertheless a promising sign, since it was, if nothing else, a terrible PR blunder (page 1).

However much some lecturers may have problems with the fundamental principle of a mandatory professional body, it is going to be easier to swallow without a 120 per cent increase in the charge.

One of the arguments for compulsory membership is that the IfL will not be sustainable otherwise. But it is doubtful whether it should survive if it cannot do so through voluntary membership. Nevertheless, it is also clear the Government does not intend to back down on the legislation, and having a protracted war of attrition over fees is likely to help no one.

It is to be hoped that an agreement can indeed be found in the coming weeks. But there is a big risk, too: the talks have taken place behind closed doors, under strict confidentiality. While many of the parties involved, from the unions to the IfL itself, have democratic processes, the individual lecturer will once again find that important decisions affecting their pay packet have been made while they are in the dark.

Whatever deal is struck will have to command widespread support, and that is easier if such decisions are made in the open. That is hard with negotiations such as these, but there is a case for ensuring that the IfL's future decision-making processes are more democratic.

In other professional bodies, members can vote with their wallets. The Association of Colleges says employers are reluctant to pay the membership fees for their staff, not just because of the cost, but because a membership body must be accountable. But if they cannot withdraw their fees, the accountability is critically diminished.

Even in some other fields, such as accountancy, where membership of a professional body is compulsory, there is more than one to choose from and the competition concentrates the organisations on serving members' needs.

Members cannot exert meaningful leverage on the leadership of the IfL as it stands. Yes, there is an elaborate apparatus of an advisory council and non-executive board. But a review of governance in 2009 merely resulted in adding more committee members, up to an unwieldy total of 60: that is a recipe for lip-service to special interests, not focused decision- making.

The failure to anticipate that doubling fees would create a savage backlash shows that, for all the good work IfL leadership may do, it is in some ways alarmingly out of touch with members. The advisory council should have been able to sound the alarm; if it did, then it was ineffectual.

One improvement might be for FE teachers to directly vote for the non- executive board rather than the council of 60 electing them from within its ranks. Members do not need diplomats who can work their way through committee politics: they want advocates on their behalf who know that their jobs are dependent on representing the average lecturer's interests. It is a poor substitute for letting teaching staff decide themselves if the IfL is worth their money, but it would be a start.

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AI-powered robots answer US farmers’ call amid diminishing labor force

[Credit: Deepfield Robotics]

Facing a diminishing workforce, some farmers in the United States are looking to artificial intelligence as a means to adapt to the changing labor landscape. In Florida, for example, Gary Wishnatzki of Wish Farms is rolling out AI-powered robots that are capable of picking his crops.

Wish Farms in FL made a name for itself as a producer of premium strawberries and blueberries. Strawberries are a particularly demanding crop; since every three days, the plant will give off new ripe fruit. If these fruits are not harvested according to their cycle, the strawberry plant dies.

According to Wishnatzki, his farms need around 600 workers to harvest his 600 acres of crops every two or three days. Thus, during season, workers are faced with very few rest days. In a statement to CBS News, Wishnatzki noted that his farms’ labor force, a significant number of whom is from Mexico, has been facing challenges over the past 15 years.

“We’ve seen a shrinking labor force and an aging labor force. People just aren’t showing up anymore to do this work. I started to look at what was really causing it. It was more of a demographic issue than a political issue or anything else. As the Mexican economy continues to improve as more fruit is being grown in Mexico, people aren’t going to be coming anymore,” Wishnatzki said.

In order to address his farm’s shortage of workers, Wishnatzki looked to automation through AI-powered robots. He co-founded Harvest CROO Robotics, a company aimed at developing a machine that can pick crops using robots and artificial intelligence. A few years later, Harvest CROO has created an AI-powered robot that uses imaging technology to determine which berries are ripe enough to pick. The technology behind the AI-powered robot was described to CBS News by Paul Bisset, Harvest CROO’s CEO.

“We’re collecting 50 to 100 images a plant, and all of those images are fed into our AI system in order to tell us, OK, this is a good berry, this is one we want to go after,” Bisset said.

Even farming giants are turning to Silicon Valley to advance their operations. Farming equipment producer John Deere, for one, has opened an office in San Francisco aimed at developing smart solutions that can be used for the agricultural sector. Alex Purdy, the head of John Deere Labs, stated that the future of farming lies in advanced tech.

“We know that we absolutely need to go and seek out capabilities in machine learning, in deep learning, in robotics and advanced analytics. And Silicon Valley has been receptive,” he said.

As we noted in a previous report, using technology in agriculture has been the focus of Kimbal Musk through his company, Square Roots. Square Roots converts old shipping containers into advanced vertical farms, which would enable even the most populated cities to have access to fresh, organic food. So far, Kimbal’s initiative continues to gain ground, just as his nonprofit, Big Green, continues to expand its reach into schools across America.

AI-powered robots answer US farmers’ call amid diminishing labor force
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“It’s Called Texas”: Republicans Bash Gays, Reject Gay Marriage, Embrace Gay Money

“It’s Called Texas”: Republicans Bash Gays, Reject Gay Marriage, Embrace Gay Money

Texas rejects marriage, Perry says gays kill jobs, and Cornyn embraces the Log Cabin Republicans.

Oh, well. I guess I won’t be sneaking off to Massachusetts to get gay-married any time soon. Even though I didn’t have a marriage prospect in mind—or even a first date lined up—the thought of coming back to Texas on my fictional gay honeymoon did have a certain appeal to it. But now I’m second-guessing it all: I mean, really, would anybody in their right mind get married if there was no chance of ever getting divorced?

But if you’re gay in Texas, forget about divorcing a spouse-gone-wild (or just gone sour). That’s what the three Republicans on the Texas 5th Court of Appeals made clear on Tuesday. The judges ruled that District Judge Tena Callahan, a Democrat, did not have the jurisdiction to grant a divorce to two Dallas men, identified as J.B. and H.B., who got hitched in Massachusetts in 2006 and moved to Texas in 2008 before deciding to part ways.

But the judges didn’t stop with a ruling about jurisdiction. In a week that’s featured a sudden burst of strange and unwelcome news for gay Texans—all of it featuring Republicans—the Texas 5th took the prize for ideological overkill.

The court’s opinion did not begin and end with the interesting question of whether a district judge in Texas, a state that doesn’t recognize gay marriage (wouldn’t know it if it hit us in the face!), could grant a gay divorce. “A person does not and cannot seek a divorce without simultaneously asserting the existence and validity of a lawful marriage,” wrote Judge Kerry P. Fitzgerald in his opinion, which you can read in full here. In a nutshell, the judges shot down the “existence and validity” of a gay marriage in Texas from every possible angle.

As Fitzgerald also wrote, the court considered “whether Texas’s marriage laws are rationally related to the goal of promoting the raising of children in households headed by opposite-sex couples. We conclude that they are. Because only relationships between opposite-sex children can naturally produce children, it is reasonable for the state to afford unique legal recognition to that particular social unit in the form of opposite-sex marriage. … The legislature could reasonably conclude that the institution of civil marriage as it has existed in this country from the beginning has successfully provided this desirable social structure and should be preserved.”

Preserved how, exactly? The “preservation of marriage,” of course, is a pure, 100-percent, Grade A religious-right  talking point—right up there with the mystical phrase “sanctity of marriage.” It’s a go-to line for the likes of the Concerned Women of America, who can offer nothing but the squishy sentiment of privilege and fanciful slippery-slope scenarios (legal bestiality can’t be far behind!) when arguing against gay marriage. They cannot answer the question: How will recognizing gay marriage fail to help “preserve marriage”? Or this one: What would it mean, actually, to “preserve” marriage—merely the preservation of a special privilege for straight people?

No matter. The court wholeheartedly agreed with Attorney Gen. Greg Abbott, who had appealed Callahan’s ruling of October 2009, he said, in order “to defend the traditional definition of marriage that was approved by Texas voters.” The Massachusetts marriage, said Abbott and the judges, could not be recognized—but it could be dissolved by being “voided.”

Voided. Nice! Like it never happened.

The ruling may be appealed to the state’s equally Republican Supreme Court. And there’s another case awaiting another set of state appeals judges—this time in Austin, where a district judge granted a divorce earlier this year to two women who were also hitched in Massachusetts. (How much money is the Massachusetts wedding industry making off of gay Texans, one wonders?) So this part of the story’s not over. And neither, we’ve also recently discovered, is the gay-bashing habit of Texas’ governor.

When AG Abbott referred to “Texas voters” having weighed in on the definition of marriage, he was referring to Rick Perry’s favorite constitutional improvement—the gay-marriage ban passed in 2005.

Perry has been uncharacteristically quiet on gay issues during his latest re-election campaign, as he faces Democrat Bill White. But he let loose last Thursday, at a barbecue joint in Temple. The Texas Tribune’s Ross Ramsey captured the governor proving that he hadn’t lost his knack for gay-baiting. As he extolled his favorite subject, the supposedly bullet-proof Texas economy, Perry went there:

“There is still a land of opportunity, friends—it’s called Texas,” Perry said. “We’re creating more jobs than any other state in the nation. … Would you rather live in a state like this, or in a state where a man can marry a man?”

Forget the many studies showing that places that are friendly toward gays—seeing them as part of a “creative class”—are better off economically. Perry, as he has demonstrated so often, answers to a higher logic.

And so do Sen. John Cornyn and Congressman Pete Sessions, it appears. But their higher logic is lucre.

The heads of their party’s Senate and House campaign committees, respectively, Cornyn and Sessions have reportedly accepted invitations to a Log Cabin Republican dinner—honoring former anti-gay RNC chair Ken Melhman, who recently came out as a former self-loathing homosexual—in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 22.

One of the Log Cabineers’ top agenda items is legalizing gay marriage. Which makes the two Texas lawmakers’ appearances seem odd, especially when you consider that they’ve both been loyal GOP soldiers whenever gay people were being debated or voted on. Both have been awarded “0” ratings from the Human Rights Campaign.

So why would these two leading gay-rights opponents—Republicans from a state where gay people can’t even get divorced, and the governor can’t stop bashing them—attend such a function? Because their job is to raise campaign cash. While marriage might be reserved for certain people, and while gays might make a handy punching-bag when you want to throw some red meat at the hardcore right-wing folk out there, money is money. Priorities are priorities.


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End Zone

End Zone

West Texas is losing population and political power. Amid the anxiety, will its independent-minded politics give way to the Tea Party?

It’s 6:50 p.m. in Sterling City, minutes before the first home game of the season. I’m in the town’s Dairy Queen offering to buy two girls their Dr. Peppers with a credit card in exchange for $3 cash, the admission cost to the game. I’m told the town has maybe two ATMs, and neither is working. The Dairy Queen is packed. The entire town of around 1,000 seems to be here, and everyone is clad in purple and red T-shirts, the respective colors of the Garden City Bearkats and Sterling City Eagles. For all my toe-tapping, it’s clear the three workers manning the Blizzard station and taking drive-thru orders won’t have time to deal with the line. I’ll be late to meet state Rep. Joe Heflin, one of the last Democratic officeholders in the region. I’m not too worried. Heflin’s already impressed that I came out here—not just to a six-man football game, but out to West Texas, to see what remains of the political culture that once dominated the state.

I arrived in the region five days earlier. From faraway Austin, I’d watched the Tea Party movement sweep into Lubbock during this spring’s Republican primaries, taking out longtime incumbent state Rep. Delwin Jones. Charles Perry, the candidate who unseated Jones, had been a vocal Tea Partier during the primary, his website touting him as “all of the things that will drive Austin liberals crazy.”

Conservative Democrats like Heflin ruled this region not so long ago. West Texas Democrats, in a long line of legislative powerhouses ending with House Speaker Pete Laney, ruled the state Legislature. But Heflin, who replaced Laney in 2006, now looks like a relic. In 2008, every county he represents voted at least 52 percent Republican in statewide races, and one went as high as 87 percent. Heflin is widely considered one of the GOP’s top targets.

Meanwhile, the region’s political power is shorting out. As the state’s population swells, populations in some West Texas counties are down by 20 percent from a decade ago. Those who remain look different—Hispanic populations are higher than 50 percent in some counties. Those who vote have tended more and more toward Republican—and maybe toward the Tea Party’s brand of hard-right conservatism. Was the region swinging further right, or were its changing demographics going to swing it back toward the Democrats?

I started with Tea Party candidate Charles Perry, whom I had met at the Lubbock Breakfast House, an archetypal local joint where pans clatter in the background and people shout greetings to friends. Perry’s Sunday school teacher was a few tables over, and he told me I just missed the local United Way president. For $3.50, I got eggs, home fries, fruit and—at the waitresses’ insistence—pumpkin pancakes. Perry had contented himself with oatmeal and coffee.

Perry’s Tea Party affiliations led me to expect the conventional narrative: The movement came to West Texas out of concern for a way of life that’s dying—extremism in the name of survival. After all, this was a candidate who’d declared at an April Tea Party rally: “This is a spiritual battle—it’s good versus evil.” But Perry, who’s guaranteed a House seat because he’s running with no Democratic opposition, came across as more studious than fiery. He’d beaten a longtime incumbent Republican, he said, because “people were ready for something different. They recognized that there were things that needed to be getting done that weren’t getting done. Tea Party’s nothing new. They’re just more vocal.”

Despite his Tea Party credentials, Perry said that like Heflin, he’s “a center-right guy.” Traces of right-wing ideology came through, though. “We understand that there’s risk and reward in life,” he said, “and the government’s role is not to say, ‘We’re here to pick you up when you fall,’ … You stifle independent thinking.” Perry had harsh words for the “clowns” at the Environmental Protection Agency, who have been pushing Texas to boost regulation. But he was eager, in the tradition of West Texas legislators, to sound a
collegial note. He rated Heflin’s race against Republican Joe Landtroop a toss-up and was philosophical about it: “As a Republican goes, I’d like to see a Republican take the seat,” Perry said. “It’s a pickup. As an individual and policy goes, I don’t think Joe and I are a lot different. Trouble is, he’s on the D ticket.”

The next day, still in search of West Texas’ Tea Party mojo, I drove 30 minutes west to Levelland to see Joe Dee Brooks. Brooks is an ardent Perry supporter and a major employer in Hockley County, which voted 74 percent Republican overall in 2008 statewide races. Brooks, like Perry, turned out to be more pragmatist than firebrand. In his office at Allied Oilfields, which manufactures drilling equipment, Brooks said that while he’s no fan of welfare, he chairs the South Plains Community Action Association, which oversees Head Start, some child-nutrition programs and health care projects for needy families. “Democrats created it,” Brooks said. “I don’t really believe in a lot of it, but I think it’s good for our communities and our areas and the people that need these programs.” He estimated that the programs provide 1,800 jobs.

Jobs were Brooks’ overwhelming concern—along with community survival. Levelland had about 12,900 people in 2000, but in the last nine years, the county has lost 2 percent of its population, according to Census estimates. That’s as the state gained 19 percent. In the context of West Texas, though, it’s doing pretty well. Brooks mostly went Tea Party, he said, because the incumbents weren’t working hard enough for the region. It wasn’t just Perry’s predecessor, state Rep. Jones, but also Reps. Carl Isett and David Swinford, who both resigned earlier this year and left others to handle constituent services. “They just quit,” Brooks said. “I’m thinking, you wanted to serve us? That just told me that the guy lied to me for the last 15 years.”

For Brooks, the Tea Party movement was less about policy and more about ending partisanship and business as usual. He hopes to see a more limited, less regulatory government. “The state of Texas is here to provide us some highways, they’re here to provide us some education, they’re here to provide us some protection,” Brooks said. “That’s what simple government does.” Most of all, he wants to protect Levelland, and he says making business cheap and easy will help the town keep its local industries. Though he’s not in Heflin’s district, Brooks likes the incumbent and worked with him in the broader community. But the West Texas Tea Partiers, he said, might bring some energy to the Capitol and help the region. “It’s basically, ‘Hey, let’s get on with getting stuff done,’” Brooks said.

Armed with my $3 from the Dairy Queen, I find Heflin at the game. Between the red- and purple-clad fans, he’s wearing beige and khaki. “How much more neutral can you get?” he said, laughing. Heflin can’t afford to take sides—he might be the only Democrat these conservative farming folks will consider supporting. When he’s not giving me the rules of six-man football, Heflin’s on the lookout for constituents to chat up. We walk over to a stadium entrance, where the sound of livestock can be heard between the crowd’s roars. One of the ticket collectors, a mustachioed man in a white cowboy hat, comes up to talk to Heflin about some transmission lines that might go up on his property. They complain together about the utilities for a while, until the man starts talking politics. “Instead of cutting back, it’s always, ‘How can we raise more money?’” he says. “The Republicans—and I’m a hard-core, right-wing Republican—but we brought all this on ourselves. We did a terrible job. Lost focus. We kept worrying about—what was her name, Mary Ann Shively [Terri Schiavo]—was gonna die. What does that have to do with Congress?” Heflin smiles and nods. This is one more “hard-core Republican” vote he’s going to get.

It’s 70 miles from Levelland to Crosby County, Heflin’s home county. Crosby County is struggling: In the last decade, it lost 13 percent of its population and 20 percent of its nonfarm employment. Crosbyton still has its Dairy Queen, one sign of lingering prosperity, but everybody will tell you it’s been a rough few years. I figured this would be the kind of place where the Tea Party would thrive—until I swung into town and saw row upon row of yards, each with their little blue sign entreating the neighbors to “Re-elect Joe Heflin.”

I wandered into Charley’s Place, drawn by the scent of grease, and fell in with the Houses and Henns. Over bacon-wrapped hotdogs and other specialties, the two couples told me they were staunch conservatives. But they liked their Democrat, Heflin. “He’s done a lot for small towns, for West Texas,” Trixie Henn said. The only one to hesitate was her husband Steve, a farmer who said he needed to double-check whether Heflin was pro-life. “I’ll ask him,” Steve said. “He comes to town.”

Steve can rest easy: On social issues, Heflin is one of the most conservative in the House. He’s anti-abortion and has endorsements from just about every gun group. That’s been one secret to his hanging on in this Republican region.

Across the table, Carl House said he supported Heflin, but was excited about the Tea Party. The movement hadn’t really expanded in West Texas past Lubbock, the Houses and Henns said, echoing what I’d heard from others. But Carl said he’s for them, and he and Steve were happy to see Jones lose to Perry. They felt Jones was too moderate on social issues like abortion.

In some places people seem to tune out politics, but these folks see serious political stakes in their everyday lives. Carl commutes daily to work in Lubbock, 40 miles away, which he’s done for years to keep the family in Crosbyton. Steve is luckier: He farms in the area, and his eldest two sons plan to farm as well. But as farms need less labor, more kids must move out of counties like Crosby to find work. Everybody’s worried about whether there will be enough jobs in the future. “We have the hospital,” Trixie said. “We have the school …”

“We have the gin,” added Jody House—the cotton gin. She said both her children had moved away for lack of jobs.

“Well, it’s not gonna be over as fast we thought,” Joe Heflin said. The Sterling City Eagles, who were getting killed in the first half, are threatening a comeback. Heflin might as well enjoy it: He’s going to be seeing a lot of these games as the campaign season heats up; reminding people he knows them is no small part of his winning strategy. In Austin, many think Heflin will lose. “People in Austin don’t understand,” he said, leading me over to the Garden City side, where he’s spotted some supporters. “People out here don’t think the way people in Austin do.” Heflin said things are no different than in past election cycles—every time, there’s speculation he will lose. But Heflin said he knows how to defend his seat—and it starts with being here, at this game.

“The thing I hear the most,” Heflin said, “is, ‘Oh, I recognize you! I saw you in the paper!’” He smiles. “I’m like, ‘That’s right.’ And it’s not by accident.” In a district stretching hundreds of miles through conservative rural counties, Heflin takes advantage of the 26 weekly newspapers starved for content, feeding them a steady diet of story ideas, press releases and photos. In case that doesn’t reach enough folks, he writes more than 100 notes a week, congratulating kids on becoming Eagle Scouts and grandmas for reaching 95. It’s partly why he claims he’s not shaking in his boots about Landtroop’s challenge. His constituents know him, Heflin said, and “they still believe the individual has to do the job. If [lawmakers are] doing you a good job. You don’t change because the party says you need to change.”

earlier that friday afternoon, on my way to the game in Sterling City, I stop back in Crosbyton. While Crosby County is almost 53 percent Hispanic now, the three school districts in the area are between 67 and 79 percent Hispanic. Such numbers aren’t unusual in this region—and the youth of the Hispanic population is one of the reasons that Anglos still dominate, so far, on election days. What’s going to happen when they don’t?

I followed a gaggle of Crosbyton moms and daughters into town, all dressed for the football game. Then I followed a few a bit farther, into Diane’s Hair Express. Diane Muñoz, the owner, had little to say about politics beyond telling me that she’s a conservative and an independent who supports Heflin. Her parents were migrant laborers who settled here, she said, and like everyone else, Muñoz worries about the town’s future. She pointed me to her 17-year-old daughter Amanda, a political savant who loves Sarah Palin as well as Condoleezza Rice.

“I believe in the core values of the Republicans,” Amanda said decisively. Like her mother, Amanda also loved Heflin and “would vote Democratic Party just to vote for him.” She was especially passionate on pro-life issues, but with some concerns about the GOP’s take on immigration. It’s one of the only parts of the Republican platform she said she doesn’t like: “It feels anti-Hispanic, not anti-illegals.”

Amanda can understand Spanish, but doesn’t speak it particularly well. She tries with her mother’s parents, longtime area residents who rarely speak English. She hopes to return to Crosbyton after college, if there’s a job. “That is my history,” she said of her West Texas Latina identity. “That is my heritage.”

Amanda reminds me of Jaime Hernandez, a hotel maintenance worker I met an hour away in Plainview. He pronounced his name “Jamie,” but kept the traditional Spanish spelling. Hernandez lived on the same plot of land as the last four generations of his family—it’s the land that’s kept him in the area. He said that when his wife moved up to West Texas from her home in the Valley, she was shocked by the differences in the Hispanic communities. “It was a whole different thing,” he said. “She didn’t like it over here.” Hernandez was more critical of his town than Amanda was of hers. While he said he considered Plainview a “white man’s town,” Hernandez is among the many Hispanic residents of West Texas who don’t vote. Amanda, meanwhile, hopes to run for office someday.

Sterling City’s brief rally fails, and the Bearkats resume their domination. Heflin and I trade Austin gossip for a while—that world  felt far away. We theorize about what will happen to the budget, which members will take power in the next session. We acknowledge that West Texas representatives will need to band together to keep West Texas alive. “It’s kind of like we’re stuck in a time zone,” he said of the region. We walk out to his car, and he asks—twice—if I know how to get to my hotel in San Angelo. I remind him I still have the road map he gave me a few days earlier, so I’ll be fine. He drives away, and I consider doing the same. But I want to savor the last few hours I have in West Texas, so I go back to the crowd. The Sterling City cheerleaders continue chants about O-F-F-E-N-S-E, although Sterling City appears to have little of that tonight. I wait in line to buy a soggy, soft pretzel and dip it in cold nacho cheese sauce. I consider interviewing some of the parents and kids around me. As the populations of Garden City and Sterling City cheer their six-man teams, I’m sure some people are thinking of the days, only a few years ago, when these teams were full-sized and these small towns
eren’t quite so small. I almost approach one woman before thinking better of it. This is West Texas after all, and no one wants to talk politics in the fourth quarter.


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I am quite a diverse character i guess... Open minded, spontaneous, adventurous, sincere, honest and kinda straight forward. I like to speak my mind and grasp upcoming opportunities, but i know how to be humble, too. I am hard working guy. Once in motio, nothing can stop me ... problems are onlythere to be solved! From nothing comes nothing, so one better be creative. But i like to chill and enjoy the good times, too. If i dont push myself i´m quite lazy and i like being lazy from time to times ;) I like Music and going out to the bars, restaurants and clubs. I enjoy quiet evenings, too. Everythings has its time. I love good foods. I been to Asia often and thinking about Asian Cuisine just makes me happy, hehe! I´m into sports also ... fitness, gym, martial arts, swimming, diving, sailing, surfing ... i like the water. I like good conversations, any topic, like to be challenged intellectualy. I can talk and I can listen ... so lets chat!

Frank is from Germany

Frank (46)

Looking for honest lady below 30 ... Bad Saulgau, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Seeking: Female 23 - 40 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

I am an honest man I am patient loving caring understanding respectful. I love trying new things im looking for a girl/woman friend and maybe soon more. If I love i am giving my all. And I appreciate even a smallest thing that people do to me. I love making feel the girl I love that how really love her so much everyday. I love nature. I can sing, play guitar, I can cook I can dance. I like doing sports like swimming and fitness. I am good looking but I prefer to send you picture

Joda is from Germany

Joda (57)

smile is the best way to show you... Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Seeking: Female 36 - 42 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

Kids grown, unluckily I am facing the separation from my wife. However, live ist much better if you share your feelings. Living alone is less then half -, so I am looking for a honest and loving soul mate, to enjoy living. I love my family, movies, video games, driving motorbike and other sports. Watching movies and series, dancing Salsa and much more. In case you contact me, please consider, I am looking for a real person with honest intentions and I will never pay money for a "internet relation" (Love scammer).

Arne is from Germany

Arne (50)

Berlin guy seeks girl Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Seeking: Female 18 - 28 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

T̄ĥā pæl pĕn p̣hās̄ʹā thịy k̄hxng c̄hạn mị̀ dī c̄hạn k̄hxthos̄ʹ!!! Ṭhurkic s̄̀wntạw læa thảngān h̄nạk NI Krung bexr̒lin kār deinthāng māk khrxbkhrạw thī̀ mùng nên dīcı thī̀ mī pheụ̄̀xn thī̀ dī thạ̀w thuk mum lok tid tid ch̆xkh ko læt yā s̄eph bāng, tæ̀ T̄ĥā p̄hm kin Nutella māk keinpị p̄hm khid dị̂ rạb n̂ảh̄nạk ṣ̄er̂ā c̄hạn ẁā ca mị̀ dị̂ PHB pherāa leī̂yng lūk NI chīwit k̄hxng d̂wy nm p̄hū̂h̄ỵing c̄hạn NI khwām h̄wạng pherāa p̄hm pị h̄ā ṭhex p̄h̀xnkhlāy T̄ĥā xyāk ca mạn mị̀ k̄hụ̂n dị̂ can have your dress made c̄hạn rạk thale læa dwng xāthity̒. Self employed and hardworking. In Berlin. Much traveling. Family oriented. Glass having great friends all over the world. Chocolate addict. Slim, but if I eat too much Nutella, I suppose to gain weight. Sad, because I still have not found the woman of my life. In hope, because I would like to find. Relaxed, if it does not happen. I love the sea and the sun.

Gerd is from Germany

Gerd (60)

Warm hearted gentleman, fit for f... Bad Sobernheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Seeking: Female 29 - 48 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

Nature loving, outdoor man, with faible for seawater, swimming, sailing, preferably in warm waters, like in your s Mostly good mood, funny, joky, also caring for those who are near to me. Want to live life to the fullest from now on. Hehe ... also passionated, YES !!!!

Ingo is from Germany

Ingo (40)

Hello from Germany :) Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Seeking: Female 21 - 36 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

I´m a tall guy, journalist by profession, enthusiastic traveler around the Globe, very fond of the Siam and its people ... To me, Thailand really IS the Land of Smiles - which I love very much. Now, I'd like to get to know some of its people better - and maybe one special person as good as possible. Maybe flirting online is the right way to find her?

Niceguy is from Germany

Niceguy (38)

please read! Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
Seeking: Female 21 - 30 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

You can find me on www asiandating dot com -- My Nickname there: Andris there I do have gold so just show me your interest there and you can write me there. What I wanna find here: looking for a small girl with a great heart! What I don't want to find here: I dont search cam-sex! Please don't Josh me with that. So I dont search for other payed chats or Cam-Sites . So I dont like fake pictures. Show your real peronality or nothing. If you really want to talk or write to me please do it here. In special cases so I have to email. So ICQ + MSN, but normally I dont use it. To me: This pictures are real ones from some days ago.I like sports (Volleyball / Cycling). I am not normal, sometimes I am a little bit crazy. Everything else you have to find out - just write me, or show me your intrest on asiandating I live in Leipzig (Germany) and I don't know where to go on vacation. If you know some good places write me where. Or chat with me and tell me what makes this place unique.

Alex  is from Germany

Alex (45)

Hi, read my profile for contact m... Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Seeking: Female 18 - 55 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

My Name is: Alex Sanook You can find me, if you want. I ... - Am not a psycho, fake or something similar. - Am German - Can be whole sentences, even write without error - Still have all the teeth in the mouth - I am well-kept, clean sound + - I shaved - Do not have a beard - I am self-chosen single, without "legacy" - I am financially independent - Am totally mobile and am happy to move - Know what I have to treat a woman. Either way. - Last but not least'm housebroken too. Ha ha! ICH… - bin kein Psycho, Fake oder ähnliches. - bin Deutscher - kann ganze Sätze, sogar ohne Fehler schreiben - habe noch alle Zähne im Mund - bin gepflegt, sauber + gesund - bin rasiert - habe keinen Bart - bin selbstgewählter Single, ohne „Altlasten“ - bin finanziell unabhängig - bin total mobil und bin gerne unterwegs - weiß, wie ich eine Frau zu behandeln habe. So oder so. - bin zu guter letzt auch noch Stubenrein. Ha ha !

Klaus is from Germany

Klaus (54)

... one from the heart ... that's... München, Bavaria, Germany
Seeking: Female 18 - 40 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

Hello! Well, I think I am a good guy. I love music, Rock-n-Roll, Blues, Rock ... also love to play music myself ... music is somehow my life ... it makes me happy! Also I love animals, exspecially cats ... tigers, panthers, leppards ... and most of all smale ones to pet :-) Cats are great - they have their own will ... and when they give you love it's honest and from the heart ... ... there is so much more ... just email me and find out :-)

Martin is from Germany

Martin (39)

Looking For Happiness Grafenwöhr, Bavaria, Germany
Seeking: Female 25 - 30 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

Very simply and friendly man trying to find happiness. I love the beach. Some of the things i like to do are bowling, watching movies, swimming, and taking walks in park. I belive family is very important and that is what makes us who we are.

Klaus is from Germany

Klaus (64)

Love of my life Lörrach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Seeking: Female for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

I do a lot of sports and I'm in a good shape. I'm honest, believe in love, in harmony, in romantic and in a life, where we two respect eachother. I'm sure, that you as my wife, will get all of my attention, my love and my caring heart. I will carry you on my hands, every day, every night and feel, how you will give me my love back. I travelled a lot based on my job, have seen many countries and lived in the USA for 5 years. Since I have never been in Thailand, I would like to visit you in order to get to know you. Love is a treasure and only those, who will understand, that it is give and take, will be happy at the end. I'm looking for true love, not for games! So let me find you, as my wife until the end of my life! I wait for you. I love you!

Guilfardo is from Germany

Guilfardo (75)

Come closer Fürth, Bavaria, Germany
Seeking: Female 41 - 51 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

Having produced over from work I am going to live most time of the year in Thailand. I am studying Thai language. If I find a lady to share the life with me, this would be a nice add up. So I speak German, English, French and like to travel. Who is going to accompany me?

Lawrence is from Germany

Lawrence (28)

Honesty/Loyality Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Seeking: Female 18 - 26 for Penpal
Smoke: Don't smoke

I am half German half Canadian. At the moment I am living in Osaka for further studies to build up my own company. I have been to Thailand 2 times and I must admit that I spend a wonderful and unforgetable time there. I hope I can have the luck too someday and get married with a Thai women :P

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The Coaching Academy Blog

Burn Baby Burn

Posted 1287 Days Ago in: Coaching Articles

It is not very often you meet someone who changes your life, completely. If you had told me 2 years ago that I would be walking over fire with 8000 other people and standing listening to a man talk for 50 hours I would have said you were crazy.

It is not very often you meet someone who changes your life, completely. If you had told me 2 years ago that I would be walking over fire with 8000 other people and standing listening to a man talk for 50 hours I would have said you were crazy.

I didn't intend on changing my life in one definitive meeting, it all started with my interest in life coaching, and as a client of this invaluable service myself I was passionate about helping others become focused to achieve their goals and one of the ways to do this was train to deliver life coaching myself, increase my skills base and offer this unique wellness service to UP guests on their visit to the Algarve as I feel it is about Fitness for the Mind as well as the Body.

I started a Diploma in Personal Development Coaching, with the Coaching Academy, perfect for me living in the Algarve it allowed me to travel to the UK when I wanted and study at home. One of the reading recommendations from my own life coach was an Author named Anthony Robbins; the other delegates from the Coaching Academy also spoke passionately about him.

Tony’s claim is this, and having experienced it for myself I now know why... Whether you’re a housewife, a professional footballer, or the CEO of a multimillion-pound organisation. It is now those people who are truly living an extraordinary life—life on their terms—who know the answers to three things that we all think about, most days but we don't know how to put this into practice in our extraordinarily busy lives.

  1. What do you really want?
  2. What’s preventing you from having it?
  3. How do you change your life now?

So I am sat there on Day 1 of the event knowing that the climax of the day is the Fire walk, but I am thinking this is impossible, 8000 people all doing it? It won’t be effective but it is part of this amazing day so I will enjoy it. Sooty toes and all.

I had fire walked before at a corporate team building and motivational week away, in the 90’s I knew I had achieved success in fire walking before and ultimately mastering my mind - I still allowed doubts creep in again, and who wouldn’t’ at 200 Fahrenheit and to see hot burning embers glowing at 10.30 pm on a cold March night.

No if that was the case none of us would have these issues instead we, you, I all of us are held back by so many things, spiders, money, confidence, anger you name it.

We need to change “state” by being aware of the following

  1. Physiology - in other words how we use our physical body, breath, posture, and movement. e.g. If we went into the firewalk with our shoulders slouched and our body lethargic then we would get burnt. Instead create energy, get yourself psyched up and have the right posture.
  2. Focus - it wasn’t just about changing our body and energy it was about focus, how many times have you tried not to think of something and it is literally all you can think about. SO the focus needs to be - walking across those hot coals knowing they won’t burn you and imagining that they are cold. That everything will be ok. You can bet I made sure that when walking across the scorchio coals I was thinking cool moss cool moss, not burn baby burn.
  3. Words/Language - again if I use the words I think I will be ok, then that’s not going to cut it. I am going to get burnt tootsies, No its using the words such as Yes Yes, and no it’s not just positive thinking - its all about the energy you create within you.

BUT What about this - In order for us to put practical psychology into effect we must know:

  • What stops us moving forward?
  • What controls and determine the quality of our lives?
  • Why do we do what we do?

For e.g. Without getting heavy fear stops us applying for a new job in case we get rejected, not leaving a relationship in case we don’t meet any one again, not studying in case we fail the exams. And so if we can master fear and change our state by implementing the principles above and by walking on burning hot coals - then we begin to realise that fear is just our brains controlling us for the majority of time.

So I am queuing up ready to take my turn and I was nervous because even though it all makes sense I kinda like my feet pink and not crisp and covered in bandages. But I also rationalised that over a million people had walked in my shoes before (well bare feet) and if they could do it so could I. And so it began my heart was pounding, my pupils must have been like saucers as my eyes were wide and watching everyone else line up - I choose to be in the middle somewhere of the queue, 1 it was freezing outside about 1 degree, and 2 I wanted it done.

It went so quickly I kept my positive mantra going all the way through with the help of the others people and at the end I was overwhelmingly energised. I felt like I had won the lottery, I was ecstatic, and blood was surging through every cell in my body. Pumped was not the word. And the belief system that I had managed to conquer my mind, I had won.

I will be booking onto next year’s event as soon as I can, and putting everything into practice during my time with the Coaching Academy.

Angela is a life and wellness coach. Her journey began after undertaking this invaluable service herself following a move to the Algarve. She now works with clients so they can reach their Unlimited Potential by creating bespoke holidays and retreats for guests. Fitness for the Mind as well as the Body. You can follow and connect with her on twitter @UP_Algarve

Other Articles

Posted 1301 Days Ago in: Coaching Articles

Coach in the Spotlight - Brian Eddies

Thanks to Brian for sharing his story with us and of course the wonderful Duchess shown in the photo.

Read More

Posted 1301 Days Ago in: Coaching Articles

Love Assumptions

"If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence" - Lao Tzu

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Find a shop

What ? Where ?
Monday 12th November 2018 - 18:46
Soon : Summer Bank Holiday
Shops > Greater London > CR0 - London > EE

EE in London

Store's name : Croydon: Centrale

Address & Contacts

Unit A Centrale
CR0 London

Opening Times

Monday 09.30 - 19.00
Tuesday 09.30 - 19.00
Wednesday 09.30 - 19.00
Thursday 09.30 - 21.00
Friday 09.30 - 19.00
Saturday 09.30 - 19.00
Sunday 11.00 - 17.00

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Website : ee.co.uk

EE (Everything Everywhere) is the name of a joint venture between two different mobile networks in the United Kingdom - Orange and T-Mobile. When the merger occurred in 2010, both of these existing networks had an extensive collection of retail outlets in the UK, and a large-scale rebranding exercise created the EE retail chain. From the perspective of the network,… read more about EE

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Artist Information & Application

Saturday, September 15, 4-8 pm
Downtown Macon, GA

Application Deadline: July 31, 2018, at midnight

First Street Art & Wine Festival is a one-day event hosted by Just Tap’d and The 567 Center for Renewal. The artists market will include 8 artist vendors, including fine crafts. In addition to art and craft vendors, the festival will include live music, art activities for kids, wine tastings, and other special offerings by First Street businesses. The event will take place on Saturday, September 15.

All artist mediums, as well as a variety of handmade crafts are welcome.  Vendors will receive a free promotion on the First Street Art & Wine Festival page of The 567 website with a link back to their website, as well as a post about their work on Facebook.

Before filling out the application, please carefully read the Terms & Conditions. By filling out the application you are agreeing to the following:

Terms & Conditions

All items sold at First Street Festival must be original artwork by you or other products handcrafted by you.  This is a juried event with a very limited number of slots. We cannot accept everyone. Artists who are based in Macon or Middle Georgia are preferred. The application deadline is July 31. We will send out notifications by August 10. If you are not accepted a refund of your payment will be initiated on August 14. We will not consider your application if it is not complete or if we receive it after the deadline. A complete application includes all the information we request below AND payment.

Fee: Booths for this event are 10’ w x 10’ d.  The vendor fee is $35 and is due with your application. Vendors should provide a 10' x 10' tent. If tables are used, the tables should be either 6' or 8' long. If you require tables and chairs and do not have them, a limited number of tables and chairs are available to borrow from us for use during the event.

Refunds: If you are not accepted your payment will be promptly returned to you. Refunds take a few days to clear but the process will be initiated on August 14. For those accepted, we offer a short grace period after acceptance emails are sent out. This is the only opportunity to receive a refund if you are unable to participate in the event. If accepted, but you are unable to participate, we will offer a refund of your payment if you notify us by August 19. After August 19, we cannot offer a refund – no exceptions. If it’s raining heavily, the market will be moved to an indoor location. If the event is canceled due to severe weather, other Acts of God or conditions beyond the control of The 567, you will receive a full refund.

Space: The vendor spaces for the event are 10’ w x 10’ d. Vendors are responsible for their entire display: tables, chairs, table clothes, racks, etc. This includes setting up and breaking down your display. Volunteers will be available to help you unload your things from your car when you arrive.

Sharing: You may not share a space with another vendor, unless you receive special permission from The 567 Center.

Day of the Event: The event takes place Saturday, September 15, from 4 to 8 pm. Set up will take place that afternoon starting no earlier than 1 pm. Please, do not break down early. You are expected to remain set up until 8 pm. If you have to break down early due to an emergency please let us know.

Responsibility: The 567 Center for Renewal is not responsible for personal injury or any items damaged or stolen during the duration of the event (including move-in, move-out and the hours of the event). It is the responsibility of each vendor to transport their belongings and to not leave valuables unattended. The 567 Center is not responsible for your belongings.

How to apply: Complete the form and submit your vendor fee below.

Questions about this application?
Contact: Colin Penndorf, Fine Art Director

The 567 Center for Renewal
456 First St.
Macon, GA 31201
Phone: (478) 238-6051 ext. 1


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In this series travel and tourism reporter Leigh Guidry and her family adventure to local farms and orchards across Acadiana, including Market Basket Youngsville. You can follow the fun at and on Instagram (@thedailyadvertiser). Leigh Guidry,

Editor's Note: This is the fourth and final installment in a series in which travel and tourism reporter Leigh Guidry and her family adventure to local farms and orchards across Acadiana, report back and encourage folks to try something new. You can find more of the fun at and on Instagram (@thedailyadvertiser). And email with any tips or suggestions of where to take her family next!

My family and I visited four farms in July. Yes, July, when it's ungodly hot in Louisiana. I have such good ideas. Just ask my family. At least it wasn't August.

But we braved the heat each week to spend an hour or two walking around someone else's vast property, feeding their animals and learning about a different way of life.

Our final farm trip was to Market Basket Youngsville on Thursday. We met Karen Thompson, who owns the organic farm with her husband, Charles.

What impressed me the most about this farm was how resourceful it was. They wasted nothing.

More family adventures: We got our hands dirty at the farmVisiting Acadiana farms as a family

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They grow their own organic vegetables. We walked beside rows of eggplant, watermelon, carrots and more, and we watched as folks prepared a few rows to replant.

What Thompson doesn't sell from home or at local farmer's markets she slices and peels to feed her livestock.

Their property is home to pigs, goats, donkeys, ducks and chickens — some for eggs and some for meat.

She filled a bucket with carrot and cantaloupe peelings, so my kids could feed them all. They also get a small amount of grain, but Thompson sticks mostly to organic produce.

And then what's leftover after that usually goes into compost and growing new fruits and vegetables. What a cycle.

The why behind the farm

Thompson said growing and feeding organic is more expensive, but she does it for the health benefits. That's why she and Charles started this farm in the first place.

He's been a chef for years and objected to steroids and conditions for animals at other farms he visited. He wanted to see something different.

His wife's father and sister both died from cancer in their 50s. Others in her family were gone before 60, too. She wanted to see something different.

So they created something different. Market Basket Youngsville turns 11 this fall.

What to do when you visit

We met twin baby goats Billy and Molly, sow "momma" pigs (as Avery learned it) Charlotte and Bella; "guard" donkeys Thelma and Louise ("because they like to cut up a bit," Thompson said); about 25 younger pigs and lots of egg-laying chickens. We just missed the meat-chickens.

All of the animals live within their appropriate fences but in wide-open spaces.

"I don't believe in anything being caged up," Thompson said.

The fences were more for our protection. Like Avery said, those sows are "humongous." I do not want to know what it's like when Charlotte steps on your toe.

So we stood outside them, and Avery and Marie threw scraps of fruit over to the pigs.

While Marie totally missed the cow noise on our last farm visit, she showed a complete grasp of "it's pig!" this time.

FAMILY FUN: What to do at every Louisiana state park | Newborn's epic road trip brings her to Louisiana

She fit right in at this farm and met another Marie. The two Catahoula curs (officially called Catahoula Leopard Dogs, I now know) at the farm are Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI.

We loved learning all these names. It was a fun place to be — even in July heat. And we left with a few melons and squash of our own.

So now what? Where should the Guidrys go next? Let me know at

Where do I go?

Market Basket Farm

411 Simon Road, Youngsville

(337) 322-3233

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Amarillo Dentist

Root Canals

Root Canal in Amarillo The pulp, or soft inner tissue is important during the tooth's development. Once a tooth is fully mature, the tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth is nourished by tissues surrounding it. The pulp is normally surrounded and protected by a layer of dentin.

Above the gumline, the dentin is protected by a layer of enamel; below the gum-line the dentin is covered by cementum. When a crack or cavity destroys these protective layers, the pulp is exposed to irritants and bacteria in your mouth. This can result in inflammation then infection, and, eventually, an abscess. Periodontal (gum) disease or a severe blow to the tooth can also damage the pulp. Endodontic therapy removes the damaged pulp and usually the tooth returns to a healthy condition.

If an abscess was present before treatment the healing process may take up to 2 years.

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I’m at Urgent Care with Gavin

      4 Comments on I’m at Urgent Care with Gavin

For the most part, Gavin was doing much better yesterday.  Towards the end of the day however, his fever popped up once again but he was still feeling fine.

This morning however, he’s really gone downhill.

He’s on Advil but his temperature was still approaching 104°F.  When I checked him again a bit later, he was down to 101.4°F. The next time I checked him, he was back up to 103.4°F. I took my own temperature, in order to try and verify it’s accuracy and it seems to be pretty consistent for me, even when his keeps bouncing around.

Just touching his forehead, I could feel he was burning up.  He’s also complaining of a severe headache.

I tried getting him into his pediatrician but they didn’t have but one opening, after dinner and I didn’t want to wait that long.  I packed him up and we headed off to Aultman North (Urgent Care)….

This is day three of him running an on again off again high fever and he’s now coughing up some pretty gross stuff.  I’m concerned about pneumonia and just need to get him seen ASAP.  My other concern is that I have to give him his IVIG infusion in the morning and if his body stressed by fighting something off, adding the stress of the infusion might just make things worse or at the very least, muddy the water.

With any luck, I’ll get some peace of mind and everything checks out fine.

I’m avoiding the actual Emergency Room because I’m trying to limit his exposure to anything else…

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Poor kid… I hope you get seen quickly and it all gets fixed.

Poor kid… I hope you get seen quickly and it all gets fixed.

There is alot of walking pneumonia going around. My oldest son caught it bad and had to be on Doxycycline for a really long time. There are some natural things that help with walking pneumonia- Lomatium, Houttynia (a chinese herb), Allimax (Allicin extract from Garlic) and Bidens Pilosa, natural antibiotic. I hope he feels better and fever goes down soon.


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The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

SPECIAL EVENT (VIDEO) - 2008 Cadillac CTS On The Road And On The Track

PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

by Carey Russ

The plan was simple enough - a new 2008 Cadillac CTS would be delivered to my house, near San Francisco, CA, and I would drive it to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to watch the last race of Cadillac's current career in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship. Then I'd drive home. Seat time in the second-generation CTS and a chance to watch some good racing? Sign me up!

For anyone wondering about the juxtaposition of "Cadillac" and "racing" in one sentence, Cadillac actually has more of a motorsports history than most people realize. The SPEED Challenge GT class is merely the most recent. And the most successful. Before that was a brave if ultimately unsuccessful shot at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the prototype class. And that was brought on in homage to privateer efforts at Le Mans with Cadillac-powered sports cars and even almost-standard (and later highly-modified) Cadillac sedans in the early 1950s.

Since beginning SPEED Challenge competition with specially-prepared CTS-Vs in 2004, Cadillac has had an enviable record. Three wins and second place in the manufacturer's championship in 2004 was followed by both the manufacturer's championship and driver's title for road racing veteran Andy Pilgrim in 2005. 2006 was less successful, with third place in both the manufacturer's and driver's title races. Laguna Seca was the last race of the 2007 season, and while Cadillac led the race for the manufacturer's title, the driver's championship was still very much undecided. Team drivers Lawson Aschenbach - last year's champion driving for another team - and Andy Pilgrim were in second and third place in the standings, both with good prospects for the title. It promised to be a very good race.

The drive down was a good showcase for the new CTS's highway cruising ability. Saturday AM, little traffic, clear, perfect weather, a perfect fall day. As expected, the CTS was smooth and quiet - and its 304-horsepower direct fuel injection 3.6-liter V6 not only provided the expected quick acceleration, it had little thirst for gasoline, with mid-twenties even at realistic 70+ mph speeds.

Despite light traffic, there were a couple of notable opportunities to test the CTS's fine four-wheel vented antilock disc brakes. At one merge spot, the driver in front of me suddenly slowed to a near-stop to let a truck merge in. The truck driver, correctly remembering California right-of-way laws, slowed to let the car driver ahead. Result - non-motion. After a short wait for traffic, I was able to squirt into the next lane over and leave them to their standoff - but being in "D", I discovered the CTS transmission's bias toward staying in higher gears for maximum fuel economy as it took a moment to shift down several gears before allowing maximum acceleration. Note to self: next time, move the shift lever over to manual mode for this situation.

And it didn't take long for a near-repeat. Driving down Highway One north of Marina, I move to the center lane as there is a piece of agricultural equipment slowly lumbering along in the right lane. Someone yapping on her cell phone passes me on the right, and *then* sees the farmer, just as I'm about to pass. She then proceeds to pull in front of me and, for some unfathomable reason, nearly stop. Of course, at that very moment someone else is passing me in the left lane, so hit brakes, then jink left when safe, and leave her behind.

Exit the freeway for registration in Seaside. Get that taken care of, then once I'm back on the road traffic is being held up so the Ferrari Club can drive en masse to the track. I'm stuck behind, of all things, the Batmobile. No, really - it's the one from the latest movie, the one that looks like the mutant offspring of Art Arfons' Green Monster land speed record car. As soon as traffic resumes, it turns off. And I work my way up through the Ferraris at the various traffic lights on the way to the track. All right! Team Cadillac passes the Ferraris!

I get to the track, meet the team in the hospitality area, then wander around and spend the rest of the day watching the American Le Mans Series four-hour endurance race. It's less an endurance race, where strategy is paramount, than a four-hour sprint, with a continuous battle for the lead between the factory Audi R10 diesels and the Penske Porsches. Laguna is a tight track, with slow and medium-speed corners and elevation changes galore and no real straightaway. The closest part to "straight" is up the hill to the Corkscrew, and that's up a steep hill with a blind kink in the middle. The larger, heavier, less-maneuverable Audis are at a disadvantage, but driver Alan McNish in particular uses the diesel's torque to advantage, especially on the many restarts, and finishes at the front. ***

Restarts and full-course yellows on a road course? It's been a while since I've been a regular at the track.... Now that the track is lined completely with gravel traps for the MotoGP race, yes. Any time anyone as much as goes off, there's all sorts of kitty litter to clean up. Maybe only a local yellow for that, but if someone gets stuck and needs a tow out, out comes the tow truck. And the pace car. If several cars are involved, with lots of sharp carbon fiber bits strewn around, cleanup can take a while.

The next day is Cadillac's race, for the SPEED GT class. It's the last of the day, so there are a few opening acts. The most exciting race is the immediate predecessor, the SPEED Touring Car series. It's for sports sedans like the Mazda6, Acura TSX, Audi A4, and BMW 325i, and it's door-bangingly competitive. Randy Pobst - remember that name - in a Mazda, was the favorite, the potential series champ, and looked to have the win - until he was punted into the kitty litter in Turn 2 during a questionable pass by Pierre Kleinubing, in one of the Acuras. Pobst got back under his own power, but was not a factor afterward. Kleinubing was black-flagged and given a 30-second penalty. Say good-bye to the "win"...

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Unlike some "stock car" series, the cars for both the SPEED World Challenge Touring Car and GT series are based on real production cars. For example, the Team Cadillac CTS-Vs started life on the production line. They - and all GT class competitors - are modified for racing, with tuned engines, substantial driveline, suspension and brake upgrades, interior removal, with full roll cages and a single racing seat instead, and attached passive aerodynamic devices. Could a SPEED GT car be returned to the street? Doubtful, very doubtful, at least anywhere in the developed world....

GT competitors include the Cadillacs, Porsche 911 GT3s galore, Chevy Corvettes, Pontiac GTOs, Dodge Vipers. During the season, to equalize competition, weight penalties are assessed. Win? Carry a couple hundred extra pounds... If it sounds unfair, it isn't. Competition is close; nobody runs away. The Cadillac team is the only direct factory effort, but although it's had its share of wins, it is hardly pulverizing the competition.

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Pobst had the pole, in a Porsche 911 GT3, for the GT race, with Andy Pilgrim, in one of the Cadillacs, second. Pobst gets the hole shot at the start, but partway around the first lap several cars tangle in a cloud of dirt and debris. Cleanup time. It's lap seven before racing starts, and Pobst seems to walk away from Pilgrim. Only for a while. They get closer, and eventually Pilgrim gets by. Unlike in the previous race, it's a clean pass, and Pobst knows that by finishing second he'll win the driver's championship. The race for first may be over, but every other place is still up for grabs. There are plenty of other dices to watch.

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At the end, Andy Pilgrim wins, Randy Pobst gets the GT driver's championship, and the Team Cadillac effort wraps with the manufacturer's championship. There is no "next year", as the CTS-V upon which the cars is based is on hiatus until model year 2009 because of the debut of the second-generation CTS. Still, it's been a successful program, with two manufacturer's championships, and a second and a third place in four years. The drivers and other team members will go on to other projects, in GM or not. The CTS-V has proven to be a winner on the track, and in street trim it can hold its own against equally-stiff competition, this time from the likes of the BMW M3, AMG Mercedes-Benzes, and S-series Audis.

It's time to drive home. The race crowd is not what it was for the glory days of IMSA in the 80s, and Laguna is now a county park, not an enclave in a military base, so exiting the track is a relatively quick and painless procedure. I plan to go home the way I came, the quick way, up 1 to 156 and from there over to 101. All is well until about a mile down 156. It's the popular route from the north side of Monterey over to 101, and with cross traffic and left turns on a two-lane road it's usually slow. I'm not surprised by the stop-and-go traffic, but when two California Highway Patrol cruisers come screaming up between the lanes, lights and sirens blazing, I make the first available u-turn. Hey, when traffic's stopped and the CHP is in a hurry to get somewhere in your direction, the other direction looks real good!

It's the long way home, but much more interesting. We'll just hope nobody's done something stupid going over the hill between Santa Cruz and San Jose. That's a road best described as "challenging". Steep grades, blind curves, blind entrances and exits... if people knew how to drive, it could be wonderful fun. Since they generally don't, it can be hazardous. About once a week it seems that someone wants to recreate the crash scene in the Steve McQueen movie "Le Mans" - the one where the car slams between the barriers at speed. Truck traffic adds to the fun - semis are not really meant for steep grades and sharp curves, and go slow - thereby turning the road into one lane each way, further slowing traffic.

But Sunday evening should be okay. It's not beach season, so traffic between Santa Cruz and San Jose should be light. Should...

It is. And the CTS is quite at home on the curves of Highway 17. I'm keeping it in manual-shift mode, as it likes to rev more than the normal transmission control will let it, and the drive is thoroughly enjoyable. And thankfully uneventful. Once out of the hills, it's back to regular freeway cruising in "D" and a cruise home.


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2011 Volvo S60 Review

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2011 Volvo S60

See Also: Volvo Buyers Guide
See Also: E-Carmony: Is The 2011 Volvo S60 Your Perfect Match?

Volvo S60 Innovations more than Cosmetic

By Marlon Hanson
The Auto Channel

I’ve yet to be disappointed by a Volvo and the first drive of the all new S60 once more drives home my impression of the brand – premium performance at family level pricing. In other words, Volvo provides a great deal of value for the dollar.

Leaving the parking lot in our Newberg, Oregon launch headquarters, the torque of the new S60 was immediately evident. Turning onto the highway and pressing the accelerator produced dynamic results as I shot forward, then quickly glanced ahead and to the sides for traffic enforcement vehicles. The 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline six instantly showed that modern six-bangers are far more peppy than vintage eights. This engine hid 300 horses and a galloping 325 lb.-ft. of torque under the hood.

I was hoping for some winding mountain roads with a trip through the Cascades so I could test the road hugging prowess of this new Volvo and was rewarded with a mixture of highway straitaways as well as more than a few fantastic hairpin turns throughout the adventure.

Passing, even up significant grades, was effortless with the ability to rocket from 50 to 90 mph close to instantaneous. Heading around hairpins billed as 20 mph max was a joy as this Volvo’s improved steering ratio, stiffened suspension, and traction control made the road grip certain at more than double the recommended speeds.

I did note a real “oneness” with the road where the surface differed from ironed glass. Any variation in roadway composition provided a subtle rumble that one does not expect in a luxury vehicle. The good news is that anyone wishing to avoid the sound and the “feel of the road” can easily avoid it by selecting the “comfort” setting rather than the sport or advanced mode made possible when they are driving a the model with the Four-C active chassis system.

Volvo compensates for different buyers with three completely different chassis choices. Consumers would be wise to test drive all three variations to insure their temperament is matched. A Touring, a Dynamic and a Four-C are all available on North American models. Both the Dynamic and the Touring are no cost options while the Four-C is an addition to the base model. For those unsure of which choice to make due to limited testing roadways, the Touring model is the one that is tuned to provide the smoothest ride on poor road surfaces.

While the styling is unmistakably Volvo, I was surprised at the large changes in this new generation versus the previous one. To me, the most striking difference is across the front of the vehicle, which seems to be smiling at oncoming traffic. The eyebrow-style headlights wrap upward blending into the front sides of the vehicle from the front. The grill seems more than double the size of that on the previous model and the iron mark logo in the center remains unmistakably Volvo.

Technological advances and safety pre-eminence have always been synonymous with the brand and the newest S60 continues in that vein. No Volvo launch would be complete without journalists trying to mow down a pedestrian (a model rather than a real person) and a test of the newest pedestrian detection and auto braking system. Although accidents involving pedestrians are not everyday news, about 4,700 walking Americans are killed each year by motor vehicles.

The S60 is equipped with a radar and camera based pedestrian detection system. If anyone walks into the vehicle’s path and the driver doesn’t react, the vehicle reacts for them, activating the car’s full braking power. The system is foolproof at speeds up to 22 mph and lessens impact at speeds above that.

Other features such as BLIS, the blind spot information system which notifies the driver when another vehicle is in their blind spot, is continued on vehicles manufactured by the company that pioneered it. Adaptive Cruise Control, a Driver Alertness control, and Lane Departure Warning signals further enhance safety in the new S60.

Other features that enhance safety when driving include Bluetooth so one can operate their phone hands free, a voice activated navigation system, and an intuitive entertainment system that can be accessed with thumb movements on the steering wheel.

The interior is comfortable and has even been increased slightly in size due to a 2.4 inch increased wheelbase. While back seat riders will not be having card games, they will find reasonable length journeys much more enjoyable than in many competitive vehicles.

The S60 is competitively priced within its class at $37,700 and provides reasonable fuel economy in this new energy conscious world with 18 mpg anticipated in city driving and 26 mpg projected for the highway.

All in all, I’d have to say Volvo has continued its streak of providing exceptional vehicles for those who want value as well as a status symbol to park in their driveway. This new S60 continues to follow the Volvo tenet of safety first, family first sensibleness while also providing the driving excitement a driving enthusiast demands.


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Dissent in the Shambhala community

New website Radio Free Shambhala illuminates a disagreement over the relationship between Buddhism and Shambhala.

An unusually public display of dissent and controversy among the Halifax-based Shambhala community is playing out on a provocative website that questions the present leadership direction of the organization. was started about a year ago, says Mark Szpakowski, a web developer who came up the idea for the site with fellow Shambhalan Ed Michalik. "It came about because there wasn't a venue for discussion, and there were a whole lot of topics that some people thought weren't being talked about at all," explains Szpakowski.

The heart of the issue is a disagreement over the relationship between Buddhism and Shambhala.

"Shambhala" is a collection of teachings from Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a charismatic Buddhist scholar who, at the age of 20, fled Tibet as Chinese armies were moving into that country in 1959. Trungpa went on to become the leading figure bringing Tibetan meditation practices to the west, and became established among the 1960s counterculture---Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs, for example, taught at Trungpa's Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.

In 1986, Trungpa moved his operation to Halifax, and many of his supporters followed him here, establishing the local Shambhala community.

Trungpa died the following year, and after a mostly behind-the-scenes power struggle lasting two years, his son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, took control of the organization.

"Many people who are devoted to Trungpa Rinpoche and who don't consider the Sakyong to be their teacher don't feel welcomed by the community, and they're afraid to speak up," comments dissident Andrew Safer on the Radio Free Shambhala site.

"Chögyam Trungpa had done the Buddhist thing, and he was an absolute master of them, and took a very rigorous approach to that," explains Szpakowski. "But he saw that for the next long period of time, what the world needs is some kind of relationship that brings the sacred and the secular together.

"There was a whole stream of teachings that were presented that were independent of Buddhism, which were the Shambhala teachings, even though of course Chögyam Trungpa obviously came from Tibet and he himself was a Tibetan Buddhist."

Trunga taught that anyone at all, from any religion, or an atheist, could use Shambhala practices. And, in fact, many of Trunga's followers don't consider themselves Buddhist; Michalik, for example, describes himself as a devout Roman Catholic.

But, say commenters on the Radio Free Shambhala site, Sakyong Mipham has insisted on re-asserting the traditional Tibetan Buddhist lineages, and generally bringing religion back into the organization.

That kernel of disagreement has widened into broader disagreements, including over organizational finances.

The Shambhala organization did not respond to a request to be interviewed for this article.

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The University of Richmond sexual misconduct policy has expanded from three pages to 31 pages, and now includes details on the definition of consent, clauses on domestic violence and overhaul to the policies on stalking, among other changes.

Administrators at a town hall forum in Ukrop Auditorium announced the new policy Wednesday night.

University of Richmond was named one of 76 colleges under investigation by the federal government last year for Title IX violations.

“I would say that these policy reviews would be happening regardless of what is going on with the complaint that the university is currently under,” said Joe Boehman, dean of Richmond College, who cannot comment on the complaint because it is still ongoing.

The policies were a compilation of updated guidelines from a litany of sources including the Office of Civil Rights, the Department of Education, the Violence Against Women Act, Virginia law and the White House, Boehman said, making a point to hold the old, three-page sexual misconduct policy next to the new, 31-page policy for emphasis.

Since Aug. 26, 2014, Richmond has received 49 reported incidents of sexual misconduct, a higher rate of reports than at peer universities. That is a positive sign, said Kerry Fankhauser, associate dean of Westhampton College and deputy Title IX coordinator.

The higher rate of reporting means that a similar amount of sexual misconduct is occurring at Richmond, but women feel more comfortable to come forward and talk about it than at other universities, Fankhauser said.

“What we know is people coming forward and sharing their experience is a good thing,” Fankhauser said. “We want people to talk about what has happened to them. Ultimately, we want to break the silence around this issue and take away the stigma that often comes with it, so we want them to come forward and hear their options.”

Despite those encouraging signs, the overall reporting rate for sexual misconduct still pales in comparison to what experts estimate the actual amount of sexual misconduct to be. A school the size of Richmond can expect 50-60 rapes, 150 stalking cases and 100 sexual assaults per year, according to national statistics cited by Fankhauser.

The question-and-answer period was lively during the town hall meeting. When asked whether there were any patterns to the reports, Fankhauser said, “Alcohol is the most common denominator. We have yet to see a case of nonconsensual sexual intercourse…that has not involved alcohol by at least one party.”

On the new policy for cases involving a lack of witnesses or physical evidence, or “he said she said” cases, the investigation initially leans toward women “50.01 percent,” and the investigation process usually leads to further evidence, Fankhauser said.

Many students questioned Fankhauser and Daniel Fabian, associate dean of Richmond College and deputy Title IX coordinator, about the specifics of the sexual misconduct reporting process and the procedures that follow.

Once a sexual misconduct complaint is received, Fankhauser and Fabian review the report to determine if sexual misconduct may have taken place. If they determine that it was a possibility, they begin to meet and interview the victim, the accused and witnesses. This stage can last as few as three meetings and as many as 60. Ultimately, they conclude whether the case should proceed to the conduct deans, Associate Dean Patrick Benner or Associate Dean Charm Bullard. At that point, Fankhauser and Fabian are finished with their portion of the process.

“Dan and Kerry’s work as Title IX trainers and investigators have become a model for other institutions, and we are very fortunate to have them leading our efforts in this very important area.” Bisese said.

When asked how many of the 49 reports were referred to the conduct deans, neither Fankhauser nor Fabian could give an estimate off the top of their heads.

“Forty-nine reports since August 26 is comparable to what’s happening across Virginia and across the nation,” said Jules Irvin-Rooney, Westhampton College '03, a Title IX and Clery Act consultant who advises federally funded schools on proper guidelines.

“It’s very important for UR to have more transparency,” Irvin-Rooney said, noting that she could only find an abbreviated, eight-page policy online instead of the full, 31-page policy touted by Boehman.

Irvin-Rooney stressed the importance of off-campus options for students to turn to in cases of sexual misconduct.

“It is highly recommended by federal guidelines that other people are involved off campus,” Irvin-Rooney said. “Say I’m a dean of Richmond College, but I’m also a Title IX coordinator. Who’s paying my paycheck?”

While Irvin-Rooney said she felt that off-campus options were considered best practice, she also said she felt that the Richmond administrators overall were doing very well.

“I see no conflict of interest. ... I think they’re doing great work,” Irvin-Rooney said. “I think UR is making some good, proactive steps.”

Some of those proactive steps in the updated policy include clarity on the roles of administrators and information regarding where to go for help in cases of suspected sexual misconduct. A flowchart of the administrative process is being developed as well in order to make victims’ options clearer and avoid forcing a victim to comb through a written procedural outline to understand the sexual misconduct policies.

“[Sexual misconduct] is a serious issue," said Steve Bisese, vice president for student development. "You hear in the media that some schools try to throw this under the rug. We've never had that motive. We've made the policies easier to understand and read."

One example of the administration’s attempts to tackle this issue was the UR Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Violence and Bystander Intervention, but Bisese said the survey had had a very low response rate.

Beth Curry, coordinator for sexual misconduct education and advocacy, spoke about the importance of bystander intervention.

“Every single one of you in this room is going to be in a position to be a bystander, either directly or indirectly, to some form of violence in college, if you haven’t already,” Curry said. “We’ve got to wonder what is happening in our culture that is allowing these numbers to be sustainable year after year after year.”

Curry implored students to support Spiders for Spiders, a social movement on campus focused on ending sexual violence that provides bystander awareness training.

“Cultural change cannot happen with tweaks in the policy,” Curry said. “It can’t happen with some administrators. It’s got to happen with you and your friends.”

Contact reporter Daniel Heifetz at


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Cribline Summer Spanish Travel Series: Pinxtos and Palaces

Cribline Summer Spanish Travel Series: Pinxtos and Palaces

We hope you all are enjoying your summer. We here at the Cribline have had an adventure of a lifetime.

What started out as a five day trip to one city in Spain turned into a five week tour around the country. Our experiences included tasting some of the best tapas/pinxtos, making new friends, reuniting with old friends, lounging on picturesque beaches, walking through wonderful museums, touring mind-blowing churches, and staying in top of the line hotels including a renovated palace-turned-boutique hotel where we were the first guests and had the entire place to ourselves.

Over the next few weeks, in addition to our regular blog posts, we will share with you some of these experiences and feature great spots to dine, sun, absorb the culture- and of course, rest.

What can we say about Spain. There are so many influences from its sunny Mediterranean coast to the rainy Basque region on the Atlantic Ocean and the cultural epicenter Madrid and nearby Segovia. And, we had 5 weeks to soak in some of it’s magic and rich history.

Our main stops included Barcelona, Sitges, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, and the Balearic Islands – Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca.

During our travels we met many Spaniard’s and other Europeans who talked about the differences in our cultures and particularly with regard to our travel habits.  We often heard: “American’s live to work” and “Europeans work to live.” We had a unique opportunity to “live” as the Europeans do during our extended stay.

Our Spanish series is intended to open up some windows into this amazing country and to share with you some of our experiences that will hopefully inspire, stir memories and perhaps generate some new dreams.

We will share with you pictures, and recommend places to stay and eat based on our experience and recommendations by others. We will also provide some cultural must-sees including churches, parks, palaces, and museums.

Stay tuned as we are composing our series now having just returned to our home in Washington.

The Cribline

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How Blind People Use Echolocation to Get Around

Echolocation — sending out a sound wave, hearing how it bounces back at you, and using that information to navigate your environment — is a technique generally associated with animals like bats and dolphins, not people. And yet some visually impaired folks learn to use finger snaps or tongue clicks to help them get around.

In a study published in Psychological Science, a team led by Gavin Buckingham of Heriot-Watt University in Scotland tried to learn about how this skill works. To do so, they used a well-known quirk of human perception called the size-weight illusion: If you ask someone to pick up two objects of the same weight but different sizes, the smaller one will feel heavier.

The study asked three small groups — blind echolocators, a control group of blind non-echolocators, and a control group of sighted people (also non-echolators) — to pick up one cube five times to gauge its weight. Then they looked or clicked at a second, differently sized cube of the same weight for as long as they wanted, after which they lifted up that second cube with a pulley (past research has shown that the size-weight illusion holds even when subjects use a pulley). They were then asked to estimate the weight of that second one relative to the first, allowing researchers to identify or measure the presence of size-weight illusion.

The blind non-echolators didn’t experience any such illusion, which makes sense since they had no visual cues to go on. Interestingly, the blind echolocators did experience a size-weight illusion, albeit a smaller one than the sighted individuals. The researchers report that this is the first time echolocation has been tied to this perceptual illusion. It’s fascinating to think that echolocation could share perceptual aspects with “regular” sight, and it’s a striking example of just how flexible and creative humans can be when it comes to their need to navigate the world.

How Blind People Use Echolocation to Get Around


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Going to Bed Earlier Is the Key to Toppling the Patriarchy

Not only do women need more sleep than men because we use more of our brains than men do, but it appears that our bodies operate on a timetable literally ahead of theirs. We may be able to use this to our advantage.

For a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at McGill University tracked variations in sleep, alertness, core body temperature, and melatonin levels of 15 men and 11 women in a sleep lab over 36 hours. After controlling for menstrual cycle and birth-control use — both of which can affect circadian rhythms — they found that women’s body clocks made them fall asleep and wake up earlier than men even if they had a similar sleep schedule.

“The reason is simple: [women’s] body clock is shifted to a more easterly time zone,” said Diane B. Boivin of McGill University’s department of psychiatry and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in a release.
She said this finding is essential to understanding why women are more likely to suffer from insomnia and sleep disturbances than men, including waking up earlier and feeling tired after a night’s sleep.

The researchers said their results indicated that women are probably going to bed later in their circadian phase than men, which might partly explain our comparative sleep problems. Just imagine what women could do if we went to bed earlier.

Going to Bed Earlier Is the Key to Toppling the Patriarchy


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Hero in Kidnapping Case Given Free Burgers for Life and More News

Staff Writer
In today's Media Mix, Amy's Baking Company owner faces deportation, Voodoo Doughnut heads to Denver

Photo Sasabune Omakase Modified: Flickr/erin/CC 4.0

The Daily Meal brings you the biggest news from the food world.

Burgers for Life: A bunch of restaurants have banded together to promise free burgers for life for the hero who rescued four kidnapping victims in Cleveland. "He stopped his meal midway through to help those women. We're now making sure he has other opportunities to go out and fully enjoy his burger." [The Plain Dealer]

Amy's Baking Company Drama: More craziness with the Amy's Baking Company owners; owner Samy Bouzaglo is reportedly caught up in "immigration court proceedings" and may be deported. [Gawker]

Voodoo Doughnuts to Denver: Portland, Ore.,  favorite Voodoo Doughnuts has reportedly signed a lease for a Denver location, the first outside of Oregon. They'll be serving their Captain Crunch- or M&M-topped creations, per usual. [Oregon Live]

10 Best Non-Burger Fast-Food Dishes1-Ton Bacon Cheeseburger Gets World's Biggest Cheeseburger Title

Derek Jeter's Starbucks Nicknames: Of course he'd like to go incognito, but Johnny Drama? Really? [NY Post]


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Garland: Has Political Correctness Gotten Out of Control?

December 2, 2015

By Garland Robinette at

Do you hesitate to say Merry Christmas out of fear it may offend somebody? Do you consider yourself politically correct or incorrect?

A sheriff in Harris County Georgia posted a warning sign – “we are politically incorrect.” “We say Merry Christmas, God bless America, in God we trust…we salute our troops and our flag – if this offends you – leave.”

Would you want a sign like that in your town? Do you think political correctness is necessary or has it gone too far? Do you worry about offending people with simple greetings? How do we balance 1st amendment rights with political correctness?

To better understand some of this I invited Ari Cohn, attorney & author with FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) onto the show to share some thoughts. Is this important? Or is this the way things have always been?

“Humans have always had a tendency to want to shut up people that disagree with them; we’ve spent the better part of our history trying to conquer that. It is a vitally important issue, particularly in our nation’s colleges and universities, which are supposed to be the incubators for ideas and developing critical thinking skills and giving us the next generation of people who will lead this country. So to see all of these demands for censorship and attacks on free speech is certainly disheartening, although it is certainly nothing new.”

I’ve read about micro-aggressions and trigger warnings… what are those and what do we do about them?

“Micro-aggressions are statements that are not made with any intent to be offensive but which are perceived as racially ‘aggressive,’ like asking someone where they’re from if they appear to not be from the area… which maybe makes some kind of small assumption on the part of the speaker but is not made with any malintent. Trigger warnings were originally devised for purposes of PTSD in terms of people who had been in war, and later migrated to people who had been victims of sexual assault that may have flashbacks hearing or seeing a certain thing.

Now, it’s migrated onto college campuses, asking for content warnings on anything that someone might consider offensive or unsettling or challenging or difficult, which is particularly distressing, given that college is the place to be exploring and confronting challenging ideas.”

So how do we strike that balance of exercising our right to free speech and not being unneccessarily offensive? To hear the rest of the conversation with Ari, and your calls, click the link below.