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Super Bowl 2020 pits barbecue against sourdough
Posted on January 30, 2020 January 27, 2020 by Kay West
BATTLE OF THE BITES: Barbecue is king with many Chiefs fans, but true Kansas City-style 'cue can be hard to find in Asheville. Pictured is thin-sliced brisket on white bread at BB's Lawnside BBQ in Kansas City. Photo by Neil Burger
Super Bowl LIV kicks off Sunday, Feb. 2, in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, minus its home team, the Miami Dolphins. No team in the final contest has ever played a Super Bowl game on its home field. The Dolphins have not actually been to the Super Bowl since Jan. 20, 1985, when they were beaten by — oh snap — the San Francisco 49ers, who are playing in the 54th Super Bowl, against AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs.
Enough of the field stats. What about the food? According to virtually every Google search on the topic, only Thanksgiving beats Super Bowl Sunday when it comes to America's capacity to consume ginormous quantities in a single day.
In the Super Bowl Food Hall of Fame are sub sandwiches, chili, pizza, pigs in a blanket and a special team of dips — spinach artichoke, seven-layer, queso and guacamole — which collectively require 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, says trade organization SNAC International.
But when it comes to noshing through drives, sacks, field goals and touchdowns, Americans prefer to wing it. The National Chicken Council says that in 2019, 1.25 billion chicken wings were devoured while watching Super Bowl LIII.
When Chiefs and Niners faithfuls suit up in team gear for the big game and gather together in living rooms from coast to coast, it's likely that regional specialties will find their way onto plates to help feed team spirit.
Here are the starting culinary lineups of the two Super Bowl LIV teams, plus a shoutout to the two who almost made it.
If arguments over politics and religion have grown stale, make a claim for best regional barbecue and let the fisticuffs fly. Texas, Memphis, Western North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina are smoked by Kansas City barbecue — at least according to Kansas City people.
Katie Locke, a Kansas City native now living in Asheville whose father has held Chiefs season tickets since Arrowhead Stadium was finished in time for the 1972 season, understates, "Barbecue is a bit of an obsession in Kansas City."
The Kansas City Visitors Bureau website has a link dedicated to the specialty, which it traces back to Henry Perry, who in 1920 began barbecuing in a pit next to his streetcar barn in an African American neighborhood, selling slabs of meat wrapped in newspaper. Perry employee Charlie Bryant took over the restaurant when Perry died and was joined by his brother Arthur, who renamed the restaurant Arthur Bryant's. Arthur died in 1982 of a heart attack in a bed he kept at the restaurant, which still bears his name and a national reputation.
KC barbecue is characterized by its inclusive meat policy (pulled pork, pork ribs, brisket, beef ribs, chicken, turkey and the delectable burnt ends) and liberal use of sweet-spicy red sauce. "When I was growing up, it was all beef — brisket, beef ribs and my favorite, burnt ends," says Locke. "Now there's more pork, but I still prefer beef."
The sauce is tomato-based. "Every restaurant makes their own, and they're all different but almost always spicy-sweet," she says. The brisket is sliced very thin, and the most popular side is baked beans, which, Locke says, "are a meal on their own, cooked for days with pieces of pork and burnt ends so the beans pick up that smoky flavor."
Though Locke says no place outside of Kansas City compares, Asheville's 12 Bones Smokehouse claims it has "a recipe or two that would make folks from Kansas City smile." But Locke is not convinced. "It's hard to duplicate something outside of its home base."
If the Super Bowl was a game-food culinary contest, San Francisco would barely be able to field a team. A casual online poll of 49ers fans elicited responses that ranged from tepid to uncertain. Garlic fries were frequently named, then qualified by uncertainty as to whether the dish — mandatory ballpark fare at Giant's games in Oracle Park — is also a thing at Levi's Stadium, where the 49ers play.
Instead, Niner fans can support favorite local Bay Area businesses such as Curwaffles, Starbird Chicken and Konjoe Burger, which all have stands in the stadium. There are also creations by stadium concessionaire Levy Hospitality, like the bulgogi Korean-style cheesesteak. (As a Philly cheesesteak fan, I ask, why?)
None of those exactly scream San Francisco, nor does the puzzling dish mentioned most often by Niners fans: clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. While the cream-based clam chowder brings to mind blustery New England, the vessel for the soup makes some regional sense when one discovers that the team mascot is — wait for it — Sourdough Sam.
Ashevilleans pulling for the Niners have several local options for round sourdough loaves, including OWL Bakery in West Asheville, The Rhu downtown and Crust Never Sleeps at the Asheville City Market every Saturday morning. As for the chowder filling, Oyster House Brewing Co. and The Lobster Trap are two restaurants known locally for their New England clam chowder.
When it comes to game day food in Packer country, it's all about the brat, baby. "Green Bay, like the rest of Wisconsin, puts the bratwurst on a beer-soaked pedestal," says Jim Myers, a food writer and avid sports fan who grew up in Milwaukee and regularly traveled to Green Bay for Packers games.
Rundi Reem, another Wisconsin native who created a Packer fan Facebook page, has polled members, and topping the list of Packer-endorsed foods are brats simmered in beer and onions, then grilled, topped with sauerkraut and, of course, cheese curds.
Wisconsin expatriates in Asheville crying in their Leinenkugel beer over their dismaying loss to the 49ers can find Packer comfort food at Sawhorse Restaurant, where chef/owner Dan Silo regularly serves some type of sausage sandwich with sauerkraut as well as poutine — hand-cut fries with homemade cheddar curds and gravy.
The iconic food of Nashville — the town the Titans call home — is, of course, hot chicken. Nashville is where it originated and where thousands of hotheads celebrate the Fourth of July at the annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival.
Hot chicken traces its origins back to the 1930s, when philandering ladies man Thornton Prince came home late one night, woke up his woman and demanded she fry him some chicken. Seeking revenge, she spiked it with the hottest spice mix she could concoct, hoping to cause him some pain. Instead, he loved it, and hot chicken was born, segueing into Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, which in 2013 received a James Beard Heritage Award. There are now many other hot chicken places in Nashville, but Prince's retains the throne of hot chicken supremacy.
Titans fans in Asheville wanting to feel the burn can head to Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack for Nashville-style hot chicken, though repeated taste tests by this writer (who served a 10-year tenure on the Music City Hot Chicken Festival committee) indicate that Rocky's "hot" is comparable to Prince's "mild."
like3.2 K viewsFoodFood News12 Bones SmokehousebarbecueRocky's Hot Chicken ShackSawhorse restaurantSuper Bowl LIV
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About Kay West
Kay West was a freelance journalist in Nashville for more than 30 years, contributing writer for the Nashville Scene, StyleBlueprint Nashville, Nashville correspondent for People magazine, author of five books and mother of two happily launched grown-up kids. To kick off 2019 she put Tennessee in her rear view mirror, drove into the mountains of WNC, settled in West Asheville and appreciates that writing offers the opportunity to explore and learn her new home. She looks forward to hiking trails, biking greenways, canoeing rivers, sampling local beer and cheering the Asheville Tourists.
View all posts by Kay West →
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From CPP: 20% less food donated, 68% more need in NC
New year brings new restrictions on indoor dining capacity
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I'm banging on about shirts again, this time in my latest published article, predictable but the images show how fabulous it always looks.
If in doubt, stick to the classics.
Moving through my forties I've gained confidence to believe in 'style over trends' – quality wins (most of the time) and not to take it all too seriously. A great jacket is always my motto, and I like to play about with old and new and mix in some craft ideas too.
I work with lovely clients who want a concise wardrobe or a unique outfit for a special occasion.
I hope to inspire you.


Citation: NEISHTADT, A. and TRESCHEV, D., 2011. Polymorphisms and adiabatic chaos. Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems, 31(1), pp.259-284.
Abstract: At the end of the last century Vershik introduced some dynamical systems, called polymorphisms. Systems of this kind are multivalued self-maps of an interval, where (roughly speaking) each branch has some probability. By definition, the standard Lebesgue measure should be invariant. Unexpectedly, some class of polymorphisms appeared in the problem of destruction of an adiabatic invariant after a multiple passage through a separatrix. We discuss ergodic properties of polymorphisms from this class.


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Argentine Widow Sleeps in Late Husband's Mausoleum to Keep Him Company
By Spooky on June 15th, 2012 Category: News, WTF
Some people have strange ways of honoring their loved ones who have passed a way. Take Adriana Villarreal, an Argentine widow who sleeps in her late husband's small mausoleum to keep him company, because she loves him so much.
43-year-old Adriana Villarreal, from Buenos Aires, recently made headlines in the Argentinian media after she confessed spending a few nights a year in her dead husband's mausoleum. According to Gustavo Braganza, a police commissioner from the town of Dos de Mayo, his colleagues went to investigate what was going on in the San Lazaro cemetery, after reports of someone living there and playing loud music. When they knocked on the tomb door, Villarreal greeted them in her pijamas, and they could actually see she had been living next to a coffin and an embalmed body.
Photo: San Vincente Informa
As it turns out, the woman's husband, Sergio Yede, 28, committed suicide 2 years ago, while she was working in far away Mexico. The reasons why he took his own life are unknown, but Adriana says he was a good man, and she loved him very much. The woman told police she visits Dos de Mayo three times a year, and stays three or four nights, to be with Sergio. "When you love someone, you do all sorts of things," she explained. "My husband deserved it and still does." Although they both lived in Buenos Aires, she moved his remains to his home town, because that's what he would have wished. And she built the mausoleum with the money he had saved to build a house, to fulfill his biggest wish.
Photo: Misiones Cuatro
When police checked out the tomb she had been living in for a few days, they discovered she had renovated it, and brought in a bed, a radio, a computer with Internet connection and even a small cooker. Asked if she was afraid of sleeping in the cemetery next to an embalmed corpse, the 43-year-old said it's the living we should all be afraid of. Although she also visits her husband's parents whenever she comes to town and has lunch with them, she prefers to spend her nights by her husband's side, to keep him company.
As strange as it might seem, this is not the weirdest display of love after death. Back in 2009, we reported on Le Van, a Vietnamese man who practically wrapped his dead wife's bones in gypsum and slept with her for five years. In 2011, local news revealed he was still sleeping with her…
Misiones Online via Inquirer News
Posted in News, WTF Tags: 'South America, Argentina, News, weird news, WTF
This Premium Gin Is Made From Distilled Elephant Dung

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Kagyu Sukha Chöling, 109 Clear Creek Drive, Suite 102
Ashland, OR 97520 United States + Google Map
"As adults, we need to become newly aware of the love that has infused our lives all along, to turn our attention to it afresh with the eyes of a child. To do so is to become conscious of the tremendous capacity for love that even now permeates our being—to open to it, to be healed by its life-giving energy, and to participate in its power to renew our world. We can awaken to the deepest goodness in ourselves and…
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, 149 Lockwood Road
Barre, MA 01005 + Google Map
Teacher(s): Lama John Makransky
This program will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, wisdom and compassionate energy of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, may prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on…
Hannon Library, Room 305, Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard
Teacher(s): Lama John Makransky, Paul Condon
Professors John Makransky and Paul Condon will present the theory and practice of Sustainable Compassion Training (SCT), a program created for people who seek a more sustaining and inclusive power of care and compassion for their lives and work. Initially developed by Professor Makransky, SCT is adapted from Tibetan Buddhism into a form that is immediately accessible to people of all backgrounds, religious and/or secular. SCT has three modes of meditative practice: 1) The receptive mode helps us find new…
Accessing Awakened Awareness through Unconditional Love and Compassion
Rangjung Yeshe Gomde California, 66000 Drive Thru Tree Road
Leggett, CA 95585 United States + Google Map
Empowering Access to Awakened Awareness through Unconditional Love and Compassion
March 20 @ 3:00 pm - March 22 @ 12:00 pm
Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, 253 Philbrick Hill Road
Springfield, NH 03748 United States + Google Map
How to Cultivate Deep, Replenishing, and Inclusive Compassion and Wisdom
The Boston Center for Contemplative Practice – Newton Center, 796 Beacon Street
Newton Center, MA 02459 United States + Google Map
Sustainable Compassion and Wisdom Training (SCT) teaches us how to become newly receptive to compassionate, healing qualities in the depth of our being, to settle and relax into that depth, and to come from there in responding to others with more replenishing and expansive care, compassion and awareness. Developed by John Makransky, SCT is adapted from Tibetan Buddhism into a form that is immediately accessible to people of all backgrounds, traditions, and world views. SCT has three modes of practice:…
Becoming Our Compassionate Self — Integrating Parts of Ourselves into the Process of Spiritual Awakening: A Retreat Integrating Internal Family Systems with Practices from Tibetan Buddhism
May 1 @ 3:00 pm - May 3 @ 12:00 pm
Teacher(s): Lama John Makransky, Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.
Have you noticed that, even after years of dedicated and sincere spiritual practice, whole areas of our personalities and lives can remain untouched by the compassion and wisdom described in the spiritual teachings? There is a paradigm shift taking place in both psychology and spiritual practice. It hinges on recognizing that we have not just one personality, but many inner sub-personalities, or parts, whose burdens obscure our access to the qualities and energy of our fuller awareness--our true Self. When…
Holy Wisdom Monastery – Middleton, 4200 County Road M
Middleton, WI 53562 United States + Google Map
This program will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, wisdom and compassionate energy of our buddha nature, where we sense our undividedness from other beings and the earth in the emptiness and interdependence of all things. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, may prevent us from becoming more fully receptive…
June 13 @ 3:00 pm - June 20 @ 12:00 pm
Teacher(s): Lama John Makransky, Bob Morrison, Ilona O'Connor
Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley, 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 242
Easthampton, MA 01027 United States + Google Map
Discovering Your Essence of Love
October 16 @ 3:00 pm - October 18 @ 12:00 pm
Teacher(s): Lama John Makransky, Lama Liz Monson
Have you ever felt that there isn't enough love in your life? That love is something you need to find outside of yourself in order to feel whole and fully alive? If so, this retreat is for you. Over this weekend, Lamas John Makransky and Liz Monson will explore practices of accessing and abiding in our essential nature of love. Although it may feel counterintuitive, by extending love and compassion to others and by engaging in an empowering field of…


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We see all kinds of holiday parties - from huge shindigs in resort ballrooms, quiet dinners, backyard get togethers - they are all fantastic. Just the idea that a group of coworkers gets together and has a good time I think is an irreplaceable option for bonding and camaraderie.
This particular party at Encanto Park was no exception. I really enjoyed the fact that employees, family, kids, Santa and puppies were all invited. And everyone seemed to have a blast! The kids (and adults) jumped in bounce houses, slides, hula hoops, egg tossing, volley ball, frisbee, tug of war and on and on. Fun, fun, fun. Laid back, laughter and just a great holiday feel to the event.


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The Winged Messenger
Griffin Policy Statement
September 18Go East! Go Griffins! Go Blue!
70's Music Artists That Will Get You Dancing!
Morgan Mucha, Staff Reporter
Music! It's the universal language of everybody on this planet. Music has been around for a very long time and over that long time, different genres have sprung up. Today, we are talking one type of music, which is the 70s! This type of music has a vintage and unique song to any of the other decades. The most well-known 70s music genres are psychedelic rock, classic rock, and folk. These genres shaped the pop culture aspect of the 70's. This music was usually played on vinyl record during this time period, which gave it a pure and accessible way to play it at the flip of a dime. In the 70's, this type of music also influenced multiple other music artists to pursue a career in the music industry in the 80s. The 70's was also decade where The Beatles spit up to pursue solo careers due to multiple reasons. The most popular 70's artists were David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Aerosmith, and Queen just to name a few. These artists gave music a new perspective from David Bowie's eccentric looks, Steven Tyler's unique fashion sense, to Freddie Mercury's unbelievable vocals. Many artists were shrouded in the shadows of these bands' successes. Some of these bands included 13th Floor Elevators, Jefferson Airplane, Carole King, and The Byrds. These artists were not as widely known as the ones mentioned above but were equally as good! If you ever get a chance, listen to these artists! They will open your eyes to our past culture and how it impacted our world today!
Do you like pumpkin flavored food in the fall?
Yes (63%, 27 Votes)
No (37%, 16 Votes)
Fun Things to do During Quarantine
COVID vs. Halloween
Socially Distanced Fall Activites to do with Friends
Ice Cream Treats Before Snow
How to Make a Mask
The Halloween Candy Debate
The student news site of Lincoln-Way East High School


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Q: object cannot be cast from dbnull change to other types I have a error with my code, when i start test with my web api and it shows object cannot be cast from dbnull change to other types and i have ticked the null box in sql server database. i don't want to change anything in database. The Mobile and datetime columns are null in sql server. I used asp.net web api 2 to do this project.
My Questions:  How to solve the error without doing anything in the database?
here is my code:
        public IHttpActionResult Get()
        {
            List<TestClass> draft = new List<TestClass>();
            string mainconn = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["myconn"].ConnectionString;
            SqlConnection sqlconn = new SqlConnection(mainconn);
            string sqlquery = "Select * From tblTest";
            sqlconn.Open();
            SqlCommand sqlcomm = new SqlCommand(sqlquery, sqlconn);
            SqlDataReader sdr = sqlcomm.ExecuteReader();
            while (sdr.Read())
            {
                draft.Add(new TestClass()
                    {
                        UserId = Convert.ToInt32(sdr.GetValue(0)),
                        Name = sdr.GetValue(1).ToString(),
                        Mobile = sdr.GetValue(2).ToString(),
                        Access = Convert.ToInt32(sdr.GetValue(3)),
                        Date= Convert.ToDateTime(sdr.GetValue(4))
                    });
            }
            return Ok(draft);
        }

My database in below:
UserId Name     Mobile    Access  Date
11     John     NULL      2       2012-01-02 00:00:00.000
24     Fred     34786584  5       NULL
56     Emily    18375555  0       2014-03-04 00:00:00.000
76     Lydia    NULL      4       2015-09-08 00:00:00.000
87     Anna     12313147  5       2020-11-21 00:00:00.000
90     Mimi     27184641  1       NULL

A: You can check using IsDBNull:
 Date = sdr.IsDBNull(4) ? null : Convert.ToDateTime(sdr.GetValue(4))

if Date column has type 'datetime' or 'datetime2' you can use GetDateTime:
Date = sdr.IsDBNull(4) ? null : sdr.GetDateTime(4)

A: you are trying to convert a null value into DateTime which causes an error.
Make your date nullable by adding a ? sign after the DateTime property.

A: Check by DateTime.TryParseExact
DateTime.TryParseExact("YOURVALUE","yyyyMMdd",CultureInfo.InvariantCulture,DateTimeStyles.None, out resultvalue)?resultvalue.toString():"";

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Contact/Visit Info.
Regina M. Geither grew up on legends, myths, mysteries, and tales of the paranormal. She has been an avid reader and writer for as long as she can remember. Regina wrote and illustrated her first full-length novel when she was twelve. In high school, she won numerous awards for her speeches, essays, short stories, and plays.
More recently she has been exercising her talents writing young adult and children's fiction. In May 2008, Regina published her first book, Swamp Stallion, as part of McGraw-Hill's Imagine It! reading series. She is a proud member of SCBWI. Her first young adult fantasy novel, Island of Tory, was published by Loconeal Publishing in March 2012. The sequel, Cursing Stone, was launched in March 2013. The third and final book in the trilogy, Three, was release in November 2014. Regina's newest project is her Celtic Kids series, a collection of books similar to Mary Pope Osborne's The Magic Tree House collection, but with a Celtic twist. Each book centers around twins, Sean and Caitlin O'Brien, and their fairy seeking adventures.
Regina believes her skill for storytelling is a family trait passed down from her grandfather. Even after his passing, his many stories of the Great Depression, World War II, Big Foot, and the creepy monster in the basement coal bin continue to inspire. Regina attributes her family's love of storytelling to the touch of Celtic blood swimming in their gene pool. Though only a wee bit Irish, Regina proudly acknowledges the Celtic branch of her family tree.
Along with being a writer, Regina is an educator, a wife, and mother of three. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master of Education from John Carroll University. She currently resides in northern Ohio with her husband and three sons.
Victor Kimmel | March 7, 2012 at 9:51 pm
…and don't forget about the monster that lived in the basement coal room…
Congrats on Island of Tory!!!
Love…the Kimmels
Regina M. Geither | March 8, 2012 at 12:58 am
Ha, ha, I did forget about that. Pap had so many stories, it's hard to keep track of them all:)
Creating Imperfect Characters for the Perfect Story
Island of Tory
A5: Google Hangouts is awesome. For Hour of Code this past year we Hungout with a someone at Google. Skype in the C… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 3 months ago
A4: For Valentines Day this year, I helped our Spanish teacher use Flipgrid to create Virtual Valentines with the G… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 3 months ago
A3: Our students love solving problems. They are given real life issues to solve as their PBL's. #122edchat 3 months ago
A2: We are at a STEM school, so we often look for special projects that help other students in our district or comm… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 3 months ago
A1: Reading current events articles on Newsela, class discussions #122edchat 3 months ago
Follow @reginamgeither


If we're are not eating animals, let's not wear them either. Unless it's in a backpack when we're riding our bikes, then that's totally cool.
We designed and built these stylish vegan leather goods because we wanted to use items that are durable and timeless and vegan. Named after some of our favorite Jazz musicians, you must check out the Coleman, the Ella and the Coltrane.


All events will be held at Columbia First Assembly, in Columbia, MO (1100 N. Seventh St).
Nursery, Preschool, and Kids Council will be offered each night at Columbia First. Please register your children.
6:30 PM - STL & BGMC Missions Banquet (Adults and children meet in the Boys and Girls Club Gymnasium) Pledges will be received.
There will be ministry to children during the evening services of District Council. Kids Council will take place at Columbia First Assembly on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night. If you would like your child to participate, please register your children when you register. Kids Council Registration for one child is $8 per child. Registered children will eat with their parents during the Monday Missions Banquet then they will be released to Kids Council. NOTE: Kids Council is not available during business sessions at District Council.


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Pen and Paper - Always!
Hello Coupeville!
Despite the heavy smoke that blankets the Pacific Northwest, Coupeville is a gem. I am grateful to Debbie Lagassé of Sno-Isle Libraries for inviting me to present and to the dedicated writers who attended my memoir workshop.
Light traffic and a ferry allowed an early arrival. I wandered the small town and dock, ate at the hotdog stand, and gawked at the deer and fawns on the beach.
The two-hour workshop seemed to end before it started with lots of sharing of ideas and experiences. In conversation afterwards, Kevin Fristad, author of Dead Geese Flying, mentioned carrying a notecard and pen to jot ideas as they surface. We shared a laugh when I pulled out my tiny notebook. Reminder to writers: Carry pen and paper always!
The thing about the Pacific Northwest is that there's water everywhere, and where there is water, there are islands. These islands of Puget Sound – Anderson and Fox, Vashon-Maury, Blake and Bainbridge, Whidbey and Camano, Guemes and Fox – to name just a few, are gems, each with its own island identity and small towns.
I'm not a regular ferry commuter like many in the area, and I don't visit the islands as often as I'd like. The islands and the ferries needed to reach many of them can confuse, yet the pull to explore is strong. So, when Coupeville Library invited me to lead a memoir-writing workshop, I did a google search to figure out where it was, how to get there, and what I could learn about the area. I was intrigued by this town of 1,831 residents on Whidbey Island. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:
Coupeville is a historic district is within the federal Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. The reserve was established by Congress in 1978, as the first and now one of the largest National Historical Reserves in the nation.[8] Its 22 square miles (57 km2) also encompass farmlands, Fort Ebey State Park, Fort Casey State Park, shorelines and beaches, parks, trails, and 91 buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places.
Of course, those of you who live there already know the facts and the appeal. I look forward to exploring your town and island next Monday, August 20.
If you're a reader or a writer, if you have an idea for a memoir and need some help getting started, or if you've got a work in progress, please join me at the Coupeville Library.
Writing Memoir: What? Why? How?
788 NW Alexander St
Coupeville, WA 98239-0745
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.


I'm glad Tom Shatel is pissed off. He's the senior writer on the Huskers' beat and if he's not spitting venom after yesterday's debacle in Lincoln, then Husker Nation would truly be at a loss.
Let's not waste our time talking about bowl scenarios.
Nebraska just lost, 30-28, to a Northwestern team that was beaten 78-10 the previous two games.
The Husker team that showed up didn't show a great deal of interest in blocking, catching passes, covering kickoffs or making smart decisions with the ball.
Not a lot of urgency, period, and ther's absolutely no reason for that in this program, ever.
Shatel goes on to question whether Tommy Armstrong will be the QB next year. It's the right question. I can hardly remember the last time the Huskers had a real QB under center. Let me be generous and give the nod to Joe Ganz. Crafty and intelligent Ganz left the field of play in 2008. Since then, Nebraska has been outplayed at QB in just about every game. It's more than a little embarrassing.
Will Mike Riley fix this problem at QB? Yes, he already has and we will see the results of this focused recruiting when a real QB takes the field next season. Tommy Armstrong is a tough player. If I was the coach I'd want him on the field, but not at QB. Maybe he can play cornerback? Nebraska certainly needs a lot of help in that area.
Honestly, there are so many things wrong with this team, it is hard to pick the most meddlesome problem to tackle. Nevertheless, let's select mental toughness or the lack thereof. Maliek Collins—like Alex Lewis before him at Miami—was flagged for a personal foul at most inopportune time possible on Saturday. I'm not hanging these two losses on these two 4th quarter plays. What I will do is point to these two plays and ask, is this the Ghost of Pelini? The fact is Nebraska is playing almost exclusively with players recruited by the coach who can't keep his composure.
In Lewis's case, the offensive lineman from the state of Colorado made matters much worse by blasting Nebraska fans on social media. "I'm done playing for the state of the Nebraska!" his Facebook post began. It's since been deleted. But yes, from the looks of things, he is done playing for the state of Nebraska. The Huskers O-line was completely dominated by Northwestern. It wasn't pretty, and it's going to take some time for that particular sting to work its way out.
Here is another fact that no one likes. Mike Riley is left to clean up one of the messiest scenes of his career and redeem a program that has been splintering for more than a decade. To make matters worse, the fan base can't see why Riley was entrusted with this job, based on his mediocre W-L record at Oregon State.
I saw a comment somewhere in the social stream that this job is going to make Mike Riley old. That saddens me, but I can also see the truth in it. Lincoln is only three hours by private jet from Corvallis, but when it comes to the game of football, it might as well be on a different planet. In Corvallis, it truly is all good, whether the Beavers win or lose. I can see how a competitive man like Mike Riley would want a greater challenge that, and now he has one. It's clearly not all good in Lincoln, and it won't be until the Nebraska Cornhuskers blow people off the ball and win.


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text:
Oaktree Sells Stake in tronc Back to Company
By Daina Beth Solomon
Tronc
Oaktree Capital Management, the third-largest shareholder in Los Angeles Times' parent tronc Inc., is selling its holdings back to tronc in a $56 million deal, according to documents filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Tronc said it entered a purchase agreement to buy Oaktree's 3.7 million shares for $15 each. By the close of trading on Thursday, tronc shares were at $13.16 a share, down 1.7 percent for the day.
Oaktree's move comes a few days after the downtown L.A. investment firm sold nearly a million shares to biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, tronc's second-largest shareholder. The move helped bump Soon-Shiong's holdings in tronc up to 24 percent, just a hair below tronc chairman Michael Ferro, who owns 24.83 percent.
Tronc holds about $198 million in cash, according to recent public filings. A company representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Oaktree declined to comment.
Staff Reporter Henry Meier contributed to this report.


text:
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Diet: Herbivore
Period: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous
Time Span: 153 - 125 Million Years Ago
Have a look at this affordable Brachiosaurus dinosaur toy from Mojo. A great model to collect and enjoy for any mad dinosaur enthusiast.
The Brachiosaurus was a dinosaur which lived about 156 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. They were massive animals that stood about 23 feet high, were 85 feet long and weighed between 30 through 80 tons. The first remains of this dinosaur were discovered in 1903 by Elmer S. Riggs in Western Colorado.
Brachiosaurus is known for its long neck, which made it look very much like a giraffe and its short hindlegs. The front legs of this dinosaur is so much larger than the hind legs, it caused Mr. Riggs to name it Brachiosaurus, a name which means "arm lizard".
It is believed that these massive animals were warm blooded and not cold blooded like most reptiles. Scientists have been able to determine this by examining the teeth of these animals and calculating body temperature of the dinosaur by measuring the ratios of certain isotopes.
These dinosaurs are known to have been herbivores. It is believed that they subsisted mainly on conifers, ginkgos and cycads.
Brachiosaurus Facts:
Their names mean "arm lizards"
They weighed as much 4 elephants
They stood over 2 and ½ stories high
They were as long as 2 railroad cars
They lived in North America, Africa and Tanzania
Tyrannosaurus Rex Hunting - Red


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It's that time when you get an inside look at one of the unique individuals at House of Intuition. We have truly wanted to bridge the gap so everyone can see the healer within themselves through these spotlights. Outside of working for House of Intuition, we have interests and we each have a unique path that has led us to trust in our abilities to help the community. It is also our deepest hope that these spotlights inspire more people to develop their gifts!
Today we sat down with Kristin who has a strong connection to the angelic realms. She offers classes on meditation and teaches people how to even give angel card readings themselves. Her newest class on the Faerie realm is also exclusively available on www.HOI.TV. Kristin offers clairvoyant and Tarot readings as well. Her upcoming classes include a Dhammmapada Meditation on Tuesday April 4th at 7:30pm, Intro to the Angels on Tuesday April 11th at 7:30pm and Connecting to Archangel Michael at 8:45pm on Tuesday April 11th.
A: I grew up on small beef cattle farm in Ionia, Missouri. It's such a small town that I had to go to the next one to go to school. It was a beautiful piece of land we had; I cherish the memories of growing up with nature and animals surrounding me and having so many great times with my family. Now experiencing the craziness that Los Angeles can be, I appreciate where I came from even more.
Q: Were you always aware of angels and your intuition?
A: All of my intuitive abilities have actually been learned through a passionate interest and dedication. I believe we are all intuitive beings with psychic abilities that can be honed, nourished, and cultivated. I was not born with clairvoyant skills or any of the knowledge I now possess. I was born a normal kid, but very sensitive and observant of the people and energies around me. Angels appealed much to me when I was about 9 or 10 years old. My family had joined a Methodist Church and in addition, I went to Sunday school and bible camp, immersing myself in a deep love for Jesus. Along with this beautiful faith I had started to grow, I was very interested in everything fantasy-like, especially ghosts and faeries. Angels combined both interests for me. I read about them a lot and really started to believe in the paranormal at this age.
I didn't start to cultivate an awareness of my intuition for many years, after my father passed away when I was 19. I then got interested in everything spiritual and looked for answers outside of the Christian religions; devouring spiritual and pseudoscience books, going to a Buddhist meditation group, and becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor. From then on the interest grew and deepened, and I am still expanding my awareness of working with beings of light and love as well as my intuitive skills to better help others. Now I am aware this was all meant to happen in divine timing for me. Everything in my life has benefited from my spirituality and growing intuition.
Q: How do you overcome self-doubt about being a healer?
A: Self-doubt comes with any territory where I put myself out there, but over time I have come to realize it's actually an easy fix. It took time to feel confident saying I work as a spiritual reader, healer, and teacher. Not because I didn't possess the knowledge or experience, but because it is a "weird" profession to explain to people sometimes. It brings up strong beliefs and judgements from the get-go when I meet people. I am also very young in it, a lot younger than other spiritual workers out there. It is still hard to not doubt myself and apologize if I didn't tell someone exactly what they wanted to hear. I'm so empathetic and any upsets hit me hard. However, most clients are very happy to hear exactly what messages I relay and are open-minded, so rough conversations are few and far between. I realized this dealing with self-doubt was like my acting and filmmaking careers as well – I have a specific package of skills and energy that not everyone will resonate with, and I can never make everybody happy. I'm a human so I am not perfect, but what is important is my integrity with myself. That is what clears away the self-doubt instantaneously. In times when I feel it sinking in, I pray, ground myself, and visualize a white protective light around me, as well as meditate to clear my head. I then feel the connection to God and love for myself in my heart that overpowers any negative thinking. I'm no expert and I have so much to learn, but I am confident I am doing the best I can. If I know I am doing my very best, then there is nothing to doubt. It all comes down to trusting my foundation of spiritual faith and connection with my guides when doing this work.
Q: When you're feeling afraid, what do you do to get rid of that feeling?
A: Honestly, I'm not afraid very often. I approach life with a bit of a daring attitude. But whenever I do feel afraid, I usually get stressed and angry, which then makes me aware I need some quiet time to myself. Meditation. That's what I do! Helps every time guaranteed. I also pray, journal, work on manifesting lists and visualizations, talk to loved ones about the situation, work out, and go out into nature, among other things. All of these help me to clear myself of any fears so I can start finding solutions. Usually the solution is just a perspective hidden within me that I didn't find because the fear was previously in the way.
A: Honestly, lots! I'm never bored. There is so much awesome stuff to experience! Always down for the new. I love people and am very curious about everything, so for me, learning is bunches of fun. I also work lots, but I love it! Soaking in spiritual knowledge and being able to guide, heal and teach others spiritually is fun. Everything that comes with my acting and filmmaking careers is fun. Eating Thai or Indian food is always a great experience and you can bet I am always looking forward to that. I'm always trying to dabble in all the arts which is fun for me. Any free time I have to myself I usually spend meditating and doing my at-home yoga practice, reading, and going to hot yoga and on jogs. I also love having dinner with friends, binging on Netflix at home with my boyfriend and our cat Juno, going to my boyfriend's band's live music shows, and visiting my family every once in a blue moon in Missouri. Recently, I have gotten into DIY stuff and am making my own vegan natural makeup and soy candles at home.
Q: What's your favorite spiritual book?
A: I think my favorite is the "Journey of the Soul" series by Sylvia Browne. The 3 titles are "God, Creation, and Tools for Life," "Soul's Perfection," and "The Nature of Good and Evil." All of Sylvia Browne's books were my introduction to any other spiritual view than Christianity, and she really helped introduce me to a whole new perspective. It hit my soul and I innately knew it was all true. I am so thankful I started reading her or I might not be doing the work I'm able to do now with this perspective as my foundation. I recommend this series most because it is thorough in its points and gives valuable perspective and advice.
Q: Is there one crystal you like to work with specifically?
A: I'm not super knowledgeable with crystals, but love to work with them and in reiki especially. My everyday jewelry are pieces with moonstone and amethyst. Currently I am loving using green calcite in spiritual work!
Q: What advice do you have for people who don't like their work or aren't feeling excited about their lives?
A: That's a hard place to be. I've experienced that too.
1. It can change, and if you want it to and work to make it change, it will.
2. It all starts with self-love and self-respect. Heal and honor that, and you will start to see your life turn around.
3. When you follow your true desires and make yourself happy, you will be living your destiny, helping others, and making the world a better place. You deserve it and the world deserves it.
I'm a believer in the virtue of selfishness because through the cultivation and empowerment of the individual comes a natural benefit to society as a whole. I'm also a believer in the law of attraction and manifesting work. I believe we are all here for special purposes and that we have a combination of free will and fate shaping our lives each moment. We can improve the quality of our lives and can go on the path of our highest possible timelines in each moment. My specific advice is an everyday personal spiritual practice that centers you and helps you to keep your perspectives healthy, grounded, and optimistic. This way any negative things now give you wisdom and clarity. It's all about going within and connecting to your higher self. Another great spiritual book to help you on through this transformation is "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz and Peter Coyote, which includes principles to implement in your everyday life based on Toltec Shamanism.
Q: What ignites your fire?
A: Any time I am able to truly help someone spiritually. Any time I am able to express myself through creativity. In a nutshell, the desire to be an inspiration is what ignites my fire every day.
Hopefully this brief look into Kristin's life has been helpful for you on your journey. As always we are here for the community no matter what you are going through. Walking through our doors or connecting through our online classes may be just the thing that shifts you to a better state of existence. Thank you for reading and have a blessed day!


All men are welcome Saturday mornings 7:30am – 9:00am.
Gatherings take place at New Life Centre in the upstairs Prayer Room.
Jocelyne Filipenko is leading this Woman's Lifegroup on "Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind" in Crawford Estates every Tuesday Morning from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
Aubrey Leyland is hosting this Life Group for moms.
This group is studying the curriculum "Keep Your Love On" and meet weekly in the Glenmore area.
Harley and Sheila White are doing "Spirit Wars" Wednesday evening's from 7-9 pm on the Westside.
Steven and Karen Horton are taking people through a deeper discussion of New Life's Sunday sermon on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 9:00 PM in Rutland.


Radha Govind Dham is one of the spiritual beacons of Radha Krishna devotion in the west. When people think of Radha Krishna devotion, they naturally think of Radha Govind Dham in the United States. The celebrations we have here are among the best that are celebrated in all the different temples in the United States. Here is a glimpse of some past celebrations, satsangs, lecture series' and devotional picnics.


text:
Chastity, Virginity, Marriageability, and Rape Sentencing
11 commentsJanuary 4, 201312 min readby Aparna Chandra
Written by Aparna Chandra
A guestpost by Mrinal Satish, Associate Professor, National Law University, Delhi.
The horrific gang rape incident in
Delhi has led to demands for amending the law to provide for more stringent
punishment for rape, including introducing the death penalty. Over the last few
days, there have been various debates about the advisability of making such
changes to the law. An issue that has not been highlighted in these debates is
the existing state of rape sentencing. Any attempt at law reform needs to include
an examination of this issue. In this piece, I provide a brief account of a few
problems plaguing the current rape sentencing regime in India. This is based on
my doctoral study at Yale Law School, in which I examined all rape cases
decided by all High Courts and the Supreme Court over the last twenty five
Section 376 of the Indian Penal
Code (I.P.C.) prescribes the punishment for rape. For non-aggravated forms of
rape, the minimum punishment is seven years imprisonment, and the maximum is
life imprisonment. The minimum punishment for aggravated rape (gang rape, rape
of a girl under the age of twelve, custodial rape) is ten years imprisonment,
and the maximum is life imprisonment as well. In both these circumstances,
courts have the discretion to sentence below the prescribed minimum term of
imprisonment, if they provide "adequate and special reasons" for so doing. The crucial
question is: how do courts determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed on an
offender? A basic understanding of the trial process is essential to understand
the procedure involved. The Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) divides the trial
into two distinct phases – the guilt determination phase and the sentencing
phase. In the guilt determination phase, the court either convicts or acquits
the offender on the basis of evidence presented in this regard. If the offender
is convicted, then the sentencing phase begins. In this phase of the trial, the
court considers evidence and arguments on factors relevant to the determination
of sentence. Ruling on the factors that a court should consider in deciding on sentence,
the Supreme Court has held that the nature of the offence; the presence of
aggravating and mitigating circumstances; the prior criminal record of the
offender; his age, professional, social, and educational background, amongst
others are relevant. Another important consideration is the theory of
punishment that should be followed – deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution,
etc. Since the I.P.C. does not provide guidance to courts on any of these
issues, except for prescribing maximum – and in some cases, as in rape –
minimum punishments, judges have the absolute discretion to determine the
sentence for each individual offender. Unlike some other countries, such as the
United States and England, India does not have sentencing guidelines, which provide
rules and principles for judges to follow while sentencing. These guidelines generally
list out factors that the court should (and should not) consider while
sentencing. The absence of such guidelines in India is one of the reasons for
the rampant disparity that exists in sentencing across crimes, including rape.
In fact, the Supreme Court has itself repeatedly acknowledged the existence of
disparity in its death penalty practice. It has observed that sentencing has
become "judge-centric," instead of being based on principles. The same critique
applies equally to rape sentencing as well. However, the causes for disparity
in rape sentencing, as compared to capital sentencing or sentencing in other
crimes, are entirely different.
What makes rape sentencing
different from sentencing for other crimes? Unlike other offences, the crime of
rape carries its own baggage. Over the years, stereotypical and patriarchal
notions have developed with regard to women's sexual behaviour. Most of these
notions are based on the assumption that the chastity and virginity of a woman are
her most important "assets." Popular notions consider rape as a fate worse than
death since it robs women of these "virtues" and casts a stigma over victims
for the rest of their lives. In these imaginations, rape is not a crime against
a woman's sexual autonomy or bodily integrity, but an irreparable loss to her
chastity, "modesty," and social standing. A woman who has already "lost" her
chastity and modesty by having sexual relations before or outside of marriage, is
not considered to have suffered too much harm; and the perpetrator is therefore
not required to be punished too severely. In order to ensure that such
stereotypical notions relating to the sexual behaviour and sexual mores of
women are not considered in rape trials, the Indian Evidence Act was amended in
2003, prohibiting the defence from impeaching a rape victim's testimony on the
basis of her past sexual history. Unfortunately, the amendment appears to have impacted
only the guilt determination phase of the trial, and not the sentencing phase. The
site of stereotyping has merely shifted from the guilt determination phase to
the sentencing phase of the trial, and stereotypes have an adverse impact on
rape sentencing. In cases where the woman's behaviour does not adhere to stereotypical
constructs, the men who raped them end up getting lower sentences.
But, if the law prohibits past
sexual history from being considered, how does it continue to impact rape
sentencing? The answer to this is the nature of evidence required to prove
rape, and the manner in which such evidence finds its way into the trial. The
crucial fact that the prosecution has to prove in rape cases is the lack of the
woman's consent to sexual intercourse. Unlike laws of various other countries,
Indian law does not require the prosecution to prove that the offender knew that the woman had not consented,
or intended to rape the woman. The
woman's testimony that she had not consented to intercourse is sufficient. In
fact, the Supreme Court has consistently held that conviction can be based
solely on the testimony of the woman, and there is no need for any other
corroborating evidence. However, the court has to be satisfied that the woman's
testimony is reliable, and she is in fact stating the truth. It is in the
determination of the reliability of the victim's testimony that stereotypes
enter rape adjudication.
An important piece of evidence in
rape cases is the report of the medical examination of the rape victim. Medical
and forensic evidence enables the prosecution to show that penetration of the
vulva by the penis (a pre-requisite for the offence of rape) had in fact taken
place. Doctors are required to testify to this fact, as also the presence of
body fluids and injuries, if any. Note, however, that the law does not require ejaculation. The protocols
followed by doctors in examining rape victims across India go much beyond
determining whether penetration had occurred. They continue to make assessments
of the woman's sexual history, and play a major role in advancing stereotypical
notions relating to women's sexual mores, by providing a scientific veneer to
the process. This process includes the examination of the woman's hymen and the
distensibility of her vagina. Whether the hymen is torn, and if so, if such
tears are old or new are noted. Doctors conduct the "two-finger test,"
ostensibly to determine whether penetration has occurred. This highly invasive
procedure involves the doctor inserting one, two, or more fingers into the
woman's vagina to determine the elasticity of the orifice. If the doctor is
able to insert two or more fingers, it ostensibly indicates that the woman has
had prior intercourse. The rationale behind this "test" is that if two fingers
can pass through the vagina, a body of the size of an erect penis could have
passed through the orifice at an earlier point of time.
Let me provide a concrete example
of how the stereotypes find their way into the trial process through medical
examination. Assume that in examining an unmarried rape victim, the doctor notes
the presence of old tears on her hymen. The doctor also notes that she was able
to insert two or more fingers into the vagina of the victim. Although the
doctor does not expressly opine that the woman was sexually active, this
information is conveyed to the court by way of the medical report. My study
showed that in cases where the medical report indicated that the woman had been
sexually active before marriage, lower sentences were imposed on the offenders
who raped them. In contrast, in cases where the offender had raped a virgin,
the sentence was relatively higher. Thus, the sexual history of the victim had
an impact on the sentence imposed on the offender. Another factor related to
virginity is the perceived loss experienced
by an unmarried victim, in terms of her marriageability. The Supreme Court has
in a number of cases noted how rape adversely affects the chances of a woman
finding a suitable groom. In this context, the Court has even held that the
marital status of the woman can be a relevant factor in rape sentencing. It is
not surprising then that offenders who raped unmarried (and virginal) women got
higher sentences in contrast to men who raped married women. Further, courts
tend to impose lower sentences when a victim who was unmarried when the offence
was committed, gets married during the trial. Since the rape did not impact the
victim's ability to get married, the harm caused by the offence is discounted. An
egregious example of this approach is the Supreme Court's decision in Baldev Singh v. State of Punjab (2011), another
gang rape case that got a lot of media attention. One of the reasons that the Court
gave for reducing the sentence in this case was that the victim was now
The second stereotype that affects
rape sentencing is the perception that rape is a matter of shame for the
victim. The Supreme Court has in fact frequently observed that a woman
experiences a "deep sense of deathless shame" as a consequence of being raped. Combined
with the notion that a woman considers her chastity and virginity to be invaluable,
a myth has developed that on being inflicted with this "shameful" act, a woman
will necessarily physically resist her attacker, when sexually assaulted. Such
physical resistance, it is believed, leads to injuries on the woman's body,
which then demonstrates that sex was not consensual. Note, however, that the
law does not require the woman to resist the attack. The presence of injuries
might corroborate lack of consent, but the absence of injuries should not imply consent. Although
courts do not appear to infer consent from absence of injuries, I found a
marked decrease in sentences in cases where no injuries were present on the
woman's body. Hence, unfortunately, the notion that a woman should physically resist
rape makes its way into rape sentencing.
The third interesting finding of my
study was that courts consider acquaintance rape to be less traumatic than rape
by a stranger. Offenders who were in a romantic relationship with the women
they raped got lower sentences, compared to their counterparts who raped women
they did not know. In cases of statutory rape where the under-aged girl had
consented to intercourse, courts consistently imposed lower sentences on the
offenders, based on the understanding that the young woman had otherwise
"contributed" to the offence.
Law reform movements, as well as
policy-makers have not paid much attention to issues pertaining to stereotypes
surrounding rape sentencing. For justifiable reasons, their focus has been on
steps to ensure higher convictions in rape cases. In addition to these efforts,
there is need for reforms to rid rape sentencing of stereotypes. This would include:
first, changing the nature of medical evidence collected in rape cases. Protocols
for medical examination of rape victims should be modified, and corresponding
changes should be made to medical education syllabi. The second reform required
is the formulation of principles to be followed by judges while sentencing rape
offenders. Factors that should not be considered in sentencing rape offenders (such
as the victim's sexual mores) should be listed. Currently, a large number of
rape offenders whose victims do not adhere to the stereotypical construct of a
rape victim get relatively lower sentences. Ensuring principled sentencing, one
that is in tune with our constitutional values, is a better guarantee for
justice to rape victims, rather than legislative steps providing for capital
punishment, chemical castration and the like.
Mrinal
Satish is an Associate Professor at the National Law University, Delhi. His
doctoral dissertation at Yale Law School examines the issue of rape sentencing
in India. He can be contacted at [email protected])
Tagged ascrimes against women, Criminal law, rape, rape trials, Reform of criminal law, sentencing
Aparna Chandra
Assistant Professor, NLUD
kalyan inampudi says:
Fantastic post , came to know so many informative things .
Mahesh Kumar Gupta says:
Wow.. You shared such a wonderful information.. I read this post very carefully.. I founded more tips from this post. Thanks for sharing this one… Doctors in Lucknow
Nick Robinson says:
Hope this gets out and into the public debate. Very needed research right now – tremendous work.
V.Venkatesan says:
SC's rape cases in 2012 show that steretypes continue to influence Judges at the conviction stage also.
durba says:
As always, Mrinal, your research is rigorous and on point. I hope that your research circulates widely now that there is a broad public discussion occurring.
Kalyani says:
Amazing work as always, Mrinal!
Dilip Rao says:
Excellent post. My question is whether a meaningful defense is at all possible if all these controversial bits of evidence are excluded. As a hypothetical, suppose that the accused knew the alleged victim and admits to being present with her at the time of the rape (or there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to support the possibility). He, on the other hand, insists it was consensual. Since her statement alone would be sufficient, burden of discrediting it (showing unreliability) would rest on the defendant. What possible evidence could he provide to refute the allegation of rape? Being present with her, he would have no alibi. In the absence of forensic evidence, it would be his word against hers; even if it is available, if the part about the lack of injuries is disregarded saying she might have given up resistance as futile, there is little else left. If she had a borderline personality and a history of manipulating her partners in past sexual liaisons, that too could not be introduced because it would go to her sexual character and would therefore have to be excluded. Without either witness testimony or the two finger test, it may not be possible to even establish whether she had sexual partners before. Thus it would appear that if all the criticism is acted upon, there may well be few realistic avenues open to an accused to obtain an acquittal (without of course finding others to lie with him and provide an alibi).
I have seen a lot of unsubstantiated claims about the unreliability of the two finger test but are there are any studies showing what its sensitivity/specificity/PPV/NPV are? It would be worthwhile to find out what proportion of women in India really insert foreign objects into their vagina or perform the sort of vigorous exercise that could lead to hymenal rupture and yield false positives. Likewise, how frequent is it that women decide to "give in" and not show vaginal injuries? Is it not the lack of arousal (and thereby the absence of vaginal secretions) that contributes to internal injury as much if not more than the violence caused by physical resistance in which case injuries should still be apparent even if the woman did not actively resist? Any exclusion has to be based on proper studies rather than assertions by interested groups. Few tests are 100% reliable, so it is important to take them into account without considering them to be conclusive by themselves.
As a more general rule, is it not a common practice to take into account impact of a crime on the victim in deciding the sentence? With respect to rape, it is quite possible, indeed likely, that virginity and prospect of marriage are paramount for many of these victims. If she is from an upper class urban setting where these factors have limited value, that makes the equation different. Do you know of any sentencing factors which are/are not of value from the standpoint of future deterrence?
inthearmchair says:
Very informative and educative post. I felt this was carefully reasoned and explained the reasons for various claims without handwaving.
It would be very informative to see some descriptive statistics. For example, a 2×2 table of the number of severe sentences handed out by whether the case was acquaintance rape. This could help quantify the extent of the problem, and could perhaps be the basis for additional research.
Thank you for the informative post.
As a human being this is how I feel:
We have to ignore:
Clock — time at which the crime occurred
Age — how long one has lived to develop these sadistic traits
Histories — how many times the criminals have committed such acts or how many times the victim has had sex
What must be born in mind is that this is a premeditated group act against an unwilling, helpless individual.
Harkens back to formation of society and appropriate functioning of an ensemble of unrelated individuals.
This is a crime against humanity and the sadists must be subject to the same depravity.
Death by impalement in a cesspool of human excrement.
I find no utility in academic or procedural discussions — as the act is disgusting and repulsive. I am personally offended and livid. I would let loose Dhammer on these llumps of rotten cells.
Ramdas Iyer says:
Apart from the technical definitions of what constitutes rape, are there any procedural definitions? As an example, a relative, who makes a woman trust her, enters into sexual relations with her not once or twice but continues it regularly over a twenty five year duration, through 17 years of marriage of that woman, inspite of he himself being married. Does this constitute rape? There have been protests that even if consensual, if the woman happens to be placed in a position where she is, for reasons of fear, social ostracisation, desire to protect certain people's reputation etc. consents to have sex with men, such an act has to be construed to be rape. In the above specific instance can a charge of rape be brought?
zade says:
Certainly, attitudes that affect the determination phase must change, and the odious, unscientific and unreliable "two finger test" must be discarded.
Contrary to Dilip Rao's rather disgusting position set forth above, information about the victim's previous sexual experience simply has no place in making a determination about whether violence has occurred in any given instance.
While changing the protocols for medical examination of rape victims is important and necessary, and establishing principles for sentencing is certainly overdue by decades, surely most laws dating from over 150 years ago- which are not examined in detail in this post- need to be re-examined, updated and changed as well?
If "courts have the discretion to sentence below the prescribed minimum term of imprisonment," then what is the point of setting a minimum term of imprisonment at all? Since only a superior court is empowered to determine whether the trial court established "adequate and special reasons" for sentencing below the limit, this provision obviously enables courts to delay and thereby deny justice. This effective loophole, and the lack of sentencing guidelines overall, smack of the skewed distribution of power typical of colonial rule. Castration and death sentences aside, here is a colonial law that must be changed!


I have been thinking a lot about exercise lately, in my own attempt to be consistent. This week my schedule has gotten crazy with work and I do not know if I will make it to the gym the three days that I need and want to.
How many squats do you think you will do in a day if you do them once an hour or even just when you take potty breaks?
Probably around 500 or so. Assuming I drain the reservoir 4 times a day, and doing around 125 squats before I start to get sore-ish.
Gives new meaning to heading to the bathroom to "pop a squat," huh?


Similar to Split, its neighbor town just a short distance away, Trogir is yet another Croatian town that possesses incredible historical and architectural traditions, both of which have been built upon by a progression of generations during the past 2,300 years. Walking the streets of Trogir's old town, one encounters Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture and artwork, juxtaposed with modern stores and shop fronts, making Trogir a fascinating amalgamation of architectural styles from different eras.
Founded in the 3rd century BC by Greek settlers from the island of Vis, Trogir was an important port in the region until well into the Roman era, when its importance was diminished by the rise of Salona. Again, like so many other coastal Croatian cities, Trogir underwent a tumultuous series of victories, defeats, periods of autonomy and periods of subservience to outside governments, with the city finally coming under Venetian rule from 1420 to 1797.
While the former rulers of the region were interested in Trogir for its strategic location, visitors to the city today are interested in the structures that dwell inside the walls of the city's old town. Of particular importance are the churches and buildings dating from the 13th century; the Duke's palace, which dates from the 13th century; and perhaps most impressive of all, the Cathedral of St Lawrence and the Portal of Radovan. Radovan, a master artist and Trogir native, created the intricate entryway to the cathedral in 1240.
The cultural and historical significance of the town and its architecture were verified in 1997 when UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) added Trogir to its list of protected world heritage sites, marking the beginning of a new era in Trogir's history. While traditionally an economy focused on agriculture and fishing, this new era of the city's development will almost definitely be focused on tourism, as Croatia's coast becomes an increasingly popular destination for tourists from around the world.


text:
Penny Kempf tabbed for NFHCA Hall of Fame
Aug 12, 2020 | 2020-2021, Division III, News
BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is honored to announce that Penny Kempf, former head coach and current associate athletic director at Rowan University, will be inducted to the NFHCA Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020.
Kempf remains the winningest coach in Rowan University field hockey history, compiling a school-record 253 wins in 17 years as the program's leader. In 2002, she led the Profs to the NCAA Division III National Championship and was honored as the NFHCA National Coach of the Year.
Since stepping down as head coach after the 2014 season, Kempf has served Rowan's student-athletes as associate athletic director and senior woman administrator.
"Penny's career speaks for itself — an NCAA National Championship, an incredible winning percentage, and multiple coach-of-the-year accolades. Beyond her success on the field, Penny has given back to the sport through her service, at the NCAA and the NFHCA," noted NFHCA first vice-president and chair of the NFHCA Awards and Hall of Fame Committee, Chrissy Summers. "Our Association is privileged to be able to pay back her years of service to us, to field hockey, and to women in sport, by honoring her this year."
"I am truly appreciative and deeply grateful to be receiving such an amazing honor," remarked Kempf. "I have watched many successful and phenomenal coaches be inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame and to be joining such an incredible group is truly humbling. I am thankful for the journey and all the people that have impacted my career and life."
During Kempf's tenure as head coach, Rowan made 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament — advancing to the NCAA semifinals three times and the quarterfinals once — and were crowned New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) champions six times.
Kempf, who led Rowan to 17-consecutive winning seasons, saw 27 of her student-athletes earn All-American honors and 53 earn All-Region recognition, while a total of 77 Profs were named All-Conference performers in the NJAC.
With a career record of 253-81, she currently ranks 18th in career winning percentage (.775) for all NCAA divisions, and is ninth among Division III coaches, while also ranking 28th all-time for Division III victories.
As a player, Kempf earned All-American honors in field hockey at The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) and was a two-time All-American in lacrosse. She was a member of one national championship field hockey team and three national championship lacrosse teams. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1988. Kempf was inducted into the TCNJ's Athletic Hall of Fame four times as a member of a "team of distinction."
Prior to her career at Rowan, Kempf served as a graduate assistant coach in field hockey and lacrosse at West Chester University, while earning her master's degree in physical education.
Kempf set the standard in her first season with the Profs in 1998, leading Rowan to its first NCAA semifinal appearance and a third-place finish. That team also posted an 8-0 conference record en route to winning the NJAC title. That year, Kempf was honored as the Coach of the Year in the South Atlantic Region as well as in the conference. From there, her teams would go on to secure 10 NCAA first-round victories in 12 appearances.
During Rowan's national championship run in 2002, the team posted a 21-0 record, setting the school mark for wins in a season, secured an NJAC title, swept the coach-of-the-year honors, winning national, regional, and conference awards.
Kempf has served the sport of field hockey as a member and chair of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Committee, member and chair of the South Atlantic Committee, and member of NFHCA All-American South Atlantic Region selection committee.
As Rowan's associate athletic director, she has been an advocate for all student-athletes, establishing a leadership development group for female student-athletes, creating a Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee for Rowan's athletic department, and becoming a Division III LBGTQ facilitator in the OneTeam Program.
Kempf will be officially inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame at the next in-person NFHCA Awards Dinner.
The NFHCA Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to honor exceptional field hockey coaches, administrators, and umpires for their success on and off the field. The class of 2020 will be the 21st cohort to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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