John Dewey HS students got credit for sham "Project Graduation" classes in a grade-fixing scheme that robbed them of their education, according to a new state audit that also slams the city for shrugging off the findings.
The Brooklyn school's "make-up" and "credit recovery" courses failed to meet a slew of requirements — letting many students improperly graduate, says the blistering audit sent to the city on Friday and provided to The Post.
"Far too many students received course credit they shouldn't have and that is unacceptable," state Education Department Executive Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin said of the "troubling" findings.
Pressed to investigate teacher complaints, the city Department of Education's internal probe confirmed that students lacking credits in all subjects were listed on class rosters and given "packets" of work — but got no instruction by certified instructors, as required by state law. One rookie teacher purportedly taught 52 classes in a single semester, records show.
The state audit examined a small sampling of credits and courses involved in the scam between 2012 and 2015, and found that 89 percent of courses did not provide required instruction time; teachers were not certified in subjects in 77 percent of those classes; and diplomas were wrongly awarded to 75 percent of students after they took bogus "credit recovery" classes.
Former Dewey teacher Michael Klimetz said the state's belated action does not go far enough.
"New York City public-school principals will continue to manipulate grades, issue unearned diplomas, and rob the schoolchildren . . . of a meaningful and comprehensive education until the parties who conspired to perform grade and credit fraud at JDHS on an industrial scale are punished," Klimetz said.
The city DOE charged Elvin with misconduct in 2015, but a hearing officer dismissed the charges in 2016 when the department failed to turn over records showing it had rubber-stamped the sham credits. The city never appealed.
Elvin no longer works as a principal, but collects $169,916 a year as an administrator in the DOE's Office of Safety and Youth Development.


ASTANA, May 5. /TASS/. The fourth round of talks on Syria in Kazakhstan's capital Astana ended by an unexpected breakthrough and the adoption of a document paving the way for establishing peace in the war-torn country.
The countries-guarantors of ceasefire - Russia, Iran and Turkey - signed a memorandum on creating de-escalation zones in the Arab country in the presence of UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, observers from the US and Jordan, a delegation of the official Damascus and members of the armed opposition.
During the talks, many analysts noted the increased representation of Amman and Washington at the consultations. Nauaf Oufi Tel, political adviser to Jordan's Foreign Minister, and US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Stuart Jones attended the talks. Besides, a delegation of opponents of the Syrian government was also present in Astana.
On May 3-4, many bilateral meetings were held and the issue on establishing de-escalation zones came to the forefront. The talks between Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 3 gave an impetus to the document's elaboration.
The zones aimed at reducing tensions will be set up in four areas, namely in the Idlib province and some neighboring territories (Latakia, Hama and Aleppo) to the north of Homs, East Ghouta and some provinces in southern Syria (Daraa and Quneitra). On the borders of de-escalation zones security areas will be established where checkpoints are due to be set up for the passage of civilians and delivery of humanitarian assistance. Points of monitoring the ceasefire will be also arranged there.
Russian president's special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, said Moscow is ready to send observers to Syria to monitor the ceasefire in de-escalation zones. He said states that are not parties to the memorandum on de-escalation zones could also take part in the monitoring. This decision must be taken unanimously by the countries-guarantors of the ceasefire - Turkey, Russia and Iran, the diplomat said.
The memorandum on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria envisages a ceasefire in the designated areas from May 6. Any military activity, including flights of aircraft, will be banned. Russia, Iran and Turkey will do their utmost to combat terrorism in these territories and outside them. "As for the flights by aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, we will naturally cease combat operations on this territory but only if no efforts are taken from the territory of de-escalation zones to destabilize the situation on the country's other territories," Lavrentyev said.
Ten days after signing the memorandum, the guarantor states will establish a joint working group, in particular for designating the borders of de-escalation and security zones. By late May, the maps of these areas will be drawn up.
The memorandum will be in force during six months and can be extended automatically for the same period. "In other words, in case of necessity, the memorandum (on de-escalation zones) may be indefinite," the diplomat said.
The Russian side believes that the decision made by Moscow, Tehran and Ankara will allow preserving Syria's territorial integrity and will promote political settlement.
Damascus backed the Russian initiative confirming commitment to the December 30 ceasefire. The Syrian opposition did not directly oppose the memorandum but made it clear that it feels no sympathy for it. "The revolutionary forces delegation would like to reiterate that any agreement won't be acceptable if it does not include the following points: Any ceasefire agreement should hold over the entire territory of Syria. The rejection of any Iranian role and its affiliated militias, and the rejection that Iran has a guarantor role or any other role, as it is an enemy country to the Syrian people," the statement said.
The armed opposition's delegation on May 3 suspended its participation in the talks due to the alleged bombing of two Syrian areas by Russia's Aerospace Forces and the government forces. Russia's General Staff refuted the allegations. Some delegates did not leave Astana and attended the plenary meeting, but a representative of the Jaysh al-Islam group, Mohammed Allyush, was not among them.
Some opposition members did not stay for long at the meeting. During the singing of the memorandum on de-escalation zones one of the opposition members started shouting: "Iran is a criminal, it has no place among the guarantors." Then they left the hall.
Opponents of the official Damascus also called to limit the influence of Tehran and demanded the withdrawal of units affiliated with Iran from Syria's territory.
Russia's delegation explained this "demarche" by a lack of restraint and political and diplomatic experience. "I don't think this will somehow affect further development of events in Syria," Lavrentyev said.
The diplomat noted that it is early now to speak about the withdrawal of pro-Iranian forces. He recalled that Shiite armed groups have repeatedly provided significant support for the Syrian government forces in fighting against terrorists.
Russia will continue working with the United States to look for appropriate mechanisms of interaction in Syria, Lavrentyev said. "The new US administration of Donald Trump has not yet defined its specific Middle East policy. Nonetheless, it was stated during the latest telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the support for all the efforts in the war on terror and all the efforts for attaining peace on the Syrian land," the head of Russia's delegation said.
Regrettably, "Americans have ignored up until now the attempts to organize close military interaction," Lavrentyev said.
In the envoy's opinion, the work to establish this interaction "would be a step in the right direction that could help solve many problems." "This work will be continued," he added.
Talks in the Geneva format are expected to be completed by late May. Negotiators will again meet in Astana in mid-July and two weeks before that military experts will hold a meeting in Ankara.


Beth is currently living in Oakland, California and working at the Assignment Desk of a wedding photography company in San Francisco. She tries to spend as much time as possible with her camera as it forces her to pay attention to the details of the world around her.
Beth is fond of things like cross-processing, through-the-viewfinder images, polaroids, color and b+w printing, the smell of developer, her Canon AE1 and 30D, her Holga, and her collection of various non-functioning old cameras that sit on her shelf looking pretty.


text:
Frightened 12-Year-Old Boy Calls 911 As His Father Allegedly Drives Drunk With Him In Car
Dwyer & Michaels Published: November 28, 2022
A frightened 12-year-old boy called 911 after his father took him without notice and allegedly tried driving drunk from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, a 4-hour drive.
The incident happened back in October. The CHP dispatcher center in L.A. received a call from 12-year-old Ayden. His father picked him up from a birthday party but didn't tell anyone he took the boy. The father initially told Ayden they were going to the park. Ayden believed that his father was drunk and decided to call 911 for help.
The boy is heard frantically telling dispatchers, "I need help. My dad is trying to take me to Vegas. He's acting weird."
Ayden is heard in the 911 call telling the dispatcher his dad was driving a Toyota Camry with, "Raider plates on the front and in the back." He tried giving them a license plate number, but it was missing a letter, making it difficult for dispatchers to locate the car.
Recalling the incident, dispatcher April Gingras said, "Everything was kind of hectic. We're trying to get officers in position. We're trying to get the information to everybody."
The Dispatcher - ABC7
At one point during the search, the call was disconnected, but Ayden was able to call back again. Dispatchers were on the phone with Ayden for over an hour.
As police cars were still searching for the Raider's plates, dispatchers asked Ayden to stick his hand out the window and wave.
The car was spotted and Ayden's father pulled over in the area of Baseline Road off the 15 Freeway. The dad was wearing a Las Vegas Raiders football helmet at the time, authorities say.
Authorities were able to rescue the boy and return him safely back to his home.
"We did a great thing," dispatcher Laurie Watson said. "And we're just happy."
The boy's father was arrested and faces charges that include DUI and child abuse.
Banned Baby Names In America
According to today.com, and other sources there is a solid amount of names that are not allowed in the United States Of America. Some of these names are absolutely ridiculous, and just plain bad.
Source: Frightened 12-Year-Old Boy Calls 911 As His Father Allegedly Drives Drunk With Him In Car
Filed Under: las vegas
Hairball Somehow Survived A Weekend of Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS TRIP WINNERS!
The Vegas Trip Winners will be Announced on Monday!
Grasshoppers Invade Las Vegas [VIDEOS]
The Aerosmith Fly-Away Winner is…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ofcourse the Music can change. That's part of the fun of going to watch live bands, not just to hear it exactly like the record, the CD, or the mp3 (unless it's a tribute act – then that whole nostalgia of looking and sounding the part is the point).
If I think back to some of my favourite concerts – The Who for example back in 2003, when John Entwhistle was still on Bass, then what really made that for me was the energy, the attitude – right from the get go of I Can't Explain which kind of exploded out of the speakers.
But then there's a different kind of music that doesn't change, or maybe isn't supposed to change, but sadly all too often can and does change.
Because yes it is possible that on a tuesday back in from work, Your playing might not sound like it did over the weekend when it was really flowing – and in that case the one thing that has changed is not the Music itself; but rather it's You – or likely the kind of day You have had; because sometimes it can feel like life has got in the way, and You are still carrying over things from earlier on that day in your mind when it is time to pick up and play.
Whether it's that email, that meeting, phone call, proposal, the meeting or whatever it happens to be.
Taking a few moments, or even a few minutes even to get fully present, fully focussed can be all it takes to get you out of what I call life mode into Music Making Mode – which is something I refer to as Priming Your Musical Mind.
Because when You are all primed first, Your playing is all ready to go. And without that it can be really easy to just repeat and play the things You perhaps already do know and can play.


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Letter to the Editor: Trump victory a 'repudiation of the liberal agenda'
In response to the Feb. 6 letter, "Progressives aren't going to back down from Trump," I say to the author, bring on your resistance as you will face a battle-tested core of "deplorables" who have a monumental victory under our belt and a proven display of perseverance.
For eight years we endured former President Barack Obama's attempt to turn this country into a progressive cesspool and we stopped him cold in 2010, 2014 and 2016. We took approximately 1,200 federal, state and county elected seats from the progressive left during Obama's watch, turned the House, Senate and now own an overwhelming majority of governorships and state legislatures and are about to take control of the Supreme Court for generations.
In the recent election you had every advantage: The bulk of the mainstream media acted as a conduit for the progressive agenda while doubling as a hit squad attacking Trump. You had a failed president stumping for your candidate, bragging the results of the election were key to preserving his legacy and legions of Hollywood celebrities echoing support for your candidate.
What did Trump have? A few allies on FOX, several talk radio voices and us, the "deplorables." We were outgunned and surrounded, but what happened? A 304-227 victory happened — the final count of the Electoral College vote. That is the message we sent the progressive left. That was the repudiation of the liberal agenda. That was the measure of our resolve.
So, you bring the fight to our doorsteps because we will fight you tenfold more vehemently than you can fathom. Based on the progressive nationwide meltdown of President Trump's victory you have a lot of work to do, so go find a "safe space", hug it out, maybe pet a therapy dog and dry your tears. You have at least four years till you're up!
MARK AMEY, MASSILLON


text:
Q: Calculate sum of price of the checked row I have a bootstrap-table and in the last column there's a checkbox.
When I check or uncheck a checkbox, I'd like it to calculate the sum of the price of the checked items.
http://jsfiddle.net/34x9zdv4/
function calculate() {
  var total = 0;
  $("#tableTest tr td input:checked").closest("tr").find("td:nth-child(4)").each(
    function(){
        total += parseFloat($(this.text()));
    }
   );
   alert(total);
}

The alert never shows up. This is what happens: .text is unknown

A: I believe you have your parentheses in the wrong order.
Change:
$(this.text())

Into:
$(this).text();

So your summation line should look like:
total += parseFloat($(this).text());

A: There's an error in the following line.
total += parseFloat($(this.text()));

It should be
total += parseFloat($(this).text());

Note the brackets around this which you previously had around this.text()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


OK, I'm lying. I've never met your mom. But the truth is, I want this for Mother's Day, and I'm a mom, so I have that whole mom perspective down, which means if I like it, your mom might like it, too. There's some logic for you, right?
Back to the point of this post, this Pearl on Water Ring from the Veritas Collection by Franco Pianegonda is the stuff modern-day mom's dream about—when they aren't reading 50 Shades of Grey, which, by the way would make a totally inappropriate Mother's Day gift. Try this ring instead. You, dad and your siblings can go halfsies.
The ring was actually inspired by Pianegonda's own mom, who, like the waters in the ring, was always in motion. And, like the pearl, was always beautiful.


Ques. : 1 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered its policy repo rate on 4 Mar. What is the new repo rate?
Ques. : 3 The IRDA of India on 2 Mar released its final guidelines on insurance marketing firms. Which of the following is NOT correct regarding the guidelines issued?
1) It can be set up with a minimum capital requirement of Rs 25 lakh.
2) It can distribute products of two life insurers at any point in time.
3) It can distribute products of two general insurers at any point in time.
4) It can distribute products of two health insurers at any point in time.
5) The initial grant of registration will be valid for three years.
Answer:- 1) It can be set up with a minimum capital requirement of Rs 25 lakh.
Ques. : 5 Who among the following is the new chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT)?
Ques. : 6 The Economic Survey estimates capital account deficit (CAD) to fall below _______in the fiscal year 2015-16.
Ques. : 7 The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 28 Feb announced an initial allocation of ___________for the MGNREGA programme.
Ques. : 9 As per the proposals of the general budget for 2015-16, the exemption on health insurance premium has been hiked to __________. For senior citizens it is hiked to Rs 30,000.
Ques. : 10 The govt has announced Fiscal Deficit targets for different years in the general budget for 2015-16. Which of the following is correct in this regard?


text:
Q: What is the symbolic solution to the equation? I have been trying to solve this nonlinear equation for sometime now to no avail. I have tried Mathematica and matlab as well. But I believe that a solution exist in terms of x (probably using the Lambert W function).
This is the equation below.
$b\cdot x^a+d\cdot \ln(1+c\cdot x)+\ln(1+(e^p-1)\cdot (1-u))/p=0$
Please, I will be grateful if the solution $x$ is in term of other variables. Thank you.


text:
Koan Kinship — Bill Mohr's Blog
Poetry, Art, and Geographical Politics
About Bill Mohr
« If you don't like being called a "virus terrorist," then fuckin' well wear a mask!
Full Moon over Long Beach »
Apologies and a Retraction: Not "Terrorists," but Eugenics Collaborators
If you don't want to be called an "Eugenics Collaborator," then wear a mask!
I have given some thought to my recent categorization of non-maskers as "virus terrorists" and I hope terrorists everywhere will forgive my appropriation of their hideous behavior. My bestowal on anti-maskers of the term they have worked so hard to give historical legitimacy should not have been casually handed out like a Golden Globe trophy.
In fact, the dismaying behavior of anti-maskers during the pandemic is closer to that of those who unfortunately connive and consort with any invasion of one's community, e.g., people in France and Holland during World War II who were perfectly comfortable collaborating with the Nazis who had invaded their countries.
The covid virus is an enemy of all human beings on this planet, and anyone who voluntarily facilitates the transmission of this virus should more accurately be categorized as a collaborator; that term should be applied without hesitation to those who refuse to wear masks.
What is their motive, though? As I walked over to Page Against the Machine bookstore this afternoon, it occurred to me that the preference of right-wingers to challenge the wearing of masks is a reflection of "rugged individualism." The strong — and only the strong — deserve to survive, The weak deserve to perish. It is a way to cull the herd.
As I was talking to the bookstore's owner, Chris Giaco, our faces lit up as we simultaneously had the same idea: it's not true that conservative Republicans don't believe in science. They profoundly believe in it. It's just that their science is called "eugenics."
Chris and I had talked about how lovely it was to talk in person, face to face, and how the conversation we had just had about the politics of the pandemic never would led us to the realizations that we mutually hit upon if we had been texting each other. It was the kind of insight that happens with in person, instantaneous exchanges of words.
Thank you, Chris. If you live in Long Beach, please support his store, which is right next to Gusto Bakery!
PAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE BOOKSTORE
(Open Tuesday through Sunday)
Posted on February 28, 2021 by billmohr. This entry was posted in Books. Bookmark the permalink.
Hold-Outs: The Los Angeles Poetry Renaissance, 1948-1992
Poetry/Performances
Paul Vangelisti's Exile
Jeff Beck and Charles Simic, R.I.P.
Beyond Baroque (Venice) and the Poetry Project at St. Mark's (NYC): at the Far Turn of "Lineages"
"And break out the plaster for the traction cast…."
Society for the Naming of Atmospheric Rivers
Happy New Year! — (Where have you gone, Rose Bowl game, on 1/1/…. ?)
Poetry Project 2023 New Year's Day Reading: Complete Schedule
Resurfaced Prongs
The Black Crowned Night Heron of the Archive and the Memoir
Doug Knott — Poet, Actor, Producer — R.I.P.
Subscribe to Koan Kinship via email
OnVideo
Review: KCET
Review: Palisades Post
The Word Garage: First-class editing, blogging, WordPress blog installation, more.
Autonomical Cave Art
Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
CPITS
Ground Level Conditions
Language Poetry
Los Angeles bookstores
Los Angeles Poet Laureate
Los Angeles Poetry Laureate
MFA programs
Political Graphics
Presidental Election
Small Press Publishing
Venice West


the string from active service," he says.
service providers in today's market environment."
well intervention operations, Black reports.
rig to monitor and record data being created during CT operations," Black says.
tall and eight inches deep," he recalls.
a much smaller footprint than today's."
coiled tubing less labor intensive and reduce variations in quality based on individual training and strengths," he says.
speed and rates automatically," he says.
Bruce Moore, vice president of WWT International Engineering Services LLC, tractor performance continues to get better.
put more power in a smaller package,"
its Cerberus™ software. The latest version features an advanced fatigue model that allows service companies to maximize string life.


Water cannon at point blank during Seoul Protest - Video Fantastica!
At least 30 people have been injured after police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse what was believed to be the largest anti-government protest in South Korea's capital in more than seven years, local media reported. On Saturday up to 80,000 people in Seoul called for the resignation of President Park Geun Hye in demonstrations fuelled by growing frustration over the government's labour policies and rising youth unemployment. Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from Seoul, said the protest shows the "general polarisation" of politics in South Korea.


text:
The Haymarket Building
Posted May 23, 2019 by Amanda
Willard Jones Real Estate recently welcomed The Haymarket Building, located at 117 North Jefferson Street, into its leasing portfolio and has been tasked with returning this West Loop gem back to full occupancy. The new owners have some exciting plans for future upgrades and we are ecstatic to be part of this project.
Most local real estate brokers who have been in the industry for a while likely associate 117 North Jefferson with a prior owner, Mr. Henry Latkin. For over 40 years, Henry owned, managed, leased, entertained and even resided here. While his style might have been viewed by some as eclectic, you have to respect and admire an individual with that kind of staying power who enjoyed himself so much in the process. Being an avid and courageous world traveler, Henry accumulated quite a collection of art from all sorts of exotic places around the globe including Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many of these items were prominently displayed around the building. He was one of the first downtown owners to develop a rooftop deck. Outfitted with sculptures, trees and a full-blown garden, this was often used for hosting parties and special events. Henry even ran a small bed and breakfast on the rooftop level and many brokers were awarded a free night or two as a thank you for completing a deal in the property.
Whenever we take over a new leasing assignment, one of our first tasks is to develop an appropriate marketing program. Given this property is known as the Haymarket Building, it seemed like a no brainer on the surface to work with that somehow. However, as you dive deeper into the history involved with this name, it becomes a much more complicated decision.
The challenge, in this case, is how to strike a respectful tone which acknowledges the loss of life while commemorating the significance of the event itself and what it eventually laid the groundwork for. Taken literally, the Haymarket was essentially a large farmers market that serviced a West Loop neighborhood which at that time was heavily populated by working-class families and factory workers making low wages and struggling to get by. Over time, it morphed into a town square and popular gathering place for these individuals. Following an incident at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company plant in May 1886 where Chicago police officers killed two protesters and wounded several others who lived in the neighborhood, a peaceful rally was planned for the following night at Haymarket Square (Randolph Street between Lake Street, Des Plaines and the modern-day Expressway). Once the police arrived to keep order, an anonymous person threw a stick of dynamite killing several police offices and a massive riot erupted. While this was a very significant moment in the American labor movement, it also led to a series of trials which concluded with questionable convictions and public hangings for some people that might have been innocent.
By all accounts, the Haymarket Building was named more so for the neighborhood rather than the event and this is what we have decided to focus on. The farmers market was generally regarded as a place of happiness for the workers by all accounts. The riot was a huge moment in American history and deserves to be remembered, but not celebrated. Our ultimate synopsis can be summed up with the following statement: Sitting on a historically significant land site in Chicago's West Loop, the Haymarket Building at 117 North Jefferson pays tribute to those working class individuals who used to congregate at the nearby Haymarket Square farmers market in the 1880's, as well as those permanently impacted by the Haymarket Affair that sent shock waves around the world and served as the catalyst for the American labor movement.
Once historical perspectives are properly dealt with, we can then turn our attention to all of the amazing attributes that 117 North Jefferson has to offer, such as exposed brick walls, high timber lofted ceilings, great natural light, efficient floor plates and a committed and service-oriented ownership group. The building also possesses one of the best locations in the West Loop, close to Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and just a few blocks from Fulton Market (and at much lower prices to boot).
Tenants and brokers, we hope you will give The Haymarket Building at 117 North Jefferson a close look if you or your clients are in the market for office space at a historically noteworthy location. We think you will be pleased with what you see.
Posted December 20, 2018 by Amanda
Amazingly, another year has flown by. As 2018 comes to a close, it is time to look back on the year that was in downtown Chicago commercial real estate. While activity has generally held steady, there are some subtle signs that the market is slowing. Nevertheless, it was an interesting and active time with many notable storylines that could end up shaping the future of our city. Let's now review the past 12 months with my top 10 list of events:
10. Motor Row, Start Your Engines! – Led by former Chicago Bears Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers' planned redevelopment of 2222 South Michigan, along with the opening of several hotels, restaurants and live performance venues, Motor Row is finally starting to realize its vast potential. While there is still quite a bit of work to do, it is now not too hard to see the grand vision for this South Loop neighborhood coming alive at long last.
9. Bear Down, Wacker Drive – Speaking of the newly crowned NFC North Division Champions, the Chicago Bears opened an 11,000 square foot office at 123 North Wacker Drive. This is quite a significant deal for a prominent building undergoing a revitalization after a down period. The staff of 35 employees relocated from Soldier Field in order to free up space for more conferencing and special events at the renowned stadium.
8. The Gamble Pays Off– After rolling the dice and constructing a new high-rise on speculation with no anchor tenant, CA Office and White Oak Realty Partners' gamble paid off nicely, as CDW inked a lease at 625 W. Adams St. for approximately 300,000 square feet. This brings the property all the way up to 68% leased.
7. Googleville – Let's face it, if not for Google's decision back in 2015 to relocate their Midwest headquarters to 1000 West Fulton Market, Fulton Market would not be what it is today. Not only did Google fill up the rest of the available space in this building, they also leased an additional 132,000 square feet at soon-to-be completed 210 North Carpenter, firmly establishing themselves as the anchor of this dynamic neighborhood.
6. Facebook Likes Chicago – Facebook's expansion into 263,000 square feet at the newly constructed CNA Tower at 151 North Franklin is yet another example of how Chicago is gradually growing into a national tech powerhouse.
5. The Old Post Office Delivers – Walgreens and Ferrara Candy Company became the first tenants to commit to the Old Post Office. While only accounting for approximately 10% of this massive 2.8 million square foot structure, these leases, in conjunction with the many upgrades planned to this showcase structure, promise to serve as a catalyst for future success.
4. Stretch Those Boundaries – Lincoln Yards, The 78 in the South Loop, the Burnham Lakefront at the former Michael Reese Hospital site, and the River District at the Chicago Tribune printing plant location all represent momentous efforts by developers to expand the outer borders of the downtown market. While major questions remain on who exactly will occupy the space and how to get people to and from these places, it does create a new layer of competition for the traditional downtown areas.
3. Co-working More and More – From WeWork's seemingly endless expansion, to growth by competitors such as Convene, Industrious, Spaces and several new entrants into the Chicago market, co-working is showing no signs at all of slowing down.
2. The Development Never Ends – The planned construction of Salesforce Tower Chicago at Wolf Point and BMO Tower at Union Station pile onto this extended development cycle. While the skyline will gain some beautiful new edifices anchored by top-notch tenants, more vacant space will be added to the market in not just these new properties but also in the buildings where these tenants are relocating from. Might this be the beginning of the end for this expansive market?
1. Amazon Snubs Chicago – Chicago made an admirable run and allegedly finished in the top 5, but ultimately fell just short as Crystal City, Va, Long Island, NY and Nashville, TN, ended up splitting the grand prize. While the pros outweighed the cons, on the bright side, we no longer have to hear about this story every 10 minutes. There you have it. In my next blog, I'll let you know what I predict to be in store for 2019. Happy Holidays, everyone!
The Best of Chicago for 2018
Posted November 29, 2018 by Amanda
It is officially the season of giving and Willard Jones Real Estate is here to help. To contribute to your holiday fun, we hereby present the first annual (possibly) Willard Jones Real Estate Best of Chicago Awards for 2018. Apologies in advance to anyone we may have missed or offended. The only ground rule is that the winner must do business in the City of Chicago. Without further ado, away we go.
CATEGORY 1: FOOD
Best Deep-Dish Pizza: Lou Malnati's (multiple locations); runner-up: Pequod's (2207 N Clybourn)
Best Thin Crust Pizza: Martino's (3431 W Peterson); runner-up: Pete's Pizza (3737 N Western)
Best Hot Dog: Superdawg Drive-In (6363 N Milwaukee); runner-up: Downtown Dogs (804 N Rush)
Best Italian Beef: Mr. Beef (666 N Orleans); runner-up: Al's Beef (1079 W Taylor)
Best Cheeseburger: Twisted Spoke (501 N Ogden); runner-up: Au Cheval (800 W Randolph)
Best Corned Beef Sandwich: Manny's (1141 S Jefferson); runner-up: Eleven City Diner (1112 S Wabash)
Best Ice Cream: Chocolate Shoppe (5337 W Devon); runner-up: Margie's Candies (1960 N Western)
Best Gyro: Nick's Drive-In (7216 N Harlem); runner-up: Hub's (5540 N Lincoln)
Best Ribs: Gale Street Inn (4914 N Milwaukee); runner-up: Twin Anchors (1655 N Sedgwick)
Best Steak: Prime & Provisions (222 N LaSalle); runner-up: Chicago Chop House (60 W Ontario)
CATEGORY 2: RESTAURANTS
Best Italian Restaurant: Zia's Trattoria (6699 N Northwest Hwy); runner-up: Tufano's (1073 W Vernon Park)
Best Mexican Restaurant: El Cid (2645 N Kedzie), runner-up: Cafe El Tapatio (3400 N Ashland)
Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Naf Naf Grill (multiple locations); runner-up: Old Jerusalem (1411 N Wells)
Best Asian Restaurant: Sunda (110 W Illinois); runner-up: Joy Yee (2139 S China Place)
Best Deli: Tony's Italian Deli & Subs (6708 N Northwest Hwy); runner-up: Fumare Meats (131 N Clinton)
Most Romantic Restaurant: Tango Sur (3763 N Southport); runner-up: Geja's Café (340 W Armitage)
Best Brunch: Gather (4539 N Lincoln); runner-up: Lula Café (2537 N Kedzie)
Best Food Hall: French Market (131 N Clinton); runner-up: Revival Food Hall (125 S Clark)
CATEGORY 3: BARS and SPIRITS
Best Dive Bar: Old Town Ale House (219 W North); runner-up: Burke's Web Pub (2026 W Webster)
Best Sports Bar: State (935 W Webster); runner-up: Public House (400 N State)
Best Beer Garden: Sheffield's (3258 N Sheffield); runner-up: Chief O'Neill's (3471 N Elston)
Best Rooftop Bar: Cindy's (12 S Michigan); runner-up: The J. Parker (1816 N Clark)
Best Local Beer: Revolution Brewing (3340 N Kedzie); runner-up: Half Acre (2050 W Balmoral)
CATEGORY 4: CHICAGO THINGS
Best Neighborhood: Old Town; runner-up: Lincoln Park
Most Interesting Street: Lincoln Avenue; runner-up: Milwaukee Avenue
Best L Line: Brown Line; runner-up: Blue Line
Best L Station: Washington – Wabash; runner-up: Cermak – McCormick Place
Best Movie Theater: The Music Box (3733 N Southport); runner-up: Davis (4614 N Lincoln)
Best Live Music Venue: The Elbo Room (2871 N Lincoln); runner-up: Lincoln Hall (2424 N Lincoln)
Best Live Theater: Second City (1616 N Wells); runner-up: Windy City Playhouse (3014 W Irving Park)
Best Barber Shop: Civic Opera Salon (20 N Wacker); runner-up: none
Best Yoga Studio: The Space Between (222 W Hubbard); runner-up: none
Best Park: Lincoln Park; runner-up: Millennium Park
Best Hotel: Alise (former Hotel Burnham – 1 W Washington); runner-up: Four Seasons (120 E Delaware)
Best Touristy Thing to Do: Architectural Boat Tour; runner-up: visit the Museum Campus
Best Sports Venue: United Center; runner-up: Guaranteed Rate Field
Best College Sports Program: Loyola Men's Basketball; runner-up: Northwestern Football
CATEGORY 5: REAL ESTATE
Best Office Building Lobby: Franklin Center (227 W Monroe); runner-up: Santa Fe Building (224 S Michigan)
Best Office Building Exterior: 77 West Wacker; runner-up: Wrigley Building (400-410 N Michigan)
Best Classic Architecture: The Rookery (209 S LaSalle); runner-up: Monadnock Building (53 W Jackson)
Best Roof Top Deck: Civic Opera Building (20 N Wacker); runner-up: One Prudential Plaza (130 E Randolph)
Most Iconic Building: Willis Tower (233 S Wacker); runner-up: Merchandise Mart
Most Exciting New Development: The 78; runner-up: Lincoln Yards
Best Redevelopment: Old Post Office; runner-up; Tribune Tower
Best Tenant Rep Agency: CBIZ Gibraltar; runner-up: Colliers
Best Tenant Rep Broker: Jim Raisher (Corporate Real Estate Solutions); Tony Karmin (Colliers)
Best Landlord Rep Agency: Cushman & Wakefield; runner-up: Telos Group
Best Landlord Rep Broker: Dan Shannon (Aspire Properties); Aaron Zaretsky (Urban Innovations)
Best Co-Working Space: 1871 (Merchandise Mart); runner-up: Tech Nexus (20 N Wacker)
Now, bring on the debate! Let us know who we excluded and how crazy we are for a certain selection. Happy Holidays!
Why I Love/Hate Chicago
Posted November 1, 2018 by Amanda
I complain about things out of my control. Some of the recipients of those complaints? The weather, CTA, and people who annoy me. Where have I found all of these things in one place? The city of Chicago. I can utter the words, "I love this city!" and "I hate this city!" simultaneously, so I challenged myself to pick each topic and fit in both points of view.
So here is why I love/hate Chicago:
Boo: Fall is the most overrated season of all time. Not only does it last about 8 seconds, but it is also a reminder that 6 months of dark, freezing, icy, sadness is just around the corner. And don't get me started on the pumpkin spice flavored everything. I probably just put pumpkin spice gasoline in my car. Plus, that first fall morning when I step outside onto the frost-crusted grass and can see my breath…it causes my insides to curl inside themselves. Essentially, I spend 1/3 of the summer being sad that fall is on its way because I know that it's only the appetizer to winter which is even worse. Did you know that it snowed on April 18 this year? APRIL!
Yay: Fall in the Midwest is so beautiful. I love to grab a cozy drink and just walk around to see kids bundled up playing football in the park, step on crunchy leaves, and see the trees change from yellow to orange to red (especially from way-up-high) Not only that, it's the right temperature to get snugly while still being able to do fall activities like visiting apple orchards and pumpkin patches, which just aren't the same without a flannel shirt. Plus, Halloween isn't Halloween without a long sleeve shirt or jacket under my costume.
Boo: People who visit me in Chicago have, on multiple occasions, pointed out how much faster I walk and how much meaner I look since moving to the city. I blame it partly on having to learn to avoid the Green Peace and ASPCA people on all of the corners downtown. Now, my first instinct when someone comes up to me is "what are they trying to get from me?". That thinking encourages more entitlement and spiciness from people; everyone's always honking their horn, cutting people off in traffic, and swearing at bicyclists (who, to be fair, are also very annoying; you don't get to be a pedestrian AND a car). Bottom line, in any city there are the creeps, the weirdos, and the ones you shouldn't make eye contact with; my pink pepper spray I got as a Christmas gift–while never used–has been my little safety blanket for some iffy times.
Yay: I like to think that most people in the world want to do good and be good. And with a lot of the individuals I've met, that has been the case. In Chicago, I met people who will truly be friends for life. Right after I moved here, I quickly got into the volleyball community–and it really is a community–and it blew my mind how quickly everyone was to grow their friend group. They are like one big giant family–one who sets up tents, volleyball nets, and grills at 6 a.m. on the Fourth of July for an all-day barbecue. In my experience with almost anyone, even when a person seems standoffish, I try to greet them with kindness and their mood flips almost instantly. People hold doors open, are willing to help with directions, and understand the need for manners (most of the time). I've gotten that "we're all in this together" feel a lot of the time.
The public transit
Boo: Are you kidding? I can hardly go a day without refreshing the CTA's twitter page to find out why there's another delay on the Brown Line during rush hour (of course). Let's not forget the excruciating TENS of minutes spent on the platform in below-zero weather, standing beneath a flimsy lamp heater that makes me feel like an egg in a middle school science classroom. Oh how I love having someone's arm hair in my face or worse, being the unlucky patron stuck in the middle of a crowded train car, not blessed with long enough limbs to reach a bar to hold, trying to get a wide enough stance to balance, while hoping that the conductor doesn't make any sudden movements. Or perhaps walking onto the train and getting a whiff of a stale, farm-like stench, praying that it's not from urine that was left un-mopped and is now the reason your shoes are sticking to the floor.
Yay: Cruising by car after car in stop and go traffic is one of my favorite pastimes. Once I'm aboard, I know the train will take me 21 minutes to get to work, which is, conveniently, just enough time to watch an episode of The Office and have a few pre-work laughs. Even when it's rush hour, I don't have to pay attention to the road or focus on anything but distracting myself. And back to the weather, (unless you're spoiled with a heated garage) when you wake up to find an inch of ice clung to your windshield and must spend 10+ minutes scraping and clearing it away, sweating in your puffy jacket? I've never had to scrape ice off the windows of the train.
Oh Chicago, you have made me feel so many things in the past 7 years. I love your lake that looks like an ocean, your buildings that are equally beautiful whether it's night or day, and your endless restaurants and trendy cocktail bars. Not a big fan of your weather for 8 months out of the year, but we toughed it out. No matter where I go after you, however, nothing will change the space you occupied in my heart as my sweet home Chicago.


GOT TO BE THERE Michael Jackson. I was about 11 when this came out and I just loved it.
I'M COMING OUT Diana Ross. Fab!
YOU'RE A WINNER Sharon Redd. I just think she's really great!
STRANGE FRUIT Billie Holiday. It's beautiful, and old blues song with a really heart-felt vocal, all about the persecution of black people in America.
GET HAPPY Judy Garland. From and old Hollywood film—I think it's one of the best film songs ever recorded.
AIN'T NOBODY Chaka Khan. Because it's fab!
LIFE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL The Peech Boys. Because it's true!
MESSAGES Abba. I had five days' holiday this year in Ibiza which I really enjoyed, and this record was all I ever heard!
HIGH ENERGY Evelyn Thomas. Don't know why but I just don't like it.
HELLO Lionel Richie. I was very disappointed because I loved 'All Night Long'. A real let-down.
THE GIRL IS MINE Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. A waste of two great musicians.
EBONY AND IVORY Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. Same reason!
THE BIRDIE SONG The Tweets. No need to give a reason really, is there? EVERYONE hates this record.


text:
Q: Permission Design - Allow/Deny vs Allow Only I've come onto a new a project and the permissions are done with an allow and a deny option for every permission. Until now i've only ever seen/build allow only permissions.
What is the advantage of this? It seems to introduce extra complexity for developer as well as enduser.
The only situation i could think of that an Allow/Deny design can handle, that a Allow-Only can not is the following.
Role has a permission: AllowX = true and DenyX = false.
User has an empty permission.
In an allow-Only design you cannot add an empty permission to the user as only AllowX exists, so the "empty"  user scoped permission (where it says AllowX = false) would override the role scoped permission.
But there are obviously many ways to handle this. Just dont add an empty user permission by default. Make the default user permission an aggregate of the role permissions.
However you see this Allow/Deny model in windows and probably a lot bigger apps. Whats the reason?

A: If you only ever deal with individual users, individual assets and individual permissions, you probably don't need a deny permission.
As soon as you deal with groups, of users, assets or permissions, deny permissions make things much easier to manage. Some slightly made up examples:
Allow (Users = *, Table = *, Permission = Read)
Deny (Users = *, Table = credit_card_numbers, Permission = Read)

or
Allow (Users = TeamA_Group, Table = teama_*, Permission = Write)
Deny (Users = TeamAProjectManager, Table = teama_*, Permission = Write)

or
Allow (Users = TeamA_Group, Table = teama_*, Permission = *)
Deny (Users = TeamA_Group, Table = teama_*, Permission = Delete)

without a deny permission in those cases, you'd have to individually give read permission on every other table, to each member of TeamA other than the project manager, or to every non-delete permission. That's both error prone and needs action every time a new table / team member / permission arrives as opposed to just doing the right thing by default.

A: Allow/Deny allows hierarchical permissions, commonly demonstrated by files and folders.
ie  UserA can read and write the contents of /folder but is denied write for folder/file1
In this way, where there are many files in the folder I can express the permissions more succinctly than an Allow for every file plus a deny of the file1.
However! It's a flawed system. As the number of groups and objects increase the overlapping permissions become impossible to manage. In order to work out whether a user has a permission or not you have to calculate the combination of groups. No problem for a computer, but difficult for a human.
You can achieve the same complexity with a single layer permission system and "Roles". Each role gets a combination of single layer permissions, which don't change  and users are assigned to roles.
Because the permissions are static and require no calculation they are easily understood, and because users are assigned to these roles rather than each having their own combination of permissions you can easily state who can do what.


text:
Mega Man Zero Collection (DS) Review
It's the end of the work week, and you're looking for a game that will stimulate the senses. How about Mega Man Zero Collection for the Nintendo DS? There's action, explosions, and plenty of satisfactory gameplay. Here's the review.
Zeroing In On Action
The Gameboy Advance was a remarkable system with remarkable games. Of course, it wasn't called a PORTable for nothing as companies far and wide placed ports of hits gone by onto the system. Instead of doing the same and possibly putting Mega Man I-V Game Boy versions on the GBA, Capcom opted to bring a whole new series with a new attitude to the Gameboy Advance. What transpired was Mega Man Zero, a balls-to-the-wall difficult game that would clobber even the most elite player out there. The game would see three sequels and now this collection for the DS, Mega Man Zero Collection. Is this collection worth... well... collecting?
A resistance group is having their backs against the wall against Neo-Arcadian forces. With little room to run, the leader of the resistance, Ciel, stumbles upon a dilapidated capsule in a dank forest. Right when she needs help the most, our long lost hero in Zero, leaps out of the capsule, destroys the pursuing Neo-Arcadian forces and agrees to assist Ciel in destroying the leader of Neo-Arcadia-- Mega Man X himself! It turns out the big bad is just a copy of the real Mega Man X thankfully. Oops. I spoiled Mega Man Zero for you, didn't I? I'm an ass.
No matter the size, Zero will cut them down.
In Mega Man Zero 2, the resistance base is destroyed, so Ciel, Zero and the rest of the resistance team up with another group led by the charismatic, Elpizo. Meanwhile, Neo-Arcadia had put one of the Four Generals from the previous game as leader of the foundation. Elpizo was hell-bent on destroying Neo-Arcadia head-on (apply directly to the forehead) with Operation: Righteous Strike. Unfortunately, they were no match for Neo-Arcadia. Now it's time for another plan. The mysterious Dark Elf was Elpizo's target this time. It is Elpizo who wants the power of the Dark Elf for himself, and it's up to Zero to stop him!
Mega Man Zero 3 begins with a spaceship that has crashed nearby, threatening an energy reaction strong as the Dark Elf is looming at the spaceship's crash site, Zero and the rest of resistance high-tail it to investigate. It's up to Zero to find the source of the energy and eliminate it.
Finally, in the ultimate chapter of the Mega Man Zero saga, Mega Man Zero 4, Zero and company have left the resistance base feeling that constantly being in movement via cargo vehicles is a smarter plan than just being sitting ducks. Suddenly they drive into an attack by a swath of reploids. They soon learn of Neo-Arcadia's fate via a reporter at the attacked base. Neo-Arcadia has been hideously transformed into the base of the evil sci guy, Dr. Weil. Dr. Weil is no mood for peace and harmony and demands any reploid, human, or Maverick be disintegrated immediately! The cargo vehicles Zero and the resistance joined up with left Neo-Arcadia because of this, and planned to reach an all-human settlement before they were attacked. Zero must once again stop Dr. Weil's sinister plans before all robot and humankind is eliminated!
This Pegasus has a real problem now!
The Mega Man Zero games follow a different formula than the Mega Man X games. This time around you choose from a list of missions from destroying bombs before they explode to taking down a specific target or targets. Some of these missions are incredibly difficult while others are a breeze to take on. Each mission usually ends with a boss confrontation against a wily robot (did you see what I did there?). These encounters all have patterns of attack and openings for Zero to attack.
As you use your weapons, the Z-saber, the Z-buster, the chain rod, and the shield, they level up in abilities. They grow stronger as you take enemies down with them. In Mega Man Zero 4, by performing certain feats such as taking out fifty enemies with your Z-buster, your body type changes to things like Active type, Speed type, among others. This changes the game considerably with new abilities given from these new forms.
Wall-climbing from the X series makes its return.
Also a mainstay in the Zero series are Cyber Elves. These give Zero new abilities, more health, extra lives, spike death prevention, and more. However, using a Cyber Elf detracts points from your ending mission score where you get scored by completing the mission, not taking damage, not using Cyber Elves, time you took on the mission, and enemies defeated. Gaining a high point score will give Zero an S or A rank which will give him boss bonuses after they're defeated.
New to the collection is Easy mode. This is basically hard-to-die mode where you get all the Cyber Elves, double damage on enemies, double-health for Zero, and lessened spike damage when stabbed. You play through Mega Man Zero 1 all the way to 4 with the obvious ability to save. It's a fun mode for younger players or those looking for a more relaxing experience.
This boss freezes copies of itself all around the arena.
Visually, the games were impressive for the Gameboy Advance. On the Nintendo DS, they're simply capable visuals. Still, there's nothing ugly to be noted of, and characters are designed very well. They still hold up as all good art usually does. Sound-wise, the music is very good with some rockin' beats to play along to as you blast away enemies and other baddies. The voices are all Japanese, so that doesn't bother the ears as would a poor dub. Still, it would have been nice to have had English voices. Regardless, the text in the game is nearly error-free.
Ultimately, Mega Man Zero Collection is a winner. It has modes for both new and experienced players. The gameplay still holds up to this day (well, it's only been less than a decade) as do the vibrant visuals. Overall, the experience is a good one with four games on one game card, Mega Man Zero Collection is one collection worth owning even if it doesn't have as much new content as I'd like.
[SuperPhillip Says: 8.25/10]
Labels: ds, mega man zero collection, review
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS) Commercial
Here's a weird ad for you. I somehow found it disturbing for some reason, and I hated the kid in the commercial. Maybe you'll enjoy it somehow. It's the Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS) advertisement.
Djinn are for slaying monsters.
Labels: advertisement, commercial, dark dawn, ds, golden sun
SPC Quickies Volume Eight: It Only Does Everything
Besides play its back catalog, am I right? Nailed it. Regardless, tonight we're ending our look at my console collection with the PlayStation 3, a mighty system with some wonderful games both first and third party. Quickie reviews are always rated from 1-5, five being the best, one being the worst. Let's get to work!
007 Quantum of Solace - Bond is back, and this time Activision is in charge. Their first attempt combined both Daniel Craig movies, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, into one cohesive package. The gunplay was fast, fun, and forgettable, really, but I think Activision really nailed it when came to the controls. Online multiplayer had several enjoyable maps and there's seldom a wait to play. 4/5
3D Dot Game Heroes - This homage to Zelda does it well. You earn new weapons and items inside the game's many dungeons and you take on that dungeon's boss. The game is no slouch. The entire landscape and characters are made from dots. This unusual graphical style is a cool approach to the tired gray and ugly games on the system. Does it beat Zelda? No, but it's a good try all the same. 4/5
Batman: Arkham Asylum - The dark knight returns for this game that doesn't suck! A Batman game that doesn't suck? Get out of here! It's true and it plays similarly to a Metroid game in some aspects as you earn new gadgets to reach new places. The voice acting team from the animated series returns in epic fashion, and if that doesn't win you over, the fantastic gameplay will. 4/5
Darksiders - Get on your horse and start attacking. Darksiders plays like a brooding Zelda with items you get from dungeons that are used to defeat said dungeon's boss. It brings its own mythos to the table in a post-apocalyptic world. Haven't had many of those this generation. Regardless, if you're in for a Zelda-like experience hop on your trusty steed and banish those monsters to Hell. 4/5
Dead Space - Not since Resident Evil 4 has a game unnerved me as much as Dead Space. This goes especially true on Impossible mode where buying the right equipment can be the difference between death and survival. The evil necromorphs are hideous in their own right, but they're no sissies either. They'll happily run after you, sink their claws into your flesh, and rip you right apart. Dinner, anyone? 4/5
God of War Collection - Two games for budget price? I'm there. The God of War Collection features both God of War I and God of War II with some exclusive content thrown in for good measure. There's not much one can say about these two epic games, so I'll let the score do the talking. 5/5
God of War III - Enter once again Kratos' tragic past and present in God of War III, one of the most visually impressive games of our time. Though graphics can only get one so far as we've seen most of the tricks the God of War series has in its arsenal. There's really little new to this ultimate chapter of the series. Still, it's darned cool to whip the undead into shape Kratos-style. 4/5
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds - What do you get when you take all the content-rich features from Hot Shots Golf Fore and translate it to the PS3? You get significantly less content, less features, and more importantly, less fun. The game still is enjoyable, but the lack of courses, characters, and challenges hurts this golfing extravaganza. 3/5
inFAMOUS - Play as Cole as you choose between hero or villain in this sandbox title. Hurt people and your street cred will be negative. Help people and your cred will make you popular among the townspeople. There's truly elements of Sucker Punch's last game, Sly Cooper, in the gameplay here from leaping atop poles and wires to effortlessly leaping to another platform. Just put the mute button on the annoying fat dude. 4/5
LittleBigPlanet - Create, play, and share is the mantra of the LittleBigPlanet series, and it's all wonderful. You can create epic levels with all the tricks and treats you can think of, play your level with others, or share it the masses online. That's not to mention the awesome single-player mode where you can gain your ideas from. A content-rich game anyone can enjoy, LittleBigPlanet gets a big recommendation. 5/5
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - I loved MGS3: Snake Eater, so I assumed I'd love the latest installment. Not a chance. It's as if Hideo Kojima did acid as he wrote the script of this piece of crap. It made sense to him then, so why wouldn't it make sense to us? The gameplay is fine and never better, actually. The stealth gameplay is fun. It's just the damned story that blows chunks. 3/5
ModNation Racers - Taking that mantra of LittleBigPlanet and using it on a racing game, ModNation Racers is a fast and fun kart racer that couldn't quite beat Mario Kart. Sure, you can create and customize your own tracks, but the racing part wasn't all quite there. Then you have the massive loading times, and you have a lot of frustration. Still, the game is really enjoyable, and creating your own tracks is an awesome experience. 4/5
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift - Motorstorm: Pacific Rift takes you on sixteen courses split up between four types of courses: air, fire, water, and land. Each course has been designed for maximum fun and carnage. Each track has specific routes laid out for specific vehicles. For instance, a big rig should take ramps that launch them into the air as a motorcycle shouldn't go through deep mud or water. A great racer that anyone can enjoy. 4/5
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time - You'd think after eight or nine installments in less than a decade would give a franchise a bit of fatigue, but with Ratchet & Clank, you'd apparently be wrong. This time, time travel is the main story arc with certain characters fixated on ruling the world one era at a time. It's up to Ratchet and Clank to take Dr. Nefarious out once again! With great platforming and great action, A Crack in Time is a great entry in this great series. 4/5
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction - While A Crack in Time had a better platforming/shooting ration, Tools of Destruction is more about shooting than platforming. This isn't bad, mind you, but it does get a bit more repetitive. The signature humor of the series is there as is the entertaining gameplay, so what else could a person ask for? 4/5
Resident Evil 5 - Throwing away its survival-horror part of things and adding pure action, Resident Evil 5 is more about blowing away zombie-like characters than running in pure fear. At least Resident Evil 4 has some scary moments. Resident Evil 5 is really devoid of them. That doesn't make it a bad game. It's just a different one than what fans were expecting. Still, the gunplay's enjoyable and the surprises are many in this terrific title. 4/5
Resistance 2 - Play in one of three modes: the single-player campaign, cooperative mode, or multiplayer deathmatch style in Resistance 2. Most people are down on this sequel, but I found it quite a blast. The campaign was interesting enough, the cooperative missions were mad fun, and the multiplayer was balanced and quite good. This is coming from someone who nearly got his platinum. That's how much this game was a good time for me. 4/5
Saints Row 2 - The Saints are back, and this time they're pissed. The Row has turned into an ultra-rich part of the city, the gang's been split up, and your character had some reconstructive surgery. That's how bad that ship explosion was. The sandbox gameplay of Saints Row 2 beats out Grand Theft Auto IV easily to me. There's just more stuff to do and less "oscar-worthy" dialog. 4/5
Singstar - Singstar's my first singing game, so I went easy on it to be fair. The SingStore isn't updated nearly as much as it should be on the North American side of things, and the choice of music is mostly pop tunes instead of more interesting music like classic rock. Of course, that's just my preference. Can't fault the game for that. Singing solo or with a friend is a really cool experience, and going for high scores is its own challenge. 3/5
Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing - This was the game that to me beat out Mario Kart Wii. It's full of fair and fun racing with a host of SEGA characters represented such as Ulala, Aiai, Alex Kidd, and Beat, for starters. The courses are expertly designed with smart twists and turns and clever references to SEGA brands in the backgrounds. No matter the system, Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing is a fantastic racer worthy of your money. 4/5
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection - Over thirty classic Genesis games on one Blu-ray disc is a mighty fine present indeed. There's some stinkers here and there such as Golden Axe, but for the most part, the collection is full of quality games. From Alex Kidd to Sonic the Hedgehog, there's a game here for everybody. 4/5
Super Street Fighter IV - I'm not too big on fighters. After playing Tatsunoko VS. Capcom on Wii, I was thinking fighting games weren't too hard to get into. Apparently I was wrong as learning moves, combos, and specials for each character is like studying for your midterm. It's a chore. I hate myself for wasting $40.00 new on this game. It's just not for me. 2/5
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - Sure, enemies might be bullet sponges, and the game might be a little too linear for its own good, but Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a sensational experience from beginning to end. It plays like a Hollywood movie which many games nowadays seem to aspire to but often fail. Well, Uncharted is no failure, buddy. It's got that hardcore action and gunplay that many games strive for. 4/5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Sure, enemies might still be bullet sponges, and the game might still be a little too linear for its own good, but Uncharted 2: Among Thieves triumphs over the original with more delicious set pieces, fast and wild gunplay, and an always smart-mouthed hero in Drake. There's no better experience than Uncharted 2 on the PlayStation 3 when you a little action in your life. 5/5
White Knight Chronicles: International Edition - This by-the-numbers action-RPG mixes human combat with giant relic combat. The story may be at times corny, but it's an interesting tale from beginning to end. The battling is rather fresh as well with plenty of monsters to slay, baddies to beat, etc. Is it the most originally RPG out there? No, but it is one of the more intriguing ones on the PlayStation 3. 4/5
Phew! What a workout! This concludes my grading my current-gen console collection, so until next time-- adieu!
If you missed a previous Quickie segment or just want to reminisce of old times, check them out here:
[SPC Quickies]
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Volume Six
Volume Seven
Labels: games, playstation 3, ps3, quickies, spc, volume eight
Most Overlooked PSP Games - Part Three
It's been quite awhile since we've last checked on a platform's most overlooked titles. Well, consider that streak over as tonight we're checking out more of the PSP's titles that many of you missed out on (or illegally downloaded). We have a good batch of games tonight to share with each other, so let's get to it!
Hot Shots Tennis: Get A Grip
The critically-acclaimed Hot Shots series takes to the court once again for the first time ever on a portable. Saying it's one of the best handheld tennis games is no hyperbole. This game has it all from character customization to an easy-to-learn-hard-to-master system of gameplay. Not only that but at launch, this game was only $19.99. I know PSP software sales are bad, but give me a break!
The portable version of LittleBigPlanet couldn't even come close to the sales of its big brother on the PlayStation 3. It's a shame, too, since this capable platformer is quite good with Sony Bend at the helm. Creating levels was just as fun, the run and jump gameplay stood still stellar, and the presentation was still overwhelming cute. Another example of no sequel success with LittleBigPlanet-- PSP style.
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier
Jak and Daxter have returned, and this time they've pillaged both the PSP and PlayStation 2. Unfortunately, neither version set the world on fire in sales or critical acclaim even though this adventure was a very enjoyable one. Take flight in air combat or take to Jak's feet in the traditional platforming fun. Even Dark Daxter had fun kicking butt in this excellent platformer/high flying shooter.
The PlayStation 3 version failed to light up the charts the way Sony wanted it to, so why would anyone expect its little PSP brother to do the same. Step your game up, Sony, I guess would be an ironic thing to say. With nearly all of the content of the PS3 version, the ability to devise your own tracks and characters, and a fun single-player campaign, ModNation Racers was one racer a lot of gamers should be kicking themselves for missing-- no matter the platform.
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
A truly overlooked title-- one that you could call niche to the max-- was Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure. This adventure game had your heroine trying to save the monster world from a slimy antagonist. With only her drill to take enemies out, our heroine (I can't remember her name to be honest) marches forth to save the world in this action-RPG/adventure game. If you can find this game, it's only twenty bucks, so there's really nothing holding you back.
Missed out on past PSP most overlooked games? Have no fear. Here are the links to them for your game-guzzling self!
PSP - Part One
PSP - Part Two
Labels: games, most overlooked, part 3, psp
PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure (Wii) Review
Over the weekend I went to Blockbuster and picked up PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure purely on impulse. I had covered the game before, so I was interested in how it came up. Here's my review of the game to let you know.
No admission required.
All screenshots by SuperPhillip.
When it first came out, Pokemon was considered a fad. A decade later and there's still some very bitter people calling it the same. These people aren't the brightest. Regardless, starting with Pokemon Snap on the Nintendo 64, spinoffs of the Pokemon series on consoles have been a popular thing to do. The Wii has already seen the less than stellar Pokemon Battle Revolution, and now it's set to see PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure as it just came out the first of November. Is this a sickeningly cute game or will it shock you with its horribleness?
One innocent day, Pikachu, Charmander, Chikorita, and Piplup were playing when suddenly the legendary Pokemon Mew entered the fray. He opened a tunnel into the world of the PokePark, and Pikachu entered followed by his friends. Mew called upon the help of Pikachu and his friends because Mew's PokePark is in trouble, and only collecting the twelve (or was it fourteen?) Sky Prism pieces will order be restored to the island. It's a tough job, but if someone's got to do it best be Pikachu.
The gameplay of PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure is to have Pikachu travel to and unlock new zones of the PokePark. It is there where he'll meet new Pokemon and attempt to befriend them. How does Pikachu befriend a fellow Pokemon? Usually by playing a quick mini-game with them such as chase where the goal is to catch a retreating Pokemon before time runs out, hide-and-seek, a quiz based on question pertaining to the PokePark, or a battle where Pikachu dukes it out with another Pokemon. Whoever's HP goes down to zero first is the loser. There's really no tension here as all you need to do is hit and then dash to the left or right to avoid an attack and then dash back into the enemy. Rinse and repeat.
The Meadow Zone is Pikachu's first stop on his adventure.
In the PokePark, however, there are owners of each zone. These owners won't become your friend until you have at least won their attractions. What are attractions, you ask? They are deeper, more involved mini-games that pit you against other Pokemon either in foot dash races where shaking the remote like a madman is all that is needed to do, or a rope swing where letting go at the right angle with lead to great success. There's a mini-game where you slide down an icy racetrack, going through slaloms for a boost of speed as you try to beat the clock, and one where you perform a hurdle race. It's important to note that the friends you've made can participate in many of the events giving they're eligible. For instance, a Pokemon without wings very well can't perform in a flying mini-game. After you've completed the attraction, you'll get a piece of the immaculate Sky Prism.
Swing from rope to rope in this attraction.
Pikachu does not control the best in this game. He makes wide circles which makes delicate platforming (obstacle hops) a challenge at first. You hold the Wii remote like an NES controller to play. Pressing the 1 button causes Pikachu to dash while pressing the 2 button makes Pikachu leap into the air. By pointing at the screen and holding the B button, you can enter first-person view and explore your surroundings with your eyes. Holding B in third-person view centers the camera behind the yellow mouse.
PokePark Wii isn't a long game. In fact, it can be completed in less than seven hours. Then there's the bonus content to plow through. This makes this game a hard buy to justify. Instead, it's more of a quick rental which is the road I chose. Without much replay value (beating high scores as every Pokemon is more of a lesson in ennui instead of a challenge), PokePark Wii isn't the best argument to spend your hard-earned cash on.
The Flower Zone is your penultimate stop on your journey.
The visuals of PokePark Wii are fairly simple. The textures are rather bland, but the view is a nice one regardless of this little hang-up. The Pokemon use their own voices instead of their 8-bit atrocities which was a pleasant surprise. The music is soothing and pretty good, too. Overall, PokePark Wii sort of phones it in when it comes to graphics, but sound-wise it's not half-bad.
Ultimately, PokePark Wii is a rental and nothing more. There's simply not enough content to justify a fifty-dollar purchase (can you say "rip-off"?). For what it is though, PokePark Wii is fun enough while it lasts if you're a Pokemaniac or a young player. Otherwise, this park is one you need not visit.
[SuperPhillip Says: 5.5/10]
Labels: pikachu's adventure, pokepark wii, review, wii
Sonic Colors (Wii, DS) Commercial
This is the North American advertisement for Sonic Colors which comes out tomorrow at a game retailer near you. It's a pretty clever commercial showcasing Sonic's signature speed as he takes a bite of the apple before the bullet can even penetrate it. You show 'em, Sonic. You might finally have a fandom-praised 3D game!
Get into your inner speed demon here.
Labels: advertisement, commercial, ds, sonic colors, wii
Mario VS. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem (DS) Commercial
It's that time of the holiday season where the greatest games of the year all come out to beg for your precious dollars. This is a title that will probably go under the radar this season. It's the third version of the puzzling Mario VS. Donkey Kong Mini Mario series, Mario VS. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem for the Nintendo DS. This ad reminds me of an old-school Nintendo commercial. What do you think?
Get your mini on here.
Labels: advertisement, commercial, ds, mario vs. donkey kong, mini-land mayhem
SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - A Fine November Day Edition
Welcome to Monday here at SuperPhillip Central. The work week/school week begins, but the VGMs are here to brighten your day! Today we have music from Mega Man 10, Monster Hunter Tri, and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! for starters. Why don't we get to it now?
v601. Mega Man 10 - Abandoned Memory
We kick off the next one-hundred with a track from the Rockman 10 Image Album which is an arranged version of the original 8-bit soundtrack. Our specimen this installment happens to be Abandoned Memory, the theme heard during Dr. Wily's first castle stage. I love it when it kicks in with the guitar riff. Mega Man 10 was much more enjoyable to me than Mega Man 9. Mega Man 9 just had too many cheap points that required the player knowing what was coming. Since when was I Psychicman?
v602. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! - Sherbet Land
Sherbet Land is among my favorite Mario Kart: Double Dash tracks. I love the festive winter theme, the Shy Guys skating on the ice, and the freezies at the end serving as a minefield of sorts. Some other of my favorite Double Dash tracks include Rainbow Road, Mushroom Bridge, Baby Park, Mario Circuit, Dino Dino Jungle, Peach Beach, Dai-- I think I'm listing them all, aren't I? Perhaps I should have listed the ones I didn't like instead!
v603. Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo - Fierce Battle
This theme from Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo puts you in the mood for a fight, doesn't it? Like most Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z games, the soundtrack is very well composed and catchy. We've already shown off two themes already, so here's a third to further whet your appetite. The game itself is a 2-1/2D beat-em-up with some platforming elements. You can find it for a low price of $19.99 at most retailers. Not a bad deal to jump at, especially for a Dragon Ball fan.
v604. LittleBigPlanet (PSP) - Neopolitan Dreams
LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation Portable differed from its bigger brother by only have two different planes to run across instead of three. Despite this, the designers really showed how creative they are with the level design. It's just terrific. This theme, Neopolitan Dreams, plays in the very first level of the game. It gets you into the whole Play, Create, and Share mentality. If you own a PSP, do yourself a service to yourself and pick up LittleBigPlanet.
v605. Monster Hunter Tri - Sea and Land Tremble / Ragiakrus
Monster Hunter Tri and Picross 3D have become addictions of mine. I've continually played four hour sessions of the same darned game. Regardless, I'm always making a little progress or else why bother? This theme plays when hunting one of many huge monsters. As an early player, I always associate it with the bird-like creature, Qurupeco. Without the tribal beat, it sounds like something out of a Bond film. The music, not Qurupeco!
We part for now, but stay tuned for more musical magic with more of my patented VGMs! If you're curious as to future or past installments, check out my Youtube channel. Until we meet again, adieu.
Labels: double dash, dragon ball, favorite, littlebigplanet, mario kart, megaman 10, monster hunter tri, psp, revenge of king piccolo, superphillip, vgms
PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure (Wii) Screens
I've been having a little bit of fun with my rental of PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure for Wii. I was lucky to see it at my local Blockbuster and quickly picked it up. Here inside you can check out some of the photos I took using the game's photograph mode. I hope you enjoy the pretty good visuals the game has to offer. Warning: SPOILERS. If you care about that kind of thing, of course, for a Pokemon spin-off game...
Labels: pikachu's adventure, pokepark wii, screens
Toughest Tasks in Gaming History - Volume One
SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Just the Way to Kick Off Your Week Edition
SPC Quickies Volume Eight: It Only Does Everything...
Mario VS. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem (DS) Comme...
SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - A Fine November Day...


Our giant online library has gathered together a history of music, particularly Rock and Pop Music.
A Music Primer - a general overview of music and how it's made.
Folk Music - the music with which the people of a nation or an ethnic group most specifically identify themselves.
African-American Music - music of the African natives sold into slavery in the Americas, and of their descendants. comprising work songs, calls, field and street cries, hollers, rhyme songs, and spirituals.
Pop Music - music produced for and sold to a broad audience, including jazz, soundtracks, country/western music, soul music, and rock music.
Rock Music - a group of related music styles that have dominated popular music in the West since about 1955.
An Overview of World Music - world popular music that has been influenced by Western pop and Western popular music that incorporates significant non-Western influences.
African Music - the music of Africans who live south of the Sahara.
Arab Music - music of the Arab nations of the Middle East and North Africa.
Chinese Music - the vocal and instrumental music composed and played by the Chinese people.
Greek Music - music primarily of ancient Greek civilization.
Indian Music - many musical genres of different regions of India, reflecting the diversity of its peoples, their life-styles, and their languages.
Japanese Music - traditional music of Japan, performed by small ensembles of instruments and voices.
Jewish Music - religious, folk, and popular music of the Jewish people.
Latin American Music - music of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Native American Music - the music of the indigenous peoples of North and South America.


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About Coach
2012 NBA Finals: Game 5 Preview
Home Uncategorized 2012 NBA Finals: Game 5 Preview
There is no secret the Oklahoma City Thunder have their backs against the wall down 3-1 to the Miami Heat. They have competed every step of the way, but find it very difficult to stop LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and company. Do I think it's over?? No I don't, there are things that the Oklahoma City Thunder can do to change things up and make it difficult on the Heat and I will discuss them right now. Some of the items may be out of the box, but most are simple changes.
Take Russell Westbrook off the Ball
Westbrook isn't a point guard today, he wasn't one yesterday, and may never be one and that's ok. Westbrook is a dynamic athlete that can score points by using his strength and athletic abilities to create opportunities. He shouldn't have the ball in his hands because it takes the flow out of the offense and leaves the Thunder with a lot of under 10 second decisions to be made. Kevin Durant is the best scorer in this series and needs the ball in his hands. Having a score first guard dominate the ball and then try to get into something is very hard even for them. The best playmaker in the roster is James Harden. I know he's a shooting guard and has a great flow coming off of the bench, but you need someone that can make plays for others running the point. If Eric Maynor was healthy I would say put him on the ball and keep Harden off the bench, but with Maynor out, Harden would do a very good job getting the ball to both Westbrook and Durant as well as being an extra scorer in the game. What about Sefolosha you ask? Keep him in the starting lineup and go small with Durant at the 4 and Serge Ibaka in the starting lineup. Having Westbrook at the point has its advantages as far as a guy who can change the game, but he shoots them out of games too much especially in the half court variety.
Change the lineup
Go small, with Harden, Westbrook, Sefolosha, Durant, Ibaka. Miami has made a living going small on them all series and this is where it needs to go. Take advantage of their young legs, fire power and ability to switch on almost every pick and roll combination. Perkins doesn't fit for this matchup. If you are facing Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, or Roy Hibbert that is one thing, but you are facing a light center in Bosh. Serge Ibaka is one of the best defenders in the league and constantly protects the rim with his shot blocking and mobility. By starting two big men they are slow and bulky. Offensively Perkins doesn't give you any advantages besides for deep post touches and his lack of athletic ability makes it tough for him to consistently finish and be a factor. A smaller more hybrid lineup will make them faster, allow them to matchup better with Miami's smaller lineup, and give them more fire power. With Harden starting at point guard it takes scoring from their bench, but they are young and can handle the overload of minutes. Their backs are against the wall. Nick Collison needs to come off the bench and they need to bury Perkins, again it's not anything against Perkins personally just a bad match up for him. This will also enable them to play Daequan Cook more coming off of the bench. Cook can spread the floor with his shot making ability. He's been buried n this series but can provide a spark off the bench as well as Derek Fisher. Fisher can provide backup minutes at the point and then you can put Harden back at the shooting guard spot, take Westbrook out and then go back to Westbrook at the point guard spot for limited minutes. A lineup shake up will be the big key in changing this series.
Change the way you use Kevin Durant on Offense
Right now he's primarily getting used in isolations and post ups. This makes it easy for LeBron James and the Heat to load up and guard him. Run him off multiple screens and force LeBron to move on defense to tire out. If they over play Durant on pin downs then they can roll their big men like the Bulls do with Kyle Korver or how the Celtics use Ray Allen. Kevin Durant isn't a great isolation player. He's a shot-maker with the ability to go off of the dribble. You need to force LeBron to work on defense as well as the Heat. You can just give Durant the ball 30 feet and expect him to perform consistently against this Heat defense and one of the most dynamic athletes ever to play pro sports in LeBron. Take Durant off of the ball and run plays away from him and then send him into it late to force Miami to over rotate. This scheme will work well and open up opportunities to manufacture points in other ways.
Utilize their big men
I know that none of the Thunder big men are scorers on the block and that's fine. But they need to have more of a roll in the Thunder offense. Put them in pick and rolls and have them roll to the rim. Run dribble hand offs and roll them off of them this way it forces Heat defenders to have to rotate off their men on the weak side as well as strong side to bump their big men. They need to score more than 20 points in every game to put pressure on the Heat defense. It can't just come from isolations on the wing, transition, and jump shots. Again, it is understood that the only way they can score right now is Ibaka jumpers, Collison energy, and Perkins putbacks/deep post touches. But no one will really respect them and foul to send them to the line. This will increase their easy points as well as force the Heat to foul early putting them in the bonus at 7 minute marks or so in the quarter giving them the opportunity to go to the free throw line.
Play more zone
You are playing a team with limited shot making that have two players that can slash your defense to pieces on penetration in James and Wade. Force them to pass the ball and close the driving lanes. This will take away dribble penetration and force them to take perimeter jumpers. We all know what happened in game 1 when James and Wade tried to take a majority of long jump shots. Playing man to man opens up driving lanes even when they shrink the floor. I would sit back in an active zone and make them shoot tough jump shots.
I still think the Thunder have a chance, but they will need to change their game a little bit and come up with something that catches the Heat off guard. It is an uphill battle for sure. None of what I wrote today is anything against Coach Scott Brooks ort his staff in any way. As a coach you have observations and wanted to share them with my viewers and other basketball people. Please email me at info@hoopconsultants.com or tweet us at @hoopconsultants with your thoughts on this post.
Mike Procopio / About Author
Dallas Mavericks Director of Player Development
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We are delighted to announce that following a rigorous recruitment process, Bernadette Connor has been appointed as the Deputy Director of the Education Service with effect from September 2015.
Currently the Diocesan Primary RE Adviser, Bernadette has been supporting diocesan schools and governing bodies in this capacity since September 2013. Prior to taking up position as Primary RE Adviser, Bernadette served as Headteacher in two of our Catholic Primary Schools; St Francis of Assisi, Crawley, and St Bernadette's, Brighton.
We congratulate Bernadette and wish her well in her new post.
As a result of Bernadette's promotion, the role of full-time Primary RE Adviser for September 2015 will be advertised. We are very blessed as a Diocese and are well aware we have a number of outstanding practitioners who could potentially serve as RE Adviser.
Further details about the post, including information around the Job Description, salary, etc, will be available shortly.


As a young entrepreneur who is trying to start up a new business, it's clear that you need good workers. But how to motivate your employees to give their best is another story. There has to be a balance found between doing the right thing as a human being, and doing the responsible thing as an entrepreneur who needs their employees to get the job done. There's a lot that you can do to push your employees to work harder, but at the end of the day, it's how your employees respond that will make all the difference.
Try the following techniques to help you bring out the best in your employees without making you look like "the bad guy" (or girl!).
That old cliché that "workers are assets" for young entrepreneurs should be tweaked to read "good workers are assets." Employees do little good for a startup business, after all, if all they do is sit around and collect a paycheck. But those on both sides of the employer-employee equation who expect and nurture a fair, two-way street are the ones who are going to provide the business with the growth and revenue potential it needs.
These mutually respectful relationships are what will help a startup business move forward and achieve success. So, find good people, surround yourself with them, and make sure to appreciate them and the hard work they put in to your company. Ensure they are respected and well compensated for their efforts. That attitude is likely to get you more of the same effort in the future!
You need to have a clear vision of the direction you want to take the company. Have a plan for where you want to be in three months and a year, versus where you want to be in five or ten years. Make this clear to the employees and be sure they understand the vision for the company. If they don't know what the vision is they can't ensure they are working toward the same goals.
It pays to offer additional incentives to employees who are working diligently to help achieve the vision of the company. It not only motivates employees to continue to work hard to continue to achieve that vision, but it also lets them know that the company appreciates their hard work. It shows that you as the employer are willing to give back to those who give to your company. It makes the concept of a "two-way" street a reality. Things like gift cards, cash bonuses, or extra paid vacation days are great motivators to help workers to continue to support your vision into the future.
Help workers who might be struggling or need some extra guidance. Care about them as workers and as people. Show them the way they should do things. If this means rolling up your sleeves, getting your hands dirty, and helping people understand how it's done, then get out there and do it! Take interest in the workers, listen to their feedback, make adjustments accordingly, and work with the employees to make the business the best it can be. It's your money in this, so your interest in it succeeding is high. Appreciate employees who take this same interest and help them be successful!
If you can't stand behind the work you're doing 100%, then don't do it! Simple as that! If you believe fully in what you are doing, and do things with ethics, honor, and integrity, then others will believe in it too. Build your company in such a way that no one can say anything but positive things about it. This is your business and your future, so nurture a positive image of your company to inspire your workers to appreciate it as much as you.
Bittu Kumar is Co-founder of Enterslice, a Cloud CA and legal platform backed by AI. He is also published author of seven books on marketing and technology.