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School board election comes down to four votes in El Paso, Texas
By Tyler King
In El Paso, Texas, unofficial election night vote totals on June 15 showed Joshua Acevedo leading Rene Vargas with 578 votes to Vargas' 574 votes. The two candidates competed in a general election runoff for the District 3 seat of the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees. Vargas had not made a decision about whether to challenge the results as of Saturday night.
The District 6 seat went to a runoff as well, with Fareed Khlayel winning with 72.4% of the vote. The elections in District 2 and District 7 were decided during the May 4 general election.
The El Paso Independent School District serves about 60,000 students.
https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_school_board_elections,_2019
https://ballotpedia.org/El_Paso_Independent_School_District,_Texas
Tyler King
Tyler King is a staff writer at Ballotpedia and can be reached at tyler.king@ballotpedia.org


I've just received notification from Ruth Churchill at CILT of some FREE resources available. Never one to look a gift horse …, I immediately investigated!
Apparently May 9th is Europe Day (I'm afraid this was the first I'd heard of it!) and the European Commission has produced a booklet to promote the day as well as provide information promoting the EU.
What do we know about the member states of the European Union? Whereabouts is the statue with more clothes than one would find in any woman's wardrobe. Did they really use eggs to built a bridge in Prague? Could there still be an island where no female either human or animal is allowed? This and a lot more information on the 27 member countries of the European Union e.g. their size and population, famous citizens etc. is answered in our little booklet "Passport to the European Union" which also includes stickers of coins, flags, buildings and even a map. Children can find places for the stickers in the passport and on the map.
So don't hang around- there are now 100 less copies as my order's already in!
Here's a montage of posters used in previous years to promote the day – perhaps it'll inspire you!
To find out what's going on in the UK, have a look at the events diary – I like the look of the Giant European Union Pub Quiz in Wrexham! And there's also a whole page of ideas for how your school might be able to celebrate.


Trying to figure out which of these cars to buy? Compare the Audi Q5 Vs Jeep Wrangler Unlimited on CarAndBike to make an informed buying decision as to which car to buy in 2019. This comparison has been carried out on the basis of prices, engine specifications, mileage, and features of these cars.
The ex-showroom, New Delhi price of the Audi Q5 Petrol starts at ₹ 64.62 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 69.9 Lakh for the fully-loaded Petrol model. The base Diesel version of the Audi Q5 costs ₹ 64.62 Lakh, whereas the Diesel top-end costs ₹ 69.9 Lakh. On the other hand, the price of the base Petrol version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Petrol starts at ₹ 68.67 Lakh. The base Diesel version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited costs ₹ 79.02 Lakh.
As for the claimed fuel efficiency, Audi Q5 base Petrol engine returns 14 kmpl whereas the base Diesel returns 17 kmpl. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited base Petrol engine returns 12 kmpl whereas the base Diesel returns 12 kmpl.
In the powertrain department, the Audi Q5 gets 1 Petrol and 1 Diesel engine options - 248 bhp Petrol and 187 bhp Diesel engines. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited comes in 1 Petrol and 1 Diesel engine options - 280 bhp Petrol and 197 bhp Diesel engines.


I think Amanda & Phil got the last perfect day of the year on Sunday. It was still warm and the fall colors at Percy Warner Park were amazing! We hiked the trails and found some fantastic spots with such great colors. Then we went over to the stone steps for a few more shots. I had such a great time photographing these two, can't wait for their wedding this spring!


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Jason lives in Gallatin, Tennessee with his wife and two children. Jason enjoys playing guitar, boating, riding his Harley-Davidson, playing racquetball, backpacking, & camping with his family. He is a lifelong resident of Sumner County and an alumnus of White House High School (1993). Jason serves as a leader in his local faith community (www.eikonhouse.com), serves on the executive board for the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the board of the Sumner County Museum Association. He is a member of the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) and the Tennessee Hospital Engineers Association (THEA). In 2014, Jason was awarded the Tennessee Small Business Development Center's Rising Star Award, was nominated in the Nashville Business Journal's Sumner County Impact Awards as well as the 2015 40 Under 40 Awards.
Brock lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife and two children. He enjoys all sports, hiking, fishing and taking road trips with his family. Prior to joining us, he spent 17 years in the legal, regulatory and business information industry. His sales and sales management experience are a valuable addition to our team. Brock joined our team in 2015.
Nina lives in Cedar Hill, Tennessee, with her husband and her dog. She was born and raised New Jersey, and has a BS in Business Economics from Rutgers University. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, exercising, outdoor activities, football, watching movies and watching live music. Nina joined the team in February 2015. She has several years of experience working as administrative support to owners and executive officers. She has worked in finance, operations, sales, event management, customer service and human resources. Nina loves learning and being part of a positive teamwork environment!
Jackie was born and raised in Gallatin, Tennessee where she currently lives with her seven-year-old son. Jackie has an associates degree in digital photography that she received from Nossi College of Art in 2015. When not working she enjoys spending time with family and friends, doing anything outdoors, traveling, and of course photography.
A native of Indiana, Patrick is a graduate of Saint Joseph's College where he studied History and Environmental Science. He started his professional career working in the highly structured Medical Device Sales Industry and became very proficient in listening and meeting his customer's needs. He moved to Nashville in 1998. His love for preserving the environment and helping businesses flourish brought him to transition into the energy efficiency industry. Patrick is a musician and played collegiate soccer. He loves the outdoors and spends much of the spring, summer, and fall months enjoying the beauty that Tennessee offers. He also enjoys building furniture from old Tennessee barn wood–a skill that he grew up learning from his grandfather. Patrick originally joined the team in July 2015.
Bama is a Nashville native, currently living in Brentwood with her husband and daughter. Bama loves interior decorating, antiquing and volunteering. Her happy place is the beach! She received her Bachelor of Arts from Trevecca University and has spent 20+ years recruiting, consulting and management in healthcare. She and her pitmaster husband own a restaurant called Charcoal Cowboys BBQ in Nashville.
Brett is a Murfreesboro, Tennessee resident, where he lives with his wife, two children with a third on the way. Brett studied Marketing at Middle Tennessee State and received his certification in Mechatronics in from Motlow State Community College. When Brett is not working or with his family he enjoys hiking, hunting, tennis and football. Brett is involved with IFMA Nashville, IFMA Memphis, the Hendersonville and Gallatin Chambers and volunteers as a children's coach with One Goal Sports.
Brina is the most recent addition to our team. She moved to the Nashville area this past August after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. She loves Husker football and is a part of an alumni group here called the Nashville Huskers. Brina loves music and the arts. She studied theatre and dance in college and writes original songs, some of which can be found on Spotify and iTunes. She loves to travel and has studied abroad in Costa Rica, Cuba and London. She hopes to visit Spain next to learn more about her Basque heritage.
Ricky lives in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee and has lived in the Nashville area for 20+ years. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family, traveling the world, and adding to his growing movie and music collections. He is a live music fanatic and spends his free time going to concerts and social events around the Nashville area. Ricky loves to help people and considers himself a lifelong student of new and future technology. He has a background in mechanical engineering and entrepreneurial business and has previously worked for a Tennessee-based LED lighting manufacturer. Ricky joined our team in August 2013 and is a NCQLP Lighting Certified Professional.
James Britt (AKA Jimbo) is a Nashville native who currently lives in East Nashville with his wife and son. He enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling and is happiest when he is next to a body of water. He also is an avid sports fan. He takes living in Music City seriously and attends as many live shows as he can and has an extensive record collection. His love of the outdoors has led to a lifelong interest in conservation. Jimbo joined the team in January 2015.
Originally from Missouri, Evan has lived in Nashville, Tennessee, since 2014 and is recently married. He enjoys hunting, fishing, taking trips out west, live music, and all the opportunities Music City has to offer. He previously spent time living in Germany and China. Evan joined our team in April 2017.
Douglas Wilson (AKA Dougie.) Dougie lives in Gallatin, Tennessee, with his wife, son and two dogs. A native of Scotland, he graduated in 1980 with a Higher National Diploma in Applied Physics with Electronics at Napier University, in his home town of Edinburgh. He moved to the United States in 1997 while working as a Project Manager in the aerospace & defense industry. He has lived in Atlanta (where he met his wife), St. Louis (where they had their son), Nashville and Seattle, then returned back to the Nashville metro area in 2016. He enjoys spending time cooking for friends and family, DIY, travel, and riding his Indian motorcycle. Dougie joined us in 2017, bringing a broad technical and project management skillset to the team.
Sperry Jones, a native of Detroit Michigan, brings a plethora of experience to Energy Lighting Services from executive management and financial analysis to sales experience. In the late 90's and early 2000's, as Sales and Operations Analyst, Director and AVP of Business Development, he was instrumental in assisting Healthcare Management Resources of Hendersonville, Tennessee in transforming into a leading force in accounts receivable management. He later created Quantum Healthcare Solutions as founder and CEO to provide healthcare receivables management for 13 incredible years to hospitals around the country. Most recently, Sperry demonstrated his accounting, mathematical, and analytical expertise as the interim controller for Armor Concepts, a security manufacturer of patented door hardware for the prevention of door breaches. Sperry enjoys raising four sons, traveling, and enjoying extended family. With a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics from Tennessee State University, he's encouraged by the work he does as a Math Tutor for students in the Middle Tennessee area.
Brendon lives in Cottontown, Tennessee. He is originally from Montana, but moved in California to better his career and knowledge in the Electrical field. Before finding his way to Tennessee, Brendon went to school for four years at Associated Builders and Contractors School in San Diego CA to become a certified electrician, which he is currently. In addition, he holds a current CE license in the state of Tennessee. In his spare time he enjoys going to the movies, playing the piano and guitar, and painting. Brendon has thoroughly enjoyed living in Tennessee thus far and has made many new friends.
Alex is a proud South Carolina native. She graduated from Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy and at the top of her class at Bright Wood College with a degree in electrical science. She come from a long line of electricians and is proud to be one. She's done handyman and construction work for many years and enjoy building things and fixing things with her bear hands. Alex is a diehard Clemson fan. She enjoys anything that has to do with the great outdoors especially fishing. Alex lives in Nolensville with her partner, three kids and their dogs. She likes being part of a growing company and knowing that she's had some small part in helping it succeed. Alex is proud to have recently achieved her LLE lisence.


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OHCHR > English > Your Human Rights > Women > WGDiscriminationAgainstWomen > Different procedures dealing with women's human rights violations
Note on the different procedures within the UN system dealing with women's human rights violations
There exist several avenues for bringing individual complaints relating to discrimination against women to the United Nations bodies. One can send a complaint to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women or another treaty body, such as the Human Rights Committee, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council or the Commission on the Status of Women.. Generally, complaints should include a detailed factual account of the violation and all supporting documentation. They should not be politically motivated nor have abusive language. Each complaint system has its own advantages, but some mechanisms will not accept a complaint if another is already dealing with the issue, so it is important to understand how each mechanism works.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women's rights from around the world.
Victims of an alleged violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) may submit a complaint to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The procedure under the Optional Protocol is quasi-judicial and if successful, the Committee will request the State party concerned to provide redress to the victim.
The complaint will only be admissible if:
The State party responsible for the violation has ratified or acceded to an instrument called the Optional Protocol to CEDAW (OP-CEDAW) before the violation took place or, in the case the violation took place before such ratification or accession, it can be successfully argued that the violation has continuing effects, i.e. it continues to deploy its effects after the entry into force of OP-CEDAW
The victim has "exhausted domestic remedies," meaning that the victim has tried to remedy the violation in her country first. This requirement can be waived if the domestic remedy will be ineffective or take too long to realize.
The same complaint has not already been examined by the CEDAW Committee or another procedure of international investigation or settlement. It is important to note that previous submission of the same complaint under either procedure referred to below in this note does not preclude admissibility under OP-CEDAW and vice-versa. If the complaint is declared admissible, the State will be given six months to respond to the allegations, after which the complainant has a chance to reply. The Committee will then evaluate the written submissions and make a decision on the merits of the case. If the Committee concludes there is a violation of CEDAW, it can request a range of remedies, including that the State stop the violating practice and/or pay reparations. The Committee's decision will also be widely publicized. The whole process takes an average of over two years, though if the victim is in danger of experiencing irreparable harm, the Committee can issue a request for interim measures of protection.
For more information regarding the Committee's case law and for a guidance note on how to submitting a case, please click here.
The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. The system of Special Procedures covers all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social. As of 1st October 2013, there are 37 thematic and 14 country mandates. Among these, two thematic mandates are solely devoted to women's rights, namely the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and the Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice, whereas one mandate has an explicit specific focus on women's rights, namely that of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking, especially women and children. Most of the special procedures can intervene directly with Governments on specific allegations of violations of human rights that fall within their mandates. The intervention can relate to a human rights violation that has already occurred, is ongoing, or which has a high risk of occurring. The process, in general, involves sending a letter to the concerned State requesting information and comments on the allegation and, where necessary, asking that preventive, investigatory and remedial action be taken. Communications may deal with individual cases, general trends and patterns of human rights violations occurring in a particular country, cases affecting a particular group or community, or the content of draft or existing legislation considered to be not fully compatible with international human rights standards.
The thematic mandate on discrimination against women in law and in practice, is overseen by a Working Group of five independent experts. Individual or anyone on their behalf, including lawyers, NGOs and others (e.g. UN agencies, funds and programmes, trade unions) can submit information to the Working Group related to individual cases or situations of alleged discrimination against women in law and in practice. For a guidance note on how to submit information to the Working Group, please click here. The submission should as much as possible make the linkages between the human rights violations which are alleged and the mandate of the Working Group on discrimination against women. Based on the information received, the Working Group can send a letter to the Government requesting comments on allegations made, seeking clarification on steps being taken by the authorities to redress the alleged discrimination in accordance with the State's international legal obligations. The letter sent remains confidential until its publication, in the Communications Report of Special Procedures submitted three times a year to the Human Rights Council. The text of the communications sent and responses received are accessible through hyperlinks. The victim(s) can specify if they prefer that their full name or just initials appear in the public report.
The complaint can be about any country, and it does not matter whether another international body is dealing with the matter or whether domestic remedies have been exhausted. In appropriate situation and under specific conditions, communications sent by mandate holders can be followed up by a public statement.
Any individual, non-governmental organization, group or network may submit communications (complaints/appeals/petitions) to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) containing information relating to alleged violations of human rights that affect the status of women in any country in the world. The CSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is a global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. The Commission consists of one representative from each of the 45 Member States which compose it and which are elected by the Council on the basis of equitable geographical distribution.
The CSW considers such communications as part of its annual programme of work in order to identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality, but does not take decisions on the merit of communications that are submitted to it. Therefore, the communications procedure does not provide an avenue for the redress of individual grievances. Communications should contain accurate and detailed information relating to the promotion of women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields in any country anywhere in the world. Communications are sent to the Governments concerned and these Governments are invited to reply. The author's identity is not made known to the Government concerned unless she/he agrees to the disclosure. A working group on communications of CSW considers the communications and replies and prepares a report which identifies general trends and patterns of injustice, which is discussed and usually taken note of by the CSW and included in its annual report to the Economic and Social Council. Typically, submissions are requested by August and the information is being considered at the CSW session in February/March the following year. For more information about the CSW communication procedure, click here.
Working Group on discrimination against women and girls
Recent thematic
Women's human rights in the changing world of work (2020)
Women deprived of liberty (2019)
Reasserting equality, countering rollbacks (2018)
Gender equality and gender backlash
Women's autonomy, equality and reproductive health
Women's land rights
Criminalization of adultery
Discrimination against women in nationality
Women human rights defenders and gender discrimination
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneve 10, Switzerland
wgdiscriminationwomen@ohchr.org
Connect with UN Special Procedures on Twitter:
@Un_spexperts
Others involved
Special Rapporteur on violence against women
OHCHR Women's Rights and Gender Equality

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After a bubbly afternoon of Champagne tasting in Paris last week, I promised to make this 'French Berry' Gratin recipe with thoughts of that 100% Pinot Noir evoking grilled fruits. Isn't it incredible how wine tastings can leave you dreaming about accompanying foods?
A fruit gratin is popular in France – probably because it not only showcases the sweetest of seasonal fruits, but it's also such a quick yet elegant French dessert to whip up in under 30 minutes.
This kind of gratin isn't to be confused with a Crème Brûlée, where the top has a thick layer of sugar and is burned to form a hard cracking layer on top. I have a classic recipe in Mad About Macarons, but try this Milk Chocolate and Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée – it's from another planet!
Instead, this gratin dessert highlights the fruits; it's lightly grilled without the crunch and it has a more liquid form of custard, rather similar to a Crème Anglaise rather than set. That's why it's a handy summer recipe to have if you don't want the oven on too much during a heatwave.
Although I say 'sweet', this berry gratin has just enough sugar added but not too much to overpower the natural sugars in the fruits.
It's on the same lines as this Rhubarb and Strawberry Gratin – have you tried it yet?
I'd normally make this using a vanilla pod/bean but this time I felt like some elderflower to highlight the strawberries. If you've tried my Strawberry Eclairs with Elderflower Cream recipe in Teatime in Paris, you'll know what I'm talking about!
As I'm not lucky enough to have elderflowers around, I cheat with a little cordial (Ikea have one) or syrup (Monin's is good). However, if you have Elderflower liqueur such as Saint Germain, then that's great too!
If you're not into elderflower, then infuse this cream with some lemon verbena – so many variations are easy to dream up for this berry gratin recipe.
Summer red fruit berry gratin, a quick yet elegant French dessert with fresh berries topped with an elderflower cream and toasted under the grill for a couple of minutes.
Divide the mixed berries between 4 ovenproof dishes and spread them out in a single layer.
In a bowl, whisk together the yolks, sugar and vanilla until light and creamy (about 5 minutes). Continue to whisk, adding the cordial/syrup and the cream until well mixed.
Pour over the fruits and place under a hot grill for just 2 minutes until the cream is toasted but not burned. You could also use a blowtorch instead.
Serve immediately - or prepare a couple of hours in advance, chill then reheat in a warm oven at 140°C for about 5 minutes.
There are countless floral variations to this recipe: replace elderflower cordial/syrup with violet or rose syrup. Or replace the syrup with 25g more cream and infuse with lavender or lemon verbena.
Have you made any of the recipes from le blog or fancy making this Berry Gratin recipe? Please do leave a comment below or take a picture and hashtag it #MadAboutMacarons. I love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks so much for popping in! Just to let you know I'll be rather disconnected on my annual travels (as ever, like the French, we leave Paris at this time!) over the next 3 weeks but will try to pop in when I can. Have a lovely summer, wherever you are! Speaking of French Berries, don't forget to wear a hat!
Who said that a French Clafoutis should be made only with cherries? Cherry season has perhaps started in France, but let's first celebrate the most sweet, shiny seasonal strawberries with a Strawberry Pistachio Clafoutis.
With some desserts, I'm fussy – especially with French Clafoutis, a speciality of the Limousin in France. In my honest opinion, a clafoutis is a light, set eggy custard that's perfumed with fresh seasonal fruits (traditionally made with cherries – see this classic Cherry Clafoutis Recipe with a hint of almonds) and not a stick-to-the-top-of-your-mouth heavy cake-like dessert that can taste of too much flour.
I urge you to try this twist to the classic – not unlike the Raspberry Clafoutis with Lemon Verbena – where I've replaced the flour with fragrant pistachios.
If you've been following the recipes on le blog, you'll notice that strawberry and pistachio are one of my favourite flavour combinations.
Haven't tried this combination yet?
Then do try this strawberry pistachio panna cotta (serve with pistachio macarons and it's heaven!), or the strawberry and pistachio tartlet recipe from the tart chapter in 'Teatime in Paris'. I'm sure you'll be concocting many more of your own twists with this combination in your recipes.
The other day at the market in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, I simply got carried away. Well, tell a Scot there's a promotion or special price for 4 packs of sweet-smelling strawberries and I pounced on these Fraises de Charlotte like they'd go out of fashion tomorrow. Needless to say, the last couple of batches were just ever so slightly fatigué, so baking them at this 'just becoming tired' stage is perfect for making this Strawberry Pistachio Clafoutis.
I do stress that you use fresh strawberries and not frozen for this recipe, so that all the flavours are at their best.
Adding in some wild strawberries to fill in the gaps!
I still can't believe that we've been blessed by the birds spreading a carpet of wild strawberries (fraises des bois) in the garden this year. I thought that mint in the herb garden took over the other plants, but I'm now surprised to see the strawberries popping up in all nooks and crannies, as we say in Scotland. They're like tiny voilet-tasting bonbons.
In this strawberry pistachio clafoutis, it's the strawberries that dominate: baking strawberries in this way intensifies the flavours – it's incredible! The pistachio is quite subtle but adds that extra intrigue to the fruit, plus helps to soak up the juices too.
Please note, that for all my recipes, I encourage you to weigh out your ingredients using a digital scale (find out why in this post), so that you have continued successful results each time you make this.
Strawberry Pistachio Clafoutis, a delicious twist to the classic French cherry baked custard dessert using sweet fresh strawberries and pistachios to soak up the juices- and it so happens to be gluten free too.
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan/ 200°C / 400°F (gas 6).
Butter a gratin or pie dish and top with about a tablespoon of sugar, shaking the dish to spread it evenly. Lay the strawberries over the surface in one layer.
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolk, sugar, cream, ground pistachios and extract, if using.
Pour this egg mixture over the strawberries and bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked in the middle (it shouldn't sink in the middle). I'd suggest placing the dish on baking tray to catch any sticky juices that could run out, if too full.
Set aside to cool and either serve at room temperature or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Matching wines with strawberries: this is great with a light fruity red such as a Pinot Noir (from Alsace or a Burgundy), or a gamay Beaujolais Cru as it brings out the fruitiness yet light enough not to overpower the dessert. Otherwise a chilled rosé Champagne or New World fizz.
Have you made any more of the recipes from le blog or fancy making this French Clafoutis dessert? Please do leave a comment below or take a picture and hashtag it #MadAboutMacarons. I love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook.
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Thanks so much for popping in!
A perfectly light dessert that celebrates summer in France.
I'm on a roll again. Healthy, easy, no bake, no fuss and festively tasty. Put these welcome words together at this time of year and you get … express mini Christmas puddings! They taste of Christmas and they're gluten free, Vegan and Nut-free (although do check dried fruit packet ingredients just to be sure).
This recipe started out as 'snowballs' from my Scottish Granny's Black Book, using only oats (mainly), raisins, cocoa powder and milk then covered in desiccated coconut. After experimenting with Granny's recipe, I've rather altered them since, alas, I found them way too sweet. I also wanted an extra Christmassy taste with the addition of more dried fruits, gingerbread spice and orange peel, especially. For the snowball look, I just roll them in desiccated coconut, as Granny used to dip them in icing first then in coconut – but by adding a bit of orange juice and making the mixture quite wet, the coconut sticks no problem without the extra sugar.
We started out as snowballs – look!
However, a couple of years ago, I saw the most gorgeous picture of mini Christmas puds on Pinterest, via the blog, IncludingCake. She had rolled actual Christmas pudding cake into cute little puddings and I pinned it to remind myself to make them one Christmas – so thank you, Jo, for the pudding inspiration! However, I turned the filling around from Christmas puddings to a gluten free/vegan version that feels just as Christmassy with the flavours.
So how do we give these snowballs a make-over Christmas pudding effect? To cover, melt white chocolate or make up a quick icing of icing/powdered sugar with a little orange juice – or why not a boozy splash of Grand Marnier, just to be naughty (but for adults only.)?
This recipe is inspired by Granny's recipe in her Black Book and so I'm sure it came from a magazine, the Sunday Post newspaper or the Jimmy Young radio show back in the 70s. If you're watching over, sorry for altering it so much, Agnes, but I know you would have loved them! The oats, raisins and coconut are still in there, though, plus a much reduced sugar quantity.
1. Place all the above ingredients in a large bowl and mix together with a spoon until all the flavours are well blended. If the coconut oil is solid, melt very gently for just a few seconds in the microwave.
2. Form little balls by rolling a couple of teaspoons of the mixture at a time in the palm of your hands (you could say this is a handy recipe!). Set aside on a plate or baking sheet and place in the fridge for a few minutes.
3. To cover, either melt 50g good quality white chocolate in the microwave (or in a bowl over a pan of simmering water – bain marie) or make up some classic icing by mixing icing/confectioner's sugar with a teaspoon of orange juice (or Grand Marnier for the adults). Dribble this on the top to form the sauce effect and top with a dried cranberry (craisin) or bit of glacé cherry and green marzipan, cut to shape.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Best eaten at room temperature with your favourite cup of tea at teatime or festive sparkly.
Wait a minute. Please stop what you're doing, just for a few moments.
Don't make a sound. Just listen. Do you hear them? Sleigh bells jingling faintly in the distance.
I'm off now. Back to some responsibilities, like setting up the crèche to really get in to the Christmas spirit and remind the children what Christmas is really about.
Before I go, I'm absolutely thrilled and honoured to be featured with such impressive company in the Huffington Post's 2014 Best Cookbook Gifts for Cooks and Food Lovers on Your List. Thank you for adding Mad About Macarons to the list, Jamie Schler. What a lovely sweet ending to the year!
Good luck and have fun with all of your Christmas and holiday planning!


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# best and brightest
Venezuela's youth are abandoning their homeland, Ireland is their destination
Sometimes the lines outside the Irish consulate in Caracas are 200 people deep, forcing a rotating cadre of self-appointed leaders to maintain a 24-hour vigil to stop queue jumpers.
Feb 1st 2014, 10:00 AM
CITIZENS OF VENEZUELA'S socialist revolution have grown accustomed to long lines for everything from bread to buying a car.
But 26-year-old Daniela Rodriguez hopes this line will be her last.
Like some 50 other college students and graduates, she's been lounging for the past three days on the cement sidewalks of a busy Caracas office district waiting for a consulate stamp that she hopes will be her ticket to a brighter future. Her destination? Ireland a country she knows almost nothing about. Not that it matters.
Daniela Rodriguez laughs with friends as she waits outside Ireland's consulate in Caracas. (Pic: AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
"I'll blindly go anywhere," said Rodriguez, who has been unable to find work as a journalist since graduating college in 2010, instead working as a sales clerk at a clothing store. "Here you kill yourself just to get nowhere, but outside Venezuela in two years your effort pays off."
The sentiment is widely shared by Venezuela's best and brightest, who are abandoning their homeland in droves rather than wait for a punishing currency crisis, record shortages and 50 per cent inflation to ease. But not everyone is fleeing the madness. Some Venezuelans are posing as students and recycling on the black market increasingly scarce hard currency meted out at the official exchange rate to pay for schooling abroad.
Amid the desperate search for opportunities abroad, Ireland has emerged as an almost ideal escape.
The country has long attracted language students from all over the world, and unlike the US, Australia and Canada, Venezuelans don't need a visa to enter the European Union.
And while Spain, for years the preferred destination for Latin American emigrants, has youth unemployment of above 50 per cent, the Irish economy is recovering steadily from Europe's financial crisis. Venezuelans already studying there report that it's easy to find work.
"It's very sad that having invested so much in institutions to develop quality human resources we can't take advantage of them to add dynamism to the economy," said Anitza Freitez, a Caracas-based demographer who has studied migratory trends.
She estimates the number of Venezuelans living abroad jumped 12 per cent between 2005 and 2010, a pride-shattering reversal for a country whose oil-fueled prosperity made it a magnet for immigrants from southern Europe and South America for much of the last half-century.
Ties with Ireland stretch back to Venezuela's 19th century war of independence, one of Liberator Simon Bolivar's closest aides was an Irish military officer named Daniel O'Leary. But until recently fewer than 200 Venezuelans were living there, according to Freitez's research.
Now, Venezuelans rival Brazilians, a country with a population seven times larger, as the biggest foreign student population at many language schools in Ireland.
And the exodus keeps building.
Seda College in Dublin said it received 7,640 unique visitors to its website from Venezuela in January, equal to a third of total inquiries for all of 2013. MeQuieroIr.com, or "I Want To Go," a Venezuelan website that provides information to people looking to emigrate, also reported record traffic this month at twice the normal levels.
So popular has Dublin become among Venezuela's youth that leading satirical website El Chiguire Bipolar recently joked it had become Venezuela's safest city, a reference to the violent crime that overruns Venezuelan streets, another factor driving people overseas.
A man completes a form outside Ireland's consulate in Caracas. (Pic: AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
"This isn't like previous waves we saw after elections," said Esther Bermudez, MeQuieroIr.com's founder, who moved to Montreal in 2007 fed up with currency controls that made it impossible to do business with advertisers and suppliers abroad. "Interest in leaving seems more sustained, less emotional, as people come to grips with the structural crisis the country is facing."
That disillusionment can be felt outside the Honorary Consulate in Caracas, where for the past six months, and more intensely since the economy took a turn for the worst in November, students gather every day before dawn.
Sometimes the lines are 200 deep, drawing complaints from passing office workers and forcing a rotating cadre of self-appointed leaders to maintain a 24-hour vigil so that nobody jumps the line when the consulate, which operates out of a law office, opens between 10am and noon.
They're all there to cross the same Rubicon: obtaining a stamp certifying their enrollment letter sent from Ireland.
With that paper in hand, they can navigate the bureaucratic labyrinth created by a decade of rigid currency controls and buy hard currency at the official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars per US dollar, 12 times cheaper than on the black market.
Ireland's foreign ministry told says that it has also detected a small number of fraudulent applications but wouldn't provide details. The talk among the students and hired fixers on the sidewalk is that the consul's stamp was recently counterfeited.
Early morning queues at the Irish consulate. (Pic: AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Unlike other foreign students, Venezuelans also face obstacles opening bank accounts in Ireland because of fear they could be used to illegally transfer money, said Tiago Mascarenhas, Seda's marketing director.
Some students, while acknowledging that the system lends itself to fraud, say the real abuses are being carried out by President Nicolas Maduro's government, which has allowed supermarket shelves go bare and inflation to skyrocket even as it sits atop the world's largest oil reserves.
"If the government is suspicious then they should present proof," said Rodriguez, who says that a third of her close friends have already left Venezuela. "It's not our fault the country isn't progressing."
Read: Higgins to meet Chilean president on first full day of South America trip >
Read: President and Tánaiste express sadness at death of Hugo Chavez >
BEST AND BRIGHTEST CARACAS CONSULATE EMIGRATION FOREIGN AFFAIRS IMMIGRATION IRELAND SOUTH AMERICA VENEZUELA
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Almost three-quarters of a million pounds will be spent to help unemployed people in Oldham get back into work.
The money has been provided by the European Social Fund to the borough's council to give those looking for work essential knowledge and skills.
The Get Oldham Working teams will be delivering the programme, following the £722,000 funding.
The scheme is open to anyone in the town who is over the age of 19 and currently unemployed.
It's designed to provide support through different routes for them to move forward – including work, further education, and apprenticeships.
The funds have come from the Education and Skills Funding Agency – as part of £9.9million given to Greater Manchester residents between April 2019 and July 2021.
Councillor Shaid Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills, said: "We're pleased to have been chosen to deliver the Skills Support for Unemployed programme and our Get Oldham Working Team have done a good job in bidding for and securing the funding.
"This programme will have a positive impact on the individuals who sign up as we'll be looking to make sure they have the skills to fill any roles that come up, which will also help boost the local economy.
"We'll be providing access to a full range of skills support, work experience, and also help about breaking down any barriers that are stopping them getting back into work.
You can get more information by emailing employability@oldham.gov.uk or calling 0161 770 4674.


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warm weather and arts and crafts!
I grabbed pictures from the last week to help celebrate!
This is a Twizzler heart leftover from Valentine's Day. Sending hugs to you!
Peanut lost his two front teeth recently! I love him without his teeth. So fun!
It was still pretty chilly this week but we went to the park anyway.
The kids loved running around outside! I love these guys!
We met my aunt at a pottery-painting studio near us called Color Me Mine.
We worked on super fun creations that I can't wait to pick up on Thursday!
Peanut and his monster creation!
I've wanted to put up a valance in my office since the school year started...one of my co-workers asked me when I was actually going to get it up and that gave me motivation to finally get them figured out. I made it to the fabric store, picked up coordinating fabric and got all the pieces cut. I sewed up the small pieces that will hang over the curtain rod. All I have to do is sew the main valance part and they'll be ready to hang on Monday! It always feels great to get out my sewing machine. I have an ancient Singer that my aunt (above) actually gave to me when I was in college. I love it!


Does anybody know when the Free Bass album is coming out?
Can't find any specific release date online other than 'this summer'. To be honest, I didn't know the project was still going - the last I heard of it was a couple of years back. Can anyone actually imagine it being any good?
That must be a pretty hotly contested mantle, but I have to agree with you. It makes me think of new-age music, or alternatively three greying musicians farting around in a practise room. Weird.
I hate it mostly due to the crappy drug reference.


text:
Losing the Propaganda War III
Losing the Propaganda War II
Losing the Propaganda War
Two previous columns in this series described Islamic propaganda in American public schools – middle schools, high schools and colleges – and some of the textbooks that are used, as related by Richard Thompson, president and general counsel for the Thomas More Law Center. This column looks at Thompson's remarks on what he details as a double standard.
"Well, what you have here is a double standard, I think, where there is one standard for Christians and Jews and people of other faiths where you cannot promote religion in any fashion; and there seems to be a second standard for Muslims, who are allowed to get away with promoting their religion and their religious observances in the public schools, whether it be a university or a secondary school.
"And a part of this that concerns me is the overall agenda that a lot of these Islamic political action committees have: and that is, although they do not want to assimilate in America, they don't want to be Americans – they want to maintain their Islamic culture – they are willing to use American politics, the Constitution and American law to seek accommodation and continue to force the majority to accept the religious propositions of the minority.
"You may have heard this quote from Omar Ahmad, who is the head of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Back in 1998, he said: 'Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.' This is an organization that promotes itself as a Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Its representatives have been used on a lot of mainstream media to talk about the Islamic affairs and what's happening in our culture. They're not there to be equal to us. They're there to be dominant, and if you look at what history does – what history instructs us – is that when they do become dominant, that they then persecute every other religion."
"You may have heard that they were planning to put foot baths at the University of Michigan, Dearborn campus," Thompson continued. "When that became public, we [started] obtaining the facts to find out how those foot baths are going to be funded, and there is a good possibility that we may bring a lawsuit against the University of Michigan for utilizing, again, public taxpayer money for a specific religious purpose.
I asked if the university had any plans to put in holy water fonts alongside the foot baths. "Well, baptism fonts…I mean you can go on and on and on, but if the law in fact says that publicly-funded universities and schools cannot promote a particular religion, then that should apply to everybody."
"It would seem pretty simple on its face," I said. "But apparently it isn't."
"Well first of all, we're dealing with universities and you probably know that the Saudi Arabian government or princes from Saudi Arabia are giving out a lot of money to these universities developing these Middle Eastern departments which then, you know, spout out their propaganda.
Some colleges and universities remove American flags because they may be "offensive" to foreign students. The College of William and Mary removed a cross from its chapel because it made students from other religious traditions "unwelcome." Meanwhile, the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) is pushing for "accommodations" for Muslims attending American schools both public and private. According to a July USA Today article: "At least 17 universities have foot baths built or under construction, including Boston University, George Washington University and Temple University, and at least nine universities have prayer rooms for 'Muslim students only,' including Stanford, Emory and the University of Virginia, according to the MSA's website. The association did not return calls seeking comment."
Most of the September terrorists were Saudis, but an increasing number of terrorists planning and carrying out attacks in Western countries are home-grown. They get radicalized in mosques and madrassas in Europe, Canada and the United States. "Back in 2000," said Thompson, "a sheik by the name of [Muhammad Isham] Kabbani said there were about 3000 mosques in the United States and 80% of the mosques are controlled by extremists. . . . [and] a great percentage of those mosques are being funded by Saudi Arabia."
Should we be concerned? If only 10% were controlled by extremists, we should be concerned, very concerned. Two years ago, then-Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney suggested that we should be monitoring what is said in extremist mosques in the United States, even if it means wiretapping them. His suggestion was condemned by CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper in a Washington Post article: "It's irresponsible for the top elected official in any state to suggest blanket wiretapping of houses of worship."
CAIR has since been named as an "unindicted co-conspirator" in a Texas case where a CAIR affiliate, the "Holy Land Foundation," is accused of funding the Radical Muslim terrorist group Hamas. Meanwhile, Romney has become a leading candidate for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.
American schools and other institutions are bending policies to accommodate Muslims while they purge accommodations associated with other religions. About this, Attorney Thompson said: "What is concerning me is that, in one of the states, it was ruled that a person could swear on the Koran rather than the Bible and make an affirmation. And then, I understand this congressman – the first congressman who is Muslim, swore on the Koran, right? Well, it's interesting to note that the Koran itself approves of lying."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. There's a word called "kitman" or "taqiyya" which means lying or deception. And it has been ruled by their theologians that it is appropriate for them to lie if it is in the interest of achieving an objective for Islam. That's in their own, in the Koran.
"Unbelievable."
"So, they're taking an oath on a book that approves lying."
The idea of "taqqiya" is indeed quite different from our own "Thou Shalt Not Lie"; and it is equally different from the attribution to George Washington, father of this country, "I cannot tell a lie; I chopped down the cherry tree." So for those of us who are not in familiar territory when it comes to denial, deceit and dissimulation, we are at a distinct disadvantage in this propaganda war.
But just as others use our laws to harm us, we can use our laws to protect ourselves. Attorney Richard Thompson said: "We are a public interest law firm and I would hope – hopefully in your article someplace you will mention that we're willing to look at cases and file lawsuits."
If you see or hear anything suspicious where you live, contact Richard Thompson at Thomas More Law Center.
Labels: Islam, teaching
Recently Canadian MP Dalton McGuinty disallowed the introduction of Sharia law into Ontario family law -- it's come that far. I track the Saudi funded expansion of militant, extremist Wahhabi (Salafi) Islam at my blog, Wahaudi. http://wahaudi.blogspot.com
Your assertion that "Some colleges and universities remove American Flags..." calls for some specific examples. Likewise you provide no evidence to support your assertion that, "Institutions bend policies to accommodate Muslims while purging accommodations for other religions."
The cross was returned to the Wren Chapel at William and Mary earlier this month. It might be noteworthy that before this donated cross was placed in the chapel around 1940 the chapel had no cross for well over 200 years.
Are we really supposed to be concerned that out of over 2,400 4-year colleges and universities in the US "at least 17" are making foot baths available and another 9 have designated prayer spaces for Muslim students?
Emory University was one of the unwitting schools you implicated in this vast conspiracy. Home of the Candler School of Theology, you can be assured that provisions are made for all kinds of religious observances. The Emory U. home page lists 19 on-campus Christian organizations...and one Muslim. I think you'll find a similar circumstance at BU.
Where's your double standard?
Doug Hjelmstad
Will this country ever wake up to what is happening right under our noses? In the name of political correctness we "bury our heads in the sand" and ignore reality. I wonder what will happen when we have the next major Islamist attack on our own soil? Believe me, it is only a matter of time before that happens.
Harvey in North Baldwin
Tom McLaughlin said...
A cross was returned after alumni threatened to withhold donations. The multiculturalists lost that round.
Flags removed from campuses? Go here:
http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2001/nov_2001_1.html
Emory University is also the home of the Carter Center, some of whose senior staff people resigned after publication of Carter's latest book on Israel and radical Islamist terrorists, though he doesn't call them that. They couldn't honorably remain associated with the Center the former president's claims.
Carter is in la-la land too Doug. Perhaps you've bumped into him there. You don't have to be concerned about anything if you don't want to be - at least until the next attack. Meanwhile, have fun.
Tom, If you are against multiculturalism, then what are you for? A right wing conservative country that exhibits a lot of the quailties you condemn here? This country was founded on the freedom of all cultures that live here, unlike Muslim countries.
So, you are saying that you have to become them to defeat them. This has been Bush's stance along along. Osama had Bush on a string from 9/11 on.
Skillful leadership can see the good in people and navigate through the mess. Unskillful leadership takes the bait, and uses billion dollar weapons to rout out hiding Muslims, which it can't do.
This world can't afford a president who is led by the nose by his enemies down a road of high tech violence.
Violence has its place in covert operations, not ruining millions of lives to "keep up with the Abduls."
I'm against multiculturalism and I'm for the old melting pot model. It should not be replaced by a "salad bowl" model where everybody celebrates what makes them different from other Americans around them. They should celebrate being Americans - living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. If they don't want to do that, why come here at all? If you don't like what is going on, run for office. See if you can convince a majority to endorse your vision of things. If you can, good for you.
That's the way it's supposed to work. No, I'm not saying you have to become them to defeat them. Far from it. We have to kill them to defeat them. We can't "celebrate" radical Islam under the veil of multiculturalism as so many on the left want to do. They're out to destroy western civilization. That's not just my analysis; that's what they want to do. They say it. They write it. They demonstrate it. What part of "Death to America!" do you not understand?
Globalization has broken down borders. From the land of the free and home of the brave, we are now world citizens.
Lag has always been part of the human condition. Like Civil War tactics not catching up with their weapons in time.
Bush has lagged behind in understanding the nature of the world now. Though he is promoting globalization, he acts as if we were in the 1950's.
What kind of system allows stupidity to reach the highest office?
Terrorist groups have broken down borders too. It's difficult to declare war on Pakistan because al Qaida resides there, or on Iran or on Syria though they sponsor Hezbollah and Hamas. People who think as you do rely on the United Nations to defend them against terrorists.
Ask Israelis in Galillee how well the UN works. Ask Rwandans. Ask black Christians in Darfur. Ask Kurds in northern Iraq. Ask Bosnians.
We're now world citizens, huh? God help us. You want to be hanging by the neck waiting for the UN to rescue you? I don't.
Let's finish the border fence in Mexico.


text:
Ruben Van Gucht is working on special episodes The Dressing room
Soon there will be two new episodes of The Dressing room, this time in the character of the Tour de France. But there are also for next year all episodes in the pipeline. Ruben Van Gucht is already on the record. Know The Newspaper. Also this time he has big names can bows. At the place where Eddy Merckx in the 1971 world champion was Ruben Van Gucht Cadel Evans interviewed, the Australian who in 2009 became world champion in 2011, the Tour won.
FOUR follows Jo Lernout in the Philippines
VTM-GO from now available to everyone
Ken Kercheval, villain Cliff Barnes from Dallas, died
French Da Vinci Code actor Jean-Pierre Marielle (87)...
Trainspotting actor Bradley Welsh was shot in...
Boyz n the Hood director John Singleton died
Schaatssters Ireen Wüst and Letitia de Jong are...
Larry King (85) in the hospital for bypass surgery
Doodsprentjes Paul Severs to purchase
Snoop Dogg provides commentary in the video...


HR is the term used to describe the employees of a company and the management of those employees. The HR department typically handles a day to day organisation of the employees like paying the cheque, resolving internal disputes, contracts and the hiring and the firing of the employees as well as other administrative duties. HR departments are there to insure that an employer gets the most out of his employees by keeping them happy and supplying them with what they need and to reduce the risk of financial loss through disgruntled employees.
HR Consultancy is often used by organisations or businesses to help improve internal processes and to provide training seminars. This is usually done by analysing the entire organisation from the top down by interviewing all of the employees. This enables the consultant to find out what the boss thinks is going wrong within the company and then compare it to the employee's opinions.
Often what the boss perceives to be the problem differs greatly to what the employees perceive as being the problem. The consultancy can after that analyse results from all the employees so as to work out the strengths and the weaknesses within an organisation and also by looking at an organisation from the employees view can go about producing the report detailing where things are going wrong and provide recommendations.
The recommendations are for where change is necessary, these can be changes to things such as communication systems, assessment methods, retention strategies and staff scheduling. This helps you to identify the areas of your business where you need to become more efficient in supporting your staff in the best possible way. All of these services can help you to minimise the risks and costs of poor staff support across your company.
HR Consultancy will also analyse the skills of the work force and look at where skills need to be developed amongst employees as well as providing associated performance reviews that allow improvements in operational efficiency. Employee surveys are set up so employees can regularly express their feelings about work. These are useful as they help to produce recommendations to improve employee motivation, performance and rewards.


text:
Tested : MG RV8 vs TVR Griffith
25 July 2011 Keith Adams 12
The Rover V8 engine is a magnificent creation – and one that's found its way under all manner of sports cars.
Here, we're pitting two similarly powered sporting roadsters, the new-boy from Blackpool with sexy curves to die for, and the Abingdon bruiser that puts tradition above progression…
Words: Keith Adams Pictures: Alisdair Cusick
Same heart, different soul
THEY say the heart of any car is its engine – and few pulse as thrillingly as the Rover V8s beneath the swooping bonnets of the MG RV8 and TVR Griffith.
Take a few moments to consider that iconic powerplant. Conceived in aluminium by General Motors during the late Fifties but quickly abandoned. The pushrod V8 would have been an interesting footnote in history, had its death not coincided with Rover's need for a new power unit. Company chief William Martin-Hurst spotted one abandoned in an American boat yard, and in 1965 he arm-twisted GM into selling the tooling.
The effortless V8 has proved irresistible for the sports car fraternity. MG was first to get its hands on it engine, when the Abingdon engineers shoehorned it into the MGB GT in 1973. The car should have been a smash hit, but arrived in a world plunged into energy crisis. It sunk without a trace.
Although everyone associates TVR with burbling V8s, it wasn't until 1983 this winning combination rolled out of Blackpool. The first Rover-powered V8 TVR was the wedge shaped 350i, but the company really got into its stride with the V8S, Griffith and Chimaera.
By 1992, the sports car market was in fine fettle and MG returned with the RV8. TVR's similarly powered Griffith had burst onto the scene and impressed all who drove it. For the first time in years, British sportscar fans had a genuine choice – both were beguilingly beautiful, had a soundtrack to die for, and offered old-fashioned V8 fun.
They share the same heart, but does that mean there's little to choose between the MG and TVR today?
THE MG RV8 actually came about after Rover was caught wrong-footed by the launch of the Mazda MX5 in 1989. The moment the Japanese roadster appeared, the green light was given in Rover – a new MG was needed fast.
Enthusiasts had been waiting for a new MG sportscar since the Abingdon's closure in 1980, and rumours of the new car was music to their ears. Thanks to surprisingly audacious thinking by Rover, the relaunch came in 1992, and in the best possible way.
Although it is a widely held belief that the MG RV8 is little more than a Heritage shell clothing re-used MGB parts, it was actually 75 per cent new. Put together by Rover Special Products (the team that helped create the Mini Cooper and MGF) under the codename Adder, the idea was to use the new MGB bodyshell as a means of putting the B back into production.
Project Adder fused a large slice of MGB technology – live axle and leaf springs – to the Rover V8 engine and gearbox. If the basic package sounds scary, the rear axle had been reined in, and those infamous lever arm dampers were ditched in favour of telescopic KONI dampers. As we'll see, that makes all the difference on the road.
If the MG RV8 appeared like a bolt from the blue, the TVR Griffith's unveiling was less of a surprise. This, the second TVR to wear the Griffith nameplate, had originally appeared at the 1990 Birmingham Motor Show, but that was a toe-in-the-water concept devised to gauge interest. It worked. TVR was inundated with orders and then spent the best part of two years delivering a car to deliver on those initial deposits.
Given TVR's ambitions to move upmarket, it was decided to push the boat out with the Griffith. A new backbone chassis, based on that of the Tuscan racer, was developed, and its more sophisticated double wishbone suspension was also carried over.
A Rover V8 breathed on by the company's Coventry based subsidiary, TVR Power, powers the Griffith. It came in plenty of guises – 4-litre in two states of tune, a 4.3-litre, and the mighty 5-litre version. Our test car came the 4-litre in 240bhp form, the closest match to the RV8's altogether more relaxed 190bhp.
THE two cars might share the same basic engine, but the difference in performance – or more correctly, the way it is delivered is absolutely astounding. It's cultured versus ballistic. As soon as you fire up RV8, you know it is going to be a more relaxing experience than the TVR. Compared with any MGB before it, the RV8 goes well. The V8 provides that reassuringly familiar low-rev beat, and it is complemented by a muted woofle from the exhaust that promises easy pull from low speeds.
It's a promise fulfilled. In the RV8, you get linear power delivered consistently, and it catapults up the road with an effortless shove in the back in the process. Because you get a helpful 236lb/ft of torque at 3000rpm, there's no need to hang on to gears – half throttle and 4000rpm upchanges will have you moving along very nicely indeed. It seems to be the most fitting way to drive this grand tourer.
Quick acceleration is there for the taking. From a standing start, 60mph comes up in 5.9 seconds, and it doesn't stop pulling until 135mph. In previous MGBs, such brutal treatment would have the rear axle hopping around in protest, but the RV8 ditches this disagreeable trait thanks to those crude but effective anti-tramp rods.
If you have a need for speed, though, the TVR is the only way to go.
Power-up the TVR and no punches are pulled. It explodes into life, and idles with a barely suppressed fury that positively begs you to blip the throttle. In comparison, the RV8 it sounds remarkably cultured, and a damned sight more musical – it seems like an executive car next to the Griffith.
Even before you set off, the TVR leaves you in no doubt that your right foot is in control of an awesome wedge of power – it pulls like a steam train from 1000rpm in any gear. It's a relentless but elastic shove that almost renders the gearbox redundant. Cog swapping results in a change in exhaust note – an exercise saved for tunnels and built-up areas. It's yobbish, but we love it.
Top down acceleration sees the RV8's refined V8 drowned out by wind noise, but there's no chance of this in the TVR. As revs rise, it sounds increasingly intoxicating – and its bass-heavy American backbeat is replaced by a competition car style shriek.
It's is as fast as it sounds – 60mph comes up in 4.9 seconds and it tops out at 150mph, but remember, this is the 'entry-level' Griffith. If you need more speed, go for the 350bhp Griffith 500.
Handling and ride
ACCLIMATISE yourself to the heavy steering and within a few meters of setting off, you'll be marvelling at the RV8's ride quality. At no point does it jar, or become uncomfortable – in normal driving it take an observant driver to pick up on the rather archaic suspension. Directional stability is impressive, even if it is far less planted than the TVR.
The RV8 may be a cruiser built for country lanes, but it is here where things turn ugly if the driver demands too much. Camber changes and sharp ridges result in too much vertical movement, and if corners are added to the equation, they can all too easily upset the skittish rear end. Sophisticated damping obviously lessens the problem, but RV8 owners need to keep their KONIs in tip-top shape if they are to avoid their cars turning into bucking broncos on demanding B-roads.
That is not to say there isn't a great deal of pleasure from piloting an RV8. Turn down the wick and waft along at a rapid rather than rabid pace, and there's fun to be had. Even at fairly modest speeds the rear end can get playful, but treat it with respect – slow in, fast out – control the slides, and you'll enjoy the ride.
There's also an impressive feeling of solidity in the shell, and scuttle shake is only apparent in the most arduous situations. Brakes are strong and faithful – despite rear drums. Do remember there's no ABS.
You'll pull away in the TVR cursing its heavy steering – unlike the RV8 you'll need to dial in a fair bit more speed before it shows signs of livening up. At first its unwieldiness fears you into thinking you'll never be able to control the tail if things get frisky, but get past that and dial into its brisk response and you'll soon get the hang of it.
The Griffith is a physical car to drive and it demands a lot from its driver. There's plenty of performance to play with, but you'll need your wits about you to keep it on the straight and narrow. Both cars have Quaiffe limited slip differentials, but it's the TVR that has enough power to really demand questions of it – powering out of any slow corner has you playing with the throttle in order to keep the back end in check. And in the end, that has you wishing for a racetrack in order to experiment.
The ride is appreciably firmer than the MG's but ultimately more controlled in damping. Rough B-roads still have the tail hopping in protest, but you'll be going a lot faster in the TVR when it happens.
Truth is, the Griffith is almost impossible drive slowly – it eggs you on to push it to the limit. That's fun if you're Kimi Raikkonen, but it reminds the rest of us how little we know about driving.
The inside story
IT'S amazing to see how different these two cars are to sit in. Taking the MG first, your first impressions are dominated by the commanding driving position its leather buckets put you in. Although there's an air of modernity inside, it's masked by the upright wheel and cramped cabin.
Despite a lack of elbow room, the driving position is nigh on perfect, with all the major controls falling nicely to hand. You can have a whale of a time playing 'spot the part', from the corporate bin. Despite that diversion, it all looks terrific and hangs together well. The polished wood compliments the beige leather interior, and there's a real air of quality inside the RV8.
A major complaint we have is the low screen, which hampers the view forward if you're over 5'8".
The TVR is more modern, and just as well made. Its dashboard is curvaceous and some of the minor controls such as the interior door releases and gear knob are suitably gorgeous. There are a few unmarked switches to contend with, and one or two Ford items in the mix, but overall, it's the Griffith that's the more homogenous effort.
The driving position is the antithesis of the MG's. You sit extremely low in the snug but spacious cabin, and that allows you to feel at one with the car. It makes town driving a bit of a nightmare, but we suspect that's not going to be a major priority for most potential owners.
Classic appeal
TAKE a drive in either of these cars and you're going to create quite a stir. There may have been 2000 RV8s built at Cowley, but they remain rare. A fair number may have been exported into Japan, but many are now returning, and numbers are rising.Despite that, the RV8 has cast-iron classic credentials but also proves to be a perfectly useable everyday car, should the owner choose to treat it this way. It does arouse interest in others, but mainly of a curious nature – on the roads, be prepared to turn a lot of heads.
The beautiful TVR is not an uncommon sight, but it still has the looks to stop traffic. It's not all good – owners tell us that every traffic light sees someone having a go. Despite that Griffiths seem to command respect not envy.
Given its relative scarcity and the success of the styling, the Griffith has the strongest values in the TVR lineup. However, prices are still on a downward curve, although they are now bottoming out, with the best set fair to appreciate in coming years. Unlike many Nineties cars, the Griffith is already a firmly established classic.
AT the start of this head-to-head we questioned whether two cars with the same engine would feel suitably different. Even the shortest answers that with an emphatic 'yes'.
They fall into two camps – the MG, a smooth and traditional cruiser; and the TVR, an out-and-out sports car. If you like an exciting life, we'd have no hesitation in recommending the Griffith – in just about every objective category, it is the superior car.
In fairness to the MG, the company always maintained the RV8 was no Griffith rival – and tuned it specifically to the needs of traditional buyers. We can confirm that Rover Special Products succeeded in meeting those aims. It is definitely an MGB for the Nineties, and as a result is a likeable, charismatic steer, and one we wish more enthusiasts could enjoy.
Picking a victor is easy – they're both winners because they are so different. In an ideal world, you'd take the RV8 for balmy summer evening drives to the pub, and save the TVR for trackdays. It's great there's clear blue water between the two because it shows there remains a genuine choice in the sportscar market .
A real case of same hearts, different souls.
135mph 150mph
0-60mph (secs)
18-22mpg 18-24mpg
8.0 gallons 11.8 gallons
3948cc, ohv 3948cc, ohv
190bhp, 4750rpm 240bhp, 6000rpm
236lb/ft, 3000rpm 270lb/ft, 4000rpm
5-speed manual 5-speed manual
Disc/Drum Disc/disc
Rack and pinion Rack and pinion
4010mm x 1694mm 3970mm x 1740mm
Keith Adams
Editor and creator AROnline at AROnline
Created www.austin-rover.co.uk in 2001 and built it up to become the world's foremost reference source for all things BMC, Leyland and Rover Group, before renaming it AROnline in 2007.
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
Latest posts by Keith Adams (see all)
Opinion : MG's prototypes secured. But where? - 16 July 2019
The cars : Mini (ADO15) development story – Part One - 16 July 2019
Opinion : Still no information from MG – nothing ever changes - 5 July 2019
In production : Chrysler Alpines at Ryton
Chrysler 180 Gallery
ant80 says:
12 October 2012 at 8.07 pm
stunning engine been involved with them for 30 odd years in our family in sd1 power guise. nothing better also had range rover on lpg. fabulous sound and most people seem to know about it!! long may it continue…. went to the usa last week and got talking to a bloke about it, he called it the pontiac 350!! ie pontiac biuck oldsmobile….
14 October 2012 at 9.38 am
Just look at the RV8… go on… look at it.
Want a car to make you feel special, feel proud, feel like you've arrived? RV8
Want a car that makes you feel alive, exited and aroused – TVR
Tough call, but on style and quality – RV8 FTW
Big H says:
18 October 2012 at 12.47 pm
I would not refuse either 🙂
However I would go with the TVR. Too many beard involvement with the MG
Chris Baglin says:
I've seen TVRs and RV8s in action.
This is the kind of car you buy with your heart and not your head- after all, a hand-built MG is hardly going to be the last word in practical everyday transport even if it is more user-friendly.
Having heard the incredibly visceral animalistic shout of a TVR used in anger, that would be the only choice for me.
And I just love the styling, especially the clever way the doors are mounted with that dimple in the front wings (apparently because it is difficult to get consistent panel gaps with GRP). And that softly styled nose with the inset lamps- classy. Hell, they even look fantastic mounted on a 12 tonne AA flatbed truck- which is just as well really.
Not really comparable cars despite some obvious similarities. I have a soft spot for the MGR as I very briefly worked on it from the supplier base and actually still have some official launch bumph somewhere. However I would take the TVR…
17 January 2013 at 7.23 am
Brought a RV8 a few years ago and have had 100% reliability. Awful handling and MG really should have ditched the rear end set up. But you know what, it's just such a great car to drive ( yea I know I just said rubbish handling) it makes you feel great and it's got style and class. I've had lots of modern fast sportscars and sports saloons and nothing has come close to how this car gets into you. The family and I call ours 'Millie' and we wouldn't sell it for a gold pig. Buy one guys the'll be an investment in both money and happiness
21 January 2013 at 12.58 pm
I am 81 but when driving my( much loved!) RV8 I still get nubile young ladies asking me for a ride!! Blokes! Find and get one – an investment on all counts!
3 February 2013 at 4.48 pm
I have two V8 powered TVRs, and love the sound and character of both. One is a 350i wedge, the other a Griffith 500.
I would have to assume the performance of the MG is closer to the wedge than the Griffith. The Griffith is breath taking, however, there is something about the sound and soul of the 350i that, although much slower, is exciting.
If I had the opportunity I would gladly add the MG to the garage. Each car has its own sound, feel, and soul. Each car is something you can build a relationship with.
Tony Evans says:
23 March 2013 at 1.40 pm
RV8 fuel tank 8.0 gallons, say 7 gallons useable means 140 miles between fill ups. My diesel powered 140mph estate car will do 800 miles between fill ups at 60 mpg. Even with the TVR you will only get 200 miles between visits to the pump.
However, I suppose that both of these are sunny weekend cars and not designed to cover long distances.
Personally, both are too compromised for my tastes. The RV8 has vintage handling and drives like something from the early 1970s. The TVR is more brutal and unpleasant in town.
So, the MG for a gentle cruise round the lanes but the TVR for a serious blast.
tim brett says:
I am pondering a Cerbera at the moment,£4k buys it.
John Walsh says:
I've had myRV8 since Jan 2007 (No 248 off the production line) I had been looking for Griffith for some time, but when I saw the RV8, it was love at first sight. I had to have it. My wife hates me as I kicked her car out of the garage.
Re imports from Japan have all but dried up now, so values are set to rise. As an investment, I would put my money on the MG. I still think the TVR is a superb car, but for us 'gentlemen' who don't want a 'screamer', the RV8 ticks all the boxes
Gerald Manterfield says:
15 February 2016 at 6.39 pm
Had my RV8 for 2 years & it's increased in value by nearly £5,000, just love driving it & nobody knows what it is. I ditched the Koni shock absorbers & replaced them with Spax adjustables, the handling absolutely transformed the car, I take bends under power with complete confidence. Probably doesn't handle as well as the TVR but I don't get crazing of the fibreglass, no rust problems at all, the chassis is galvanised, it's ultra reliable & things don't drop off unlike the TVR, plus nobody wants to race.
Best of British : Gardner 6LX diesel engine
by Mike Humble in Best of British	64
Mike Humble Ask many a seasoned truck or bus engineer the simple question 'who made the best large diesel engine?' and more than likely the answer without delay would be Gardner. Most of you out [...]


On Aug 5 we are doing a kids ride to the Shady Dell Train Park in Mollala. Vancouverites will leave the Mill Plain/I-205 Elmer's at 11am and head to the McDonald's on HWY 224 and SE 135th in Clackamas (exit 12A if going south on I-205 or exit 12 if going north - then east on 224) to have lunch around 11:30. Anyone wanting to join us that lives south of Vancouver can meet us there. After lunch we ride to Estacada then head south on 211 to Mollala and the train park to ride the train.
As of this moment the forcast is for temps in the 90's on Sunday so bring lots of sunscreen and water. My wife is also driving - bringing along our 2 yr old - so there is a vehicle for the kids to ride in if they get too hot or tired. Anyone is welcome to come along - kid or not - to enjoy the ride, the company and the trains... see you there!
Me and The Boy are going!
A great ride out to the train park. We all had a great time!
» Kids Just Want to Ride Act to be Introduced!


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Publications: Effective practice reports
In this section you'll find ERO's evaluation indicators and frameworks, national evaluations, effective practice reports, resources and guides, corporate publications and guides for parents. Use the search box at the top right or the filters below to find what you're looking for.
Only current indicators and frameworks and other recent publications are published on this website.
You can see if we hold any physical copies of our publications and order them from the publication page. You can also download electronic PDF verisons of our publications if you wish.
Responses to Official Information requests
Filter by year...
Learning in a Covid-19 World: Supporting Secondary School Engagement
Publication Date: 19 January 2021
Print version available: Yes
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has led to significant disruption to schooling, ongoing uncertainty and new requirements – all of which impacts on student engagement. Our report Learning in a Covid-19 World: The Impact of Covid-19 on Schools has found that secondary school students have been most impacted.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/learning-in-a-covid-19-world-supporting-secondary-school-engagement/
Learning in a Covid-19 World - The Impact of Covid-19 on Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education services had to quickly adapt to changing requirements and periods of uncertainty due to Covid-19 in 2020. Through our work on the impact of Covid-19 we found that services went above and beyond to support children, staff and whānau and that there have been some real gains...
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/ero-learning-in-a-covid-19-world-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-early-childhood-education/
Learning in a Covid-19 World - The Impact of Covid-19 on Schools
Schools faced new challenges in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To understand what these challenges were and how schools responded, the Education Review Office interviewed 750 schools and surveyed over 2500 principals and teachers across the country, from May through to September 2020.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/learning-in-a-covid-19-world-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-schools/
Te Kahu Whakahaumaru – Ngā mahi a te rangai mātauranga Māori
Te Pou Mataaho, ERO's evaluation and research group, and Te Uepū ā Motu, ERO's national evaluation and review team, pursued this evaluation to provide an evidence base about the initial impacts of Covid-19 on Māori-medium education and how the sector responded. 9.26 MB
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/te-kahu-whakahaumaru-nga-mahi-a-te-rangai-matauranga-maori/
I whāia tēnei arotake e Te Pou Mataaho, te rōpū arotake, rangahau hoki a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me Te Uepū ā-Motu, te rōpū arotake ā-motu a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ki te whakaputa i tētahi kohinga taunakitanga e kitea ai ngā pānga tōmua o te Mate Korona ki te...
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/te-kahu-whakahaumaru-nga-mahi-a-te-rangai-matauranga-maori-2/
Learning in a Covid-19 World
Publication Date: 10 December 2020
Print version available: No
In Aotearoa, Māori-medium education experienced significant disruption when the outbreak of Covid-19 forced kura to close their doors, and whānau and kaiako to adjust to home schooling and distance learning.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/learning-in-a-covid-19-world/
Promoting wellbeing through sexuality education
This report provides findings from ERO's evaluation of how well schools were promoting and supporting student wellbeing through sexuality education.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/promoting-wellbeing-through-sexuality-education/
Building genuine learning partnerships with parents
This report shares strategies and approaches from schools that had contributed to improving achievement by developing genuine learning partnerships with parents. It also includes some simple strategies a few of the schools used to involve parents more in supporting the things children were learning at school.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/building-genuine-learning-partnerships-with-parents/
Appraisal as a catalyst for improved learner outcomes: two years on
In July 2015, ERO signed a three year Service Agreement with the Education Council to carry out teacher appraisal audits. This report presents our findings from the 2016-2017 audit.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/appraisal-as-a-catalyst-for-improved-learner-outcomes-two-years-on/
Teaching strategies that work - Mathematics
Publication Date: 20 February 2018
This Education Review Office (ERO) report is one of a series of reports on teaching strategies that work. It features strategies and approaches that we observed in 40 primary schools selected from across New Zealand. These schools came from a database of 129 schools, all with rolls of 200 or...
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/teaching-strategies-that-work-mathematics/
Hauhaketia Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho Kia Puāwai Ai: Unearth Our Ancestral Treasures So That We May Prosper
Evaluation insights by the Education Review Office (ERO), alongside contributions from the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust (Te Kōhanga Reo Trust) and kōhanga reo whānau inform the findings of this report, which highlights effective practice in kōhanga reo, specifically the support children need to grow and thrive through a quality...
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/unearth-our-ancestral-treasures-so-that-we-may-prosper-2018/
Teaching approaches and strategies that work
This evaluation looks at teaching approaches and strategies used in schools where there has been a significant increase in the number of students at or above National Standards in the upper primary school years (Years 5 to 8).
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/teaching-approaches-and-strategies-that-work/
Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity in NZ Schools and Early Learning Services
Publication Date: 11 April 2017
In late 2015, the Cabinet Social Policy Committee asked ERO to assess 'the current status of food, nutrition and physical activity in schools and early childhood services' and to report on Health Promoting Schools that were included in the sample.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/food-nutrition-and-physical-activity-in-nz-schools-and-early-learning-services/
Extending their language - expanding their world: Children's oral language (birth-8 years)
Publication Date: 9 February 2017
Research evidence shows early in a child's life is a critical time in terms of the rapid language development that takes place, particularly in the first two to three years.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/extending-their-language-expanding-their-world/
Appraisal as a catalyst for improved learner outcomes
The Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (the Council) was established on 1 July 2015 to replace the New Zealand Teachers Council.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/appraisal-as-a-catalyst-for-improved-learner-outcomes/
Wellbeing for success: effective practice
In 2014, the Education Review Office (ERO) undertook an evaluation of the extent to which schools were promoting and responding to student wellbeing in primary and secondary schools. This 2016 effective practice report provides further detail about practices in selected schools that promote wellbeing for all students, and describes how...
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/wellbeing-for-success-effective-practice/
Accelerating student achievement: a resource for schools
This resource can be used with the School Evaluation Indicators. It brings together findings from ERO's recent national reports to outline what works to accelerate progress for Māori students at-risk of underachieving in primary schools. We share approaches schools have taken where progress was accelerated and schools were able to...
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/accelerating-student-achievement-a-resource-for-schools-december-2015/
Internal evaluation: good practice
This good practice report showcases 13 schools and how they've used internal evaluation to change their practice to support students to achieve. The findings from this report have informed the joint Ministry of Education and ERO resource Effective School Evaluation: How to do and use internal evaluation for improvement.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/internal-evaluation-good-practice/
Secondary-Tertiary Programmes (Trades Academies) What works and next steps
The report examines how well 15 of New Zealand's Secondary-Tertiary Programmes (STPs or Trades Academies) are meeting the needs of students at risk of not staying or succeeding in education.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/secondary-tertiary-programmes-trades-academies-what-works-and-next-steps/
Careers education and guidance: Good practice
The report focuses on good practice and showcases 10 secondary schools with high quality careers education. It identifies factors that contribute to high quality careers education and guidance in New Zealand secondary schools.
https://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/careers-education-and-guidance-good-practice/


Many people are familiar with the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) fellowships however fewer people are aware of Al-Anon and Alateen.
Al-Anon, and Alateen are a worldwide fellowship that offers a programme of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or even seeks help. When someone is struggling with alcohol, quite often close family members and friends can be deeply affected by the experience.
Al-Anon Family Groups meet in over 130 countries worldwide to help families and friends of problem drinkers recover from the impacts of a loved one's drinking. Members help each other by practicing the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous themselves, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic.
Al-Anon was co-founded in 1951, some 16 years after the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous by Anne B and Lois W (wife of AA co-founder Bill W). Before the formation of Al-Anon, independent groups of families of alcoholics met often and soon the fellowship was founded in its own right.
Al-Anon adopted the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous for their use word for word with the exception of the Twelfth Step. Its name derives from the first parts of the words Alcoholics Anonymous. Alateen, which is part of Al-Anon, began in California in 1957 when a teenager named Bob joined with five other young people who had also been affected by the alcoholism of a family member. Alateen is designed specifically for younger relatives and friends.
Both Al-Anon and Alateen work similarly to Alcoholics Anonymous in that members attend regular meetings and work through a Twelve Step programme of their own. Meeting are free and usually quite small compared to other fellowships.
Here at Step One Recovery we understand the impact alcoholics can have on their families and social circles. Our team of experienced therapists and counsellors work with clients extensively to help them recover, with the primary aim to achieve sobriety. If you think you have a problem with alcohol and would like more information about how Step One Recovery can help you (and your family) contact us today for a free assessment.


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Private Tour: Skip the Line Ticket and Guided Tour of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Reviews | Photos | Get Tickets Private Sightseeing Tours
Your guide will share the stories behind each must-see work of art and artifact. Your 2 to 2.5 hour private tour of the Rijksmuseum will take you through a selection of it's most important pieces, putting them into context for even the most amateur art lover. You will be provided the tickets so you can skip the line and return later if you want to explore further on your own.
Holland's version of the Louvre is a must, and this tour will introduce first-time visitors to the impressive and expansive collection that curates Dutch history over the centuries. For those who aren't familiar with Dutch culture, you will explore its rich and vibrant past through a selection of paintings and artifacts from the 8000 objects on display. You'll explore familiar names like Rembrandt while discussing lesser known items like 17th century dollhouses and Vermeer's portrait of domesticity, 'The Milkmaid.' There's even a fascinating 19th century library containing more stories than could ever be told. By the end, you'll have a good overview of the museum's collection and you may even know how to pronounce its name correctly.
Reviews | Photos | Get Tickets


Breast reconstruction is a physically and emotionally rewarding procedure for women who has lost a breast due to cancer or other disease. Reconstruction of a breast that has been partially or completely removed is possible through a combination of plastic surgery techniques that not only creates a new breast but also can dramatically improve a womans self-image, self-confidence and quality of life.
The results of breast reconstruction can be relatively natural in appearance and feel; however a reconstructed breast will never look or feel exactly the same as the breast that was removed.
It can begin at the same time as mastectomy or may be delayed until a patient has healed from mastectomy and recovered from any additional cancer treatments that may be necessary. It is important that a woman feel ready for the emotional adjustment involved; much like losing a breast, it takes some time for a woman to accept the results of breast reconstruction.
This brochure presents an overview of breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The best way to learn how breast reconstruction can help fulfill your personal goals is a consultation with a plastic surgeon.
» What is a breast reconstruction?
Overall health and personal outlook can greatly impact the outcome of breast reconstruction surgery. These will be carefully evaluated in consultation with your plastic surgeon.
The final results of breast reconstruction following mastectomy can help you feel physically and emotionally fulfilled.


Presented by Erik Daubert, May 2016 This webinar addresses the issue of managing annual and capital campaigns at the same time which requires both art and science to do effectively. Learn how to work with these campaigns simultaneously in addition to learning how to make a "dual ask" of both an annual and capital gift at the same time. As a result of this workshop, participants will… 1) Learn the art of the dual ask when you have launched a capital effort during the timeframe of your annual campaign. 2) Learn how to work with and manage annual and capital campaigns at the same time.