This quote speaks truth to my soul and is a lesson taught me by someone close to my heart – my son, who has Autism and is now 38 years young.
From the day he was born, Nate loved playing in water and loved his bath time. He could spend hours in the tub if I let him. The water relaxed him and soothed him in a way almost nothing else could. He would splash around, recline the length of the tub, and sing songs that could be heard all over the house. He was the cleanest kid in town and, his singing, one of the joys of my life!
This went on for years and years.
During that time, Nate learned to speak in 1 or 2 word phrases, but his articulation was such that, unless you knew him well, you mostly couldn't understand him. He grew tall, learned to read some "sight words", and could work the tv and vcr in his room better than I could.
Then, one day, when Nate was about 13, I wanted him to take his bath after dinner, following the same routine we always did. I was shocked when he said, "No." And he was adamant about it. I tried cajoling, begging, and demanding – none of which was successful.
This went on for several days and I just couldn't figure it out. Not wanting to take a bath was completely out of character for my son and I was starting to get really distressed.
You could have knocked me over with a feather! It took me several days to realize that the whole thing wasn't about his bath at all. It was about him being 13 years old and wanting to decide for himself when he would take a bath – a perfectly normal and legitimate thing for a 13-year-old young man to decide for himself.
When a person is "self-determined", they have freedom to be whoever they wish to be and freedom from the artificial constraints and limitations imposed by others. In other words, I can free myself from the unhealthy me and become the healthiest version of myself as possible.
Being "self-determined" gives me the power to make choices. I can choose to exercise (or not), eat healthy meals (or not), drink lots of water (or not), take vitamins, get enough good quality sleep (or not), etc.
Having the power to make choices opens me up to opportunities and risks. Opportunities to fly in a plane comfortably, take long hikes in nature, ride my bike, and extend the time I am on this earth to help provide the support my dear and wise son needs to live a happy life.
In order to take advantage of my opportunities and minimize the risks, I have to be responsible for myself and my actions. I have to not only be "self-determined", but self-aware as well, so that I can self-correct as the need arises.
In other words, my living a "self-determined" life is like going on a long road trip and I'm the driver. I can choose to drive safely and follow the rules of the road or I can drive aggressively and end up in a ditch. I can use my GPS and reach my desired destination or I can meander around and hope I eventually end up where I want to go without too man detours. While on the road, I have to eliminate distracted driving (no texting!) and watch out for potholes so that I don't crash and scuff up the vehicle.
Another part of a successful road trip, is making sure my vehicle is properly maintained. So, if you'll excuse me, I have to go "change my oil" and "rotate my tires".
Love your story about Nate. I always gave my kids choices. It gave each of us some control "Would you rather wear your green or blue shirt today?" Not sure how it would have worked with girls. I, personally, do not like to make a lot of choices. Maybe I need to work on my self determination!
You are determined not to let your Mom's fate be your own. Here is the good news - it is all up to you. No wonder you are having so much success! You're losing weight, dropping sizes, gaining strength, jogging faster and farther. Holy crap - you're a runner! You can have the lean strong healthy body you crave. You will have it. Dream it, do it!
Love you and your amazing son.
Great story. Nate sounds like an an amazing young man. I'm sure you have lots of stories about him. I also want to choose the best, healthiest me. Thanks for the inspiration.
As an educator, and as a parent, and now a grandparent, I have always tried to give kids choice in their lives...often works to get what I want done.


Since the PRO version (paid option) has been added. The plugins stopped scanning other field than wordpress default one. Therefore, email in added in ACF won't work.
Hey @psntr! What your saying is not true.
The functionality of the free plugin did not change and was not limited in any way.
ACF fields are not filtered by default, but you can add that with a few lines of code.
I will try and change my rating. Thank you for your reply.
Did you manage to get the email addresses encoded, or do you need any further help?
All good, easier than I thought. Thank you for your work and sorry for my misunderstandings.


The Burmese refugee population along the Thai border will undergo a verification exercise that the UN says is intended to better coordinate future humanitarian assistance.
CHIANG MAI, Thailand — The UN refugee agency and Thailand's Ministry of Interior will conduct a verification exercise on the Burmese refugee population along the Thai border, with the data intended to help find "durable solutions" and better coordinate future humanitarian assistance.
The program will be carried out in all nine refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border, where some 130,000 Burmese refugees, mostly ethnic Karen, have been living for decades after fleeing their homes amid Burma's long-running civil war.
Saw Honest, chairman of the largest refugee camp at Mae La, told The Irrawaddy that his camp's program would likely begin in February.
Retinal scans, fingerprints and photographs of the refugees will reportedly be recorded in the verification process, he said.
Vivian Tan, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Asia, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the aim of the exercise was to physically verify and update existing records of Burmese refugees living in the camps to allow for better humanitarian aid planning.
"Upon verification, refugees will receive a card with their information contained on a data chip. This card, which is unique and not issued to other groups in Thailand, will be linked to durable solutions and future assistance," said Tan, adding that the card would not be a substitute for a state-issued identity document and would not entitle card holders to the right to work or travel in Thailand.
The one-time exercise is mandatory for all refugee camp residents and those who are absent will be struck from the list of registered camp residents. The verification process, which will run from late January through April, will also document non-registered refugees, but will not serve as a way for these individuals to register with the UNHCR. Registering with the UN agency comes with benefits such as eligibility for third-country resettlement.
Sources close to nongovernmental organizations on the border said the Thai government was considering issuing "hill-tribe" ID cards to the refugees so that they could travel outside the camps and work legally in Thai industries to earn a living.
Under Thai law, the 130,000 refugees on the border are prohibited from traveling outside the camps and cannot legally take jobs in Thailand.
Last year, the Thai military conducted a headcount of the refugee population on the border, raising concerns that plans were afoot for an imminent repatriation of the refugees. The UNHCR has consistently maintained that the time for refugees' return is not yet appropriate, though discussions on the matter have been taking place in light of the relative peace that has accompanied the signing of more than a dozen ceasefires between the Burmese government and ethnic armed groups over the last three years.
Since the Thai military took power in a May 22 coup, the head of the regime, a former general and current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, has pushed for the refugees' repatriation. He has also met with the head of the Burma Army, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, in Bangkok to discuss the issue.
Most refugees are reluctant to return home at present, feeling the potential for armed conflict lingers in Burma's ethnic border regions, a survey of refugees in mid-2013 found.


Fabio Capello's England squad for this year's tournament in South Africa.
Walcott has endured an injury-troubled time since scoring his memorable hat-trick against Croatia to launch England's qualifying campaign in September 2008.
Walcott said: 'I am very disappointed not to be included in the squad going out to South Africa, but completely respect Mr Capello's decision.
Aside from Walcott, the one unexpected decision involved Stephen Warnock's selection ahead of Leighton Baines, whose discomfort at committing himself to being away from home for six weeks eventually counted against him, even though he featured against Egypt and Mexico while the Aston Villa man did not.
With scans on Gareth Barry's ankle injury confirming that he was on track to recover in time to play a full part in training immediately after the Group C opener against the United States on June 12, Capello was able to formulate the rest of his squad largely as predicted.


A routine traffic stop by Jena police on Monday, June 22, 2015, led to the arrest of an occupant in the vehicle on possession with intent to distribute charges, according to Jena Chief of Police Scott McLendon.
Near noon on Monday, Chief McLendon detained a vehicle after the driver failed to stop as it entered LA 127 North from Cary Street. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Jessica Dawn Taylor, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, was issued a citation for failure to obey a stop sign and driving without a license.
A backseat passenger was identified as Russell Edward Brooks, Sr., 58, of Harrisonburg, LA. An attending Jena PD Officer noticed a container next to Brooks' foot and asked to see the container. With permission, the officer opened the container and found a clear substance suspected to be crystal meth.
Brooks was read his rights per Miranda, and upon further questioning, he told officers that there was more dope in the backseat where he was sitting. Officers found a small black zip up bag which contained a clear substance also suspected to be crystal meth.
Brooks was transported to the LaSalle Parish Jail where he was booked on a charge of possession of crystal meth with intent to distribute.


To initiate a long term, sustainable international strategy between the UK and Vietnam in the area of logistics both in terms of research and business developments.
To study the current situation in the Vietnam logistics industry, and to identify the areas where ICT can be applied to improve performance.
To create a seed-corn research on the impact of innovative ICT on sustainable development of Vietnam logistics industry, focusing on the most important factors: multi-modal logistics and port access.
To consider applying the initial research results to industrial partners, and to disseminate the results to a wide audience.


Wow! How did I miss this. Microsoft annouce on November 15th, 2017 the Azure DevOps Project. This new blade in the azure portal helps accelerate your development, deployment and monitoring of your app.
Get start by creating Azure DevOps Project now.
Start fresh with a new applicant by selecting your application or bring your code.
In my case, I selected Static Website and click Next. On the next page, click Next.
On the Select and Azure Service to deploy the application, select Web App for Containers or Web App and click Next. For this example, I selected Web App.
On the Almost there! page fillout the required information.
You are done! When the deployment is complete, you should have a similar blade.


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Frank Edward Thomas, surnommé The Big Hurt (né le  à Columbus, Géorgie) est un joueur américain de baseball qui a joué dans les ligues majeures de 1990 à 2008, incluant 16 saisons pour les White Sox de Chicago.

À l'annonce de sa retraite, il occupe le  de l'histoire pour les coups de circuit avec 513. Il a maintenu une moyenne au bâton à vie de, 303 avec  coups sûrs. Il est élu au Temple de la renommée du baseball en 2014.

Carrière
Au cours de ses 19 saisons dans la Ligue majeure de baseball, il a accumulé 2419 coups sûrs et 516 coups de circuit (au 22 avril 2008). Il a joué pour l'Université d'Auburn dans les équipes de baseball et de football américain (au poste de tight end) avant d'être choisi par les White Sox de Chicago au  de la draft 1989 ( global).

Il commence sa carrière en Ligue majeure en 1990 avec les White Sox de Chicago. Il aligne 8 saisons d'affilée avec 100 points, 100 points produits et 100 bases automatiques. En 1993, il est élu meilleur joueur des ligues majeures, frappant 174 coups sûrs, 41 coups de circuit et 128 points produits. En 1994, il conserve ce trophée, enregistrant 38 coups de circuit et 101 points produits lors d'une saison raccourci par une grève des joueurs. En 2005, il commence la saison avec les White Sox de Chicago, mais ne joue pas lors de la série mondiale en raison d'une fracture de la cheville.

En 1996, Thomas atteint les buts lors de ses 52 premiers matchs, battant un record des majeures pour la plus longue série du genre pour amorcer une saison. Thomas dépasse les 48 matchs consécutifs avec une présence sur les buts de Mark McGwire d'Oakland, qui venait quelques jours plus tôt d'effacer la série jusque-là record de 47 matchs d'Alvin Davis pour Seattle en 1984. Le nouveau record des majeures de Thomas tient trois ans, et est battu par Derek Jeter (53 matchs) en 1999.

En 2006, Thomas quitte les White Sox pour rejoindre les Athletics d'Oakland comme frappeur désigné. Il frappe 39 coups de circuit et produit 114 points avec une moyenne au bâton de 0,270. Le 16 novembre 2006, Thomas signe un contrat de deux années et 18,12 millions de dollars avec les Blue Jays de Toronto. Le 17 juin 2007, il frappe son  en carrière qui est aussi son  en tant que frappeur désigné, établissant le nouveau record de circuits frappés pour ce poste. Le 28 juin, il entre dans le club restreint des joueurs ayant frappé au moins 500 circuits en carrière. Il est le  de Ligue majeure à faire son entrée dans ce club. Dix-sept ans après son premier coup de circuit dans le Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, il frappe son  dans ce même stade face à Carlo Silva, le lanceur des Twins du Minnesota.

Thomas commence la saison 2008 avec les Blue Jays de Toronto avant d'être licencié le 20 avril. Il signe un nouveau contrat avec les Athletics le 24 avril.

À une époque où la consommation alléguée de stéroïdes fait grand bruit dans la MLB, Thomas s'est prononcé à plusieurs reprises contre toute forme de dopage. Dans l'enquête qui mène à la publication en 2007 du rapport Mitchell sur le dopage dans le baseball majeur, Thomas est l'un des cinq joueurs qui accepte d'être interviewé par le sénateur américain George J. Mitchell, et du groupe il est le seul à avoir accepté d'être identifié.

Il annonce sa retraite le 11 février 2010.

Les White Sox annoncent que le numéro 35 porté par Thomas sera retiré par la franchise lors d'une cérémonie au U.S. Cellular Field de Chicago le 29 août 2010.

Un flipper construit par Gottlieb en 1995 porte son nom.

Palmarès
 Meilleur joueur des ligues majeures : 1993, 1994.
 Champion de la moyenne au bâton : 1997.
 Champion du monde avec les White Sox : 2005.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Liste de joueurs des ligues majeures qui ont 500 coups de circuit

Liens externes

Naissance en mai 1968
Naissance à Columbus (Géorgie)
Joueur américain de baseball
Joueur de baseball des Tigers d'Auburn
Joueur des White Sox de Chicago
Joueur des Athletics d'Oakland
Joueur des Blue Jays de Toronto
Joueur de premier but des ligues majeures de baseball
Frappeur désigné des ligues majeures de baseball
Joueur ayant frappé 500 coups de circuit
Membre du Temple de la renommée du baseball
Joueur américain de football américain
Tight end
Joueur de football américain des Tigers d'Auburn

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Ranelagh Attends 2020 Olympic Games Event
Parents and children travelled to The Olympic park /Lea Valley sports arena to a launch event for next year's Tokyo Olympics. The legacy of the 2012 Olympics hosted by Britain continues. The Travel to Tokyo challenge is a new 'getting active' programme for young people aged 5–11 from Sport England, Team GB and Paralympics GB.
The programme invited children and their families to join Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, by joining a team and getting active together! Children were able to meet famous British Olympians and were inspired by their amazing sporting stories. Emrys in Year 4 was thrilled with a t-shirt he received signed by these inspirational sports people.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Plot Summary: Years after causing her Father's death, a young woman with psychokinesis returns to her childhood home by Crystal Lake and unwittingly resurrects Jason Voorhees.
Note: Continuing Horror month, another Friday the 13th has landed on this calendar year which sees the return of Witney and Heather to discuss the seventh film in the franchise. We talk about pacing, character relationships through ADR and laundry fetishes. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.
Buy: Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray at Amazon.com!


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What have you been watching? Including Woke and The Boys
Home » Netflix » What have you been watching? Including Woke and The Boys
Post category:Netflix
Tom Hardy in Venom (2018)
Previously on TMINE
It's been a quiet week for new tele this week, thanks to the decimated US TV production schedule. But I did offer up reviews of Tenet (2020) and Venom (2018) for the returning Orange Thursday.
Next on TMINE
I managed to watch the first two episodes of Woke (US: Hulu), so I'll be talking about them after the jump. HBO (US) mini-series We Are Who We Are starts tonight, but it's a mini-series so I might skip it.
Coming later this week, I'm going to be watching the second season of Criminal (Netflix), so might well give that a review – at the moment, it looks like either season two is only going to be UK episodes or it's just the four UK episodes arriving on Wednesday, with the German, French and Spanish episodes arriving at later dates.
I'm also hoping to finally get the chance to watch season 5 of Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau), which will be arriving on Sundance Now on Thursday.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest (175) prequel Ratched is hitting Netflix on Friday, and I'm sure to give that a try (Sharon Stone's in it!). But that seems to be about it.
Meanwhile, Orange Thursday will feature Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and The Old Guard (2020).
What TMINE has been watching
The regulars list is down to a mere one show, The Boys (Amazon), the latest episode of which we'll be discussing after the jump. But the shortness of that list has obviously given me some time to fill/waste TV-wise.
I began by continuing last year's project: The Strange Report. For those who don't know, The Strange Report is an ITC show from the 1960s – cf Department S, The Champions, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) – that sits between those more fantastic shows and the later, luxurious escapist likes of The Persuaders! and The Protectors.
What makes it so fascinating is it's clearly trying to be both an ITC show and a serious, modern, Swinging 60s show. There's the standard core cast of former Scotland Yard detective Adam Strange (Anthony Quayle) and his young associates – token American Kaz Garas (Wonder Woman) and hip artist/model Anneke Wills (Doctor Who) – who solve crimes using a combination of standard police techniques and, more intriguingly, forensics, with Garas constantly in a lab, staring down a microscope.
The plots are also a cut above the standard of the time, with early episodes seeing cult leaders being investigated, but the leaders turning out to be quite nice after all, and Chinese party officials being abducted – to be 're-educated' by former prisoners who had been through the same thing themselves, resulting in some really surprisingly high-brow debates about the nature of Marxism.
It's not had the benefits of frequent rebroadcasters and constant video releases that its telefantasy brethren have had, but the more I watch, the more it shapes up to be one of my favourite shows of the time.
However, watching The Old Guard for Orange Thursday made me want to watch some old episodes of Highlander, which is currently available for free on Amazon, albeit in a cropped for 16:9 format that leaves a little to be desired.
That's a show that holds up less over time, although it does have many plus points, most of them Adrian Paul and the genuinely good fights, both with swords and martial arts.
The show's biggest issue is that it was a co-production filmed in Canada for half a season, France for another half, and was filled with supporting cast members from both nations who struggled to act in English, even the English-speaking Canadians, so usually ended up with all manner of Brits being flown in to save the day. Plus it was often hokey as f***.
But there are plenty of good episodes, at least. For my first season delve, I started off not with the one with Peter Howitt (Bread) as the evil immortal mime driven mad by absinthe or even the one where Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) is an ex-member of the SAS (which is apparently part of the RAF in Highlander-world) who believes he's on a holy mission from God.
Instead, I went with the 'Die Hard in a courthouse' episode, which turns out to be not as good as I remember at all, and more a demonstration of the amazing power of a sharp stick to take you unawares.
Much better and funnier is the sixth season episode I went to next. For those who don't remember the sixth season, that's when Adrian Paul really wanted to leave the show, couldn't/got paid a lot of money not to, but wasn't around as much, so the producers used a lot of the episodes as backdoor pilots to a spin-off show about a female immortal. Those included the likes of Claudia Christian (Babylon 5), although Highlander: The Raven eventually (boringly) went with long-time fan favourite Amanda as its lead.
However, I was always very disappointed that Alice Evans never got the job, thanks to her performance in Patient Number 7. So I rewatched that. It was quite fun – she gets to be a musketeer and everything – plus her stuntwoman was really good, too. Shame, hey?
The post What have you been watching? Including Woke and The Boys appeared first on The Medium is Not Enough.
Source: TheMediumIsNotEnough
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- Any -ArticleBookDepartment and Research GroupsEventFeature StoryJob PositionNewsPagePodcastPreprintProjectResearch ReportVideoWebsiteProfile
Nancy Jacobs
Affiliated Scholar (Sep 2022-Oct 2022)
Nancy Jacobs is Professor of History at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Her work at the intersection of the environmental and social history of Africa has been bookended by the single-authored Environment, Power, and Injustice: A South African History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003) and the co-edited Environment, Power, and Justice: Southern African Histories (Athens: Ohio University Press, 2022).
She moved into the history of knowledge with Birders of Africa: History of a Network (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016). Drawing on actor-network theory and narrating with biography, it explored the racial and colonial politics of knowing birds through vernacular and scientific traditions.
At the MPIWG she is a member of the Animal Mobilities Working Group in Department III. Her project "The Global Grey Parrot" is a study of interspecies politics that puts a charismatic African animal at the center of world history. It begins in African forests before 1500 and then expands to other continents. Now, in the Anthropocene, parrots are bred in agro-industrial facilities, trafficked as commodities, and increasingly consigned to human spaces. Parrots produce knowledge and culture, but isolated in captivity, they cannot. As historical actors, parrots were making worlds all along.
Jacobs is Vice President of the American Society for Environmental History.
The Global Grey Parrot: The Worldwide History of a Charismatic African Animal


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When Did Our Parents Go from Hating the "Idiot Box" to Being Addicted to It?
Illustration: Siddhakanksha Mishra
By Aditya Bhalla Aug. 26, 2019
My parents have adopted the television as their own child. From 8:00 am to 11:00 pm, there's a constant hum of static in the background, punctuated by a laughter track every 10 minutes. It's ironic that the biggest consumers of the television today are the same parents who hated it.
Our first family television was a prized possession, the kind of thing you would hire someone like Tiger Shroff to protect. It was placed in the centre of our living room, on display from all corners of the house. My sister and I may have been too young to remember the exact day, but I'm sure whenever it arrived, my parents were relieved that they finally knew which direction to face all the furniture should face.
Soon after, most of our free time as a family was spent staring directly at this purchase. We'd watch wholesome family entertainment — the same 10 movies that Star Movies and HBO had on, the thousands of English sitcoms that had just made their way to the subcontinent, the billions of Hindi dramas and their billion seasons — pretty much whatever the winner of the Battle of Remote decided we would watch on the day.
It was probably going really well until about a decade later, when my parents first discovered that they might have made a huge mistake. It was the early noughties — evidenced by the thousands of music videos streaming on MTV — and their children had moved on from private family TV time to waking up at 5:00 am to watch whole seasons of Full House. My sister and I had moved on to communicating solely via ad-jingles and planning our days around the various TV schedules we'd marked out in the morning paper. Seeing as we were pretty young, and there wasn't much business to attend to, it was easy to sometimes spend entire days lounging on sofas, in postures that would shock the thousands of budding yoga teachers today.
This information wasn't lost on our school administrations, which sent home individual pamphlets explaining that letting children watch television without moderation would most definitely turn them into Chandler-from-F.R.I.E.N.D.S-quoting-Zombies. Parent-teacher meetings were called to decide how much time was appropriate for us to be watching TV. At these meetings, one of the most glorious inventions of the previous century would be labelled "the idiot box".
Exam time meant cable was cut off, and getting up in the middle of the night to watch TV was the most rebellious act a teenager could pull off.
This fear, however, escalated to the point where television became the number one enemy for getting homework done, overtaking other evils like "magazines" and "landlines". Exam time meant cable was cut off, and getting up in the middle of the night to watch TV was the most rebellious act a teenager could pull off.
Unfortunately for our parents, as this panic was unfurling, the world's tech Gods got into a meeting room and decided, "deffo need more screens up in this B", and decided to give us all personalised televisions that we could hold in our hands. Our generation moved on from watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S on Zee Cafe to F.R.I.E.N.D.S on Netflix, faster than the mutual-fund disclaimer guy, grabbing any screen we could get our hands on, and shocking our bodies into more convoluted positions.
There was a glimmer of success for our parents in all of this. While they couldn't control the amount of time their now-adult kids spent in front of screens, they did succeed in getting a giant chunk of us to stop wasting time on the "idiot box". More younger people than ever are moving to online streaming sites. Once JioTV officially launches, it's estimated to bring another 215 million of us online.
Meanwhile, it's especially ironic that the biggest adopters of the television today are not students, but the same parents who hated it. The generation that warned us extensively about the idiot box damaging our brains and turning us into violent criminals, now spend the most amount of time in front of their former arch-nemeses.
The generation that warned us extensively about the idiot box damaging our brains, now spend the most amount of time in front of their former arch-nemeses.
Back at home, my own parents adopted the television as their own child. From 8:00 am to 11:00 pm, there's a constant hum of static in the background, punctuated by a laughter track every 10 minutes. It doesn't really matter what's on, it could be a child reality show, or Tata Sky shop, the television is always on, the volume is always turned up to a hundred, and even the neighbours know what we're watching.
According to this BARC study, almost all houses in India still have their television sets, but nearly 40 per cent of Indians who watch TV together are between the ages 40 and 60. This trend is apparent over the world — retired Americans watch double the television that the younger generation does. Even this study from Finland, of all places, says the elderly spend more time in front of the television.
You can see it for yourself: glance into any house in the city (without being too creepy about it) and the first thing you'll notice is the oldest person in the house seated firmly in front of a screen staring directly into the screen.
Somehow over the years, the TV went from the malignant "idiot box" to benign quality family entertainment again. It makes sense that we don't all watch Netflix together — no matter how old you are or how cool your relationship is with the family, it only takes a few seconds of a sex scene online before someone leaves the room sweating. TV is so much safer, and no one has to decide what to watch. I can imagine it already. A parent-teacher meeting held not too far in the future where parents are agonising over how to get their kids off their idiot phones and back in front of the TV again.
Aditya Bhalla
POV Why I Moved to A City to Become Invisible
Most of us are terrified of becoming one with the crowd, but what that invisibility has allowed me, in terms of agency and freedom, has turned out to be invaluable.
POV How Adulthood Changed the way I Look at the Festive Season
As I've grown older my perspective on celebrations and the festival season has changed to accommodate the anxieties of adulthood, at the expense of convention.
POV What Running a Business around Pleasure Taught me about Sexuality
The pandemic brought change in the way we talked intimacy and sex. But it was when I decided to turn pleasure into a business, that I really learned about sexuality, in the most organic ways possible.
POV How My Hirsutism Made Me The Son My Father Did Not Have
Dealing with body hair as a woman is one thing, but my condition meant that hair grew in places that would make people scrutinise it. Incredibly, it's something that brought me closer to my father like never before.
POV From Hoarder to Nurturer, How Gardening helped Me Grow
I used to be the fancy plant hoarder without ever really caring after them but it wasn't until I started to nurture some less exotic saplings, did I feel the therapeutic effects of gardening.


text:
George Simister
Deep Tech / Fri 1 Apr 2022
HSBC to trial IBM quantum computers in banking
HSBC and IBM have announced a three-year collaboration to explore the potential of quantum computing in the banking industry.
HSBC will explore how quantum computers can be used for pricing and portfolio optimisation, progressing its net zero goals and identifying and addressing fraudulent activity.
The UK-headquartered bank will train its employees on quantum technology and hiring quantum computing research scientists to its innovation team.
In recent years companies such as IBM and Google have made great strides in quantum computing, which promises far superior firepower than traditional computers. However, fully-fledged and error-free quantum computers that are able to perform a variety of tasks remain some way off.
As the technology has improved, businesses have increasingly been experimenting with quantum computing, with IMB making its machines commercially available for remote access.
"By investing in quantum computing we are innovating for the future, to make banking easier for our customers. This technology has the potential to transform how we run areas of the bank by addressing challenges which classical computers may never be able to solve, alone," said Colin Bell, CEO, HSBC Bank and HSBC Europe.
HSBC will join IBM's Quantum Accelerator programme, giving the bank access to IBM's quantum computers, including its 127-qubit processor called Eagle.
"Financial institutions and organisations around the world are eagerly awaiting real-world applications of quantum computing and exploring industry applications for quantum computing should be a key tenet of any enterprise strategy today," said Dr Darío Gil, senior VP and director, IBM Research.
According to IBM there are over 175 users of its quantum technology in finance, energy, chemistry, materials science, optimisation and machine learning.
Recently Oxford-based QuantrolOx raised £1.4m in its seed funding round to develop its artificial intelligence software that tunes and stabilises quantum computers.
Earlier this year saw University of Sheffield spin-out Aegiq secure £1.8m for its quantum computer networking technology.
HSBCIBMQuantum Computing


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UnderCurrent Atlanta
Six Degrees of Schwarzenegger
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA – 1986
6DOS BTILC Ep. 1
6DOS BTILC Ep. 10
PREDATOR – 1987
6DOS Predator Ep. 1
6 DOS Predator Ep. 7
6 DOS Predator Ep. 10
James and The Giant Ego
I've been saying for a long time that filmmakers love sports and war metaphors to describe the process of making a movie because they are applicable in so many different ways.
Both involve a group of individuals brought together for a single purpose. They might be there for different reasons, but the goal is the same – to win, often at any cost. On the highest level, both involve campaigns – an MLB season has 162 games; America was in WWII for 3 years and 8 months (officially). Both involve a definite hierarchy, where everyone has a specified role until promoted – do your job, which is your job, and nothing else.
Certain filmmakers become a special category of "Battlefield Commander." These are the filmmakers that relish in organizing a massive production campaign to see their giant imagination distributed to a worldwide audience. Ridley and Tony Scott, Oliver Stone and David Lean are just a few of these. To take on the responsibility of the 3 biggest movie budgets in history (each during their time) carries the weight of everyone's expectations, your own most of all. What kind of ego allows a person to believe that they are up to the task?
I don't know, but his name is James Cameron.
When making a movie as big as Titanic is (and trust me, as a burgeoning filmmaker, I get a nose bleed just thinking about the man hours it took), it takes a person like that to see it to the end. It's a campaign. After a few weeks, the point of every day is to make it to the end of the day. There is no end in sight. Even if your part in the process has finished, his goes on. He was the first, and he will be the last. He's the General, and the buck stops with him for both praise and derision. That kind of pressure in that kind of environment is a recipe for extreme behavior, for which Cameron is now legendarily known for.
His alter ego, known as MIJ (Jim spelled backwards) to those who work closest with him, is the part of him that will reach the North Pole at whatever the cost. "All hands on deck, all of the time, or I will throw you off the boat myself" type of attitude. Known for his soft touch when handling employees, "If I had wanted it done this badly I'd hire a f***ing temp," he is also know for nailing cell phones that ring on set to the wall (that one I can completely understand). Like other perfectionist filmmakers like Kubrick and Fincher, Cameron knows how to do every job on set better than the person who is doing it most of the time. But unlike Kubrick and Fincher, who are both soft spoken, Cameron is the man with the bullhorn, commanding legions in the battlefield. From a craned camera platform suspended 100 feet in the air, he orders his troops too and fro on the deck of a sinking Titanic.
Calls come in daily from the studio as the budget continues to rise, the shooting dates add to the schedule, and the press begins to smell blood – Cameron's blood.
Every day is a fight. You lose battles along the way, but the war continues. It seems to never end. Everyone around you is exhausted.
What keeps it going? His ego. His drive to do what he thinks no one else can do.
"I eat pressure for breakfast," says Cameron.
I admire that.
I also think South Park has a point about him too.
Six Degrees of Schwarzenegger Podcast – Escape from New York
Six Degrees of Schwarzenegger Podcast – Big Trouble in Little China Ep. 10
Six Degrees of Schwarzenegger Podcast – Big Trouble in Little China Ep. 9
Jogging In The Woods With Friends
Momo Con 2015: Comic Artists
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: A Trip to Dessert Heaven
What to Watch!
Have a laugh at my expense
Summer adventures found on Groupon
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Summer of Groupon
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Citizen Men's AT0200-05E Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Watch with Green Canvas Band – This watch arrived in a timely fashion and it was prepared to be put to operate straight away! Overall, quick shipping and I'm very thrilled with all the price and beauty of AT0200-05E! The quality of this watch leaves something to become preferred. I am just a person with it is very suitable! It will make me actually satisfied, it is actually great. Citizen Men's AT0200-05E Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Watch with Green Canvas Band was released in 2011. Quality Japanese quartz movement. .The wrist strap comes is a 21 mm Canvas strap. This Round watch measures 41 mm wide and 11 mm thick and it's made out of Stainless steel. You'll find Citizen AT0200-05E Rating, Reviews and Price at the article.
Citizen Men's AT0200-05E Eco-Drive Watch Reviews: Military-inspired stainless steel watch with round dial, red contrasting second hand, and rugged green canvas band. AT0200-05E features include protective mineral crystal dial window, date window, three subdials, luminous hands, and buckle closure and water resistant to 330 feet (100 M): suitable for snorkeling, as well as swimming, but not diving.
Great looking, keeps perfect time, actually affordable and comfortable to wear watch. Five year warranty to boot.AT0200-05E is a reliable watch that I never have to wind. The luminosity of the dial is just good. This is the most fundamental of watches I can find on the market. If you want style, buy for style. I want the basics. AT0200-05E is it. It's hard to find Chronograph watches under $200 where the Chronograph actually works, or is easy to set. The Chronograph on this watch is very easy to set and it works.
In my view, this is really a very cost-effective watch. The buying price of this watch has been steady, so that you won't worry about the sharp reduction in price after your purchase.Many of the consumers give very good feedback to the watch. A lot of people claim it is a watch that looks great and comfortable to wear. The movement, the heart of a watch, is also the most crucial measure of the quality of a watch. The watch uses Japanese quartz movement, very durable and powerful.Citizen AT0200-05E is excellent in both user feedback and price. Effective functions, cost-effective price points, and beautiful styles make it very popular.
The band is difficult to buckle and unbuckle.
The watch scratches and chips easily.
We spent lots of time and effort to look for the great sellers of Citizen AT0200-05E. All of them have quality assurance and customer happiness guarantee.


Don't complain about yesterday. Make a better tomorrow by making the most of today. Good morning.
Everything you need is already inside you. Get started. Good Morning.
See outside the window, Sun rising for you. Flowers smiling for you. Birds singing for you because last night I told them to wish you.
Stop thinking about how much more you can sleep and start thinking about how much more you can do. Good morning.
You have no idea how good it feels to wake up every morning knowing you are mine and I am yours.
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Happy New Year 2019 to Peoples!!!!! Welcome to Helps Kare Site 2019.


Last week, I talked about what The Woman with the Issue of Blood has to teach us about how our tests are actually our testimonies.
On continuing to reflect upon her story this week, I realised that her story also has some hidden gems about the 2 ways in which we can subconsciously; inadvertently sabotage our own prayers- all of which I shared on my Facebook page this week via the (live) video below.
Last Sunday's devotional was different in that rather than basing my musings on a particular woman of the Bible, I spoke on a an experience that is unique to women- giving birth.
Whilst this process is understood as a natural or physical (reproductive) process, I spoke about it and related it to the process of giving birth to our spiritual children or brainchildren (ideas, goals, dreams, vision). This will be summarised briefly in today's post but, just in case you prefer to see the whole thing in detail, you can do that here).
On thinking about this process further I realised that birthing brainchildren doesn't just cause labour pains, it can also cause feelings of overwhelm (particularly when our goals and dreams are in the early stages of being manifest or their infancy).
So this is where the inspiration to give 4 tips for overcoming overwhelm (really 5, if I include the bonus one) came from- all of which I shared on my Facebook page this week via the (live) video below.


By: Stroud, Patricia [author.] .
Material type: BookPublisher: Auckland [N.Z.] : HarperCollins, 2003Description: 39 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.ISBN: 1869504593 (pbk.) :; 9781869504595.Subject(s): New Zealand. Army -- Mascots -- Children's fiction | World War, 1914-1918 -- Children's fiction | World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front -- Children's fiction | Rescue dogs -- Children's fiction | Courage -- Children's fiction Genre/Form: Children's stories, New Zealand.DDC classification: NZ823.3 Summary: When the New Zealand Rifle Brigade marched down Queen Street to board their transport ship to Egypt and the Western Front in World War I, they were led by their official mascot, a bulldog called Caesar. Trained as a Red Cross dog, Caesar rescued wounded soldiers at the Battle of the Somme.


It's the return of the Neopets TCG Staff Tournament. This time it's going to be a constructed game including the Return of Dr. Sloth cards. We will also try and tell you more about the kind of decks we are playing and the strategy we use.
Each player should have a minimum of forty cards, and ten basic Neopets (just like it says in the rules).
The Quarter Finals (8 people) will consist of 4 matches, best 3 of 5.
The Semi Finals (4 people) will consist of 2 matches, best 3 of 5.
The Finals (2 people) will be a best 4 of 7 series.


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DPAA Expands Board of Directors with Leading DOOH Networks
by Blake Kelley | Jan 18, 2022 | dpaa news, In The News
Blake Sabatinelli, COO, Atmosphere and Chip Harding, Sr. VP, Business Development, Simon Property Group elected to association's board.
New York, January 18, 2022 — DPAA, the global trade marketing association, driving the growth and digitization of out-of-home (OOH) media today announced Blake Sabatinelli, Chief Operating Officer of Atmosphere and Chip Harding, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Simon have been unanimously elected to its Board of Directors. Simon is the largest retail real estate developer in the United States, Atmosphere, is the leading TV streaming service for businesses.
"I'm pleased to welcome both Blake and Chip to the DPAA Board," said Barry Frey, President & CEO of DPAA. "These two executives have led and successfully grown their businesses even over the past two challenging years. This speaks not only to their leadership, but the leadership and forward thinking of DPAA members that this industry attracts." With the addition of Atmosphere and Simon, the DPAA Board now includes representation from DOOH networks covering gyms, shopping centers, gas stations, office towers, cinema, billboards, public spaces, restaurants/bars; media buying agencies, content firms, programmatic and location data companies.
Prior to Atmosphere, Blake was CEO of digital and cable news outlet Newsy, where he pivoted the company from a white label content producer into an award-winning newsroom. Responsible for two channels, he rapidly expanded viewership and grew revenue from $3MM to over $50MM in five years. Prior to Newsy, he led video strategy for its parent, The E.W. Scripps Company.
Chip has over 30 years of global, domestic advertising and sponsorship experience. At Simon, he has built and leads the media and sponsorship sales team in North America as well as the ongoing conversion of static media to DOOH. Prior to joining Simon in 2002, he held senior management positions with Host Communications, working with CBS and ESPN on the sale and packaging of the NCAA Corporate Partner. He was also Managing Director of Host Communications International in Paris, and Vice President, Sponsorships for Street Hoops International, an NBA Europe joint venture agency.
DPAA is the global trade marketing association, driving the growth and digitization of out-of-home (OOH) media and its growing role in the Omnichannel mix. Membership in the DPAA community brings many business acceleration benefits, including a wide array of products such as "DPAA Short Connects," "DPAA Homeroom," "DPAA Davos" and "DPAA Task Force." DPAA's WE.DOOH (Women's Empowerment in Digital Out-of-Home) runs a series of successful webinars and training sessions for personal and professional growth. The association's DEI Board participates in internships, mentorships and educational programs. DPAA also offers members an extensive database of research, best practices and case studies; tools for planning, training and forecasting; social media amplification of news; insights on software and hardware solutions; further integration into the advertising ecosystem as part of the video everywhere and marketing campaign; and more.
Ajay Durani
718.926.2852 (m)
Ajay.duranidpaaglobal.com


Summer is almost here. Opening day May 25th! We are now hiring for summer positions, click on the job link to apply now. Now offering party packages. Stay tuned for our new reservations feature.
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The Long Beach Boardwalk offers concessions, bathrooms, and lockers. Learn more about what the Long Beach Boardwalk has to offer!


and yet never leave a mark?
How must i atone for the sins of others?
because of the color of my skin?
as your presence rests all the more solidly, crushing our lives?
How do we know if he is innocent?
Will they let him live?
How can we abide by them letting him live?
… They would not have wanted him to die.
and let my words fall free.
How can we escape the wheel of suffering?
How can a nation of freedom chain and confine to suffering and misery?
… I want to go back.
But will you let me go?
She was always sitting in the back.
not intentionally, but out of sight all the same.
it was as though she'd never been there at all.
Another beat against her own.
they branded her and burned her.
Left scratches and scars, but not all bad.
And set off, into the bright morn day.
leaving no trace of her existence behind.
… But i will not.
But am I a fraud, or a genuine scam?
Am I a monster, or worse, just a man?
Dreams for one's future often seem unattainable. It is easy to give them up or set them aside; they become more and more impossible as prior engagements interrupt and time to accomplish the dreams slips away. Lack of money and commitment to family are other factors that delay and dissolve dreams. For Mattie Gokey of Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light, it is the last two influencers that threaten her dream. She wishes to leave her small town behind, to head off to college and become a writer, but the responsibility of holding her family together and a lack of funds are drowning out her goal. The incredible novel A Northern Light illuminates that struggle as well as other twists to form an intriguing plot that, along with the endearing and well developed characters, keep the reader eager to know what happens next.
Standing up for what you believe in and the rights of others is vital in our population, where prejudice and racism persist. We face many societal issues, specifically police brutality. Black citizens of America often encounter stressful situations with cops who are prejudice and racist, assuming that harmless African Americans are up to trouble, just because of the color of their skin. Recent examples of black people that were hurt by cops are Robert Davis and Angelina Garbarino, who were severely injured, and in some other cases, killed by white police officers. It's a fact: the majority of black men that are assaulted did not commit a real crime. Rashad, the black student in the book All American Boys was beaten by a white male cop in his local store, because the cop believed he was stealing. The book provided two points of view, from a black boy, Rashad, and a white one, Quinn, which I thought was an important part of the the story's plot. The fascinating story of two boys in this novel, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, was relatable and the book's writing structure was interesting. Police brutality exists, and this book made me think about the type of society we live in.
World War II was a horrible time in history. The Jews were sent away to concentration camps where they were tortured and killed; other countries around Germany such as Lithuania were taken over and the people were treated like they were there just there to be hurt; civilians tried to escape and survive all of the horrors. Much of the book Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys shines a light on these horrors. Four characters, all from different backgrounds, all closely guarding their own secrets, converge on a ship called the Wilhelm Gustloff. The events that occur within the book keep the reader turning the pages, just wanting to find out what secrets these characters are keeping hidden and their motives for their actions, along with learning about the historical events in the book that truly happened in World War II.
Is tradition always the right path to follow? This question arises more and more in society today as religion, gender, politics are all changing and developing with new ideas. However, in the city and the towers of Updraft by Fran Wilde, this is not the case. Tradition rules over all. Kirit challenges this as the developing and challenging main character in a dystopian world that reflects our own; the perfect combination for an intense science fiction novel.
Kirit Densira, a seventeen year old girl, and the people of her city live in bone towers teetering above the churning poisonous clouds. The only way to travel between towers are the rare bridges or, once you are trained and take your flight test, soaring on wings. Kirit is soon faced by a skymouth, a giant, invisible creature, so named because all you see is a mouth opening up in the sky - a slimy, sharp-toothed, gaping hole - before you are gone. No one but the mysterious Singers, the strict government officials, ever survived facing a skymouth; until Kirit Densira screamed so loudly and so horribly, it disappeared. Kirit must face something more dangerous than even the skymouths soon, the tradition of the Singers. When a Singer confronts Kirit, she must make a choice to decide the future for not only herself, but for her city: follow or rebel?
But I'm too lame for you to.
Go to the very back of the classroom.
But I just can't bring myself to say hi.
I won't be taken seriously.
I've been waiting for you to say hi and you never have.
but how can anyone notice me if I'm invisible?
And I'm just not good enough.


Why rent when you can own? This solid home is perfect for the first time homebuyer. New roof on house 2016, new roof on garage 2016. New siding and concrete front porch 2016. Washer and dryer 2014. Newer vinyl windows throughout. Living room features hardwood floor, arched doorway, and up lighting from crown molding. Kitchen opens to sunny eating area with charming built-in cabinetry and recessed lights. Master bedroom has hardwood floor and up lighting from crown molding too. Solid 6 panel doors throughout. Huge lot with mature trees. Oversize heated garage can fit three cars. Great location close to expressways and shopping…acclaimed Ardmore Elementary School. This is it!


I ESE OTOBO HEREBY TASK MYSELF TO PERFORM 365 DAYS OF GRATITUDE VIA POSTING ON MY INSTAGRAM GRID AND WRITING ON MY BLOG, JOURNAL, NOTEBOOKS OR ANY SCRAP OF PAPER I CAN FIND AND DATING IT AND SAVING IT!
This year I made friends and lost, and found and kept many beautiful souls.. This year I learned that nothing is permanent and I learned to let my emotions be as fluid as the river as stormy as the seas, as loud as thunder as quiet as rain. This year I learned my final lesson of trusting my instincts, never to doubt again!
I've learnt to drown out the voices of wayward spirits, and never let them around my fire. I've learnt to endure the lessons and understand which the Universe has tasked me to master within myself as I encounter all these different energies on my path. I've learnt to be patient but never endure the brunt of somebody's dark cloud.
I did brave things like get people together and taught yoga, visited yoga studios for a yoga teaching job and actually got hired in one. The Maxim Cover girl competition taught me a lot about myself, my hardworking, resilience, level of motivation, prepeardness and new heightened sense of my leadership and communal skills. I gave fearlessly to strangers whom I haven't over the internet and learnt to let my love flow from afar. I learnt to love my nappyboos 🙂 I volunteered to work with children from abused homes. I got engaged in a toxic relationship and became unengaged. I sang in the subways on New York city, twice!
I learnt to give my energy to only those who can reciprocate and deserve it. I learnt to block people and toxic energies out of my life and walk away.
I experienced a homelessness within and around that help me release a lot of my baggage emotionally spiritually and physically, letting vain and toxic people walk gently out of my life and found a couple people who truly see me for my soul. I remembered who I am again and I choose now and forever to operate and choose only from my heart every single thing that pertains to my life. I learnt to be ok with being and living alone. I learnt love myself completely!
Business Plan, with Target Audience.
Develop my own sustainable body suit line and tee shirt line.
Wagwan my Nappyboos! It's a whole new year to me, the first of many forever more. What are your goals for this year?
Are you going to have a wing year like I did for 2018 and allow yourself space to get to know who you really are without pressure?
Or are you already grown and are crystal clear about the things you like, what are they? Care to share?


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Q: Why is my jQuery generated dropdown not posting back the selected value? I think I'm missing something simple, but I'm just not seeing it. I have an ASP.NET MVC app that is dynamically building a dropdown based on the value of another dropdown. The dropdown list is being populated correctly but when the form posts back the value of the combo isn't posted back for some reason.
        $(document).ready(function () {
            PopulateList();
            $("#List").change(GetSelectedItem);
        });

        function PopulateList() {
            var timeSlot = $("#Timeslot").val();
            var options = [];
            var list = 0;
            $.getJSON("GetList/" + timeSlot, "", function (data, textStatus) {
            for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
                options.push('<option value="',
                data[i].ID, '">',
                data[i].Name, '</option>');
            }
            $("#List").html(options.join(''));
            if (data.length > 0)
                list = data[0].ID;

            GetSelectedItem(timeSlot, list);
        });

Further down in the view I have this:
<% Html.BeginForm(); %>
<select id="List" style="width:120px"></select>
(lots of HTML removed)
<% Html.EndForm(); %>

I've double-checked the markup generated by displaying $("#List").html() and it looks OK. I've also checked to make sure the dropdown is enclosed in the form and that there isn't any other unterminated strings around this dropdown that might be interferring with it. I can check the value of the dynamically built dropdown and the value is set correctly. I've watched was is being posted back via Fiddler and Firebug and this field is missing (so it's not MVC filtering it).
What am I missing?

A: To be included when the <form> is submitted, your element needs a name attribute, like this:
<select id="List" name="List" style="width:120px"></select>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
HomepageHealthNews
Second Vaccine on the Horizon as Congress Considers Second COVID Relief Bill
Tara Mergener
CBNFAITHNATION121720CC_HD1080_87.466_214
The facade of Moderna, Inc. headquarters is seen, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
As the number of COVID deaths hit staggering levels nationwide, an FDA advisory board approved a second vaccine.
Daily death totals attributed to the virus continue to top 3,000, while more than 112,000 remain in the hospital.
While the numbers aren't good, more hope is on the way.
The Moderna vaccine, which is similar to the Pfizer vaccine, could be rolled out soon.
"A key part of the FDA mission is to evaluate new therapies and determine which are safe and effective for their intended uses," said Dr. Peter Marks of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
The Pfizer vaccine started shipping cross country this week with healthcare workers among those getting the first doses.
"From an efficacy safety point of view, they're nearly identical," said Dr. Ashish Jha, Brown of the University School of Public Health.
Help is clearly needed as Wednesday marked the deadliest day of the pandemic yet.
In California, 53,000 cases popped up in 24 hours.
"It's like being in war. I've never seen so many code blues, all in one shift," said Dr. Raman Dhillon, who works in an emergency room.
Vice President Mike Pence and President-elect Joe Biden plan to get the shot to encourage Americans to get vaccinated. So will former Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton.
On Capitol Hill, there are signs help with financial impact could also be forthcoming.
After months of failed attempts, lawmakers say they are close to another COVID relief package.
The roughly $900 billion bipartisan measure would provide $300 a week more in federal unemployment benefits and $600 in direct stimulus payments to most Americans.
The compromise also includes eviction protections and billions of dollars for small businesses and vaccine distribution.
Though the amount is about half of what was proposed earlier this year, this is said to be the closest lawmakers have come to a deal in months.
'Bah Humbug': Anti-Freedom Group Earns 2020 Ebenezer Award for Canceling Kids' Charity Drive»
«Nigerian Official Says Over 300 Abducted Schoolboys Freed


Can Houllier Can Reignite Heskey Fire?
It is difficult to think of a more heavily criticised international forward in the modern era than Emile Heskey. Despite the importance placed on him by both Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello and the improved form at international level he was able to coax out of both Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, Heskey has long since been labelled as a flop and a striker who should be nowhere near the international team.
His retirement from international duty after the 2010 World Cup Finals means that his critics will indeed get their wish and Heskey will play no part of England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. At club level though, Heskey still has a major part to play as his experience is a key component of a Villa side which is full of young attacking startlets such as Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor and Martin Albrighton.
There have been times during Heskey's career where he has almost been forgotten about before suddenly reinventing himself and reminding us just what he is capable off. During his time at Wigan, he was largely influential in helping establish the Lactics as a Barclays Premier League side, winning over a number of his doubters and earning an international recall. It was form he has sadly not carried into his Villa career, scoring just 6 goals in 46 games, but all Villa fans will be hoping his reunion with Gerhard Houllier can help the striker turn the corner.
Indeed, it was under Houllier that Heskey enjoyed his best ever season, notching 22 goals and forming a potent partnership with Michael Owen, a man who Villa will be strongly linked with come January. It may come as no surprise then that Emile gave one of his best performances in a Villa shirt as the ink was still drying on the French manager's contract, with a match turning performance and goal in the Carling Cup victory over Blackburn.
Then, at Molineux on Sunday, as Villa tried their best to throw away the three points, Heskey rose majestically to bullet home an unstoppable header and give Villa three vital points over their rivals. It was a result which, despite the shaky start to the season in the aftermath of Martin O'Neill's departure, has left Villa 5th in the table, just a point outside of the top four and with a head start on European rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
It was a goal which reminded us just what Emile Heskey is capable of. Sadly, for whatever reason, it is a capability that has been maximised all too infrequently throughout his career, but those of a Claret and Blue persuasion will be hoping that Houllier is the man to help him unlock it on a more regular basis, because an on-form Emile Heskey may just well be exactly what Aston Villa Football Club needs.


I was searching for a Property and found this listing (MLS® #10262363). Please send me more information regarding 8614 San Biagio St, Houston, Texas, 77031. Thank you!
I'd like to request a showing of 8614 San Biagio St, Houston, Texas, 77031 (MLS® #10262363). Thank you!


text:
Sinead McCracken
Sinead McCracken is a trainee solicitor at Burnetts.
Sinead McCracken joined Burnetts as a trainee solicitor in September 2017, after achieving a Distinction at Northumbria University in her Legal Practice Course and is currenlty working in the Commercial Disputes team.
Despite being a trainee solicitor Sinead already has more than five years' experience working in the medical negligence and serious injury field, having spent time at niche serious injury firms in Manchester and Birmingham. Whilst with Thompsons Solicitors, she managed her own clinical negligence cases and was praised by the Legal 500 for her role in a high-value case involving a client who had suffered an amputation. During this time, she also volunteered for the charity Headway, which supports those with serious brain injuries.
A former pupil of William Howard School in Brampton, Sinead graduated with an Honours degree in History at The University of Liverpool before studying law at Northumbria University where she was awarded the Resolution prize for the highest mark in Family Law.
Outside of work, Sinead is very active and enjoys swimming, running and cycling. She loves to travel: speaks some French; has climbed mountains in the French Alps; and has travelled across Australia and North America.
As part of her solicitor training, Sinead will spend time with different teams in order to develop her knowledge of a variety of legal areas. She will qualify as a solicitor in September 2019.
Email Sinead McCracken 01228 552218


Orientation is about preparing for study, meeting the people who are here to provide support, and having some fun.
It begins with a pōwhiri and continues with roadshows, expos, workshops and other events. You can view upcoming orientations here.
Pōwhiri officially welcomes students to Whitireia and celebrates both the beginning of a relationship with us and the start of the study journey. Pōwhiri are held at multiple campuses on a number of dates.
Come along to one of our roadshows to meet support staff and find out more about the campus. You can attend one of these events before you start your programme of study.
Expos feature stalls from local businesses, community groups, health care organisations and Whitireia Student Support Services. Enjoy food, prizes, games, giveaways, music and lots more.
Come on in to the Student Hub and take a look around. Grab a hot drink, ask us anything, use the computers and sports equipment, play some board games, sign-up or start a group or club, relax, meet other students and more, with giveaways throughout the day.
Kick Start is a three hour session of fun and engaging activities for all students under 25 years. Take this opportunity to meet other students, staff and key people who will guide you towards your study success. Refreshments and lunch are provided.
Meet some Mates is a great opportunity to meet new people on campus, with giveaways and more.
You've heard of X-Factor? Now it's your turn to show us your Whitireia Factor. Sign up to share your talents and be in to win great prizes. Singing, dancing, magic tricks, all talents welcome and everyone wins a prize.
Attendance is compulsory for all international students. Refreshments and lunch are provided.


What I often find more striking than an intentional work of art is a work of art that stands just outside the notion of a work of art, an unintentioned work of art, a work of art that never meant to be a work of art, but can nevertheless be read as a work of art.
Consider the nail house incidents that have taken place across China in recent years due to the conflicts that arise out of changing property laws and homeowner rights. Nail houses refer to homes that belong to people who refuse to make way for development; that is, buildings that are hard to nail down for hammer-like developers.
The Nail House Incident in Chongqing, China (2004-2007) was especially extraordinary and attracted worldwide attention precisely because of the visual effect of the nail house and the circulation of images in the media. The owners (or "stubborn nails" as they are called by developers) Wu Ping and her husband Yang Wu became national heroes for their refusal to back down. And what became a three-year battle resulted in the image of a brick house, isolated in the middle of a massive construction site, surrounded by a pit of excavated earth. And as the couple's symbolic fight made the papers, and chat rooms rejoiced, the nail house stood atop the remaining mound of dirt, dead center and defiant, blocking the construction of a new shopping mall.
The image of this incident reads like a layered text, informing us of the political changes taking place in post-communist China. On the one hand, the notion of personal property in modern day China is unprecedented. On the other hand, does a post-communist China risk becoming a form of authoritarian capitalism? To better understand how 'incidents of resistance' reverberate in the wider social and ideological experience of interpretation, we need to acknowledge the spatial paradigms and economies that constitute them.
Over the years, there's been a steady rise in property disputes in China as the economy continues to boom and people try to seize on the idea of human rights, at times through proxy debates. Wu Ping and her husband Yang Wu were 1 of 281 families in the area who rejected an offer of financial compensation or a new house.
China had put forth a new property law that allowed the government to demolish housing communities, relocate the people, and use the land for building new structures. It's part of China's greater effort to drastically redesign their cities. However, a landmark new law guaranteeing private property rights allowed for Wu Ping to challenge the exchange offered by the developers.
She also made a fuss about it and held weekly press conferences while her husband climbed up into the house every night to occupy it. Because water and electricity had been cut off to the house, locals supplied him with water and food.
The disturbing detail (Barthes' punctum) plays an important role in how one perceives, interprets, and understands a historical moment. Personally, the image of the nail house, isolated atop a mound of dirt, puts an image to the irony bubbling in modern day China, and the image of Wu Ping, a young-looking middle-aged woman dressed in a commanding red coat and standing gallantly in front of her home, puts a person to the incident.
The nail house is [a form of] architecture against architecture. While suspending the construction of a supermarket, this monstrous scene, animated by [an act] the desire of resistance, sets the domestic subject against a background of planned obsolescence induced by market-driven development projects.
We ought to be more mindful of the precarity of the meaning of the people and the vulnerable constitution of citizenship. We have to stop seeing art from a narrow perspective, and start seeing the art of the streets, the art of the struggle, the art of the crippled public. We have to start looking outside of art to find art again, for art is lost. And we who call ourselves artists are scavengers.


I recently had the pleasure of participating in a nature and outdoors tour of the Japanese Islands of Hokkaido and Kyushu.
I believe these Islands are not well-known to the average tourist, especially to over-60s. I, for one, was unaware of the hundreds of attractions to be explored. What an amazing trip. I was absolutely blown away by the sheer beauty of these magical places.
The journey from Sydney to Haneda Airport in Tokyo was a pleasant nighttime flight, so I was able to sleep. And as the time difference between Australia and Japan is only two hours, there's no jet lag – either way.
Arriving on Hokkaido, at the small town of Memanbetsu, I was happy to meet with my guide. Kimi, was a walking encyclopedia, well-versed on all aspects of this particular tour.
Luggage all sorted, we journeyed to the Shiretoko Peninsular where I was given an incredible insight into a place I never dreamed existed. From the majestic mountain peaks, capped with snow, to the beautiful lakes – especially Lake Tofutsu which was teeming with birdlife – every kilometre offered something new.
There are many onsen (hot springs) in Hokkaido. In fact, all of Japan has many thermal areas and onsen are an integral part of the Japanese lifestyle. The hot springs are full of pristine, mineral-laden water said to be very beneficial to one's well-being.
Later, I arrived at my hotel, the Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort. The friendly, smiling staff went out of their way to please. After settling in to my luxurious room I proceeded to the dining area where a sumptuous buffet was awaiting this hungry traveller. There was no end to the amount of foods on offer. From traditional Japanese food to Western-style dishes, there was something for everyone.
Kimi advised me to have a hot spring bath and a long sleep, as the next day would be the start of my sightseeing tour.
Day one, and after breakfast – another incredible buffet – the nature guide arrived and we were off to tackle the first hike in the World Heritage Shiretoko National Park. This was quite an easy hike for anyone without mobility issues. There is a shorter, wheelchair-friendly course where some of the beautiful lakes can be viewed. If you have mobility issues, do not let that deter you from visiting Hokkaido.
There was a series of five lakes, nestled beneath the towering mountains. Each and every lake was absolutely stunning. Birdlife abounds, as do brown bears at certain times of the year. There are red foxes and sika deer. Fish can be seen jumping to catch unsuspecting insects which land on the tranquil waters.
In autumn the bears are preparing to hibernate, so are rarely spotted. If one is sighted, the tour group has to return to the starting point and report the bear sighting, and then the park is closed.
Hikers are briefed on what to do if confronted by a bear. The main rule is to stay calm and retreat slowly. I have my doubts that I could remain calm if a 600-kilogram bear, galloping at 30 kilometres an hour, was heading my way! Luckily I need not have worried.
Shiretoko is located on the most north-eastern point of Japan. Its name derives from the Ainu (indigenous people of Japan) word sir etok, meaning "the end of the earth.
Shiretoko is home to rare seabirds, such as the speckled guillemot, Steller's sea eagle, the white-tailed eagle and other migratory birds. It boasts a rich ecosystem, with majestic mountains and coastal cliffs created by volcanic eruptions. Drift ice appears in wintertime, when there are tours out onto the ice.
The next day found me hiking through the Shiretoko National Park, right next to the World Heritage Park. This hike was a little more challenging and not suitable for those with mobility issues. The goal was to spot as many animals as possible. Red fox and sika deer abounded. I saw small birds, holes in trees made by woodpeckers and many deep scratchings on large trees. These were bear scratchings – bears marking their territory. Luckily they were all out at the time and didn't ask what we were doing in their living room.
The park is also home to the largest living species of owl, the Blakiston's fish owl, but unfortunately they were hiding on that particular day.
The hike ended at lunchtime, so after a lovely lunch in a quirky little cafe, we set out once again – this time, to see a waterfall on the very edge of the massive cliffs in the national park. The trek to the waterfall was absolutely beautiful. We saw – and got very close to – many sika deer and lots of birds.
Later, back at the hotel, we recharged the batteries and enjoyed another delicious meal, this time in a lovely little seafood cafe, before heading out on a nighttime animal-spotting tour – this time by car. There were plenty of deer and foxes, but the elusive Blakiston's fish owl continued to stay away. Might have to go back again to spot one of those!
The third day was our last on beautiful Hokkaido. I saw salmon jumping upstream to spawn and then die. The water was pristine and there were lots of salmon, so they were very easy to view.
Afterwards, we had a meal at an izakaya (a Japanese pub) before taking another ride through the countryside to Nakashibetsu to catch a plane to Kyushu.
We also stopped off at Lake Matsu and enjoyed a meal of Teshikaga ramen – a wonderful dish of noodles, vegetables, meat and a broth that is so delicious it's worth bottling.
Hokkaido has so much to offer us over-60s. It's a positive wonderland of scenery, foods and hot springs.
I caught the plane from Nakashibetsu back to Haneda Airport and then connected with a flight to Oita on the island of Kyushu.
Here I was met by another guide, Kate, who was to be my guide for the next two days. From Oita we travelled by car to the beautiful city of Beppu, in the Oita Prefecture.
Here we stayed in the Beppu Onsen Hotel, a ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) where one sleeps on a Futon. After another good sleep I awoke to start the next stage of my tour.
First stop was a local market, selling mainly food and a few trinkets. The array of foods was incredible and there was no shortage of anything.
Beppu is a famous geothermal city. More onsen water gushes out here than anywhere else in Japan. Of course, not all springs are suitable for bathing in – for example, the amazing Beppu Boiling Hells, which are way too hot for that.
First up at the Hells of Beppu: Chinoike Jigoku, "Blood Pond Hell", named because of the blood-red colour of the springs. Set in a picturesque location with a waterfall on one side and heavily treed woods on the other, there's also a foot bath which is quite a pleasant temperature – dipping your feet in it is a must after a walk around the Hells.
Umi Jigoku, "Sea Hell" was next up. This geothermal pond was an amazing shade of cobalt blue. Temperatures of 78°C meant there was no testing this one! There was also a smaller red pond and one covered with beautiful lotus lilies. The strong leaves of the lotus plants are big and strong enough to carry a small child. Then on to Oniishibozu Jigoku, named after mud bubbles that look like monks' heads.
After another foot bath I was treated to lunch at a little cafe, cooked in wooden oven-like structures by the steam of the boiling thermals which rose from a tapped hole in the ground. The steamed food was delicious and, according to the guide, very healthy.
Travelling away from the Hells and into the countryside to the rural area of Tashimunosho, we travelled through ancient rice paddies and rural areas where an abundance of small farms grew everything from rice and wheat to daikon radish and all manner of veggies. The farms are very small, but obviously produce a lot.
A little further on and I arrived at the coastal town of Matama. This was where I witnessed the amazing sunset. Many people flock to the area to photograph these sunsets. It was well worth the trip. Later on, we enjoyed another perfect meal – this time at an Italian restaurant. Who would have thought!
A new day and a new guide – Osaka was just as pleasant and helpful as the previous two guides. All are veritable walking encyclopedias, with a vast knowledge of Japan, the myths, culture and foods.
Moving on from Beppu we took a trip on the Sea Gaia 7 express train to Noreoka, and then a taxi to Takachiho in the Miyazaki Prefecture.
Takachiho is steeped in Japanese mythology. It's the site where the legendary sun goddess Amaterasu hid herself in a dark cave, thus depriving the world of light. Luckily, the other gods and goddesses were able to lure her out and thus restore light to the world once more. A trip to the Takachiho Shrine to see a cultural dance in regards to Amaterasu was indeed a pleasant experience.
Takachiho is also known as a power spot, a place of deep religious importance and natural beauty. In fact, a trip into Takachiho Gorge radiates a spiritual energy not to be missed. The Gorge is a place of outstanding beauty. There are many different hiking trails, some easy and others quite challenging. I took a couple of the hikes and found them to be quite do-able for the over-60 person with no limitations on mobility.
The magnificent Manai Falls can be viewed from atop the cliffs or down on the water in a boat. Either way, they are stunning. The autumn colours of the ginkgo, maple and rowan trees are absolutely incredible. There are no words really to describe the beauty of the leaves.
Of all the places I visited, Takachiho was my favourite. It's a little town, with quaint shops, friendly people and an unhurried pace of life that's just perfect.
Moving on, we took a car trip to Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano, located in the Kumamoto Prefecture. It's an easy, wheelchair-friendly walk to the Kunimigaoka Observatory, from where you can enjoy an out-of-world experience watching the sun rise above the "sea of clouds".
The scenery around the Mount is mainly fertile grasslands and rocky outcrops. A horse ride around the outer rim of the Mount was a lovely way to explore a little more of the countryside. Those who are fitter than me could enjoy a pushbike ride around the same area. From the top you can look down at the farms and houses nestled on the crater floor. The last eruption of Mt Aso was in 2016, so I'm not sure if I would like to live down there!
Lunch was at the El Patio horse-riding facility and was surprisingly American style: hamburgers, chilli beef and fries. It was quite different from anything I had eaten previously and as always, was delicious – the food on offer in Japan is second-to-none. There's such a wide variety of tempting and tasty dishes – I would love to return to do a foodies' tour.
Japan is the most amazing country I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. It is extremely clean, safe, and easy to navigate your way around. Put it on your list, all you over 60s. You will not be disappointed.


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The Minimum Wage Study
Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
Research Projects and...
The Minimum Wage Study is a research effort dedicated to providing rigorous analysis of the impact of minimum wage ordinances in metropolitan regions and states. We seek to provide insights that will be useful for policymakers and scholars. As more states and localities move forward with plans to raise the minimum wage, this research will infuse the debate with data on the effects on workers, households, employers, and the local economy. We focus our analysis on the impacts of the recently passed ordinance in Seattle.
For an overview of the project components of the minimum wage study please click here
Publications and Working Papers
Translational Behavioral Medicine: "Low-income Workers' Perceptions of Wages, Food Acquisition, and Well-being." https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz113
Upjohn Institute for Employment Research: "Payroll, Revenue, and Labor Demand Effects of the Minimum Wage." Upjohn Institute Working Paper 19-298. https://doi.org/10.17848/wp19-298
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: The Impact of a City-Level Minimum Wage Policy on Supermarket Food Prices by Food Quality Metrics: A Two-Year Follow Up Study.
Urban Affairs Review: Employer Responses to a City-Level Minimum Wage Mandate: Early Evidence from Seattle.
National Bureau of Economic Research: Minimum Wage Increases and Individual Employment Trajectories, 2018.
Two page overview of the findings
Public Health Nutrition: Seattle's minimum wage ordinance did not affect supermarket food prices by food processing category
City of Seattle: Report on Employer Adjustments, Worker Experiences, and Price Changes
Child Development Perspectives: How Will Higher Minimum Wages Affect Family Life and Children's Well-Being?
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: The Impact of a City-Level Minimum-Wage Policy on Supermarket Food Prices in Seattle-King County, 2017.
National Bureau of Economic Research: Minimum Wage Increases, Wages, and Low-Wage Employment: Evidence from Seattle, 2017.
City of Seattle: Report on Nonprofit Response to Minimum Wage , 2017.
City of Seattle: Report on the Impact of Seattle's Minimum Wage Ordinance on Wages, Workers, Jobs & Establishments Through 2015, 2016.
City of Seattle: Report on Baseline Employer Survey and Worker Interviews, 2016.
Popular Writing
Seattle Times: Lessons from Seattle's courageous minimum-wage experiment
New York Daily News: About that raise: Take it from Seattle, a $13 minimum wage won't necessarily boost pay
Seattle Times: Follow the pho: An update on Seattle's minimum-wage impact
Seattle Times: Digging into data to find impact of Seattle's $15 minimum wage
Seattle's Minimum Wage
In January 2014, Mayor Ed Murray formed an Income Inequality Advisory Committee to address the growing public call for a meaningful increase in the compensation for Seattle workers. This committee included representatives from Seattle City Council, local businesses, unions, and the Chamber of Commerce. After the committee reached an agreement on a recommendation, it was proposed as a plan by the Mayor, and then passed as legislation by the Seattle City Council. The minimum wage ordinance (Ordinance 124490), which when approved was the highest minimum wage in the country, provides for an increase in the minimum wage in the City of Seattle to $15 an hour, phased on over time. The rate at which it increases depends on the size of the company, and whether or not they pay toward their employee's medical benefits plan.
In December 2014, after issuing a public request for proposals, the City of Seattle contracted with our team to conduct this evaluation.
Our Research Questions
What is the impact of a higher minimum wage on workers, their families, employers, and the community?
Does a higher minimum wage affect employment and earnings among low-wage workers?
Does the higher minimum wage affect overall employment, business longevity, or the mix of firms that do business in Seattle?
How do businesses adapt to higher labor costs?
How does the higher minimum wage affect consumer prices?
Does a higher minimum wage improve quality of life measures, including health, nutrition, and family daily life?
Does the minimum wage affect public assistance program eligibility and benefits received?
Do nonprofit service organizations respond to higher wage rates by cutting back on services to vulnerable families?
How do low-income families and employers experience the implementation of the policy and how do they perceive its benefits and costs?
Project Components
The Minimum Wage Study involves several different project components, including employer surveys, an in-depth study of workers with children in Seattle, a study of child care centers and health outcomes, a study of regional pricing, and analysis of administrative and census data.
The research project will continue for at least five years, providing regular updates to the City of Seattle as increases are implemented. It's funding began as a contract with the City of Seattle and expanded with grants from multiple foundations, including the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation.
Jacob L. Vigdor: Principal Investigator, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Jennifer Romich: Co-Principal Investigator, School of Social Work, UW
Mark C. Long: Co-Principal Investigator, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Scott W. Allard: Co-Investigator, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Scott Bailey: Co-Investigator, Washington Employment Security Department
Heather Hill: Co-Investigator, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Jennifer Otten: Co-Investigator, School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, UW
Robert Plotnick: Co-Investigator, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Anneliese Vance-Sherman: Co-Investigator, Washington Employment Security Department
Ekaterina Roshchina: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Emma van Inwegen: Research Analyst, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Anne Althauser: Research Project Coordinator, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Anita Rocha: Data Manager and Research Analyst, School of Social Work, UW
Tori Rockwell: Research Assistant, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
Hilary Wething: Research Assistant, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, UW
James Busckiewicz: Research Assistant, School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, UW
Cynthia Moreno: Research Assistant, School of Social Work, UW
"Early Evidence on the Impact of Seattle's Minimum Wage Ordinance" January 2016. Preliminary draft of paper by Heather Hill, Jennifer J. Otten, Emma van Inwegen, and Jacob Vigdor.
"Who Would be Affected by an Increase in Seattle's Minimum Wage?" March 2014. A Report for the City of Seattle, Income Inequality Advisory Committee by Marieka M. Klawitter, Mark C. Long, and Robert D. Plotnick
City of Seattle Minimum Wage Ordinance
"Digging into data to find impact of Seattle's $15 minimum wage" — The Seattle Times, April 6, 2015
"Researchers probe pros and cons of Seattle's $15 minimum wage" — KUOW, March 17, 2015
General inquiries about the Seattle Minimum Wage Study may be addressed to: sallard@uw.edu


WASHINGTON — It was always his mess to clean up. That's what Americans expect from their presidents.
And so as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico became the worst in U.S. history, President Barack Obama took responsibility in the only obvious way left.
No more White House parsing about how BP is legally responsible for plugging the leak and paying the cost, even though that remains accurate. Obama knew that his own accountability was needed for the angry Gulf Coast communities, for an administration struggling to nail its message, for himself.
And once you're in, no point being subtle.
In language presidents normally reserve for the burden of sending troops to war, Obama said of the oil spill: "This is what I wake up to in the morning and this is what I go to bed at night thinking about." At a time when Obama is juggling a host of nettlesome problems — the wars, the economy, Mideast peace — he pushed them all behind this one, saying his government has been "singularly focused" on fixing the spill.
This is what comes with the job, and the sympathy of voters is not everlasting. Presidents get hired to fix problems they have never even contemplated.
When a government loses its credibility with the people, the blow can be devastating. And although bigger issues than politics are in play — mainly, the enormous destruction to the waters and wildlife — this was clearly a consequential moment for Obama.
A new Gallup poll finds that more than half those surveyed thought Obama was handling the crisis response poorly. That is despite all the crews and aid and equipment Obama's team had dispatched, all the times his incident commander and his interior secretary and his West Wing advisers made the case to the media.
And so Obama stepped in.
He tried to put the leadership questions behind him.
"The American people should know that from the moment this disaster began, the federal government has been in charge of the response effort," Obama said before a reporter could even ask him about it.
No one in his administration had made that statement so plainly or prominently.
The reassurance, as needed as it may have been, does not change two underlying realities.
The first is that no amount of words will replace what people want: results. And that is a much more far-reaching challenge of plugging the leak, cleaning up the oil, holding a big oil company responsible and preventing deep water rigs from sinking in disaster.
A hands-on presidential visit has its limits, too, although Obama knows being at the scene has an important, symbolic upside. He was back in coastal Louisiana on Friday, not just for another government briefing but a look at the tar balls rolling up to the water's edge of Fourchon Beach.
The other reality he faces is that the government, in fact, is not in charge of the incident the way people want.
It cannot push BP out of the way and take over the operation of fixing a busted, gushing well a mile below the sea's surface. The most powerful government in the world is simply not equipped to do that.
One of the more revealing, if overlooked, moments at Thursday's news conference came when Obama recalled a discussion in the Situation Room. He asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whether the military had any assets that the oil companies lacked to deal with the crisis.
There were none. "We do not have superior technology when it comes to dealing with this particular crisis," Obama said. Understandably, he suggested that the federal government should start examining whether it should develop some.
Obama had his defensive moments. "Those who think that we were either slow on our response or lacked urgency don't know the facts," he said.
Yet he was calm about it and would not let his tone of accountability get lost.
Yes, he said, his government has messed up, such as by misjudging the oil industry's ability to cope with the worst-case scenario.
Yes, he understands the hardship for a Gulf region with fresh memories of Hurricane Katrina.
The methodical president was plainspoken.
"Understandably, people are frustrated because, look, this is a big mess coming to shore," he said.
To connect in real terms, he even pulled in a story of his 11-year-old daughter.
"When I woke this morning and I'm shaving and Malia knocks on my bathroom door and she peeks in her head and she says, "`Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?'" Obama said.
Still, Obama could not pass up a chance to plug his policy agenda. He said the risky, costly extent to which companies are drilling for oil underscores the need for Congress to take up a bill of alternative energies.
"If nothing else, this disaster should serve as a wake-up call that it's time to move forward on this legislation," Obama said.
Make that a wake-up call in more ways than one.
EDITOR'S NOTE — Ben Feller covers the White House for The Associated Press.


hello hope people still use this site. looking to purchase a early original evh signature guitar. my question is how to i know when looking at the guitar that i am looking at a true made in usa guitar. wich is the best to get the music man the peavey or the pricy fender model. please advise. thank you.
Picking a guitar is like picking a girl..lol. Each one is different and appeals to peple differently. I have a Peavy and MM and like the MM better. To me it feels better and sounds better. My friend has the new EVH high end guitar and it rocks. It may be better than the MM IMO.
WHat I don't like about my peavey is the neck. It feels very fat. My Les Paul Classic has feels better than the peavey. And I could never get the peavey to sound like I want it. Plus I'm not a fan of the licensed Floyd on the peavey...seems cheaper.
But that's just my two cents. You really need to try em and figure out what you like.
You can tell if the Peavey was made in the USA by looking behind the head stock. It should say made in the USA or something like that...if memory serves me right.
Also, if it has a curved body it was made in the USA. I'm not sure of the special was made in the USA. Someone else may be able to chim in.
Well this is why you have to check them out for yourself as I am on the otherside of this debate. I own both EBMM EVH'S and Peavey Wolfgangs and the neck on the Peavey is probably my favorite neck on any guitar as I prefer the 15" radius to the EVH's10" in which a lot of guys had issues with the high E slipping off the fret board and is why the Axis neck was changed to 1/32" to correct this problem. With just about anything people favor the first or original and the EBMM EVH in my opinion is the slightly all around better guitar as the quilts were some of the best you will ever see, as far as the pups the Wolfgangs are pure fire and are seriously hot and will melt faces, the EVH's are a bit more versatile but you cant go wrong with either one as they were both Ed approved. I have not checked out the new ones of which I have heard mixed reviews but most complain about the price more than anything.