The smell of moist soil engulfs all your senses at once, and somehow manages to elicit a smile from my burdened soul. The dark grey tufts of elusive clouds that are whisking away to somewhere, and the boisterous wind that is trying its best to corrupt my mind, perhaps know how lonely I am.
I had married my two daughters five years ago in one ceremony, for want of money, as my son was pursuing his engineering then, and his college fee burnt a hole in my pocket every six months. Being a single mother, money had always been a bone of contention between me and life. Ever since my daughters got busy with their own lives, it had been just me and him in this house, largely just me if you know how young boys are. My days went by teaching english to twelfth standard students in a prominent convent school in the city and Shakespeare's Macbeth and Tempest were my daily staple. So were mundane evenings , lonely dinners, mindless surfing on the TV and Facebook, and restless nights that never seemed to end.
I met this man inside a flight from Delhi to Bengaluru that I had never thought I would take. Being claustrophobic, I had avoided flying for the past ten years, but this time, there was no beating around the bush. Your children are perhaps the only people who can make you do things you would never do otherwise. It was my son's convocation ceremony, and since back then I was an important part of his life, he had declared that he would not receive his degree if I wasn't there to witness. Even though he was aware of my morbid fear of closed places, he made it clear that not coming was not an option.
I could hear my heartbeats in my throat when I as the plane. I had gulped down two pacifiers half an hour ago and I decided to look down at the floor and not up at the compact aircraft. I had occupied my window seat and started looking outside when a tall handsome man nudged at my elbow. He was smiling. Taken aback at this sudden physical contact, I gave him a puzzled look. In a soft tone, he told me that I looked a lot like his mother and that such close resemblance warrants of a probable acquaintance. I tried to dismiss the matter and concentrate on the door of the place which was about to close. But he constantly kept asking me questions about my lineage and birth place. The questions gradually became more absorbing and soon we were sharing a good laugh.
After we landed in Bengaluru, he told me that he had noticed me getting extremely nervous at the airport travelling alone, and had purposely kept me engaged during the flight. However, harmlessly generous this may sound, we both knew that it was platonic; and like teenagers get to know when there are invisible sparks every time their eyes meet, we too had had a rendezvous. The eyes somehow always know it.
Departing from the airport, I told him I was returning to Delhi two days later via the same airline. To my utter disbelief, he was at the airport to board that flight too. Never since I had lost my husband, did I feel the way I had felt that day. I was neither supposed nor expected to feel that way. I was a mother first. I was a mother last.
Widows are not supposed to have feelings anyway. They are supposed to have burnt their wishes and desires along with their husband's pyre. They are supposed to lead lives of longing and sacrifice. They are supposed to make their children the fulcrum of their existence and the epitome of their dreams. They are never supposed to question what will become of them once their children flee and leave them to the mercy of solitude. They are only supposed to be what they want them to – available and theirs.
Nevertheless, we started talking over the phone and he visited Delhi once a month for a coffee date that we both began living for. He was based in Bengaluru and had never married for want of the "right" partner – a reason quickly becoming the norm. On a day that we both knew was coming, he proposed marriage and I was suddenly in a storm. With courage I did not know I have, I called up my younger daughter who had been my best friend once upon a time.
That night I had to force music into my ears to cleanse where her words had reached, because they refused to die. After spending an hour in the balcony, I got up and walked like a zombie towards my room. My son who is usually blissfully unaware of my presence in the house, was holding my phone and staring blankly at the screen. I immediately knew what this was. I felt like a culprit. I felt abased. I felt a piercing twitch in my belly. I felt embarrassed for something which had never up till now felt wrong. Perhaps I had morals to live up to, ethics to abide by, progeny to answer. I felt like I was sentenced to a life in prison without a trial.
The next morning, he packed his bags, and left the house without a word, which now had me officially alone. His anger and disgust was apparent. But my guilt and shame was not. I somehow didn't feel the need to explain to him anymore. Deciding to hold back my tears, I took a sabbatical and moved to Mumbai to live with my mother for a while. It was a conscious decision to get away physically and emotionally from the mess I was in.
One evening at the beach, right after sunset, while I was staring at the horizon, and wondering where my life was going, I happened to notice an old couple. The lady was having trouble holding her feet in the sand, and perhaps wasn't able to make much sense of what's happening around her. But her husband, who was himself senile, was so patiently and lovingly holding her hand, that she didn't seem to need anything else. The constant gibberish that they were speaking to each other perhaps had left no space for emptiness in their lives. Suddenly things became clear.
The sky over the sea began smiling at me. It was about time I made a choice, a choice for myself.
Four years have passed since then. And the only person whose life changed was me. It changed for the better. I started feeling that there was still love for me in this world. There was still more life I had to live. There were still more dreams that I could hope would come true. And I was right. I always had the Right….


Like most individuals, I have an insatiable case of Wanderlust. I'm frequently googling new and exotic places to visit and explore. Hell as I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my connecting flight, I'm looking at where I could travel on my next holiday. It's not that I'm ungrateful to be on vacation, it's really more a means to pass the time before my next flight. However, every country I visit, every new town I explore, I want to learn more about the world around me.
A few short years ago I would have never dreamt that I would travel to Asia. European countries were always at the top of my travel list, but after a work trip to Bali, I discovered I wanted to see more of Asia. Seeing as I want to see as much of the world as possible before I die, this list is a Sparknotes version of some of my top must-see destinations, in no particular order.
How have I not been here yet? I've lived in Australia for over two years now and still have not managed to take a trip up to Queensland. Yes, I did have a flight booked for this year, but life gets in the way and just messed that trip up. I think I need to just plan a long weekend and go! This should be the most attainable destination on my list.
I've had a few friends travel to Sri Lanka. When they've returned, its nothing but amazing stories about how lovely the experience was. Great beaches, amazing surf, fantastic food, and charming locals is everything I could ever want on holiday. Until recently, I did not have a good understanding of Sri Lankan culture, but now I want to learn more! Sri Lanka is definitely a must see on my travel list.
Antartica is the polar opposite of everything I usually look for in a holiday. It's freezing cold, the beaches are ice, and there's lots of snow. But there is something about Antartica that has been drawing me to visit. One day I would love to travel there to do conservation or research work. Maybe I'll even summon the courage to dive the Antartic waters. It will not be a luxurious vacation, but that is what I'm seeking. I want a trip that will challenge me and expand my horizons.
Narrowing down the countries, I want to visit in South America was no easy feat. Ideally, I would like to visit all the countries in South America, but Ecuador is highest on my list. Ecuador is littered with incredible historical sights and breathtaking landscapes. Nature and history are two big selling points for me on any holiday excursion. Sightseeing on Easter Island and the Galapagos would be an incredible experience. Exploring the historical sights such as the Ingapirca Ruins or the gorgeous landscape at the Swing at the End of the World are definitely high up on my list. Please excuse me while I go pack my bag right now.
I'm still unsure how I have yet to visit New Zealand. There are always so many fantastic flight deals from Australia too there, and yet, I have not visited. I mean New Zealand is home to Hobbiton and some of the best adventure sports in the world. Next time there's a flight deal on I Know the Pilot, I need to book a trip.
For those who do not know, I am a massive animal lover. I've driven to Adelaide simply to cuddle a koala (it's illegal in Victoria). Anytime I have a chance to see amazing animals in their natural habitat, I'm even more excited. I've done a lot of research on where to visit in Africa and have found Tanzania seems to be the best country for animal safaris. Not only is there incredible wildlife in Tanzania but there are also unbelievable hikes and waterfalls. Everything I love wrapped up in one beautiful trip!
Not only do I have some amazing friends in Brazil, but there are also so many incredible things I would like to see in Brazil. Hiking in the Amazon, exploring Rio, enjoying the superb beaches. Brazil has so many amazing things to see and explore. I may have to take a long trip to Brazil just so I have enough time to see everything.
I have wanted to go to the Maldives for years now. For a long time, I only viewed this as a honeymoon destination. But the Maldives doesn't need to be just for couples. Whether you want to relax and detach from the virtual world for a while or experience some incredible scuba diving and snorkelling, the Maldives seems to be the perfect place for anyone wanting a detox from society.
Peru is filled with outstanding geographical and historical sites to see. With three different regions that offer three different terrains, there is definitely something for all types of travellers. Machu Picchu is high up on my travel list. How incredible would it be to see one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World? There are hot springs, incredible hikes, ancient historical sites, and beautiful beaches. Plus, I could get my fix of Inca Kola (if anyone knows where to find this in Australia, please let me know)!
Honestly, who wouldn't want to visit the Great Pyramids? Seeing the ancient Pyramids of Egypt has been on my travel list since I was young. There is so much history, so much culture. One could easily spend months in Egypt. Hopefully one day soon, I will get to visit.
Have you visited any of the countries on this list? What was your favourite part of your visit? What does your travel bucket list look like? Share it in the comments below!
I would love to visit all of these places! With this cold weather I would love to be somewhere tropical right now!
I'm feeling the exact same way. I left summer in Australia and traded it for winter in the US for a couple weeks. Not sure what I was thinking lol!
Which were already on your bucket list?
I feel the exact same way! I feel travel is the only thing one spends money on to get richer.
Long way to go! But starting with exploring Africa this year, and then getting back to Asia in the end of the year - I agree, there is so much to explore there!
How exciting! I'll definitely have to follow along on your journey. I have yet to make it to Africa but I'm hoping in the next 5 years to make it out there!
This is a great list of places! Sri Lanka is definitely top of my list!
I would to travel to atleast some of them if not all.


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Briefing|F.B.I. Report, Afghan War, New Zealand: Your Monday Evening Briefing
https://nyti.ms/38ngxX4
F.B.I. Report, Afghan War, New Zealand: Your Monday Evening Briefing
Here's what you need to know at the end of the day.
By Victoria Shannon and Erin Kelly
(Want to get this briefing by email? Here's the sign-up.)
Good evening. Here's the latest.
Credit...Tom Brenner/Reuters
1. A long-awaited report on the F.B.I. found no anti-Trump plot.
The report, by the Justice Department's inspector general, found serious errors in the F.B.I.'s Russia inquiry — especially its handling of the application for a wiretap on the Trump aide Carter Page — but it also punctured many conspiracy theories.
The official, Michael Horowitz, found that the F.B.I. had sufficient evidence in July 2016 to open the investigation. We summarized his key findings.
It was clearly on President Trump's mind. Above, he had a handwritten draft of a tweet about the report on his notes for an education meeting in the White House Cabinet Room.
Meanwhile, Attorney General William Barr sharply criticized the F.B.I.'s decision to open the Russia investigation. So did John Durham, the federal prosecutor Mr. Barr appointed to run a separate criminal investigation into the origins of the inquiry.
2. U.S. officials misled the public for years on Afghanistan, documents show.
Even as the Taliban returned in greater numbers, senior American officials almost always said that progress was being made in the war. The documents, obtained by The Washington Post, show otherwise.
"We didn't know what we were doing," said Douglas Lute, a retired three-star Army general who helped the White House oversee the war in the Bush and Obama administrations. Above, U.S. troops in 2011.
The cost of 18 years of war will amount to more than $2 trillion and the lives of more than 2,400 U.S. soldiers and 38,000 Afghan civilians. Our analysis found little to show for it.
3. A bitter and testy impeachment hearing.
Before the House Judiciary Committee, lawyers for the Democrats argued that President Trump's abuse of power was "brazen" and "clear."
Republican lawyers maintained there was "simply no clear evidence" that Mr. Trump had "malicious intent" in his dealings with Ukraine.
Above, the committee's chairman, Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat; and its top Republican, Doug Collins of Georgia.
The committee is expected to unveil and then begin debate over articles of impeachment later this week, with a vote to send them before the full House likely by the weekend.
4. "No signs of life have been seen at any point."
That is the conclusion of the New Zealand police from reconnaissance flights after the eruption of a volcano on a private island frequented by tourists. It was too dangerous for emergency workers to immediately reach.
At least five people were confirmed killed, and hopes are dim for dozens of tourists who were trapped. Passengers from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were among those who were visiting the island, but the company did not say how many.
As we write, day is beginning on White Island, the site of the eruption, and our reporters are gathering the latest.
5. Russia's doping ban comes with an asterisk.
The World Anti-Doping Agency's unanimous decision over the country's yearslong cheating scheme would exclude Russia's flag, name and anthem from all global sports events for four years, including the 2020 Olympics.
But Russian athletes not implicated in doping could compete in the Olympics and other world championships under a neutral flag.
And Russia, which steadfastly denies many of the allegations despite a wealth of evidence, promises an appeal. Above, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, criticized the ruling in Moscow.
6. Here's one trade pact that's close to finished.
After two years of negotiations, a congressional vote appears to be nearing on the Nafta replacement to govern commerce around North America. That should reassure U.S. avocado lovers, who depend on Mexico's supply.
A White House official said that the revised United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement includes tough labor-enforcement provisions that should help address a concern of Democrats, clearing the way for a vote.
Congressional approval would constitute President Trump's biggest trade win to date, and would count as a tangible accomplishment for Democrats as well.
7. "He personified the idea of doing something politically unpopular but economically necessary."
That was Ben Bernanke remembering Paul Volcker, who died on Sunday at age 92. His shock therapy of the 1970s and '80s drove the U.S. economy into a deep recession but also subdued raging inflation.
"He came to represent independence," said Mr. Bernanke, who held the same role as Fed chairman from 2006 to 2014. Neil Irwin, our senior economics correspondent, considered Mr. Volcker's legacy as a public servant and financial figure.
He was feisty to the end.
8. The Ferrante effect.
"There was this idea that stories told by women couldn't be universal," said the novelist Veronica Raimo, above. "But that's changing."
That's largely thanks to the author who writes as Elena Ferrante. She's inspiring Italy's female novelists and shaking up the country's male-dominated literary establishment.
Women are winning prestigious Italian literary prizes, getting translated — and selling. In the past two years, novels by women have accounted for roughly half of Italy's top 20 best sellers in fiction. That's nearly double the percentage from 2017.
"Italy always had great women writers," said Nadia Terranova, an author. "The truly new thing is that, for the first time, they're getting recognition."
9. Hits and misses from the Golden Globes.
The nominations announced today had some unlikely omissions and surprises, our Carpetbagger, Kyle Buchanan, reports.
The snubs: Greta Gerwig was left out again, this time for "Little Women" (for which, above, she directed Meryl Streep). That's likely to provoke more talk about the treatment of female directors. And Robert DeNiro was skipped for best actor in "The Irishman," though the film got other nominations.
The unexpecteds: Annette Bening got a nod for supporting actress in "The Report," despite the film's fading attention, and Antonio Banderas managed to join nominations for lead actor in a drama for his subtle performance in "Pain and Glory."
The full list of nominees is here.
10. And finally, the world's most expensive whisky.
Nearly 4,000 bottles of rare whisky could bring in more than $10 million in Scotland next year in what would be the largest private collection of whisky ever to go up for auction.
Richard Gooding, who owned the Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. and who died in 2014, amassed the collection over two decades.
Among his prize selections: a 60-year-old Macallan Valerio Adami 1926. Last year, a bottle from the Scottish distillery sold for $1.1 million at auction.
Cheers, and have a smooth evening.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Complete information on how to and when to visit Lonar. And also about what to see and do in Lonar and where to stay.
Lonar is located on the periphery of the Lonar town in Buldhana district. Lonar is the third largest meteorite crater in the World. It seems to be around 45 – 50000 years old and must be a result of around a 2 million ton weighing meteorite hit. A lake had eventually evolved inside the crater. Since the crater was formed on a basalt rock, the lake is saline in nature.
Lonar attracts many tourists from all around the world. Apart from the tourists this place is also visited by researchers, geologists and scientists from all over the world. Lonar is certainly one of the must visit destinations in India.
By Air: Lonar is around 122 km from Aurangabad and hence Aurangabad is the nearest airport for Lonar.
By rail: The nearest rail station is Malkapur or even Jalna, which is around 90 km from Lonar town.
By road: Lonar is around 600 km from Mumbai. The best route to reach Lonar by road is through Aurangbad. From Mumbai, one can reach Lonar by taking the Mumbai – Aurangabad – Jalna – Lonar route. The other possible route is the Lonar Buldhana route which is around 95 km. Apart from that one can also reach Lonar from Mehakar Taluka which is around 23 km from Lonar.
If you visit Lonar by train and get down at Malkapur station, or even if you plan to visit Lonar from Aurangabad then there are several buses which ply regularly to Lonar from few of the major cities like Khamgaon, Malkapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Mumbai and even the Ajanta or Ellora caves. So that makes Lonar extrememly accessible.
Lonar Crater: The Lonar crater is a must visit destination when in Lonar Town. The crater has a vast richness in biodiversity and hence it is home to a vast variety of flora and fauna. One can find several animals like peacock, shrike, hooper, monitor lizards, rabbit, deer, langurs, snakes, black drongo and many others here in the jungles around the crater.
Apart from that the several plant species that make the visit interesting are eucalyptus, custard apple, lemon grass, bamboo, teak and few more. This forest is also a home to beautiful birds including few endangered species like the cherons,larks, red – wattled lapwings, robins and pea fowls which are found in abundance.
Vishnu temple / Daitya Sudan Temple– This temple is a must visit located within the slopes of the crater inside the forest. The temple is built in a Hemadpanthi style and is really spectacular.
This temple resembles the Khajuraho temples and has similar carvings on it. The temple is said to be had built in the 7th or 8th century and is worth viewing. The temple idol is made of ore and resembles stone. The ceiling of this temple has wonderful carvings which make sit spectacular.
Gomukh temple – Gomukh temple is too located near the rim of crater and has a perrineal stream flowing besides it which adds to the beauty of the temple. The stream water is considered to be holy and many pilgrims bathe in the stream.
Little Lonar Crater: One can also visit this mini crater which is presently known as Amber Lake. It seems this crater must have been a result of a hit by a small piece of the large meteorite which hit the Lonar crater.
Trekking: One gets a chance of doing some trekking down the lake and also on the uphill. One can definitely plan a trek down to the temples and plan a halt.
Lonar should be visited in winters when the climate is very pleasant favorable for trekking. It's very hot in summers and hence should be practically avoided.
There are MTDC accommodations available in Lonar. These accommodations are very close to the lake. The accommodations are usually vacant and hence easily available. Other than that there are many hotels and lodging facilities available near the market or the bus station but that is very far from the crater. It is hence advisable to stay in the MTDC accommodations which are comfortable, cheaper and closer to the crater. That definitely makes trekking and sight seeing easy.


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Security Alert: VoIP Users Targeted in Email Message Attack
By thinkCSC | thinkCSC Security Alert | No Comments
thinkCSC is urging all VoIP users to take precautions when receiving voicemail to email services, as thinkCSC has identified a new security risk targeting VoIP users. The attack sends a voicemail to email with a .zip or .exe attachment that, when opened, can infect the user's system and network.
The voicemail to email message will look like it comes from your messaging system but will be from an unknown number. thinkCSC urges VoIP users to proceed with caution when receiving a message from an unknown number. Do not open any .zip or .exe files. Legitimate voicemail to email message formats are .wav or ,mp3 files; if you receive any other type of file, you should assume it is a fake voicemail to email message.
These harmful messages are typically from numbers using non-existent area codes. A listing of all U.S. and Canadian area codes can be found here.
What To Do If You Have Received a Fake Voicemail to Email Message on Your VoIP Service:
Do not open any message that is not in .wav or .mp3 format
If you receive a message with a .exe or .zip file attached, DO NOT open it
If you believe your system has already been compromised, or if you have already opened the file, contact thinkCSC right away.
If you have any questions or believe you have been a target of this threat, please contact our team at your earliest convenience.
Ohio: A Great State to Do Business
By thinkCSC | thinkCSC Leadership Series | No Comments
by Tom Hastings
Ohio has once again been represented as one of the best states to do business, according to Site Selection magazine, and is now ranked as the fourth best state in 2013. Corporate site selector surveys account for 50 percent of the ranking; the remaining percentage is based on criteria that includes competitiveness rank, qualified projects and firms' state tax burden. Columbus has also been recognized by Forbes as one of the best cities for tech jobs and one of the best cities for working mothers. Ohio was even named the best state for banking in 2012 by Money Rates.
That's quite a résumé. But why is Ohio such a great state in which to do business?
As a business owner and long-time resident of the state, I believe a combination of factors make Ohio a great state for business development. Not only do the state and city leaders work tirelessly to create opportunity, support businesses and encourage our talented graduates to stay in Ohio after they graduate, but there is a singular focus on innovation in Ohio.
Ohio is the home of two of the world's greatest innovators, Orville and Wilbur Wright, who owned and operated a bicycle repair shop in Dayton while they endeavored to build a flying machine. And since their time, Ohio has continued to emphasize technology, innovation and smart growth. In a PR Newswire article, the Ohio Business Development Coalition and former Governor Ted Strickland cite a number of advances in education, technology and the state tax structure that account for Ohio's successful business climate.
Businesses enjoy other advantages in Ohio. The state is centrally located, having access to the greater percentage of the U.S. population; given the abundance academic institutions, the state touts a large talent pool from which to draw; the aforementioned business-friendly tax environment gives businesses a distinct advantage; and the community offers a great deal of support. And did I mention that the quality of life in Ohio is phenomenal?
Whether you are just beginning to build your business or have already established a successful business in Ohio, you already know the truth: Ohio is a good place for business.
Security Alert: Do Not Open .TIFF Files from Unrecognized Sources
thinkCSC is issuing a security alert regarding .TIFF files. Zero-Day attacks targeting Windows users has been detected by Microsoft and is already affecting people in Asia an the Middle East. It is expected to spread to the U.S. and Europe very quickly. This vulnerability enters your system when you open a .TIFF file and allows the attacker (potentially on a remotely hosted computer) to gain administrative access to your system and network.
It is imperative that you refrain from opening any questionable .TIFF file, as the messages are often constructed to make the user believe they are coming from a trusted choice.
While Microsoft is working to develop a patch to protect users, at this time, current antivirus and firewall solutions are unable to prevent infection. Most vulnerable are Microsoft Office users who are running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. Microsoft Office 2003 through Office 2010 are impacted in this zero-day attack.
What Are .TIFF Files?
From Adobe: TIFFs are a file format popular with graphic designers and photographers for their flexibility, high quality, and near-universal compatibility. Learn more about these raster graphic files and how you can put them to use in your next project.


In 2007 a school board in Canada requested that I compile research examining the differences between dual-track and single-track (immersion centre) French immersion programs in Canada. An immersion centre is an entire school that is devoted to French immersion, and a dual-track model is one in which a school houses a French immersion program alongside a regular (English-medium) program.1 At the time members of the school board were debating whether to move to the centre model for their elementary French immersion program. This school board provided an example of best practice by ensuring that their decision-making would be research-informed and data-driven.
As the external consultant hired by the school board, in this report I offer brief summaries of the research I compiled and presented. I concentrate this report primarily on research that addresses differences in academic achievement. It is worth noting that research in this area is limited. Finally, I briefly describe final outcomes and administrators' perspectives on the model currently in place.
Lapkin et al. (1981) published a study comparing student outcomes in immersion centres and dual-track schools. The research was carried out for the Carleton Board (Ottawa, Ontario) and involved testing of grade 5 students in centres (six classes) and dual-track schools (four classes) in both French and English. A survey of the staff was also conducted.
Results indicated that on two of the four tests (listening comprehension as well as reading comprehension/vocabulary), immersion centre students outperformed dual-track students. No other differences in performance were indicated. The conclusion was that immersion centres led to superior achievement in French and some aspects of English language skills. The questionnaire data indicated that centre students were possibly using more French in out-of-classroom contexts than dual-track students and that they had more exposure to written and spoken French in the school environment than their dual-track counterparts.
Furthermore, teachers in centres appeared better satisfied with resources available in their schools and with their overall teaching situations. In interpreting the results, the researchers speculated that support for the French language was more pronounced in the centre setting where they found school corridor displays featuring more material in French, assemblies conducted in French, administration and other staff more likely to be bilingual and so on.
Lapkin (1991) cited examples of how the Lapkin et al. (1981) research was used to bolster opposing points of view and how research is often used as after-the-fact rationalizing of politically motivated decisions. Even though the 1981 study yielded important findings, Lapkin cautioned against the use of a single evaluation focussing on one grade as evidence that the centre proves optimal for immersion programs. She argued that this cannot be safely generalised without replication studies and consideration of a host of other contextual factors. Nevertheless, she claimed that the 1981 study showed that the recipe for successful implementation includes not only actively encouraging the use of French outside of the classroom but also within the school "so that the language is perceived as an authentic means of communication for a social purpose that goes beyond academic learning within the class and pervades the life of the school" (p. 2).
A survey conducted in Manitoba of French immersion graduates in 1998 and 1999 revealed that the respondents viewed immersion centres more favourably with regards to resource materials and academic support services (Manitoba Education, 2001). In response to two survey items in particular: School provided adequate French resource material and School provided academic French language support services, the immersion centre graduates indicated much higher levels of agreement than the dual-track graduates.
Crawford (1995) conducted a study on dual-track programs. She examined in depth the culture of the dual-track elementary school by conducting seventy-six semi-structured interviews with parents, teachers, students and administrators in two different schools.
Crawford found that developing a shared school culture was a great deal of work, but well worth the effort. A dual-track school setting had its advantages: exposure to diversity, chance to teach and learn in two languages, better student and parent cooperation due to choice, good French as a Second Language instruction, elimination of neighbourhood cliques, development of cultural tolerance and keeping community schools open. Furthermore, there was an implication that the development of subcultures within a school is not perceived as negative: subcultures can protect the integrity of groups and programs and thus facilitate overall cooperation and harmony.
Kissau (2003) did a study assessing the relationship between the school environment and program effectiveness. Two settings were investigated: an immersion centre and a dual-track school. The study consisted of questionnaires completed by grade 7 students and teachers in both settings. Results indicated that centre students were perceived, by both teachers and students, to be exposed to more French and less peer pressure than their dual-track counterparts.
In a brief review of what has been learned from studies on French immersion, Cummins (2000) indicated that two problematic areas have been noted in the implementation of French immersion programs in Canada. One problem is the quality of French oral language and written proficiency attained by immersion students and the other being the relatively high attrition rate in Canadian French immersion since its inception. Students often lack interaction with native francophone students, and they also have few classroom opportunities to use French. He explained, "Expressive skills tend to develop better in schools where the entire school is a French immersion centre rather than in schools where just one stream is taught through French; however, the latter organizational structure far outnumber the former as a result of the political difficulty of devoting an entire neighbourhood school to French instruction…" (p. 4).
Perhaps the most significant research recently conducted in this area was done in Alberta. Guimont (2003) reviewed prior research on single- and dual-track immersion schools including work by McGillivray (1984), who wrote that immersion centres often have administrative advantages because they devote all their staff, programs and resources to immersion, making the budget more manageable. He also explained how centres often have specialists for remedial services, which may in part account for the lower attrition rate in centres. In contrast, unilingual administrators in dual-track schools often lack pedagogical knowledge of second language learning, and have problems communicating about educational issues with, supervising, and evaluating French immersion teachers.
Guimont (2003) conducted a comparative analysis (dual/single track schools) of two sources of quantitative data provided by Alberta Learning: provincial achievement test results from 1995-1996 and 1999-2000 for all grade 6 French Immersion students and a multiyear report of scores on the four core subjects taught in French. He also gathered qualitative data through taped, unstructured interviews with six current and former principals of five of the top six schools where the students achieved the best overall results in the four subjects taught in French (Social Studies, Mathematics, French Language Arts, Science).
Results of the quantitative data showed that students enrolled in immersion centres achieved better results in all of the subjects, for each of the years that was reported in the study. Furthermore, the results in 1999-2000 showed a greater difference in mean scores than the results in 1995-96 in all the subjects in the years examined. It is interesting to note that French Language Arts is the subject that had the least difference in Total Test Mean results between the two immersion sub-populations.
Immersion centres function like francophone (French first language) schools. The principals talked about the students having more exposure to French, of the difficulty in ensuring that students speak French outside the classroom in a dual-track setting, how more exposure would enable them to remember more words and of the creation of a French community within a single-track setting.
Common goals and resources directed at one program are best. In regards to resources, respondents felt that the establishment of common goals and allocation of resources was a key factor to the success of students in immersion centres.
Immersion centres attract more committed parents. Principals felt that parents whose children have to travel outside the neighbourhood in order to attend an immersion centre are more committed. They also felt that families with one Francophone parent generally chose an immersion centre as opposed to a dual-track school.
Administrators in dual-track schools must be given more professional development opportunities to help them tackle the daily challenge of leading a bi-cultural staff, promoting and respecting cultural needs, building and maintaining team spirit among colleagues, and working toward the realization of school goals.
Principals of dual-track schools must ensure that the school functions effectively as one school and that this is clear to all stakeholders.
Principals must demonstrate the value of and strongly believe in the importance of the immersion model.
In light of the results, school authorities must ask themselves how important it is to provide the best setting for their immersion students to achieve optimal results and to allow them to develop the best French language skills possible.
Upon presentation of the research and recognition of a declining English-strand population in the school, the school board that requested the compilation of research decided to move to a centre model for the fall of 2007.
The two administrators who transitioned from the dual-track model to the centre model were interviewed in the winter of 2010 and asked to give their perceptions of the shift. After two years of the centre immersion model, they both felt strongly that the centre model was more beneficial for a number of reasons.
One benefit is the development of a common vision and school mission since it is substantially more difficult to lead a team whose goals represent two different populations. In addition, managing a dual-track school is significantly more complex because the needs of the two tracks are different. Politically, it is also more sensitive as one program cannot spend more than the other. Prior to changing to a single-track immersion centre, they had felt their French Immersion program was lagging. For example, they were unable to provide the same quality of services to students in French as in English, nor were funds available to do so.
The transition to single-track has also had a profound impact on the culture of the school. Both administrators concur that the acquisition of the French language is more rapid in a centre model. Announcements, intramurals, choirs, library helpers, concerts and cultural events are all provided in French. Rather than French being only a language of instruction, it is now brought alive outside of the four classroom walls. They state that the students are proud of their ability to communicate in French with other people.
Teachers were initially hesitant and fearful of the change. Some were upset about losing friendships with colleagues teaching in the English track. However, since the transition, they recognize they are able to have their specific immersion needs met effectively and also have more opportunities to work in French professional learning communities.
It is the belief of the administrators that some schools should initially open as dual-track programming, but with the intention of moving towards a single-track model when it becomes financially feasible for the school board.
In the U.S. the "dual-track" model is commonly referred to as a "strand" program.
Crawford, D. (1995). Parts of a whole: Building a shared school culture in dual-track immersion schools. Immersion Journal, 18(3), 28-30.
Kissau, S. (2003). The relationship between school environment and effectiveness in French immersion. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 6(1), 87-104.
Lapkin, S. (1991, October). Uses and misuses of research in school board decision-making: Examples from French immersion. CONTACT, 10(3), 3-4.
Lapkin, S., Andrew, C.M., Harley, B., Swain, M., & Kamin, J. (1981). The immersion centre and the dual-track school environment and achievement in a French immersion program. Canadian Journal of Education, 6(3), 69–90.
Manitoba Education. (2001). Survey of 1998 and 1999 Manitoba French Immersion Graduates. Manitoba, CA: Bureau de l'éducation française, Ministry of Education, Training and Youth.
McGillvray, R. (1984). School systems make it work. Language and Society, 12(1), 26-29.
Safty, A. (1992). Effectiveness and French immersion: A socio-political analysis. Canadian Journal of Education 17(1), 23-32.


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CLICK Blog
People-watching in Washington
Justin Timberlake to sing at the White House
By CAITLIN MCDEVITT
The man known for bringing sexy back will be singing at the White House next week.
Justin Timberlake is performing at an event celebrating Memphis Soul music on April 9, the White House announced on Tuesday. The singer, who rose to fame as a member of the boy band 'N Sync, was born in Memphis, Tenn.
Other artists on the line-up, according to the announcement, include: "Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Al Green, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite [and] Mavis Staples."
Booker T. Jones will serve as the evening's music director and band leader.
The concert is part of President Barack Obama's "In Performance at the White House" series and will be broadcast on PBS on April 16.


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Northwest Military Blogs: McChord Flightline Chatter
May 5, 2016 at 10:56am
AMC Rodeo to have new life
By Air Mobility Command Public Affairs Comments
An international team arrives at McChord Field during AMC Rodeo 2007. Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
Air Mobility Command's first-ever Mobility Guardian readiness exercise is planned for July 30, 2017 to Aug. 12, 2017, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The exercise will be one of the most realistic real-world, scenario-driven exercises the command has ever undertaken, said Maj. Gen. Jerry Martinez, AMC director of operations.
"The objective is to execute rapid global mobility missions we see today, as well as those we anticipate in the future, to enhance mobility partnerships," said Martinez. "Exercising with allies we depend on every day will enhance the ability of our Mobility Air Forces airmen to overcome challenges and achieve national objectives."
The AMC commander agreed.
"Interoperability with our joint and allied partners is crucial to be able to move people, planes and cargo into contested environments around the world," said Gen. Carlton D. Everhart, II. "Mobility Guardian will be our premier exercise for U.S. and allied units to train together and improve joint capabilities. We'll train like we fight."
The excitement has been evident in the reactions of partners from the combat air forces and special operations forces, as well as international partners who are already lending time to help plan what will be AMC's preeminent readiness exercise, Martinez said.
"Mobility Guardian 2017 will provide a tremendous opportunity to put all our mobility capabilities to the test," said Martinez. "We're really working hard to expand international participation. This forum will allow participants to share tactics, techniques and procedures essential to maintaining readiness and sustainment in coalition campaigns around the world."
Mobility Guardian 2017 is a completely new exercise and focused on training the full range of capabilities Air Mobility Command provides to the nation," said Capt. Nick Plante, chief of Media Engagement Division.
How that will involve local leaders and supporters of the base has not been determined.
"As the first iteration is over a year away, many of the details to include the level of civic leader involvement are still being planned," Plante added.
22nd Special Tactics Squadron, 262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron, 361st Recruiting Squadron, 446th Airlift Wing, 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, 62nd Maintenance Group, 62nd Medical Squadron, 62nd Mission Support Group, 62nd Operations Group, 728th Airlift Squadron, Afghanistan, Air Mobility Command, Air Rodeo, Awards, Ceremony, Contest, Defense News, Dependent, Deployment, Education, Environment, Family Readiness, Food and Drink, Furlough, Health, History, Holidays, Honors, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lacey, Lakewood, Madigan, McChord Air Museum, McChord Base Exchange, McChord Commissary, Memorial, Military Discount, Military Policy, News To Us, Olympia, Space-A Travel, Sports, Tacoma, Training, U.S. Air Force, USO, Veterans, Web/Tech, Weekly Volcano, Western Air Defense Sector
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Where In-the-Know Cruisers Are Sailing Next
Five ports that are about to be on your radar.
Cool Kid: Greenland
The world's largest island is ready for its star turn. An increasing number of expedition cruises will call on Greenland this season, with sailings from Quark Expeditions, Ponant, and Atlas Ocean Voyages among them (and more anticipated once the capital city, Nuuk, opens its international airport in 2024 for direct flights from Europe and North America). Cruisers can look forward to connecting with a thriving Indigenous culture in towns and villages whose vivid green, red, and blue houses pop against the ice- and granite-ringed coastline.
Silversea's 200-passenger Silver Endeavour will spend its inaugural summer in the Arctic, departing from Greenland's Kangerlussuaq, a former U.S. Air Force base at the end of a 100-mile-long fjord, to visit remote communities along the country's west coast that are inaccessible by road. Highlights on its ten-night expedition to Pond Inlet in Canada's Nunavut territory include kayaking between icebergs near Uummannaq Island and anchoring off Ilulissat, where an active glacier feeds an ice-choked fjord. Departure: July 31.
Wow Factor: West Africa
West African nations typically see occasional cruise-ship visits on annual grand voyages or as part of transatlantic crossings. But Hurtigruten Expeditions will delve into the region in a big way this year: Its 12-night round-trip itineraries aboard the 180-passenger Spitsbergen embark from Dakar, Senegal's swinging, baobab-studded capital, where the largest slave-trading center on the African coast, UNESCO-listed Île de Gorée, once operated. The ship spends four days in the Cape Verde archipelago, traversing Fogo's lava landscapes and the sand dunes of stark Boa Vista, before moving to Guinea-Bissau's Bissagos Islands – 88 tropical and rarely toured outposts, home to the Bijagós people, along with saltwater hippos, manatees, and sea turtles. Departures: Multiple dates, November 3 through December 9.
Reentering the Chat: Japan
One of the last countries to welcome visitors back following the pandemic, Japan opens the gangway anew this year. A route we've got our eye on: Viking's 14-night Hong Kong-to-Tokyo sailing aboard the 930-passenger Viking Orion. The cruise crosses the East China Sea to Nagasaki, site of haunting bomb memorials but also of an intriguing history of trade with the Dutch and Portuguese from the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries. An overnight in Hiroshima allows time to explore beyond the city's war history with trips to Itsukushima's iconic "floating" Shinto shrine or waterfall-fringed Mitaki Temple in a steep, forested valley. Roam the port town of Shimizu, near the foot of Mount Fuji, before disembarking in Tokyo. Departures: April 15 and October 10.
Fresh Frontiers: Alaska
Small-ship expedition lines such as Lindblad Expeditions and UnCruise Adventures have long favored less-touristed ports on Inside Passage sailings; due to overtourism concerns at marquee Alaskan ports, midsize ships are starting to follow. Explore the Last Frontier on Windstar Cruises' 11-night voyages aboard the 312-passenger Star Breeze from Anchorage to Vancouver. Standout excursions include brown-bear-watching in the Anan Wildlife Observatory off tiny Wrangell Island and a float down the Chilkat River, where hundreds of bald eagles live and fish year-round, in adventure-sports hub Haines. In Kenai Fjords National Park – which provides habitat for bears, wolves, sea lions, and whales – witness glaciers fed by the Harding Icefield. Departures: Multiple dates, June 9 through August 28.
A New Classic: Trieste, Italy
With Venice closed to larger ships, Trieste has gained favor as its replacement with Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Holland America Line, whose 1,916-passenger Oosterdam makes the city its home port in the Med this summer. Travelers can still get a taste of La Serenissima: Sailing the Adriatic's east coast reveals the vestiges of the Venetian Republic's centuries-long sprawl. On Oceania Cruises' newly renovated 1,238-passenger Riviera, spend seven nights cruising from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Trieste, stopping at Venetian strongholds such as Corfu, where operas ran at the San Giacomo theater for more than a century, and Kotor, Montenegro, where Venetian towers, ramparts, and palaces still stand. Departure: April 7.


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Your Parish Council
Gatwick & Aircraft Noise
Rural Crime
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Annual Audit Return
Litter Pick
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Bough Beech Residents Account Trust Fund
Chiddingstone Parish Council meets at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of each month, apart from August. Residents of the parish are always very welcome to attend these meetings and will have the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns they may have which ensures that the work of the Council remains effective and relevant to the residents of the Chiddingstone parish.
The aims and objectives of the Council are to represent the interests of local residents with outside bodies such as District and County Councils, particularly in such areas as planning, highways and local services and any other matters that concern residents. In addition, the Council is there to assist and encourage local organisations to develop for the benefit of the community.
The Parish Council consists of nine members, and their contact details can be found under the Contact Us page. We are very lucky to have a great team of members, with a variety of experience and interests, but all of whom are passionate to ensure that the parish of Chiddingstone is protected but yet developed in a sustainable way to meet the needs of the future.
Parish Councils are statutory bodies and are the first tier of local government in England. Our aim is to improve the community wellbeing and to provide better services at a local level where we can. If you are interested in knowing more about what it takes to be a local councillor, again please contact the Clerk.
Guidance for councillors can be found here.
The Good Councillors Guide can be found here.
Pointers to Good Practice can be found here.
© Copyright Chiddingstone Parish Council 2020
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Being Open About Race & Gender Issues With Your Audience with Tara Priolo
On this episode, Tara and I discuss how to talk about hard subjects with your fans like race and gender issues and how to take a stand for what you believe in while weaving that into your branding and music.
Tara Priolo and I met on Clubhouse and we've been doing rooms together. She has some interesting experiences as far as learning to stand and talk about stuff that's hard, especially on social media.
Tara is a voice teacher and opera singer turned brand coach. She's also an activist and biracial soprano. She refers to herself as your resident white-facey multi-faceted musician.
She started in children's choirs and her earliest musical memory is actually a negative one when she was four years old. She ran off the stage, forgot her words and was thinking "I'm gonna prove everybody wrong". She grew up in children's choirs from 7th grade to senior year. She was always in a leadership position and that's when she started developing her leadership skills. In college, she first started in pre-med but then she had conflict between her labs and choir schedule so she decided to drop her pre-med. She then went to pursue music and dropping the education degree. Then she went to grad school for a vocal performance degree. She figured she really wanted to private teach. She auditioned for choirs and once again, took some leadership positions. She also applied for some small companies and likes to do a lot of recital work and concert work. She wanted to bring into the forefront the voices that are not heard, in terms of biracial composers.
I remember being in the Opera and being the only woman in the executive team. The men wanted to pick a certain woman according to her look and not really about their voice.
Tara's experience is people not expecting a big voice like hers to come out of a person with such a small frame. Black people immediately recognize that she is biracial but white people don't. She noticed that the industry seeks people based on the aesthetic as opposed to listening for the sound. She think it starts in Academia.
Tara is very proud that she has a studio that reflects all colors. She teaches a younger demographic, 16 to 24, and she does not tell them they're soprano or alto and she allows them to discover their zone. She lets them come up with the goal and discover their voice.
Standing Your Truth in Social Media
Racial stuff is a very touchy topic. I did do so many wrong things during that time of George Floyd.
Tara always knew she was biracial. She looks exactly like her father and only got her mom's white skin. She's never going to deny that but she was mainly talking about it in her private circles. She then realized that her brand was all about authenticity and being true to yourself so she should put it out. So she started doing little stuff like "Hey, you should follow BIPOC creators apart from white creators." Then George Floyd was murdered and she realized she should talk about it. You have to be uncomfortable or otherwise, you're not going to make it. Because she has whiter color, she can be a gateway for the darker colors. On her Instagram, when she talks about the hard stuff, she avoids being nice afterward because that is going to make people feel comfortable.
How Tara Deals With Negative Comments
Tara saw that the more she talks about hard topics, the less negative comments she gets. Being called a racist or other names is better than the persecution that they face, which is death. People with melanated skin are literally being killed but white people are not being killed for their skin color, they are being called racist or sexist. They're just being called a name. She doesn't really get negative comments but some that are centering of whiteness disguised as concerned. Centering means white people focusing on their own emotion before thinking of the emotion of the people of color. Take yourself out of the equation and do not be offended that someone has called you out.
When you are called out by a BIPOC person, it's not in anger for the most part, it's meant for you to recognize and give you the opportunity to apologize and right that wrong. The goal is to demolish the lowest rank, those that experience aggression at the highest rate, which is the most melanated people, the transgender people and non-binary people, as well as fully disabled people. We are trying to lift them up so the whole system falls down. The comment from a black person that offended you, you should be thankful, because they are disrupting your thought patterns in order for you to decenter your whiteness in order for you to help them dismantle the pattern. Reading a book does not make a white person an ally, but it's up to the melanated people to decide. If you don't speak up, you are complacent. If you don't know what to say, you can start by sharing what BIPOC people say.
How Can Musicians Integrate This Topic With Their Brand
You do not need to create an extra Instagram or social media account. Tara went from posting only voice coaching on her IG and then eventually posted about everything including racism and activism. The reason that people are scared to talk about those topics is somebody told you it was scary topic. Share it with your current audience because somebody is always going to listen. There is one person who is caused to think differently. You don't need to change your whole life, just say what you need to say in your music. If your pillars are honesty and authenticity, you can share these related to that. Even if they don't engage, they're listening. Go ahead and do it. They just need space. The only thing you can account for is what your doing, not their reaction.
Find Tara Priolo Studio on Instagram and Facebook. She is on Clubhouse as Tara P. You can also find her on her website at www.tarapriolo.com.
I hope you all follow her and hang out with us on Clubhouse. Start trying things and if you screw up, DM someone who is melanated. You can also go to BIPOC accounts and share what they are sharing.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Tara Priolo's Website – www.tarapriolo.com
How to Mix Like A Pro from Home – profitablemusician.com/mix
Musician's Profit Path – musiciansprofitpath.com


Updated on: Apr 04, 2019.
The man who got attacked filed a report against the poker pro, who refused to admit what he had done.
However, sometimes that's not even enough.Krukan is known to be a serious club where no shady business whatsoever is going.Tags: court, las vegas police, sheriff, stockholm, swedish poker pro, posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by marsbet bonus kodu "T".The poker player has admitted to the police that he was drunk that night, but he denies that he assaulted anyone.Read more » 2010 wsop: Swedish poker pro chased by Las Vegas police.The poker player, whose name isn't public yet, has kicked and punched another man in a queue to a hot dog stand in central Stockholm on November 29 last year.But google users rated this place and it didn't receive a high rating.
The police stopped all games at once, took everyones personal details and confiscated all chips/tokens.
Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2012 by "T".
Foursquare 7 / 10 17 6, google 71, visitors' opinions / 45, it's.Capacity / 950, on the internet website google Maps /.The poker club Krukan in Stockholm is the biggest poker club in Sweden since it opened last year.Read more » Raid against poker club Tags: assault, poker pro, stockholm, sweden Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010 by "T".The success of Kraken wouldn't be possible without the patient staff.Full reviewHide, frequenty mentioned in reviews, ratings.According to one of Sweden's biggest newspaper, a famous Swedish poker player, who has become rich from playing poker, has been charged with assault.If witnesses can confirm that the assaulted man's story is true, then its probably just for the poker millionaire to pay.However, if he has sponsors, it might be a bit more expensive if they decide to end the deal.« Poker News, news tagged with stockholm : (max 50 results shown tags: badminton, gus hansen, racketlon, squash, stockholm, table tennis, tennis.Suddenly the poker pro attacked one man in the queue for no reason with karate kicks.Basket, login / Register, address rökerigatan 1d, 121 62 Johanneshov, Sweden.A Swedish poker pro has gotten himself into trouble for a second time in very short time.
Great venue for electronic concert!


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Steve Saylor
Storyteller / Digital Content Producer / Professor
Blind Albino Monologues
Blind Gamer
Throwback Stories
Why Matt Smith became my favourite Doctor
Steve Saylor August 25, 2014
"We all change. When you think about it, we're all different people all through our lives, and that's okay, that's good, you gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be. I will not forget one line of this. Not one day. I swear. I will always remember when the Doctor was me."
— The Doctor (11th Regeneration)
Matt Smith as the 11th Regeneration of The Doctor
There comes a time in anyone's life when they were first introduced to Doctor Who. I don't think there is anyone over the past 50 years who hasn't heard of at least something about our favourite Time Lord. It has seeped into our memories of a time when Sci-Fi was new, where crazy ideas of a Mad Man in a Blue Police Box that was bigger on the inside was such a crazy concept, but it worked.
I'm going to tell my story of how I got into Doctor Who, my thoughts and why to me Doctor Who is the best show on Television today, and of course why Matt Smith became my favourite Doctor.
Ready? Let's go!
Geronimo!!
YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST DOCTOR
For me it was 4 years ago when I first heard the call of the TARDIS. I actually remember hearing so much about Doctor Who from friends and in the podcasts I listened to that it was only a matter of time before I gave in and started watching. However, the turning point for me was when I saw in my podcast feed an episode of The Nerdist where they talked to Matt Smith. I knew he was about to become the next Doctor, but didn't know what it all meant. I did probably the most insane thing I could do. I gave in and I actually stopped listening to The Nerdist all together so that I could finally dive into the universe of Doctor Who, catch up and then listen to the Matt Smith episode.
I of course like many Whovians (a fan of Doctor Who) I started with the revised version of Doctor Who starting in 2005. There hadn't been a new series of episodes for the Doctor since 1996 (not counting the televised movie). I knew there was so much history of the show and I first I was worried that because of it's history I would get so lost in the back story. However, like some good reboots, you catch on quickly.
The phrase commonly uttered among fans of "You never forget your first Doctor" never rang more true when I saw Christopher Eccleston first appear on screen and hearing him say "Run!" I immediately began to run with him. I'll admit the first episode as a whole didn't get me on board, it was Eccleston as a weird alien with a Blue Box Space Ship that also was a Time Machine that had me sucked in. I loved it! As someone who loves stories I loved that every episode took a concept of a Sci-Fi "What if?" and turned a whole episode around it! Like "What if Mannequins could come to life?" or "What if I could see the moment where my parent dies?" or "What would reality shows in the future be like?" There are many great episodes like that in the entire post 2005 series that I just love!
The way that the Doctor was portrayed by Christopher as a fun loving crazy man but with a dark soul intrigued me. I wanted to know more about him and what made him this way. When I saw his regeneration into the Tenth Doctor, I was shocked and surprised. I knew David Tennant was the next actor to take the role, but I had no idea it was going to happen after only one season of Eccleston. I actually shed a tear when it happened and I was afraid I wouldn't like Tennant and my Doctor Who journey would be over.
Boy was I wrong.
WIBBLY WOBBLY TIMEY WIMEY
For the sake of your time reading this, I won't go into a lot of details about my time with the Tenth Doctor, but to say this. I liked him. A lot.
He was perfect casting for the show. I loved his sense of curiosity and intensity. He could be manic, dark, fun and passionate. He's had his run of companions though. Rose whom I loved in the first series, to me felt a bit out of place with Tennant. They were great together but something was off. Martha never really caught on with me as much I was hoping even after the most popular episode "Blink" but then again she isn't in it much so I think that may be the reason why. Donna at first was so annoying to me. I couldn't get into her as she was a bit too abrasive. However, after rewatching the episodes again, Donna quickly became one of my favourite companions.
Also as much as I shed tears when Eccleston regenerated, I bawled my eyes out when Tennant ended his run. The phrase "I don't want to go" never hurt more than any other phrase except for maybe "O Captain My Captain".
Goodbye Doctor.
Hello Doctor!
STILL NOT A GINGER BUT OH JUST AS GOOD
So suffice it to say I finally did get back to listening to The Nerdist and picking up where I left off with Matt Smith. I was excited to see what the youngest actor to play The Doctor would do. I knew the original showrunner and main actor was leaving and the 5th series of the show would be all brand new and kind of reset some of the story. So I was excited and nervous. I knew the fanbase was so in love with Tennant that I thought they wouldn't give Smith a chance. They did, even I did. However the consensus was "Smith was good, but definitely not Tennant good." I had the same reaction too. I liked him good enough and the adventures he had with Amy and Rory Pond were fun and for the first time I think I got to see what looked like a great friendship between the three actors that you could tell were mates outside of the show.
The "Girl Who Waited" storyline with the crack in the wall, The Silence and the fleshed out story of River Song (my favourite character from the Tennant era) was great. Hard to follow at times but still great.
The Impossible Girl storyline when Clara came onboard was good as well. I think it was harder to follow than Amy's story but still fun.
I finally caught up with the show by around the 6th season was about to start so I got to see all the episodes as they came out. I don't know if it was the time in between episodes but it was hard to get really excited for the show then have to stop being excited as we waited, at one point a full year, before we got to see anything new. I got to see the 50th Anniversary live which was fantastic. I actually think it's by far the best "episode" they've ever done. I have watched it now five times and I'm still learning new stuff and finding great moments in it. I watched the Christmas special where Matt Smith wore his bow tie for the last time and I was sad, but again not as emotional as I once did.
So as I waited until the next series where Peter Capaldi took over I thought it would be great to rewatch the show again as I had only technically watched all the episodes once.
That's when everything about Doctor Who changed for me.
I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN THE DOCTOR WAS ME
Something happened as I started to rewatch the show again at the beginning of the summer. I was really excited to watch my first Doctor on screen again and was looking forward to feeling the same things I felt when I saw it the first time. I was wrong. There were some really tough moments to watch. I started to not enjoy Eccleston as I . I actually skipped over almost the entire first series because I just didn't want to watch some episodes.
However, I thought it's okay, Tennant is great and I could really enjoy him. For the most part he was great. There were episodes I enjoyed more the second time through. Even "Blink" was better the second time around. But, it didn't give me the same spark I had when I started watching the show. Don't get me wrong it wasn't a chore to watch the series again, my attitude was different. Maybe because I knew what was going to happen so that pressure was off, but it became apparent that although still my favourite TV show, it didn't hold that same spark as when I first saw it.
That was until I started watching the Matt Smith Episodes.
Series 5 started off with a bang and I hopped on the crazy train that I wasn't ready for. Smith's fast talking, hands flapping, raggidy man, "Bow ties are cool" acting blew me away. Even though he was young, he slowly began to portray a performance that showed there was an old man underneath that young exterior. Smith made the character his own and made him so much different than what his predecessors before made him. There were so many great moments in each episode that I thoroughly enjoyed that I got excited to watch each episode. As well the story lines that I got confused about was starting to make sense and more fun to see unfold. I cried when Amy and Rory left in "Angels Take Manhattan". I cheered when he stood on that rock at Stonehenge and gave that speech in "Pandorica Opens". I had goosebumps in "The Time of Angels" when he exclaims you never ever put him in a trap. I laughed when he becamecraig's roommate in "The Lodger". I felt all those same things in "A Good Man Goes To War". I repeated the line we're all thinking of in "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship". As a Western fan I shivered with glee as I watched "A Town Called Mercy". Even the Storytelling Muse in me fell in love with Neil Gaiman's episodes "The Doctor's Wife" and "Nightmare in Silver".
It could be argued that it could've been the storytelling improved as the series went on. However, I felt all those moments because of how Matt Smith participated in those moments. Sure I felt the same way in moments with Eccelston and Tennant but I never had more emotional ups and downs as I did with Smith. Even in the 50th Anniversary where he's acting alongside Tennant, he doesn't get lost in the shadow of David. He stands on his own. Smith proved he could play the Doctor and he played him well.
ELEVEN'S HOUR IS OVER NOW
"And now it's time for one last bow
Like all your other selves
Eleven's hour is over now
The clock is striking twelve's."
I had a different theory as to the phrase "You Never Forget Your First Doctor" when I first starting writing this as I had always attributed that to my first time seeing Eccleston on screen. However, as I thought of how I came to the world of Doctor Who I began to think, well maybe Eccleston wasn't my first Doctor. In an indirect way if it wasn't for The Nerdist inviting Matt Smith on to talk Doctor Who I wouldn't have made the leap into the show. Unless I jumped into the TARDIS and hopped through the Void into another universe to see if I would eventually see the show. All that being said, all I know is right here in this universe if it wasn't for Matt Smith, I wouldn't have gotten into and enjoyed the hours of Sci-Fi goodness this show has given me.
So as I am about to watch the first episode of The 12th Doctor, I have to give a round of applause to Matt Smith. He may not have been everyone's favourite Doctor, but he was to me.
I'll miss you raggidy man.
Tags doctor who, ninth doctor, eleventh doctor, the nerdist, david tennant, matt smith, doctor who 50th anniversary, tardis, Time Lord, Matt Smith is my favourite, favourite doctor, you never forget your first doctor, netflix, netflix doctor who, wibbly wobbly timey wimey, timey wimey, amy pond, rory pond, clara oswald, BBC, Christopher Eccleston
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Finished re-watching Man Of Steel in preparation to see Batman v. Superman tomorrow. Planning on shooting a YouTube video review once I see it.
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Steve Saylor is a Storyteller / Digital Content Producer / Professor


If you loved something such as, oh, I dunno, chocolate. And you felt that there was more to life than, say, Thorntons. Then maybe you'd consider setting up your own fine chocolates business. That's precisely what two Leicester women I met this week have done.
Helen Wood and Shami Doshi both felt disatisfied with the retail offer for chocolate in the city but initially it was the simple idea of doing something special for a school fair that made them look into making their own. They booked themselves onto a one day truffle making course and made sure they quizzed the tutor on all aspects of chocolate production. "That gave us some basic skills but it also showed exactly what more we needed to find out,' says Shami.
The school fair was a great success, so they went on a further course run by top Manchester chocolatier Slattery's. Equipped with new skills in tempering, moulding and flavouring they set up Helsham Chocolates and can now be seen at food festivals and events around the county. At the moment they are operating out of their kitchens but at busy times like the run-up to Christmas they are making up to 1,000 chocolates a week and if things continue to expand they will look to get a production unit.
At current production levels the packaging and administration are starting to become seriously time consuming so they are having to closely manage any expansion plans. That said, they are now available ina number of high quaity retail outlets in Leicestershire and Rutland such as the patisserie Dominic at David North in Rothley and Deli-flavour in Stoneygate. They are looking at getting restaurants intersted in using their chocs and ultimately they would love to get in shops such as John Lewis and Harvey Nicks.
Helsham have kindly offered a chance for you lot to win a ballotine of their truffles you can present to your Valentine – or keep for yourself, we don't care. All you have to do is send an email to sales@helsham.co.uk with your name, address and the answer to the question "Which four flavours are used in Helsham's Favourites Selection" (visit the Helsham website for the answer). Put "Competition" in the subject line and get your answer in by 5pm Friday 4 February. UK addresses only I'm afraid.
Was in Leicester today as the sleet came down and I needed something warming, cheap and quick for lunch. Somewhat against my better judgment I thought I'd try Choptstix, a noodle bar on the Market Place. It's the kind of limited menu, high turnover place that might just turn out to be an unpolished gem. Sadly it was a pretty joyless experience. Staff didn't seem bothered, noodles seemed fresh enough but overcooked, while the salt and pepper chicken was rather tasteless – tiny scraps of chicken overwhelmed by a thick batter. In contrast the chilli relish in bowls on the refectory tables was massively ferocious. At £3.50 for a quite sizeable small box it met my three criteria, but next time I'm thinking along those lines I don't think I'll bother.
Had a very interesting morning talking with Tom Cockerill of Entropy about his use of rare breed meats, touching on the philosophic and ethical differences between breeding and raising animals for maximum yield or for improved eating quality.
As part of it he prepared one of the restaurant's classically simple British dishes – beef and smoked oyster pie.
For the full story you'll need to get the next issue of Great Food Leicestershire and Rutland (just £15 for an annual subscription!), but basically the dish he cooked features rare breed South Devon steak supplied by Archers of Clarendon Park, Colchester oysters smoked in the kitchen over oak chippings and a lovely gravy from beef stock, Guinness and an individually made bouquet garni of fresh herbs. With the possible exception of the homemade beef stock, there wasn't anything the competent home cook couldn't have a go at.
Tom knows his restaurant is more expensive than his local competition but hopes his customers will appreciate what he's trying to do. Certainly the results are evident in this wonderful pie, where beefy goodness is backed up by little hints of smoky saltiness. High up on the pieometer this one.
A quick word in praise of our leader. When Svennis was appointed boss of Leicester City you could be forgiven for thinking he'd spend as little time as possible here, swanning off in his helicopter to more exotic climes – Monaco, Rome, Stockholm, Market Harborough. To give him his due, he is not only achieving success on the pitch – I write before tonight's cup replay in Manchester – but is doing his bit for the local restaurant trade.
For some time San Carlo on Granby St used an image of him and old flame Nancy stepping out at one of their branches. Now he's a proper local, he is popping up all over the place. The newly-opened Lanna Thai on Rutland Street had him in – I think the city's Thai community are, understandably, trying to make the most of any clout with the club's Thai owners – and he was in Bistrot Pierrre at the weekend. In both cases it sounds like he was a most gracious guest, telling Lanna Thai that the Mercury should have given them five stars and writing excellent all over his feedback card for Bistrot Pierre.
I'm not suggesting we follow him as food critic – let's face it, the man is a skilful politician and he's not going to be rude about them. But I give him every credit for going out and being seen to support local businesses.
Let's see where else he turns up. If he comes into your restaurant or you spot him in a city or county venue, make a comment to this post. If we get a few, I'll make a new post rounding up in a couple of months. I'm particularly interested in hearing should you see him sharing a pizza with David Beckham/Thierry Henry/Lionel Messi.
Oh and while we are here – well done to Hambleton Hall and The Olive Branch for retaining their Michelin stars for 2011, and to the Red Lion at Stathern and Jim's Yard in Stamford for keeping their Bib Gourmands. No new awards in our region this time, and – despite the increasing clamour – no second star for Sat Bains in Nottingham.
Now I know Leicestershire is not exactly famed for the quality of its citrus fruit, but as there's not much local fresh product to celebrate right now, and as oranges are absolutely on form, that's what I've been out searching for this week.
Seville oranges can be found for a few precious weeks until mid February, so expect more marmalade-related posts soon. But today the focus is on blood oranges. Not only is this variety exceptionally tangy but I think they are just about the prettiest thing you can put on a plate.
Look how beautiful these are. I'll be making a sorbet later on but it seems a shame to only pulp these beauties, so I adapted a Nigel Slater idea and made a vaguely Middle Eastern salad. I know it's January and there's a cold wind outside but man cannot live by comfort food alone and this relatively light and refreshing lunch was just lovely.
Start by smearing a chicken breast in harissa paste (I always use the part-boned breast – seems to keep it juicy and flavoursome). For the salad just mixed fresh leaves, some cous cous, pine nuts tossed in a little soy sauce and toasted in a pan, and these slices of orange. As lon as you've got a sharp knife, it's pretty simple to cut slices off the top and bottom of the orange so it stands flat and then cut down between the flesh and the pith/peel before slicing crosswise. It's a little messy but do try and rescue what you can of any juice and use it a dressing in which to toss it all. I just used red wine vinegar, olive oil and grain mustard.
Grill and slice the chicken breast and you're done.


text:
Coffeehouse 2012
By Friends of Mount Auburn
Mount Auburn's second annual Coffeehouse was an inspiring and intimate evening full of music, poetry, and conviviality. We've added several videos of the performances for your enjoyment below.
Dr. Steven Ablon, psychiatrist, reads poems from his book, Night Call.
Literary historian Rob Velella reads selected poems by Fanny Osgood, James T. Fields, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Christopher Pearse Cranch, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Nathaniel Parker Willis.
Poets Candace Currie (Mount Auburn Cemetery Director of Planning and Sustainability) and Bob Bowie read a selection of original poems, including "Innocence and Stolen Wooden Milk Crates," "Homage (of sorts) to Bill Evans," "Primordial Jazz," "What Is On?," "Sunday Night Dinner," and "Iris Versicolor."
Musician John Tyson serenades the crowd.
Poet Susan Lloyd McGarry reads a selection of works.
Poet Thomas Fitzgerald reads a selection of original works, including "For the Man Who Practices His Saxophone in the Apartment Next Door" and "Upon Seeing a Man Spray Paint I Love You Across the Front of His Girlfriend's House".
Poet Anna Yeshilian reads an Armenian poem.
Musicians Dan and Faith Senie perform "Moon Over Concord" and "Tumbleweed."
Poet Jessie Brown reads a selection of original works, including "January Thaw," "Chocolate Cake Instead of a Poem," "Never," and "Why I Miss the Lost Trees."
Poet Irene Koronas, poetry editor for Wilderness House Literary Review, reads a selection of original works.
Musician Kim Jennings performs "Colorado River" and "Here to You."
Poet Gloria Mindock, editor and publisher of Červená Barva Press, reads a selection of original works, including "The Guardians."
Poet Sue Owen reads a selection of original works, including "The Weed Doesn't Care," "Accusing the Mosquito," and "Even the Shooting Stars."
Musician Dan Cloutier performs a selection of original compositions.
Poet Gayle Roby reads a selection of original works, including "Suddenly" and "The Jar."
Cambridge Poet Populist Toni Bee performs a spontaneous tribute to Anna Yeshilian.
Visit our Coffeehouse Flickr album for additional photos of the performers.