text:
On November 30, 2018 December 1, 2018 By southboroughnewsLeave a comment
Southborough's first ever "Town Meeting" will be held next week to find out what residents think of the newly revised Southborough Hub scheme to spend £10 million on a new hall, library, medical centre and football pavilion.
The Hub replaces the demolished Royal Victoria Hall Theatre (pictured below in May 2017). But critics say the new Hub fails to meet the Town Council's promise to deliver a new "state of the art theatre" and will have little shared community space.
The Town Meeting has been called by one Labour and one Liberal Democrat councillor and will be held at the Southborough Primary School TN4 0SJ at 7pm on Tuesday 4th December 2018.
A member of the public will chair the Town Meeting as the Conservative mayor, Conservative deputy mayor and the Council's Hub project leader, Ian Kinghorn, have all declined to attend due to "prior engagements".
Town Meetings are governed by an Act of Parliament. It is the last chance for residents to hear all about the plans and discuss the proposals before the Tunbridge Wells Planning Committee meets to decide whether to approve the scheme.
The old Royal Victoria Hall had dedicated dressing rooms, a bar and 350 seats. The new hall planned in the Hub can only seat 250 people for theatre productions while dressing rooms will have to double up as council meeting rooms.
Councillor Trevor Poile of the Liberal Democrats and Labour Councillor, Nick Blackwell, are both concerned by the verdict of the national experts on theatre provision, the Theatres Trust, which said recently "it did not have confidence in the long term viability of the Hub" based on the latest plans.
A joint statement from Cllr Blackwell and Cllr Poile said: "The Southborough Community Hub is part of the biggest public investment that this town has ever seen and will affect the lives of generations of people living in the town for years to come. As Town Councillors, we believe that efforts to inform and engage residents, taxpayers, and potential users in its design and purpose have been unambitious and inadequate which will have a negative impact on the success of the project."
The new building (above) will be wood framed with a terracotta coloured cladding facade and some zinc shingle. The only public consultation with the project team available to discuss the revised plans was held from 5-6pm on a Tuesday evening at the end of October. The previous plans approved by planners in 2016 were abandoned as they turned out to be too expensive.
In a statement on Friday to Southborough News, Cllr Blackwell said: "Many people in the town believed that whatever replaced the Royal Victoria Hall would be a real community hub. A central space within the town where people could come together; a social space that could be used by people of all ages. Our new theatre would be "State of the Art" and "the envy of other towns" according to local Conservative councillors. And the project would be signed sealed and delivered by Christmas 2016."
Cllr Blackwell continues: "Sadly these promises have failed to materialise. An inability by the project Board to reign in the budget has now meant that the scheme that achieved planning consent in March 2017 has been scrapped and replaced with a cheaper "value engineered" alternative with more shared spaces and no box office, bar or café. Cllr Oakford told our Southborough Town Meetings a couple of years ago that he didn't care what the building looked like. The latest plans bear this out. It looks like a 60s secondary modern with aspirations. Zinc and terracotta cladding do nothing to disguise the uninspiring utilitarian design."
Cllr Blackwell then argues: "The library doubles up as pop up bar area. The committee rooms double up as changing rooms. The Project board admit that none of the hiring scenarios have been modelled or considered. Theatre and user groups have not been asked whether their productions can financially support a reduced seating capacity of 250 from 350. It is a dysfunctional building that can't do what it supposed to do."
Cllr Blackwell continues: "The build will be a series of out-of-keeping prefabricated boxes that have been condemned by the Theatres Trust as not fit for purpose and not financially viable in the long term. We have no business plan and we have now been told that Southborough Town Council is not to expect any income from the hall as the management will be outsourced to the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall."
Cllr Blackwell argues: "The whole process has been beset by poor management and a project that has overreached the skillset of those involved. For KCC this has only ever been a cost cutting exercise to sell off our playing fields and library site for housing. What we have been presented is the worst case scenario. Few of us on Southborough Town Council envisaged it would be quite this poor. Despite boasts of record amounts for the sale of the playing fields it is obvious the money has run out. The project Board spent years employing Pick Everard architects and working up a design that is never going to be built. We still don't know how much money has been wasted on the aborted design."
Cllr Blackwell concludes: "We do know that Southborough Town Council has been required to contribute an additional £500,000 (from the sale of the former Speldhurst Rd Allotments) and that the funding from the NHS for the medical centre is unconfirmed and still at risk. It is still not too late to change the decision and produce something that will be an asset to the town rather than an underused financial drag. We need the maximum number of people to attend the Town Meeting and to see the plans for the first time and express their views. I would urge everyone who cares about where they live to turn up and get involved."
In the last few days, there have been new alterations to the internal plans with the small kitchen reportedly being moved next to library, with a servery from the kitchen so that drinks can be served in the library (coloured brown below) which will be turned into a bar for theatre events. This latest scheme is not in the current drawings (below) and will apparently mean less storage for the theatre.
Meanwhile former mayor David Elliott is the only person to have commented on the new planning application on the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council portal.
Councillor Elliot said: "We've been working towards revitalising the centre of Southborough for nearly twelve years now and we are almost there…..The Southborough Hub will transform the centre of Southborough once built. Don't stop it now. I fully support this application. It would be a tragedy for Southborough if the funding already allocated for this project in these difficult times were to be lost forever if this planning application is not approved."
You can comment on the TWBC website until 13th December at:
https://twbcpa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=PI51P7TYFGF00&fbclid=IwAR3xsD39jEsD32UpfxlGl2MeXIChz3p_ZO8GXK112bnCqfB_Ru11SkZq9sM
Pictures of the old Royal Victoria Hall demolition in 2017 are taken with permission from the blog "castles on the ground":
Unseen demise of the Royal Victoria Hall
This was the same site pictured in the snow in April 2018.
The Councils designing the Southborough Hub have responded to public comments and it appears the plans may be changed to incorporate a larger kitchen or bar.
A new planning application is scheduled to be submitted in November 2018 with an outcome early in 2019 prior to start on site in 2019. Compared with the original plans, the new plan sees "a major reduction in circulation space within the building but keeps all other elements as closely aligned to the previous submission".
A new document on the Southborough Town Council website written by the project manager, Jonathan White, explains that: "the new designs have shifted the main hub building to the north ensuring that the town square can be made larger and accommodate more activity."
The following additional questions and answers from the council have been published:
Q: There is no café/bar in the new proposals
A: Internal designs are being considered which if approved, would move the kitchen area adjacent to the library space and include a hatch in to the library. This would allow for a café and a bar subject to operational requirements.
Q: The kitchen being proposed is too small!
A: Internal designs are being considered which if approved would enlarge the kitchen area
Q: Will there be a disabled toilet and a baby change area?
A: Yes, there will be disabled toilets on both levels of the Hub, there will also be a baby change facility
Q: Toilets are all unisex!
A: Toilets remain as individual cubicles that will be allocated as Male, Female, Disabled, and Unisex in a flexible arrangement to meet equality requirements and optimal operational efficiency.
Q: There are insufficient toilets to meet the current standards
A: The building meets the current toilet standard requirements
Q: Will the hub building be fully accessible for disabled people?
A: Yes, the building will be fully accessible and will meet part L and M of the building regulations
Q: There is no lift to the second floor of the main hub building
A: There is a lift to the second floor of the hub building and it can be found in the west wing of the main hub building adjacent to the stairs
Q: There is insufficient space in the facility for when there are large theatre performances
A: The space in the library will be used flexibly with bookshelves being able to be moved out of the way to accommodate for larger gatherings – the library and the theatre will work together to minimise any disruption to their clients
Q: There is no segregated room for children in the new library. Does this not raise child safety issues?
A: There will be a children's area in the new library space but the service does not require them to be segregated. Library furniture can be used to give the area a more defined space for children. There are no child safety issues with this proposal
Q: How will the theatre work if the community rooms which double as changing rooms are already booked out?
A: The operator of the hub will ensure that the hall/theatre requirements and the rental of the community rooms can work in harmony to maximise the use of the facility (Second floor plan shown below – part of medical centre is to right of plan)
Q: The noise from the theatre will impact the library area
A: Libraries are aware of the impact the theatre may have on their service and will work with customers to ensure any disruption is minimised
Q: If the building is open at night people will steal from the library
A: The library service are happy for people to use the self service machines out of hours to borrow books from the library even when staff are not present. Theft of library stock is very rare
Q: The community rooms have been shrunk from the previous designs
A: The new community rooms are larger than the previous designs at 141 square meters excluding storage compared to 81 square meters in the old designs
Q: Are the Theatre Trust comments being addressed?
A: The Theatre Trust has raised the same comments as they previous did for the prior submission and once again these are being picked up and a response has been sent to them. They are a statutory consultee as part of the planning process and we will continue to work with them to ensure the best outcome for the facility. They have also raised the issue of the café and that has been picked up separately within these FAQs.
Q: The community rooms have large glazed areas that will mean they are not suitable to act as changing rooms for the hall/theatre
A: The project will ensure that the necessary blinds are in place to give the privacy required.
Q: There are insufficient changing rooms
A: The community rooms are very large and can be split up to provide further changing rooms if required
Q: The building will be built using timber and pre-fabricated panels. This sounds like a cost saving exercise and how long will the building last?
A: The design life of the product is over 60 years however if maintenance is done properly the building will last forever as with any other building which is well maintained
Q: Where is the storage?
A: There are numerous storage areas throughout the facility including a large store adjacent to the hall able to take the stage and seating
Q: The hall can only accommodate 250 people. This is too small.
A: The hall can accommodate different setups up to 350 people
Q: What cladding is being proposed for the facility?
A: The cladding being proposed is a mixture of red terracotta cladding and a zinc based tile. There will also be some brick work at lower levels
Q: STC office is out of the way, not prominent enough and not accessible.
A: STC office location has been agreed by the Council and it is fully accessible
Q: You have not consulted with anyone on the designs?
A: A list of consultation discussions over the whole period of the project is available on the STC website
Q: Will there be any disabled parking for the GP surgery?
A: Yes there will be two disabled spaces provided adjacent to the GP surgery, these are in addition to a further two spaces being provided on the Ridgewaye Car Park as well
Q: Parking is inadequate when football clubs are present
A: An additional 40 parking spaces are being provided adjacent to the recreational ground to reduce the parking issues. In addition to these, a further 19 car parking spaces will also be provided via an extension at the Yew Tree Road Car Park.
Q: Will the library have fewer books than before?
A: The library will have just as many books as before
Q: Can we please have another name than the Southborough Hub?
A: It is anticipated that prior to opening a name will be given to the facility
Q: Will the pharmacy be going in to the retail unit?
A: The partners are in negotiation with a number of potential tenants about who goes in to the space. The existing pharmacy in Southborough is not at risk from this development.
Q: Medical centre waiting area is too small.
A: The space being provided meets the NHS requirements
Q: There is no kitchen in the medical centre?
Q: The building will cost Southborough lots of money to run and locals will end up subsidising it. When can we see the numbers?
A: The hub has a number of income streams notably from the GP surgery, retail unit, library and others which seeks to offset the running costs of the facility. The aim will be to ensure that STC are no worse off than they were before. The detailed numbers will be released once all agreements have been signed securing the income as doing so before hand would undermine the councils negotiating position.
Q: Why is there no air conditioning in the building?
A: Tinted glass, air handling units and large ceilings will ensure that air conditioning which is expensive to run and maintain will not be required.
Q: Who will run the centre?
A: The operations of the facility have yet to be agreed but will ultimately lie with Southborough Town Council with input from Kent County Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Q: How much will the Southborough Hub development cost?
A: The total cost of the entire scheme including residential investment is c£30M. The Hub capital build costs are anticipated to be around £10M.
Q: How much did you get from selling the land to Crest Nicholson?
A: The sale value of the land has yet to be finalised as Crest are delivering part of the infrastructure works which will be offset against the land value once completed. Roughly speaking the land sale will pay for two thirds of the Hub buildings with the remainder coming from partners, grants and investment from the NHS.
On November 3, 2018 November 3, 2018 By southboroughnews1 Comment
The latest images for how Southborough's new Hub have been released, just as the national experts on theatre provision called the decision not to include a cafe in the complex "a grave mistake."
The statutory advisory group Theatres Trust said it did not have confidence in the long term viability of the Hub based on the latest plans.
The new images have been on display at Southborough Library over the past week. The old library will be demolished when a new library is built together with a Hall/theatre, meeting rooms and medical centre in the new Hub (shown below).
The view below is from the London Road looking south towards Tunbridge Wells with the new council meeting room overlooking the A26.
The Theatres Trust have written to Kent County Council, who are overseeing the work on the Hub. The Trust said: "We are increasingly concerned that the project is proceeding without a decision on who and how either the Hub as a whole or the theatre component will be operated."
The Theatres Trust letter continued: "This is all the more important as the current proposals indicate that all front of house and back of house support facilities are to be dual use. There needs to be a clear vision about the purpose of this cultural facility and how it will be used to inform the design, layout, access and technical needs and also to ensure that this can operate effectively and serve as a viable and sustainable replacement to the Royal Victoria Hall".
The Trust then says: "We strongly recommend the various parties involved in this project make that decision now and involve an operator in this design phase." The latest ground floor plans are shown below:
The Theatres Trust notes that the planned capacity of the new theatre (shown below) has been reduced from 350 to 250 and it asks that "community groups are involved in this discussion to ensure that the auditorium size…is sufficient to allow them to cover the cost of the productions."
The Trust's bluntest words are over the decision to reduce the costs of building the Hub by axing the original plans for a daytime cafe that could double up as a bar in the evening during theatre intervals. It lists a number of places including Chester which have seen library usage rise strongly thanks to a neighbouring cafe.
The Trust says: "There is no provision except for a coffee machine within the library. We feel that is a grave mistake….A cafe will help provide daytime animation to the building and entice people to spend more time in it….theatres reply on bar income as an important income stream and potentially undermining the viability of the venue."
The Trust expresses concerns that the dual use of dressing rooms as committee rooms will create clashes, but it does welcome the addition of windows into the Hall to make it more attractive for daytime events.
The project team at Kent County Council have indicated they feel the involvement of officials from the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall in the plans means that advice from local experts has already been taken into account.
Further images are shown below showing the library and medical centre looking north from ground level:
From the same point but looking right over the Ridgewaye fields:
This is the inside view of the library:
The First floor plan includes two potential meeting rooms for Southborough Town Council:
This is the pavilion for the soccer club:
Finally, a view from above:


Many dangers associated with smoking, such as heart, lung and respiratory disease, are well-known. But most people are unaware of the ways smoking can harm the day-to-day function of muscles, tissues and bones, and how that could impact their healing from a musculoskeletal injury.
We asked Dr. Chad Zooker, a sports medicine and arthroscopic specialist in our OrthoMaryland care center, to answer common questions about the impact of smoking on the musculoskeletal system, and what smokers should be aware of if they are recovering from an injury or planning for a surgery.
First, can you explain how smoking affects the muscles and musculoskeletal system?
Unfortunately, smoking has a variety of negative impacts on our healing processes, especially the healing of broken bones or surgical sites. For example, a rotator cuff repair performed on a smoker may fail to heal or may tear again after surgery. Across the board, whether it's a simple knee scope or a joint replacement, a smoker's risk of post-surgical infection can be as much as three times the rate of a non-smoker. Here's the good news: Those risk factors start to improve as soon as you quit smoking, or even dial back the amount of smoking. It won't help much if you quit the day before surgery, but quitting even a few weeks beforehand can really reduce your risk factor.
Is smoking cessation often an important part of non-surgical treatment?
Absolutely. Smoking primarily affects your healing by restricting your blood flow, the microcirculation, in a given area. When that happens, the tissues in your body can't keep up with their daily maintenance. So quitting smoking enhances the way your tissues heal naturally. If someone suffers a bone fracture, their bones are less likely to heal completely if they smoke because of this. We encourage patients to quit smoking and give themselves a better chance of successful healing if we're trying to be conservative and heal a bone fracture without the use of plates and screws and surgical techniques.
Why are smokers more prone to osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis describes a condition where the mineral quality of the bones is less than average. Smoking increases that negative balance to make your bones less mineralized and decrease the blood flow to the bone in general. This decreases the body's ability to repair the micro cracks that happen from day to day. Smoking also slows down the production of osteoblast cells. These are the cells responsible for making new bone. And finally, it can cause the body to break down estrogen more quickly, which is a hormone that is important – especially in women – for bone strength and health. As a result of these factors, elderly smokers are especially at risk for breaking bones from falling. One research study found that elderly smokers are around 40 percent more likely to break their hip than others at the same age.
Are smokers more likely to experience muscle injuries or pain due to restricted blood flow?
In general, smokers are more likely to experience sprains, suffer overuse injuries like bursitis and tendonitis or break their bones. Due to the decreased blood flow, the tissue itself – as well as the ligaments and muscles – is more prone to strains. And, smokers also tend to be less active. Unfortunately, being inactive is one of the most dangerous things we can do to our bodies, and so this can also cause injury.
Will you still perform surgery on a patient who smokes?
In general, I won't tell a patient they can't have surgery, but will always make sure they know there is a direct link between their smoking and any increased risk of complication, especially for things like fractures or non-healing rotator cuff repairs. In some situations, if you have a patient with a fracture that won't heal – or maybe they already had a surgical procedure or resulting infection that didn't heal – I put extra emphasis on the need to quit smoking as part of their overall treatment plan.
How do you support patients who are willing to quit smoking?
We have several handouts and resources that we provide to help patients understand their risks and guide them in the smoking cessation process. If they want medication to help with that process, I'll refer them to their primary care doctor for the right prescription.
Dr. Chad Zooker specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery at our OrthoMaryland care center in Baltimore, Lutherville and Owings Mills, Maryland. He earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his residency at Union Memorial Hospital. During his fellowship at the Rothman Institute/Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Zooker served as assistant Orthopaedic team physician for the Eagles, Phillies, indoor football Soul, and St. Joseph's University Hawks.


text:
« A Charter Teacher Writes in Response to Jeff Bryant
Where Does All That Spending on Education Go? »
Candidate Rauner in Illinois Supports Charters & Lower Minimum Wage
January 16, 2014 //
Bruce Rauner is a fabulously wealthy equity investor who is running for Governor of Illinois.
He is also one of the most important financial backers of charter schools in Chicago. He even has a charter school named for him, part of the Noble network of charters.
In his gubernatorial campaign, he recently made headlines when he broke ranks with the other Republican candidates on the issue of the minimum wage. Democratic Governor Pat Quinn has called for an increase in the minimum wage to $10 an hour from its current $8.25 an hour. Four Republican candidates say it should be kept where it is. Rauner proposes to lower the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour to keep Illinois "competitive."
According to this story, Rauner's income in 2012 was $53 million.
"Despite his appearance as an average Joe who stays at cost effective motels and starts his day with Raisin Bran just like everybody else, Rauner need only shake his hammer for an hour to make what minimum wage earners make in a year. Rich Miller at Capitol Fax provides the breakdown:
To put this into a little perspective, somebody earning minimum wage in Illinois today (before any Rauner-enforced pay cut) would have to work 6,424,242 hours to match Rauner's 2012 income of $53 million. That works out to 803,030 days, 160,606 40-hour weeks, or 3,088 years.
Rauner's income averages out to $204K a day for a five-day work week, or $25,550 every hour of an eight-hour day. It would take a minimum wage employee 399 days to earn as much money as Rauner made in a single hour last year. And, again, that's before any pay cut."
To show what an average Joe he is, Rauner should try living on $7.25 an hour for one week, just one week.
I had a personal encounter with Bruce Rauner. Two years ago, I received the Kohl Education Award from Dolores Kohl, the woman who created it, a great philanthropist who cares deeply about the forgotten children and annually honors outstanding teachers. After the awards ceremony, Ms. Kohl held a small dinner at the exclusive Chicago Club. There were two tables, 8 people at each table. I sat across from Bruce and of course, we got into a lively discussion about charter schools, a subject on which he is passionate.
As might be expected, he celebrated their high test scores, and I responded that they get those scores by excluding students with serious disabilities and English language learners, as well as pushing out those whose scores are not good enough. Surprisingly, he didn't disagree. His reaction: so what? "They are not my problem. Charters exist to save those few who can be saved, not to serve all kinds of kids." My response: What should our society do about the kids your charters don't want? His response: I don't know and I don't care. They are not my problem.
This was not a taped conversation. I am paraphrasing. But the gist and the meaning are accurate.
EduShyster wrote about Rauner's charter school–part of the Noble network–here. The Noble network is known for fining parents if their children don't follow the rules.
Oh, and one other interesting story about Bruce Rauner: The Chicago Sun-Times reported that he pulled strings with his friend Superintendent Arne Duncan to get his daughter admitted to Chicago's very selective Walter Payton College Prep school after she was rejected; eighteen months later, Rauner donated $250,000 to the school's private fund. Rauner also gave a handsome gift to the CPS foundation, run by "the school system's top administrators":
Rauner's gift to the Payton Prep Initiative came two months after his foundation gave $500,000 to the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, run by the school system's top administrators. His foundation previously had given money to that organization.
Rauner, a venture capitalist, called Chicago school officials in early 2008. Within days, his daughter was admitted to Payton for the 2008-09 academic year by the school's principal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Categories Chicago, Illinois
Dienne says:
"I sat across from Bruce and of course, we got into a lively discussion about charter schools, a subject on which he is passionate."
Yeah, so passionate he even sent his own kid to one.
Oh, oops, silly me. He actually clouted his kid into the most exclusive selective enrollment public school in Chicago with a simple phone call to the Duncan family. The *Arne* Duncan family, that is. But hey, what else would a good father do for his kid? Otherwise she would have been stuck in that failing cesspool of a public school called New Trier in Winnetka, where she actually lived.
Mimihaha says:
Peyton Prep is not a charter school. It's a magnet. Which his daughter should not have been able to attend, since none of the Rauners are legal residents of Chicago.
Right. That's what I said.
They have so many "homes" that it's debatable where they live.
Or, one resides wherever it is most advantageous.
Remember when there was actually a place called Beyond the Dreams of Avarice?
In a related story —
☞ Manure Beyond the Dreams of Avarice
okeducationtruths says:
Thanks for posting this. On one hand, his view on "other children" is detestable. His candor on the subject is refreshing, however. I wish all the corporate reformers would bare their souls in this manner. Then we wouldn't have to worry about them anymore.
wgersen says:
YIKES! Race to the Bottom for wages… Many Children Left Behind for schools… great candidate!
Marie, retired public school teacher says:
The choice for governor in Illinois is miserable, Rauner or current Governor Quinn. I was shocked when I heard Quinn had chosen Paul Vallas as his running mate. Vallas, past CEO (not Superintendent of Schools) in Chicago, in Philadelphia, in New Orleans, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, was chosen because "of his expertise in finances and education". Mr. Vallas' integrity is highly questionable.
In Chicago he planned to institute a program of rote learning in preschool through third grade even though there was research showing that tby their mid-twenties students in the program had three times the number of felony arrests as the students in different curriulum programs, and the arrests were assault with a deadly weapon.
How do I know this little known fact? Because a colleague and I sent him this information through the professional organization. His response was silence. Instead he had the head of one of his departments send us a letter stating that it was a choice principals had. However, I heard from prinicpals I knew that they were being pressured into initiating it. Mr. Vallas has no integrity.
And the other Republicans who are running for governor? We have heard little about them.
Chiara Duggan says:
It's a problem, all right.
There's a certain crazy logic to just hiring the wealthy person directly (Rauner) rather than re-hiring the politician (Quinn) who is taking orders from the wealthy person.
Cut out the middleman.
Political leaders run a real risk of becoming completely irrelevant. I don't know if they realize this, but it's true.
There isn't a dime's worth of difference between Rauner's education plans and Rahm Emanuel's education reality.
I guess Quinn can hinge an entire campaign on talking about raising the minimum wage, or that seems to be the plan. I just don't think it's enough, personally. As for Vallas, he could be hired by either Quinn or Rauner.
"There isn't a dime's worth of difference between Rauner's education plans and Rahm Emanuel's education reality. "
If I remember correctly, Rahm made a similar comment to Karen Lewis about "those kids" that charters didn't want.
The whole notion of "saving the ones that can be saved" is just racist paternalism.
Gordon Wilder says:
Yes, he has created quite a stir in Illinois. I live in Northwest Indiana and we get the Chicago news. He has been running a LOT of campaign ads for some time. He HAS to have money to run all of them
It is sad to think that so many of these kinds of people with all kinds of money think that because they have money they have acquired wisdom. Being overburdened with humility is not one of the great traits of these kinds of people. Thankfully not all people with accumulated monetary wealth fall into this category but enough do to make things "interesting", interesting as in the Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times.
Joe Nathan says:
Here's a column by a veteran progressive African American educator. He has a few things to say that may interest some readers of this blog:
http://www.insightnews.com/commentary/11765-ethnic-mix-in-schools-not-as-important-as-student-success
A black guy calling for the return of separate but equal. I should take this seriously…why?
No, he's describing what he and many other African Americans have experience over the last 60 years. You may not take him seriously, but a lot of progressive legislators (like the late US Senator Paul Wellstone, D-Minnesota, with whom he worked, have listened to him, and people similar to him.
I'll respond to it, Joe:
"I'm not suggesting that the faculty and administration of schools that serve Black students must be Black. I am saying these folks need to care about their students more than they care about their union. I am saying that the faculty needs to look upon parents as partners and all students as bundles of potential. Too many schools run from the benefit of the adults involved. There needs to be choices, since all students do not flourish in the same environments. Charters, like Higher Ground Academy and Harvest Prep and others are more than just viable alternatives. They are doing a great job. They deserve more financial support. They must flourish or no one will "remember" how to reach our students."
Why is okay and admirable for him to advocate on behalf of the charter schools he lists but not okay for a public school supporter or advocate to do the same thing?
Why is okay and admirable for him to lump any public school supporter under "unions" and assume self-interest?
I'm not in a union nor am I a professional advocate and I support public schools.
It's "unions versus charter school supporters", is the way he set this up. That's not accurate and it's not fair. It's political framing. What about public school parents? Are they all self-interested and suspect too? The only people who escape this "suspected of self interest" charge are charter school promoters? Why? Are they just inherently more pure and child-centered than those venal union members?
Do public schools not "deserve" support? Why not?
First, state legislatures in 42 states regard charters as part of their public education program. All of public education is not controlled by local school boards. In your own state of Ohio, for example, part of public education allows high school students to take courses on college campuses. State (tax) funds help pay costs for students to take courses on college campuses.
Next, its perfectly fine for you and other district advocates to promote those schools. As an advocate of strong public schools, district or charter, I comment frequently. In a free country, we all have that right.
As to your disagreements with Fred Easter – you might want to post comments on the website to share your views.
Joe Nathan, charter schools are not public schools. They receive public money, like Boeing and Princeton. They contract with the government to provide a service. They are rife with fraud, corruption, and malfeasance because of lack of oversight. They are not public schools.
Cosmic Tinker says:
Diane is right and there has long been a model for this in education across the country, which I believe many corporate "reformers" have sought to emulate. Since there is no compulsory education for children from birth to age 5, schools for these ages are primarily private. Charter schools are like those private schools, which receive public funds, including subsidies for PreK and child care. They are government subcontractors and they maintain their status as private enterprises.
teachingeconomist says:
It is good to see Dr. Ravitch equate Princeton to private schools, and Pell grants to be the equivalent of charter school funding. I don't see how folks can take a position in favor of one but against the other.
Reteach 4 America says:
This is about tax funded K12 public schools which are free for all American children to attend, not need based grants to help adults attend college since the US has no free colleges. Your ongoing promotions of charter schools are irritating and have gotten infantile, teachingeconomist. Try growing up and getting a life.
Actually my comments about schools are in support of choice schools. Charter schools are the choice school most commonly argued against here.
It has never been clear to my why giving grants is fine for young children (head start) and older students (all post secondary education), but not primary or secondary students. Why is the age of the average student important in this decision? Does it matter that many who attend college are minors when they start? Does it matter that many who attend high school are adults before they finish? Does it matter that a large number (perhaps the majority) of high school students in my state are not required by law to attend school?
It should be obvious to a college professor, but I will repeat the glaring difference that I already stated: We have only K-12 public schools in this country that are tax payer funded and free for anyone to attend, so grants are provided for students beyond those grades, both younger and older than K-12, since we don't have tax payer funded schools that are free for students those ages to attend, and those funds are based on financial need.
I certainly see that there are differences, but I am unsure why those differences are important for public policy. If there were more expense free institutions like, say, the service academies, would that mean that Pell Grants to attend partially subsidized institutions like mine or even private institutions like Harvard become bad public policy?
Clearly private organizations are capable of producing good educations for K-12 students. Ten percent of students attend private schools, and when examples of outstanding schools are raised here, it is typically private schools that are mentioned first (I think I am the only one to have brought up Thomas Jefferson High in Fairfax, Virginia, for example).
You understand very well. Instead of constantly arguing for policies that promote the diversion of public K12 funds to private profiteers, which is clearly undermining and dismantling K-12 public education across this country, grow up and get a life.
Also, unlike private K12 education, in most locations, private schools for children from birth – 5 must be licensed and they are highly regulated by states and cities. Those programs must meet additional government requirements when they accept public funds, too, such as subsidies for child care, PreK and the federal meal program for at-risk children from low income families.
The federal government has caught on to this and its plans for higher education include increased regulations for schools whose students receive federal financial aid, including private colleges. In private pre-primary education, schools that don't want those increased government regulations won't accept low income children who receive government aid. One should assume that, when the new higher ed regulations kick in, some private colleges will be opting out as well. Thus, there will probably be fewer private options for students in need of financial aid, which includes federal loans, and that will impact those from middle income families as well. Such schools may provide some scholarships, but without the government funding stream, they will no doubt become even more elite than they are today.
This is yet another example of how "reformers" either don't consider the long-term implications of the policies they promote, or they just don't care about the impacts on low and middle income families.
teachingeconomisot says:
It is certainly possible that other colleges will join Grove City and Hillsdale in not accepting any federal funding. I would be surprised if many would because of the number of students they would lose.
The Ivy Leagues use funds from their multi-billion dollar endowments to contribute to student financial aid packages. Consequently, even though the sticker price of those schools is very high, their students actually graduate with less debt than students who've attended schools that are not as costly:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/ivy-league-student-debt_n_3897459.html
Accepting major increases in federal regulations in return for limited federal funds might not be a very worthwhile trade off for them.
There is no real need for an endowment to lower the price you charge individual students, you just charge them less. Universities call it financial aid, but it is known to economists as first degree price discrimination.
But your general point is correct that wealthy schools might prefer to charge students less rather than accept federal financial aid and any strings that are attached. That, however, will not reduce the relatively poor student's access to higher education. It is the institution that refuses federal financial aid and does not lower the price of attending the school that will reduce access, and as a result, have fewer students and less tuition revenue.
I don't know why Ivy Leagues would want to reduce their charges if they can continue to get that money out of high income families and put their own financial aid packages together from their endowments for other "desirable" students.
It may take some time to play out, but I think the federal government's draconian higher ed regulations are giving good reasons to more than just the lunatic fringes for rejecting government intrusion via financial aid. And when schools are not accountable for meeting government non-discrimination requirements, that puts those they deem "undesirable," such as students from under-represented groups, at further risk of exclusion.
Reducing the charge is the "financial aid" for other desirable students. It is called an institutional scholarship. No need to do it for wealthy families. The biggest problem for a price discriminator is to identify who is willing and able to pay the high price and who is not. The universities and colleges have the family tax return, and information about the education levels and job(s) of the parent(s) and that is a help. They don't always get it right, and their mistakes sometimes end up in my classes.
Christine Langhoff says:
"Too many schools run from the benefit of the adults involved."
Like P.S. 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens? Run by a principal from Bloomberg's reformist "Leadership Academy"?
This trope is old and lame. Give me some research that demonstrates its truth about most of our public schools. No, not just about the charter schools ($$$ for CEO's, venture capitalists and rephormy celebs such as PitBull and Eva Moskowitz) you insist are public because they take taxpayers' dollars.
Again, you might want to comment on the website of the person who wrote the column. He has worked with public schools around the US since the 1960's. This includes serving as an admissions officer for Carleton, running an alternative school as part of the Minneapolis Public Schools, and doing other things. He's the one who wrote the column so you might want to comment on the website where the column appears.
Insight News is one of the two African American owned and operated newspapers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Clearly there are many policies that are designed for the convenience of the adults involved instead of the best interests of the children. The simplest example is the starting time for high schools. There is a large volume of research showing that a teenager would be far better off starting school later in the morning. It would not be in the interests of the adults to do this, however, so school starts at 7 or 8 in my district (and perhaps yours).
Actually, we were always told that it would affect athletic practice schedules adversely, not to mention other extracurricular activities to start school later. High school started at shortly after 8 with an early bird class in some subjects. We didn't get out until 3:20(?) or thereabouts, so starting later could really have squeezed schedules. As a teacher and a mother, I know what teenagers were like early in the morning. One of my children's early bird teacher used to make coffee for the kids; the class was close to comatose at 7:30 in the morning.
Stop assuming that it's more convenient for adults to start early than it is for adolescents. Many of us never outgrew that and would prefer a later schedule, too.
I think the adults most in favor of the current schedule are probably the parents of the students, not necessarily the teachers.
The explanation 2old2teach provided fits with my experience and is the most plausible, since secondary schools have traditionally had extracurricular after-school activities that run late, including sports –and that's about students, not parents or teachers.
When I attended my large, overcrowded 3600 student high school, they gave that explanation as well. Due to the overcrowding, before an addition was built, the school staggered student schedules and those like me who weren't involved in after-school activities got to start later. Unfortunately, many of us late starters also got stuck with the early 10:30 am "lunch" period, too. When parents complained, it was explained that the students starting earlier were staying later for extracurriculars like sports and were more in need of lunch at mid-day.
Janna says:
Diane's conversation reminds me of a talk I gave last semester to a group of retired individuals who were attending a weekly Friday Forum at a university. My talk was about global competitiveness and education so I was showing Linda Darling Hammond's work and other citations similar to one of Diane's chapter in Reign of Error.
Afterwards, one gentleman asked me, "Why do we include disabled children and poor children? Don't you believe in Darwin's survival of the fittest?" So I quoted Ghandi (though others have said this) "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." The gentleman said that was silly and not the way our country became great. I explained there were many examples of our country protecting minority rights and taking care of those who were less fortunate. He continued to argue until I stated a little jokingly, "You better hope I am right, because one of the weakest groups in a society is the elderly, and all of us if we live long enough get to be a part of this group." Considering he was about 25 years older than me, he gets to join before I do. He did not respond.
Another discussion I have had before is with people who do not believe that disabilities is a real issue that should be addressed by schools or society. They are often shocked that 25% of the population has disabilities. But then they look relieved when they see that the majority are elderly. Then I clue them in that if they live long enough then 100% have disabilities of one sort or another. Most people do not realize that you either die or have a disability. That the vast majority of people who live past 80 are dealing with mobility issues, vision or hearing problems or at least limitation to their fine motor skills. And when we get over 90 or 100 then it is almost everyone.
So charming Bruce Rauner thinks his money and good fortune means he is better than everyone and is not concerned with those less fortunate. I am sure his money will keep him company when he has to join one of the less fortunate groups . . . unless he dies first.
Charlotte Vrooman says:
Child and parent abuse. Ka-ching!!!
"Joe Nathan
First, state legislatures in 42 states regard charters as part of their public education program. All of public education is not controlled by local school boards. In your own state of Ohio, for example, part of public education allows high school students to take courses on college campuses. State (tax) funds help pay costs for students to take courses on college campuses.Next, its perfectly fine for you and other district advocates to promote those schools. As an advocate of strong public schools, district or charter, I comment frequently. In a free country, we all have that right."
But I expect more than that, Joe. I expect the people I hire to run school systems to advocate on behalf of kids in existing public schools, no matter if they're "reformers" or not, and no matter if a public school system is their personal ideological choice or not.
I expect ed reformers who are state actors to "improve public schools" because that's what they sold to the public. They didn't get hired promising to set up an alternate school system. They were hired to "improve public schools". Have they done that? Are existing public schools stronger in these cities, districts and states they're running? If not, why not?
If this had been sold as "we're going to set up a great new system of charter schools to replace that old system!" I could accept it. But that isn't what the public was sold.
Do ed reformers in government have a duty to serve kids in existing public schools, to support and strengthen those schools, or are we planning on continuing this sole focus on charters and vouchers? Because that's not fair, and it doesn't even make any sense, considering 90% of kids attend public schools.
Chi-Town Res says:
Rauner's admission is very similar to when Rahm Emanuel wrote off 25% of Chicago Public School students and told Karen Lewis they "are never going to be anything, never going to amount to anything and he was never going to throw money at them." http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Rahm-Emanuel-Concerned-About-Three-Fourths-of-School-Children-140617923.html
Rauner's despicable stance on minimum wage can be expected, too, considering his Noble charter schools take in SIX FIGURES IN STUDENT FINES EACH YEAR for behavioral infractions FROM PARENTS IN POVERTY.
Chi-Town Res: re Mayor Emanuel, the gist of what you said was reported on a posting on this blog of 8/1/13. It concerned Karen Lewis, the current head of the Chicago Teachers Union.
"Karen told me that in her first meeting with Rahm Emanuel, he said that 25% of the kids in the Chicago public schools were uneducable. She rightly took offense, and it has been warfare between them ever since."
Link: https://dianeravitch.net/2013/08/01/my-friend-karen-lewis/
I also urge viewers of this thread to click on the link you provide. The money quote:
The two leaders met privately last year ahead of Emanuel's inauguration. They went for dinner and to attend a dance — both are fans of the art form — and to develop a working relationship.
"We were both seeing who the other person was," she said.
Lewis said she got her answer about Emanuel's character rather quickly.
"In that conversation, he did say to me that 25 percent of the students in this city are never going to be anything, never going to amount to anything and he was never going to throw money at them."
She said the comment took her aback, and she looked at him askance.
"Even if you feel that way, you can't say that to me," she said. "And he sort of poo-pooed it and we moved on."
Naturally, Mayor Emanuel denies that he said what he said, and Karen Lewis refuses to let him forget that he said it. Read the full article for more context.
Link: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Rahm-Emanuel-Concerned-About-Three-Fourths-of-School-Children-140617923.html
If only the mayor would lay aside, albeit for just for a moment, his die-hard adherence to Marxist principles:
"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made."
¿Again? Groucho, of course.
Who else?
Dee Dee says:
Hey, he not only buys school leaders he buys politicians too. It still amazes me that this is the type of person we have to chose from for a governor's position. I really don't understand why anyone would vote for this fool.
And remember that Rauner is a Republican and he bought a Democrat. Sounds like Comcast VP David Cohen: . https://dianeravitch.net/2014/01/14/why-philadelphia-cant-afford-to-pay-for-public-education/comment-page-1/
There's a lot of this gong around in a country where there is really just one political party and it represents the plutocrats.
Antony says:
Here's how Rauner's financier crony is spending precious taxpayer education dollars: an up to millions dollar annual lease to a connected church.
http://www.suntimes.com/24960566-761/landlords-for-2-proposed-chicago-charter-schools-have-ties-to-emanuel.html
Rauner Supporter says:
Nobody in Illinois history has given more to help educate disadvantaged kids than Rauner. And where has his wife devoted her life? What a horrendous slander.
Rauner Supporter,
Please identify the slander.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
MST-School of Business
MST-Department of Business Administration
The Impact of the Constituency development Fund Programme on Public Primahy Schools: A Case of Mogotio Constituency.
full text (26.46Mb)
Marigat, Samuel K.
The study assessed the impact of Constituency Development Fund (COF) on educational development in public primary schools in Mogotio Constituency of Rift Valley since 2003. Between 2003 and 2009, a total of Kenya shillings 222,995,600 has been disbursed to Mogotio Constituency. So far, out of the 171 projects undertaken, 108, (representing 63.1 %) are in the education sector. Of the 108 projects, 90 are in public primary schools and the remaining 18 in secondary. CDF has been characterized by mismanagement, embezzlement, political interference, -itteemplete projects and shoddy jobs (Evusa, 2008). Mogotio Constituency may not be immune to these. Eighty schools in Mogotio constituency have received funding-others several times- while 8 have not received a cent since the inception ofthe programme in 2003. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of CDF on educational development of public primary schools since it takes the lion's share of the CDF funds. Specific objectives include: to find out the ext.ent to which CDF has contributed to the provision of physical facilities, to determine how cor has affected enrolment, performance in national exams and to establish the challenges faced in the implementation of the CDF programme in public primary schools. Literature review focused on the overview of the CDF programme in Kenya and the related concepts of decentralization and devolution. Others include: Challenges facing CDF implementation and CDF and Strategic Management. The Descriptive Survey Method using the Purposive Sampling technique was used. Fifty percent of tile 80 public primary schools were targeted for survey. The 42 schools were carefully selected to capture all the varieties of schools in Mogotio in all the 4 divisions: boarding, Jay, rural,urban, over-enrolled and under-enrolled. A census of the 8 schools not funded was done. Thequestionnaire targeting the Headteachers was the primary tool for data collection. Pre-testing wasdone on a few selected respondents in the public primary schools in the neighbouring Eldarna- Ravine Constituency. Once the data was collected, it was edited, coded, and being a descriptive study, measures of central tendency and dispersion was used. Forty two questionnaires, representing a response rate of 84% were received back. The study found out that the enrolment has not changed much with the introduction of COF. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation index between KCPE mean score and CDF is insignificant (p=+0.122). However, CDF seems to have had a major impact in Mogotio Constituency. The correlation index between the CDF and classrooms is quite significant (p=+0.508). The Major complaint with CDF is the inadequate amount disbursed leading to substandard works and stalled projects. There should be capacity building of the Headteachers of the funded schools to equip them with the necessary technical and supervisory skills before projects begin.
http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/7393
MST-Department of Business Administration [1508]


text:
Malzahn: Roc Thomas transfer rumors 'completely false'
AUBURN – Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn was only definite about one question during the Birmingham Bowl media conference Thursday.
In an hour-long media conference at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Malzahn's answers were filled with the inconclusive statements of "I'm not ready to say yet", "I'm not going to talk about" and "we're still working on that". However, when asked directly about the possibility of sophomore tailback Roc Thomas transferring out of the Auburn program, Malzahn gave a short, direct answer.
"That's completely false," Malzahn said.
Malzahn confirmed the Auburn staff has completed the end-of-season meetings with all the scholarship players and said he didn't expect any more player attrition this winter. Malzahn said no player besides backup offensive lineman Will Adamshave told him that he will transfer.
Thomas posted a picture of himself and senior wide receiver Ricardo Louis that said "the end" in the caption. Thomas sent out a frustrated messaged on Twitter Tuesday night that said "I can't even post on (Instagram). I gotta delete it 30 mins later. Oh how we love to assume"
Thomas was named the starting running back for Auburn's season opener against Louisville but suffered an ankle injury in that 31-24 victory and never seemed to regain any momentum to his 2015 season. Thomas never had more than eight carries in any game and finished third on the team behind Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson with 232 yards and one touchdown.
Nothing is wrong with Roc," Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said on Nov. 18. "He was slowed by those injuries, off and on with the foot and those things. When that happened Peyton kind of emerged and then by the time he was getting back, Jovon emerged. It's nothing against Roc, he still has a lot of ability and brings a lot to the table"
Thomas' biggest impact was arguably in the pass game with 200 yards receiving and a touchdown. The 203-pound tailback was named the 2014 Alabama Mr. Football selection and Gatorade Alabama player of the year, rushing for 2,211 yards, 32 TD and averaging 9.8 yards per carry as a senior at Oxford (Ala.) High School.
According to Rivals.com, Thomas was a five-star prospect that was ranked as the nation's second-best running back and in the Top 12 overall recruit.


Overcooking items is not only a waste of food, but it also means it has to be re-cooked, resulting in longer wait times for diners. Undercooking can lead to health code violations and worse, sick customers. But when food preparation is monitored automatically by sensors and alerts your staff when an item is done, you don't have to worry that a dish was pulled off too early or left on too long.
A smart refrigerator can increase efficiency in a number of ways. It can alert you when you are low on a certain ingredient so you'll never have to tell a customer his or her favorite menu item is unavailable. It also monitors temperature so that food doesn't spoil and alerts you to any malfunction in the cooling system. Incredibly, as much as 33 million tons of food are wasted by U.S. restaurants every year, much of it to spoiling—but automation can help you avoid that pitfall.
Leaving lighting systems or HVAC systems active after a restaurant is closed is an enormous financial drain. By regulating these systems with automation rules you can ensure they are switched off when sensors can't detect anyone inside the building. Unregulated temperatures can also lead to food spoilage, so combining this solution with smart refrigeration can severely limit the food you waste.


text: from tests import run_doc_tests

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


A round up of the latest releases by the remarkable Peter Brötzmann, day two of three.
For almost twenty years, Peter Brötzmann and Swedish drummer Peeter Uuskyla have been playing regularly together as a duo and in a trio with Danish bassist Peter Friis Nielsen. Brötzmann's collaborations with drummers are many, but the duo with Uuskyla represents an alternative to those with, say, Hamid Drake or Steve Noble. Uuskyla's style is jagged, full of twists and turns. Brötzmann adapts by harking back to his sound of the 70s and 80s. Straight free jazz, less vibrato and overtones, no pity, sounding angry, brittle and uncompromising. Notwithstanding its coherence, A Crack To Beauty can also seem a little redundant here and there. All in all a good album though.
A Crack To Beauty is available on vinyl in a limited edition of 500.
Holy Drinker contains two tracks from the A Crack to Beauty album, "Holy Drinker" and an excerpt from "Cracked Way Out" (rating see above). It's a 7'inch limited to 150 copies. For die-hard collectors only.
Brötzmann's trio with Borah Bergman and Frode Gjerstad is a recording from the Molde Jazzfestival in 1996 and can be seen as a tribute to the late great New York pianist (the cover shows just Bergman). Brötzmann has released two albums in a similar formation with Bergman and Thomas Borgmann (Ride Into the Blue and Blue Zoo) and with Bergman and Anthony Braxton (Eight by Three), all of them recorded around the same time. Again, he's on tenor, clarinet and tárogató here while Gjerstad can be heard on alto saxophone. The album's interest lies mainly in the contrasting sounds: Bergman emphasizes the extreme registers while the two saxophones dance like hummingbirds around a flower ("Left Hand"). There are also some awesome solo moments where melodic elements shine through ("Left Us"). The album presents Brötzmann as a disciplined team player, and Bergman steers the ship with firm, stoic chords providing a foil for the saxophones. Left is a solid date, with three distinctive stars of the scene.
Left is available on CD.
In contrast to the albums reviewed so far, in the next three (continued in the next installment) Brötzmann is the guest in established formations. His role is to add something different and prompt them into discovering new aural landscapes. Laboratorio Musicale Suono C, a project by Italian musicians Gianni Console (alto, electronics), Giuseppe Tria (drums), Walter di Serio (bass), Donato Console (flute) and Giuseppe Mariani (trumpet), invited the German fire breather to be part of their auditory world, which works quite nicely as the ensemble's music is diverse. The principal goal is a compromise between differences; the band's music incorporates dub reggae, various electronic textures, cool jazz fragments, techno beats, and rock/fusion. Brötzmann's saxophone adds a more natural sound to the rather artificial soundscape, providing a welcome contrast. The tracks, simply called "Decomposition 1 - 6", are good examples of deconstruction and reassembly. Brötzmann's sound is harsh, which fits perfectly with the brutal beats created by the band. Music for a gloomy science fiction movie.
DEComposition is available on CD.
Available via www.instantjazz.com or the label websites. Left can be purchased at downtownmusicgallery.com.
the final disc of your run through is marvellous (I also rate the duet with Uuskyla). Great to here Brotzmann in a different musical environment and Laboratorio offer that in an imaginative and uncompromising manner. I agree that it is the differences between Brotzmann's sound and collective's that creates the musical tension so successfully.
Don't forget to include his brilliant album with Black Bombain, it is one of my faves from this year.
Agreed with Jason, the Black Bombain album is killer.
You can find it in part III.
that reminds me that Brötzmann teamed intensive for about 4 years with the 4-tet Ruf der Heimat (Willi Kellers on drums & Christoph Winckel on bass).
They played, I guess, nearly every place & festival in Europe...but as far as I know the released only 1 record: Machine Kaput...a fabulous classic CD!!


More and more, we find ourselves playing an increasingly large variety of remarkably robust games on our smartphones and tablets. As great as these games have become, touchscreen controls just aren't as good as the more traditional console experience for many of these titles. So, what can you do? Is it worth trading in our old games into services like musicMagpie so we can have some extra money to invest in this new form of mobile gaming?
One solution that you might consider is the Nyko PlayPad, a console-style controller that allows you to "control the future of Android gaming." It's wireless and pairs up with an Android device of your choosing via Bluetooth.
Because it uses Bluetooth, the PlayPad is compatible with just about every reasonably current Android smartphone or tablet. You could use it with your Galaxy Note II, for example, but I find that it is particularly well suited for the larger screens of tablets. This is especially true if you have a tablet stand, making for an impromptu gaming station wherever life may take you. Just make sure you have at least Android 3.0.
Yes, the PlayPad is definitely smaller than an Xbox 360 controller, as shown above. Instead, it's probably closer in scale to an SNES controller. The key difference is that it does take on an almost Xbox 360-like layout. There are dual analog thumbsticks, a direction pad, four face buttons, a "home" button flanked by the start and back buttons, and four shoulder buttons. It should be noted, though, that the analog thumbsticks are closer in feel to the analog "slider" stick found on the Nintendo 3DS than a "real" thumbstick like on the PS3 or Xbox 360.
Like other Nyko products, the build quality of the PlayPad is very good. It has a similar soft touch finish as they have on the Nyko Raven controller.
In addition to the PlayPad itself (which houses a rechargeable internal battery), you also get a hard plastic carrying case, a USB-to-microUSB adapter, a kickstand, and the instruction manual. Having this carrying case is particularly handy, since it means that your controller–including the USB connector and kickstand–can be suitably protected during your travels. Just throw it in your bag and you're ready to game on a moment's notice.
Of course, there is some setup that you'll need to do. This is performed via the free Nyko Playground app, which you can find in the Google Play Store. Through this app, you can create different control profiles for different games, as well as find additional games that are natively compliant with the PlayPad.
For many of these, you may choose to use the HID mode for button mapping, but there is also a "mouse" mouse that provides you with an on-screen pointer, plus an iCade mode for iOS devices. I imagine the experience with the iCade mode is particularly robust and satisfying, given the growing size of that community. You don't need the Playground app, but it can make your gaming setup a little easier.
To test how it feels to play video games with the PlayPad, I tried a handful of games on my Sony Tablet S. One title is a side-scroller called Cordy and it had a pre-installed profile with the Playground app. I also tried it with Sonic CD, which also has a pre-installed profile.
In general, after the initial setup, the experience is very reminiscent of true console gaming. This is fantastic for retro games like Sonic CD where the controls are relatively simple. The buttons were responsive, making for a seamless transition from the native touchscreen controls. However, I did find the setup to be on the finicky side, especially if you're switching between using the Nyko Playground app and using your native Bluetooth manager on your Android device. Because the standards aren't really all that standardized for Android controllers yet (not really the fault of Nyko), it can be a little troublesome switching between games.
Another issue I found was with the "slider" style analog thumbstick. I personally found them to be too stiff for comfort. Also, while the four plastic nubs on top are there for grip (not unlike regular Xbox 360 controllers), I found them to be uncomfortable too. I would have preferred a rounded, textured top like what we get with the Evil Controllers Evil Sticks. This is a matter of personal preference, of course.
But what about games that don't really use console-style controls? It's possible to play these games (and use other apps, for that matter) by flipping the switch over to mouse mode on the PlayPad. There is a simple slider on the back to swap between these modes.
The idea with mouse mode is that you get an on-screen pointer, not unlike what you have on your computer, and pressing the "A" button is just like tapping on that part of the screen. Nyko says this is ideal for games like Angry Birds: Star Wars, but I don't really agree. Let me explain.
First, that thumbstick–as mentioned–is too stiff. Quickly moving from one end of the screen to the other is both too slow and too uncomfortable. It also lacks the same kind of precision that you'd get with the touchscreen or with a "real" mouse. In the context of Angry Birds, for example, I need to not only launch the bird, but I need to tap on a very specific part of the screen at a very specific time to activate that bird's secondary function. Mouse mode just isn't fast or accurate enough for that.
MEGATechie Game On or MEGATechie Game Over?
As far as the hardware is concerned, the Nyko PlayPad is quite good. The quality of materials is top notch and I appreciate the very console-inspired layout. We should expect as much, since other Nyko products like the Power Pak+ for the 3DS, are also well-built. I would have liked the thumbsticks to be far less stiff, though.
In practice, the software side makes this offering less compelling. This isn't necessarily Nyko's fault, as mentioned, simply because of the Android ecosystem and the lack of a true across-the-board standard for Bluetooth controllers. Until that happens, none of these Android controllers will really offer the seamless experience of a standalone console, portable or otherwise. I think this needs to come from Google directly. When it does, Android gaming will be that much better and products like the PlayPad will also be that much better.
The Nyko PlayPad has an MSRP of $39.99, but it can be found online for about $29.84 without too much trouble.


WASHINGTON — The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Modified Loan Application Registers (LARs) data were recently published for approximately 5,400 financial institutions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This is the first year in which additional data reported by certain institutions under the 2015 HMDA rule will be available. The Modified LARs contains loan level information for 2018 on individual HMDA filers, modified to protect privacy. For guidance as to how submitted data is modified to protect privacy, please click here.
Later this year, additional information will be published related to HMDA, including a complete loan level dataset and HMDA aggregate and disclosure reports. These data products will be accompanied by a Data Point article highlighting key trends. The information to be released this year will include certain new data points, which can provide more insights into the mortgage lending practices of institutions. The CFPB anticipates applying particular rigor and analysis to address data anomalies, including in the new data points and describing the context in which the data may be best understood.
The HMDA statute requires that the Modified LARs be available by March 31st. The 2015 HMDA rule eliminated the need for individual financial institutions to make their Modified LARs available to members of the public who may request them. This is the second year that all Modified LARs have been publicly available on ffiec.cfpb.gov. The 2018 HMDA Modified LARs are available here: https://ffiec.cfpb.gov/data-publication/modified-lar.


Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up – it is so nice to see you again Friday! I hope everyone had a wonderful week and an even more wonderful weekend! Happy Valentine's/ Galentine's upcoming week to all! May this weekend be filled with many wonderful memories spent with friends and family. Cheers!


This week's interior is a cozy cabin retreat located in Norway. I love the sheepskins laying around everywhere, it makes the space so warm and inviting, like you could plop down anywhere and read a book and enjoy a tea. The cabin has such a great, rustic feel with all the rough and unfinished wood and different textures mixed throughout. This is definitely a place meant for relaxing, don't you think?


text:
Checking On The Defend Trade Secrets Act
Tags: defend trade secrets act, dtsa, free country ltd v. drennen, state trade secret laws, trade secret & unfair competition
By: Christopher J. Dugger
The Defend Trade Secrets Act ("DTSA") went into effect on May 11, 2016. As the DTSA passes its half-year anniversary, we take a look at DTSA developments through the end of 2016 and what they tell us about the future of the DTSA.
Approximately 20 cases were filed citing to the amended code sections for the DTSA in 2016. The cases were spread across jurisdictions, with the most (3) filed in California. Only one of these cases had terminated by the end of 2016. M.C. Dean, Inc. v. City of Miami Beach, Florida, No. 16-21731-CIV, 2016 WL 4179807, which had been filed in the Southern District of Florida, was dismissed on August 8, 2016 pursuant to a motion to dismiss under 12(b)(6). Recently, Allstate Ins. Co. v. Rote, No. 3:16-CV-01432-HZ, 2016 WL 4191015, which had been pending in the District of Oregon, was dismissed on January 12, 2017, pursuant to a joint proposed stipulation for a permanent injunction. Thus, at the time of posting, 18 of the cases filed in 2016 were still pending.
Most of the DTSA cases that we reviewed alleged violations of both the DTSA and state trade secret laws. However, the courts in each of those decisions only explicitly analyzed the state law claims, generally stating that the two causes of action are parallel to each other. Further, none of the cases have addressed the DTSA's unique whistleblower or seizure provisions. Thus, it appears that the DTSA's impact so far has been in providing access to federal court for plaintiffs.
One of the last DTSA decisions of 2016 came in Free Country Ltd v. Drennen, a case concerning the departure of high level apparel executives to a competitor, pending in the Southern District of New York. Judge Jed S. Rakoff set forth a detailed analysis in a decision granting the plaintiff's renewed motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO). In his decision, Judge Rakoff granted a TRO against defendants using or disseminating the plaintiff's confidential information, but denied the TRO against defendants soliciting plaintiff's customers. Free Country Ltd v. Drennen, 2016 WL 7635516 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 30, 2016).
Defendants Drennen and Wyden had been employees of Free Country, an apparel manufacturer and wholesaler. Drennen was Vice President of Sales. Wyden was Director of Sales for Men's outerwear. In October 2016 both left Free Country to accept jobs with a competitor, defendant Rousso. Prior to their departures, each transferred Free Country's documents to himself. Wyden emailed copies of Free Country's master contact list, four product designs from the 90s, and pricing information to his personal email address. Similarly, Drennen transferred nearly 50,000 files to his personal Dropbox account. Plaintiff discovered these transfers after examining Drennen's work laptop after his departure. Plaintiff immediately issued cease and desist letters, filed this action, and sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
The court followed the familiar pattern to determine if plaintiff was likely to succeed on the merits. It analyzed these alleged misappropriations by first noting that New York's state misappropriation law is very similar to the DTSA. It then performed its analysis based on New York state law. The court first determined that none of defendants' actions warranted an injunction.
For example, the court found that, under New York law, the contact list taken by Wyden was not a trade secret. In order to be a trade secret, the list must contain information "not otherwise readily ascertainable." Id. at *4, quoting N. Atl. Instruments, Inc. v. Haber, 188 F.3d 38, 46 (2d Cir. 1999). In contrast, the list taken by Wyden contained information that was readily ascertainable through Google, Linkedin, calling the companies' general lines, or even by reading Free Country's complaint. Similarly, the pricing information Wyden took was not a trade secret because Free Country's prices were not the result of a secret formula. Instead, the pricing information was created using "basic sourcing information" common in the industry. Id. at *5.
Turning next to Drennen, the court found that the information he copied, taken as a whole, constituted a trade secret. However, a neutral forensic expert had already confirmed that Drennen had deleted all of the information, and the court did not believe that "Drennen could have memorized gigabytes of data concerning Free Country's [business]." Id. at 7. Therefore, Free Country failed to show that Drennen used, or was likely to use, that information for an improper purpose.
Finally, Free Country had not shown "imminent irreparable harm" from Drennen's copying. Free Country had alleged that his copying would result in lost sales. However, those sales would not be negotiated until several months after the hearing. The court believed that Free Country would have sufficient time to determine if Drennen still had confidential information, or renew its request for a preliminary injunction, because the court allowed Free Country's request for expedited discovery.
After deciding not to impose a preliminary injunction limiting the use of the misappropriated information, the court considered Free Country's second request for relief. Free Country sought an order prohibiting Wyden and Drennen from soliciting Free Country's customers. With respect to Wyden, Free County argued that Wyden would share pricing information with Rousso. The court found that New York law allowed a plaintiff to protect such information using a non-compete clause, or through the doctrine of inevitable disclosure. Id. at *5. However, in this case an injunction was not warranted because Free Country did not have a non-compete clause with Wyden, and because there was no evidence Wyden misappropriated any pricing information. (Even if, for the sake of argument, the pricing information was a trade secret that he would inevitably disclose.) Accordingly, the equities did not favor restraining Wyden's employment. The court also found that the balance of the equities supported not preventing Drennen's employment.
Free Country is not atypical among the DTSA cases we reviewed. Plaintiffs use the DTSA as an avenue to gain access to federal court, and a speedy TRO. However, the DTSA has not yet had a significant effect on the body of substantive law of trade secret misappropriation. Interestingly, since the courts are performing their substantive analysis using state laws, there is risk for inconsistencies or contradictions while the body of cases around the DTSA develops. Additionally, it remains to be seen if the new provisions of the DTSA, including the ex parte seizure and whistleblower provisions, will be more impactful.


text:
Q: Display HTML in Python Notebook I have generated an interactive scatter plot using the library scattertext. The scatter plot is saved in HTML file. I want to display it in a .ipynb notebook but it looks awkward.

It should look like this:

Plus Jupyter Lab crashes, some element like save bottom or run bottom become blue.
Here is my code:
#Compute frequency of terms based on label
corpus = st.CorpusFromParsedDocuments(df_parser,category_col='Label', parsed_col='Parsed').build()

#Create Scatter plot in HTML
html = st.produce_scattertext_explorer(corpus,
                                    category='True',
                                    category_name='True Fact Checks',
                                    not_category_name='False Fact Checks',
                                    width_in_pixels=1000,
                                    minimum_term_frequency=5,
                                    transform=st.Scalers.scale,
                                    metadata=df_parser['Author'])

file_name = f'{PATH}Title_scatterplot.html'
open(file_name, 'wb').write(html.encode('utf-8'))

display(HTML(html))

How can I solve this issue? Is there any work around like directly embedding the HTML file in the notebook?

A: You should use display(HTML(html)) for Colab notebooks.
For Jupyter notebooks, write the scatter plot's HTML to a file, and display it as an iframe, using something like:
IFrame(src=<path of html file>, width = 1300, height=700).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


SPOILER: Violet, Klaus and Sunny grew up.
Ever since Netflix dropped the brand new series of A Series Of Unfortunate Events starring Neil Patrick Harris as the despicable Count Olaf, it's all we can think about.
But let's throw it back to 2004 when the epitome of our DVD collection was the original film version of the series, starring Jim Carrey. Remember the three actors who played everyone's favourite orphans? Well, it's been nearly 13 years since the film was released and they're almost unrecognisable now!
Emily was 16 when she took on the role of Violet Baudelaire. Now, she's 28 (suddenly we feel old AF) and has starred in a bunch of movies and TV shows since her appearance in ASOUE. You may have also seen her in Sucker Punch, Pompeii and Legend alongside Tom Hardy. She's just completed filming Golden Exits alongside American Horror Story legend Lily Rabe and continues to maintain a flawless Instagram aesthetic.
Liam was 14 when he was cast as the book-smart Klaus in Lemony Snicket's series. Prior to his role in ASOUE, he also auditioned for the role of Harry Potter - but obviously, lost out to Daniel Radcliffe. He's 27 now and he's still doing his thing. His last movie appearance was in 2015, and he's also been spotted on Law & Order and Mad Men.
Unlike the new series where Sunny is played by one baby actor, Sunny was played by two baby actors in the movie - twins Kara and Shelby. They're 14 now (!!!!!) and have been living the low-key dream ever since their starring role as one of literatures' most iconic babies. Their most recent appearance was on The Kroll Show as themselves.
Oh my god, we feel so old now.


text:
Q: ChallengedUri выдал исключение Основной код:
var request = (HttpWebRequest)WebRequest.Create("https://tele2.ru/api/subscribers/номер_телефона/rests");//status=connected
request.CookieContainer = new CookieContainer();
request.CookieContainer.Add(new Uri("https://login.tele2.ru/ssotele2/wap/auth"), cook);
request.Accept = "text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,image/webp,image/apng,*/*;q=0.8";
request.UserAgent = "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.3; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/69.0.3497.100 Safari/537.36";
request.ContentType = "application/json;charset=utf-8";
request.KeepAlive = true;
request.AutomaticDecompression = DecompressionMethods.GZip | DecompressionMethods.Deflate;
request.Headers.Add("DNT", "1");
request.Method = "GET";
request.AllowAutoRedirect = false;

using (var response = (HttpWebResponse)await request.GetResponseAsync())
{
    using (var read = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream()))
    {
        var result = await read.ReadToEndAsync();
    }
}

Исключение выдает здесь:
using (var response = (HttpWebResponse)await request.GetResponseAsync())

Вопрос: из-за чего это возникает? Как исправить? Подскажите, пожалуйста.
Убрал блок try{} catch{}:


text:
Coronavirus: Five-point plan for 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day in England by end of April
The health secretary sets out a strategy to achieve a "significant" increase in testing following criticism of the government.
Alan McGuinness
Political reporter @Alan_McGuinness
Friday 3 April 2020 04:58, UK
Hancock: All frontline NHS staff to be tested by end of month
The government has unveiled a five-point coronavirus action plan in a bid to achieve 100,000 COVID-19 tests per day in England by the end of April.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock set out the strategy to achieve a "significant" increase in testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, at the government's daily news conference.
It comes as new figures from NHS England showed the first death of someone diagnosed with the virus actually happened in February - one week before previously thought.
The statistics also revealed more insight into the age profile of the patients with 52% of those who have died were aged over 80.
Testing is vital in tracking the virus and giving the UK hope of ending the current lockdown, but opposition parties and some experts expressed scepticism and called for more detail.
'Footballers should take a pay cut'
The "five-pillar" plan involves:
Swab testing at Public Health England and NHS laboratories;
Using commercial partners, including universities and private businesses, to establish more swab testing;
Introducing antibody blood tests to determine whether people have had COVID-19;
Surveillance to determine the rate of infection and how it is spreading across the country;
Building an "at-scale" diagnostics industry to reach 100,000 tests by the end of April.
The promise comes after it was confirmed that another 569 people have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus - bringing the total number of deaths to 2,921.
More from Covid-19
COVID-19: Australians angry as elite tennis players arrive in country despite travel restrictions
COVID-19: School closures could wipe out a decade of progress for less privileged pupils
COVID-19: 'Patients are younger and sicker than in the first wave'
COVID-19: BAME groups far less likely to take coronavirus vaccine, SAGE finds
COVID-19: How did Ireland find itself with the highest infection rate in the world?
Mr Hancock said the 100,000 figure included both the general public and NHS staff.
And it would be a combination of antigen tests (which shows whether somebody currently has the virus) and antibody tests (which shows if someone has had COVID-19).
Mr Hancock also said the government remained committed to eventually carrying out 250,000 tests a day, something Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken of achieving in the past.
The government is working with nine potential providers who are working to produce an antibody test, while it is also looking at whether people could be given immunity certificates to prove they are able to resume their normal activities.
Lockdown: The dos and don'ts
But the health secretary said he would only approve tests that worked, declaring: "Approving tests that don't work is dangerous and I will not do it."
Mr Hancock also vowed that health service staff will be able to get tested for the coronavirus "absolutely before the end of the month".
He added: "With 5,000 tested since [staff testing] started at the weekend we've clearly made significant progress."
It also announced at the news conference that £13.4bn in historical NHS debt would be written off to help hospital trusts fight the virus.
Mr Hancock, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week and came out of self-isolation on Thursday, said he returned "redoubled in my determination to fight this virus with everything I've got".
How to contain a global pandemic
"And we will strain every sinew to defeat it once and for all," he said.
"And I will stop at nothing to make sure that frontline staff have the right equipment so that they are safe and can have the confidence they need to do their jobs."
The ambitious pledge follows criticism of government efforts to ramp up testing and disquiet that the UK is lagging behind other countries.
Mr Hancock addressed this criticism during the news conference.
He said the fact that the UK lacked a large diagnostics industry meant it was having to start from a "lower base" than the likes of Germany, which is carrying out 70,000 tests a day.
PM admits more coronavirus tests needed
The health secretary said a country-wide shortage of swabs had been "resolved", but there was still a "global challenge" around sourcing the reagent chemicals needed for the tests.
Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the commitment from the government was "welcome", but added: "NHS staff will recall that only a few weeks ago Boris Johnson was promising 250,000 [tests] a day.
"We look forward to seeing the details of how this commitment will be delivered, especially for NHS and care staff for whom this is now a pressing and urgent priority."
Sir Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, said ministers had been "disgracefully slow" on increasing testing.
"Moves now to increase testing are welcome, and we hope they succeed, but NHS workers' confidence has been shaken after previous promises from the secretary of state that have not been delivered," he added.
Corbyn criticises COVID-19 testing
Keith Plumb, a chemical engineer on the board of trustees at the Institution of Chemical Engineers, said reaching 100,000 daily tests would be a "herculean task".
"Setting up what appears to be effectively a new industry within the UK in such a short amount of time doesn't really seem to be that practical," he told Sky News.
"I'm not saying we can't do it, but it does seem to be quite difficult."
Downing Street said earlier that it had finally reached its target of 10,000 daily tests on Tuesday, with 10,412 carried out on that day in NHS and Public Health England laboratories.
Mr Johnson's official spokesman said 2,800 members of NHS staff have been tested at drive-through facilities, although "significant numbers" had also been tested at NHS and PHE labs.
UK COVID-19 deaths up by 569 to 2,921
Speaking during a conference call with journalists earlier on Thursday, the spokesman added: "We acknowledge that more needs to be done in relation to testing.
"We need to be testing more people and we need to be making progress very quickly."
An increase in testing of NHS staff would potentially enable thousands of them who are self-isolating, because they or their family members have shown symptoms, to return to work once they know they are clear of the disease.
Mr Hancock said the latest figures showed that 5.7% of doctors were currently absent because of COVID-19.
In the wake of complaints about a shortage of swabs, the NHS has developed a new specification for the swabs to carry out the tests which has been validated and shared with potential manufacturers.
A grateful nation applauds its health workers
A large-scale testing laboratory opened in Milton Keynes last week, with two more opening next week in Cheshire and Glasgow to cover the north of England and Scotland.
Downing Street said on Thursday that Mr Johnson was still showing coronavirus symptoms, having tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
The PM's seven days of self-isolation end on Friday, but it is unclear whether he plans to leave the Downing Street flat where he has been staying.
He appeared briefly on the steps of Number 10 to join in the second Clap for our Carers event on Thursday, the first time he has been seen in person since announcing his coronavirus diagnosis.


ART. I. Ringing Fruit Trees; with a notice of some Results following its application to the Pear Tree, discovered by M. Van Mons, of Brussels.
Botanic Garden and Nurseries, Newburgh, N. Y.
RINGING (incision annulaire, of the French,) is a well known operation, occasionally performed upon fruit trees, both with a view of inducing fruitfulness, and of hastening the maturation of fruits. The practice is one of very ancient origin, but was revived among the moderns by Du Hamel, who published the result of his very successful experiments in the Memoire de l'Academie des Sciences, for 1778. Since that period it has been in a considerable degree resorted to in England, to force the production of blossom buds on sterile fruit trees, and to hasten the period of ripening of fruit already formed, as well as to increase its size. When practised for the former purpose, the operation must be performed in the spring; but when it is intended that the effect shall be produced upon the fruit of the current year's growth, the incision should be made when the branch is in flower.
Ringing is easily performed at the proper season, when the vegetable juices are in full flow, by passing a knife completely around the branch twice, and taking out a complete circle of outer and inner bark, not, however, larger (from a half to three quarters of an inch,) than the tree can easily replace in two or three years, as otherwise it would lead to the premature death of the branch. Although much practised by amateurs, ringing has scarcely proceeded upon any certain rules until of late, and we have recently been highly pleased to learn, by the Annals of the Paris Horticultural Society, that the eminent pomologist of Brussels, Professor Van Mons, has turned his attention to this subject, and, as usual, has added very considerably to our stock of information respecting its effects.
Professor Van Mons has confined his experiments chiefly to the pear, and announces that he has discovered two new consequences attending the application of ringing upon this tree, the chief of which is the great stimulus given to the growth of the branch operated upon, accelerating its development, both in length and circumference, as well as a more rapid subdivision of branches.
M. Van Mons, in selecting branches for ringing, gives the preference to those situated upon middle-sized pyramid or quenouille formed trees, and, also, to such as are at least equal in size to those surrounding them. The incision is made upon a branch about two inches in diameter, in order that it may be furnished with the greater number of buds. The year following, when the wound has partially healed, the branch will be found to have acquired double the size of its neighbors, the next year triple, the succeeding one quadruple—and so on in succession, until the branch, operated upon, by its greater rapidity of growth, eventually takes the place of the stem, when the influence of the operation gradually ceases. The fourth season the cicatrice is so complete, that the wound is only to be distinguished by a few wrinkles. It is necessary, in order that the branch operated upon may experience this superior acceleration of growth, that it should be one of the principal shoots which has a direction nearly perpendicular, or but little oblique. Those which have an upright growth, parallel to the main stem, have of course an advantage over the oblique ones. Ringing does not appear to produce any acceleration of growth in the vegetation of horizontal shoots, the vigor remaining the same in the untouched branches as in that operated upon. This latter lengthens slowly, with but little extension of branches, but all of its lateral buds come into a fruiting state. The wound is longer in healing in the horizontal branches, and the crops are as liable to fail as upon the other branches; whilst upon the perpendicular branches operated upon, M. Van Mons has never witnessed a complete failure of fruit, even in the worst and most unfavorable seasons.
At the fourth, or, at the latest, the fifth year, the branches upon which the incision has been made, and which have been subject to the artificial acceleration of growth, resume again that state of natural luxuriance common to the rest of the tree, while they are not more liable to blight or disease than the other branches. At the same time when the branches operated upon return to a natural state, those which are below the incision come into bearing; but the fruit produced by the latter is yet small, harsh, and greatly inferior,—two years after it will probably equal in quality that borne by the branches subjected to the incision.
The second effect which M. Van Mons found to follow from the process of ringing the pear tree, and which he considers not the less valuable from the number of applications which, may be made of it, is the power which it has of preserving the vitality and vigor of the branches operated upon, when, from any sudden disease, as the blight, &c., the tree is liable to perish. M. Van !Ions has witnessed a number of illustrations of this interesting fact in one of his own gardens, where the soil, of only about a foot in depth, rests upon a stratum of ochreous, gravelly sand, which has never been moved. The roots of the trees no sooner penetrate this layer of sand, than the extremities of the branches are attacked by blight; but the branches on which ringing has been practised entirely escape, as if this operation had established a direct relation between them and those roots not in contact with the layer of sand.
M. Van Mons, from his experiments in ringing different species of fruit trees, has been led to the conclusion that it is calculated to be of much more benefit to the pear than any other fruit. On stone fruits, as the peach, &c., the wound caused by the necessary removal of the bark, gives rise to an exudation of gum, and the branch, in consequence, after, dies. From the comparative facility, and abundance, too, with which these trees produce flower-buds and fruit, the effects which result from annular incision are scarcely desirable. On the apple it appears to cause the production of a great number of shoots between the wound and the trunk of the tree, without scarcely at all increasing the fruitfulness of the branch.
The full effect of this operation, M. Van Mons believes, can only be experienced by grafted varieties, or trees reared from stocks which have already borne fruit. It appears to have but little or no effect in forcing seedlings into a bearing state, before the period of fruitfulness fixed by nature. Recent experiments have also proved, that the annular incision, practised upon large roots, influences the tree much more uniformly, and its effects are much more durable, than when performed upon the branches.—A.J.D.
We commend the above article, by our correspondent, to the attention of our readers. The operation of ringing fruit trees is but little performed in this country, and the principle upon which it is practised not generally understood. It may be, however, very beneficially made use of to bring into a fruiting state trees, particularly pears, which ordinarily would not for a very long period produce fruit, without this operation was performed either upon the roots or the branches. The French amateurs and gardeners, who are au fait in every thing connected with the subject, practice the ringing of their fruit trees to a great extent.—Cond.