text:
For those of us who have been writing critically about John McCain over the years, keeping tabs on the 2008 presidential campaign through the media is a bit like getting your war news via Saddam Hussein's old information minister: The street names may be right, but the big picture looks funny.
"No other modern politician has received as much favorable press as John McCain has in the past decade," write (plainly irritated) David Brock and Paul Waldman in "Free Ride: John McCain and the Media." "The rules are simply different for McCain."
Boy, are they. Though he flip-flops and prevaricates like any politician, McCain all but has the phrase "straight talker" tattooed on his skull-plate. A lifetime Beltway insider and third-generation naval officer with an heiress wife and an heiress mother is still referred to, without irony, as a "Man of the People." And though his heavily interventionist governing philosophy, both at home and abroad, is spelled out in his five easy-to-find books, he continues to receive mash notes from newspapers like the Des Moines Register for being a man who, because "he knows war," would be "reluctant to start one."
Such funhouse-mirror distortions are more than just giggle-worthy. Partly because of his reliably sympathetic portrayal in the media, McCain – who was advocating pre-emptive war against "rogue states" four years before it ever occurred to George W. Bush – nonetheless won by ratios of two to one among GOP primary voters who described themselves as "anti-war."
So if nothing else, "Free Ride" comes as a necessary corrective. Lefty partisan co-authors Brock and Waldman work for Media Matters for America, a "progressive" nonprofit "dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media." Therein lies the book's strength and weakness. There's nothing like a bit of the old political bile – especially when it pays! – to focus the mind and support staff on cataloguing the sins of the other team while bashing the media for failing to notice.
Thus the authors upbraid Beltway journalists for failing to recognize that "McCain has an act, and not having an act is his act." When the candidate bashed President Bush's Iraq policy in 2007, ageless Washington Post columnist David Broder pronounced that "candor, even belatedly, becomes him." When his campaign stumbled over immigration that spring, Newsweek was there to solemnly proclaim that "it may be because he is not, at heart, a politician. He is a warrior."
How did a Republican end up charming the liberal press? Brock and Waldman rightly point out three reasons: McCain's heroic war record, his "anti-politician" support for campaign finance reform and the copious amounts of access he has consciously given national reporters for the past two decades. "The McCain-Feingold bill in particular," they write, "became a vessel into which the press could pour all of its disgust with the practice of politics."
But media criticism works best when new interpretive light is shined on the subject being mis-covered. And it's here that the authors' partisan agenda and ideology get the worst of them.
They argue, improbably, that McCain has always been a "staunch" and "reliable conservative," in the tradition of Barry Goldwater. In fact, McCain's famous regulatory zeal on the Senate Commerce Committee – meddling into the affairs of amateur athletes, Hollywood marketers and tobacco companies – has been the opposite of Goldwater's principled libertarianism, and indeed the younger maverick never did understand why the man he replaced in the Senate failed to fully embrace him.
And what about McCain's furious tack to the left from 1999 to 2003, when he opposed Bush tax cuts on class warfare grounds, co-sponsored a patients' bill of rights, and voted to federalize airport security, all while trumpeting the career of trust-buster Teddy Roosevelt and flirting openly with defecting to the Democrats? "A few well-chosen breaks," they claim. Well OK then.
Lacking any ability or willingness to analyze McCain's peculiar strain of National Greatness Conservatism, Brock and Waldman fill the pages by exaggerating the extent to which McCain is handled with kid gloves (The New York Times in particular has been disproving that notion almost every day); complaining about journalists referencing his Vietnam imprisonment, and relying on such crude measuring sticks as the voting scorecards of activist groups.
The results correct some myths, but erect new ones in their place.
Matt Welch, editor-in-chief of Reason magazine, is the author of "McCain: The Myth of a Maverick."
Free Ride: John McCain and the Media
by David Brock and Paul Waldman
Anchor Books


text:
Ken Pazder of Pazder Law Corporation joins Matt and Adam for a look into the process, as well as the positives and negatives, of buying a foreclosure.
Vancouver Real Estate News, Market Updates, Insider Tips, Stats, & Analysis
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Episode Summary
About Ken:
Ken is a lawyer in Vancouver. His practice has been around for 25 years and is largely involved in real estate. They are approaching their 100,000th transaction this year.
On what a court-ordered sale is and how it happens:
There are many types under different acts, but the foreclosure is the most relevant for this discussion. A foreclosure occurs when you sign a mortgage and can't make the payment. At a certain point, usually two to three months, the lender's lawyer accelerates the mortgage (i.e. the whole amount) if you aren't making payments. They apply to the BC Supreme Court for a foreclosure order, which can take six to 12 months if you have equity in your home or about three to six months if you don't (this is the case with most foreclosures).
On the process to buy a property under a court-ordered sale:
The court will grant an order for conduct of sale. This is when the lender is allowed to list the property on MLS and put it on the market, like any other property. Once the lender's lawyer gets a reasonable offer, they apply to the court to accept that offer.
On how a "reasonable price" is determined in Vancouver and whether buyers have a real opportunity:
They don't. The courts supervise foreclosures in BC and Alberta, so the property must sell at the market value and no lower. An appraisal is made, which is about what the property will sell for. There are no deals to be had. Plus, there are very high risks on foreclosure properties. The biggest is the first bidder can make it whatever they want under various conditions, if accepted. The lawyer may agree but then say when the offer goes to court, it must be subject-free. The issue is, the court is a public forum and other potential buyers may show up to bid. Just because someone makes an offer doesn't mean the court will accept it, regardless of it being close to appraised value. There is no advantage to being the first offer, other than the fact that you can hope nobody else shows up to court. But in today's market, there are usually four to six other bidders. To make it an equal playing field, the court has the additional bidders make their offers in private, so they don't get an advantage by knowing the original offer. In the case of a tie, those bidders would be sent out of the room again to make a new offer.
On getting the property as-is and where-is:
This is another risk. Foreclosure lawyers will prepare a six or seven-page schedule to the standard offer of purchase and sale, which addresses every liability imaginable. The property could be in any shape, such as contaminated, and there is no warranty. The lists are onerous. Most people do not read the lists and end up quite disappointed.
On if the original owner doesn't leave:
The bank's lawyer will get a "writ of possession", which can take a couple of days, and send a sheriff out to forcibly remove the person from the property. So, buyers need to consider that they may not get to take possession on the sale date and that the previous owner or tenant could be trashing the property or removing things prior to the deal closing (such as cabinets or appliances).
On ways to mitigate risks:
The only way you should consider a foreclosure property, unless you're only buying for land value, is if the property is already secured by the bank. If a previous owner or tenant was forcibly removed, a property manager would have taken over and secured the property—only they will have the keys and you will be assured the state of the property remains the same as when you made the offer.
On if there's potential to purchase the property back from the court, if you are the original owner:
Yes, you have the chance to do so until a third-party offer is accepted. It's unlikely though, as the reason properties foreclose is because the owner cannot pay off their mortgage, which is worth more than the property itself.
On how effective our model is with dealing with foreclosures:
We have one of the best models for consumers (the person being foreclosed). Courts bend over backwards to give people a break where possible, to redeem the property. If there is some equity in the property, there's generally a six-month redemption period where the court grants a foreclosure order and puts it on hold while the owner finds a buyer or financing. It could be more efficient, but the lawyers are pretty good at their job. Fees run at about $6,000-7,000, which is very cheap.
Ken's nightmare story:
A woman bought a foreclosure property a couple of years ago and her realtor did not know it wasn't secured by the lender. When she took possession, there was nothing left—floorboards, cabinets, fixtures, and toilets were all removed. The place was completely gutted. So, rather than the $10,000-15,000 renovation she'd planned, the entire property was a write-off.
To reach Ken:
Visit www.pazderlaw.com, call 604-682-1509, or email email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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BBDO strengthens its C-suite
A big focus for the shop today is content and data, with changes being made to drive that.
A couple of appointments were made in the upper ranks of BBDO this week.
The first of two promotions went to Paul Reilly, who has been named COO.
Formerly holding the title of EVP, executive managing director at the agency, Reilly will add the role of overseeing day-to-day operations, according to a release. An area of operational focus for Reilly will be the agency's new Flare department, which involves in-house video production and post-production. He has been with the agency for the past 11 years, with a total of 20-plus years, working at shops like Arnold Worldwide and Vickers & Benson.
Rosie Gentile was also promoted to the role of SVP connections strategy, data and insights, from her former VP, integrated strategy and insights position at Proximity (which was absorbed by BBDO late last year) since she joined the shop in 2013.
According to the release, Gentile's new role "recognizes the central part that connections strategy and data intelligence now play in BBDO's content creation." In her past 20 years in the biz, she has worked at various traditional and digital agencies, from Cossette to BIMM, as well as client-side at brands such as Visa and BMO.
"Over the past year, we've made a number of moves to keep us at the front of the ever-evolving changes taking place in our industry. For example, we've added capabilities in video content and data-driven strategy. Paul and Rosie are key leaders who have been helping drive that change,"said Dom Caruso, president and CEO at BBDO Canada.


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Last year's Spectrobes on DS sold around a million copies, but I have heard tell that critics found it lacking in substance a bit. From what I saw at Disney Interactive's E3 booth, though, they've fleshed things out.
For monster-collector nerds like me, it's exciting to know that Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals has doubled the number of Spectrobes you can unearth through touch-screen archaeological digs, and it looks like they've expanded upon the battle system, too.
So how does the new Spectrobes stack up?
Hori Split Pad Pro
Comfortable gaming
Not only is it much larger and ergonomic than the Joy-Cons, but it also comes with a proper D-Pad, back buttons, and a Turbo mode. Your hands deserve a properly sized controller for your Nintendo Switch.
It's no Pokemon, but it looks cute and complex enough to possibly be fun. You play as either Jeena or Rallen, interplanetary police officers, and as you traverse the story you unearth fossils that you can take back to your ship to make into creatures. Each one has a child form, an adult form and an evolved form, and, paging through the scrapbook of character designs, I was thoroughly impressed.
That level of detail, though, doesn't translate so well to the full 3D graphics on the DS. The 3D adds depth, but looks a little bit crude. Not that that's necessarily a deal-breaker — after all, no one ever called Pokemon graphically sophisticated, and it thrives on gameplay.
When you get a fossil, you actually use the DS' microphone to wake it up — you need to pitch your voice exactly the right way, and certain variations in how you speak can affect what color affinity your new Spectrobe will have (red, green and blue in Spectrobes work the same way element types in Pokemon do). This has the potential to make me feel pretty silly — I generally feel dumb making noise at a video game machine — but I bet kids would love it.
You can take two Spectrobes adventuring with you at a time; one follows you like a pet or "helper," and the other one handles the combat, which you engage by approaching ominous-looking funnel clouds. The color surrounding the cloud tells you what element you should get ready to face.
When they're not with you, Spectrobes "live" in one of many little environment screens you can access from your ship; there you can check on them and feed them, which helps them get ready to evolve. Spectrobes will do better in a screen that suits their elemental affinity.
The game was developed by Japanese developer Jupiter Corp., and as such retains a lot of JRPG aesthetic that should help it appeal to traditional monster-hunter fans.


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Group Booking Terms and Conditions
Because you are making a Group Booking, there are additional Terms and Conditions that apply. Please read them and click 'I Accept' below to continue with your booking
General Group Booking Terms
By making a group reservation through Hostelworld.com you agree to the following terms and conditions as set by Hostelworld.com and as set by the hostel in question.
- In order to make a group reservation on Hostelworld.com it is necessary to pay a deposit. The balance is due directly to the hostel according to their payment conditions.
- The booking deposit is non-refundable.
- Please note that any cancellations must be notified directly to the hostel at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled arrival date, unless otherwise stated in the hostel's conditions.
- Hostelworld.com are not responsible for changes or amendments to your reservation once it has been processed. All correspondence with regard to changes to your booking need to be dealt with directly with the hostel.
- Cancellations for reservations must be made directly with the hostel and must conform with the individual hostels cancellation policy (see below)
- It is your responsibility to pay the balance of your accommodation cost to the hostel in accordance with their payment conditions (see below). Failure to do so may result in your reservation being cancelled by the hostel.
- Individual hostels may have special booking conditions relating to group stays, please read the hostel booking conditions carefully before making your reservation.
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The remainder of the amount due will be charged to your credit card on arrival. Should numbers or room selection change, the per person deposit times the number of people who actually travelled will be deducted from the total accommodation charge levvied by the hostel.
Cancellation / No Show & Reduction in Numbers Policy
Only Non refundable group bookings will be accepted
The following group types are not accepted by this hostel: Junior / Primary School, Stag/Hen/Bachelor Party If you have misrepresented the type of group you are booking for, your booking may be cancelled by the hostel."
Any cancellations resulting from agreement to these terms and conditions under false pretences will result in loss of deposit.
Du må godta vilkårene og betingelsene før vi kan bekrefte bestillingen.
Beskrivelse av overnattingssted
The rooms are constructed in real Kyiv metro cars that were especially transported and transformed.
Each room represents a well-known unique metro station from around the world. Interesting facts and cool details can be found on the walls for you to read before turning in for the night.
The Metro ideally combines reasonably priced shared accommodation, comfort and unusual concept that will have your imagination going wild even before you have unpacked your bags.
Metro Hostel Policies and Conditions:
Cancellation policy: 24h before arrival.
The property may pre-authoris your card to secure your booking.
Check in from 14:00 to 03:00 .
Check out before 12:00 .
Reception 24/7
Payment upon arrival by credit cards, debit cards or cash.
Taxes not included - occupancy tax 41.73 UAH per person per night
Breakfast not included - 165 UAH per person per day.
No curfew.
Non smoking.
No pets permitted.
The maximum number of nights permitted per stay is 14. Vis husregler
- Gratis Bykart
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text: Disney to Develop Humanoid Robots 印刷用画面を開く Posted June 14, 2017 Category: Technology/Innovations Listening Unlocking Word Meanings Read the following words/expressions found in today's article. deformable / dɪˈfɔrm ə bəl / (adj) – can be changed in form Example: The robot has deformable arms and legs. feasibility / ˌfi zəˈbɪl ɪ ti / (n) – the state or possibility of something being achievedExample: We are still confirming the feasibility of creating a new product. autonomously / ɔˈtɒn ə məsli / (adv) – with the ability to act or operate independently Example: New devices can operate autonomously. inevitable / ɪnˈɛvɪtəbəl / (adj) – certain to happenExample: Human interaction is inevitable. irreparable / ɪˈrɛp ər ə bəl / (adj) – can no longer be fixedExample: The technician said my laptop is irreparable. Article Read the text below. Disney has applied for a patent to develop robots that can interact with humans. Because these robots will mostly be interacting with children, they are designed to be soft and deformable. Nevertheless, a strong built-in material, which will function as a support, will be integrated into the robots for safety purposes. The images included in the application show resemblance to Baymax, a character from the movie Big Hero 6. However, Disney did not confirm if the robot is patterned to a specific character. The project's feasibility remains up for confirmation. Also, Disney has yet to confirm if it will introduce these humanoid robots in its theme parks. Jon Snoddy, Disney's senior vice president for research and development, believes that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are essential in the business. He added that the robots would eventually need to learn how the human world operates. However, no confirmation was made if the robots are going to be controlled by humans or if they will operate autonomously. Various industries such as healthcare and retail have used robots to improve the services they provide to their clients. Dr. Julie Carpenter, an expert in human-robot social interaction, pointed out that emotional attachment is inevitable. However, it has advantages and disadvantages. Emotional attachment would mean trust and confidence both in the robot and the service offered by a company. On the other hand, a person who has become too attached could feel terrible loss when the robot malfunctions and becomes irreparable. Viewpoint Discussion Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. Discussion A • Do you think developing a robot for physical human interaction is a good idea? Why or why not? • How do you think parents and children will react to this invention? Discussion B • In your opinion, is it possible to get emotionally attached to a human-like robot? Why or why not? • Do you think robots can be trusted? Why or why not?


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Will Ongkowidjaja ('07) is the outgoing president of the UCLA Anderson Indonesia alumni chapter, which he founded with the express intention of building the UCLA Anderson brand and network in Indonesia. With a background in management consulting and investment banking, he is also a co-founder and managing partner of Alpha JWC Ventures, an institutional and independent venture capital firm with an Indonesia focus, and a contributor to Forbes Indonesia. He talks here about his distinctly international journey to where he is today — and reflects on the spirit of shared success within his global Anderson network.
Q: You graduated from UCLA Anderson in 2007 and established the Indonesia alumni chapter in 2012. How did your group evolve?
Our journey toward building UCLA Anderson's Indonesia alumni chapter started naturally. I link it to what is unique about UCLA Anderson — its people. In my view, UCLA Anderson alums are top-notch people that are down-to-earth and uniquely collegial.
When I moved to Jakarta in 2008 to join McKinsey & Company, I found a good group of UCLA Anderson alumni. From our initial casual gathering, we thought it would make sense to try creating an annual admission information session for potential MBA applicants as a way to promote UCLA Anderson and, in addition, have another reason for us alumni to get together. We started small. We contacted the UCLA Anderson admissions office to send us brochures, and we decided to hold the very first session at a restaurant owned by a fellow UCLA Anderson alumnus, Harsono Tjandra ('09) — with a couple of us personally splitting the cost of the event. Despite not having a formal alumni chapter, and with no financial support from the school, to us, this was just the right thing to do.
Fortunately, our first admission information session went well. We felt encouraged by our progress, and more important, we had fun holding the event. We continued to hold an information session each year and, in 2011, we inquired at the Anderson alumni office about setting up a formal alumni chapter. In 2012 we received the approval for our alumni chapter, and I was honored and humbled to be elected as the first chapter president by my fellow Anderson alumni.
We definitely have come a long way since then. Since our humble beginnings holding a small and informal information session in a restaurant, the number of attendees has steadily increased each year, with over 60 last year. Our events are now held at the offices of leading corporations linked to UCLA alumni, such as Accenture, Bank Mandiri (Indonesia's largest state-owned bank) and Standard Chartered Bank. We have also adopted a structured approach in marketing our admission information session, including targeting selected local and international corporations in Indonesia. We utilize social media, such as our very own UCLA Anderson Indonesia alumni chapter Facebook page, thanks to David Setiawan ('13), who not only created this page but also actively maintains it.
Q: Aside from being elected by your peers, what made you want to lead the chapter?
To me, this is a way to give back to UCLA Anderson and to play an active role in building UCLA Anderson's future in Indonesia. I believe having this initiative brings us Anderson alumni in Indonesia closer together. We shared a common purpose driven by our love for our alma mater.
Q: How many alumni belong to the regular group and how active are they? What are some of the events or initiatives you've organized?
We now have approximately 30 alumni in our chapter, with about one-third considered active. We hold three key events each year: the admission information session, a welcoming event for new students admitted to UCLA Anderson and a welcoming event for Anderson graduates or summer interns returning to Indonesia.
Q: You're also a managing partner at your own venture capital firm, Alpha JWC Ventures. How does founding and managing a company compare with founding and managing a networking group like the alumni chapter?
The key element of founding and managing any organization is having the right people on the team, as people are the heart and soul of the organization. However, founding and managing an alumni chapter presented one fundamental difference: In an alumni chapter, no one is getting any monetary remuneration! This makes an obvious difference in how the team can be motivated and rewarded.
Each of the alumni in the Indonesia chapter is a very busy person, and he or she is participating because of passion. I would like to reemphasize UCLA Anderson's collegial culture, which I believe is a key factor that drives our group's tangible efforts to work hand in hand to build our Indonesia alumni chapter.
Q: Where did you grow up and what were the circumstances to launch you on such an international educational and professional journey?
I spent my childhood in Jakarta, Indonesia, and am the first in my family to go to college. Although my parents have been able to attain great success without the privilege of a college education, they believe in the importance of education and they wanted me to master the English language. When I was 11 years old, I was sent to a boarding school in Singapore. It was not easy leaving home at such a young age but, looking back, I have to admit that my growing up years in Singapore shaped me into the independent and emotionally strong person that I am today. After spending eight years in Singapore, I moved to the United States for college.
Q: What were you doing before you went to business school in 2005?
I worked in advertising and market research at Millward Brown (WPP Group) in Sydney, Australia, where I advised brand managers of blue-chip consumer product companies such as Danone, Unilever and Goodman Fielder on their marketing strategy. My role involved leading cross-functional teams, structuring and guiding analyses, managing day-to-day client relationships, and presenting recommendations to senior management.
Q: When you started your MBA, did you have in mind then that you'd found a company one day? What experiences along the way influenced you to do that, versus continuing to work for large firms?
I did have in mind that I might become an entrepreneur one day; however, I did not know what kind of business I would launch. After my MBA I continued to gain experiences that I believed would best develop my skill set and professional development. This includes working as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, followed by working as a director with UBS Investment Bank, where I advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt capital raising.
The decision to start a company is not an easy one, particularly as one's career progresses and opportunities arise each year. The natural tendency is to settle into a career as one gets comfortable. I am very fortunate to have my parents, who are entrepreneurs as role models, and also to have found the activities that I am good at and have enjoyed doing during the course of my 10-year professional career.
At the beginning of 2015 I decided to start Alpha JWC Ventures, an independent and institutional venture capital firm, with two very experienced partners — one of whom, Jefrey Joe ('12), is a fellow UCLA Anderson alumnus. So far, my journey as an entrepreneur has been a very fulfilling one. I can confidently say that this is the most interesting thing I have done in my life, as I feel I am making tremendous impact on people's lives and the society we live in.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges to doing business across borders? Can you share an example?
Among the biggest challenges of doing business across borders is to develop an in-depth local knowledge and to have relevant local relationships, including finding a business partner you can trust. This is so much more critical in emerging markets like Indonesia, and it is exactly the value-proposition of Alpha JWC Ventures. Our approach is to be a value-added partner to companies that we invest in. Our mandate is to invest in early to growth stage technology companies both in Indonesia as well as anywhere outside of Indonesia, but Indonesia needs to be part of the immediate business plan, so we help companies to enter Indonesia successfully.
An example of a company that we worked with is Funding Societies, Southeast Asia's leading peer-to-peer lending company. When we invested, Funding Societies was already one of the leading players in Singapore, but the company had yet to enter Indonesia. We invested in the company alongside a well-known strategic investor and we supported them in key areas such as market entry strategy, working with regulators and revenue generation opportunities. Funding Societies have now successfully entered the Indonesia market under the brand name of Modalku, which means "My Capital," and they are recognized as the pioneer player.
Q: What's next for the UCLA Anderson Indonesia alumni chapter?
From my perspective, one of the most important criteria of a good leader is not just about achieving targets, but also formulating and executing a clear succession plan. I am proud to say that we have a strong team in place now in our Indonesia alumni chapter, and we have successfully implemented our handover and succession planning plan. After serving as president for two terms, it is time for me to pass the baton to the next generation of UCLA Anderson leaders, and I shall take a step back into a president emeritus role. We have elected our new chapter president, Adityo Kusumo ('14), who shall start his term in the middle of this year. I am highly confident that with the foundation that we have laid, the UCLA Anderson alumni network in Indonesia will continue to strengthen.
This June watch for Will Ongkowidjaja's column in the print edition of Forbes Indonesia, when he asks, "Can FinTech Help to Achieve Financial Inclusion in Indonesia?"


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Washington, D.C.—Education, energy, the sharing economy, transportation, the federal budget and health care are just a few of the topics on the agenda next week at the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) 2015 Capitol Forum, Dec. 8-11 in Washington, D.C.
Hundreds of state legislators and legislative staff from around the nation will gather to examine issues important to state leaders. Lawmakers will also meet with their congressional delegations to discuss a variety of issues including long-term funding of transportation, reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and e-fairness legislation.
"This year's NCSL Capitol Forum is bringing together legislators, legislative leaders and some of the nation's top experts to discuss the latest topics affecting states today," said Utah Senator Curt Bramble, president of NCSL.
Following are some of the featured sessions. All times are Eastern:
A complete list of this year's speakers can be found on our website along with the full agenda. All meetings held in conjunction with NCSL's Forum are open to the press. Registration is required but free to credentialed members of the media. On-site registration for media is available at the Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Rd., NW, Washington, D.C. Please review NCSL's media policy before registering.


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South Branch Schoolhouse
By 1872 the South Branch School - located in Branchburg Township, but also serving students across the river in Hillsborough - was in poor condition. Years of inadequate state and local funding, and moderate tuition fees, led to no money being left for repairs. In 1868, for instance, the school received $22.80 from the state, $161.21 from the township, and $146 in tuition. To put that in perspective, the teacher salary for that year was $500 - leaving a deficit of $169.99 before any other expenses!
|The South Branch Schoolhouse in 2013
In 1871, the Free School Act allowed for greater distribution of state aid based on population. Of the 96 school-aged children in the district that year, 76 were enrolled at some point during the eleven month term, with the average attendance for the 50-seat classroom being 32. In 1872, despite an increase in the school-aged population to 108, average attendance dropped to just 28.
|The South Branch Schoolhouse, Branchburg Township, postcard circa 1907
Construction began on the current schoolhouse in the spring of 1873. The lot was purchased for $1000, and $3700 was raised in taxes to cover building costs. Many of the progressive elements of school design circulating in 1873 were fully endorsed by the State Superintendent of Education Ellis Apgar, and were incorporated into the new school. High ceilings, adequate light, heat and ventilation, and a floor plan where students faced a windowless wall were all recommended by Apgar and used in the design of the South Branch School.
|Ellis Apgar, NJ State Superintendent of Education in the 1870s
He also recommended a room size of about 24 or 25 feet square, which could seat at least 50 students (the maximum he felt could be supervised by one teacher), a raised platform at one end if the classroom were to be used for assemblies, and of course a bell, Here's what Apgar had to say about furnishings in the 1874 Annual Report of the Department of Education:
Every school should be well furnished. Everything added to make the school room comfortable, convenient, and attractive, facilitates the work of education. A teacher cannot be expected to do good work without the proper tools. The desks furnished the children should be of the most approved style; they should have folding seats, so as to allow of freedom of motion in marching, calisthenics, and general exercises. Settees placed in front of the teacher's desk are convenient for recitation purposes. The teacher's desk should be neat and substantial, having at least six drawers in it. There should be three or four chairs, a thermometer, an eight day clock, a small globe, a call bell, and other conveniences for teaching.
|Students at the South Branch Schoolhouse in 1924
Enrollment in the South Branch district peaked at 95 in 1875 and then began declining along with average attendance. The school remained active until Branchburg built a consolidated elementary school in 1950 - the same year Hillsborough opened their consolidated school on the corner of Amwell Road and Route 206.
|South Branch Schoolhouse interior circa 2005
In 1963, the Branchburg Board of Education sold the schoolhouse to Branchburg Township, and work was begun on a restoration project to coincide with the township's tercentenary.
|1964 plaque on the front of the building
The 1964 restoration was timely, as a classroom shortage required the school to be reopened for one year in 1965 for sixth-graders.
|South Branch Schoolhouse interior circa 2005
The school was placed on the state and national registers of historic places in 2005, and has subsequently undergone additional restoration. And, of course, you wouldn't expect me to finish this post without reminding you that the South Branch Schoolhouse's most famous student was Hillsborough's own Anna Case. The opera singer attended the school in the late 1890s.
|South Branch School's most famous pupil, opera singer Anna Case, as a teenager circa 1905.


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Midual presents its idea of a luxury motorcycle, French style
At the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, French brand Midual staged the world premiere of its two Midual Type 1 prototypes. After over a decade of absence, the manufacturer announced that it will produce 35 customizable motorcycles in this range starting in 2016, each priced from €140,000 (around $186,000) for customers throughout Europe.
Intended to represent the brand's vision for a French take on the luxury motorcycle, the two prototypes presented in California have undergone a year of road tests in France.
The Midual Type 1 is based on a 106hp, 1000cc flat-twin engine with a transversal crankshaft tilted downward at a 25° angle. The model stands out in particular for its low level of longitudinal inertia and relatively low center of gravity, which should ensure optimal handling and more exciting rides.
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High-end materials are clearly one of the model's defining characteristics: the chassis consists of a solid, handcrafted aluminum alloy frame, the instrument panel is finished with hand-polished soft Australian oak, and the knee grips are covered in rare saddle-stitched leather.
On the whole, the Midual Type 1 is built to be customized, and the frame will be available in a wide range of different finishes (brushed, satin polished, etc.). Midual will also offer over 45 different types of leather, to be paired with the 25 colors available for various details and parts, even down to certain engine components. Finally, each motorcycle will feature its owner's name on a plaque on top of the frame.
Founded in 1992, the French brand Midual has always positioned itself as a manufacturer of ultra high-end motorcycles. The brand's first prototype, the Midual Roadster 900, was presented at the Paris Motorcycle Show in 1999 but never made it to the production stage.
Midual's announcement echoes the recent, high-profile comeback of another French motorcycle maker: Voxan. At the 2013 Paris Motorcycle Show, the brand returned to the scene with the debut of the Wattman, touted as the world's most powerful all-electric motorcycle.
More information can be found at Midual's official website: midual.com


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The MMDA has released another bulletin advising motorists about the never-ending road reblocking work that falls on this weekend. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will undertake road reblocking and repairs starting 11pm tonight (Sept. 21) until September 24, in the following areas:
1) C5 Road before Tiendesitas, approaching C5 Ortigas Flyover
2) C5 Road (Gap 3) Chainage 52--Chainage 420 (1st lane)
3) EDSA infront of Francesca Tower to after Sct. Borromeo (3rd lane from the center island)
4) EDSA beside Trinoma Mall (6th lane from center island)
5) A.H Lacson Ave. cor. Aragon St., and cor. P. Florentino St.
6) Batasan Road before Everlasting and fronting QCPU (2nd lane)
7) C5 Road before MRT Avenue (3rd lane)
All affected roads will be fully passable by 5am on Monday, September 24.
Motorists are advised to avoid the said areas and use alternate routes instead.
Meanwhile, Manila Water Co. Inc., will undertake pavement restoration (one lane closure) on 10pm of September 21 to 4am of September 24 and 10pm of September 28 to 4am of October 1 along the following portions of C-5 Road Southbound:
1) After Lanuza Ave. (Landmark: opposite of Shell Gas Station from North Bound)
2) After Lanuza Ave. (Landmark: Pedestrian over after Shell Gas Station)


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No Sparring has received confirmation that we'll be in attendance for two of the biggest fights to close out 2015; Takashi Uchiyama vs Oliver Flores and Naoya Inoue vs Warlito Parrenas. This is a big achievement for the young blog as very few western media outlets will be present.
Uchiyama will be starring in his 5th New Years Eve fight in Tokyo- something of a new local boxing tradition. New Years is one of the biggest holidays in Japan and putting a major championship fight on this day makes all too much sense. Cinco de Mayo and the Mexican Independence Day for their part are two of the biggest boxing days in Mexico and America.
Bob Arum has already stated that Uchiyama would face the winner of the recent Walters-Sosa clash that ended in a majority draw. There's little doubt Walters, the former featherweight champion, will get the nod to go up against Uchiyama, most likely airing on HBO in the first quarter of 2016.
Uchiyama is coming off an elbow surgery to repair torn cartilage. He's currently No Sparring's number one ranked super featherweight.
Naoya Inoue for his part is gaining a lot of attention in only 8 career professional fights, with 7 coming by KO. Boxing fans are already clamoring for a matchup between him and Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, seen by many as the new pound for pound champion in Floyd Mayweather's absence.
With such an exciting set of championship fights to close out 2015, stay tuned to No Sparring for your most important boxing updates. Don't forget to LIKE our FB page and follow us on twitter @NoSparring


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Table of Content
1 The laws of algebra
2 The Cartesian Plane
3 Trigonometry
4 Euclidean Geometry
5 Spherical Trigonometry
6 Solving Equations and Factorizing Polynomials
7 Functions
8 Limits
9 Algebra
10 Differential Calculus
This book is intended primarily for university students. In particular, this book can be
used as a textbook or an additional reference book by university students attending a course
in algebra, trigonometry, geometry or calculus.
As a calculus textbook, this book is unique in that it contains all the mathematics (and
more) that students will need to know in order to be successful in a calculus course. For
this reason, the book will be invaluable for students who may need to fill in some "gaps" in
their mathematical background, or review certain topics, while attending a university level
calculus course. (Calculus professors will normally not have the time to do this!)
It is the author's opinion that mathematics can be appreciated and enjoyed more when
it is presented as a story. Hence there is a strong emphasis in this book on the unfolding
and development of the concepts, and there are comments throughout the book to help
the reader trace the historical development of mathematics. Of course, students also need
to develop their skills. For this reason there are many exercises included at the ends of
the chapters and students are encouraged to do all of the exercises as an essential part
of working through the book. The answers for many of the exercises can be found at the
author's website http://www.tamug.edu/gacd/fs/math02.html
The range of topics (geometry, trigonometry, algebra and calculus) in this book is another
unique aspect of the book that educators should find refreshing. What's more, there
are many attempts in the book to demonstrate the interplay and interconnectedness of
these topics. This is a most rewarding aspect of learning mathematics, which university
students are typically not exposed to because of the way current–day university courses
are organized.
The four chapters that make up the introduction to algebra are Chapter 1, Chapter 2,
Chapter 6 and Chapter 9. They can be read independently of the other chapters. Chapter 3
(trigonometry) and Chapter 5 (spherical trigonometry) can also be read independently (after
the first two chapters have been read, if needed). Chapter 4 (Euclidean Geometry) does not
depend on any of the other chapters except for some symbolism from Chapter 1. Chapter 7,
which is an introduction to functions, can be regarded as the beginning of calculus because
the operations of calculus are applied to functions. The concepts and methods relating
to the calculation of limits, which underlie the operations of calculus, are introduced in
Chapter 8. Chapter 10 is an introduction to differential calculus. The definition of the
derivative, the rules for computing derivatives and the formulas for derivatives of all the
standard types of function (i.e. polynomial, rational, trigonometric, root, absolute value,
exponential and logarithmic functions) are introduced in this chapter.
Chapter 9, the final chapter on algebra, is placed after Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 because
the material in these two chapters can be learned without a high level of algebraic skill. Because
many students have difficulties with algebra when they enroll in a university calculus
course, a first semester course in calculus may well consist of Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter
9 and Chapter 10. It should also be mentioned that Chapter 9 includes an introduction
to partial fractions, a topic that is usually not taught in a course in algebra.
In the following two paragraphs, some comments are made regarding the presentation
of the material in Chapter 8 and Chapter 10.
It is usual, in most calculus textbooks, for the rules of limits to be taken as the starting
point for the evaluation of limits. In Chapter 8, the slightly different approach to evaluating
limits is to take as a fact the continuity of all of the standard functions and any algebraic
combinations and compositions of the standard functions. (This fact can be proved using
methods of real analysis, which is too advanced for this book.) This means that a limit to
any point in the domain of any of these functions can be evaluated simply by making a
substitution into the function (i.e. by an application of the equation of continuity). The rules
of limits are introduced, instead, at the end of the chapter, where they are used to evaluate
certain limits involving trigonometric functions.
In Chapter 10, the derivative of a function is first defined in the special case that the
graph of the function passes through the origin, and the tangent line (through the origin)
is defined in a precise way as the best approximating line to the graph near the origin.
Then, in the general case, the derivative can be defined at any point in the domain of a
function by means of an appropriate horizontal and vertical shift of the function so that
the derivative can be computed using the formula for the derivative in the special case
(at the origin). With this approach to the definition of the derivative, it is possible for
students to focus on the special case where the formula for the derivative is the simplest
possible. Furthermore, the concept of a tangent line as a "best approximating line" is a
much more flexible concept than the concept of the tangent line as a limit of secant lines,
as it is sometimes defined. Consequently, students should be able to identify a tangent
line more easily in certain situations. For example, they shouldn't have too much difficulty
identifying the x-axis as the tangent line to the graph of x = y^3 at the origin. The definition
of the derivative in the special case (of a graph passing through the origin) also makes it
possible to derive the formula for the chain rule in the same special case, in which it is much
easier to understand why the slope of the tangent line (through the origin) to the graph of
a composition of functions is the product of the slopes of the tangent lines (through the
origin) to the graphs of each of the functions.
One of the innovative aspects of this book is the introduction of vectors at an early
stage (in Chapter 2). The concept of a vector is very natural and vectors have very practical
applications; however, the notation and terminology relating to vectors may be confusing
at first. The hope is that a gradual introduction to vectors will give students more time to
become comfortable with vectors. (Vectors are typically introduced for the first time in a
course in vector calculus, causing great alarm to the students!)
Another surprise in this book is the inclusion of Chapter 5 on spherical trigonometry.
Much of the material in this chapter was obtained from the book "Plane and Spherical
Trigonometry'', by K. Nielsen and J. Vanlonkhuyzen, first published in 1944, which is one of
a few texts available on this topic. The purpose of including a chapter on spherical trigonometry
in this book is to give students the opportunity to acquire a deeper understanding of
trigonometry and also to give students some exposure to non–Euclidean geometry. Chapter
5 also has a section on vectors in three dimensions, including the definition of the cross
product of vectors, which students normally do not see until they take a course in vector
calculus. Spherical trigonometry is also interesting from a historical point of view: many
of the formulas relating to spherical trigonometry were discovered by Arabic and Iranian
mathematicians from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries.
A few comments regarding format, notation and mathematical language are in order:
new terminology is presented for the first time in italics, the most important definitions are
presented in highlighted definition boxes, statements that make important clarifications
are presented in highlighted remark boxes, and theorems, corollaries and lemmas are presented
in highlighted boxes. Examples are also presented in highlighted boxes in order
to distinguish them from the main text. A theorem is a general mathematical statement
which is proved on the basis of known mathematical truths. A corollary is a consequence
or a special case of a theorem that is important enough to be stated separately from the
theorem. Lemmas are statements that can be used as stepping stones toward the proofs of
more general statements (theorems). Throughout this book, the bi-conditional phrase "if,
and only if" is used when two statements are implied by each other.
This book can serve as a textbook, a reference book or a book that can be read for fun!
Please tell your friends about it, if you like it!
The author should be contacted regarding any errors in the book so that corrections can
be made for future editions. Suggestions for future editions will also be welcome.


text: Making Room: Leave the Light On December 13, 2020 Rev. Chad Gilbertson 2 Comments Light is used throughout the scriptures as an image of hope and healing. Light, we know, can help us to notice those who are invisible to others. How can we "leave the light on" for those who feel lost in the darkness?


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The 15-year-old victim in the highly-publicized St. Paul's School sexual assault case is suing the school.
The girl's parents, identified in the complaint only as John and Jane Doe, say their daughter was sexually assaulted "as a direct result" of the school's "fostering, permitting and condoning a tradition of ritualized statutory rape" known to students as the "Senior Salute." They added that the school failed to meet "its most basic obligations to protect the children entrusted to its care."
Owen Labrie, now 20, was convicted of sexual assaulting a 15-year-old classmate at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, in May of 2014, when he was 18 years old. Prosecutors tied the assault to the "Senior Salute," a competition in which seniors at the school sought to have sex with underclassmen. He was sentenced to a year behind bars and probation.
Labrie is free on bail pending an appeal. He is required to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and stay at his mother's house from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.
During his trial, Labrie testified that he and the girl had consensual sexual contact, but he denied having sexual intercourse with her.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Concord, alleges that St. Paul's School ignored "specific warnings" of the dangers to freshmen girls during the spring of 2014.
Email communications from school employees during that time allegedly detailed numerous instances of senior males "seeking out" underage girls in an "inappropriate manner" in or near the girls' dorms.
New Hampshire
The latest news from around the state
The complaint says that the victim and her family have been "devastated" by the school's failure to protect the girl from the "known risk" that she would be sexually harassed and assaulted.
She has reportedly suffered severe emotional distress and her sense of privacy has been "shattered."


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SISTAR tries out self-defense weaponry
Popular girl group SISTAR recently filmed a public service announcement and review video regarding self-defense weaponry.
In the video, the girls tested out a variety of different tools and weapons that were designed to help with self-defense, including pepper spray, whistle devices, and the infamous cat self-defense keychain. After trying each of the items on a watermelon, the SISTAR members rated them on a scale of five stars, based on practicality and effectiveness.
Showing off their signature competitive strength, the girls did a lot of damage on several watermelons with their weapons. But in the end, SISTAR chose the taser as their highest-rated weapon, giving it a perfect five-star rating.
SISTAR recently made a comeback with their new song "I Like That." Check out the music video below:


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Another gorgeous picture for the Fictioneers this week, today's courtesy of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Thanks to Madison Woods as usual for hosting.
My response is a bit of a mystery even to me, this week. I'll leave you to decide where the characters are going and what it all means. As ever, I'd love to hear your thoughts and critique is always welcome.
A Mother's Legacy
She knew the path so much better than I, yet I was leading. She had guided me all my life, but now I was ahead.
She was staring into the trees, and I noticed what had caught her attention – a spider's web, vividly picked out of the darkness by the crystal moonlight. And in the very centre, a tight ball of inhabitants, ready to hatch.
"She's given them everything," she said, unable to look away. "Will it be enough, my children?"
I tucked an arm underneath hers, blinking away tears, "Of course, Mum. Let's get you to the shore now."


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Info from steelbookreview.com:
Sam Raimi's 1981 horror classic The Evil Dead is getting an identical SteelBook treatment in the United States and Canada. The pre-order art looks derived from a folded, vintage poster which would be a fitting look given the film's cult status. Release is set for May 20th.
Pre-orders are live at Amazon US and Best Buy with Amazon Canada and FutureShop coming online in the near future.
Pre-order Links: Amazon US, Best Buy
Release Dates: May 20th


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See New Pics And Chilling Clip From JFK Assassination Drama Parkland
One upcoming awards-bait picture We Got This Covered has been bringing you extensive coverage of is Parkland, a star-studded drama about the immediate aftermath of the JFK assassination.
The film, set largely at the Parkland hospital where the President was rushed after the fatal shot, features a pretty incredible line-up of stars, led by Zac Efron (of High School Musical and The Paperboy fame) as the young Dr. Charles Carrico, who is suddenly confronted with the grievously wounded John F. Kennedy and, in the below clip, doesn't take it too well.
Though brief, this scene from the film is incredibly tense, focusing on Efron's horrified reaction to Kennedy's prone body and the chaos throughout the hospital. Mark Duplass shows up as a secret service agent, and Marcia Gay Harden also appears as Head Nurse Doris Nelson. If this clip is an indicator of the amount of suspense director Peter Landesman will be able to wring out of Parkland's gritty screenplay and talented cast, we're in for a potent white-knuckler of a drama.
Check it out below:
Parkland features a remarkable supporting cast of acclaimed actors, including Paul Giamatti as the unwitting creator of the now-infamous Zapruder film, Billy Bob Thornton as a furious secret service agent, James Badge Dale as the gunman's stunned younger brother, Jacki Weaver as his distraught mother and Colin Hanks as a Parkland doctor.
By keeping the scale of the film small and focusing on players not typically highlighted in the media surrounding the assassination, it appears that Landesman has succeeded in casting a new light on a dark and well-known chapter in American history. Though we'll have to wait until the film hits theaters to know for sure, there's every indication that Parkland will be a total cinematic knock-out. Our very own Matt Joseph had very kind things to say about it in his review.
A host of new pictures from the movie have also recently surfaced on the web, showcasing the film's awe-inspiring cast, and you can check them all out right here. Viewer discretion is advised, as some pictures do contain graphic content that may be disturbing to younger viewers:
Are you excited to see a new take on the Kennedy assassination, without any of the Oliver Stone conspiracy nonsense that plagued his JFK, a film smaller in scale with something new to say? I know I am – let me know your thoughts on Parkland in the comments section.
Parkland opens in theaters on October 4th.


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It was a fine rainy day
Children were seen playing in clay
Throwing mud on each other
About their clothes, they never bother
Clouds had overcast the sky
Happily, the children cried
"Come Rain, Come Rain!!
Play with us this funny game!!"
Birds were flying here and there
Everybody's happiness they too shared
With little flowers, trees were decorated
Many beautiful scenes nature had created
I, too, wanted to go and play
But, it wasn't possible, to my dismay
For, I was a grown up dame
So, I couldn't do the same