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Research support centre
Cedefop's 'Research Support Centre' activity is set up to respond to the information needs of the Centre's core business activities. It contributes to Cedefop's target of being acknowledged as an authoritative source of information on VET, skills and competences and ensures that all projects receive relevant and reliable information.
Cedefop's bibliographical database VET-Bib offers to stakeholders a selective collection of European vocational education and training literature.
It is developed together with Cedefop's decentralised network ReferNet – European network of reference and expertise, which comprises representatives from the 28 Member States, candidate countries, plus Iceland and Norway.
It includes also key EU documents consulted and needed by Cedefop experts and projects and selected bibliographical information from Cedefop' projects.
To explore scientific information and open access journals from major sources, selected by Cedefop.
Online VET bibliographies
Thematic VET bibliographies provide access to documents on key VET topics such as skill needs, lifelong learning, guidance, qualifications and much more, in line with Cedefop's work programme.
The main source is our bibliographic database VET-Bib, a tool built for supporting evidenced based policy making in the field of VET in Europe.
Α. Project related bibliographies
- eKnowVET (2005-2010) - VET systems in the EU
- Europass bibliography (2012-)
- ReferNet contributions
- Skills Panorama bibliography (2010-)
B. Thematic bibliographies
- Labour market integration of migrants bibliography (2014-)
- Lifelong learning and vocational guidance bibliography (2010-)
- Apprenticeships in work based learning bibliography (2010-)
- Matching skills and jobs bibliography
- People and skills bibliography
- Learning Outcomes (2010-)
- Early leaving from VET (2010-)
C. Sector related bibliographies
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing bibliography
- Electricity industry bibliography
- Manufacturing industry bibliography
- Construction industry bibliography
- Business services bibliography
- Financial services bibliography
- Arts bibliography
- Information and communication bibliography
- Wholesale trade bibliography
- Transport bibliography
- Education bibliography
- Social work bibliography
- Public administration bibliography
- Social security bibliography
- Social work bibliography
- Health bibliography
Researchers may be interested in the archives of Cedefop. They are deposited with the European University Institute in Florence and include the documents produced by the Head of Administration and Management Board the years 1975 to 1984. For more information on the Cedefop collection, please see the European University Institute.


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Mavericks Can Be Fountain of Youth for Old Macs
Oct 29, 2013 5:00 AM PT
OS X Mavericks is available from Apple for free.
Mavericks makes a number of changes in power management that improve battery life substantially -- even on my old 2009 13-inch MacBook Air.
It has reduced demands on a system's central processing unit through something called "Timer Coalescing." The technology squeezes more time out of a battery charge by grouping together low-level operations -- transitions and interrupts, for instance -- to allow the CPU to enter a low-power state more often. It can reduce CPU activity by as much as 72 percent, according to Apple.
Another major juice saver in Mavericks is App Nap. What that does is slow down inactive apps when they're not working in the foreground. It reduces demands on a processor even more and decreases energy consumption by as much as 23 percent.
Mavericks also adds some additional information under the power icon on the OS X toolbar that I found very handy. Along with the an estimate of the battery life remaining in your current charge, it tells you what apps are using significant energy on your system.
Doubled My Battery Life
While those claims sound good, I've always been a doubting Thomas when it comes to battery-life claims. Claims can be fudged or can be the fruit of lab conditions that don't emulate the real world.
That's not the case with Mavericks. Amazingly, I easily doubled the battery life on my MacBook Air. From averaging two to two-and-a-half hours, my battery life was suddenly in the four-to-five hour range.
On the memory side of the ledger, Mavericks has a new memory compressing scheme that allows a Mac to get more out of its existing RAM. Since I have only 2 GB of memory in my MacBook Air, this feature is heaven-sent. It works like this: As a Mac approaches its memory limits, Mavericks compresses memory being used by idle programs to provide more RAM for your system. That allows you to get more bang for the memory you have in your Mac.
An added benefit of memory compression is it cuts down on disk access. That's because the more tasks you can perform in memory, the fewer you'll have to swap off to disk. All of that is supposed to improve your system's performance. If it did, I didn't notice it.
Tabbed Finding
In recent times, Apple has been trying to offer alternatives to doing grunt work in the Finder. After all, folders and files are so 20th century. However, Mavericks has added some Finder features that can make working with folders and files more efficient.
Both tabs and tags are now part of the Finder's repertoire. Tabs were originally introduced in browsers to cut down on screen clutter. They've proven to be useful in other kinds of software, too, such as email programs.
In Mavericks, Finder windows can be set up as tabs. For example, you could set up tabs for a Dropbox disk, your Desktop and Documents folder. Then you could jump to those areas with a click without hunting for them in the Finder's sidebar.
Tabs make moving files easier, too. You can drag items from an open Finder window to a tab, and the item will be moved to the tabbed location.
In a browser, you can choose to have new windows opened automatically in a tab; not so in the Finder -- you have to create them manually. That's done by selecting the item you want to be the focus of the tab and using Command-T or Command-double click.
Finding With Tags
Just as tabs make navigating in the Finder easier, tags can make finding items snappier. Tags are words used to identify an item. "St. Bart, Caribbean, vacation, 1995," for example, might be tags used to identify pictures from a memorable event from your past.
Tags can be added to files and folders in Mavericks. In a Finder window, you can select an item, press control-click and choose the tags item from the pop-up menu. When saving a file, a field will appear in the save box for adding tags.
You can add as many tags as you like. You just need to separate them by commas. Comma separation also allows you to use more than one word as a tag.
In addition to tagging items with words, you can tag them with colors. Since you only have a limited color palette to work with, I found that feature marginally useful.
More Than 200 New Features
Mavericks adds a new Tags section to the Finder's sidebar. You can specify which tags you'd like to appear there. That's a good thing, since as you create more and more tags, the sidebar could get flooded with them.
In the Tags section, though, there's an All Tags item. It will open a window in the Finder that shows all your tags. In that window you can search for tags, edit them, and display items associated with them -- wherever those items are located on your system.
These are just a few of the goodies that can be found in Mavericks. Interactive notifications have been added. Passwords, usernames and credit card information can be stored across devices with iCloud Keychain. There's even iOS favorites like iBooks and Apple Maps.
In fact, Apple says it has added more than 200 new features to the latest version of OS X. However, for my money -- oops, did I mention the upgrade was for free? -- the improved battery life and memory compression features alone make upgrading to Mavericks worthwhile.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Stinging Rose caterpillar
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Causes
- Treatments
- Reference
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Stinging Rose caterpillar poisoning: Contact with the poisonous hairs or spines of the Stinging Rose caterpillar can cause skin rashes or even a hypersensitivity reaction in some cases. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Stinging Rose caterpillar poisoning is available below.
See full list of 12 symptoms of Stinging Rose caterpillar poisoning
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Warner Bros' The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio arrived in style ahead of Wednesday's [15] Cannes opening night screening as Iron Man 3 held on to number one on an estimated $72.4m.
After two weekend's Marvel Studios' Iron Man 3 has grossed $284.9m through Buena Vista and stands at $949m worldwide.
Baz Luhrmann directed The Great Gatsby, which also stars Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton and Tobey Maguire. The film launches internationally next week after its debut on the Croisette.
Tyler Perry Presents Peeples, an ensemble drama with Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington and David Alan Grier, arrived in fourth place on $4.5m through Lionsgate.
Another good result for Jeff Nichols' Mud through Roadside Attractions saw the Southern drama stay in the top ten on $2.3m for $8.4m after three weekends. FilmNation produced and handles international sales.
Overall the top 12 grossed $152.6m, which fell 28% against last weekend and dropped marginally against the same session in 2012, when The Avengers entered its second weekend of release.
Next weekend's wide release is Star Trek Into Darkness from paramount, starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg and Benedict Cumberbatch. JJ Abrams directed from a screenplay by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof.
Estimated Top 10 North America May 10-12 2013
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date
1 (1) Iron Man 3 (Marvel-Buena Vista-DMG) WDSMPI/DMG $72.5m $284.9m
2 (-) The Great Gatsby (Warner Bros-Village Roadshow) WBPI $51.1m –
3 (2) Pain And Gain (Paramount) PPI $5m $41.6m
4 (-) Tyler Perry Presents Peeples (Lionsgate) Lionsgate International $4.9m –
5 (3) 42 (Warner Bros/Legendary) $4.7m $84.7m
6 (4) Oblivion (Universal) UPI $3.9m $81.7m
7 (5) The Croods (DreamWorks Animation-Fox) Fox Int'l $3.6m $173.2m
8 (6) The Big Wedding (Lionsgate) Nu Image $2.5m $18.3m
9 (7) Mud (Roadside Attractions) FilmNation $2.3m $8.4m
n10 (8) Oz The Great And Powerful (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $802,000 $229.9m


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Pig Wheels has been working with some new wheel formulas and upgraded it's dual durometer and hardcore urethanes. The best just got better! Try these new wheels out today. Only sold at the finest skateshops!!!!
The new Pig Ceramic bearings are the fasted, smoothest, and most durable bearing ever and will be in stock really soon.
The new Pig Wood ads will hit next month with San Diego local ripper Adrian Mallory exploding on the scene with a 2 page spread in TWS doing a krooks on a 14 step rail and another 2 page spread in Thrasher doing a fs nose pick in a huge pool. Yes, Adrian rips everything and so does his other Pig Wood teamates Shrieken Shannon and Charlie Castaloozo. A new Pig Wood video is in the works.
A new Pig Wood stencil series is out now!!! Pig Wood is made with the strongest, toughest, seven ply maple built for maximum pop.


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| 19.5°C Dublin
FIGHT a hobbit for an aisle seat? Get life jacket instructions from a beautiful female elf? Only on a plane to Middle Earth - or in an Air New Zealand safety video.
The company's latest in a series of variations on the usual dull pre-flight safety instructions has lifted a page from JRR Tolkien's classic 'The Hobbit' in the run-up to the world premiere of the film later this month, a bid to attract visitors to the nation where much of the film was shot.
'An Unexpected Briefing,' a play on the movie's title of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,' features crew members explaining flight safety to passengers embarking on a pilgrimage to Middle Earth, Tolkien's land of treasure, dragons and magic rings.
Director Sir Peter Jackson, who received Academy Awards for the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, makes a cameo appearance in the four-minute video, playing a passenger among the Orcs, pointy-eared elves and furry-footed hobbits that otherwise pack the seats.
Gollum, the creature corrupted by the infamous ring at the centre of the series, does his bit by scuttling along darkened aisles to point at the emergency exit lights, while an elf pointedly tells the powerful wizard Gandalf that he cannot smoke his pipe on the flight.
"To have Gollum step off the movie screen for the first time and into an Air New Zealand aircraft is incredibly special," said Mike Tod, Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing and Communications, in a statement about the video, which has received 2.4 million hits in the day since going up.
The video, produced with Jackson's Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, which created the visual effects for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films, includes inside jokes and quotations from the series. It also contains two lines of code in the Elvish language.
New Zealand, whose dramatic and pristine landscapes serve as the backdrop for the epic fantasy series, has been buzzing with publicity for the film, the first of a trilogy, which premieres in the nation's capital of Wellington on November 28.
Die-hard Tolkien fans have flocked to the town of Matamata in the country's North Island, which earlier this year began tours to the set of Hobbiton, the town from which the story's hero, Bilbo Baggins, starts his journey.
Wellington, where Jackson and the Weta Workshop and studios are based, also has been cranking up the publicity machine before its rolls out the red carpet later this month.
The city, which has dubbed itself "The Middle of Middle Earth", has erected a giant countdown clock at the cinema where the premiere will be held, while visitors to Wellington have been welcomed since last week at the airport by a 13 metre (43 foot) high statue of Gollum


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High standards: Simmons coaxes Band's best
In 1945, a promising young musician named Jim Simmons was invited to practice with the Charlottesville Municipal Band. As he packed up to leave rehearsal in the Armory on Market St. (now police headquarters), band president Dallas Bailey approached with a few words of praise and advice.
"Jim, you're a fine clarinet player," Simmons remembers Bailey saying, "but you'll have to wait until you've come of age to join the band."
Eleven years later, Simmons took Bailey up on his offer, and since 1956, he has moved from "fine clarinet player" to band director in 1980.
Simmons' love of music began early. Even as a 12-year-old clarinetist at the old McGuffey School, he knew he would pursue a career in music. After graduation from Lane High School, he went on to receive a BS in Musical Education from Concord College in Athens, W.V. and a Masters in Musical Education from UVA.
Simmons, now 76, discovered a love for opera music – still his favorite to listen to and direct – at about the same time he made his precocious career choice.
"I remember spending hours by the radio as a child listening to Milton Cross narrate Metropolitan Opera broadcasts," he says, "and I still love it when I have time on a Saturday afternoon."
Although it may have been the first, opera is not Simmons' only love. He's also partial to directing John Phillip Sousa marches– he calls them "little jewels."
Folks strolling down the Downtown Mall on balmy summer evenings may have heard some of those "little jewels"– and lots of other popular tunes – at one of the Band's free public concerts.
Simmons' favorite events, however, are the Band's annual Christmas and spring shows. "These more formal concerts give the Band a chance to concentrate on a different type of literature," he says. That formality is reflected in the wide range of selections, including classical, Broadway and opera favorites.
Simmons' responsibilities as director run the gamut as well. While the task of navigating a 72-member band through a stylistically diverse repertoire might seem like Simmons' most difficult directorial duty, he says the biggest challenge is actually "keeping track of everything associated with the Band"– things such as the upkeep of an extensive music library, numerous instruments, and attending meetings with the Board of Directors.
His resume proves he's up to tackling these tasks and more. Before his retirement in 1984, day jobs as director of the Albemarle High School Band (1956-71) and fine arts coordinator for the County prepared him for the challenge.
One of Simmons' students at AHS, band member Charles S. Terry – now treasurer of the Band's Board of Directors – says his old director hasn't changed since high school days. "He makes us work hard," Terry says, "but it pays off."
Jim Simmons


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text: Ralph Vicinanza, a literary agent who specialized in foreign rights, died suddenly at his home on Saturday. For two decades, he represented such high-powered authors as Stephen King, Philip K. Dick, Carl Sagan, Robert A. Heinlein, George R.R. Martin, Terry Pratchett and Kim Stanley Robinson, primarily in overseas deals. In 1998, Vicinanza formed Created By, an L.A.-based production/management company that works mostly with science fiction. [Publishers Lunch]


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HTS Theological Studies
On-line version ISSN 2072-8050
Print version ISSN 0259-9422
Herv. teol. stud. vol.67 n.3 Pretoria Jan. 2011
ΣΦραγÎς (sfragís) and its metaphorical testimonial presence in 2 Timothy 2:19
Carlos Molina; Ernest van Eck
Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa
This article presented a metaphorical testimonial approach in the interpretation of 2 Timothy 2:19 and the use of sealing. As starting point, attention was given to the concept of 'seal' through the Old Testament and Ancient Near East. These periods attest the fact that sealing was also utilised in a figurative way as a sign of ownership, property and authenticity. Óöñáãß in 2 Timothy 2:19 describes the intimate relationship between Christ and his followers through the terms ãéõùóêù [personal and vital relationship that transcends in practice] and áõáãéõùóêù [mainly an exterior knowledge]. These two vocables are in opposition to áäéêßá [to apostate from]. The message expressed in 2:19 exemplifies the principles that Christ lived by and he empowered his followers to stand by. Óöñáãßò in 2 Timothy 2:19 is an imitatio Christi response against the áäéêßá of moral standards and entertainment in the ancient Roman world. It includes a rapid contemporary reflection on practical faithfulness for today's life.
Sealing the deal
In the literal sense, a seal is defined as:
an instrument of stone, metal, or other hard substance (sometimes set in a ring), on which is engraved some device or figure; and is used for making an impression on some soft substance - such as clay or wax - affixed to a document or other object, in token of authenticity.
(Orr & Nuelsen 1974:2708)
But a seal can also be referred to as a signet, that is, something containing a distinctive mark that represents the owner (Brad, Draper & England 2003:1455). Technically speaking, the concept 'seal' thus has two meanings:
- it refers to an instrument (such as a signet or ring [annulus]) used to imprint a desired mark (once or more often) on a suitable surface
- it refers to the imprinted stamp [óöñáãßò], the seal, the actual impression made by the instrument mentioned above (Kittel 1971a:939).
In Ezekiel, the sealing instrument deals with the impression of an attitude of abhorrence to evil practices and authenticity in God's children is described as His ownership and property (Ezk 9:4). In the New Testament, sealing is associated with the Christian life and its process of transformation in the believer. As the wax receives the impression of the seal, so the soul must receive the impression of the Spirit of God and preserve the image of Christ (White 1911:187). This means a holistic sealing impression shown in a personal relationship that affects the person as a whole. Christ's vicarious sacrifice and mediatory ministry is attested in the believer by the fruits of the Spirit (Gl 5:22-26). The mark of the cross, that is to say, the presence of Christ in the believer (Gl 4:19), is represented on the forehead of the disciple (White 1898:126) by the letter t (Tau) according to some. The concept of the seal on the forehead described by Hardinge (2005:129) and Marshall (1998:81, 91-93, 106-108, 112-114), depicts the seat of intellect and part of movement and emotions for mankind. The brain is where the seal and its impression take place.
To justify the metaphorical or figurative presence of sealing in 2 Timothy 2:19 as a Christian lifestyle and their moral standards is necessary to mention a short analysis on the various sealing attributes in the Old Testament and Ancient Near East (ANE).
Sealing attributes in the Old Testament and Ancient Near East
In the ancient biblical world, sealing evoked figurative attributes: authenticity, inviolability, ownership, preservation, property and so forth. These characteristics are justified throughout el mundo veterotestamentario (Gn 38:18; Ex 28:11; 1 Ki 21:8; Est 8:8, 10; Jr 22:24; 32:9-14; Dn 12:4, etc).
Regarding the ANE and the earliest evidence for seals, Kist (2002:1-3) and Martin (1940:34) say that the cylinder seal is the most ancient form of seals. They go back to the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (between 3200 BC and 2300 BC). In the Babylonian period, almost every citizen carried a handmade stick seal and anything could be set under a seal; a house (doors), jars, baskets, jugs (usually sealed on the handle) and even intellectual property (Brown 1997:773). The process of using a seal as defined above (an impression), was used for the authentication and validation of: letters, official documents, contracts (e.g. in the form of scrolls) and in tombs (to denote, for example, property, ownership, authenticity, or protection). Through this process the integrity of the object was also safeguarded, for when the pottery (or other material) upon which the seal was applied had hardened an intact impression formed. If the impression stayed intact, it indicated that the particular object had not been violated (Horn 1995:1072-1703). The presence of sealing in Mesopotamia also dealt with the cultic idea of protection and magical property. Etana, a legendary Sumerian monarch is depicted on an Akkadian cylinder seal, dated 2700 BC, ascending to Heaven in a chariot with a winged lion (Dalley 2000:90, 130, 183-197).
Authenticity, ownership and property in the trading of people are the most evident sealing usage in the ANE. Even the impressions of the feet of children, found at the site of Tel Meskene (the ancient Emar on the upper Euphrates, dating back to about 1200 BC), can be related to this usage of a seal. It most probably refers to an incident where a father was obliged to sell his children, but the owner found them to be too young, thus leaving them with their parents until they were old enough. In the meantime, he kept an imprint of each child's foot (the seal in this case) as proof of his deferred ownership (Mason 2009). Another crucial function of sealing (using cylinder seals) was the role it played in the economic life of the ANE, functioning as an important mechanism in controlling the economy (Sibson 1977:15).
With this brief background usage of sealing in mind, the consideration of the metaphorical approach to 2 Timothy 2:19 will be discussed in the following section.
2 Timothy 2:19, metaphorically testimonial speaking
The term used in 2 Timothy 2:19 for 'sealing' is the word óöñáãßò. This article assumes the conservative position that Paul was the author of this pastoral epistle. As a noun, óöñáãßò appears in many other contexts in the New Testament. In the book of Revelations, it occurs 31 times. In the rest of the New Testament, it appears in Matthew 27:66, Romans 4:11; 15:28; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 9:22 and Ephesians 1:13; 4:30. In the New Testament, the idea and process of 'sealing' as a spiritual instrument is also manifested in a metaphorically testimonial mode when describing Christ's followers as 'exemplifying' him (the principles that Jesus spoke of and lived by) in their daily moral standards. This figurative mode is expressed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:1-5 when he indicates that Christians are letters of moral integrity. They must be as authentic as the inviolate seal on a letter. Richards indicates that the seal on a letter (or the signet worn by the person delivering the letter) gave an authentic farewell to the future reader (2004:174). By using this imagery, Paul alludes to the fact that, in the same way that a seal warrants the integrity of a letter, so
Christians' moral integrity manifests or seals the fact that Christ is present in them. So for Paul, to be a slave of Jesus Christ (Rm 1:1; 1 Cor 4:1; Phlp 1:1; Tt 1:1) is to be marked by the figurative sealing concept of the imitatio Christi. As the slave was branded to indicate whose master he belonged to, figuratively, the attributes of Christian living are being reproduced on his followers. Actually, for some authors this was the core of Pauline incarnation preaching, that the principles Christ lived by must permeate the live of believers (Whitterington 1994:3-5).
In the days of Paul, the choice to live a Christian life was, in essence, the same as issuing an open invitation to persecution and mocking because the Christian lifestyle so contradicted the standards set by the state religion. Paul (Brown 1997:347) describes it as a radical transformation in a person's life (e.g. 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 2:1-10). Thus, during early Christianity the idea of 'sealing' in the metaphorical mode meant that Christ's followers saw themselves as a moral testimonial to Christ's teachings on values and how to live. But, striving towards the one ideal necessarily meant staying away from the other, áðïóôçôù áðü áäéêßáò (['to be far from iniquity']; 2 Tm 2:19, New King James Version), literally meaning 'to apostate', or 'to keep away from wickedness'. In this context, it was Rome's imperial worship, as well as their general moral practices, that were seen as against the 'seal' of God for Christians (e.g. Ac 4:12; 5:29, 32; Rm 1:18-32; 1 Tm 2:5). According to Paul, this meant that as followers of Christ they had to be apart from it (áäéêßáò; 2 Tm 2:19). It was this aspect of Christian behaviour, this voluntary isolation from moral corruption and idolatry, which attracted upon Christians humiliation and eventually persecution. It promoted an adverse reaction from pagan Roman society, especially when these iniquities that were to be avoided were related to the pagan moral, political and religious standards enforced by Rome.
This Christian attitude, against Roman society, entertainment and moral practices, is well attested to during the 1st century AD, right through to the 4th century AD. Although it may have had negative consequences for the believer; the strong reaction to their choice and lifestyle does give us an indication that these believers' Christian way of life was indeed a signet of Christ-likeness.
One interesting Old Testament parallelism in describing 2 Timothy 2:19 is found in the book of Ezekiel. Amongst the characteristics of the ones that are 'sealed' in Ezekiel is the idea that they are in this way reacting against detestable things (Ezk 9:4). This is a challenge that Christians throughout the ages have also had to face, the challenge of fighting against evil in its many forms, through entertainment and the dubious moral standards that come with it. According to ancient Latin writers such as Lactantius, Tatian and Tertullian, from the 3rd and 4th century AD there were reasons why Christians confronted Roman society on things such as the games, entertainment and religious practices of the age. They represented idolatry and murder (2004:6.20); they taught immoral behaviour (2004:5-48) and renounced Christ (Tertullian 2004:3.16).
It becomes clear from the previous that the 'atheism' accusations, for which Christians were persecuted, could well have been caused by their negative thoughts and writings on the worship of the emperor or the gods. The Roman state was both established and protected by these institutions. Schüssler (1985:144) also states that it was this refusal to worship the emperor and the gods that the plight of Christians were exceedingly worsened, because it led to an ever-increasing threat by means of economic deprivation, imprisonment and execution.
Another important factor influencing Rome's persecution of Christians was the Christian's aggressiveness in witnessing Christ to the pagan world. They were not satisfied with their uncompromising withdrawal from the practices of heathen worship, but also actively assailed the pagan cults. Their way of living was a constant metaphorical lesson for others to get to know Christ and his teachings (Orr & Nuelsen 1974:2603-2605).
It becomes evident that Christians knew the difference and limitations between ãéõùóêù and Üõáãéõùóêù. [to walk our talk]. In the Johannine literature, the first term refers to one that has received and has the recognition and reception of love. The Son has been sent to make this possible because of his revelation to a sinful world (Kittel 1964b:711). In Paul, the term is associated to a practical knowledge that is rooted in the sincere Christian conviction of loyalty and faith. Áõáãéõùóêù interacts with exterior knowledge, to know exactly or to recognise and is used, for example, for a person reading a letter (Ac 15:31; 23:34; 2 Cor 1:13; 3:2; Eph 3:4). In Revelations 1:3 the reference is to the reading of the presented prophecy (Kittel 1964c:343). Thus, in early Christianity, both terms affected a deep impact in a system based on slavery, polytheism and self-exaltation. The metaphorical uses of sealing as an instrument of spiritual sealing in 2 Timothy 2:19 invites readers to get to know Jesus by a personal and authentic relationship with him. It means more than to be part of a religious affiliation. It is Christ living in us.
In today's world, Christians confront a similar threat, but with a different scenario than the first Christian believers did. For the early Roman world of the 1st century AD and beyond, religion was the Roman State and, at the same time, any priest could minister for different gods. Today, the concept of 'biblical principles' in this postmodern society is not the same anymore. It is now being considered to a relative and personal way of thinking. It is often uprooted from the Biblical context foundation, relegating the Bible to a mere folklore or a mosaic of literature genre.
Another of those subtle tramps in disguise is described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:5, 'Ý÷ïõôåò ìüñöùóéõ åõóÝâåéáò 'having a form of godliness'. Ìüñöùóéõ is a verb that denotes 'to fashion' or artists who shape their material into an image, especially into an idol. But it is also used in Galatians 4:19 to indicate a living relationship of life transformation given by Christ to the believer (Kittel 1967d:752-753). However, the external fashion verbal art of the word ìüñöùóéõ in 2 Timothy 3:5 suggests also various other serious connotations. One is the religion of external forms in which authenticity and loyalty is absent and a verbal acceptance of truth is denying the practical effectiveness of it. In the early Roman world of the 1st century AD and beyond, the sense of sealing as a spiritual instrument meant a sense of ownership and property to God's principles.
For early Christians, morality and religion was linked to a depraved concept related to the worship of gods and evil society pleasures. Today, Media suggests immorality and modern witchcraft as being woven with prestige, fame, getting good luck or looking good. Violence and immorality is craftily designed in video games and movies. But, on the contrary, Christians are called to present their minds and bodies:
as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect with God.
(Rm 12:1-2)
During the 1st century AD, the Gospel reached all the corners of Roman Empire. No other Christian generation have had the blessing of satellite and Christian media technology that is possible today. Massive amounts of Christian literature are distributed every day throughout most parts of globe. The metaphorical testimonial use of sealing in 2 Timothy 2:19 invites us individually to experience a ãéõùóêù and áõáãéõùóêù [to walk our talk] with Christ as a daily vivid authenticity and loyalty to the message that Jesus lived and died for. This is the most powerful missionary activity any believer is called to be involved with. After all, sealing in its metaphorical testimonial approach leaves an impression on other lives too. The sealing instrument here is the principles that Jesus lived by.
It is dedicated to Teresa Manzo - mi madre, whose personal and practical ãéõùóêù of Christ has deepened my understanding of the term óöñáãßò. She inspired me to get to know the heavenly êýñéïò as my personal friend and Saviour.
Brand, C., Draper, C.W. & England, A. (eds.) 2003, s v HiBD, 1455. [ Links ]
Brown, R.E. (ed.), 1997, An Introduction to the New Testament, Doubleday, New York. [ Links ]
Dalley, S., 2000, Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the flood and others, Oxford, New York. [ Links ]
Hardinge, L., 2005, The lamb, God's greatest gift: Meditations on the book of Revelation, R&H, Hagerstown. [ Links ]
Horn, S., 1995, s v DBASD. [ Links ]
Kist, J., 2003, Ancient Near Eastern seals from the Kist collection: Three millennia of miniature reliefs, culture and history of the Ancient Near East, Brill Academy Publishers, Boston. [ Links ]
Kittel, F.G., 1976a, 'ãéõùóêù', in F.G. Kittel (ed.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 1, pp. 689-715, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids. [ Links ]
Kittel, F.G., 1976b, 'áõáãéõùóêù', in F.G. Kittel (ed.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 1, pp. 343-344, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids. [ Links ]
Kittel, F.G., 1976c, 'ìüñöç', in F.G. Kittel (ed.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 4, pp. 742-759, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids. [ Links ]
Kittel, F.G., 1976d, 'óöñáãßò', in F.G. Kittel (ed.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament, , vol. 7, pp. 939-953, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids. [ Links ]
Lactantius, 2004, Divine Institutes, Liverpool University, Liverpool. [ Links ]
Marshall, L.H., 1998, Discoveries in the brain: Neuroscience prehistory, brain structure and function, Humana, Totowa. [ Links ]
Mason, R.B., 2009, 'A Handout for Materials and Industries of the Ancient and Medieval Middle East (NMC 369H)', Ancient Near Eastern Seals, viewed 13 February 2009, from www.rbmason.ca/seals.html. [ Links ]
Orr, J. & Nuelsen, J.L., 1974, The International Standard Encyclopedia, vol. IV, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids. [ Links ]
Richards, E.R., 2004, Paul and first century letter writing, Intervarsity, Downers Grove. [ Links ]
Schussler, E.F., 1985, The Apocalypse, Herald Bible, Chicago.
Sibson, M., 1977, Seals and sealing in the Ancient Near East, vol. 6, Undena, Malibu. [ Links ]
Tatian, 2004, Tatian's Address to the Greeks, Kessinger, Whitefish. [ Links ]
Tertullian, 2004, Apology, 3.16, Kessinger Publications, Whitefish. [ Links ]
White, E.G., 1897, Special Testimonies on Education, no imprint, 240 pp. [SpTEd] [ Links ]
White, E.G., 1898, Carta 126, no imprint, 117 pp. [SpTEd] [ Links ]
Whitterington, B. III, 1994, Paul's narrative throughout world: The tapestry of tragedy and triumph, John Know, Louisville. [ Links ]
Correspondence to:
Ernest van Eck
Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria
Lynwood Road, Hatfield 0083
Pretoria, South Africa
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received: 30 Jan. 2010
Accepted: 12 Oct. 2010
Published: 09 Mar. 2011
© 2011. The Authors. Licensee: OpenJournals Publishing. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Note: This article is based on the PhD-thesis 'Revelation 7:1-3: An exegetical approach in continuum with the historicist approach of interpretation' submitted in 2010 in the Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, with Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck as supervisor.


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Linde Hydrogen Fueling Stations Reach Over Half Million Fills
Murray Hill and New Providence, New Jersey, U.S – Hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S. using Linde North America fueling technology have reached over half million fills - and still climbing - powering a variety of vehicles, including forklifts, cars and buses.
Mike Beckman, vice president of Linde's U.S. hydrogen fueling team, said, "We are proud that our customers have displayed the confidence in Linde to supply the hydrogen fueling systems to reach this important milestone. This proves that our technology can help advance sustainability and lower emissions while also helping to improve the bottom line. Hydrogen already is one of the most promising alternative fuels because it is safe, economic and efficient."
While Linde hydrogen fueling systems involve very sophisticated technology, the filling operation is designed to be relatively quick and simple - much like putting gasoline into your car. "The speed and simplicity is a critical aspect to the success of hydrogen as a fuel," Beckman said.
One of the major contributors to the half million fill milestone is BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where earlier this year the company more than doubled its fleet of material handling equipment which are fueled by hydrogen fueling systems provided by Linde. The four million square foot BMW production facility now powers its entire hydrogen-fuel cell fleet of more than 230 units to service the plant's production and logistics functions, making it one of the largest fuel cell forklift sites in the world.
"BMW's partnership with Linde North America has greatly supported our company's total commitment to sustainability. It has helped BMW to maintain its clear vision to reach our goal of using renewable energy as much as possible throughout the plant site," said Duncan Seaman, BMW Group's Head of Market Operations, Americas. "The annual energy avoidance of 4.1 million kw/hours and dramatic reductions in fueling time have positioned our hydrogen fuel cell material handling program to be an industry benchmark."
The lead acid batteries that formerly powered BMW's lifts and trucks were replaced with hydrogen fuel cells from Latham, N.Y.-based Plug Power Inc., Linde's partner in the BMW installation and the leading provider of hydrogen based fuel cells in the material handling market.
Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, one of the world's largest hydrogen energy producers and a leader in developing alternative fuel technologies. Linde, one of the earliest entrants into the hydrogen energy arena, is a leader in the safe production, storage and distribution of hydrogen. Linde has installed over 80 hydrogen fueling stations in 15 countries, supplying hydrogen for projects large and small.
"When people ask me if hydrogen fueling is going to happen some day, I say it is happening in a very big way already, with hundreds of fuelings daily – and our systems are proof we can do this safely and economically," Beckman said. "We are building the expertise to deliver new and sustainable energy solutions that contribute to a greener world and cleaner environment."
Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 62,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2012 financial year, Linde generated revenue of EUR 15.280 bn (USD 19.9 bn). The strategy of the Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, visit www.lindeus.com.
Under the "Clean Technology by Linde" label, the company offers a wide range of products and technologies that help to render renewable energy sources financially viable, and significantly slow down the depletion of fossil resources or reduce the level of CO2 emitted. This ranges from specialty gases for solar module manufacturing, industrial-scale CO2 separation and application technologies to alternative fuels and energy carriers such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.
For more information, go to http://www.linde.com/cleantechnology.
Amy Ficon
Linde corporate communications


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Facebook introduced the Graph Search earlier this week, which provides a new way to search for information on the social network. The tool is currently in a limited beta for English (US) audiences. Despite that, most of the online businesses are questioning and wondering how they can use the new tool effectively.
Facebook has provided an in-depth explanation about what businesses should be doing with Graph Search.
According to Facebook, Graph Search will enable businesses to make their Facebook Pages easier for people to discover and learn more about their business. For now, it will focus on four areas: people, photos, places, and interests, however, if you want to lead the game, I recommend you to understand it and take the new tool seriously.
How to Optimize Your Business Page for Facebook Graph Search
Facebook has provided certain tips to get started and make your Facebook Page visible to audience. Facebook recommends the following apart from the usual stuff to ensure your Page is complete and up-to-date:
- The name, category, vanity URL, and information you share in the "About" section all help people find your business and should be shared on Facebook.
- If you have a location or a local place Page, update your address to make sure you can appear as a result when someone is searching for a specific location.
- Focus on attracting the right fans to your Page and on giving your fans a reason to interact with your content on an ongoing basis.
While many Pages provide less information in the "About" section, it is now important that businesses provide apt details about the business and the services they provide. The address and location of your business counts as well. The more accurate information you put on Facebook, the more likely your Page will show up in a search.
The last point is very important not just with Graph Search, but also with Facebook's Edge Rank. It is also clear that Facebook will be taking the growth of your business into consideration when filtering Pages, and not just popularity.
You can try Graph Search here and know more about it.
Here's how Graph Search works:
- Facebook will add a blue search bar at the top of its pages. When users search, the search bar first returns the top search suggestions, including people, Pages, apps, places, groups, and suggested searches.
- The results returned redirect users to a unique results page. The results are formulated based on the information that you have shared about your business and also filters them based on the connections of the person searching.
- The results will also include Bing results and Bing ads, which could be similar to the results obtained on Bing.com
These are some of the basic steps to follow to get started with optimizing for Graph Search. This is the beginning, and if Facebook SEO takes off, it is sure to create a whole different world of SEO-business.


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From The Hill:
At her weekly news conference, Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked if she was concerned about whether the debate over healthcare and the role of the federal government — much of it wrapped in escalating anti-government rhetoric — could lead to acts of violence.
"I think we all have to take responsibility for our actions and our words. We are a free country and this balance between freedom and safety is one that we have to carefully balance," Pelosi began.
But she then reached back some 30 years, to the very beginning of her career in politics, to recall how heated rhetoric led to the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk by a disgruntled former supervisor on Nov. 27, 1978.
"I have concerns about some of the language that is being used because I saw … I saw this myself in the late '70s in San Francisco," Pelosi said, choking up and with tears forming in her eyes. "This kind of rhetoric is just, is really frightening and it created a climate in which we, violence took place and … I wish that we would all, again, curb our enthusiasm in some of the statements that are made."
Following the press conference, Pelosi aides confirmed that she was referencing the Milk and Moscone assassinations, which coincided with a wave of politically driven violence throughout the city.
When Dan White murdered George Moscone and Harvey Milk it had NOTHING to do with political rhetoric. White was angry because Moscone rejected his request to be reappointed to the Board of Supervisors. The only other notable political violence in that period was the 1979 "White Night Riots" which were an expression of outrage by the San Francisco gay community over the lenient sentence White received for the murders.
BTW – Dan White was a Democrat.
Was Nancy P. referring to protests surrounding the "Briggs Initiative?" From Capitol Briefing:
The House Republicans' top campaign chief strongly denounced Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comments that appeared to question whether today's angry conservative protests were similar to anti-gay rallies in the late 1970s that preceded the assassination of two San Francisco political leaders.
Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Pelosi crossed the line when she related the rhetoric of anti-gay protesters in San Francisco in 1978 — the year Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of the city's board of supervisors, and his political ally, Mayor George Moscone, were killed by former supervisor Dan White — to that of contemporary conservatives while answering a question about the protests against President Obama's health-care proposals.
The 1978 Briggs Initiative (Proposition 6) would have banned gays and lesbians from working in public schools. Even Ronnie Raygun opposed it and it was overwhelmingly defeated. I don't recall there being many Prop 6 supporters in the SF Bay Area – it originated in SoCal. Nor do I recall any violent rhetoric being associated with either side of the campaign.
In any event, it had nothing to do with the Moscone/Milk murders.
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Each year we look at the most fun and most beneficial finds out there for both inspiration and for idea-starters for graphic designers. These are just two of the great selections of vintage holiday collections. When they're from Dover, you also can be sure they are copyright screened. They are so low cost, you almost cannot afford not to get them -- specially now that they're all on CD! Enjoy!
Vintage Christmas Cards CD-ROM and Book
Lovers of Victoriana and old-time art will rejoice in this generous selection of 204 Christmas greetings.
Reproduced from rare originals of the early 20th century, these colorful cards abound in ruddy-cheeked Santas, cherubic children, and watchful guardian angels. Their timeless holiday cheer will enhance any graphics project.
Full story : Dover : Vintage Christmas Cards
See a screen shot
Treasury of Greeting Card Designs CD-ROM and Book
Everything you need to make your own cards: lettering, frames and borders, old-fashioned images of rosy-cheeked youngsters, butterflies and bunnies, hearts and flowers, smiling cherubs, and more. Perfect message-bearers for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. 471 full-color illustrations.
It's under 20-bucks!
Full story : Dover : Treasury of Greeting Card Designs
See a screen shot
SEE: Vintage Holiday Cuts copyright free clip art on CD-ROM, and
Vintage Holiday Vignettes copyright free images and resource art on CD-ROM
And, thanks for reading
Join the Design Cafe forums, or follow DTG on Facebook!


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ancient asked Ballyporeen Ballyvourney began Beth billhook blood Brennan called Catherine chuckled Clonmel cold Colonel Chetwynd Connacht Coolarrigan cottage County Clare cried croft curragh curse Dangan Cutteen dark death Derrynasaggart Mountains door Dublin English eyes face Fantoni Father feeling felt Finnerty fire Flaherty Fomorii forward frowned gazed girl glanced grandfather granite grey grinned hair hand head hear heard Hy-Brasil Inishmore Ireland Irish Irish mythology island Jane Katy knew land lips looked Lucy Mac an Bhaird Mac Maolain Maire Mario Miach Michelburne mind moneen Mongfind mountain night nodded O'Derrick O'Driscoll Pooka priest realised replied rocks Samhain Sean Rua seemed shivered shook shrugged sighed Sir Giles Sir Giles's Sizewell smiled soul sound standing stone stared stone stood strange suddenly sure tell terrible thought told Torna turned village voice waiting walked whispering woman words young


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Milton H. Hamilton, age 88, died Tuesday, December 25, 2012, at his home in Rootstown.
He was born November 9, 1924, in Akron, Ohio, a son of the late John D. and Daisy (Griffin) Hamilton.
Milton was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and retired from Goodyear after 38 years of service. Mr. Hamilton attended the Rootstown United Methodist Church and faithfully served his Lord and Savior his entire life.
Survivors include his children: Thomas E., Mark A. (Shelly), and Jacqueline A. all of Rootstown; grandsons: Nathan, Joshua, and Luke; and precious great-granddaughter, Lizzy. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, and son, David.
Friends will be received Saturday, December 29, 2012, from 10:00 AM until the 12:00 PM funeral service officiated by Pastor Philip Raynes at the Rootstown United Methodist Church.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com. The family is deeply grateful for the excellent care and support provided by Robinson Hospice and Visiting Nurse.
(Wood-Kortright-Borkoski 330-296-6436, RC 12-27, 28-12)


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Brothers in Blood
"Sharing for Life" is the name of a program designed to give American visitors to Israel an opportunity to become "blood brothers" with Jews in Israel. Magen David Adom, with the help of its American arm (ARMD) and the conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is encouraging these visitors to donate blood while they are here.
The routine need for blood has been increased by the terrorist attacks which leave behind military and civilian casualties. In addition there is the threat of a biological attack by terrorists or the Iraqis which necessitates additional supplies of blood components to produce antibodies for appropriate vaccines.
These considerations inspired the campaign about which its organizers say "There is no more personal demonstration of commitment and concern than giving blood". Tourists have been invited to come to the MDA National Blood Center in Ramat Gan, one of the worlds most advanced blood processing facilities, or to simply walk into one of the 25 bloodmobiles stationed at their hotels or other convenient locations, roll up their sleeves and become blood brothers in the fullest sense of the term.


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Let's take a look at some of your claims. In your review you juxtapose what you call a "metaphysical Gotama" against a "pragmatic, phenomenalist Gotama." I assume that you're not suggesting that the Buddha suffered from a dissociative identity disorder. Yet you opine that the teachings of these two personalities are in conflict, indicating what you see as a "dramatic discrepancy" within the canonical discourses. You suggest that we should read the teachings of the former Gotama regarding past and future lives as merely comprising "metaphorical poetry." Is this not an assertion that either (i) the teachings of the "metaphysical Gotama" are based on an intentional strategy for teaching morality to people who weren't capable of understanding Gotama's true dhamma, or (ii) these teachings were never intended to be interpreted literally, or (iii) they were composed and inserted into the canon by devotees who were incapable of accurately retaining and transmitting Gotama's true dhamma?Mknicke wrote:You're certainly welcome to dispute my review of "The Truth of Rebirth" but please don't misrepresent what it says. Neither I nor any other secular dharma writer I'm aware of would make any of the oversimplified and unjustifiable claims you attribute to me.
And again, in Authenticity, Anxiety, and the Revision of the Pali Canon you see more conflict and discord. You propose that "significant portions of the Samyutta Nikaya appear to be propaganda, designed either to denigrate the leader of one faction or reinforce the authority of another." Is this not another charge that significant portions of this Nikāya were composed and inserted into the canon by deluded devotees who were more concerned with (and consumed by) unskillful worldly dhammas than with accurately retaining and transmitting Gotama's true dhamma?
And in The Goal of Practice you suggest that there is evidence throughout the canon of attempts to "reconcile Buddhist thought with Vedic soteriology." That is, the traditional formulation of the four noble truths wherein the noble eightfold path leads to the fruition of nibbāna is nothing short of "a metaphysical claim, one that tends to tame the subversive nature of Gotama's teachings and bring them back in line with the mainstream Vedantic doctrine that prevailed in the society of northern India in Gotama's era." Is this not another assertion that at some point after the Buddha's death the dhamma was reworked by devotees who were incapable of accurately retaining and transmitting Gotama's true dhamma?


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Naked Beta: Paintless grafitti bridge gleams (for now)
3 comments
Les June 21st, 2011 | 3:12pm
Oooh...fresh canvas.
Lynn June 22nd, 2011 | 3:47pm
I wish I had a dollar for every coat painted on the Beta Bridge. I'd be a rich chick. How about researching and reporting on the book written on the Beta Bridge paintings? I can't remember the name of book and/or author, but it would be an interesting article for long-term residents and newcomers alike.
amigo1 June 23rd, 2011 | 10:36am
anyone understand the molecular structure of paint to figure out how many coats it takes to make 3.5 inches??!


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A few snippets of data from the Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook 2003.
Estimated 10-year budge surplus = $5.6T.
Reality = $6.6T deficit. A 200+% miss.
Estimate for 2012 Debt Held by Public = $1.2T (5% of GDP).
Reality = Debt Held by Public = $11.6T. A 1000% miss.
Estimate for fiscal 2012 GDP = $17.4T.
Reality = $15.8T. A 25% miss.
OK, it was not an easy period to forecast. But the fact is, no period is easy to model and forecast. The CBO assumed that there would be no recessions in the 2004-2012 period. The CBO got hit on the head with that assumption.
I think the CBO is making the same mistakes again in 2013. It has a crystal ball of what the future will look like. The CBO assessment is that there is nothing but blue skies ahead. Some more snippets; this time from the just released 2013 CBO report on our future:
– GDP is about to soar! It's going to grow at more than double the current rate! Happy days are right around the corner. The economy is going to experience a period of sustained economic growth – and it's going to star in just 10-months! Wow!
– Debt is not a problem any longer. Don't worry about it any more. After shooting up the past five years, the Debt to GDP is going to flatten out, starting really soon.
– Unemployment will be no problem. The rate is going back to 5.5% in a couple of years, and it is going to stay low for the remaining 7-years. There is Zero, repeat Zero (as in nada, no-way-no how) chance for a recession over the next decade. I find this very comforting.
– Inflation is not going to be an issue. Not too cold, not too hot – the CPI will average less than 2% for well into the 2020's. No chance of inflation picking up – it's silly to worry about inflation risks – really, it's a non issue for at least a decade.
– There is even good news for savers. Interest rates will be going up very sharply. By 2015 the 10-year T-bond will be back to 4.5%, more than double where it is today. This backup in interest rates will have no consequence to the economy at, in fact the higher interest rates will help propel the economy higher. Not to worry about this assumption, interest rates don't matter any more..
– There is a reason that the future is so bright. The economy will prosper. GDP will grow to $26T in 2023. This comes to a 67% increase. Think of that! We haven't seen that kind of performance since…well, actually, we've never seen it. But who knows? You have to believe in miracles if you work for the CBO.
You can argue with me all you want about those CBO estimates. The fact is, no one really knows what will happen. But the CBO is using one assumption that is almost certain to be proven wrong. It is a very critical assumption: What will labour's role be in the economy of the future?
– labour income, as a per cent of GDP, has been in a multi-decade decline (rise of the robots). The CBO is anticipating that the trend will not only stabilise, but will substantially reverse.
I think the CBO is out on a limb with this critical assumption. I think they are all wet with the generally rosy outlook it says is in our future. If you believe the CBO, the last thing you would do would be to address some of America's daunting problems. After all, everything is going to be on easy street, so why sweat the small stuff? If we just do "nothing" – everything will turn out just fine.
I think the CBO has done our legislators, and the country a disservice with this report. A great excuse to do nothing for a few more years has been created. I'll be generous, and give the CBO a D+for this effort.
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April 29th-May 2nd, 2011
Theme: It's Dangerous to go Alone! Take this!
More Info: Ludum Dare 20 Has Begun! (Keynote), Theme Voting Results.
Grave Robbersby adamatomic - Competition Entry
Made with Flixel v2.52 dev branch, mostly on Saturday. Stretching the theme, I'm certain, but it reminded me of Indiana Jones-type characters, who enter places alone, in order to take things, even though it's dangerous. Inspired by Petri Purho, Bennett Foddy, Derek Yu, and the tower defense genre.
Downloads and Links
Lol, what a great concept. Nicely stylized, to boot. Unfortunately, I couldn't get keyboard input to work reliably. It started working half way through the first game sort of randomly. I'm not sure what the problem is.
Fantastic idea! It reminds me of one of those kid's games, where you had to divert a ball through a maze, except much more taxing. Also had some problems with the keyboard input from time to time though.
I love this!
But; What DeadlyJoe is experiencing applies to me too.
Same as above- great idea, but also experiencing the input problems.
thanks guys! since it's a web flash thing you have to make sure you click on it with the mouse first to give it "focus" - then it should handle the keyboard input just fine. usually i'd put a title screen on it that would only allow you to advance by clicking, buuuut LD48 :P
UPDATE: Grave Robbers has a critical bug where the keyboard input stops working after you get Game Over, and requires a page reload and possibly clicking again with the mouse to get it working, sorry for the inconvenience!
Great twist on the Tower Defense genre. I can see quite a lot of room for more innovation. Having a "click to activate" might make some of the gameplay more intuitive for more casual gamers. And some sort of visual indicator for when the traps are charged. Also a special that floods an area with magma! Great job for such a limited time!
Great idea. Hard to get used to.. might be fun to play with a few friends or maybe let the weapons be clickable, that might be fun as well
I think this was a great concept. Add sound and a menu, and put it on a game site. It's almost perfect.
Very nice :)
I like the graphic style, very neat. The game itself however is a rather off-the-mill lemmings game, but with traps.
Funny idea but wasn't the theme something else?
Loved the game. It reminds me of QWOP/GIRP. It didn't really fit the theme at all though.
yea input is gone after Game over. Fun though
I had a little trouble controlling M, ., , and so on with my french keyboard. Most other traps worked well. Your idea is really fun. :)
In fact it is obviously more efficient to not go alone. They only will experience huge difficulties to share the treasure. They deserved it. It was MY treasure. Nah.
I had this exact idea while brainstorming for themes I liked (Traps)! Glad to see it implemented :) I really like the key-based approach to triggering traps, I think if it was mouse-based it might be too easy.
I got to 50 deaths but not too sure how this fits the theme? Seems more like TRAPS, which was the theme I was rooting for, anyway!
Clever game, if you end up expanding on it eventually it would add another level of challenge if at some point the letters for the traps started changing.
Addictive gameplay, went a little too fast too quickly. Kept playing it again and again, but it's impossible to keep track of everything that is going on at once. The art is great, the death traps amusing. Needs balance, perhaps with a minimum time that you need to survive past to get to unlock new levels. If you expand this and make it into an iPad game (touching the traps to activate them) I am sure that it would be a success. It does not fit the theme, I'm afraid.
I really like the concept. It'd be way easier to play if you could touch the traps rather than having to learn the keyboard mapping. Holds up pretty well with just one map and a few trap types. I'd of course be excited to see random layouts and new traps. Hrmm... trap design mode?
Nice concept, well executed. Could use a couple more traps by the treasure, as once the raiders get down the bottom they're almost impossible to stop. A couple of simpler levels as trainers would be nice, this one's pretty hardcore :)
I guess my main complaint would be the lack of obvious connection to the theme.
Besides that, nice attempt.
Very clever and original gameplay concept, especially the control system is pretty innovative. Having mouse controls as another option might be interesting to try though, I'm not sure whether it would make the game easier or harder.
The game is screaming for some sound effects and animations for the dudes to really bring it more to life, but given the dev time constraints, the graphical presentation is okay too.
Thanks for feedback guys! The vast majority of this was put together in just 16 hours on Saturday, the curse of LDing as a parent :) totally agree about difficulty curve, lack of sound, and lack of graphical polish (in the broadest sense, as in like, having any animations at all etc haha)
Some introduction would be nice. It wasn't obvious at first I have to press the buttons :P
I think it would have been great with different levels of increasing difficulty, for instance you start with less traps to control and less people charging in on lvl1 and get more traps and more incoming enemies as you progress.
I also feel that timing was too taxing and recharge was very slow. It could have been more fun if the game was more simple to play.
I don't.. know about "take this" but it definitely demonstrates the "it's dangerous to go alone" part.
I liked it and thought it was thematic enough.
Very cool concept. The QWOP/GIRP of dungeon defense.
Inspiring work, as always!
so painful for a dvorak user! super fun though. I wish you had time to give the little guys walk animations, or at least fedoras :)
Fun game! Actually pretty hard to keep track of all the traps, especially since they take a while to recharge. I found myself waiting for one trap while I missed a group of adventurers in another part of the level.
Nice game, a little hard to control though. Reminiscent of GIRP in that way. I like the inversion of playing as the tomb being raided rather than the tomb raider. Unfortunately I feel like I should have four hands to play this! Or maybe two heads. Bit of a tenuous link to the theme, though.
I'd prefer mouse control, at least as an option.
Really innovative entry, well done! It made me think of typing tutor games... Head exploding amount of multitasking required once they start coming fast - if the traps didn't have such long reload times I'd have been bashing at my keyboard with my palms!
hahaha awesome game!
Argh, splitting my brain once they get beyond FJUSK. Also doesn't completely fit into my laptop browser, perhaps needlessly large window? I would have played this for days on end at age 14, and weeks if it had lemmingsesque animations and gore. Would have been a classic. Could be made into something really worthwhile in many ways, with gradually more complex levels to avoid instant failure. What about co-op? I suppose it's already prepared for that if you operate different regions or plug in multiple USB keyboards (I have to try that!) - networked or split-screen with a narrow scrolling view might also be exciting if there's a radar map or clever audio cues to know where stealage is imminent. For large-display touch devices, the interface would be obvious and open for countless players. Perhaps even with more user-demanding traps, if a player could be assumed to focus their attention on a handful of them. Sliding spiked platforms into different positions, collecting stones and arrows for reuse as projectiles, feeding deceased adventurers to the fire-breathing dragon which fuels your flame-thrower traps. A full-on collaborative sim treasure dungeon?
Lovely concept :)
I could play one round, after Game Over the input didn't work anymore. It really gets tough fast.
It just misses sound effect, like nice death screams etc. ;)
Simple but great game. A bit uncontrollable after a while.
well done. it is really challenging with so much letters. honestly i wanted buttons in place of letters, so i could click on them.
also, i think this game is a good fit for touchscreen devices like ipad or playbook.
Mavis Beacon Types Anti Lemmings!
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A well-chosen and properly executed hairstyles for short hair men very significantly raises your own self-esteem and self-confidence. When a person likes himself, he straightens his shoulders and radiates a strong energy.
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On-line version ISSN 2309-8392
Print version ISSN 0018-229X
MUSIIWA, Estella. Frances Baard's and Helen Joseph's struggle against apartheid, 1950-1963: A comparative analysis. Historia [online]. 2012, vol.57, n.1, pp.66-81. ISSN 2309-8392.
Women's personal narratives constitute the core of historical inquiry in women's history even though the category "woman" has been contested and redefined at different levels in different cultures. The article purports to provide a general overview of prospects and problems of autobiographies and life histories as a methodology of writing comparative women's political history. The article argues that the differences in the 'I' that is spoken of as a retrospective product in life histories, and the 'I' that speaks for itself as a retrospective cumulative experience in autobiographies, has a bearing on the kind of knowledge that scholars produce on comparative women's political history. It is significant to note that while it is possible to blur boundaries and draw comparisons on women's experiences, the nature of the knowledge produced by using different personal narratives has a bearing on the levels at which similarities of such experiences are drawn.
Keywords : life histories; autobiographies; gender; women methodology; Helen Joseph; Frances Baard; apartheid.


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Welcome to the TGAfans.com, discussion for Gaslight Anthem music fans! You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to join discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
PJK wrote:Definitely very Gaslight-like, even then. Why was the name changed, and did they ever release these songs on an album?
johnkelly730 wrote:I guess this answers my last thought
johnkelly730 wrote:I guess this answers my last thought
PJK wrote:johnkelly730 wrote:I guess this answers my last thought
Is that Brian even singing that song? Doesn't sound anything like him. If it was, what age was he then?
I feel like that version they were trying too hard to be "punk like". It sounded very unnatural. 1930 from TGA sounds much much better.
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About Us
Welcome we are glad you are visiting us!
The New Orleans Dream Center (NODC) is not about a building, but about people. We are a faith-based, non-profit, volunteer driven organization dedicated to helping care for the whole person – spirit, soul and body.
It is a place where loving people love other people. It is a place for healing the sick, lifting the fallen and mending the broken. As we empower people with love, they will rise out of despair and defeat to live victoriously. A new generation will arise to lift their families and neighborhoods from poverty to prosperity, from crime to caring, from brokenness to blessing, from sickness to soundness and from fear to freedom.
The NODC provides multiple outreach programs and utilizes the donated services of professionals and support staff to fulfill our vision to "reach people and build lives."
If you or your organization is interested in Being the Light, visit our Help Now page to see the many and varied opportunities to connect and partner with us! These life-changing opportunities to serve alongside our team will not only change the life of those you serve, but it will also change your life and leave God's footprint on your heart!
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Founded as a result of Hurricane Katrina, we soon learned that just because a hurricane is gone; the restoration of human lives will be forever our work.
We care for the people of the City of New Orleans by hosting many outreach programs and events. Each year over 1,000 adults and children across all races and cultures are provided with free medical services and we partner with other faith based organizations to extend our reach even further. Lots of love through our Adopt-A-Box Thanksgiving program offers seniors and families with all the necessities for a home cooked Thanksgiving meal. Home Mission Teams from across the nation continue to help rebuild not only structures but also lives.
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Because of our Pastors, Partners, Donors and Volunteers and most importantly--the Grace of God--we have accomplished more than ever imagined! Take a look at our 2013 Year in Review.
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CHICO — Butte Humane Society will celebrate its 102nd anniversary with a 1940s-themed gala, "Soaring to New Heights." It will be April 13 in the Big Room at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
It will start with wine and appetizers, music and a silent auction, followed by music by the band Decades, presentations and a live auction. Black tie is optional and the event is for ages 18 years and older.
Sierra Nevada is at 1075 E. 20th St.
Butte Humane Society is also seeking donations of high-quality items for both auctions.
Tickets are $115 per person and may be purchased through the Humane Society in advance.
For information, to donate items or purchase tickets, go to buttehumane.org/gala, or call 343-7917, ext. 135. An email address is also available online.


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Cooking For Engineers
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:28 am
Post subject: Lemon Bars
[/b]The best lemon bars are made with fresh lemons instead of bottled lemon juice. It adds a fresher taste.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:18 pm
Post subject:
This is the first time I have ever made lemon bars. I must say your recipe is excellent and very easy to use. All I did was print out your graph and take it to the kitchen!! Wonderful! Thank You so much for this site. It has now became my favorite! Now off to try your praline Pecan recipe!
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:30 am
Post subject: no oven
i love lemon bars, but i don't have an oven.
this will be the first time i'll ever attempt to bake..
i'm about to try tour recipe using an oven toaster instead. hehehe.
any tips you might suggest?
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Dr. Polkatronic
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:51 am
Post subject: Lemon Bars
Great recipe! The lemon bars were perfect except for one thing: the lemon curd tends to separate from the crust when served. Is there some trick to keep the lemon curd and the crust glued together?
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:03 am
Post subject: several engineering points
1) your lemon bar recipe is the first I've seen that contains milk. What's the purpose of the milk?
2) I think the purpose of the flour is to bind the lemon curd and give the texture a more bar-like substance. When I change the flour proportion, I get different texture.
3) In my neighborhood, we have many lemon trees, but a high percentage are meyer lemons. I hate seeing my friend's lemons go to waste, so I'm collecting different lemon dishes. Meyers have a lot of taste, but a very different acid level (lower). In general, I need to up the wet lemon percentage, but with lemon bars I get wet bars. Any suggestions of meyer lemon lemon bars?
4) the best lemon bars, IMHO, have a crust on top. I think I get that by vigorously beating the eggs (Joy of Cooking specifically says "lightly beaten").
Your recipe cards are great. I would love if your descriptions included more "why" because, as an engineer, I always modify the recipe every time I make it. More "why" means I'm more likely to get a positive modification.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:53 am
Post subject: another great lemon bar recipe
Michael -- try the recipe from Joy of Cooking -- it's even easier than Baking Illustrated -- no need to make the curd ahead of time. The only modification I make is to reduce the number of eggs by one -- a little less eggy-tasting. BTW, made the garlic roasted potatoes tonight -- excellent!
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:03 pm
Post subject: copyright on recipes
Recipes cannot be copyrighted. This is due to the fact that there are only so many ways to make most things, and many recipes truly are passed down, and can't be claimed by one person. A cookbook is copyrighted, therefore you cannot scan it onto your computer and post it on your website, but you can post the recipe itself. Many recipes on popular websites are from copyrighted books and magazines.
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1242
Location: central PA
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:16 pm
Post subject:
>>Recipes cannot be copyrighted.
depends on what you call a "recipe"
actual real live courts - judges and dudes that count - have repeatedly ruled a list of ingredients & quantities cannot be copyrighted.
the descriptions of how to use the ingredients, make the dish, change our socks, whatever, can be copyrighted.
compilation can be copyrighted. a collection a many lists can be copyrighted as a work, but the individual lists & quantities remain uncopyrightable.
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:30 am
Post subject:
On March 13, 2008 at 12:14 AM, Trouble (guest) said...
Subject: Lemon
Hey all,
My receipe for Spice Lemon requires to use all part of lemon skin which means white and yellow. Although I know white makes bitter taste, I have no choice. Can anyone give me suggestion to get rid of bitter taste any how?
According to Harold McGee's "On Food and Cooking" (2nd ed, I believe) which I'm referring to from my own memory....
The bitter taste from the peel is a water soluble compound. This is why recipes for candied peel call for repeated simmering in fresh sugar syrup - not to increase the sugar content (you could use the old stuff for that) but to eliminate the bitter compound.
I don't know what "Lemon Spice" is exactly; why can't you omit the white? But you could try to soak the white pith in repeated washings of clean water to reduce the bitter compound.
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 7:14 pm
Post subject: some questions
I really love the box concept you did for the recipe instructions. Very very innovative and I will be replicating that for all my recipes I think!
I have a few questions about the recipe (I'm fairly new to baking) -
1) I'm assuming this is true, but just in case, can these bars be frozen easily?
2) If the recipe was being cut in half, would most of the ingredients (those with the largest portions), be simply cut in half?
3) Are there any substitutes you could do to this recipe to make it a bit healthier? For example, whole wheat flour, brown sugar...
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:51 am
Post subject: Re: some questions
guest wrote:
I have a few questions about the recipe (I'm fairly new to baking) -
1) I'm assuming this is true, but just in case, can these bars be frozen easily?
2) If the recipe was being cut in half, would most of the ingredients (those with the largest portions), be simply cut in half?
3) Are there any substitutes you could do to this recipe to make it a bit healthier? For example, whole wheat flour, brown sugar...
1. The bars can be frozen, but texture may be different when thawed.
2. You should be able to cut everything in half, then stick it in an 8x8 pan (which will make slightly thicker lemon bars). Baking time will probably not need to be altered - best to check doneness regularly to make sure.
3. You can make substitutes, but it won't be this recipe anymore. If you want to make this recipe healthier, just eat smaller portions and share it with more people. Free lemon bars is very conducive to making friends.
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:52 pm
Post subject: Freezing lemon bars
I have been making lemon bars from a recipe very similar to Cook's Illustrated (from "Rose's Christmas Book") since 1991 and I freeze them them all the time without loss of quality (up to about 6 weeks). In fact, if I am not going to eat them in a day or 2, I always freeze them as that keeps the shortbread crisp. They defrost in a matter of minutes if they are cut small. However, I usually wait to sprinkle the powdered sugar until they are out of the freezer. Otherwise, it seems to be absorbed into the curd and I have to redo it anyway.
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Recipe Editor
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:43 pm
Post subject: Posted recipe - incorrect butter amount
This recipe is also in Cook's illustrated "The Best Recipe" and that recipe is the EXACT SAME, with the exception of the amount of unsalted butter. The Best Recipe list the butter at 12 Tablespoons (or 1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter.
Both recipes are from the same company (Cooks Illustrated), so please double check your original recipe. It could be the reason one reviewer said the shortbread was not as buttery as he/she anticipated or was used to.
I edit and test recipes, write them as well...so I notice these things easily.
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Posted recipe - incorrect butter amount
Recipe Editor wrote:
This recipe is also in Cook's illustrated "The Best Recipe" and that recipe is the EXACT SAME, with the exception of the amount of unsalted butter. The Best Recipe list the butter at 12 Tablespoons (or 1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter.
What's really weird is that after this comment I went and double checked the recipe against The New Best Recipe and Baking Illustrated and the recipe I have posted doesn't match either book. Perhaps I got it from The Best Recipe (the book that preceded The New Best Recipe), but I no longer have a copy of that book.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:33 pm
Post subject: Lemon Bars uauuu
i love lemon bars and I loved the pictures are very intuitive. thank you
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City leaders can't continue that level of pension funding and provide adequate services for residents.
The can stops here.
That would be a good motto for Ormond Beach commissioners as they look at perhaps the biggest problem facing their city: a $40 million unfunded liability in the city's pension plans.
Referring to the soaring cost of pension benefits for retired city employees, Mayor Ed Kelley said: "There's going to have to be some adjustments. We can't keep kicking this can down the road."
The mayor is right. If Ormond Beach leaders don't take on the pension issue now, financial disaster will await the city's future leaders.
In 2000, the city's unfunded pension liabilities totaled $4.7 million. That cost wasn't even a blip on the City Commission's radar screen. But after an almost nine-fold increase in pension liabilities in a little over a decade, the commission can't ignore — or can't afford to ignore — the approaching crisis.
It's small comfort to Kelley and the commissioners, but Ormond Beach is not alone in dealing with ballooning costs for defined-benefit public employee pension plans.
As of 2011, Port Orange was facing combined liabilities of $46 million. Daytona Beach has an unfunded liability of about $56 million.
Other cities in Florida are in even worse shape. The LeRoy Collins Institute, a bipartisan think tank based in Tallahassee, described local governments' pension obligations as "a ticking time bomb."
You can hear the sound of the ticking in Ormond Beach. This year, The News-Journal reported, the city's contribution to three pension plans is consuming more than half of property tax revenue.
City leaders can't continue that level of pension funding and provide adequate services for residents. Some of the city's top pension recipients are receiving more than $90,000 a year. How is the city going to provide decent pay for its working police and firefighters if it keeps handing out pension checks that large?
An economic recovery that increases property values and property tax revenue will relieve some of the pressure on Ormond Beach and other cities. So will improvements in the rate of return on pension plan investments.
But the problem is larger than the weakness of the economy. As a report recently presented to the Halifax Area Civic League noted, the number of retirees is increasing and retirees are living longer. Some police officers and firefighters are eligible for retirement before the age of 50. So cities could be issuing pension checks to the average recipient for almost 30 years.
Mayor Kelley talked about the need for "some adjustments." Such adjustments should take into account changing demographics and longer lifespans.
In a report that focused on the public pension issue in Florida, the Collins Institute suggested raising the retirement age; eliminating certain pension sweeteners, such as including overtime pay in pension calculations; and prohibiting double dipping that allows retirees to draw a pension while working another full-time job.
For several decades, private-sector employers have been moving employees into "defined contribution" plans. In most defined contribution plans, including 401(k) accounts, the employer and the employee contribute to investments selected by the employee. Under these plans, the company does not assume any obligation for a "defined benefit."
In recent years, local governments around the country have shifted to defined contribution pension plans. This is the only way to ensure that taxpayers aren't on the hook for huge pension plan liabilities.
The Ormond Beach City Commission needs to examine its options for reducing the $40 million liability. And union officials who represent police and firefighters need to work with the city on coming up with solutions that will protect the long-term viability of the pension plans.
Further can-kicking by the commission will become an unconscionable evasion of responsibility to city taxpayers and city employees. Pension reform must become an urgent priority for Ormond Beach's elected leaders.


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Ariana Grande & Iggy Azalea Are Just Two of the Many Ladies in Elle's Women in Music Issue!
Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea rank among two of the many ladies honored in Elle magazine's Women in Music issue.
The two entertainers were joined by Angel Haze, Jetta, Warpaint, Lily Allen, Neneh Cherry, Banks, Kacey Musgraves, Foxes and Cher in the issue. Here's what the ladies had to share:
Ariana, on looking to the future: "If something great happens, I celebrate it for about�"I'm not even kidding�"a minute and a half. Then I start thinking about the next step."
Iggy, on being ready to drop swagger: "I never dove into my personal experiences. I didn't want to be vulnerable. I always felt like [rap] was escapism, but sometimes you can miss being human."
Lily, on how she's changed: "I have mellowed in some ways. Ten years ago, when I first started out, I had a lot to complain about. Whereas this time around, maybe because of the position I'm in in my private life, I feel more grateful for what I have. But that's not going to stop me from saying what I think."
Kacey, on her lyrics not being controversial: "It's hard for me to swallow when someone says, 'you're a rebel, you're an outlaw,' because no, I'm not. The things I sing about are not controversial to me. The fact that they're even considered controversial in this day and age is really sad."
For more from the ladies, visit Elle.com.
FYI: Ariana is wearing the Elizabeth and James Upton Top.
10+ pictures inside of the Elle musicians…


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Writing about school reform from a historical perspective can be, well, depressing. So many examples of hype-on-steroids, past and present, of school reform solving community and national problems. So much policy talk, past and present, that overestimates success while underestimating the difficulties of converting words into classroom deeds. But melancholia and teaching a seminar twice a week do not go hand-in-hand.
For me, teaching about school reform and the history of making "good" schools and districts stimulates the brain and clutches the heart. It lifts me up. My mind races with the questions that I need to ask students. And in asking questions, who do I call upon, which student to probe further with a follow-up question, what to do when a student asks me a question–answer it? Redirect to the class? Ask student to answer her own question?
And over the past six weeks in the seminar of "good' schools and districts my brain has raced a lot. So, too, have my emotions. In any given class, they range from anxiety to a soaring feeling of connection with a group to tedium to spontaneous outbreaks of laughter. Thus, both the brain and heart are fully engaged when I am teaching my seminar. I am not depressed when I teach although when a part of a lesson flops I surely feel blue for that moment. But most of the time, student engagement with the readings I assigned, questions I ask, questions students ask, when students disagree with me, all of these keep me thinking on my feet as I improvise my way to what I had hoped would happen in the lesson.
In thinking about the complexity of my teaching and how hard it is to keep pace with sharp students while at the same time pushing and prodding them to think about school reform, my thoughts turned to how policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and parents think about the many "great" teachers in K-12 schools. Over two years ago, I wrote a post on "great" teachers and offer it again for readers' consideration and response. A number of interesting exchanges occurred between readers and myself at that time.
Since early 2010, readership of the post has expanded and broadened. Because I have been doing a lot of thinking about teaching–as I teach this seminar–I offer this post again.
Teachers are the new Paris Hilton and iPad. They are popular icons. Pundits and politicians prize them—thus far, in words only—as the best way to improve U.S. schools. Beyond that agreement and popularity, however, is an impenetrable swamp of unanswered questions: What makes a "great" teacher? What does a "great" teacher do everyday in their classroom? How do you know a "great" teacher is "great?"
Wait a second, Larry, why do you put "great" in quotation marks?
The quote marks are there to signal that "great" (or "good," "excellent," "effective") is an adjective that varies in meaning among parents, teachers, researchers, and policymakers—much less students. Ask a friend, a child, an expert to describe a "great" teacher they had. Chances are those descriptions will contain similar features but still differ in important respects. Beyond differing descriptions of "greatness," however, there is another reason for the quote marks that is anchored in ideology.
The majority of adults in the nation believe schools should test students to see that they prepare children with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to succeed in an increasingly competitive labor market and diverse community. In short, they embrace the dominant ideology of standards, testing, and accountability to prepare graduates for college and career. In the historical tradition of teachers transmitting knowledge and skills to students, Maurice Butler, William Taylor , Michele Forman, and other teachers push, prod, and inspire students to get high test scores, go to college, and succeed in life.
But for many other parents, practitioners, and researchers, a "great" teacher goes beyond high achievement. They want their children's teachers—reflecting another age-old tradition of teaching—to work daily for the wellbeing of the child, see students as whole human beings, believe in active learning, create structures for students to collaborate and explore. In short, these folks embrace a progressive ideology of teaching believing with supreme confidence that students exposed to this tradition of teaching will do well on tests, graduate and go to college. They would point to Los Angeles teacher Rafe Esquith, kindergarten teacher Vivian Paley, and Foxfire teachers in rural Georgia nurturing, inspiring, and connecting to students.
Because parents, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers vary in their beliefs about "great" teachers and different historical traditions of teaching, I put the word in quote marks.
Even more troublesome is that the current concept of a "great" teacher squashes together two distinct aspects of teaching that need to be separated: the difference between good and successful teaching. They are not the same.
Good teaching is teaching that pursues morally and rationally sound instructional practices. Successful teaching, on the other hand, is teaching that produces the desired learning. As Gary Fenstemacher and Virginia Richardson put it:
"[T]eaching a child to kill another with a single blow may be successful teaching, but it is not good teaching. Teaching a child to read with understanding, in a manner that is considerate and age appropriate, may fail to yield success (a child who reads with understanding), but the teaching may accurately be described as good teaching. Good teaching is grounded in the task sense of teaching, while successful teaching is grounded in the achievement sense of the term."
Another way to distinguish between "good" and "successful" is when a 8th grade teacher teaches the theory of evolution consistent with the age of the child and best practices of science teaching (the "good" part) and then has her students complete three written paragraphs filled with relevant details and present-day examples that demonstrate their understanding of the theory of evolution (the "successful" part). These teaching acts are not the same nor does one necessarily lead to the other.
For the past quarter-century, however, policymakers and politicians have chopped, grated, and mixed together the goals of schooling into a concoction seeking to make education an arm of the economy. They scan international test scores, focus on achievement gaps, and boost teacher pay-for-performance plans. This policy direction has shoved the notion of "great" teaching into one corner of the ideological debate and thoroughly erased the distinction between the "good" and "successful" in teaching. Now "great" teaching means test scores go up and students go to college. A big mistake.
Why a mistake? Erasing the distinctions between "good" and "successful" teaching muddles policy prescriptions seeking to improve how teachers teach and what students learn. Consider, for example, the stark differences between Houston's pay-teachers-for-performance and Denver's ProComp plan. Most important is that policymakers have, again, ignored the history of diverse teaching traditions and different ways of teaching that parents, practitioners, and researchers prize resulting in an unfortunate monopoly on only one way of teaching while students—in their glorious diversity–learn in many different ways.