Black money gamble

The government is illogically trying to crackdown on ill-gotten wealth which has existed since time immemorial and will continue to do so, no matter how complicated our laws and systems get (Suspicious banking transactions rose by three lakh in 2016-17, says RBI report). It is the inherent nature of man to circumvent every barrier that comes in the way of their wants.

The Government needs to stop harping on demonetisation and must put in its efforts to improve other areas of administration. Perception management has gone too far and will not pay any political dividends in the future. Karthik G

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Demonetisation does not seem to have been a fruitful excercise. On November 8, along with announcing the currency ban, the government should have also extended the Income Tax Voluntary Declation Scheme. Instead, it said there would be no scrutiny on deposits up to Rs 2.5 lakh. So people started depositing this amount in savings bank accounts. Also bankers in some cases helped people deposit black money. And now, small people are being harassed by the income tax department, while the big fish have managed to go scot-free. Vinod Desai

If two people are in love and wish to get married, why should any of them have to convert (Love jihad bogey: Hadiya committed no crime. Why has she been in confinement for a year now?)? Cant they both renounce religion? And in Hadiyas case, are the authors suggesting that the courts should not have looked into any suspicious activity by the man? Instead of being apologist for all perceived discrimination let law take its own course. The authors cant claim to know more than the judges. Shyam Nediyanchath

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Why cant an adult independently decide whom to marry? Cant an Indian convert to another religion without such scrutiny? Why is the girl being denied her freedoms? Manimala Malla

Girish Shahane makes some important points in this article, but what he presents is not the full story (Counterpoint: Jaggi Vasudev is wrong to say that Indian culture lacks moral sense). Hinduism doesnt have absolute dos and donts as it has no founder nor a central religious text. Morality implies that violation is a sin punishable by god. No allowance is made for contingent circumstances or mitigating factors. So in religions that have an absolute understanding of morality, stealing is sin, period. But is there no difference between a hungry child stealing a piece of bread and a cashier in a bank stealing Rs 10?

The overarching concept in Hinduism is Dharma. Dharma is subtle (sukshma) as Gurucharan Das ably shows in his book The Difficulty of Being Good. For a king to chop off the head of a spy is dharma, but its murder if a common man does it. In Hinduism all virtues charity, kindness, honesty, etc are qualified, not absolute.

For instance, charity to the undeserving is considered worse than lack of charity to the deserving. Or, when a lie could save an innocent life, telling the truth is wrong. The burden of deciding what is right or good is on the individual. Thats a big responsibility for the common man. Hence, the reliance on gurus and swamis. As everywhere, some are genuine and some are charlatans.

Also, Hinduism is replete with stories (Mahabharata, Panchatanta, etc.) which tell us how people acted in similar circumstances and what befell them. Hinduism has no concept of heaven or hell as in Abrahamic religions. Yes, there is a pleasant place or dreadful place where a soul spends a short or long time before next birth depending upon accumulation of good deeds (punya karma) or bad deeds (papa karma) since it is impossible for any one to be absolutely virtuous or absolutely evil. This period may be considered equivalent to auditing and finalisation of accounts.

Karma is another basic concept in Hinduism. Karma is not fate or destiny, as is commonly understood. It has three components: the first is Prarabdha Karma where and when and to whom one is born, sex and date of death. These are unalterable. The second is Sanchitha Karma personality traits, predilections and proclivities. These can be altered with some effort. The third component is Agama Karma the future. The future can be shaped as one wishes by exercise of free will, in spite of his Sanchitha Karma. For instance, if one is borne with quick temper, one can learn to control ones anger by determination and perseverance. Prasura

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It is painful to read Girish Shahane arguing against Jaggi Vasudevs analysis. To bring the caste system, Buddhism and Jainism to criticise Hinduism is rubbish.These two offshoots didnt find too much acceptance in India because they are impractical and many of their adherents end up making compromises. And the caste systems rigidity was a defense mechanism against the onslaught of the Muslim invaders. Division of labour is the basis of the caste system and no society can exist without this. Mahesh Nayak

Historically, religion has always been a powerful influence on people, which has made kings and rulers nervous (Of vice and godmen: What explains the popularity of cults in India and the world?). The fact that someone has power because of their spirituality is not wrong, but how one handles that power is what makes them right or wrong. With power comes immense responsibility. In this regard, equating Jerry Falwell and Jim Bakker with Billy Graham as televangelists is not right. While Billy Graham has been a statesman, using his influence for good, Jerry Falwells use of his influence has been questionable. The same misuse of power is seen in Jim Bakker.

Billy Graham has spoken against segragation and some of the negative policies in the US. He has drawn a minimal salary and lived a moderate life. He has been an epitome of Jesus teaching on Leadership. Unfortunately, his example has been rare in all walks of life. Prem Kumar Lee

The dominant Metei community made him chief minister to serve their vested interests and Rishang Keishing remained chief minister for very long at the cost of his own people, the Tangkhul Nagas, in Manipur, who were deprived of everything (Rishang Keishing (1920-2017): Understanding the legacy of Manipurs longest serving chief minister). Jack

This is a good article but the sharp disparity in indicators between rural and urban Goa could also be explained by the growing migration in the cities (A Goa that feels like UP: This is what Indias future is likely to be). This needs to be examined before concluding that urban Goa is indeed getting worse on the indicatort. Vinay Upponi

The faulty counselling method is the most important reason for the vacant seats in deemed universities (5,226 medical college vacancies, and the reasons range from central seat allotment to demonetisation). Unlike the counselling process for engineering, where all students are given the option to upgrade to a different college in every round, for medical courses this option has not been given to second round allottees. Given a choice, many applicants could have opted for a college closer to where they stay. It doesnt make sense to force a student to go to his 40th choice of college while seats in his preferred institutes lie vacant. The basis of this allotment can be disputed in court. Extending the last date of admission will definitely not solve the crisis. Sharmi Guha

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The real reason for medical or dental seats going vacant is not the demonetisation or the central counselling system but the wrong process followed by Medical Counselling Committee. If a candidate makes a mistake and accidentally chooses the wrong college and is given a seat in the second round, all hell breaks loose on them and they are out of the counselling process. They are not given the chance to correct the mistake by retaining the seat for improvement in the next round. In many cases, mediocre students got good colleges and the brilliant ones were punished. I know, nobody will make good the loss I suffered, though my child has a decent score in NEET. The Directorate General of Health Services should see how the decisions of people at the helm of affairs is affecting our brilliant boys and girls. Brahmananda Sahoo

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Who says seats are vacant? We have been running from one place to another to try and get a seat for my daughter, but have been unsuccessful. The only possible reason that seats are lying vacant is that top rankers have been allowed to apply everywhere and are then holding on to multiple eats. Only exhorbitantly priced seats are vacant.

If NEET is followed, counseling should also be centralised for the state as well as Centre. Students should be allowed to apply either to either state or central universities instead of blocking seats across the country.

There are students who live in states that do not have a domicile criteria or whose parents are in transferable jobs and have hence not stayed in one place for too long. That needs to be taken into account. Rohini Kumar

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The process should be centralised all the way. Secondly, deemed universities should have autonomy only to run the colleges of their rules. Third, there should be one central exam for all colleges, private as well as government ones. Then, there will be no need for the EXIT exams. The main reason for vacant seats is the cost of medical education in India. Most private and deemed colleges are unaffordable. Amisha Gandhi

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If many medical colleges have empty seats, why dont they offer them up as general category seats at a reasonable fee? Why convert all the of them into management seats? Padma Ram

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Seats are vacant because tours and agents are blocking them. As a result, deserving students are not getting seats and there are vacancies even in topmost colleges. These empty seats are then given out at double the charge. Ajay Kale

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Money runs the game. Theres no doubt about that.

It was my childhood dream to become a doctor and I prepared for entrance for two years. Now, I got into a government dental college through the merit list. Im happy that I got into a government college, but my dream was to become a paediatric specialist.

I could have opted for private colleges but did not, because they are too expensive. But if I was wealthy, I would have been able to get an MBBS degree from a private institute. But Im not rich, so I have to settle for BDS. .

Money has more value than ranks or scores. Mohammed Shebin

This a very authoritative article written with great sensitivity and interest in the nuances of classical music (When (and how) did Hindustani ragas become ascribed to different times of the day?). Perhaps the author could write a similar piece on the scope of emotions or rasas in Hindustani classical music. Sharif Awan

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The author does not seem to know the difference between morning and night ragas. Music is aural, it cannot only be dissected intellectually. Trying to prove the provenance of the time theory is missing the point ad is irrelevant. Shailaja Khanna

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Readers' comments: 'Demonetisation does not seem to have been a fruitful exercise' - Scroll.in

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Monday, September 04, 2017

Saul Kaplan, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER

Saul Kaplan

If the goal is to develop markets start by developing talent. If you want to accomplish the most amazing things focus on developing the talent of amazing people. Mentoring and coaching are the most important leadership roles. Innovation starts by surrounding yourself and connecting with the best talent. If you want to attract the best talent develop a reputation as the best talent developer.

Put growth opportunities for others ahead of your own. Put growth opportunities for others ahead of your organization and your community. If you put developing talent first you will attract the best talent. If you consistently encourage and prepare talented individuals to grow into the best opportunities, wherever they are, you will become a talent magnet. People who want to get better will want to work for, with, and near you. If you prioritize talent development people will trust their talents to you.

When talented people move on to other great opportunities dont think of it as a hole you need to fill. Dont think of it as a transition inconvenience or a burden to take on additional tasks while filling a role. Be proud when people you mentor go on to new opportunities. High potential people will seek you out if you have a track record of celebrating and supporting the success of others. Talent development is self-fulfilling.

Too many managers think only about the work that needs to be done and how to keep people focused on the task at hand. When employees leave organizations its viewed as a management challenge. The difference between a manager and a leader is managers try to hold on to people assigned to them at all costs and leaders try to develop people assigned to them at all costs. Leaders encourage new personal and professional development opportunities for their best people even if they are outside of the organization. Leaders who build a reputation for talent development always attract the best people.

Its the same for community leadership. Communities should worry less about brain drain and worry more about building the capacity for talent development. Communities should worry less about company incentives for job creation and more about investments in education and workforce development. Differentiate your community by its commitment to talent development. Dont worry if talented people move on to explore opportunities in other communities. Encourage it. Stay focused on making your community the best it can be at helping its citizens be the best they can be. Talent development is the best economic development.

Success is defined not by accomplishments in the market but by the accomplishments of the people around you. If you attract the best people and focus on their personal development they will accomplish amazing things. There is nothing more personally rewarding than contributing to the talent development of others. If you want to innovate, start with talent development.

Saul Kaplan is the Founder and Chief Catalyst of theBusiness Innovation Factory (BIF).Saul shares innovation musings on his blog atIts Saul Connectedand on Twitter at@skap5.

Paul OReilly, Newport Restaurant Group

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

You may not know the name, but you have probably tasted the food. Paul O'Reilly oversees maybe the largest and most diversified restaurant group in Rhode Island. In a state loaded with great restaurateurs, O'Reillys collection is impressive: Castle Hill Inn; TRIO and 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille; the Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar; the seasonal Smokehouse Caf; the Boat House; Waterman Grille; Hemenways Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar; and seven Papa Razzi locations.

In 2014, his Newport Harbor Corp. sold nearly 4 acres on the waterfront known as the Newport Yachting Center for tens of millions.

Stephanie and Lincoln Chafee, Philanthropist and former Candidate for President

(2013 Ranking: 2)

No one fell more in the rankings over the past two years than the Chafees. The fall in influence was driven by an embarrassing failed campaign for the Presidency that started poorly with a focus on the metric system and went downhill from there.

Make no mistake about it, Lincoln Chafee could have been a significant force in Rhode Island and national politics at the conclusion of his term as Governor. He had close ties to the Obama White House and left the office far less scathed than former Governors like Ed DiPrete or Don Carcieri.

The Chafees stay in the rankings because of two factors. They are good at comebacks and the Chafees are wealthy, and Stephanie's side of the family (Danforths) are in the 1% of the 1%. Back in 2006, Roll Call magazine ranked Chafee as the 9th richest member of Congress.

The husband and wife team's combined wealth is estimated at between $150 million and $200 million.

Bready Family, former CEO Nortek/former CEO of Nabsys

(2013 Ranking: 10)

The Breadys - father Rick and son Barrett - are two of Rhode Islands most ambitious and accomplished entrepreneurs. The past couple of years have been a mixed bag for the Breadys, as Barretts Nabsys collapsed after raising upwards of of $40+ million. It should be noted that the younger Bready had left the firm before it shuttered.

The father, Richard, hosted a major fundraiser for President Barack Obama in 2014 at his nearly $20 million mansion, named Seafair.

Neil Steinberg, President, Rhode Island Foundation

(2013 Ranking: 21)

Under Steinberg, the Rhode Island Foundation has been reinvented from a sleepy charity to a dynamic innovator. Not every move has worked, but their has been no shortage of effort to spark and fund improvements to Rhode Islands quality of life and economy.

Today, the Foundation is deeply involved in the community narrative. Its peer organization the Champlin Foundation continues to operate in a cloak of secrecy.

The former Fleet banker was an unlikely innovator, but the Foundation is now sparking a dizzying array of initiatives. With assets pushing towards $800 million, the Foundation is the largest grant making organization in Rhode Island.

Ned Handy, President and Chief Operating Officer, Washington Trust

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

In 2013, it was a bit of a hiring coup d'tat when Joe MarcAurele recruited Handy to join Washington Trust as President and Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he had 18 years at Citizens Financial Group, and was President of Citizens Bank Rhode Island and Citizens Bank Connecticut.

His Connecticut connections have been part of Washington Trust's Connecticut growth.

The Brown University graduate serves on a range of boards including Rhode Island Foundation, Crossroads Rhode Island, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Hospital Foundation, Providence Foundation, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and Salve Regina University.

Charlie Townsend, CEO of Aloha Partners II

(2013 Ranking: 48)

Ever tap into the wireless on an airplane? The provider is almost always Gogo and Townsend is on the Board of the company. Rhode Islands Townsend is everything wireless. He sold Aloha Partners for $2.5 billion.

Now, Townsend is the General Partner and CEO of Aloha Partners II. Aloha Partners is the 8th largest owner of wireless spectrum in the United States, and holds wireless licenses in 12 of the top 50 markets. He has served on the Board of Directors of CTIA The Wireless Association since 1988.

Townsend is a Virginia and Harvard MBA grad.

Myrth York, Political Influencer, Investor

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

She was arguably the King-maker in the last two Mayoral campaigns helping both Angel Taveras and Jorge Elorza win office, but in both cases once in office she has lost influence over each of them. The three-time Democratic nominee for Governor has been the titular head of the progressive wing of the Democratic party in RI for decades.

The former State Senator from the East Side went all in for both Gina Raimondo and Jorge Elorza and she won big.

Recently, she scored an appointment to the Beacon Insurance Board as a part of a Chafee-Raimondo agreement.

York has been the Chair of the Zoning Board during the tenure of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. The changes to zoning on Federal Hill under the York leadership of the Zoning Board have been widely scrutinized.

York is seen as a mentor to Brett Smiley, the City of Providences Chief Operating Officer.

Mark Meiklejohn, President and CEO, BankRI

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

The bank that keeps going and growing was originally a premier regional business bank, and is now taking on all comers for consumer business.

Meiklejohn joined BankRI in January 2006 as the Director of Commercial Banking. He took over for Merrill Sherman and has changed the culture of the bank.

The former Fleet and Citizens executive has become a force in the community. He was recently the past President of the RI Bankers' Association and serves on the Boards of the United Way, Providence Chamber of Commerce, the RI Public Expenditure Council and as a Trustee for both the Providence Foundation and YMCA of Greater Providence.

Jonathan Savage, Shectman Halperin Savage LLP

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

Savage and his partners have built one of the largest firms in Rhode Island. As other corporate firms have merged, paired back and shifted focus to Boston,

Shechtman Halperin Savage have staffed up and filled the void. He has built his practice on serving as receiver or Special Master on many of the biggest busts in RI: Landmark Medical Center, The City of Central Falls, LJ Crane & Rigging, Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc., American Biophysics Corporation, and Marathon Construction, Inc.

Now, as Chair of the Airport Corporation he has focused on reversing the trend of smaller and smaller annual passenger counts by bringing in new airlines, expanding the airport and upping the marketing.

Merrill Sherman, former BankRI President and now Consultant

(2013 Ranking: 23)

Once rumored to run for Mayor of Providence and for Congress, Sherman has become a close confidant to Governor Gina Raimondo. Today, she is the Principal at Sherman Consulting and serves as special master on foreclosure cases.

She served on Raimondos transition team and shortly there after was appointed to Chair the Board for the multi-billion Clean Water Finance Agency.

Sherman sits on several boards including Brookline Bancorp, Inc.; Brookline Bank; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Rhode Island School of Design.

Dont be surprised to see Sherman make a run for elected office in the future.

Angus Davis, CEO and Founder of Swipely

(2013 Ranking: 46)

Davis may be Rhode Islands most successful and experienced technologist and he not even close to hitting 40 years-old.

He founded TellMe Networks -- and sold it to Microsoft for $800 million. Now, Swipely, is pilling up the accolades. The company founded in 2009, has raised $40.5M and landed over 3,000 customers.

Combined the company has "sales under management" of over $4 Billion

He has been tapped for most every tech award by Forbes and Fortune - a big win by Swipely would be a big win for Rhode Island.

Paul Choquette Jr., Vice Chair, Gilbane, Inc.

(2013 Ranking: 19)

Like family member Tom Gilbane #38, their is no decay in influence, but the engagement in Rhode Island has diminished. Choquette has served on most every major board including Lifespan, the Brown Corporation, Trinity, and the RI Economic Development Corporation. It is the latter of those appointments and the vote for 38 Studios loan guarantee that is the blemish.

He was a football star at Brown, and legal counsel to then-Governor John Chafee in the early 1960s.

But, make not mistake about it, the family's wealth and the company's influence has only increased, it's just their desire to play in the Rhode Island sandbox has decreased.

Tom Gilbane, Jr., CEO and Chairman, Gilbane, Inc.

(2013 Ranking: 33)

The Gilbane familys wealth and influence is growing, but the companys move to Boston has made the them more and more a regional and national player.

Gilbane and Paul Choquette have been two of the leaders in growing Gilbane from a strong regional construction force to a national firm over the past four decades.

In 2014, when GoLocal ranked the 9 wealthiest families in New England, the Gilbanes came in at #7 based on Forbes Data: With a net worth of $1.4 Billion, the family is ranked as the #147 wealthiest family in America.

Richard Baccari, Churchill and Banks

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

Baccari has had a tumultuous couple of years. The mega-developer has put together a massive collection of successful projects throughout the region, but not without great effort and some pain.

In 2014, he was cleared of Federal conspiracy and bribery charges relating to the North Providence Municipal corruption probe.

In early 2015, Baccari announced that he would be handing over the reins to the development company to his son, Richard, Jr.

The portfolio of retail, office, residential and commercial are many of the best known properties around the region. He continues to be a major force in Rhode Island.

Mark Pelson, PCI Private Equity

(2013 Ranking: 44)

Pelson is a quiet leader in business and politics. His relationship with the infrastructure of private equity in the state and his close relationship with Governor Gina Raimondo puts Pelson in a unique power position. He served on Raimondos transition team.

He has served as Chairman of Lambert's Cove Acquisition Corporation since its inception. He is a partner in several Providence Equity funds where he has served on numerous corporate boards.

Pelson has served on the Board of Overseers of Children's Hospital Boston and as Chairman of The Wolf School in East Providence.

Donald Sweitzer, Chairman, IGT Corporation (formerly GTECH)

(2013 Ranking: NEW)

There is the outside game and the inside game, and Sweitzer is very good at the inside game. In a company that has changed CEO a number of times, moved headquarters, been acquired by an international concern and rebranded, he continues to play his roll as top political adviser to the global gaming company.

Sweitzer is an ambassador for the Company when interacting with global customers, current and potential partners, and government officials, says his corporate bio. Additionally, Sweitzer advises IGT's CEO on government affairs and general business matters.

Prior to joining GTECH way back in 1998, he was a national Democratic consultant.

Michael Mahoney, CEO Boston Scientific

(2013 Ranking: 26)

Link:
Kaplan: Happy Labor Day - GoLocalProv

Let us consider one of the most famous personal transformations in all of literature. For a goodly number of years, Prince Hal took up company with rogues and wags, much to the disgrace of the crown. Then one day, upon deciding hed have enough of the life lessons taught by Fallstaff and the boys, he casts off childish things, assumes the throne, and lives to stiffen the sinews of a nation.

As you apply to college, its worth bearing in mind that you are not, unfortunately, Prince Hal. Nor, hopefully, are you Fallstaff. And yet, the two offer lessons for the eager applicant.

Fictional stories rely heavily on what your English teacher has surely referred to as "character development." You can pick any protagonist, from Hal to Huck Finn to Jane Eyre to just about anyone else short of Patrick Bateman, and they will change from the first chapter to the last. They might change their beliefs or their relationships. They might act differently. They might trade bad decisions for good or good for bad. The desire to see these changes play out keeps us engaged as readers.

The approach tends not to work so well in college essays.

Often, students approach essays saying, "I want to show..."

"....show how an experience changed me as a person."

"....reveal my character (or personality)"

".....show what I learned.

....what this experience taught me.

"....show how I've grown."

I understand these instincts. Learning and growing are great things. But I submit that they will not lead to strong college essays.

Character development works in fiction for two reasons (among others):

First, even if the narration is in first-person, we know that the author, be it Shakespeare, Twain, or whomever, isn't talking about him- or herself. This means that the character is being portrayed accurately (at least within the confines of the narrative). And it means that the narrator thinks the story is worth telling. It also means that the narrator is free to reveal unflattering aspects of the character. Huck humiliates Jim; Hal gets into all sorts of trouble.

Second, as we have already established, you are not the future King of England. We care about Prince Hal's transformation because we know that he's going to become king. He doesn't need to apply for the job. Everything he does, good and bad, is inherently important. In the case of non-regal characters, we care about their development because we find the stories inherently interesting -- not because we are evaluating them as human beings. Keep in mind, interesting doesnt mean flattering.

By contrast, a college essay that tries to celebrate personal change runs into two challenges:

First, since you are the author, You are not the most credible judge of your own character. Transformation essays result in claims like, .and I became a more generous/compassionate/humorous person. Unfortunately, that sounds like bragging (because it is). And you're making unsubstantiated assertions. Sure, you can say you became more compassionate, but that claim is only as meaningful as the proof you offer. And the proof really ought to speak for itself i.e. in the story that youre telling in the essay.

Second, the whole idea of personal development relies on your audience understanding both your prior state and your new state. That's a lot to pack into one essay. And the prior state is usually irrelevant. If you "used to" be a certain way and now you're not, why do we care about how you "used to" be? In fact, if you describe a prior state that was less admirable than your "new" state, readers will associate you with the prior state. Any time you say "I realized.." or even, "I learned..." you're implicitly highlighting what you didn't know. If you just aced Calculus BC, why tell us, In seventh grade I hated math?

Instead of focusing on the process of personal growth, I encourage applicants to focus on outcomes: Who are you today? What do you know today? What do you believe today? What can you do today? (On a related topic, please see my blog about childhood anecdotes.)

If you've had interesting experiences, you don't need to justify them by explaining how those experiences changed you -- especially if the experiences were recent and the changes uncertain. If you built a rocket and went to Mars, we don't care about how going to Mars changed you -- we care about how you pulled it off and what Mars was like.

Rather than tell us how you learned something, tell us what you know and what you you can do. Don't tell us how learning to cook a blueberry pie changed you. Tell us about the awesome pie you make and how you feel about sharing it with your family. Tell us how the pie changed other people.

If you made a moral realization, tell us the story that led to the realization and then state your convictions and analyze them. But dont imply that you were previously morally stunted.

If you want to share an opinion about or observation of the world, just share it. Don't tell us what you used to think. If you are concerned about, say, the cholera epidemic in Yemen, dont tell us that you previously had never heard of Yemen.

For all of these examples, dont worry about your personality. Your deeds and ideas reflect your personality (as does your writing style).

Everyone goes through changes, especially in high school. If applicants focus less on essays that reveal past developments and get excited about the present, something fantastic will happen. Colleges will get a far clearer picture not of the person you used to be but rather of the person you might become in the next four years. If they like that picture, youre one more step closer to getting in.

And if you are in line to the throne, you get want to mention that too.

See the rest here:
'Character Development' and the College Applicant - HuffPost

Amanda Spadaro Reporter @aspadaro845

TOWN OF WARWICK - Horses have their own way of talking back.

They can be stubborn, uncooperative or dismissive, just like people.

Thats why they are the perfect patient substitutes for first-year students at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown who arelearning about bedside manner, according to Deirdre Hamling.

Hamling is theowner and operator of Raven Hill Farms on Glenmere Avenue, just outside the Village of Florida.

Horses are sensitive to their surroundings and respond immediately to the energy and emotions around them, Hamling said.

Her farm uses Equi-Power Solutions, a program for professional development she developed.

Through unmounted tasks, the horses teach students the importance of nonverbal communication and mindfulness to improve patient interactions.

A horse will size you up almost instantly and decide whether youre a leader or not, Hamling said.

When you lose your confidence, you lose your patient. All that translates into patient compliance and how well you do as a doctor."

This is the second year Touros medical students have been to Raven Hill, and its now mandatory for all first-year students, said Dr. Stephanie Zeszutek, course director for physical diagnosis at Touro.

During a recent session on the farm, a pair of students led a horse through an obstacle course while they balanced a ball on a spoon.

Its a metaphor: How do the doctors own emotions and anxieties, represented by the balancing ball, affect how successful they are with the patient?

Zeszutek said many students dont realize how nonverbal communication affects a doctors work with the patient: What message does their body language send? What energy are they casting through the office?

A student'sapproach may be too relaxed or too aggressive, Zeszutek said. The horses teach the students how to read the situation and respond appropriately.

Trent Williams, a first-year student from Washingtonville, said the program requires self-reflection that would be hard to replicate in a classroom.

The lesson he took home from the stables was that balance is key. Theres a sweet spot between being too laid-back or too aggressive that each horse - or patient - responds best to.

Ryan Colabella ofLong Island thought the horses did plenty of back-talking.

When we were having difficulty with getting them to do a task, it became more and more difficult, he said.

They sensed that we were either trying too hard or getting discouraged.

Chantell Melgarejo, a first-year student from Wellington, Fla., also had trouble getting the horses to follow her. It was quite a surprise for her, since she grew up working with horses.

It turned out that her proactive approach was too aggressive for the horses, she said.

To become a more effective doctor, she plans to develop her plans before jumping in with both feet.

Colabella said hehas a different problem: He doesnt think his approach proves that he is confident in his own abilities.

As a student, he sometimes feels awkward advising an older person on their health, he said.

Another student, Jayson Lowery, admitted his expectations for the class were initially low, but he quickly realized just how much the horses had to teach him.

You dont know how youre portrayed until you can see that from an animal that cant talk, Lowery said.

It was like looking into a mirror.

If you, as the physician, are apprehensive in approaching the patient or dont portray a sense of confidence, the patient is going to sense that immediately, and the horses do the same thing, he said.

Lowery stressed that osteopathic medicine focuses on a holistic approach. Part of that includes how well a doctor relates and connects with the patient.

Were not treating the disease, were treating the person, he said. Your attitude is going to affect how you treat that person.

aspadaro@th-record.com

See the rest here:
Horses stand in as 'patients' to help local med students boost their bedside skills - Times Herald-Record

Summer vacation is over, school has begun and soon the new 4-H year will start. What does school starting and 4-H have in common? Learning! Learn-by-doing is the 4-H slogan, and research shows that hands-on learning is the most effective way to learn. 4-H focuses on teaching new topics and life skills development in non-formal 4-H club settings, where meetings and activities result in a fun, fulfilling learning experience.

4-H members belong to clubs led by dedicated volunteers. Youth learn and grow in partnership with caring adults to develop the skills and confidence needed to become contributing, productive, self-directed members of society. By using the learn-by-doing approach, young people see how their actions make a difference in the lives of others and the world around them. No matter what 4-H project a youth is involved in, this model is applicable to all areas.

Hands-on learning used in 4-H follows the do-reflect-apply learning process by utilizing the five steps of the experiential learning model:

If you were at this years Douglas County Fair and visited the barns or the Exhibit Hall, you may have seen the finished products of projects that 4-H members worked on for months: raising animals, sewing, cooking, table setting and public speaking. All the youth incorporated hands-on learning and the experiential learning model, whether they were aware of it or not.

Not all 4-H learning has to culminate in a project that is displayed at fair. 4-H offers a variety of hands-on lessons using a curriculum that is researched-based and can be used in a classroom or home-school setting. Some lessons and activities can be completed in thirty minutes or less. One such lesson is an environmental education and earth science lesson titled Edible Aquifer. This lesson can help a child explore their environment by making wise uses of natural resources. After a 20 to 30 minute activity, the child should be able to demonstrate how water and pollution can get into an aquifer. Not only is this lesson informative and hands-on, it is also edible, which is always a big plus with children.

What other topics are available for use from 4-H? Citizenship and civic education, communications and expressive arts, consumer and family science, healthy lifestyle education, personal development and leadership, plants and animals, science and technology are just some of the subjects that can be found in the 4-H curriculum.

If you are a student, parent, or teacher who is interested in learning what else 4-H can offer you, please contact the Douglas County OSU Extension Service for more information.

Teresa Middleton is the 4-H Program Coordinator at OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. Teresa can be reached by e-mail at teresa.middleton@oregonstate.edu or phone at 541-672-4461.

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Extension Spotlight: Learning by doing - NRToday.com

Regrets that married women have All Woman Monday, September 04, 2017 , BY PENDA HONEYGHAN

MANY women spend much of their childhood conjuring up ideas of a blissful marriage, and by extension a happy life ever after. What is equally true is that many, whether they are newly wed, celebrating double-figure anniversaries, or on the brink of divorce, at some point regret having been married for various reasons.

All Woman asked a few of its readers to share their marriage regrets:

Charmaine, married six years:

I regret giving up my financial independence. I enjoy taking care of the house and the kids, but I don't like having to report to my husband about all the money I spend or waiting for him to give me money. This is not how I planned my life, and so it's a sore point for me, because I miss the days when I earned and was able to get all I wanted without having to fill out a questionnaire first.

Rachelle, married 12 years:

I think that my deepest regret would be that I didn't take time to explore. I just left school and got married, because having grown up in a Christian home we were taught that before we become intimate we need to commit to each other. That one decision led to at least 10 years of misery.

Patricia, married 20 years:

I regret ever meeting my husband, which is the reason I am now working to undo that mistake in the best way that I can.

Michelle, married seven years:

I am sorry that I allowed him to reduce me to nothing. He may not hit me, but it would have been better if he did, because at least those scars would heal and fade over time. I am still working on getting out of it but some things still have me a little tied up. Thank God that I have my mother, and she is helping me to get out of it.

Amoy, married three years:

He is unsupportive of my plans for personal development.

Sharon, married 27 years:

I regret that I made sacrifices, including not having children, while my husband has done nothing but cheat. He has always lied to me, he has accused me of affairs and other things over the years, but I know it's just so he will feel less guilty.

Catherine, married three years:

I know I am expected to say that my husband is terrible, but honestly, he is a great person. I only regret being married because I miss being able to be selfish with my decisions and resources. I am an only child so I was used to it being just me.

Ava:

I regret getting married because my husband makes me feel like a sex object. I feel like I am just an accessory.

Link:
Regrets that married women have - Jamaica Observer

Photo: Paola Marizan (WNIN News)

Ricky Ard's body is removed from the scene at the federal building in Evansville.

A southern Indiana coroner says a man slain by an officerwas in the midst of a schizophrenic episode when he swung a baseball bat at the officer.

An Evansville police officer fatally shot 55-year-old Ricky Ard outside a federal courthouse where he had smashed windows with a bat Tuesday, a day after being escorted from that building.

Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear tells the Evansville Courier & Press Ard was having a schizophrenic episode and was fixated on an Evansville businessmans unsolved 1977 car-bombing death when he encountered the officer.

A statement from Ards family says he had a long, documented history of mental illness.

A preliminary police investigation found the officer was justified in shooting Ard.

A police video shows the officer attempt to use a stun gun on Ard, and Ard swinging a bat at the officer before he fired.

Link:
Evansville Man Killed By Police Was Having Mental Episode - Indiana Public Media

SUTHERLIN The Bulldogs really need a win.

The Sutherlin High football team has gone almost two complete seasons without a win. Last year, they were 0-9 and the year before 1-6, and after some devastating and heartbreaking losses in the last two years, a win could do wonders for the Bulldogs mental attitude.

It seemed like every time they looked to be heading for a score, a turnover, untimely penalty or just a botched play would stall the drive. The Bulldogs were outscored 349-87 and just had a hard time getting the ball into the end zone.

There were so many games the last two years, it wasnt about our abilities, it was about the opponents just making a play, getting a stop, or bad bounce, or if we just hold onto the ball. So getting some success early with this group, I think could snowball for us, said fifth-year coach Sean Radford, whose teams still have not won a Sky-Em League game since moving into the league three seasons ago.

The Sutherlin offense will have to pick up the pace after getting shut out three times last year, and scoring just one touchdown in three other games.

At quarterback, the Bulldogs have experience in senior Zach Yarbrough (5-foot-10, 155 pounds) but two others are competing for the starting spot.

Juniors Cade Meisner (5-11, 160), who played quarterback on the JV team last year, and Anthony Friesen (6-1, 175) are both in the mix.

If we can get a guy who just takes over the job and makes good decisions, and hopefully makes some good plays, that would be really nice for us to see, but that is a question mark, said Radford.

Whoever wins the job will have some pass catchers to throw to. The receiving positions might be Sutherlins strongest and deepest spot in the lineup.

We have a lot of guys we can throw in there and keep us fresh, and have some speed, Radford said.

Senior Korbyn Jones (6-4, 200) and Junior J.R. Bailey (6-6, 240) will alternate at tight end, and several others will rotate at wide receiver. Senior Tristan Vincent (5-8, 145) has some speed and was the leading receiver last year with 18 catches. Hes one of several receivers who will see a lot of playing time.

We have a lot of guys returning and a lot of young guys that are really working hard for a spot, said Vincent. I think we have the quarterbacks that can get us the ball, and they have really good throwing arms and are putting in the work in practice.

Jones feels they have the pieces to make the offense go.

All of us come out here every day, running our routes, trying to make them more crisp and were pretty set, I think well be fine, Jones said.

Senior Conner Grauf (6-0, 190) is a bruising runner. He carried the ball an average of 13 times a game last year and had a season-high 126 yards against North Valley. He ran for six touchdowns during the season, three of those in the final game against Yamhill-Carlton.

Radford thinks he will have a competitive team. Hes had only five seniors in fall camp, but feels he has some quality athletes.

We have back almost all of our linebacking corps. The biggest loss on defense was Tristan Needam at safety and were trying to figure out who to fit in there, said Radford. Up front we bring Korbyn (Jones) and J.R. (Bailey) back at defensive end, and feel really good about them.

Grauf and senior Andrew Smalley (6-0, 225) are returning starters at linebacker, and theyll be pretty solid there, as long as they can avoid injuries.

Will Singleton (6-0, 190, junior) comes back and hes a strong player, Grauf said. He has a nose for the ball, and Hunter Fadness (6-0, 160, junior) will probably be a strong safety and hes really picking it up quickly. Hell be a huge asset for our defense.

Radford says senior cornerbacks Bryce Anderson (5-10, 160) and Vincent are good enough to take some pressure off the inside linebackers, so theyll be able to concentrate more on stopping the running game.

On the offensive line, the Bulldogs have Singleton and Zach Lepre (5-10, 195, junior) who both played a lot as sophomores. Sophomores Ashton Pepiot (6-0, 240), Hunter Strong (5-10, 190) and junior Austin Owens (6-6, 235) all come up from the JV and have gotten bigger and stronger.

We wont have a senior on our line, and I think were finally in a position where we can build some depth there, which we havent had, Radford said.

As always, with a small turnout, the Bulldogs cant afford many injuries.

Seven starters back on both sides of the ball, and they feel theyll be competitive, but they badly need a win to get over a big mental hurdle. The turnout is better this year with about 35 players showing up for fall practice, and thats still not as many bodies as Radford would like.

From one to 35, we really like the group that we have and were optimistic about it, said Radford.

The Bulldogs open at Oakland at 7 p.m. Friday night and the rivalry has been heating up the last two years, but Jones says theyre trying not to get too caught up in it.

Were going to focus on the game and get prepared mentally and be physically ready. Theyre a tough team, but were tough too, Jones said.

Link:
Prep Football: Sutherlin tries to get over the mental hurdle - NRToday.com

Chapter 5: Mental Toughness from the book Sports & Stocks by Bud Labitan

Mental toughness is a measure of individual resilience and confidence that may predict success in sports, investing, education, and work. Mental toughness and focus are a set of attributes that allow a person to become a better athlete and and a better investor. It takes self-discipline to cope with difficult training and difficult competitive situations without losing confidence. I like to think that running Cross Country and Track in High School gave me more mental toughness and perseverance. I believe that this also helped me learn to pace myself, and exercise patience.

Get the entire 10-part series on Buffett's Early Years in PDF. Save it to your desktop, read it on your tablet, or email to your colleagues.

Also read:

Sports & Stocks by Bud Labitan

In recent years, the term mental toughness has been commonly used by coaches, sport psychologists, sports commentators, and business leaders. Along with mental toughness, consider the idea of mental flexibility. Mental flexibility is the ability to keep an open mind and learn new things.

While "Mental toughness" refers to positive attributes that helps a person to cope with difficult situations, consider the idea of mental efficiency. Mental Efficiency is similar to good time management. To me, it means the use of our time to focus on the things that really matter in making a good decision.Coaches use the term mental toughness to describe the mental state of athletes who persevere through difficult sport circumstances. Likewise, good preparation helps the athlete and the investor lessen the difficulties of running a play or making a challenging decision.

The great Basketball player Michael Jordan always prepared himself for game battle. He said: I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-Six, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

Each meaningful event can lead us to improve our performance. Famous Basketball Coach John Wooden said: Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. And It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.

Does competition have to be stressful? "Hans" Selye, was a pioneering Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist. He conducted important scientific work on the hypothetical non-specific response of an organism to stressors. Dr. Selye said: Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.

Consider this similar quote from Dale Carnegie: Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.

Then, back to investing and attitude, note what Warren Buffett said: Our advantage, is attitude: we learned from Ben Graham that the key to successful investing was the purchase of shares in good businesses when market prices were at a large discount from underlying business values. When you invest, focus on your circle of competence. Draw a circle around the businesses you understand and then eliminate those that fail to qualify on the basis of value, good management, and limited exposure to hard times.

Buffett has gone on to say: Keep it simple. Value Investing ideas seem so simple and commonplace. It seems like a waste of time to go to school and get at PhD, and having someone tell you the ten commandments are all that matter. An investor cannot obtain superior profits from stocks by simply committing to a specific investment category or style. He or she can earn them only by carefully evaluating facts and continuously exercising discipline.

So, if you keep things simple, carefully evaluate the important facts, and continuously exercise discipline, you can make your process a bit easier and have a bit more fun.

"Sports & Stocks" by Bud Labitan can be found on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Bud-Labitan/e/B002D1ERT4

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Sports & Stocks Chapter 5: Mental Toughness - ValueWalk

Montabella senior fullback Luke Burns ran for 234 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns in the Mustangs 22-20 win at Vestaburg Thursday. Montabella finished with 375 rushing yards total. (Daily News | Ryan Schlehuber)

VESTABURG Both teams wanted it, but it was Luke Burns and the Montabella running game that had enough in the tank to squeak out a 22-20 win over Vestaburg Thursday.

The senior fullback bulled his way into the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, the last one from two yards out with 2:04 to play in the game to take the lead for good, to help his Mustangs (1-1 overall) come from behind to win.

This was amazing. This was hard work paying off because I just really wanted to beat them, said Burns, who finished with 234 rushing yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns. We played as a team and we came together and worked as a team. This is a great rivalry.

Vestaburg quarterback Seth Stratton runs for yards as Montabellas Ethan Crawford (20) runs him down in the third quarter.

Teammate David Shattuck added 101 yards rushing on 10 carries, including a 57-yard touchdown scamper that opened up the scoring for the Mustangs in the first quarter (two-point conversion was good).

Overall, Montabella racked up 375 rushing yards on the Wolverines (0-2).

We just got gassed at the end, Vestaburg head coach Dan Ryckman said. This was a tough one to lose. They played their hearts out, but weve played two teams now that are bigger in size but we hung in there. We just didnt make enough plays at the end.

Vestaburgs offense was stalled by the Mustangs defense the entire first half, as the Wolverines went into halftime down 8-0, however, Vestaburgs Trenton Ketner intercepted Montabella quarterback Jordan Balhorns pass at Vestaburgs 30-yard line on Montabellas opening drive of the second half, which sparked the Wolverines sideline.

Vestaburg Seth Stratton got the ball down to the 1-yard line with a pass to Kegan Crooks and junior running back Dalton Denman punched it into the end zone one play later to get the Wolverines on the board.

Vestaburg receiver Kegan Crooks catches a pass during the first half of Thursdays game.

After recovering an onside kick, Stratton and company charged down the field and finished another scoring drive with a four-yard pass to senior Noah Johnston to take the lead 14-8 in the third quarter.

Vestaburg struck again in the fourth quarter when Stratton ran 37 yards into the end zone to put Vestaburg up 20-8 with 8:28 to go.

But Burns wasnt finished yet, capping a Montabella drive with a 17-yard touchdown run with 6:44 left in the game to pull within six of Vestaburg.

We had to get motivated again and shut them down. We couldnt let them just walk all over us, Burns said. We had to hang with them and it meant we needed to get motivated again.

Montabella recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kick-off, getting the ball back at the 49-yard line with 6:12 to go. Thats when the Mustangs meticulous running game made its final push, with Burns leading the way.

Hes a horse, Balhorn said of Burns. The unfortunate thing is we ask so much out of that young man, and we have other running backs who are talented, too, but they knew he was getting the ball and they still couldnt stop him. Hes got a mental attitude and edge that hes not going to go down easy, and it worked well for him.

Junior Marshall Wright sealed Montabellas win with his interception on Vestaburgs last drive with 1:21 to go.

Stratton finished 5-for-17 passing for 101 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He rushed for 61 yards on eight carries.

Dalton Denman rushed for 41 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown for Vestaburg and Noah Johnston finished with five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Ketner led the defense with 10 tackles and one interception, followed by Johnston with 10 tackles.

For Montabellas defense, senior Wyatt Sackett led the team with eight tackles and a sack, while Jordan Balhorn finished with seven tackles and one pass break-up.

Montabella will host Carson City-Crystal while Vestaburg travels to Coleman next Friday.

scoop@staffordgroup.com | (616) 548-8279

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Running on empty - Greenville Daily News