Category Archives: Golden Rule

Antioch

2021 record: 6-4

Coach: Brian Glashagel

Worth noting: Antioch did not win the conference last year for the first time since it started in 2016. The Sequoits are 39-2 in NLCC play all-time. We are hungry to win the title back, said Glashagel, whose teams only NLCC loss last year was to league champion Wauconda (24-13). Antioch is sitting in a good spot with some talented returning folks among the four starters back on offense and four on defense. Lets start with 6-5, 220-pound senior tight end-outside linebacker Joey Neumann, a four-year varsity starter and a three-time all-NLCC academic pick, as well as an all-state academic selection. Hes committed to South Dakota State as a tight end and had eight Division I offers with some recruiting him at outside backer. Joey is ranked as a top tight end in the state, Glashagel said. Hes a Division I player on both sides of the ball. The Sequoits also have senior quarterback Quade Moll back. He threw for 994 yards last year. Junior running back Nick Day ran for 833 yards and six scores on his way to all-conference honors as a sophomore. Running back Aiden Lennon also returns, as does the linebacking trio of Aidan Niemczyk, Caleb Nobiling and Ethan Kolloff. Antioch is always coached well, plays hard, disciplined and tough, Glashagel said. This has always been our strength and will always be. We are nicely balanced with returning starters and some seniors that got quality playing time last fall, with a talented junior and sophomore class. Glashagel is excited about the skill positions on offense. Quade is as good a high school quarterback as there is and hes surrounded with some really good weapons in Aiden Lennon, Nick Day, Martin Cohen (sophomore running back), Marshall Gehrke (sophomore wide receiver) and Joey Neumann, he said. Our skilled offensive players are as good as we have had. Strength and quickness rule the day on defense. We are incredibly strong and fast, the coach noted. Our linebacking unit of Aiden, Ethan and Caleb is our Mike Singletary, Wilbur Marshall and Otis Wilson (famed Chicago Bears linebacking duo in the 1980s).

2021 record: 2-7

Coach: Tim Norwood

Worth noting: Norwood takes over for Chris Robinson and is one of four new head coaches in the league. Top returners on offense for the Bulldogs include junior Rylan Art (QB), seniors Ivan Hernandez (OL-DL) and Yedi Israel (TB) and junior Daymian Longtin (slot-LB). Key players back on defense include seniors KeSean Louramore (DL) and Cameron Lattimore (DL). We hope that our strengths are to be a physical team on offense that runs the ball well, Norwood said. Defensively, we hope to play fast and give great effort. Art is back for his senior season under center. He is one our leaders on the offensive side of the ball, Norwood noted. Louramore, has had a really strong summer on the defensive line and plays with great speed and effort, Norwood added. Also watch for the name Pryde Mendoza at free safety and tailback. Pryde is a type of player who can be a difference-maker on each side of the ball, Norwood said.

2021 record: 8-3

Coach: Mike Maloney

Worth noting: The Rams are coming off a 2021 season where they went to the second round of the state playoffs and have some strong pieces returning from that group (4 starters back on offense and 5 on defense). Headlining that group is 6-3, 200-pound senior wideout-safety Kaiden Miller, who is the programs all-time leader in receiving yards (1,097). Senior Jeremiah Almendarez-Poyser (5-9, 155) is the teams leading returning rusher. Junior middle linebacker-running back Marty Jens (5-7, 187) is the top returning tackler on defense. Other key cogs back from a year ago include junior Garrett Guenther (6-0, 175, slot-DB), senior Jaydin Kante (6-0, 290, NG-OG) and sophomore Jonny Sage (6-0, 165, LB-RB). The overall depth on offense and defense is the best the program has seen in several years, Maloney said. We have a very fast team with a number of track athletes in key positions. We hope this bolsters our potential for explosive plays. Linebacking is where the most experience resides, Maloney noted, with two-year starter Jens and Sage, in the starting trenches as a freshman in 2021, leading the way. Our linebacking corps will anchor the defense, Maloney said. We have tremendous athleticism and coverage capability on the back end. (We) can match any receiver group we may face throughout the year. Maloney is obviously keen on Miller and likes the potential Almendarez-Poyser brings out of the backfield. Kaiden Miller has the potential to be the best football player on the field in several of our games, Maloney said. He will be a difference-maker, for sure. Jeremiah could end up the leading rusher in our conference if our inexperienced, but athletic offensive line can produce at a high level. Keep an eye on junior running back-defensive back Alex Carter. My sleeper pick for most productive offensive player this season, the coach said. Hes a dynamic athlete. Maloney pegs Antioch and Wauconda as NLCC contenders out of the gates. Dont sleep on the Rams, he said of his team. We have a punchers chance at the trophy.

2021 record: 3-6

Coach: Brian Johnson

Worth noting: Johnson is one of four new head coaches patrolling the NLCC sidelines this fall. He takes over a Knights team that has four starters back on offense and six more on the opposite side. Senior quarterback Jacob Donohue is a three-year starter. In seven games last year, he threw for 1,881 yards and 18 scores, coming off a sophomore year where he threw for 1,492 yards and 20 TDs. Jacob is a leader and has good rapport with our receivers, who will all be new, Johnson said. He has an outstanding arm and pocket presence and experience. I am really happy with the offensive line leadership and experience, making the transition to a new offense much easier. Seniors DJ Neely (5-10, 155, WR-DB), Zion Hodges (6-1, 237, LB), Nathan Alfaro (5-10, 225, OL-LB) and Mario Vizzini (5-10, 225, OL-DL) are two-way returning starters, while senior Nik Green (6-2, 265) is a three-year starter on the offensive line at center, and Johnson noted has the potential for being a dominant lineman. The offensive and defensive lines are all seniors with some experience, Johnson pointed out. Quickness on defense will be another positive for North. We have quite a few players that are able to run to the ball, Johnson said. We might not have earth-shattering size, but we have some quickness. We also feel like we have a lockdown corner in Michael Jefferson, which will help out our front seven greatly. Johnson likes Neelys versatility. DJ is an all-around threat running the ball, receiving, receiving kicks and playing defense, he said.

2021 record: 5-5

Coach: Jason Ellerman

Worth noting: The Eagles were one of four NLCC teams to make the playoffs in 2021. Now, Ellerman takes the controls of the program and inherits a squad that has three starters back on offense and only two on defense. Top returning Lakes players include Tyson Dewey (6-2, 170, Sr., WR-DB), Max Bausch (5-10, 180, Sr., QB), Matt Rytina (6-0, 165, DB-WR) and Drew Schmidt (6-1, 195, OL-DL). Ellerman likes Lakes ability to run the ball in a physical manner and use play-action passing to create explosive plays, plus the ability to use its RPO package to get players the ball in space. On defense, Ellerman likes the teams ability to communicate, get off blocks, track ball carriers and tackle. We will strive to be fundamentally sound and aggressive, he said. Ellerman noted three main tenets he is emphasizing this season. We will always celebrate or pick each other up after each play, he said. The other two include: Just be a good person and follow the golden rule, Treat others how you want to be treated, and Just be tough mentally, physically and emotionally. Also keep an eye on senior running back and inside linebacker Amir Al Hindi (5-10, 180), Ellerman noted.

2021 record: 0-9

Coach: Wilton Hill

Worth noting: The Warhawks have not won a game since the last game of the 2021 COVID spring season and scored 52 points in 2021. We are trying to get back to our brand of football after battling through these past two rough seasons, Hill said. Were looking to be competitive and hopefully shock a few teams. North Chicago has four starters back on either side of the ball, including the likes of Bryce Turner (6-2, 160, Sr., DB-WR), Terrell Turner (6-1, 205, Sr., LB-TE), Ellis Usher (5-8, 140, Sr., CB-SB), Shadon Mays (6-2, 350, DL), Marquell Maggett (5-8, 145, S-SB) and Julian Chacon (5-9, 190, DL-OL). Hill said freshman Jalin Strowder (6-2, 355, DL-OL) has a ton of potential up front, while Usher athleticism, he added, will stand out on both sides of the ball. Hill added Terrell Turner can make plays on both sides of the football. I like the competitive drive of the underclassmen, Hill said. We also have strength and athleticism on both sides of the ball on the line, and versatile and athletic skill guys.

2021 record: 2-7

Coach: Scott Blecha

Worth noting: The Panthers graduated 26 seniors or 66 percent of its 2021 varsity roster, so we will be extremely young this year, Blecha said. Back for Round Lake are seniors Anthony Bishop (5-8, 153, RB-DB), Raul Casco (5-11, 220, OL-DL), Easton Nixon (5-11, 135, WR-DB), Rigo Tapia (5-7, 130, WR-DB) and Saul Ugarte (5-9, 215, OL-LB), along with sophomore Kevin Johnson (5-10, 153, WR-DB). Each side of the ball has three starters each back. Blecha said the squad will lean on Ugartes experience as a three-year varsity starter on the offensive line and captain. Saul will be the leader of a young O-line crew that has shown promise throughout the summer and intends to make their mark this season, he said. He will play offensive line and linebacker and looks to be a force on both sides of the ball. Bishop and Tapia are also back as playmakers, while others will step into supporting roles to get the offense going, Blecha said. On defense, Isaac Jackson and Darius Smith, Blecha said, are ready to fill the void at linebacker and lead the defense. Captain and leading tackler Mario Jimenez was among the large graduation exit. Johnson returns at corner after starting as a freshman. Nixon and Tapia will fill out the secondary as a group that is ready to disrupt the passing game, Bleach said. Bishop was the teams third-leading tackler last year, and was a top five receiver and running back on the stat pages.

2021 record: 10-1

Coach: Chris Prostka

Worth noting: Prostka is one of those four new head coaches in the conference and is at the helm of a Bulldogs team that in 2021 became the first non-Antioch team to win the NLCC title since the conference was formed. Wauconda has five starters back on offense and six more on defense, including Nick Smith (6-0, 185, Sr., RB-LB), Tyler Schmidt (6-1, 230, Sr., OL-DL), Jake Becker (6-4, 240, Sr., OL-DL), Chase Groelle (6-3, 190, Sr., WR-OLB), Jackson Ori (6-2, 190, Sr., WR-DB), Broke Pfeiffer (6-1, 170, Jr., WR-DB) and Connor Vanselow (6-0, 175, Jr., RB-OLB). Our numbers are up from the previous two seasons, so our depth will be a benefit this year, Prostka said. Our senior class knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the varsity level. The last two seasons combined we were 15-2. Our players want to keep that level of success going and work to go further in the playoffs. Smith had 15 tackles for loss last season and was an all-NLCC pick. Pfeiffer had eight interceptions as a sophomore in 2021, while Vanselow returns after running for eight scores. We have a good balance on offense and we have playmakers at all positions, Prostka said. We have size on the line and strong runners in the backfield. Our receivers are tall and tough to tackle. They also enjoy their roles blocking in the run game. Prostka noted the Bulldogs have a good amount of experience back on defense, including all-NLCC performers in Schmidt and Smith, and the majority of our secondary played significant minutes last season, he said. Junior Zac Johnson is competing for the starting quarterback position, playing defensive back, punting, kicking and kicking off. Zac is doing a lot of things for us, Prostka said.

Graylake North's Jacob Donohue passes against Grayslake Central on September 10, 2021. (John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com/John Starks)

Week 3: Lakes at Antioch No time is wasted in kicking off the NLCC slate with a bang with this annual neighborhood rivalry game.

Week 4: Grayslake Central at Grayslake North The battle of Grayslake pretty self-explanatory.

Week 6: Wauconda at Antioch Wauconda dethroned Antioch atop the NLCC last season and you can bet a million bucks if you bet a dollar that this is circled on both teams calendars in red ink.

Week 8: Antioch at Grayslake Central Rams coach Mike Maloney said dont sleep on his crew. This could quite the late-season, Week 8 game.

Oct. 21 Wauconda at Grayslake North: Could this Week 9 game have playoff implications for both clubs?

https://football.dailyherald.com/sports/20220819/2022-season-preview-scouting-the-northern-lake-county-conference/

See more here:

2022 season preview: Scouting the Northern Lake County Conference - Friday Night Drive

Your thirties. Whether you're in them or not, you'll know that being in your thirties doesn't mean you have your whole life sorted. Goodness, no. You're still messing things up. Still learning. Still trying to navigate the big ol' game that is, well, life.

In saying that, you've probably picked up some powerful little life lessons and a few good habits along the way, and learned to love the person that you've become.

Just ask Brittany Hockley.

The 34-year-old has one big and busy lifeshe's an actress, reality star, author and podcast co-host with Laura Byrne. And as she tells Mamamia, her rise to success hasn't come without its challenges.

Here, we sat down with the esmi Skin Minerals brand ambassador and had a chat about all the changes she's making in her thirties.

From skincare to career moves, here are the 9 golden rules Brittany lives by.

When it comes to skincare, this is Brittany's number one rule (and honestly, it should be yours, too!)

"I always wear sunscreen now," Brittany tells Mamamia. "I damaged my skin a lot in my youth by surfing and lazing about in the sunprobably like most of our generation. So, now it is about trying to reverse the damage!"

Hands up who can relate?!

"I use SPF everyday on my face, chest, hands, bodyeverywhere. I always carry it in my bag."

Full marks, Britt.

Another important thing the podcast host has learnt over the years, is knowing what her skin needs. "I've noticed a big difference in my skin the last few years. Life catches up with you that's for sure! My skin is always so drythat is my major battle."

Luckily, skin care is something she said she's utterly "obsessed" with. "I spend a lot of time and money looking after it, from treatments like lasers, needling and hydra facials to really good quality skincare, which is why I love esmi. It's made from quality ingredients and [has] different products that suit everyone."

"There is a lot of thought and love that has gone into every product with esmiand they get results," she shares.

"They are always growing and evolving and they are an Australian company, which I love. It's also vegan and cruelty-free, but it still contains high levels of actives, antioxidants and vitamins - meaning you get the results but only using the good stuff!"

See the article here:

"The older I get the more Im learning to love the skin Im in." Brittany Hockley told us her 9 golden rules for success in your thirties. -...

When Britain is faced with colder weather and the rise in energy price cap this winter, bills will increase further. However, there are tasks people can do in their homes now to potentially lower energy bills.

Express.co.uk spoke to Graham Lock, spokesperson for highly reputable double-glazing specialist Art Windows and Doors, based in Glasgow, about what households can do today to save money on energy bills.

Grahams first tip was to properly insulate the property.

Heat is easily lost from your home if you fail to insulate the property adequately, he explained.

Various areas of the property are prone to heat loss. These can include exterior walls, the roof, doors and windows.

READ MORE:Golden rule for removing toilet limescale with just 2 ingredients

Fit an A-rated boiler though and, not only will this run with greater efficiency over the winter months, itll be less temperamental and it could reduce your winter fuel bill by anywhere up to 25 percent.

Before winter arrives, it is worth having your central heating serviced, according to Graham.

Take care of your central heating now and this should prevent any potential problems as the winter embraces your home, the expert said.

Getting your boiler serviced isnt a bad idea, you might want to power flush your radiators or give them a bleed, to remove air from the system and reduce the chances of cold spots.

To further avoid drafts during the winter months, it is worth using window insulation film which is easy to find in any hardware store or online.

The kits include a plastic shrink film to apply to the indoor window frame with double-sided tape before you heat it with a hair dryer to remove any wrinkles and shrink the film, Graham said.

Its a cheap and effective method, but your windows will have a cloudy and shrink-wrapped look.

Rubber weather sealing is another handy product to have on hand. All you need to do is cut long strips to fit the dimensions of your windows and then peel and stick the sealing to the frame to close any gaps, eliminating drafts, Graham explained.

Rubber sealing is a cheap and effective solution that has a minimal impact on the look of your windows.

The expert added that draft snakes can also be used to place under a windowsill or door to prevent drafts.

You can buy them in a variety of great designs, or you can make your own to fit your windows by sewing a tube of fabric and filling it with dry rice, he said.

Whilst this offers you a cheap and easy crafting project, it only prevents a draft from coming from the windowsill, still letting out plenty of heating through the rest of the frame and the window itself.

Read the original post:

'Cheap and effective method' to lower energy bills before winter - 'good place to start' - Express

(RNS) Let our people go! reads a statement shared over the weekend by the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a network of theologically conservative United Methodists.

While the phrase might be borrowed from Moses in the Book of Exodus, the WCA is not exactly calling for a series of escalating plagues.

Nevertheless, the outcry is not without threat.

The organization is calling for churches to stop paying dues, or apportionments, to regional annual conferences it believes are making disaffiliation for churches difficult to impossible amid the United Methodist Churchsslow-moving schism, largely over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ members.

Those apportionments, determined by each annual conference, fund bishops salaries and support the work of the mainline Protestant denomination around the world.

I think as long as a church continues to send money to the people who are holding them captive and not allowing them to disaffiliate under fair terms, theyre continuing to fund the misbehavior and its time to stop doing that, the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the WCA, told Religion News Service.

Therrellannounced Friday(Aug. 12) that the association was calling on conservative members of United Methodist churches to lead their church councils to immediately begin withholding apportionments from 19 of the denominations 53 annual conferences.

Those conferences include Baltimore-Washington, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Eastern Pennsylvania, Florida, Greater New Jersey, Illinois Great Rivers, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mountain Sky, New England, Northern Illinois, Oregon-Idaho, Peninsula-Delaware, South Carolina, Susquehanna, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.

Members of other annual conferences wishing to show their solidarity should consider withholding their apportionments to the denominations episcopal fund, which pays its bishops, according to Therrells statement.

The WCA president wrote that the 19 annual conferences are adding onerous and punitive requirements to disaffiliation provisions in the denominations rulebook, the Book of Discipline. He told RNS such efforts range from requiring churches to pay more than two years of apportionments to requiring them to complete a six-month discernment period before they can move to disaffiliate.

Jay Therrell. Courtesy of Therrell

We would simply ask them to follow the golden rule: to treat these churches that wish to disaffiliate the way they would want to be treated if they were trying to disaffiliate, Therrell said.

The Book of Discipline allows through 2023 for churches wishing to leave the denomination over its stance on sexuality to take their properties with them after paying two years of apportionments and pension liabilities.Those provisionswere added to the Book of Discipline by General Conference delegates in 2019 alongside legislation called theTraditional Planthat strengthened the denominations language barring the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists.

Read more here:

WCA Calls on Conservative Churches to Withhold Dues From United Methodist Church - Church Leaders

CLEVELAND, Ohio I had a problem with my cable service. I called the 800-number. I waited on hold.

And waited...

And waited...

I listened to same stupid music broken up by your call is very important to us, please hold the line. About the 12th time I heard that phrase, I mumbled, Liar!

Finally, someone answered the phone. The person was in a call center. I explained my problem. English was not a comfortable language for the person. He said he needed to transfer me to someone else, adding please hold on...

I heard a click...

The line went dead.

Welcome to the daily stupid.

ONLY ONE SHOE?

I have a friend who works at a large department store. About everyone there has at least one daily stupid, perhaps every hour.

One day, a man who smelled as if hed slept in a keg of Coors stumbled into the shoe department demanding, Wheres the beer?

Sir, this is the shoe department, my friend said.

Wheres the BEER? he demanded.

Over there, she said pointing, toward the door. He staggered off, grumbling about lousy service.

My friend often finds old, dirty shoes in the aisles. She knows someone changed into new shoes, walked out the door, leaving the old ones behind.

But one day, she found only one old shoe. It appeared the person stole only one new shoe, leaving the other new shoe still in the box with the old one in the aisle.

Of course, that led to a special cleanup job, and taking the one new shoe off the shelf, etc. When youre in a store and take clothes off the rack, shoes out of the box, then dump them elsewhere someone else does have to pick them up.

Put the stuff back on the rack and save someone else from a daily stupid.

HOW WILL WE REACT?

We cant let the daily stupid ruin our day, said Jonathan Schaeffer, pastor of Grace Church in Middleburg Heights.

It may sound minor, but little things can become big things if we dwell on them. Dealing with a rude customer can lead us to have an edge in our voice when the next customer shows up.

Something a self-absorbed relative said can stick with us a two minute talk lasting two hours. An ugly email or text can keep us up at night even though we know the person was thoughtless and just venting.

Consider the source, wrote Dr. Ellen Hendriksen in Psychology Today. Would you be as likely to drink water from a mountain spring as from a puddle under a dumpster of course not...The source matters. The same thing goes for criticism. Does the critique come from someone you like and respect...or is this someone known to shoot off their mouth, having all the subtlety of a sledgehammer?

I was talking to someone recently about my mental daily stupid box. When Im mugged with a daily stupid, I dump in the box and lock it. I dont need to go back and look at it.

IT FEELS PERSONAL

A question worth asking is, Am I looking to be offended.

I called the cable company back. This time, the company offered a chance for me leave my number and they promised to call back in 28-to-34 minutes.

I wondered how they came up with that math, but I left my number not expecting a call back in this decade. About 40 minutes later, someone called. The person was polite. I took a deep breath, slowly and politely explaining my situation. She helped me change my service plan.

Schaeffer and his wife Mary both were on the line when we talked about the daily stupid. Mary mentioned this: Give the assumption of positive intent.

Who said that? I asked.

My mother-in-law, Jamie Norton, said Schaeffer.

Is she a psychologist? I asked.

A counselor, said Mary.

OK, a professional. Its fair point. The guy who cut me off perhaps just hit the wrong button or his phone malfunctioned. Ive done the same thing. Not everyone who messes up is out to get you even when it feels that way.

Hendriksen also wrote: If we can hear fair criticism of our actions without taking it personally, not only do we escape feeling hurt or shamed, we also keep criticism from escalating. By contrast, if we think, You hurt my feelings, so Ill hurt you back, we create more conflict and pain all around.

HOW DO WE VIEW OTHERS?

You can simply write off the conflict as someone having a bad day. Or sometimes, I just tell myself, The guy is a jerk, dont play his game.

Instead, we want to settle the score, hurt them them back an eye-for-an-eye.

But as Mahatma Gandhi said: An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

Loud arguments can make us blind to the reality. Sometimes, the person is having a bad day and needs some grace just as we do in the same situation.

In stores, Ive learned to tell a weary even grumpy clerk, Looks like a long day. That usually brings a smile a sense of relief because the clerk believes someone sees her as a person.

Schaeffer cited Matthew 9:36-37: When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Many people now are raised without a strong home life. Manners arent stressed. Interactions on media are rude. Personal attacks common.Others are walking volcanos, looking for a reason to erupt.

Schaeffer mentioned how it helps for us to try and think of the other people involved. What are they dealing with? Its especially true in this age of fewer people working and those on the job having to do more than they ever have before.

As Jesus said in Luke 6:31 (Also known as the Golden Rule): Treat others as you would want to be treated.

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Fathers Day: Backyard whiffle ball, a teacher steps up, knowing Dads hand

Mom died of drugs, dad is an alcoholic. Coping with parents and addictions

A lonely snoopy, taking Rocky Colavitos advice

A letter to my younger self, what I wish I knew back then

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Guess what? You are not going to be able to fix people.

On Mothers Day, we remember all kinds of moms

How to talk to a dying friend: Advice from Rocky Colavito

How do deal with regrets: Yes, we all have some

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When things are hard, dont make them harder

Time to drop the You Owe Me baggage

Watch out for the Energy Vampires!

Watching the Cavs, holding hands, trying to remember

Link:

Dealing with the daily stupid & something stupid happens daily Terry Plutos Faith & You - cleveland.com

With approximately 39,000 miles of public roadways in the state, New Jersey is home to both the best and the worst drivers in the country. (And yes, we can probably lump most of those NY/PA license plates on our roads into the latter category.)

Unfortunately, so many Jersey commuters view their daily drive as a competitive sport. Prioritizing speed over safety.

Unfortunately, so many Jersey commuters view their daily drive as a competitive sport.

In reality, driving is 100% a collaborative activity. When you're on the road alongside hundreds or thousands of people, your goal is exactly the same as everyone else's: Arrive to your destination safely and efficiently. Oh, if only we could replace all the hostility and road rage with synergy and courtesy.

I know, it's a pipe dream. But allow me to channel Drivers Ed class for a moment, and present what should be viewed as the golden rule of the road.

Be predictable.

Predictability is the very heart and reason for our system of traffic laws. If other drivers can anticipate what you're going to do and more importantly, what stupid tricks you're not going to try everyone stays safer. And happier.

And yes, that includes using turn signals.

Left turn signal on car dash

But it goes way beyond blinkers. Let me give you a few examples of how being predictable makes New Jersey's highways and byways safer for everyone.

Be predictable.

UNPREDICTABLE: Weave in and out of highway traffic lanes, just to arrive at your destination a few seconds earlier. With no turn signal, of course.

PREDICTABLE: Change lanes with purpose, either to pass on the left, to move right again after overtaking a vehicle, to let someone merge, to avoid a hazard, etc. And use your darn turn signal.

UNPREDICTABLE: Drive as fast as you can. Or excessively slow for that matter.

PREDICTABLE: Keep up with the flow of traffic, using the posted speed limit as a guideline.

UNPREDICTABLE: Use the shoulder or exit lane to pass a line of slower or passing traffic. It is courting disaster if someone doesn't see your erratic maneuver and merges into your speeding car.

PREDICTABLE: Stay on the road. Don't be a jerk. And except for extreme circumstances, pass on the left.

UNPREDICTABLE: Make a rolling stop through a red light or stop sign, cutting off moving vehicles who have the clear right-of-way.

PREDICTABLE: Turn right on red only when legal and safe to do so. Full and complete stop, people.

UNPREDICTABLE: Slam merge, cutting across lanes of traffic and/or cutting off an entire line of traffic just before an exit.

PREDICTABLE: Plan ahead. Modern GPS systems even show you which lane to be in for a given exit. And stay alert.

UNPREDICTABLE: Be overly courteous, waving a driver to turn on/off a road while holding up traffic and/or impeding someone else's right-of-way.

PREDICTABLE: Drive defensively, and be friendly and considerate. But not if it involves breaking traffic laws or negatively affects other drivers.

Road Rage Driver

Can we all make a pledge to give this idea a try?

No?

Well, it was worth a shot.

Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. His 40-mile commute through Union, Middlesex, and Mercer counties ranges from peaceful to maddening, depending on the day. Follow Dan on Facebook or Twitter for your latest weather forecast updates.

Can You Pass This Simple New Jersey Driver's Test?

April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month in New Jersey, part of the National Highway Transportation Safety Board's 'UDrive. UText. UPay.' campaign. But being 'distracted' is so much more than just texting while driving.

Unless there's a sign telling you otherwise, turning right on red in NJ is perfectly legal. But why are some hesitant to do so? Let's take a look at a few plausible reasons.

Continue reading here:

More NJ drivers need to adopt this golden rule (Opinion) - New Jersey 101.5 FM

The six right-wingers on the court smile for the camera. Like Trump who appointed 1/2 of them, they are drunk with power.

Im trying to remember which Democrat, some years ago, made a point of always saying that its when theyre most drunk with power that they will dramatically overestimate their invulnerabilityand shoot themselves squarely in the foot.

Texas Hold-Em Politics

This version of the Republicans went all in, Texas holdem style, on Trumpism and totalitarianism fascism if youprefer to call it. And started to believe they can say or do anything without consequences. Truth be told, the relative passivityof the some of the Democratic leadership didnt help. So, the Republicans under Trump stepped in and appointed 3 more religious fanatics who became willing pawns in their plans. Lunatics they could control to be elevated to the nations highest court, never thinking it would eventually catch up to them.

I must confess, I was worried they would never stopgetting away with all sortsof incredible nonsense. SoIm not suggesting that we let our guard down after the Kansas referendum victories as the Republicans finally went a bridge too far.Rather, now we should go for the political jugular. And continue to drop our own political bombs on them. Politics is incredibly fickle, so between now and the mid-terms nothing should be taken for granted.

The vote to keep abortion rights, in Kansas of all places, home of Dorothy and Toto, was a real seismicshocker for them. Lastmonths pollsmade them look like narrow winners.The Republicans had every advantage possible in a solidly Republican state. And did this to themselves in their supreme arrogance!! Brought on by Trumpism itself. They were happy to control the anti-choice vote for years without actually seeing a ban on abortion come to passand still suck up valuable votes. And they assumed that personal opposition to abortion always translated in voting support for them. But their increasingly extremist positions blinded them to the actual consequences of their platform. Same with their promoting race war in the hope of winning more votes than they lose.

The national corporate media seems like it finally realized that the Republicans under Trumpism were actually going to ruin the country and the economy. And that of course would be very bad for corporate America, and much worse than the Democrats presently in power could ever be. At least thats my read-on changes in the corporate media coverage lately.

The Republicans havent just goneall-in, they are halfway to the center of the Earth. As Trumpself-destructs right before our very eyes,De Santis, the latest Republican fuehrer,apparently thinks that an exact clone of Trump will easily take his place in 2024. Hes smarter than Trump and would be a lot more dangerous as president.Trump himself appears to being dropped by the Republicans as far as 2024 candidate is concerned and is likely to turnon themlike a woundedanimal if and when they do.

Trumpisms Golden Rule

The golden rule of Trump-styled Republicanism is toalways double down, no matter how badly you get busted for your misdeeds,and NEVER admit a mistake or concedethat you were wrong. The second, third and fourth rulesare to lie, lie, and swear youre not lying.

The golden rule for Democrats should beto offer votersprogressive, energetic and fighting leadership and make sure that leadership is committed to reigning in out-of-control corporate influence in policy and politics. While disguised to many voters, politics can oftenbecome a form of class war. Meaning every issue is viewed differently depending on the class interests and loyalties of the representatives. Politics can also involve fiercepower struggles, even when the parties involved have similar class interests. Corporate influence also carries weight in both parties and their lobbyists have helped killmuch worthwhilelegislation over the years. There may be a record number of issues on the plate in this years mid-terms.

Regarding the poll below, all choices may to some degree be important for most sane and progressive voters.I left out reproductive rights only because it transcends the two-party system more than any other, especially after the Kansas referendum vote, and would easily win any poll like this.

So Im looking for what youthink is the next best voting issue for us, vote wise. Remember that the most important motivators may not be the most important issues to your way of thinking, just the ones you think will turn out the most Democratic Party voters.

1 - Voting rights and protections

4- Preservation of law and democratic government.

5 - Prescription drug prices and health care costs.

6 - The threat of Republican extremism.

Read more:

The Republican Court went all in on Trumpism and then . . . - Daily Kos

When I realized it was my turn to write the column, I panicked a little. I couldnt think of anything introspective or enlightening or particularly interesting to say.

So, I googled things to write about, hoping to find a prompt that would set the mental cogwheels in motion. I found myself sifting through a lot of really stupid ideas, but I was able to ferret out a few gems. Heres a sample of what I found and my reactions:

Whats the most irritating sound in the world?

Thats easy: people chewing loudly. For crying out loud, put the chip in your mouth, close your mouth and chew. Ive had to walk out of more than one Mexican restaurant because of the cacophony of crunching chips. Same goes for slurping coffee, soup and noodles. Its basic table manners.

Ive recently learned that Im not the only one who cant stand the sound of people eating and its actually a disorder called misophonia or selective sound sensitivity syndrome. Ive also learned that giving strangers the look for chewing loudly is often met with steely defiance and attempts to chew even more loudly.

What is something most people dont know about you?

For one, my eyes are super sensitive to light. Thats why Im always wearing my sunglasses, in case you were wondering. Its a condition I inherited from my dad, and both of my sons inherited from me. Apparently, this is also a disorder. Its called photophobia.

Another little-known fact about me: feet creep me out. Go ahead, laugh. Its odd. Even more odd is that this is why I never liked Mr. Rogers Neighborhood when I was a kid (ironically, a kid who ran around barefoot most of the time). Every episode opened with Mr. Rogers changing his shoes. I was always terrified that one day he was going to take off his socks and Id see his feet.

At this point in my hunt for a good writing prompt, I started to become hyper aware that I am really flawed, and I started to dislike the people who make lists of writing prompts.

Then I found this:

Write a letter to your 5-year-old self.

Ok, then.

Dear 5-year-old Nia: Remember that time in Sunday school when you learned about the Golden Rule? That was only half of the story. Never stop being kind and helpful but be aware that not everyone lives by that same rule. There are a lot of people who see niceness as weakness. Its OK to stick up for yourself. Its OK to be rude if the situation warrants it.

Its also OK to be really flawed. Everyone has flaws, and the ones with the most flaws are usually the ones who will point out yours.

Never give up on your dreams.

Dont just march to the beat of your own drummer, turn up the volume and dance to it.

One day in the future, youre going to google things to write about. Dont sweat it.

Lania Rocha is a staff writer for the Genesee County View. Contact her at lrocha@mihomepaper.com.

Continue reading here:

The result of ideas to get the creative juices flowing - Davison Index - Davisonindex

I have mentioned in columns before the people who have made the biggest impact on my life outside of my family, was by far my educators at the School District of Amery. I suppose that makes them like a second family. It makes me sad that recently I lost a member of that second family, my Kindergarten teacher-Lois Kresl.

A popular read entitled All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a book of short essays by American minister and author Robert Fulghum. It was first published in 1986.

The title of the book is taken from the first essay in the volume, in which Fulghum lists lessons normally learned in American kindergarten classrooms and explains how the world would be improved if adults adhered to the same basic rules as children, i.e. sharing, being kind to one another, cleaning up after themselves.

The essay based on Kindergarten takes me back to my early days in Mrs. Kresls class. Robert Fulghum was absolutely correct on his points about Kindergarten. While the points are important, what was even bigger to me was the person who instilled these values into her students.

Back in my day, there was no such thing as Pre-K. In fact, we only went to Kindergarten for a half day. Harvey Monson would drive me there in the mornings on Bus 14 and Martha Heiden would drive me home on Bus 6 at Noon.

I had never been to preschool. I was an only child who spent a majority of her time with adults, so school was a whole new world to me. Kindergarten was the roots of my learning experience and I believe it set me up for my love of school. Mrs. Kresl was the reason for all of this. She will always hold a special place in my heart.

In honor of the teacher who taught me the most important basics of life, here is an excerpt from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

Put things back where you found them.

Dont take things that arent yours.

Say youre sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced lifelearn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

Wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cupthey all die. So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learnedthe biggest word of allLOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we allthe whole worldhad cookies and milk about three oclock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you arewhen you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Thank you, Mrs. Kresl and all of the other educators and school staff who make a daily difference on childrens lives.

I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you and look forward to readers sharing their thoughts in return.

Feel free to email me at editor@theameryfreepress.com, write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery WI. 54001 or I can be reached by phone at 715-268-8101.

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All I really need to know I learned from Mrs. Kresl - Amery Free Press

The sixth annual Interfaith Awareness Week from Sunday to Aug. 13 is slated to bring together thousands of people from different faith traditions, including those who do not belong to a faith community, to hear from each other and learn about each others faith and beliefs.

For seven days, interfaith discussions will be led virtually all day, led by leaders of various faith groups from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, England, Israel, Pakistan and Australia. The event starts Sunday with an opening program broadcast via Zoom from Poway throughout the world.

Interfaith Awareness Week began in August 2017 as a five-day interfaith conference, known as the North American Interfaith Networks conference at the University of California San Diego. The event drew more than 250 people representing 20 faiths. The event was organized by the Poway Interfaith Team, which was formed by group of local faith leaders in 2006 to foster interfaith conversations.

It started here in San Diego County but has grown into a seven-day celebration that has gone global, said the Rev. Stephen Albert, co-founder of the Poway Interfaith Team and founder of the World Interfaith Network, which connects interfaith groups around the world.

The network has nearly 300 members and is recognized in 107 countries, according to Albert. This years Interfaith Awareness Week is organized by the World Interfaith Network.

One of the accomplishments of the first conference, Albert said, was that it received proclamations from 14 of 18 mayors and city councils in San Diego County, stating that their cities would honor and respect all people from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. In March 2018, the California State Assembly and the governor approved celebrating Interfaith Awareness Week as the second week in August each year.

Albert created the California Interfaith Association three years ago to bring together dozens of Interfaith organizations across the state and then expanded the network internationally in 2019.

The idea is to bring people together in conversations about faith and foster mutual respect and friendship.

Once you begin to dialogue with people who worship differently, wear different styles of clothing, have different skin colors or accents, we learn that they are people just like us who want a peaceful world where their children can grow up happy and healthy, Albert said.

The more than 40 interfaith groups will present what they are doing in their part of the world to help bring about a more peaceful world, Albert said.

Nearly 50 virtual presentations are planned. Topics range from The Golden Rule & Interfaith Dialogue, The Art of Interfaith Understanding and Interfaith in Business to Building Community through Interfaith Partnership, Conversation with Actors of Interreligious Dialogue in Mexico and Circles of Light Interfaith Around the World.

On the last day, Aug. 13, from 4 to 6 p.m., an intergenerational panel representing various faiths and ages will discuss The Future of Interfaith.

The weeks program is free to the public and the Zoom link for each presentation can be accessed at world-interfaith.com.

Here is the weeks schedule of virtual interfaith events:

Sunday

10 a.m. Interfaith Awareness Opening Why Interfaith? Poway Interfaith Team, San Diego.

Noon. Living In The Times of Prophecy Fulfillment & Forgiving The Unforgivable One Global Family Alliances & Unity and Diversity World Council Chief Daniel Ramos, LauraSa Pele Lafoia Ava.

2 p.m. Parliament of the Worlds Religions, The Beginning of Interfaith/video and dialogue.

4 p.m. Seeds of the Interfaith Movement Growing in the Sunflower State Global Faith in Action Wichita, Kan. Sam Muyskens, Rabbi Michael Davis.

6 p.m. Circles of Light Interfaith Around the World United Religions Initiative Tahil Sharma.

Monday

8 a.m. The Golden Rule & Interfaith Dialogue Toronto, Canada Paul McKenna, Kathy Murtha.

10 a.m. The Virtue of Listening North American Interfaith Network Shelton Saeed-Nally.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Spiritual Diversity in Education Deborah Robin Mech.

2 p.m. Religions for Peace International and Religions for Peace USA Interreligious Peacebuilding Around the World Karen Hernandez.

4 p.m. Shasta Interfaith Redding the Rev. Lynn E. Fritz.

6 p.m. Evangelicals, Islam & Interfaith Imam Taha Hassane, Martin Brooks.

Tuesday

8 a.m. Learn, Fellowship, Serve, and Worship MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio Toledo, Ohio Judy Trautman, Joseph Zielinski.

10 a.m. The Art of Interfaith Understanding Philadelphia the Rev. John Hougen.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Interfaith in Business Jeff Blanton

2 p.m. Teeming UP for Peace Week and the UP Convergence World Unity Week, Australia the Rev. Becky Suzik.

4 p.m. Interfaith Movement and Social Justice in Arizona Arizona Faith Network Phoenix Vasu Bandhu

6 p.m. Uncommon Friends: The Heart of Love, Justice and Liberation for All Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council Kansas City the Rev. Kelly Isola

Aug. 10

8 a.m. Taking action on climate chaos: An Interfaith dialogue from three traditional religious perspectives. Temple of Understanding New York, N.Y. Suzy Meszoly, the Rev. Susan Hendershot, Daniel Capper.

10 a.m. Big Questions Forum Rossmoor Interfaith Council, San Francisco Bay Area Sara Blackstock.

11 a.m. San Francisco Bay Area Interfaith Councils Working Together the Rev. Will McGarvey.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Look What Happens When We Stand Side By Side! San Dieguito Interfaith Ministers Association, Encinitas Karen Koblentz.

2 p.m. Interfaith Ministry as a Pathway to Being the Change Empowering your Vision and Voice in the World All Paths Divinity School Los Angeles & Global Interfaith Seminary Southern California Committee for a Parliament of the Worlds Religions (SCCPWR), Southern California Parliament of the Worlds Religions the Rev. Debrah Friedland-VanZyl.

3 p.m. Creating Sustainable Healthy Communities for Peace SCCPWR Los Angeles the Rev. Richard Rose.

4 p.m. Season for NonViolence Association for Global New Thought the Rev. Temple Hayes, Pari Patri, Barbara Fields.

6 p.m. Interfaith Successes, Issues and Hopes in Religiously Diverse Orange County Orange County Interfaith Network and Six Interfaith Councils Don Garrick.

Aug. 11

8 a.m. Building Bridges Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education & Action Edmonton Alberta, Canada Len Gierach.

10 a.m. Building Community through Interfaith Partnership Why Cornwall is Considered a Grassroots Movement. Cornwall Interfaith Partnership Cornwall, Canada John Towndrow.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. United Peace Federation.

2 p.m. Fostering Dialogue for Harmony & Peace Ruth Broyde Sharone.

3 p.m. Why Cant Science & Religion be Friends Ruth Broyde Sharone.

4 p.m. Taking Action on Climate Change: An Interfaith Conversation Faith & the Common Good Toronto, Canada Michelle Singh.

6 p.m. The Liminal Odyssey, Alchemizing The Spaces In-Between S.A.R.A.H. Sande Hart.

Aug. 12

8 a.m. Interfaith Connections Washington, D.C. Jacqueline Fuller.

10 a.m. Mandala Meditation & Art Creation Bahais of Clairemont Barbara Ruys.

Noon. Global Talk Zone Interfaith Collaboration the Rev. Steve Albert.

1 p.m. Women in Islam We Love Our Neighbors Sister Tehseen Usman Lazzouni.

2 p.m. Interfaith Youth Leadership Brazil Interfaith Marcelo da Costa Coelho.

4 p.m. Conversation with Actors of Interreligious Dialogue in Mexico CC Fraternidad Interespiritual of Mexico Dwynt Strega.

6 p.m. Interfaith Heritage of Islam Yusef Miller.

Aug. 13

8 a.m. Interfaith Service and Panel on Yoga and Faith LOTUS Center for All Faiths Yogaville, Buckingham, Va. Swami Jyotirmayananda and Integral Yoga Interfaith, New York the Rev. Shankar Bruce Fern.

10 a.m. Our Interfaith Journey: Hopes and Disappointments Oxford, England Mary and Marcus Braybrooke share memories of some remarkable people they have met.

Noon and 1 p.m. Interfaith Pakistan Naveed Hameed.

2 p.m. Peace is Possible The Abrahamic Reunion Interfaith Israel, Ghassan Manasra.

4 p.m. The Future of Interfaith Intergenerational Panel Vasu Bandhu, the Rev. Rob Hankinson, Vilma Rosaura Palax Tuy, Tarunjit Butalia, PK McCary.

6 p.m. A Showcase of Songs from Interfaith The Musical with Ruth Broyde Sharone and cast members a one-time showing.

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Interfaith week to bring together different faith groups for open dialogue - The San Diego Union-Tribune