Schools switching to clip-on ties

Clip-on ties are replacing knotted school ties as schools worry about health and safety, says a survey of school uniform suppliers.

The Schoolwear Association says 10 schools a week in the UK are switching, because of fears of ties getting caught in equipment or strangling pupils.

There are also claims that clip-on ties can stop pupils from customising the size of the knots in their ties.

Uniforms are an “instrument of social levelling,” says the association.

The Schoolwear Association, the trade body for the school uniform industry, has been identifying this year’s trends.

Full BBC Article

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The break of the curveball

This is actually pretty cool, especially for those of you that have actuallly seen a curveball.  Be sure to check out the animation here.

In baseball, a curveball creates a physical effect and a perceptual puzzle. The physical effect (the curve) arises because the ball’s rotation leads to a deflection in the ball’s path. The perceptual puzzle arises because the deflection is actually gradual but is often perceived as an abrupt change in direction (the break). Our illusions suggest that the perceived “break” may be caused by the transition from the central visual system to the peripheral visual system. Like a curveball, the spinning disks in the illusions appear to abruptly change direction when an observer switches from foveal to peripheral viewing.

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Bag of Randomness

  • I friend of mine had to work extra hours and come in on Sunday, unfortunately he was stuck in the elevator for an hour.  At least he had his lunch with him.
  • For longtime DFW viewers of the local news, it appears that Mike Synder is being given a choice of two demotions.  As much as I don’t enjoy watching the guy, I do feel for the guy.  If he accepts the retirement package, at his age, is he still marketable to sell himself to another market?  Or will any pride play in the decision to accept a 50% paycut and to be eliminated from the late night broadcast?
  • I bet he accepts the paycut – he’ll still be making a sizable six-figure salary and will still be in a top market.
  • If that station were smart, they would also look at replacing Jane McGarry.  She is painful to watch.
  • While at lunch yesterday I found out I used the same toilet as our 43 president.
  • There’s a joke in there somewhere.
  • Potato Art
  • Google Street View’s latest weapon
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Church gives fresh meaning to ‘offering’ plate

The pastor of a non-denominational church in Argyle, Texas, passed around the collection plate to his congregants earlier this year — and asked them to take money from it.

Donations at the Cross Timbers Community Church had slumped because of the economic downturn. Pastor Toby Slough thought that his congregants had to be hurting, too.

His gesture, instead, was met with an unexpected response: The church had its highest offering ever.

Full Article

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