Just how deep does the rabbit hole go?
Posts tagged education
Ron Paul launches His “Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity”
04 weeks ago
Ron Paul Institute Launch (Full Video)
http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/
Posted by Daniel McAdams on Twitter @DanielLMcAdams
Follow the Institute on Facebook and Twitter @RonPaulInstitut.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity is a project of Dr. Paul’s Foundation for Rational Economics and Education (F.R.E.E.), founded in the 1970s as an educational organization. The Institute continues and expands Dr. Paul’s lifetime of public advocacy for a peaceful foreign policy and the protection of civil liberties at home.
The Institute mobilizes colleagues and collaborators of Dr. Paul’s to participate in a broad coalition to educate and advocate for fundamental changes in our foreign and domestic policy.
A prosperous America is profoundly linked to a foreign policy rooted in peaceful relations and trade with all. With peace, comes real prosperity.
Ron Paul’s real legacy in his writing, teaching, and in politics is his success bringing people of very different backgrounds and perspectives together under the common cause of peace, individual liberties, and prosperity. His institute energetically continues this kind of “coalition-building” in all aspects of its work. The Institute board is itself one of the best examples of how broad a coalition can come together and work for the same shared goals and values.
‘The neo-conservative era is dead’: Ron Paul announces DC think-tank
0Source: http://rt.com
Ron Paul. (AFP Photo / Brendan Smialowski)
Ron Paul has been retired from Congress for only a few months, but he’s certainly not shying away from politics. The former US representative has already announced his new project: the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.
In a press release sent to the media Friday afternoon, the Ron Paul camp confirms that the long-time Texas representative will launch a think-tank of sorts in order to carry on his ideologies after his time in office has ended.
“After decades in and out of the US House of Representatives leading the call for a non-interventionist foreign policy and the protection of civil liberties, Dr. Paul is launching a revolutionary new vehicle to expand his efforts. The Institute will serve as the focal point of a new coalition that crosses political, ideological and party lines,” the statement begins.
According to the press release, the Ron Paul Institute will focus mainly on two issues: education and coming generations.
“It will fill the growing demand for information on foreign affairs from a non-interventionist perspective through a lively and diverse website, and will provide unique educational opportunities to university students and others,” his office says.
“The neo-conservative era is dead. The ill-advised policies pushed by the neo-cons have everywhere led to chaos and destruction, and to a hatred of the United States and its people. Multi-trillion dollar wars have not made the world a safer place; they have only bankrupted our economic future. The Ron Paul Institute will provide the tools and the education to chart a new course with the understanding that only through a peaceful foreign policy can we hope for a prosperous tomorrow.”
Ron Paul, 77, says he will formally unveil his latest endeavor next Wednesday at a conference in Washington, DC, only a stone’s throw from the congressional office he occupied for nearly three decades. Slated to attend the conference are the members of the Institute’s board of advisors, which contains a number of high-profile names including noted economist Lew Rockwell, the CEO of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and a longtime collaborator of Paul’s — he served as the congressman’s chief of staff from 1978 to 1982, and later advised the politician as he vied for the presidency.
Also on the Institutes board is Rep. Walter Jones, Jr. (NC), Rep. John Duncan, Jr. (TN), former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH) and Judge Andrew Napolitano.
Just earlier this month, Ron Paul unveiled his own homeschooling curriculum for students, which he describes as a program aimed to provide “education in liberty like no other.”
“Students will be exposed to thinkers they would never encounter in a government school. They will know history and economics better than anyone their age,” Rockwell wrote in an editorial announcing the start of the “Ron Paul Curriculum” published in The Daily Bell.
Photo source: http://rt.com
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Related posts:
Homeschooling: The Future of Liberty
Announcing the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum
Homeschooling: The Future of Liberty
01 month ago
Source: http://www.the-free-foundation.org
By Ron Paul
Homeschooling: The Future of Liberty
A common feature of authoritarian regimes is the criminalization of alternatives to government-controlled education. Dictators recognize the danger that free thought poses to their rule, and few things promote the thinking of “unapproved” thoughts like an education controlled by parents instead of the state. That is why the National Socialist (Nazi) government of Germany outlawed homeschooling in 1938.
Sadly, these Nazi-era restrictions on parental rights remain the law in Germany, leaving parents who wish greater control over their children’s education without options. That is why in 2006 Uwe and Hannalore Romeike, a German couple who wanted to homeschool their three children for religious reasons, sought asylum in the United States. Immigration judge Lawrence Burman upheld their application for asylum, recognizing that the freedom of parents to homeschool was a “basic human right.”
Unfortunately, the current US administration does not see it that way, and has announced that it is appealing Judge Burman’s decision. If the administration is successful, the Romeikes could be sent back to Germany where they will be forced to send their children to schools whose teaching violates their religious beliefs. If they refuse, they face huge fines, jail time, or even the loss of custody of their children!
The Administration’s appeal claims that the federal government has the constitutional authority to ban homeschooling in all fifty states. The truth is, the Constitution gives the federal government no power to control any aspect of education. Furthermore, parents who, like the Romeikes, have a religious motivation for homeschooling should be protected by the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.
The federal government’s hostility to homeschooling is shared by officials at all levels of government. Despite the movement’s success in legalizing homeschooling in every state, many families are still subjected to harassment by local officials. The harassment ranges from “home visits” by child protective agencies to criminal prosecution for violating truancy laws.
Every American who values liberty should support the homeschoolers’ cause. If the government can usurp parental authority over something as fundamental as the education of their children, there is almost no area of parenthood off limits to government interference.
Homeschooling has proven to be an effective means of education. We are all familiar with the remarkable academic achievements, including in national spelling bees and other competitions, by homeshcooled children. In addition, homeschooled students generally fare better than their public school educated peers on all measures of academic performance.
It makes sense that children do better when their education is controlled by those who know their unique needs best, rather than by a federal bureaucrat. A strong homeschooling movement may also improve other forms of education. If competition improves goods and services in other areas of life, why wouldn’t competition improve education? A large and growing homeschooling movement could inspire public and private schools to innovate and improve.
When the government interferes with a parent’s ability to choose the type of education that is best for their child, it is acting immorally and in manner inconsistent with a free society. A government that infringes on the rights of homeschooling will eventually infringe on the rights of all parents. Homeschooled children are more likely to embrace the philosophy of freedom, and to join the efforts to restore liberty. In fact, I would not be surprised if the future leaders of the liberty movement where homeschooled.
I believe so strongly in the homeschooling movement that I have just announced my own curriculum for homeschooling families. Please visit this revolutionary new project at http://www.ronpaulcurriculum.com.
This column may be reprinted and/or redistributed by electronic means provided author credit is given and no alterations made.
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Related post:
Announcing the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum
Announcing the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum
0Source: http://www.tomwoods.com
By Tom Woods
April 6, 2013
Announcing the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum
Over the past several weeks I have mentioned that I’ve been at work on a K-12 homeschool curriculum. That wasn’t the whole story. Today I can tell you the whole story: it is the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum.
There is nothing like this curriculum anywhere. Here are just a few of the factors that set it apart.
(1) Grades K-5 will be available for free. You have six years to try out the program without having to spend a dime.
(2) Students will learn the origins and travails of liberty in the Western world and in the United States in particular.
(3) Students will learn the economics of the Austrian School.
(4) Students can learn at their own pace. If they’re advanced and move more quickly, they can quiz out of the first two years of college and enter college as juniors.
(5) The emphasis in this program is not simply on teaching from a different point of view, or teaching material that no other school or curriculum offers, although the Ron Paul Curriculum does both of these things. But it also emphasizes oral and written communication, so that students will be able to spread and defend their ideas effectively. Students will have their own blogs, start YouTube channels, and even learn the basics of video production, website design, and Internet marketing.
(6) It’s cheap. For access to the forums, it’s $250 per year. Each course is just $50. No textbooks — they’re awful, and we use pdfs and primary documents to teach students — so you’ll save hundreds of dollars that way as well.
(7) Parents who wish they’d had the chance for this kind of education can listen to the lectures their children are hearing. We’ve made them of a length that works well with the average commute.
By September 2, we expect to have the material for grades 6-10 available. We’ll continue to add grades until December 2015 — our target date — when we expect to have the entire K-12 curriculum finished.
My own role will be to teach high school courses in Western civilization, the U.S. Constitution, government, and the history of American wars. All the courses on the site are available as part of the overall curriculum or a la carte, for those who would like individual courses.
These courses are centered around a 36-week schedule, five lessons (25 minutes each) per week per course. This means that for each course I will need to record 180 lessons. If you are wondering why I have not found the time to answer your email lately, I hope you will understand now. I have dropped not quite everything, but quite a bit in order to focus on this.
Here’s my three-minute pitch:
The website officially launched today. Right now the site has an excellent course on high school preparation, which covers such topics as how to study, personal goal-setting, time management, public speaking, speed reading, typing, note-taking and retrieval, software for essay writing, how to set up a YouTube channel, how to set up a WordPress blog site, and that most challenging skill, how to read a book. Between now and September 2 you can join the site and access that course for $25.
This, I am convinced, will prove to be Ron Paul’s most significant contribution to the cause of liberty — and that’s saying something. Please check out RonPaulCurriculum.com, and stay tuned for more news as we move forward with this exciting project.
For people wondering what Ron Paul has been up to since retiring from Congress, then, here’s your answer. And he has more announcements coming.
Tonight Dr. Paul will speak to a very large homeschool convention in Ohio. He has a book coming out on education. This is all part of the same package: Ron Paul’s revolution in homeschooling. Be a part of it.
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Related post:
Homeschooling: The Future of Liberty
Proposed Tennessee Bill Would Cut Welfare Benefits When Kids Fail At School…
01 month ago
Source: http://weaselzippers.us
Image credit: http://weaselzippers.us
I’m for anything and everything when it comes to getting people off welfare. Most people who eventually lost their benefits after welfare reform was passed in the late 1990s say their lives improved because they started working and were supporting themselves.
Via WaPo:
Education’s often seen as the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Do well in school and you’ll find a good job. Fail and you’re destined to a life of being poor.
So it’s understandable that a Tennessee lawmaker would back legislation linking school performance to welfare benefits — until you stop to think about the cold, hard realities of parenting a family under such circumstances.
Knoxville Republican Stacey Campfield proposed Senate Bill 132 in January. It would require up to a 30 percent reduction in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) — or welfare — payments to parents or caretakers with children who “fail to maintain satisfactory progress in school.”
Despite facing a firestorm of controversy after first suggesting the bill, Campfield has persevered. Rep. Vance Dennis, a Republican from Savannah, Tenn., sponsored the bill in the House. This past week, the bill cleared both committees and appears to be on its way toward passage and law.
Ron Paul Writing New Book on Education
22 months ago
Source: http://spreadlibertynews.com
By Katie Glueck
Former presidential candidate Ron Paul, a longtime foe of the Federal Reserve and champion of a smaller foreign policy footprint, is turning to education in a new book slated for release this fall.
In “New School Manifesto,” scheduled for a Sept. 17 release from Grand Central Publishing, the former GOP congressman from Texas will promote home schooling and “free market principles applied to education,” according to an official book description.
“He makes the case for individual freedoms as they pertain to educating our children, and nimbly dissects the most pressing issues that need to be addressed from the libertarian point of view,” the description continues.
This will be Paul’s fourth book with Grand Central Publishing, following “Liberty Defined,” “End the Fed” and “The Revolution: A Manifesto,” his editor, Ben Greenberg, told POLITICO. Greenberg said the book has been in the works for close to a year, and that a deal for its publication was hammered out in January.
In this book, Greenberg said, Paul will compare the postal service to the education system, arguing that in both realms, competition promotes better services.
“He’s basically saying the postal service didn’t have many competitors until FedEx, UPS and email, obviously, and now it’s changing the way everything gets done,” Greenberg said. “He’s arguing for that in education as well.”
Paul will address a variety of education policy proposals, he said.
“He’s taking the position that a parent should have the ability to choose what is best,” Greenberg said, a philosophy that would include home schooling.
Greenberg, who has edited all of Paul’s books done through Grand Central Publishing, said the Texan is “really easy to work with” and doesn’t require heavy editing.
“We usually do two to three edits for the main script, but not much,” Greenberg said. “His ideas are pretty fully formed. It’s just a matter of honing in and making sure everything is in the right order and just figuring out how to best say the message without becoming too repetitive or anything like that.”
Also on deck for the libertarian former lawmaker: talk radio. Courtside Entertainment Group announced this month that in March, Paul will offer “twice daily one-minute radio commentaries” with his talks also available as a weekly podcast.
“Even if you don’t agree with what he says, he always makes you think about things a little bit differently,” Greenberg added.
Image Reference
FreedomsLighthouse.net
State Capitol Hill Review Weekly Updates
0Source: http://www.bcpublicrecord.com
By Tona
Each week while the State legislature is in session, a weekly update will be posted here for your review. These weekly updates are not written by BC Public Record. BC Public Record expresses no opinion on these bills by posting these updates. Discussion of bills will be posted separately. The weekly updates are posted for your information, since there is so little media coverage of State government in Blount County.
State Government
Each week while the General Assembly is in session, updates will be posted here. These updates are not written by BC Public Record. No opinion on these updates is expressed here. For news and commentary on legislation please read the articles on our home page.
The Tennessee General Assembly
House of Representatives
CAPITOL HILL REVIEW
A weekly wrap-up of legislative news
Contact: Cade Cothren, 
(615) 741-5185 cade.cothren@capitol.tn.gov
(615) 741-5185 cade.cothren@capitol.tn.govGeneral Assembly hears State of the State Address
Governor unveils budget proposal
Governor BillHaslam delivered his annual State of the State Address to a joint convention this week, unveiling his budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Haslam addressed multiple issues during the State of the State, the most prominent of which include job recruitment and workforce development, investments in both K-12 and higher education, lowering taxes, and a continued push to make government more efficient and effective.
House lawmakers were pleased with the governor’s priorities, and look forward to moving his agenda forward through the legislature. Among the key points in the governor’s speech was a focus on balanced budgets, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility. As Washington, D.C. and other states are mired in partisan gridlock with out of control spending, the governor emphasized that Tennessee has made responsible decisions that will continue to ensure the state is positioned to be a top leader in the country on jobs.
Job Recruitment and Workforce Development
Building on the success of legislation passed during the 107th General Assembly, Governor Haslam’s $32.6 billion balanced budget makes major investments in job recruitment and workforce development, including:
- $16.5 million budgeted to provide technology and equipment related to workforce development programs for community colleges and technology centers across the state.
- A new technical education complex at NortheastStateCommunity College in the Tri-Cities to help train for manufacturing related jobs.
- A much-needed lab building at Nashville State Community College to help train the next generation of students in Middle Tennessee.
- A new state-of-the-art technology center in Smyrna that will be managed in conjunction with Nissan to provide training for area businesses looking for high-skilled employees.
In addition, the Governor’s budget includes strategic capital investments statewide that will help fund programs to ensure Tennesseans have the skills needed to obtain well-paying, 21st century jobs after graduation.
K-12 and Higher Education Investment
A large portion of Monday’s State of the State Address was committed to improving education, an issue that both the Governor and legislators have made a priority. The budget proposal calls for:
- 100% funding for the Basic Education Program (BEP) formula.
- A $76.9 million increase in K-12 public school funding, including salary increases for K-12 teachers.
- A school choice program that will allow low-income families who have kids in the lowest-performing schools to attend other schools.
- $307.3 million committed for capital improvements (buildings and infrastructure) at our higher education institutions.
- The investment in an online university focused on improving affordability and access to higher education for the more than 800,000 Tennesseans that have obtained some college credit but have not yet graduated.
In addition to these education proposals during the State of the State, Governor Haslam also announced a strategic initiative called “Drive to 55”. This new initiative, the goal of which is to ensure Tennessee has the best-trained workforce in America, will seek to increase the number of Tennesseans that have earned an Associates degree or higher from 32% to 55% by the year 2025.
Tax Cuts
Multiple tax cuts were passed during the 107th session of the General Assembly, including eliminating the gift tax, lowering the sales tax on food, and phasing out the death tax. Similar to last year, the Governor’s 2013-2014 budget includes additional tax cuts for Tennesseans, including:
- A further reduction of the sales tax on groceries to a flat 5%.
- A cut to the Hall Tax which will raise the income exemption level from $26,000 to $33,000 for individuals and $37,000 to $59,000 for joint filers.
- A plan to fully fund the property tax relief program to help low-income seniors, veterans, and the disabled.
- A further reduction of the death tax that raises the income exemption level from $1.25 million to $2 million.
These tax cut proposals by Governor Haslam reflect an agreement with lawmakers to prioritize the needs of Tennesseans in a fiscally responsible manner that encourages job growth statewide.
Other Budget Highlights
Other highlights of Governor Haslam’s 2013-2014 budget include:
- A plan to spend $48 million in Corrections to compensate our local jails for housing more state prisoners.
- A proposal to streamline and better utilize the Criminal Gang Enhancement law, making our streets safer.
- A commitment to add $100 million to the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
- A proposal for worker’s compensation reform that will focus on fairness in the system for both the employee and the employer.
- Upgrading nearly 200 case manager positions in the Department of Children’s Services.
- $4.3 million for the MontgomeryCounty veteran’s home.
- $8 million for a statewide tourism fund to support the work of the tourism commission.
The week ahead…
FULL STORY
Homeschooling Revolution – Ron Paul to Get Involved this Year, Speaking at Convention
0Source: http://spreadlibertynews.com
By Ezra Van Auken
Homeschooling around the nation has become a trending subject and procedure carried out by millions of moms and dads for their family’s youth. Now, with the hunger for alternative learning and independent thinking, a longtime member of the idea is joining the cause for homeschool advocacy – former Congressman Ron Paul.
In a recent interview on the Alex Jones radio show, the 12-term Congressman and 3-time Presidential candidate told Jones, “I’m going to be very interested in promoting homeschooling because I talk about education all the time and I think the public school system is failing,” going on to point out, “I think average people and even poor people can establish their children from the system by homeschooling.”
Former Rep. Paul hasn’t been shy either the past few months when it comes to advocating for opting out of the public school system. During his farewell speech to Congress, “Expect the rapidly expanding homeschool movement to play a significant role in the revolutionary reforms needed to rebuild a free society with constitutional protections.” To replace the inalienable rights that America has been losing, Paul said we couldn’t afford to go down the path of public schooling anymore. Paul noted we shouldn’t expect a government school system to inform us of “intellectual ammunition to combat the dangerous growth of government that threatens our liberties”
The former Congressman won’t stand alone in the aspect of more homeschooling, as the past two decades, homeschooling in America has gradually increased. According to the president of National Home Education Research Institute, Dr. Brian Ray, the growth rate is about 7% to 15% per year. An even more up-to-date report by the NHERI outlines, “There is some reliable evidence that was gathered during this study, from both state departments of education and private homeschool organizations, that the homeschool population grew by about 7% (or more) from spring of 2007 to spring of 2010.”
Another report done by the National Center for Education Statistics explains, “In 2007, the number of homeschooled students was about 1.5 million, an increase from 850,000 in 1999 and 1.1 million in 2003. The percentage of the school-age population that was homeschooled increased from 1.7 percent in 1999 to 2.9 percent in 2007.
The increase in the percentage of homeschooled students from 1999 to 2007 represents a 74 percent relative increase over the 8-year period and a 36 percent relative increase since 2003. In 2007, the majority of homeschooled students received all of their education at home (84 percent), but some attended school up to 25 hours per week. Eleven percent of homeschooled students were enrolled in school less than 9 hours per week, and 5 percent were enrolled between 9 and 25 hours per week.”
With the growing number of homeschooling households, we can start to see a shift in the way American households want to educate their kids or allow them to think independently. This has led a longtime independent thinker and D.C. outcast (for great reason) to put time into the homeschool revolution. Boasting up the idea of independent thinking, former Rep. Paul will be speaking at a homeschool convention formally known as the “Midwest Homeschool Connection” on April 6th.
In a short interview with an eyewitness to the homeschooling process and mother of four, Autumn Torres told SLN the difference between public institutions and homeschooling. Torres explained, “The difference between homeschool and public school is that parents direct the learning in homeschool and the federal government directs the learning in public. My children can learn at their own pace and if they are interested in a particular subject they can research it way more in depth. I want them to love learning.”
SLN interviewed Great Homeschool Connections, which is participating in the April convention, asking, “Why do you believe homeschooling is a smarter choice than the average public institution?”
The answers to this interview will be updated as they are received, sorry for the wait – SLN.
Malaysians gather in tens of thousands demanding political reforms (PHOTOS)
04 months ago
Source: http://rinf.com
Thousands of protesters gather at the historical Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium) during a rally for electorial reforms in Kuala Lumpur.(AFP Photo / Mohd Rasfan)
Tens of thousands Malaysians have come out to protest in the country’s capital against the government calling for reforms and possible ouster of the ruling coalition. The rally comes before Malaysia’s general elections, which are due by mid-2013.
According to local police, 80,000 people marched through Kuala Lumpur to the legendary Stadium Merdeka, where the current governing alliance declared independence from Britain in 1957, reported The Malaysian Insider.
Opposition estimates that the turnout was even higher, at about 100,000, according to Malaysia Kini.
Protesters’ demands included better electoral and environmental laws, improved education system, abolition of student loans and fair royalty payments to oil-producing states.
The opposition argues that the country’s electoral register is fraudulent and has pro-government bias.
A protestor waves flag during a grand gathering at the historical Medeka Stadium (Independence Stadium) during a rally for electorial reforms in Kuala Lumpur.(AFP Photo / Saeed Khan)
During the rally people wore various bright colors including yellow and green, each representing an activist group.
The rally resembled a festival with food sellers and other vendors coming out to the streets. People carried flags and signs and some even wore Guy Fawkes masks, as popularized by the 2005 film V for Vendetta.
A protestor wearing a Guy Fawkes mask waves a Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) flag inside the historical Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium) as he takes part in an opposition rally ahead of looming elections in Kuala Lumpur.(AFP Photo / Mohd Rasfan)
Opposition leader Lim Guan Eng spoke at the protest urging for change from the country’s Prime Minister Najib Razak’s and his Barisan Nasional coalition, which has held power for the past 55 years.
The ruling coalition has been in control of Malaysia since independence from Britain.
“Our government is so corrupt. The government should listen to us. They need to reform. For more than 50 years they have ruled Malaysia,” rally participant Azlan Abu Bakar told News24.
Arming the teachers?
04 months ago
Passing along a new post from Tona over at Blount County Public Record. Photo added to the original post.
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Source: http://www.bcpublicrecord.com
Arming the teachers?
Eric Holcombe raises the point that I’ve posted on Senator Stacey Campfields blog. The solution is to get your kids out of public school and take charge of their education, rather than complain to the government about the crappy job they do educating and protecting your kids.
By Eric Holcombe:
Some are suggesting arming teachers or providing firearms training to prevent school shootings.
I just can’t see spending money to give Saundra Thompson a weapon. Or Mark Berndt. Or Dr. Michael Halliburton. How do you know which ones are drug dealers that haven’t been caught yet? Plus, some of them already have guns. Some of them get busted and just move to another state because we are keeping their crimes secret in the “war on drugs”.
Maybe if people realize they are afraid for the teachers to have guns, they will think twice about letting them have their children every day.
See how it works? Take a few anecdotal examples and then generalize the population. It’s an old saw. Maybe you’ve seen it before.
All liberty comes with risk. Eliminating the liberty doesn’t necessarily eliminate the risk.
This is a work in progess, a self learning tool and fun little project. Please excuse the slow development as it seems the needed proper time is always lacking. It is my hope that the combination of content and links to other sources of information in this simple blog may help awaken a few of the sleeping masses and encourage and inspire others to initiate their own research, ultimately for each person to be a light to help awaken others. Opinions expressed belong to me, myself and I. Also, a big thank you to all that take the time to visit, it is appreciated :)
