Ike A. Offor posted: " IPOB leader, Maazi Nnamdi Kanu He is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB. Traditional and religious leaders in the "
He is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.
Traditional and religious leaders in the South-East have called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The leaders, under the auspices of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, said the release of the IPOB leader would de-escalate the rising tension in the zone.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led government had in June announced Kanu's arrest and extradition from Kenya to continue to face trial in Nigeria.
He is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.
In a joint statement signed by the chairmen of the traditional rulers' council in all the South Eastern States and Christian leaders, they urged the Nigerian government to take immediate steps to de-proscribe IPOB and release all its members being held in various detention facilities.
They also called on IPOB to cancel all scheduled sit-at-home orders and shun any action that would disrupt the November 6 Governorship Election in Anambra State.
"Flowing from similar initiatives taken to bring peace to other troubled parts of the country, we urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion, and development.
"We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South East Zone.
"We call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to demilitarize the South East Zone, more so as it has become apparent that a continued military siege on the region can only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and our youths," the statement said.
They also urged the youth to de-escalate the tension and remain law-abiding to enable their leaders to engage the federal government in finding a lasting solution to the crises.
The statement was signed by Igwe Charles Mkpuma (Ebonyi); Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke (Abia); Obi Nnaemeka Achebe (Anambra); Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu (Enugu) and Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke (Imo).
Others are Dr Anthony J. V. Obinna (Catholic Archbishop of Owerri); Dr Emmanuel O. Chukwuma, (Anglican Archbishop of Enugu); Dr Chibuzo R. Opoko (Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia); Dr Valerian M. Okeke (Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha); Dr Uma A. Onwunta (Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria); Bishop Obi Onubogu (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria) and Dr Abraham Nwali (Chairman, CAN, South East Zone). (Sahara Reporters)
Today's college students grew up steeped in social media and the internet, leading some observers to assume that they're unconcerned about all the data they generate online. But it turns out that young people today care a lot about their data privacy, even though they sometimes act in ways that jeopardize that privacy.
Many people in their late teens and early 20s say they try to be careful about the information they share online. One reason why is that they don't want to leave a bad impression that could hurt their college admissions or job prospects, according to the report. As one study participant put it, she tries to make sure that when people look at her online profiles, "they're not going to see anything that's going to ruin my life."
College students are also concerned about their peers sharing information about them online in ways that they can't control. For example, a study from Indiana University detailed the fears college students have about and the ways they adapt to the fact that they may be photographed at any moment by friends, classmates or even strangers. Worried about their images being taken and shared out of context or used to generate a viral "meme," students describe making extra effort to improve their appearances, censoring their behavior at parties, and negotiating with their peers to avoid taking or sharing pictures.
Another worry described in the Future of Privacy Forum report is about a type of digital harassment known as "doxxing," which occurs when someone posts sensitive information online about someone else with the intent of stirring up trouble.
When it comes to how third parties collect and share individuals' data, young people have different attitudes depending on the organization, the Future of Privacy Forum report says. Young adults tend to have more trust in and favorable views of governments than in private companies when it comes to how their data may be used.
Regarding higher education institutions, many college students approve of their colleges collecting and using personal information for "educational purposes," but they don't necessarily believe that should extend to include their social media behavior or where they go and what they do on campus. Some students worry that the data higher ed collects about them may not be accurate or could be used against their best interests. Many students are loath to share biometric information with colleges and are wary about tools like facial recognition software.
To support young adults in their desire to safeguard their privacy, the report makes three recommendations:
Colleges should teach students about data privacy, ethics and digital literacy.
If you get burned in a fire, you first treat the wound, but you also try to put the fire out. In education, we treat the wound and then usher our teachers back into the fire. Excuse the pun but they are more than burned out, they are scorched.
Chelsea Prax, a program director at the American Federation of Teachers, sums it up succinctly.
"You can't deep-breathe your way out of a pandemic; you cannot stretch your way out of terrible class sizes; you cannot 'individual behavior' your way out of structural problems," she says.
This quote, which comes from Education Week's aptly titled piece, Teachers Are Not OK, Even Though We Need Them to Be, is just one of numerous articles, reports and statements outlining the stress that educators are under, and the well-intentioned but flawed approach of asking educators to save themselves.
But the only solutions we are presented revolve around "self-care," i.e., rest, relaxation, meditation, physical activity and yoga. Basically, it's up to you to save yourself. No doubt these strategies are helpful in addressing the wound, but they do little to nothing to address the cause. For many educators, being asked to "find time for themselves" is both impossible and, in itself, stress inducing when finding time is not a real option.
Larry Felazzo, the award-winning teacher who writes a popular education blog and a teacher advice column, recently wrote, "I teach in an almost ideal situation and I'm exhausted after just the first month of this year. I don't know how others who might be in less than ideal situations are handling it."
The experts are exhausted. The experienced are exhausted. We can safely assume that those new to the profession are exhausted too.
So, what do we do?
We must stop expecting educators to save themselves and instead start to address the group climate and culture of our schools. We must improve the environments that educators find themselves in everyday and at a minimum decrease the stress and increase the supports available in that setting. Collaboratively, we must start to address the systems that we have helped foster that have caused much of the stress in the first place.
If we only focus on self-care, we only affect the top of what I've coined the Wellbeing Pyramid. Not only is the effect temporary but it butts up too often against unsupportive environments and unresponsive systems. We must target the group interactions and focus on our school cultures, and then we must address the underlying causes. We give most attention to the Self but we must place more attention onto the Group and eventually the System.
Sean Slade, 2021.
As educators, or in fact as anyone who works with children and youth, we have less impact over our System—the scheduling, supports, time for collaboration, funding, duties, responsibilities and accountability systems. But we have more influence over the Group and consequently our culture and climate at the school. This is reflective of how we—the adults—treat each other. How we interact, how we react and how we support one another.
And while everyone in the school setting, from students, to staff, to families, influences the culture and climate, the person, or persons, who influence our school cultures the most are our school leaders. As my colleague Alyssa Gallagher and I wrote earlier this year, "Principals have the power to set the tone and establish a new order of business in a school. The principal provides education credibility to almost any initiative they champion, and as such, most school teams buy-in."
How do we do this?
We start by enhancing and improving the ways we interact and the ways we react to one another. These skills can be learned and fostered, but in general they revolve around core understandings and actions.
Acknowledging individuals, both personally as well as professionally
Demonstrating our human side of collaboration, and of leadership
Increasing our own understanding of how we react to, and interact with others
Adjusting our communication and leadership styles.
If we continue to focus only on self-care without addressing the causes of the stress we lose in both the middle and long game. We must start to focus more attention on the venues where we work and the interactions that influence the culture. This will not alleviate all stress (after all, most stress comes from our system), but if we continue to build our schools into places of care, support and positive interactions, we start to buffer the system stresses, and support the self-care that may take place.
It is not teachers' responsibility to save and take care of themselves; it is our responsibility to help ensure and develop safe, supportive environments with them.
In January, Colby College announced the formation of the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, calling it the "first cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence at a liberal arts college." There is a reason no other liberal arts college has engaged in an undertaking of this nature. The role of these institutions has been to broadly train undergraduates for living in a democratic society. In contrast, AI centers, like the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, have largely focused on high-end, specialized training for graduate students in complex mathematical and computer engineering fields. What could small, liberal arts colleges provide in response?
There's a clue in a statement from the Davis Institute's first director, natural language processing expert Amanda Stent. "AI will continue to have broad and profound societal impact, which means that the whole of society should have a say in what we do with it. For that to happen, each of us needs to have a foundational understanding of the nature of this technology," she said.
What constitutes a "foundational understanding" of artificial intelligence? Can you really understand the convoluted neural networks underneath driverless cars without taking advanced calculus? Do most of us need to understand it that deeply, or just generally?
A relevant analogy might be to ask whether we need to train mechanics and automotive designers, or simply people who can drive a car responsibly.
If it's the first, most liberal arts colleges are disadvantaged. Many of them struggle to hire and retain people who have the technical knowledge and experience to teach in these fields. Someone proficient in algorithmic design is likely making a pretty good living in industry or is working at a large, well-funded institute with the economies of scale that major scientific initiatives demand.
A society of people who have no conception of how AI, algorithms and machine learning works is a captured and manipulated society.
If it's the second, then most small liberal arts colleges are well-equipped to train students about the social and ethical challenges that artificial intelligence presents. These colleges specialize in providing a broad education that trains people not simply in acquiring technical skills for the workforce, but in becoming complete, fully integrated citizens. Increasingly, that will involve wrestling with the appropriate societal use of algorithms, artificial intelligence and machine learning in a world driven by expanded datafication.
In a wonderful article, two researchers from the University of Massachusetts Boston Applied Ethics Center, Nir Eisikovits and Dan Feldman, identify a key danger of our algorithmically driven society: the loss of humans' ability to make good choices. Aristotle called this phronesis, the art of how to live well in community with others. Aristotle saw the only way to acquire this knowledge came through habit, through the experience of engaging with others in different situations. By replacing human choice with machine choice, we run the risk of losing opportunities to develop civic wisdom. As algorithms increasingly choose what we watch, listen to, or whose opinion we hear on social media, we lose the practice of choosing. This may not matter when it comes to tonight's Netflix choice, but it does have more global implications. If we don't make choices about our entertainment, does it affect our ability to make moral choices?
Eisikovits and Feldman offer a provocative question: If humans aren't able to acquire phronesis, do we then fail to justify the high esteem that philosophers like John Locke and others in the natural rights tradition had regarding humans' ability to self-govern? Do we lose the ability to self-govern? Or, perhaps more importantly, do we lose the ability to know when the ability to self-govern has been taken from us? The liberal arts can equip us with the tools needed to cultivate phronesis.
But without a foundational understanding of how these technologies work, is a liberal arts major at a disadvantage in applying their "wisdom" to a changing reality? Instead of arguing whether we need people who have read Chaucer or people who understand what gradient descent means, we should be training people to do both. Colleges must take the lead in training students who can adopt a "technological ethic" that includes a working knowledge of AI along with the liberal arts knowledge to understand how they should situate themselves within an AI-driven world. This means not only being able to "drive a car responsibly" but also understanding how an internal combustion engine works.
Undoubtedly, engagement with these technologies can and must be woven throughout the curriculum, not only in special topics courses like "Philosophy of Technology" or "Surveillance in Literature," but in introductory courses and as part of a core curriculum for all subjects. But that isn't enough. Faculty in these courses need specialized training in developing or using frameworks, metaphors and analogies that explain the ideas behind artificial intelligence without requiring high-level computational or mathematical knowledge.
In my own case, I try to teach students to be algorithmically literate in a political science course that I have subtitled "Algorithms, Data and Politics." The course covers the ways in which the collection and analysis of data created unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the distribution of power, equity and justice. In this class, I talk in metaphors and analogies to explain complex concepts. For example, I explain neural networks like a giant panel with tens of thousands of dials (each one representing a feature or parameter) that are being fine-tuned thousands of times a second to produce a desired outcome. I talk about datafication and the effort to make users predictable as a kind of "factory farming" where the variability that affects the "product" is reduced.
Are these perfect analogies? No. I'm sure I miss key elements in my description, partly by design to promote critical thinking. But the alternative isn't tenable. A society of people who have no conception of how AI, algorithms and machine learning works is a captured and manipulated society. We can't set the bar for understanding so high that only mathematicians and computer scientists have the ability to speak about these tools. Nor can our training be so base-level that students develop incomplete and misguided (e.g. techno-utopian or techno-dystopian) notions of the future. We need AI training for society that is intentionally inefficient, just as the liberal arts emphasis on breadth, wisdom and human development is inherently and intentionally inefficient.
As Notre Dame humanities professor Mark Roche notes, "the college experience is for many a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask great questions without being overwhelmed by the distractions of material needs and practical applications." Liberal arts education serves a foundational grounding that, in its stability, allows students to navigate this increasingly fast, perplexing world. Knowledge of the classics, appreciation of arts and letters, and recognition of how physical and human sciences work are timeless traits that serve students well in any age. But the increasing complexity of the tools that govern our lives requires us to be more intentional in which "great questions" we ask.
Poland's Law and Justice party has found new enemies to stir up its conservative base while pushing the country rightward, write Ewa Galica and Corky Siemaszko in an analysis. Gay people, migrants, feminists — all have found themselves demonized by this Polish government.
Ed Adamson, a facilities specialist with the Baker County Library, views the library as a valuable community resource that exemplifies sustainable energy practices for the entire county. With the library playing such an important role in the region, Adamson and his team are always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of the building and be responsible stewards of public resources.
The library, constructed in 1969, was remodeled in 2000, expanding the square footage of the building by about a third. One outcome of the renovation was a hybrid HVAC system with a combination of equipment from the 1960s and 2000s, presenting many operational challenges for Adamson and his team.
Photo Credit: Baker County Public Library
More recently, the pandemic highlighted the importance of a building's indoor ventilation system and its ability to circulate air effectively. Once Adamson noticed that the library's dual system was affecting ventilation performance, he discovered that the controls were incompatible with the current equipment. The entire HVAC system needed upgraded controls to improve efficiency and ensure safe indoor air quality for visitors and staff. Adamson worked with Energy Trust of Oregon to confirm his findings and learned that the controls replacement project was eligible for Energy Trust cash incentives. “The upgrades enabled us to have direct dynamic control, which we’d never had before," he said.
Investing in new controls allowed the library to replace other ventilation system components that were not compatible with the old pneumatic controls. These upgrades helped the library meet the ventilation requirements necessary to re-open safely. "I had several patrons shake my hand to tell us how happy they were that the library was back online, and they felt safe inside the library because of everything we did," said Adamson.
The controller upgrades helped the library play an even bigger role in supporting the community. “The library is now advertised as a cooling center so that people can spend time here out of the heat when we’re at triple-digit temperatures," said Adamson. During the recent summer heatwaves, the building was able to maintain 70-to-73-degree temperatures without increasing energy usage. "The new controls adjust air filtration and circulation based on outside air factors, which has helped our resiliency going forward."
Photo Credit: Baker County Public Library
Adamson is proud of the district's work and believes they can model how energy-efficiency can benefit everyone. "It’s good that we lead by example. We need to sell energy efficiency to our communities," he said. "The more we reduce our overhead, the more we can repurpose funds back to programs and services that benefit the community."
IFA Nurseries in Klamath Falls grows high-quality conifer tree seedlings for reforestation—about 6.5 million of them every year. Keeping so many seedlings at just the right temperature is not only a challenge but critical for business. So, when the boilers in two of the nursery's greenhouses were no longer up to the task, IFA Nurseries turned to CR Combustion, which recommended replacing them with new high-efficiency natural gas condensing models.
"The new boilers provide a much more even temperature, and they're highly reliable because they have built-in redundancy," said Jacky Friedman, plant manager. "Each boiler has multiple units or modules. Should one module go down, the others keep running, which helps protect our crop." The modules also offer considerable flexibility. "Most of the time, we can run the boilers at a reduced setpoint—keeping them in condensing mode and operating at 95% efficiency." That efficiency project is saving IFA Nurseries an estimated $25,700 in annual energy operating costs.
"We're quite happy with the outcome," said Friedman. "The boilers always provide ample heat no matter the outside temperature. We can monitor and control them remotely 24/7. We're already discussing upgrading the boilers in our other two greenhouses."
The project worked out so well that word got out within IFA Nurseries family of facilities. It wasn't long before CR Combustion worked with IFA's Aurora facility to replace its old boilers, which had leaking fire tubes, with new high-efficiency condensing model. That project cut the Aurora nursery's annual natural gas bill by an estimated $14,500.
Could your nursery benefit from energy-efficiency upgrades? Check out the latest no- and low-cost tips and resources to make your business run better, visit www.energytrust.org/for-business or call 1.888.777.4479.
This is a part of a series of blog posts amplifying community voices.
Alison Kwok is a professor of architecture at the University of Oregon (UO) where she is also the director of the Technical Teaching Certificate program and the NetZed Laboratory and the co-director of the UO PhD in architecture program. Kwok's foundation in education and her desire to build a sustainable future has led her to research and explore adaptive and mitigation strategies for climate change. As a professor, Kwok provides hands-on, collaborative experiences where students can foster creative solutions for designing better buildings.
Photo courtesy of University of Oregon School of Architecture & Environment
Q: Tell us about yourself and your career. How did you get into the field of architecture?
While I've always been interested in health, energy and renewable design, I didn't start out as an architect. After getting my master's in Secondary Education, I taught middle and high school science in Hawaii for 8 years until my interests eventually led me to complete my master's and PhD in architecture at the University of California Berkeley. After working for an architecture firm, I returned to my teaching roots to fill in the gaps I saw in architectural education. My mission in teaching is to merge design and technology in ways that help students make the best, integrated decisions possible for our climate's future.
Q: Describe your work in Oregon and the role sustainability plays.
Sustainability is ingrained in everything I do. In my courses, I try to avoid lectures and exams and give students hands-on learning experiences. No one will remember the answers for a quiz, but they will remember going into a real building and using tools to study the consequences of a west-facing facade with no shading (hint: it's hot). I love hearing students talk about their experiences, and what they will take into practice.
Taking illuminance measurements in IslandWood offices
Q: What are the biggest challenges you've faced in advancing sustainability efforts in your field?
One of the biggest challenges I address is helping students work together collaboratively so they enter the workforce ready to work in teams. When you are in school, you want to learn things on your own and build personal confidence, but it's also so important to learn to build confidence while working with others since that is the reality of becoming a professional architect.
When it comes to climate change, we know there are many challenges to overcome. As educators, it is incumbent on us to give students the skills and tools to create resilient, adaptable, carbon-positive buildings.
Q: What changes have you seen, or do you expect to see, in your industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
The importance of ventilation and airflow has become vital over the last year. Many schools, universities, and households began to examine the use of outdoor, transitional spaces. One of the projects I'm working on looks at the physical environment of the classroom in terms of comfort and air quality and how we can re-invent ideas of the traditional classroom by transforming outdoor space in K-12 schools. Designing covered outdoor spaces to be used as classrooms or team spaces can be used for a good part of the year in many climates.
On a personal level for teachers and students, we're finding out more about ourselves and what it means to be an introvert or extrovert during this time when we're working remotely. I hope we can continue to use elements of remote teaching that all students can access, like recordings of classes and speakers. As we move back to in-person teaching, I will try to factor in the value of giving breaks during class and structuring some social activities.
Workshop with architects, faculty, and students at the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, Scotland
Q: What excites you most about the future of your work?
There is still so much to do. I continue to get excited about being a part of new projects that are not just answering a question but are changing a process. I am excited to continue building new partnerships and exploring how we can decrease the carbon emissions of building materials. While it's a big dream, I would love to work on—and in—a living building like the new PAE Living Building in Portland.
Q: What is your advice to women entering your field?
During a 2021 graduation ceremony speech for the University of Oregon School of Architecture & Environment, one of our alumni encouraged students to write, create or do one thing for themselves every day before starting work or class. I love this advice because it reminds us to build our creativity and confidence over time and to break work into manageable increments. Finding your passion doesn't happen overnight; it takes making time to be creative and care for yourself.
Discussion with architects and faculty at Cullinan Studios in London
"Respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they're different from you… Respect doesn't have to come naturally – it is something you learn." – kidshelpline.com
Business leadership in a diverse society requires sensitivity. Unexpectedly, this thoughtfulness often extends below a conscious level when we act or say something that may be inadvertently offensive to another person. Yet, as a sales leader you must set an example for others to follow. Subsequently, that is why it is important for you to know and understand how to avoid microaggressions. Furthermore, you must be proactive in calling out these vague and often ambiguous statements to your colleagues and co-workers. Regardless of position, background or opinion, everyone is touched by the feelings of trust, safety and wellbeing that create a healthy company culture.
Avoid microaggressions first, by recognizing them
Ignorance is no excuse to offend or mistreat other people or to do things that reflect badly upon you, others, and society. Therefore, you need to understand that "microaggressions are indirect, often unintentional expressions of racism, sexism, ageism or ableism." This is the cautionary tone set by authors of a recent item in businessinsider.com. The article cites the resignation of two Salesforce employees who experienced discrimination due to a culture of microaggressions and inequity. Further, the authors share that 61% of U.S. employees had witnessed or experienced workplace discrimination based on age, race, gender or LGBTQ identity, according to a Glassdoor survey. Here are some examples of microaggression cited by the authors:
"When a white colleague tells a colleague of color 'You're so articulate' or 'You speak so well,' the remark suggests that they assumed the person in question would be less articulate — and are surprised to find out they aren't."
"Oh, you're gay? You should meet my friend, Ann. She's gay, too!"
"When an older male colleague tells a junior female colleague 'You look so young' or 'You look like a student."
As a solution, the authors' advice is to just say nothing. In other words, check yourself before you speak. Consider why you would question or comment on a person's status or lifestyle choice. Similarly, making uninformed assumptions is harmful and rude.
How we talk can hide microaggressions
Oddly, it is often difficult to know that we have insulted someone. Conversely, we may feel offended at the conclusion of a conversation. But ignorance is not an excuse, it's a choice. Therefore, we can choose to avoid microaggressions by watching our language and honoring others for their diversity and life choices. Meanwhile, in your coaching sessions, you may want to focus on the deceptive nature of this issue to help your team avoid microaggressions and aid their self-examination.
Listen carefully to uncover microaggressions
It may be easier to recognize bullying in the workplace as it is often more overt. However, you owe it to your organization to be proactive in exposing all microaggressions. Moreover, you must actively listen for insolence, bias, veiled contempt, and disrespect. Strictly speaking, ignorance, or being ignorant, is simply a lack of understanding. Innocence, cluelessness, unawareness, obliviousness, and unfamiliarity are not acceptable excuses. Universally, respect for others in the workplace is mandatory. If they are to avoid microaggressions, your team must be cognizant of their existence and the seriousness of these offenses that will have a devastating effect on your company's culture both legally and financially.
To learn more about coaching your team to avoid microaggressions and improve their self-analysis, download SalesFuel's free white paper, "Are They Coachable?"
You just can’t beat a delicious cinnamon waffle that is drizzled with a cream cheese glaze! It tastes just like a cinnamon roll in waffle form!
I love anything that tastes like a cinnamon roll! So if you’re like me then you MUST try this Monkey Bread, these amazing Pancakes, or these Cookies!
Cinnamon Roll Waffles
These cinnamon roll waffles are to die for! I cannot get over their addicting flavor and texture. These are the perfect breakfast for a special occasion! Because let’s be honest… We usually have cold cereal or frozen waffles for breakfast each day! But try these out for a birthday or holiday and everyone will be so excited that you did! In fact, cook up this Breakfast Casserole, these Homemade Breakfast Sausages, and these Apple Streusel Muffins for a brunch to remember!
We just got a new waffle maker and I wanted to try it out with these! The waffles turned out amazing. They have such a crisp outside and a soft and fluffy inside. Plus, the cinnamon flavor in the waffles was perfection! These were just like a cinnamon roll in waffle form. And then you top them with that homemade cream cheese glaze! Well, let’s just say that you can’t get me to stop at just one!
What’s In Cinnamon Roll Waffles?
You are going to be shocked when I tell you that you probably already have all of these ingredients in your kitchen! This makes it a no-brainer to try these out now! See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.
Flour: I just used all purpose flour for this recipe!
Baking powder: This is the ingredient that will help your waffles rise and get all fluffy!
Salt:The salt is here to enhance the flavors of all of the other ingredients!
Sugar: This balances out that strong cinnamon taste to make it perfect.
Cinnamon: You can use more or less than this recipe calls for, depending on how strong you want the cinnamon flavor to be!
Eggs: Adding eggs to your batter helps keep the waffles light.
Buttermilk: You can use storebought buttermilk! Or, if you want to step this recipe up then be sure to make this homemade buttermilk!
Vegetable oil: The oil keeps the waffles moist.
Vanilla: A tiny bit of vanilla complements all of the other flavors so well!
Cream cheese glaze
Butter: Use unsalted butter that is at room temperature. It will mix better if it’s not cold!
Cream cheese: Soften your cream cheese before using it by letting it sit out at room temperature for a while before you plan on baking with it.
Powdered sugar: I use this instead of granulated sugar because this dissolves better and creates a much smoother glaze!
Vanilla: This will add a tiny bit of flavor to the glaze.
Let’s Make Some Waffles!
These cinnamon roll waffles will be done in about 25 minutes! So cook them up for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner! They are amazing!
Preheat waffle iron and mix dry ingredients: Preheat waffle iron. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon.
Whisk wet ingredients and combine: In a separate bowl whisk together eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and combine.
Bake waffles: Spray waffle maker with non stick spray and add ½ cup batter to center. Bake for 3-4 minutes or until waffles are golden brown.
Make the cream cheese glaze: Beat together butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Soften in the microwave for 20 seconds to pour easily over waffles.
Waffle Making Tips
If you want these cinnamon roll waffles to turn out just perfect, I have some tips for you! They are so simple and easy but make the biggest difference!
Don’t overmix: We all want to mix the batter to get all of the lumps and bumps out! But… If you overmix the batter then it becomes sticky and will not cook up as well! Mix until combined and then be done!
Don’t open the lid: I know that it’s tempting to open the lid and check to see how the waffles are doing while they are cooking… But don’t do it! It can cause your waffle to rip in half and then it will never cook up normally.
How to know when a waffle is done: If you are resisting lifting up the lid too soon then you are probably wondering how you know that they are done then! Well, the key to this is watching the steam! There should be steam coming out of the waffle maker as you cook them up. Then, when the waffle is done, the steam will stop! Go ahead and open the lid when you see the steam stop and your waffle should be cooked to perfection!
Mix-in and Topping Ideas
These cinnamon roll waffles are perfect as is! But if you start to cook them up as much as I do, then you may want to add things in just to mix things up a little bit. Here are a few things that you could try!
Mix-ins: You can try switching things up by putting things directly into the batter! Try some mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, shredded coconut or even some classic raisins!
Toppings: If you love the batter how it is and just want to change out what you put on top, that’s super easy too! Try topping it with some berries, some chocolate sauce or mini chocolate chips. You could also try some sliced walnuts or almonds for a crunchy texture!
How to Store Leftovers
These cinnamon roll waffles are fantastic for freezing and saving for later! So, go ahead and eat all that you want now. In fact, you should just double the recipe while you are at it! The leftovers that come from this are SOO GOOD!
Refrigerate: If you know that you are going to be eating them more during the week then you don’t need to freeze them! Just place them in an airtight container in your fridge. They will last 3-4 days in there!
Freezer: If you are making these ahead of time or making extras to save for breakfast or dinner later, then freezing them works great! Let the waffles cool down and then arrange them on a baking sheet. Then, place the baking sheet in the freezer for 2 hours. (Freezing them beforehand helps them not to stick together!) After that, you can take the waffles out and put them into a (labeled with the date) airtight container or ziplock bag. They will last for 3-4 months in your freezer.
Reheating frozen waffles: If you are reheating your waffles from frozen, go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Place the waffles on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper and cook them for 10-15 minutes (or until cooked through). Or, if you are only cooking one or two at a time then go ahead and cook them right up in your toaster!
More Delicious Waffle Recipes to Try
I absolutely love waffles. You can have them for any meal and top them with anything from sweet to savory and they are absolutely amazing! Here are a few more waffle recipes that I love! They are all a little uniques and are a twist on your regular waffle. This is why I love them! Try one or try them all. Your family is going to go crazy over them!
This coconut rice is insanely delicious! It has the perfect subtle hint of coconut flavor. You can taste it but it doesn’t take over. This is why this is going to become your go-to side dish! This pairs so perfectly with shrimp, chicken, and especially anything that has a cilantro-lime flavor! It complements just about everything and is a fun twist on your classic white rice!
Luckily, this recipe not only tastes amazing but it is SO easy to make!! If you have a few extra minutes before your meal then you should definitely be making this coconut rice! It’s got the perfect taste and texture from using only 5 ingredients. Plus, it only takes about 15 minutes to make! So there really isn’t any excuse to put off making this! Start now and then you will have the best go-to side dish for everything!
Ingredients You Will Need to Make Coconut Rice
This recipe only uses 5 (yes 5!) ingredients to make this amazing rice! Try it once and then you will never go back to regular rice. See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.
Jasmine rice: Jasmine rice is a MUST because it brings out the most flavor!
Coconut milk: Just grab a can of come coconut milk at the store and you will be all set!
Coconut water: Using coconut water instead of regular water helps to bring forth that subtle coconut flavor a bit more.
Sugar: Since coconut is not too sweet naturally, this tiny bit of sugar brings just the right amout to the flavor!
Salt: Salt is used to enhance the taste all of the other flavors and ingredients.
Let’s Make Some Rice!
Set aside 15 minutes for this side dish and you will be good to go! It goes with just about everything so go ahead and give it a try. You’ll love it!
Mix ingredients: In a medium sized sauce pan combine jasmine rice, coconut milk, water, sugar and salt.
Boil, reduce heat and cover: Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low and then cover it for 12-14 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Mix-in and Topping Ideas
This tried and true coconut rice can be mixed with so many different things. You can use it as a side dish OR you can add in a few other ingredients and then eat it just like that! I have come up with a few ideas that you can start with!
Sliced almonds: Any nuts will work but I especially love almonds with rice.
Peppers: Orange, red or yellow peppers are the best with this rice!
Beans: Mix this with some black beans or pinto beans and combine different textures.
Toasted coconut: Coconut rice isn’t naturally sweet like you would think. Add in some sweetened toasted coconut and make this dish sweet instead of savory.
Avocado: Mixing in avocado not only will add in a creamy texture but its so healthy for you!
Cilantro: Adding cilantro to rice is always a good idea!
How to Store Leftovers
This rice is great for leftovers! Store this in your fridge in an airtight container and then it will last for 3-4 days. All that you have to do is reheat it in the microwave until it’s warm! You can use it for lunches or dinners all week long!
Main Dishes to Serve with Coconut Rice
Coconut rice is a fantastic side that goes with so many things! You can add in some mix ins and eat it on its own OR you could try a few of these recipes to go with it. There are so many different options that I had a hard time narrowing it down! But start here and after you’ve tried it a few times then branch out and try a few more! Make it your own, you are going to love it!
Notable events this week: Strengthening Congressional Oversight Capacity is the focus of a ModCom hearing on Thursday; ACMRA and several IG bills get a HSGAC mark-up on Wednesday; and save the date for next Monday's lightning talks on eight new transparency ideas.
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APPROPRIATIONS
Senate Democrats' draft CJS bill and explanatory statement includes a new push for transparency around the Foreign Agents Registration Act — nice! — but does not include a parallel provision to the House's language directing transparency for OLC opinions, which is something Demand Progress had requested. It's inclusion is not necessary as committee report language controls so long as it's not contradicted elsewhere. Our rundown on transparency-related CJS matters is here.
Senate Dems' draft FSGG approps bill had at least two notable items — transparency around apportionments and increasing the federal government's intern capacity — and we've looked at the transparency provisions in that bill here.
CONGRESSIONAL MODERNIZATION
"Article One: Strengthening Congressional Oversight Capacity" is the title of a ModCom hearing scheduled for Thursday, November 4th at 9 AM. In anticipation of the hearing, we published this report with four recommendations to regain and strengthen oversight powers that Congress previously abdicated. See you there.
Over 33 ModCom recommendations have either been fully or partially implemented, according to the committee. Fully implemented recommendations include: creating a centralized HR Hub dedicated to congressional staff; decoupling member and staff pay; and improving access to congressional websites to individuals with disabilities. ModCom's new implementation page has the complete breakdown. Keep up the good work!
Strengthening the lawmaking process through data-driven decision making was the focus of the latest House Modernization Committee hearing. Ideas that implicate congressional technology can get a little confusing, so let's try to clear it up.
— Congressional technology. There are at least four significant lenses to thinking about congressional tech: (1) How Congress ingests information about policy that is mediated through technology, such as receiving and understanding data from an agency on how it has implemented a policy. (2) How Congress manages information about the legislative process, such as seeing how an amendment would change a bill or filing a bill electronically. (3) How Congress manages information about its operations, which is everything from managing constituent communications to requesting repairs in your office. (4) Who builds and maintains these tools and how is data made interoperable and accessible?
— Timely, accurate data. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts. That is the core idea behind evidence-based policymaking, and how to surface those facts is the focus of the testimony of Nick Hart, president of the Data Foundation. Relatedly, Tara McGuinness, a fellow and senior advisor at New America, emphasized in her testimony that Congress must further invest in modern toolkits and user testing to better measure the legislative impact of the population it serves.
— Who builds and maintains Congressional technology and how that data is shared is the focus of a dozen recommendations that Demand Progress released last year, including creating a Legislative Branch Data Coordination Office (to harmonize how the Legislative branch produces and shares data) and the establishment of a Congressional Digital Service (to support the Legislative branch's efforts to build and update its technology.) My testimony here addresses four immediate steps the House could take right now to further technological innovation in the House.
— Chief Data Officer. All three witnesses in Thursday's House Modernization Committee Hearing supported — in some form — the creation of a Chief Data Officer who can track data sets released by the Legislative branch and provide assistance and expertise with finding and obtaining legislative data. Obviously we agree about the creation of that office, and our recommendation for a Legislative Branch Data Coordination Office is an updated version of a Leg Branch CDO that is less likely to ruffle feathers from other Legislative branch stakeholders.
— Senate Leg Branch Approps, by the way, includes direction to GAO to brief the committee on how federal spending information required to be published under the DATA Act "could be used to support congressional oversight, constituent relations, and policy formation," specifically: "how existing data could be formatted to support the work of Congress." This, at its core, is evidence-based policymaking.
— Hedtler-Gaudette's recommendations included publishing financial disclosure information online (including periodic stock transactions); improving the detail of the disclosures for travel and gifts; publishing explanations for recusal decisions; and directing the Supreme Court to create a code of ethics.
— Lissner's recommendations, rooted in FLP's experience building the database, include modernizing the financial disclosure system; enacting a ban on "all magistrate judges, bankruptcy judges, and Article III judges and justices from making or holding investments in individual stocks;" and passing a FOIA-like law for the judiciary. (NARA's FOIA Advisory Committee endorsed extending aspects of FOIA earlier this year.)
On federal court documents, the U.S. government's technology and design consultancy, 18F, issued a report evaluating the federal court's disclosure and filing systems. The findings were fairly damning, so it is commendable that the Administrative Office of the Courts released 18Fs analysis. Their recommendations: the AO should embrace human-centered design and a better approach to building & maintaining technology through its lifecycle; move to the cloud; and put APIs at the heart of its court filing systems.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OVERSIGHT
An important transparency bill has been rescheduled for markup before HSGAC on November 3rd. You all know our interest in the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (S. 2838), which would improve oversight of the executive branch by establishing a central repository to track and store all agency reports submitted to Congress. The repository would improve access to reports for congressional staff and the public alike, and would help ensure that reports are submitted to Congress on time. Demand Progress has supported ACMRA since 2017; here's Demand Progress' one-pager on the legislation, and coalition letters to the House and Senate submitted to the 116th Congress.
Four bills that would strengthen IG independence and capacity are also on the Nov. 3rd HSGAC docket. Three of the bills (the Securing IG Independence Act, S. 587; the IG Testimonial Subpoena Act, S. 1794; and the IG Independence and Empowerment Act, H.R. 2662) were previously scheduled for markup on Oct. 6th. We wrote about them (and noted Demand Progress' and 15 other organizations' endorsement of H.R. 2662) here. The fourth bill — the Keep the Watchdogs Running Act (S. 2273) — would allow Inspectors General to continue working during lapses in appropriations.
The US government purchases private records from data brokers to conduct surveillance — and EO 12333 ostensibly authorizes it to do so without judicial, Congressional, or public oversight. This represents one type of secret law; without the efforts of investigative reporters and members of Congress, we wouldn't know that the IRS, DoD, and DHS have all purchased private records. On the 20th anniversary of the Patriot Act, Sen. Ron Wyden called for the passage of the Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act (S. 1265), which would prevent agencies from purchasing data in secret that they would otherwise need a warrant to obtain.
CAPITOL SECURITY
66 former lawmakers opposed former Pres. Trump's effort to restrict access to Trump Administration records in an amicus brief filed with the DC District Court.
Congressional employees felt left out to dry by USCP on Jan. 6th, raising important questions about whom USCP protects. Journalists, congressional staffers, and hospitality and custodial workers who were inside the Capitol building during the riots told Business Insider that USCP officers focused on evacuating Members and they were left in the dark and exposed. Protecting the Congress means having plans in place to protect everyone in the Capitol building in the event of a security breach.
Deputy Chief Eric Waldow is retiringfrom the Capitol Police. He led the Civil Disturbance Unit on 1/6 and is one of the handful of top officials who "played an integral role in planning for Jan. 6 and were subject to no-confidence votes" by the union.
USCP rolled out a new system for DC residents to receive security alerts from the department, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announced on Thursday. We're glad the local community will have a way to stay abreast of potential threats to their safety (a reform that we and Del. Norton have called for previously). DC residents can sign up for alerts through AlertDC, the district's emergency notification system.
A USCP officer who was indicted on obstruction of justice charges related to Jan. 6th has resigned, Politico reports. The officer instructed one rioter to delete potentially incriminating Facebook posts, according to the indictment.
The Office of Congressional Ethics, the House's independent ethics watchdog, released its 2021 third-quarter report last week. Approximately 2,172 private citizens submitted allegations of misconduct or requests for information in Q3, and the OCE transmitted five matters to the House Ethics committee for further review.
ODDS AND ENDS
The average FOIA request response time was 97 days in FY 2020, an 8-day increase from the year prior, according to a new CRS report. Nearly 8% fewer FOIA requests were submitted in FY 2020 than in FY 2019, and agencies' invocation of exemptions also dipped, but exemptions for personal privacy and law enforcement records continued to be used quite frequently.
Resources for staff who may be leaving the Hill. Planning for financial security in a job transition, including taking care of details like health insurance and TSP contributions, is the focus of a POPVOX Foundation checklist released in partnership with Melissa Dargan.
Federal Scientist Whistleblowing protections and best practices are the subject of a new Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds fact sheet.
Journalists at Politico are seeking a union vote just days after the outlet was acquired by the German media empire Axel Springer, the focus of a recent (and not laudatory) NYT article.
The EU Parliament is suing the EU Commission because of the executive's failure to enforce certain laws against member states. It is interesting to see this tension between the legislative and executive play out around the world.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who currently sits on the Select Committee on Jan. 6th, announced his retirement.
The fight over ex-Pres. Trump's White House records is heating up, with filings over the weekend. "According to the National Archives, the former president has sought to block about 750 pages out of nearly 1,600 identified by officials as relevant to the Jan. 6 investigation." The National Archives weighed in against granting the preliminary injunction.
CALENDAR
The Advisory Committee on Transparency is hosting a 'lightning talk'-format webinar next Monday, November 8th, at 11 AM ET. Register here.
The future of law libraries will be discussed at the Library of Congress' Jane Sánchez Memorial Lecture on November 9th at 3 PM. Register here.
Do you have an event you want to share? Let us know. Email capacity@demandprogress.org
The First Branch Forecast is written by Daniel Schuman and Taylor Swift at the Demand Progress Education Fund. Send us a comment or tip at capacity@demandprogress.org. Check out the newsletter archives at FirstBranchForecast.com.
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Too Fat to Cook posted: "This has been a family favorite for years. The key to this recipe is not overcooking the carrots and allowing the entire salad to marinate for at least 12 hours. For a spectacular presentation when serving, garnish the top with rings of each color of bell"
This has been a family favorite for years. The key to this recipe is not overcooking the carrots and allowing the entire salad to marinate for at least 12 hours. For a spectacular presentation when serving, garnish the top with rings of each color of bell pepper and rings of onion. Serve alone or over a bed of lettuce.
If you want to moderate your calorie intake, pairing low calorie foods with higher calorie foods is a great place to start. Here are 33 foods with almost zero calories.
If you want to moderate your calorie intake, pairing low calorie foods with higher calorie foods is a great place to start. Here are 33 foods with almost zero calories.
Recovery from pacemaker implantation often means limiting your physical activity. Learn more about instructions for recovery after this procedure. READ ON
COVID-19 vaccine safety with psoriasis medication While many drugs prescribed for psoriasis weaken the immune system, all available evidence indicates that COVID-19 vaccines are still safe and effective for people taking psoriasis medications. We dig into the science here at Healthline.
3 promising new psoriasis drugs in testing phase Two topical creams and one oral drug have shown great promise in phase 3 trials. If approved by the FDA, they could be effective options for symptom relief, reports the DermatologyTimes.
Brittle nails, bleeding gums, and hair loss — a diet lacking nutrients may cause unpleasant symptoms. Learn how to address these common signs of vitamin deficiency. READ ON
Global deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic have reached approximately 5 million people in a little less than 2 years, according to the most recent data from Johns Hopkins University.
The Latest on COVID-19
Updated on November 1, 2021 at 1:45 p.m. PDT
Global deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic have reached approximately 5 million people in a little less than 2 years, according to the most recent data from Johns Hopkins University.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Sunday that she's been diagnosed with COVID-19, reported CBS News. Psaki is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and confirmed that she's experiencing a mild case of the disease.
Doctors and public health officials are united in assuring parents that COVID-19 can't affect their child's future fertility. According to a new survey by KFF, some parents are concerned that COVID-19 vaccination could potentially affect children's future fertility. "Unfounded claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility have been scientifically disproven," the American Academy of Pediatrics confirmed in a statement.
Get your questions about multiple sclerosis progression answered in this expert Q&A with Dr. Sharon Stoll, a board certified neurologist and MS specialist.
Get your questions about multiple sclerosis progression answered in this expert Q&A with Dr. Sharon Stoll, a board certified neurologist and MS specialist.
Forgetful? Having a hard time focusing? It's not just you — the fibro fog is real. These medications, supplements, and other treatments might help. READ ON
If you live with chronic fatigue, cooking may be the last thing you want to do. We've gathered 12 tasty recipes that maximize nutrition and minimize your time in the kitchen. READ ON
Take this quiz to find out if you're already well informed about dry eyes or if you need to meet with your eye doctor to learn more or go over treatment options. READ ON
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