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« Alabama Coach Concerned About Colleges Manipulating Cost-of-Attendance Figures | Main | Wis. Legislators Under Fire for Advancing 'Tebow' Bill in Late-Night Meeting »
Oklahoma City High School Replaces 'Redskins' Mascot With 'Red Wolves'
The Oklahoma City-based Capitol Hill High School announced last week that it will replace its former "Redskins" mascot with "Red Wolves."
In December, the Oklahoma City school board voted unanimously to drop the "Redskins" mascot, which had been in place for 88 years, effective immediately. Following the board's vote, Tierney Tinnin, the district's spokesperson, released the following statement (via KFOR.com):
Oklahoma City public schools respects and honors the Native American community and students in our district, state, and nation. The administration will immediately begin eliminating the use of the Redskins mascot and will create a committee of students, alumni, and community members to identify a new mascot for Capitol Hill High School before the end of the spring semester.
By March, a committee of students, alumni, and community members initially selected four possible alternatives: Red Hawks, Red Wolves, War Eagles, and Nations. Other mascots under consideration included Chieftains, Warriors, Wolverines, and Jaguars, but all four failed to make the cut. The former's allusion to American Indians is what disqualified it.
"Our students don't want the mascot that we chose now to be offensive 80 years from now," said faculty representative Curtis Phillips to News9.com. "So they were really looking ahead and wanting to choose something nobody could find offensive in any way."
The committee eventually settled upon Red Wolves and Guardians as the two alternatives, according to Tim Willert of The Oklahoman, putting the final decision in students' hands. The new mascot needed to "have meaning, instill pride, not embody human characteristics and retain the school's legacy," per Willert. Tinnin told him that the committee replaced Nations with Guardians because "they felt a little uneasy about Nations; they wanted something a little stronger."
Ultimately, 438 students participated in the vote, and Red Wolves won by 30, Willert reported.
"It is an exciting moment for Capitol Hill students, staff, and community," Principal Alex Souza told the paper. "It's been a challenge for the students, but at the same time I think they were excited about being new."
Oklahoma City's KOCO-5 shared a picture of the new logo:
Capitol Hill High School's new mascot will be the RedWolves http://t.co/tyBxb5XKNz pic.twitter.com/n5kldcLjuw— KOCO-5 Oklahoma City (@koconews) May 23, 2015
Changing mascots will cost the district nearly $230,000, according to Willert. That includes $87,766 for new athletic equipment, $36,136 for student clubs and organizations, $78,950 for facilities, $20,000 for uniforms and spirit apparel, and $7,100 in "transition costs."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 7.5 percent of Oklahoma's population is either American Indian or Alaska Native, while roughly 3.5 percent of Oklahoma City's population is American Indian.
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Want all the latest K-12 sports news? Follow @SchooledinSport on Twitter.


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It remains unclear what consequences the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision might have for LGBT equality, but the Supreme Court did take one other action Monday that is actually a small win for gay rights. Before issuing the day's two big decisions, the Court refused to grant cert to a case challenging California's ban on ex-gay therapy for minors, leaving the ban in place.
California was the first state to pass a law protecting minors from being subjected to therapies that attempt to de-gay their sexual orientations in 2012. Conservative groups promptly sued on behalf of ex-gay therapists who felt the ban infringed on their freedom of speech with clients. After two conflicting lower court rulings, the Ninth Circuit ruled last summer that the ban is constitutional. The conservative groups appealed to the Supreme Court, but its decision not to hear it means that the cases are over and the ban remains in place.
Mat Staver, head of the Liberty Counsel, which represents some of the ex-gay therapists who sued, told BarbWire that he is "deeply saddened" for the children who will be denied treatment, "many of whom," he claimed, "developed these unwanted attractions because of abuse of a pedophile." He went on to claim that they have now been "victimized twice" — "first by the likes of Jerry Sandusky" and now by lawmakers and judges protecting their "unwanted and dangerous same-sex sexual attractions and behavior."
Staver's repeated insistence that pedophilia — specifically with references to convicted serial child molester Jerry Sandusky — causes homosexuality has proven even too controversial for other anti-LGBT groups like Focus on the Family. Staver has also suggested that "the law allows homosexuals to 'entrap' and 'groom' children into the homosexual lifestyle."
In contrast, the American Psychology Association has condemned ex-gay therapy as ineffective because sexual orientation cannot be manipulated. Survivors of the treatment have testified to the mental health harms they experienced when subjecting themselves to the shame-based counseling.
Though the Court's decision leaves California's ban in place, it's not the last legal challenge bans on ex-gay therapy will face. New Jersey also passed such a ban last year, and the Liberty Counsel is also challenging that ban on behalf of the ex-gay therapists professional organization NARTH. A district court judge ruled in November that the ban was constitutional and the Liberty Counsel has appealed to the Third Circuit. If it rules differently than the Ninth Circuit did, it could force the Supreme Court to mitigate the conflicting decisions and weigh in on the merits of ex-gay therapy in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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We're Jayhawks rising to greatness to become "The Pioneering Force for Global Impact Through Design"
Each one of our programs challenges students to create with intent and practice design-thinking to find real-world solutions to real-world problems. Our faculty are thought-leaders that mentor and equip our students with the design, leadership, and planning skills to make discoveries that will change the world.
The Department of Architecture offers a professional path to a Master of Architecture (M.Arch), Master of Arts in Architecture (M.A.), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture (Ph.D.).
The Department of Design offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design (B.F.A.) with areas of concentration in Illustration & Animation, Industrial Design, Photography, and Visual Communication Design and a Master of Arts in Design (M.A.) with areas of concentration in Design Management and Strategy and Interaction and User Experience Design. Additional opportunities include a Certificate in Book Arts and a Minor in Photography.


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I played BINGO with Scrap Our Stash:
I went diagonally - The color yellow, flowers and chevron paper.
Thanks for stopping by!!!
You surely are a fast scrapper!I admire your speed!Wow!Such a great take on the challenge!Thank you for joining us at Scrap Our Stash!ReplyDelete
Fantastic layout. Love the details and stash use. Thanks for your entry in our challenge at Scrap Our Stash!ReplyDelete
Wonderful photos and great use of your stash! Love the gold chevron paper, and those music note flowers are super! -Thanks for playing along with us at Scrap Our Stash!ReplyDelete
You rocked this challenge! Great use of the stash, lve the flowers! Thanks for playing along with us at Scrap Our StashReplyDelete
Great take on this Challenge. Those flowers look amazing. Thank you for joining Scrap Our Stash! Hugs ÅsaReplyDelete
Great to get a project done! Cool flowers :) Thanks for Tic Tac Toeing with us at Scrap Our Stash!ReplyDelete


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Here at Humble Investigations, L.L.C., we are dedicated to client satisfaction. All services are completed in a timely manner. Rush service is available if needed.
The Lawgical Promise guarantees this member has been pre-screened to verify their qualifications.
1113 South Range Avenue, Suite 110 #126
Denham Springs, LA
(225) 270-4633


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Almost all Australian's would be familiar with the name David Koch. He's a morning program presenter on one of the major networks. It was a few years ago I got word he was having a custom 1967 Fastback built for him and then I forgot all about it. Until now.
Continue reading


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The Tribeca Film Festival announced today part of its lineup for its 11th edition that includes some Latino titles. The World Narrative Feature Competition includes the international premiere of Argentine film All In / La suerte en tus manos (pictured) by Daniel Burman, a story about a professional poker player who discovers love with an old flame starring Oscar®-winning Uruguayan songwriter Jorge Drexler and Argentine actresses Norma Aleandro and Valeria Bertuccelli; the world premiere of the US/Mexico co-production, The Girl by David Riker, that depicts the plight of a desperate mother who, after losing her job and the custody of her son, gets heavily involved in smuggling immigrants across the border.
Additionally the festival will feature the North American premiere of the Cuban film Una Noche by Lucy Mulloy, the story of two Cuban teens who entertain the idea of fleeing to Miami. The festival runs April 18-29 in New York City.


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Stuart Single Family Home at 8902 Sw Caprice Circle in River Forest
8902 SW Caprice Circle is a single family home located in the boat community of River Forest in Stuart Florida. Inside this 1650 square foot home are three (3) bedrooms, two (2) bathrooms with high, vaulted ceilings. The master bedroom has patio access through the sliding glass doors, as well as a roman tub in the master bath. The fully fenced back yard holds the screened patio and covered lanai which is great for entertaining. This home is located in River Forest, a boaters community with a boat ramp, boat yard, and dock that connects to the St.Lucie River.
River Forest listing courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Agent: Annette Duplessis PA


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67 Greenwich St.
67 Greenwich St.
67 Greenwich St., Manhattan
This modest commercial building is located near the foot of Greenwich Street, straddling the original shoreline of Lower Manhattan. It has stood since 1811, making it a rare survivor from the Federal era. Originally, it was a large private house, one of the many then fronting Greenwich Street, when it was home to many of the city's leading families.
The building has an unusual, elliptical bay on the rear facade, leading some to attribute the design to Pierre L'Enfant. While that attribution is erroneous, according to architectural historian Andrew Dolkart, it is a form characteristic of the Federal style that has no known equal on other remaining buildings of the period in New York City.
The building was first heard for designation by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967 and then again in 2004, after spending 37 years on the Commission's 'Heard But Not Designated List.' It was finally given landmark status in June 2005, and the designation was opposed by the owner, but sustained by the City Council and approved by the Mayor.
In addition, meticulous research by historian Susan DeVries was co-sponsored by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and the New York Landmarks Conservancy. Her findings led the State Historic Preservation Officer to declare that 67 Greenwich Street is eligible for listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places. This step makes federal investment tax credit benefits available for an appropriate rehabilitation.
Both before and after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, this building has stood vacant and deteriorating, now nearby to the site of lost lives and buildings. It is a sad shell with great promise. Redevelopment planners, recognizing its historical importance, have provided for its retention and restoration as part of the new downtown. However, without its owner's active cooperation, 67 Greenwich Street remains the most endangered Federal-era building in Lower Manhattan.
Lower Manhattan
Building use type: Mixed Use
Condition: Poor
Year built: 1810
Style: Federal
Predominant materials: Masonry
NYC Designation Status: Landmark
National Designation Status: Eligible
Lot width: 40
Lot depth: 74
Building width: 41
Building depth: 68
Zoning: C5
Your Input
Suggest a building for inclusion or tell us about a change in a building's condition.


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Your Birth, Your Baby, Your Way
Personalized, Professional Pampering!
*Free consultation to determine your needs for birthing support
*Support during your pregnancy as you prepare for birth and parenting. We will utilize birth planning tools to discuss your preferences and needs. We will work together to create your unique birth plan, practice comfort measures, and work with your partner on supportive birth team dynamics.
*I am on-call 24/7 for your labor and birth from the moment you hire me until your baby is born. I limit my monthly calendar to a small number of births to ensure a quality relationship with each client. I work with an excellent team of professional and experienced doulas from Queen City Doulas for back-up so your birth is always covered.
*Continuous active labor support at your home or hospital or birth center
*Immediate postpartum support to help with birth recovery, getting settled with your newborn and initiating breastfeeding and bonding
*Two postpartum home visits: during your first week home, and then between 4-6 weeks postpartum to help you transition peacefully into parenthood. We will debrief your birth experience, plan for continued postpartum wellness, and discuss any questions you have.
*Access to my library of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, parenting resources
*Continued Text or email support for 6 weeks postpartum
*Aromatherapy specially designed to support your labor
*2nd prenatal visit as needed to answer questions and review birthing options, or attendance at one of your prenatal appointments with your care provider
*Gift Certificate for a Prenatal Massage at Bellies & Babies
Discount on "Yes to Birth" Relaxation Audio Downloads and online childbirth education
A copy of "Nuture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Early Motherhood - and Trusting Yourself and Your Body" by Erica Chidi Cohen
"The Longest Month of Pregnancy: Your 30-day Survival Guide" By Taylor Davis
Fee for 2020 Due Dates is $1675. I will only be booking an exclusive 1 or 2 clients per month in 2019-2020 to ensure the highest quality of personalized care!
I am always willing to work with clients on flexible payment plans, income-based sliding scale and tailoring packages to best suit your needs!
*A portion of my fee from any doula services goes directly to W.I.S.E. Community Doulas, a grassroots organization in Charlotte whose mission is to improve the maternal and infant health outcome and disparities of women of color, by fostering a community that advocates, educates, empowers and supports pregnant people, their growing families, and the professionals who work with them, during the childbirth continuum.
Postpartum Doula Services
As a DTI Certified Postpartum Doula, I care for the mother and the family after baby arrives with service that is completely tailored to the unique needs of each family. This care allows the new mother to focus her time and energy caring for the new baby and healing after delivery.
I am thrilled to be a member of a fantastic team of professional Postpartum Doulas and Newborn Care Specialists at Queen City Newborn Care. Daytime and overnight support can be booked through this agency.


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Ask the Experts by Dean Dauphinais
Q. I'm the parent of a high school student who is struggling in public school because of some learning differences. Is there an alternative school option for them that may provide a better way to learn?
A. I feel your pain. My younger son's struggle with ADHD, anxiety, and learning began late in middle school. Although he was super intelligent and tested off the charts, learning and comprehending in a mainstream environment wasn't working for him. He did the best he could in public school during ninth and tenth grades. The school was incredibly helpful, too, putting an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in place for my son, which included numerous accommodations. Things improved, but my wife and I thought a smaller school with more individualized instruction and hands-on learning would help him even more.
We did some research and discovered The Leelanau School, a small college-prep boarding high school in Glen Arbor, Michigan. Their curriculum uses multi-sensory, experiential, and strength-based methodologies, just what our son needed.
The school's alternative learning environment changed his life. He went from feeling left out and hating school to feeling welcome and loving school. His grades improved dramatically. He blossomed into the student we knew he could be, and his self-confidence grew.
As a result, he did things we never envisioned him doing, like acting in plays, playing music and singing in public. Those things happened because our son felt comfortable in the school's environment: Small classrooms, individualized attention and a small, tight-knit student body that felt like a second family.
We are blessed with wonderful public schools, but some kids need a different style of learning in order to succeed. And that's okay. I would urge you to explore alternative educational options. Your child doesn't have to struggle in high school. The right school can recognize your child's potential, maximize it, and help them achieve great things.


text: Michelle Kloehn received her MFA from Bard College and her BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She is a 2011 Baum Award nominee for Emerging American Photographers and the recipient of two MacDowell Colony Fellowships. Kloehn's work has been included in exhibitions at the Yossi Milo Gallery (NY), Haines Gallery (CA), Krowswork (CA), Sepia International (NY), Jen Bekman Gallery (NY), and the Milwaukee Art Museum. She was featured in BLIND SPOT Issue 36, Fall Portfolio and has been written about in The New Yorker, ARTnews, and New York Arts Magazine. Her photographs are in the collection of the National Media Museum in Bradford, England and in various private collections. She currently lives and works in Oakland California.


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We have in the past shared our holiday greeting card in the form of a KML file you can download and view in Google Earth. This year, for Christmas, we have taken inspiration from our Halloween … [Read more...]
Santa's village on Google Earth
Christmas sightseeing in Google Earth
In past years we have looked at Giant Santa's and Christmas Trees in Google Street View (via Google Sightseeing). This year we look at a reindeer near Ersfjordbotn, Norway that the Street View car … [Read more...]
Track Santa in Google Earth
As they've done for years, Google is once again helping to track Santa's journey around the world tomorrow! All of the action will be tracked on the official Santa Tracker site at … [Read more...]
The countdown begins for Google's annual Santa tracker
Google's annual "Santa Tracker" site is live, with new games and features being added each day from now until Christmas. When Christmas comes, as they've done in years past, Google will help track … [Read more...]
Giant Santas in Google Street View
With Christmas just a few days away, there are a variety of Christmas-themed maps and games popping up. A few days ago, Google Sightseeing showcased a variety of giant Santas that can be found in … [Read more...]


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Elemental Weapon Icons
A downloadable asset pack for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
This pack contains 54 icons - 6 item types with 9 different backgrounds representing each of the four basic elements plus cold, acid, lightning, death and life. Available sizes: 64x64 and 128x128 plus I've added 256x256 sources.
- Axe
- Bow
- Scroll
- Shield
- Spear
- Sword
- Acid
- Air
- Death
- Earth/Nature
- Frost
- Fire
- Life/Light
- Lightning/Electricity
- Water
Frame you see in the promo is included :)
6 items x 9 backgrounds = 54 icons. They're not just copy-pasted, each has been hand-painted to fit nicely into the base background :) That's also the reason why I can't separate items and backgrounds - the backgrounds just wouldn't work without the extra painting effort.
As usual everything you see has been painted by hand.
Hope you enjoy this set!
PS. Sources are not meant to be used in-game, but rather allow you to scale down to any size you wish without losing quality. This is just a guideline, ofcourse you're free to use them however you like!
In order to download this asset pack you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $5 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Leave a comment
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.


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I am so excited to partner up with USB Memory Direct to promote these amazing Business Card Flash Drives!
I love the fact that you can make them look like your business card! We have given away a few so far and everyone is loving them.
They're perfect, flat, minimal, and easy to use. I really love the look of them and think it's a great addition to our photography packages.


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S! 4! Ain't no party like a Samsung party! The Samsung Galaxy S4 is announced tonight, so we take a last look at the rumours -- as well as a British broadband boost, SimCity woes, and a French invasion of your phone bill.
It seems that in some parts of Kent French phone signals are riding roughshod over British bars, hitting plucky Britons with gallic roaming charges. In better news for the UK, Ofcom has revealed that broadband speeds are getting faster -- no matter what Netflix says.
We take a look at the future of ailing HMV as Asda gets ready to step in, and chew over what went wrong with EA and SimCity.
We delete aggressive adverts that trash-talk rivals, like the LG ad that tried to diss the S4 and Samsung's queue-jumping commercials.
And we hear from you fine folk in the feedback section. Can Samsung ever make a go of its own app store? Which app store is better: Apple or Android? Is Ubuntu Touch ready for prime time? And how do you listen to music and hoover at the same time?
Finally we turn to the one member of the team that talks any sense, our loquacious chum Otamatone, who's cast his discerning eye over the Samsung PS60E6500.
To listen to the CNET UK podcast just press play above, or skip down to the iTunes Store and search for CNET UK. Click on Subscribe Free and listen away. And say hello in the comments or on our Facebook wall.


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Posts Tagged 'theme park'
Misfortune Tellerby Kristian on February 16, 2015 at 00:00
You should be able to decipher this one, hopefully! Maybe the colors will help. Also, for a bit of serious talk: Tomorrow I'll know if my day job gets outsourced to Lithuania. Go here if you want to make sure I have money for food: Support Optipess on Patreon. Edit February 18th: Well, that didn't […]
The Lovercoasterby Kristian on January 12, 2015 at 00:00
Phew, Norway is having its warmest summer in decades, but you will probably be pleased to hear that I'm entirely spending it staying inside to draw comics just for you!
High Strikeby Kristian on July 15, 2013 at 00:00
Growing Upby Kristian on October 19, 2012 at 00:50
Amusement Park Winnerby Kristian on May 11, 2012 at 00:00
Parenting 101by Kristian on April 16, 2012 at 00:00
This is also why I had to close my daycare center. I kept losing too many clients. :( Also! Many heartfelt thanks for your donations over the weekend – every message along with the contributions put a huge smile on my face. *bow* April 20th comic update: Sigh! No comic today as my drawing session […]
Lethal Thrill Ridesby Kristian on January 30, 2012 at 01:19
Whoops! Several naps during the day today slightly delayed this comic. Also, I haven't heard anything from the Pringles lawyers regarding the previous comic, so I guess I am in the clear!
The Arterial Dropby Kristian on January 16, 2012 at 00:00
Funhouse Refreshmentby Kristian on December 10, 2010 at 00:11
Indeed, here's a comic! Didn't have a lot of time to do a comic for today due to sickness, so I chose to produce this one where I wouldn't have to draw one certain character in every panel. Brilliant!
Space Shotby Kristian on November 12, 2010 at 00:36
Fun fact: This one started out as a bad comic. (And you can probably tell!) Provided I can pull it off properly, I've got a much more somber affair planned for Monday. Stay tuned.
Space Land Mishapby Kristian on November 1, 2010 at 00:38
This park was finally shut down a couple months later for accidentally (or deliberately) launching three kids into orbit.
Nuclear Jugglerby Kristian on April 5, 2010 at 00:00
He would later be caught juggling with fake Ebola virus canisters. For shame. Also, this strip made me realize that choosing colours for clown outfits can indeed be done pretty much completely at random.
Snack Jumpby Kristian on March 5, 2010 at 00:00
Well then, here's a new comic strip. I think this one might be a result of me playing Bioshock 2 for hours on end, even though I guess the only thing these two things have in common is… well, water.
Financial CRISISby Kristian on January 25, 2010 at 00:00
Here you go, some provocative social commentary and Pulitzer-prize level hard-hitting jabs at capitalism to counter the juvenile previous strip. I hope you like it.
Tunnel of Horrorby Kristian on November 20, 2009 at 00:00
Edit: Apparently I didn't get the memo since I completely missed that it was Friday the 13th last Friday. I guess the next chance I have to be topical with a strip like this is Friday the 13 of August 2010. Either that or one can wait until 2012 which ominously has three Friday the […]
Suicide Parkby Kristian on October 9, 2009 at 00:00
Aw. Before its abrupt bankruptcy, Suicide Park also featured the Overdose House of Mirrors and the Slittin' on the Wrists dance hall.


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Are you having a hard time receiving a more stable Internet throughput? Would you like to find a way to make the most of the frequency within your area? The AirFiber is a revolutionary solution that allows you to broadcast strong Internet over a large area without spending a lot of money for it.
Easy Implementation
The AirFiber uses the plug-and-play approach, which means you simply need to connect it within the network, and its system automatically adjusts itself so it can work harmoniously with the other components. This very easy and quick installation process makes the technology friendly to various types of users, even to those who don't have a lot or even zero experience with wireless networking. This also makes the device deployable to anywhere in the world.
Long Range
The powerful AirFiber has a very long range of more than 13 kilometers due to its high gain. It also uses the MIMO technology, which enhances throughput to twofold. Best of all, it works with two of the most helpful antenna modes to date: hybrid division duplex (HDD) and frequency division duplex (FDD). Considered as the future modes of the fourth-generation mobile models for communication, they work together in order to maintain speed as well to increase performance of the throughput by allowing you to avoid too much interference or noise, which is usually present in a 24GHz license-free band.
Intuitive Firmware
The AirFiber also runs using the AirOS F software, which is not only intuitive but also very convenient and fast to deploy. It offers both excellent backhaul support and strong network performance. With it, you can conduct speed test, align the antenna, ping, trace routes, and survey sites.
|The main frequency range (GHz)
|Data transfer rate (Mbit/s)
|1.4+ Gbps
|Transmit Power (dBm)
|Ports 10/100 Ethernet
|Ports 10/100/1000 Ethernet
|Connectors for antennas
|Gain (dBi)
|Operation mode
|Point-to-Point|TDD|FDD|Advanced HDD


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Pizza & Pasta Nights
Two of our favorite nights of the week! Stop in Monday nights at the Bon Ton for our famous handmade Pizza (a locals favorite) - we've got gluten-free crusts, just ask! And don't forget that Thursday nights call for a Bottomless Bowl of Pasta. Big bowls of pasta with garlic bread and a house salad. Bring your appetites!
Cocktails & Martinis
If you share the daringly dry Martini tastes of 007 or just enjoy a classy drink and low-key dining experience, the the bar at the Bon Ton is a great place to stop by for a cocktail or a bottle of wine. A good cocktail, or glass of wine, should be casual and conversational and made to enjoy with a friend or two. So stop by the Bon Ton and end your day on a great note.
Look What We Got!
Now in its sixth year, the Certificate of Excellence award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website.


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I was watching Al-Jazeera America this morning -- they had George Mitchell on talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said in Northern Ireland, on the eve they signed the peace accords that pretty much ended "The Troubles" there, 85% of those polled said they saw no hope for peace. Then they had it. The same thing can happen in the Israel-Palestine situation.
Once the situation is in place, it can be maintained -- so long as people on both sides want that to happen. Therein lies the rub. To the Muslims in this situation, I say "Remember the Treaty of Hudaibiyya!" -- it was roundly criticized by the companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) as unjust, a humiliation and an insult to their honor, etc. etc. but that did not keep Muhammad (pbuh) from signing it and choosing peace over war. The word "Muslim" means one who seeks peace with and submission to God, and by extension, His creation. You can't love God and hate your fellow man.
Islam also commands Muslims to not be the aggressors in a conflict, nor to attack or kill non-combatants (i.e., civilians), and to end aggression as soon as possible -- especially if the enemy calls for peace. In Islam, a Muslim government is required to cease hostilities and grant peace if so desired by the enemy. So as long as the Muslims violate these laws of God in the Quran and do not follow the sunnah (example) of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), they will continue to be cursed with disunity, worldliness and ignorance among themselves, and suffer violence and oppression at the hands of their Muslim brethren (as in Syria and Iraq) and from others.
And speaking of the Israelis, they must answer to God for their intransigence and evils as well. Ironic that a group who suffered at the hands of one group of oppressors 75 years ago can become oppressors themselves and see nothing wrong with that -- defend it even, in the name of "payback" and their survival as a state and a people. If what the Israelis do with their Jewish settlements is OK, then let them allow one Palestinian settlement inside Israel for every Israeli settlement they have in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Suddenly it's not so OK anymore, is it?
Remove labels in any conflict and leave just the actions themselves and judge the good or the evil of it then. It will be easy and clear. Now keep the labels off and treat people as you would desire and deserve to be treated as a human being. Now put the labels back on. And now apply the required justice and righteous behavior as you would have it for yourself without the labels. Problem solved.


text: TradePMR provides brokerage and custodial services to Financial Advisors. Our goal is to empower advisors with the tools they need to both effectively manage their businesses and provide exceptional support and service to their clients. Our products and technology are wrapped in a premium support model designed to give Financial Professionals a comprehensive solution that compliments their unique business needs. This translates into an excellent customer service model for both the advisor and their clients.


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Scotch O Clock ft Perth Business Entrepreneurs on Point of Difference
Hi Guys,
This week on Scotch O Clock we took Scotch O Clock to the WA Club. We we're joined by our special Guests: Adam Brewer from Avenue 9 Dental, Jim Goodwin From GMO, Tom Martin from East Perth IGA & Parkerville Tavern, Gunis Balodis, Chris Alderton and Albert Scolten from Alderton Financial.
All of our guests our Experts in Business in Perth who wanted to share their knowledge with you on Scotch O Clock about Point of difference in Business and How this can help you.
Featured Whiskey: Limeburners
Business Topic Covered: In this episode we discuss Point of Difference in Business.
Guests Intro: 0:30
Topic Intro – Point of Difference in Business: 1:22
Adam Brewer on POD – Caring about Client's: 3:20
Jim Goodwin on POD – Degree of Care 4:12
Chris Alderton on POD – Value – 6:25
Tom Martin on POD – Client Experience – 8:00
Albert Scholten on POD – Knowledge – 9:44
Scotch Intro: 11:56
We Hope you enjoy this Episode guys and remember to please comment and share this video to help those in regards to Point of Difference in Business.
For more information on how we can help you in your business click on the Green Button Below.


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Sew Buttons Securely on Hand Knitscomments (4) July 22nd, 2008
Sometimes, a happy accident is all it takes to separate a cardigan-lover from a pullover fanatic. Okay, usually people go one way or the other; they don't like mussing up their hair to take off a sweater, or they prefer the cleaner lines of a pullover. We have both in our house; my partner hates pulling anything other than a T-shirt over his head, while I covet the warmth and simplicity of sweaters, but I confess that I'm wearing a zip-up fleece hoodie as I write this. (Hey, my modified Rusted Root is still on the needles and my Cyd unfortunately just emerged from mothball treatment…more on that another time, maybe when I'm over it.)
Others are simply worried about sewing on buttons. I was shocked when I read the confession in a knitting forum that one woman had had numerous buttons simply fall off her hand knits-until someone uncovered the fact that the knitter was using the project yarn and blunt-tipped yarn needles to sew on her buttons. I actually have done this at least once-but only once, as I found the challenge of finding buttons with holes or shanks big enough for my yarn and needle nearly impossible.
|Find more sewing techniques:
• How to Maintain Your Sewing Machine
• Know Your Hand-Sewing Needles
• Copy Curves from your Favorite Pants
• Tips and Tricks for Sewing with Leather
• How to Choose the Perfect Needle Type for Your Sewing Project
Luckily, I learned how to sew on buttons in high school, I believe it was-I don't actually remember the circumstances that clearly, which is probably for the best, high school being what it was. But I retained the important things, and here's how I sew on buttons now. This is pretty much what I do for knitted and sewn garments.
What you need is your standard hand-sewing needle and thread, plus your chosen button(s).
Any hand-sewing needle will do, so don't worry about the distinctions between "sharps" and "betweens." Today I'm trying a fancy "ball-point" needle for the first time; it's got a dull point that should help avoid snagging yarn in your hand- and machine-knit fabric, and instead go between the stitches. I've never used one before and though it worked well, I don't think you need to run out and buy one before you get started. Just use what you have.
As for the thread, just about any thread fine enough for machine sewing will work. Some people will insist on polyester because it's strongest (and woe unto those who try to break this with hands or teeth!), but cotton-wrapped polyester, cotton, or even silk is probably okay, but that's in descending order of strength. You can use buttonhole thread or upholstery thread if you've got it lying around, but I like to buy thread to match if I can, and who doesn't need an excuse to go to the craft store?
What I like to do first is find the position for the button by closing the garment, lining up button band and buttonhole band just where I want 'em. Then, I mark the spot with my needle and thread by making a first stitch on the far side of the garment through the buttonhole.
You'll notice I've got my thread doubled and knotted at the far end. This makes sewing on the button faster (twice as strong with fewer passes!) and gives me an easy way to secure the first stitch, rather than having to make a knot. You instead attach the thread by looping the needle through the loop created by the doubled thread.
Now I'm ready for the button and slide it onto the needle and thread.
While I like these colors together, I chose them mainly for visibility; usually I match thread color closely to either the button or yarn color, depending on the desired effect.
Comments (4)
Yikes! that's what I've done in the past. I'm glad I decided to check myself and look up the proper way to do it. Thank you for this post!
Posted: 12:00 pm on November 17th
Posted: 3:02 pm on April 29th
Posted: 8:38 pm on March 1st
Nice entry, too! Thanks again.
Posted: 12:38 am on October 13th
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Sandy Nathan writes to amaze and delight, uplift and inspire, as well as thrill and occasionally terrify. She is known for creating unforgettable characters and putting them in do or die situations. She writes in genres ranging from science fiction, fantasy, and visionary fiction to juvenile nonfiction to spirituality and memoir.
"I write for people who like challenging, original work. My reader isn't satisfied by a worn-out story or predictable plot. I do my best to give my readers what they want."
Mrs. Nathan's books have won twenty-two national awards, including multiple awards from oldest, largest, and most prestigious contests for independent publishers. Her books have earned rave critical reviews and customer reviews of close to five-star averages on Amazon. Most are Amazon bestsellers.
Sandy was born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the hard-driving, achievement orientated corporate culture of Silicon Valley. Sandy holds Master's Degrees in Economics and Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. She was a doctoral student at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and has been an economic analyst, businesswoman, and negotiation coach, as well as author.
Mrs. Nathan lives with her husband on their California ranch. They bred Peruvian Paso horses for almost twenty years. She has three grown children and two grandchildren.
Her latest books are The Angel & the Brown-Eyed Boy, Lady Grace: A Thrilling Adventure Wrapped in the Embrace of Epic Love and Sam & Emily: A Love Story from the Underground, which are all part of the Tales from Earth's End series.
You can visit her website at www.sandynathan.com.
Visit her blogs: http://sandranathan.net and http://yourshelflife.com (blog for writers) http://talesfromearthsend.com (series blog)
Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sandyonathan
Friend her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandy.nathan.author
Purchase a paperback copy of Sandy Nathan's The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy at:
Barnes & Noble
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born in San Francisco, CA. My family moved down the San Francisco Peninsula when I was eight. Where we lived was later named "Silicon Valley." It was always a place where very bright, hard-working people lived, but when the computer revolution came, the Peninsula became super-fast and intense, a very different place than it was when I was a kid. The change did give me a chance to observe corporate life and values. I've used that experience in some of my writing.
In 1995, my family moved to the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara. We have horses and needed extra room for them. We raised a rare breed of horse, the Peruvian Paso, for twenty years. We bred, birthed, raised, trained, and showed our horses. After twenty years, my husband and I went into retirement mode. We have only six horses now.
My fondest childhood memory was riding my horse––I started riding when I was ten––through the beautiful redwood forests of California's coastal range. Those rides changed my life and put me in touch with the beauty and mystery of nature, and horses.
When did you begin writing?
I've written all along. I've participated in some form of the arts as long as I can remember. I had a painting in an exhibit of children's art at San Francisco's DeYoung Museum when I was five!
Once I started reading and writing, that was it. I read everything I could get my hands on as a kid. The Tarzan series was my favorite. I read voraciously.
Writing came along. I wrote at school––I've been in school a long time, I have two master's degrees, one in Economics and another in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling. I wrote tons of academic papers and I also wrote at work. I was an economic analyst for years and wrote many pages in that profession. My first publications were in economics.
I stared writing fiction when we moved to Santa Ynez. I had no idea that writing novels, writing as a creative art, was different from what I had done.
Boy! Was that ever a shock. I had to learn to write all over again. I was in a writing group run by a local poet for nine years, then spent two years in a group run by a professor of literature. That was a tough group! Most of the people were published authors and didn't mind sharing their opinions. I've worked with a terrific editor for the last six years. She's as straight with me about my work as the group was, but can communicate her "slash and burn" of my work graciously.
What is this book about?
The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is about the end of the world. An angelic girl appears on the sidewalks of NYC some two hundred years from now. Or is she a girl? She's a dancer, for sure. She dances better than anyone at the Hermitage Academy, an elite school for the arts, has seen. She's on a mission to save her planet. The mission requires her to find "the golden boy." She finds him at the Hermitage.
Eliana finds Earth in a terrible state. The world has degenerated into a police state where people can be dragged out of their homes and off the streets. They're tortured and killed; put into camps.
Ellie finds the Golden Boy. They are forced to run, with a few friends, for their lives. A nuclear holocaust will destroy all life on the planet the next morning.
The story sounds grim, and it is, but it's also about love. Ellie and Jeremy, the Golden Boy, a tech genius trying to save the world, are star-crossed lovers. This is a romance as well as dystopian morality play. As Earth's end nears, people try to save themselves and clear up the personal traumas in their lives. It's a book about reconciliation and love, in addition to destruction.
A big question that I discuss more completely in the book's Author's Note. Short version is that my younger brother died tragically a few years ago. I was grieving for him, with all sorts of feelings and memories churning inside. I had a dream early one morning where a radiant golden light hovered above me in bed. The light was everything good, everything beneficent, thrilling and calming at once. It settled onto me, merging with me. I got to feel like that angelic light did for several hours.
Very soon after that, the ideas for The Angel came to me. The angel in my dream became Eliana, and the other characters arose from my experience.
I have very large spiritual experiences and have had them since I was a child, usually when something awful happens. This was one of them; my soul's way of making sense of the senseless. Because of these experiences, I write visionary fiction––a type of fiction that has a moral core and shows at least some people choosing the good road.
Something else was floating around inside me: extreme concern over the state of the economy now. I am an economist, and all the news I'd heard at that time scared me silly. The world of The Angel is dark, and I think it's entirely possible that something similar could happen. The historical precedent is there with the rise of the Nazis after the economic disintegration of Germany post-WWI. The Angel was my way of saying, "Wake up people and act like grown-ups. Work together for the solution of our economic woes, or what I show could happen here." A less extreme version, perhaps, but a police state is entirely possible.
Who is your biggest supporter?
My husband!
Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?
I have a terrific agent who represents me with the international rights of my books. She found me! That's what happens if you write your truth and put it out there.
Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?
Does anyone have a smooth journey to publication? I went the "query and reject" route for a while. We ended up forming a small press. I think we've done very well. My six books have won twenty-two national awards (and counting). Most have been in visionary fiction, though I've won in everything from multi-cultural fiction to juvenile non-fiction.
My primary reason for forming a small press was fear of death. If I'd gone the traditional route, I'd probably be dead before my work was in print. Other reasons for the independent press route concern the psychological system that the traditional publishing world is. I have an MA in counseling. We were trained in systems theory, where an entire family (or any type of organization) is taken as a whole. Who are the major players? How do they operate? Who's the top dog? The bad kid?
In the traditional publishing world, writers end up psychological children forever. Once I saw that, it made me angry. I refuse to participate in such a system. I'm including a link to an article I wrote that fleshes this out more.
Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
Amazon is the best place. Here is my author's page. You can get the print and eBook versions of everything I've written.
Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?
I have a website, Sandy Nathan––Writing Out of the Box. You can find all sorts of stuff there, videos of each of the books, reviews, excerpts. Info about me. I've even got articles that I've written about horses and dogs and whatever. Sign up for my newsletter, too. I very seldom send one out: just when I've got actual news.
Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?
My website has videos about each of the books in the Tales from Earth's End Saga. (The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is the first book of a three book series, all of which are out and in print and Kindle formats.) The series has it's own blog that has all sorts of videos of the characters and about the books. There's a great one about the whole series on YouTube. And, you can check out my YouTube channel and see vids of my books and our horses!
What is up next for you?
I have so many irons in the fire. The book we're discussing today, The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy, is the first book of the Tales from Earth's End Saga. The following two books in the series, Lady Grace and Sam & Emily, are available in print and eBook forms. Readers can go directly from reading The Angel to the other two books. I'm doing blog tours with them, just like The Angel.
I'm going to write at least one more book in the Tales Saga, but it will be some time until it is completed. That's because I've got two series going, the wild, futuristic sci-fi Tales and the equally imaginative, contemporary Bloodsong Series. A couple of characters from Bloodsong morph into the future and appear in Lady Grace, Tales from Earth's End Saga II. The two series may merge in the future, or merely continue to flirt.
I need to bring the two series closer together in terms of time before writing the fourth Tales volume. That involves charging ahead with the Bloodsong Series.
Numenon: A Tale of Mysticism & Money, is the first book of the Bloodsong Series. It has been out a few years and tells what happens when the richest man in the world meets a great Native American shaman. One reviewer called it, "Bill Gates meets Don Juan." Numenon won six national awards and was a phenomenon in its day.
I'm currently rewriting the draft manuscript of Mogollon: A Tale of Mysticism & Mayhem, the sequel to Numenon. It takes place at a Native American spiritual retreat. It's shaping up very well and should create as much impact as Numenon did. It should be published in 2013. I'm getting ideas for Mogollon's sequel, an ensemble piece occurring after the retreat participants return to Silicon Valley.
Pump Up Your Book and Sandy Nathan are teaming up to give you a chance to win a new Kindle Fire HD!
Visit http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/08/28/pump-up-your-book-presents-tales-from-earths-end-virtual-book-publicity-tour-kindle-fire-giveaway/ to see how you can enter for your chance to win!


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Elizabeth, New Jersey. 29 December 2008.
30 December 2008
28 December 2008
Reportage, Collage & Ideas: The Last Pages From The 2008 Sketchbooks
The "found object" was found beneath a large cutting board at work and was later identified as a sketch by Nate Smallwood. The last of the sketchbook pages from Summer and Fall 2008.
26 December 2008
Venite Adoremus!
Christmas Day with many of my much-loved-ones. My house and my Mom and Dad's house. The Dollar Store Hannah Montana wallet was a total bonus! Basking Ridge, NJ. 25 December 2008.
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by Amy Karp
Upon meeting him in September while I was at his store in LA, I witnessed this trait first hand. He was leaning against a tree trunk, skateboard in hand, surrounded by some of his vast group of friends and me. A lot of people would walk or skate by and yell things like "dude you're awesome"(surprisingly I was the only fan who bothered him for so long). In response he would simply say "nah I'm okay" without any indication that he felt differently or was joking at all.
The way that he never takes himself too seriously or regards himself too highly is a contributing factor to how he is able to do so much so well. He is always striving, trying to be better, never complacement. Today, on his birthday, we should all just take a moment to recognize the great things Tyler, the Creator has done for the betterment of society from hilarious YouTube videos and Vines to the album Wolf.
Please enjoy the compilation of all things Tyler below(:
|these lyrics
|these dance moves
|this thoughtful tongue waggling
|this music video
|this necklace
|those glasses
|this Larry King interview
|this dance move from the Happy video
|this sentiment
|my favorite quote in the whole world
|this high five
|this appreciation for the individual
|this logic


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When it comes to logistic jobs in Dublin, we know, from an employer's point of view that you need someone to come in fast and hit the ground running. Due to the nature of the supply chain, filling vacant positions quickly is vital to avoid delays. So, whether you're expanding or looking to fill a position that has just been vacated, we can match you with the perfect candidate for any job.
If, on the other hand, you're looking for supply chain jobs in Dublin; whether for entry-level positions or more senior roles, such as supervisory or management roles; then we're in the best place to help here too. This is because, here at Priority Placements, we've carefully built up an array of quality contacts over the past 15 years, which enables us to easily find the best match available. So why not get in touch to fill your next position, easily and without delay!
No opportunities at the moment.


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- Resources
- Dynamic pricing
Dynamic pricing
and how it works
Dynamic Pricing Maps help you find the highest demand areas which makes getting more trips and higher earnings easier than ever before.
How to read dynamic pricing
On your Uber Partner App
- You can see exactly where the highest demand and greatest need for more cars are. The darkest red areas have the highest prices and demand, showing exactly where the best place to drive is
- Areas mould and shape directly to where drivers are needed, meaning less wasted driving guessing where demand is and more trips.
- Dynamic Pricing Maps are improving every day, bringing you lower ETAs and more information on where trips can be found at any time.
- Zooming in closer to a surging area will reveal the exact multiplier for trips requested from that area. You can zoom in by pinching the screen.


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The reason for getting nothing to see is because this volume(IC1345) is not in the media library, it might have been unloaded after a backup and move to another location(vault, external, etc.).
If you just type in WRKMEDBRM with the respective MEDCLS you will be able to see all the volumes of that particular media class, which are present in the library.
Register Hereor login if you are already a member


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Apax Partners Worldwide LLP and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. said they are considering a joint bid for Signet Group Plc, according to media reports.
Bloomberg News reports that the buyout firms jointly undertook a "preliminary analysis" of Signet, the world's largest specialty jewelry retailer, that included "the consideration of a possible offer," Apax said Thursday in a statement. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is advising the private equity companies, according to a report in London's City AM newspaper.
Signet, reportedly said they are aware of the interest but have not been formally approached.
The statement from Apex reportedly said: "No decision as to whether or not to progress with an offer has been made and, as a consequence, there can be no assurance that any offer for the company will be made."
A deal for Signet, which operates 1,847 specialty retail jewelry stores in the U.S. and the U.K. could reach $4.4 billion, according to the British publication, The Independent.
Shares of Signet jumped 15 percent Thursday on the news.
In addition to the joint-buyout possibility, Gerald Ratner, former chief executive of the Ratners jewelry chain which was renamed Signet Group PLC, has appointed accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward to work on a possible bid for Signet's U.K. chain H Samuel, another British publication, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Ratner, who lost control of his eponymous company after calling one of his products 'total crap', said BDO had contacted Signet's management on his behalf about a possible deal, according to the article.
Ratner told The Independent that he believes a buyer may want to split off the chain, and he criticized Signet's management of H Samuel.
"I just think that H. Samuel is a mess. It's got the wrong product at the wrong price, and with the wrong displays," he told the newspaper. "We certainly would be very interested in buying it. Its got the most marvelous locations, marvelous staff, and a marvelous name."
Signet, which Thursday reported a 10.5 percent increase in second-quarter sales on growth in the U.S., in June ended talks about a possible merger with U.S. competitor Zale Corp. The retailer said it plans to spend $1 billion over five years expanding in the U.S. to offset a slump in the U.K.
Signet operates 1,257 stores in the U.S., where the it trades as "Kay Jewelers," "Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry," and under a number of regional names; and 590 stores in the UK, where it trades as "H Samuel," "Ernest Jones," and "Leslie Davis."Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


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Re: Thomas Athey/Fenley in MD
In reply to:
Re: Thomas Athey/Fenley in MD
Michael Taylor 10/12/04
Thanks, Michael.Actually, I have not taken the Talbot descent beyond the children of Basil Talbott and Sarah Athey as my focus is on the Fenley family. Cap't George Athey patented a great deal of land in Piscataway Hundred in MD near my Hawkins, Bayne & Fenley ancestors, and I have gleaned quite a bit about him from MD Probate Records and MD Archives."Twentieth Century Colonial Ancestors" states that the wife of Cap't George Athey was Sarah Marsh, but I do not know if that is proven or is if it is simply one of those "said" things that gathers momentum. From probate, it appears that he had a first wife named Ann. Does the book that you mention give proof of his marriage/marriages?Thanks, Ann
More Replies:
Captain George Athey of Galway, Ire, and Marylnd, USA
Michael Taylor 10/13/04


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UPDATE - Found the reference, its in EA's latest financial filing and goes a little something like this:
Q3 Games Battlefield 3 Console/Handheld/Mobile PC
The videos of the big console versions do look awesome and the Vita version has the potential to really push the new hardware. While it'd be fun to think of crossplay mode too, perhaps that's pushing it a bit for a first effort. Still we look forward to this with great anticipation.


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Our Port operations are carried out in accordance with world's best practice.
Our Ports handle the import of raw materials and the export of finished products and resources from local industries.
In 2015-16, combined import and export tonnage in the financial year totalled 116.5million tonnes (Mt). Of this, 115.9Mt came through the Port of Gladstone, 0.22Mt through Port Alma Shipping Terminal, and 0.5Mt through the Port of Bundaberg.
We are unique among Australian ports corporations as we not only conduct the functions of a landlord ports corporation, but also own and operate cargo handling facilities within the Port of Gladstone, including the world's fourth largest coal export terminal, RG Tanna Coal Terminal.


text: the peter pan collar with some bling is totally my thing. I don't usually go this preppy, but after an episode of the Kardashians (oh, the shame!), I became obsessed with this look. Kourtney K. was sporting a button up collar with some bauble cinched high where a tie should be. It's so Chloe Sevigny […]Get the scoop >


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it's friday! joey has the whole weekend off and i couldn't be more happy... it's been a very long 14 days with no day off for him. it's so crazy hot outside so i don't think we'll be spending too much of it outside of our little flat but we are planning to hit up the st. ann's fest (our church's big street festival) and maybe try a little park time. regardless of what we do it's going to be heaven having our little family together!
this week i've been obsessed with all things summer vacation. we are gearing up for i guess what would be considered an 'indian summer' vacation in september to california and i seriously can't wait. this trip is going to be the first 'real' vacation for our little family that isn't specifically to see family or celebrate a holiday so it's going to be fun to have just the three of us explore and have fun. getting ready for this trip has made me dream about all of the future summer vacations we'll have and the amazing times we'll share.
my number one dream... RV's.
one day we will have one. it's probably my biggest dream to have a home on wheels that we can take anywhere we want and really explore this country like neither of us have before. i want to take a crazy picking adventure in some of the states we've only breezed through and i want my kids to really experience true Americana before it disappears. check out Sara's amazing family at walk slowly, live wildly . they have done some fantastic rv remodels (they use veggie oil too!) and LIVE on the road. literally. this is their photo stream...
how can you not fall in love with these little slices of heaven?
or how amazing would it be to run a business out of a restored vintage camper...


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Western is the only university in Washington state offering a BA in Visual Journalism. The Visual Journalism major, one of three tracks in the department along with News-Editorial and Public Relations, emphasizes visual storytelling and visual literacy without losing track of the foundations of journalism in writing, photography and ethics.
VJ students learn how to cope and excel in a rapidly changing journalism field that is incorporating more multimedia components and requiring graduates to have skills that focus on online news, quality video, powerful photography and deadlines that don't wait for the morning paper.
In 2011, in response to increasing need and demand for a video component in the VJ sequence, the journalism faculty adjusted the Online Journalism course to incorporate more video instruction and renamed the course Digital Media in Journalism.
Students in the Digital Media course (J370) learn how to conduct and shoot interviews using three-point lighting and two-camera documentary-style techniques. Students focus on story and incorporate the MediaStorm methodology that focuses on an audio-first workflow. Students arrange interview transcripts into a narrative arc and construct a radio edit that combines their interview story with ambient sound and music before adding visual components and turning their focus to the visual representation of the audio story.


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Become a main sponsor of the 11th annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table supplement and awards programme to meet and do business with the UK's mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.
The two levels of sponsorship currently available are main and awards dinner.
For more information see below, including a pack with further details.
To discuss sponsorship contact Hamish Stevenson on 01865 297 100 or email


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Color: Gray
Interior: Leather
Drive Train: FWD
Transmission: Automatic
Vin: 5NPEC4AC1BH072778
Engine: 2.4L L4 DOHC 16V
Mileage: 151,000
Stock #: HYU11SON
Northside Imports
514 9th St N
Birmingham ,
I hereby consent to receive text messages from or on behalf of dealer at the mobile phone number I provided above. I understand that I am opting in to receive text messages from dealer or their employees. I include consent to receive phone calls at the mobile phone number I provided. I understand that message and data rates may apply.


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Today was a big day - The Song Company and Australian Art Quartet rehearsed my works
This was the third rehearsal of "30/31 - Lobotomy" with the Australian Art Quartet. We're working without scores, and today we ran the whole work... I was able to give them notes, and multiple runs and note givings later, I think we're ready for a dress rehearsal.
The score is a 4 page 'script' giving suggestions for movement and sound modalities along with an appendix of music notation. Some components are precise, others leave a lot of room for interpretation and improvisation. It's changed so much since we've been going through it in the rehearsal room - to suit the capabilities of the quartet, but also to improve the composition. They give me suggestions and I rarely say 'no', as the work is collaborative.
Today's rehearsal was with all props and costume... it's almost ritualistic, and to me it reflects what the mind can do to us when we're succumbing to too much information, brainwashing, our inner lunacy.
Part of the original idea was to use a lot of text, but we may end up taking this out... I'm finding the use of text very literal, and the work doesn't need it as the music, movement, costume and props are conveying all the meaning needed by it. This has been the most exciting rehearsal period I've ever done... I'm now playing the role of director as well as composer, as we do read throughs and I give notes that get absorbed for the next run.
The work with The Song Company - Out of the Deep - had its first reading today. It was really refreshing to be collaborating with them on another work again, but this is the first time I've worked with their new director, Antony. His sense of pitch is astounding... I felt kinda nervous as I Do Not have the aural abilities of he nor the singers, but they understand the gesture I want them to achieve in each phrase, and we're able to go into the micro detail of pronunciation and word deconstruction.
I said that I'd like to include some movement in the work, simply around proximity to Daniel, the cellist. Very interested to see if I can add this element to the performance... Space is a very important factor in this work already because of the hocket effects that are throughout the work, and it's composed in mind of there being 2 duets on either side of the cello. If I can add proximity to the cellist and each other as directions (particularly when Daniel the cellist has his solos), I'll be super happy. I am pretty sure we'll get there!
From these experiences I'm having such ideas for works with larger forces - like orchestra, or a 15 piece ensemble... I don't think any of the major orchestras I know would be up for it, but certainly orchestras made up of more unconventional performers would give it a shot... like Sonja Shebeck's Freestyle Orchestra, but perhaps I can find other musicians interested in exploring movement, props, staging, costume and text in their performance that are closer to home...
The work with the AAQ premieres next Wednesday - http://australianartquartet.com/, and with the Song Company in June http://song.company/forward-bach/


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Billy and Miley Sittin in a Tree
Annie Liebovitz
Interesting article by Rebecca Traister in salon.com on the Current Cyrus Controversy. I wrote about it too earlier this week, but I have more to say. Especially in response to readers comments, including one that accused all who decry the photos of having dirty minds.
I was skeeved out by the Billy-Miley images, not because I have a "dirty mind" but because the father-daughter photos were deliberately sexualized. And because Vanity Fair, Disney and Miley's parents chose to showcase them in that context.
Of course fathers hug and kiss their daughters in complete innocence; many such loving acts are caught in family photos. But few fathers would willingly contribute to, much less allow publication of photos appearing to celebrate Daddy's Little Ho.
Look at that picture. And the others. Does that say father-daughter to you? Yeesh.
And by the way, did anybody bother to read the actual article? Even it's author is taken aback by Miley's creepy child-woman maturity.
You have to wonder about her parent's judgement beyond the photos when you learn Miley's favorite TV show is Sex and the City. And that she tries to make Hannah Montana into a SATC teen homage. Not the sex, she assures us, just the friendships.
Blech. Really. Blech.
I'm a certified Baby Boomer (we invented open sexuality, remember). But I have to draw the line at a 15-year-old watching a show that portrays believable adult characters discussing the intimate details of their sex lives and engaging in soft core porn.
Neither Miley nor any other teenager can possibly understand or process the complexities of adult sexuality and relationships -- nor should they.
Our 24 year old son grew up in an open, loving home with all questions welcomed and answered. And with plenty of hugs and kisses. But he--and I--still find it creepy and uncomfortable to sit in front of the TV together watching graphic sex scenes.
Not because there's anything "dirty" about sex. But because we're mother and son. And because he was taught the value of privacy, decency, personal space and appropriate boundaries. He's also smart and mature enough to find sexual pictures of a 15-year-old disturbing, not sexy. Especially those with her father.
Teen sexuality is out of whack in this country already. The Cyrus pictures just make the issue more glaringly real. And sad.
Parents should educate their children about sex, but not by Show and Tell. A concept the Cyrus family seems to have left behind in the trailer.
Labels: Celebrity Citings, Media Musings, Psychos and Pedophiles, Soapbox Specials


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American Fall (Part 2)
Other chapters
American Fall (Part 1)
14 Nov 2011
American Fall (Part 2)
05 Dec 2011
Thank you for this and your other nice comments, eemotion!11 Dec 2011
Great work Stephanie, look forward to part III, both on here and out there! :)11 Dec 2011
Hello Miguel,
Yes, thank you, I'm aware of that. I meant to convey that in Page 5, but now I see I haven't been clear enough in the way I've portrayed it. I tried to situate it globally but I should have said explicitly that the US protests have been sparked and inspired by the global movement. I appreciate the critique and will make that clearer in the future.
All best,
Excellent job Stephanie, but did you know that the occupy wall street movement was an echoe of the previous african and european revolutions?the western initial movement was born in mars-april 2011 in Madrid, Spain, with the "indignados", using the camping in front of institutions as a protest for the abusive social policies, inmediately after that the movement spread to other european countries like France and Italy. Only months later the tents revolution crossed the Atlantic to finally arrive in the US.keep the good work!06 Dec 2011
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Little Edge Apparel
This month I caught up with the beautiful Kate of Little Edge Apparel. Kate started the brand in 2011 when her son Brayden was born, turning her love of fashion into something for both the little ones and us too.
Kate has just launched a beautiful linen range for summer so make sure you keep up to date with @liledgeapparel on their insta page. You can see the full range at www.littleedgeapparel.com.
Describe your style…
I would say my style is extremely relaxed. My wardrobe mainly consists of monochrome and denim. You'll usually find me in a baggy tee or tank with some comfy shorts or a flowy white dress ( I have a thing for white dresses)! Im breastfeeding at the moment too so everything has to be feeding friendly!
Your typical Day?
Oh… is there such a thing! My days change so much day to day depending on where Im at in the season with Little Edge. Generally Im up early with Bowie and we go for a walk around 5:45 then we get Bray to pre school by 9 ( three days of the week). Usually I would then come home and pack orders while Bowie has a morning nap and afterwards we head out for our jobs of the day! All pieces are made here in Australia for Little Edge so I do a lot of the fabric sourcing and running around myself. Some days it could involve collecting elastic or buttons etc and taking them over to my gorgeous makers, or having meetings and designing. Sometimes I get time to duck home for washing or tidying before picking up Bray at 3 and starting the afternoon rush of dinner and bath! Ben and I usually meet on the lounge at around 8:30 and get to ask each other about our day!
What inspired you to start Little Edge Apparel?
I've always been into kids fashion - I remember when I was a nanny I would just love dressing the kids and styling them up! I guess once I had my son Bray, I became obsessed with finding him the ultimate wardrobe. I noticed a little gap in the market for 'edgy' gear and thats how Little Edge was born!
If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself before you became a Mum?
To enjoy the freedom and uninterrupted sleep while you can! haha
What do you love most about running your own business?
Definitely the fact that I get to spend lots of time with my kids. I work around them and I feel so lucky to watch them grow and learn in these special early years of life. Working in my pjs defiantly comes in at a close second!
What would be your advice to mums wanting to start their own business?
Give it a go! Start off small and slowly build it up. Surround yourself with people that believe in you and are positive and create connections with like minded mummas! And wine…. theres always wine! x


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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the MPO?
Every metropolitan area with a population of more than 50,000 persons must have a designated Metropolitan Planning Organization to qualify for federal highway or transit funds.
Harlingen San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization urbanized area includes:
Cities of San Benito, Harlingen, Combes, Los Indios, Palm Valley, Primera, Rio Hondo, La Feria, Santa Rosa Mercedes (Ex-Offical) and certain parts of Cameron County.
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) relies on the MPO to ensure that highway and transit projects that use federal funds are products of a credible planning process and meet local priorities. USDOT will not approve federal fundings for urban highway and transit projects unless they are on the MPO's program. Thus, the MPO's role is to develop and maintain the necessary transportation plans for the area to assure that federal funds support the locally developed plans.
2. What does the MPO do?
The HSB-MPO is responsible for the regional planning process for all modes of transportation. The HSB-MPO provides technical support and staff assistance to the MPO's Policy Committee and its technical subcommittees, which compose the MPO policy making structure.
3. How can I get involved?
Citizens are crucial to the success of a transportation system. As the MPO strives to meet the transportation needs of a growing area, citizens are encouraged to participitate in the planning process through the MPO's public involvement process. Get involved by attending the monthly Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) and be at the forefront of key decisions as they are shaping the future of transportation in the Harlingen-San Benito Metropolitan Boundary area.
4. How is the MPO organized?
The MPO is responsble for conducting the uban transportion planning process that allows the Harlingen San Benito Urbanized area to recieve funding from the state and federal funds. The planning process for the Harlingen-San Benito Urbanized area is made possible through its two componenets which are its two committees, the Technical Advisory Committee and the Transportation PolicyCommittee along with the following three related processes.


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Regulatory decisions update
Media release
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) advises that it has recently made the following regulatory decisions:
Cancellation of registration as a provider of vocational education and training (VET) services:
- Waterford College Pty Ltd (RTO number 21797). Decision to take effect from 2 October 2017, and
- Hills Educational Foundation Limited (RTO number 30590). Decision to take effect from 4 October 2017.
Rejection of application to re-register as a provider of VET services:
- Inter-Continental Colleges Pty Ltd (RTO number 90668, trading as Inter-Continental College of Business). Decision to take effect from 29 September 2017.
ASQA - the national VET regulator - has taken these decisions following regulatory scrutiny of each training provider. ASQA contends that the providers have not operated consistently with the requirements of the VET Quality Framework, which is a condition of registration.
Review rights
Training providers subject to an adverse regulatory decision have the right to have the decision reviewed. A provider may, in certain circumstances, apply to have ASQA itself reconsider its decision. In all cases, providers can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to have ASQA's decision reviewed. More information about review options is available on the ASQA website.
During a review or reconsideration process, the provider may seek a stay of the decision or an extension of the date the decision takes effect which permits the provider to continue to operate until the review process is finalised.
The ASQA website contains up-to-date information on the status of any review processes. It is advisable to check the website to obtain current information concerning the status of regulatory decisions.


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What to Do When You Spill Something on Your Laptop's Keyboard
If you spill coffee, water, or some other liquid on your laptop's keyboard, the first thing to do is not panic. The second thing to do is to turn off the power, because water and electricity are an unpleasant combination. If the laptop is running off the battery, you can safely depower using Windows shutdown procedures or by pressing and holding the on/off switch (on most laptops). But if the laptop is running off an AC adapter, be sure that the adapter and the wiring that runs to the wall outlet are not wet. If they're even damp, don't touch them and instead turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
With the power turned off, disconnect and remove the battery. Then you can begin to clear the spill by blotting it up with absorbent towels.
The good news is that most laptops have a plastic or rubber-like membrane beneath the keycaps, and your assignment may be removal of the keys and a careful cleaning. If somehow the liquid has gotten into the laptop's innards — the hard drive, the motherboard, or other parts — the extent of damage may depend on what was spilled. Water will dry without leaving a residue; if nothing shorted out at the time of the spill, the machine may be ready to return to service in a day or so once it has fully dried. (Do not use a hair dryer or other heated source to dry the machine; you can use a gentle flow of air from a fan.) Coffee or soda, though, both dry as sticky, corrosive gunk, and you may have to send the machine to a professional shop to be disassembled and cleaned.
If the AC adapter became totally soaked, consider purchasing a replacement. Do not attempt to open it yourself and make repairs.


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Quick Video of ROM Display at Jemima
Here's a quick video I shot with my Flip recorder at the Jemima show, which shows the FOUNDATION for ROM display unit. There are some interesting devices included here, including wireless devices on both the ISA100.11a and WirelessHART protocols, wired HART, and of course H1 FOUNDATION fieldbus. The demo also highlights our wireless backhaul network technology, which we are doing in concert with ISA100.15. Devices come from a variety of suppliers, and include remote I/O from Pepperl+Fuchs and Stahl, an azbil linking device, wireless Ethernet hardware from MTL, and devices from companies like azbil, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Fuji Electric, and more.


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TensorFlow is Google's new framework for implementing machine learning algorithms using dataflow graphs. Nodes/vertices in the graph represent operations (i.e., mathematical operations, machine learning functions), and the edges represent the tensors, (i.e., multidimensional data arrays, vectors/matrices) communicated between the nodes. Special edges, called control dependencies, can also exist in the graph to denote that the source node must finish executing before the destination node starts executing. Nodes are assigned to computational devices and execute asynchronously and in parallel once all the tensors on their incoming edges becomes available.
It seems like the dataflow model is getting a lot of attention recently and is emerging as a useful abstraction for large-scale distributed systems programming. I had reviewed Naiad dataflow framework earlier. Adopting the dataflow model provides flexiblity to TensorFlow, and as a result, TensorFlow framework can be used to express a wide variety of algorithms, including training and inference algorithms for deep neural network models.
TensorFlow's heterogeneous device supportThe paper makes a big deal about TensorFlow's heterogenous device support, it is even right there in the paper title. The paper says: "A computation expressed using TensorFlow can be executed with little or no change on a wide variety of heterogeneous systems, ranging from mobile devices such as phones and tablets up to large-scale distributed systems of hundreds of machines and thousands of computational devices such as GPU cards."
Wait, what? Why does TensorFlow need to run on wimpy phones?!
The paper says the point is just portability: "Having a single system that can span such a broad range of platforms significantly simplifies the real-world use of machine learning system, as we have found that having separate systems for large-scale training and small-scale deployment leads to significant maintenance burdens and leaky abstractions. TensorFlow computations are expressed as stateful dataflow graphs."
I understand this, yes portability is important for development. But I don't buy this as the explanation. Again, why does TensorFlow, such a powerhorse framework, need to be shoehorned to run on a single wimpy phone?!
I think Google has designed and developed TensorFlow as a Maui-style integrated code-offloading framework for machine learning. What is Maui you ask? (Damn, I don't have a Maui summary in my blog?)
Maui is a system for offloading of smartphone code execution onto backend servers at method-granularity. The system relies on the ability of managed code environment (.NET CLR) to be run on different platforms. By introducing this automatic offloading framework, Maui enables applications that exceed memory/computation limits to run on smartphones in a battery- & bandwidth-efficient manner.
TensorFlow enables cloud backend support for machine learning to the private/device-level machine learning going on in your smartphone. It doesn't make sense for a power-hungry entire TensorFlow program to run on your wimpy smartphone. Your smartphone will be running only certain TensorFlow nodes and modules, the rest of the TensorFlow graph will be running on the Google cloud backend. Such a setup is also great for preserving privacy of your phone while still enabling machine learned insights on your Android.
I will talk about applications of this, but first let me mention this other development about TensorFlow that supports my guess.
Google Opensourced the TensorFlow API in Nov 2015Google opensourced the TensorFlow API and a limited reference implementation (the implementation runs on a single device only) under the Apache 2.0 license in November 2015. This implementation is available at www.tensorflow.org, and has attracted a lot of attention.
Why did Google opensource this project relatively early rather than keeping it proprietary for longer? This is their answer: "We believe that machine learning is a key ingredient to the innovative products and technologies of the future. Research in this area is global and growing fast, but lacks standard tools. By sharing what we believe to be one of the best machine learning toolboxes in the world, we hope to create an open standard for exchanging research ideas and putting machine learning in products."
This supports my guess. TensorFlow's emphasis on heterogeneity is not just for portability. Google is thinking of TensorFlow as an ecosystem. They want developers to adopt TensorFlow, so TensorFlow is used for developing machine learning modules in Android phones and tablets. And then, Google will support/enrich (and find ways to benefit from) these modules by providing backends that run TensorFlow. This is a nice strategy for Google, a machine learning company, to percolate to the machine learning in the Internet of Things domain in general, and the mobile apps market in particular. Google can be the monopoly of Deep learning As A Service (DAAS) provider leveraging the TensorFlow platform.
How can Google benefit from such integration? Take a look at this applications list: "TensorFlow has been used in Google for deploying many machine learning systems into production: including speech recognition, computer vision, robotics, information retrieval, natural language processing, geographic information extraction, and computational drug discovery."
With a mobile-integrated TensorFlow machine-learning system, Google can provide better personal assistant on your smartphone. Watch out Siri, better speech recognition, calendar/activity integration, face recognition, and computer vision is coming. Robotics applications can enable Google to penetrate self-driving car OS, and drone OS markets. And after that can come more transformative globe-spanning physical world sensing & collaboration applications.
With this I rest my case. (I got carried away, I just intended to do a paper review.)
Related linksIn the next decade we will see advances in machine learning coupled with advances in Internet Of Things.
In this talk, Jeff Dean gives a very nice motivation and introduction for Tensorflow.
Here is an annotated summary of the TensorFlow paper.
This post explains why TensorFlow framework is good news for deep learning.


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I started reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman (high brow stuff, right? I know you're impressed). It was witty and wildly imaginative, but man, was it giving me the most bizarre dreams.
So now I am sticking to the safer choice, Count Me In! Including Learners with Special Needs in Mathematics Classrooms by Judy Storeygard (summary here). (And my husband, who is, literally, tired of my sleepless nights, has told me I'm not allowed to read before bedtime.)
One point that resonated with me in Count Me In! is the way Judy describes the "deficit mentality" children and parents often face. She shares the experiences of parents of special needs children whose parent-teacher conferences are dominated by discussions of their children's needs, but never their strengths. An autistic student, for instance, has many math-related skills. He's great at solving puzzles, building with legos, and remembering directions. But, his teacher's expectations of him in the math classroom are very low. Frustrated with hearing about her child's limitations, his parent asks, "How can his skills be used to build math knowledge?"
This reminded me of one of my first-ever parent conferences. I'm gonna say it plain: the student was a pain in the butt. And as a new teacher, I was having a hard time managing his behavior. I don't know what I wanted from his mom, but I do remember — after most of the conference had already gone by — she interrupted me and said, "Alright, I got it. Can we talk about academics already?"
I think it's easy to fall into the trap of the "deficit mentality." When something's going wrong, it can be so frustrating, and we want to know why. Why is this student having trouble? We want to diagnose and label the problem. But what we often need instead is to take a step back and see all the things that are going right. What are all the things the student can do well in math? And, most important, how can we build upon those strengths with strategies that will help the student succeed?
Using what students know and can do to launch them to their next step is crucial in daily classroom practice. It's also really important during a child study or special education process. The deficit mentality can become part of group think, too, and if we let it, it can become the prevailing attitude in a school. (This is not the attitude in my current school, where I am surrounded by stellar educators. But I've seen it in other places, and it's incredibly hurtful to children.)
So Judy has me thinking more about keeping up my "strengths mentality" this school year, especially when it comes to my role on our school's child study team. And — as someone who is a really harsh self-critic — I'm going to try to practice it more on myself, too.


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Though the term "meditation" can many different things to different people, they all have one thing in common: looking inside oneself. It requires inner and outer peace, as well as an ability to focus your thoughts and to concentrate on breathing. The meditation process may or may not include repeating a mantra for added focus. For centuries, meditation has been healing users' minds, bodies and souls, bringing peace to millions. It can even help in a pinch, to quickly alleviate anxiety when taking a test.
Meditation has been around as long as organized religion and is closely tied to the history and practice of Hinduism and Buddhism, but various forms of meditation can also found in Islam, Christianity and Judaism among many others, in both the East and the West. Meditation is closely linked to prayer and focusing the practitioner's mind on their deity, but as the practice reached the West, it gained more of a secular focus, meant more for the benefit of the user than for the adulation of a god or prophet. The oldest references to meditation can be found in the ancient scriptures of Hinduism, the Vedas, and the practice spread throughout the East in ancient times via the Silk Road. Meditation in the form of yoga is also widespread and very popular in Western culture.
How to Meditate Correctly
As mentioned before, meditation requires silence, as well as focus and patience. It may sound easy to do these things at first, but they are surprisingly difficult, considering all of the distractions out there in the world. Here's a simple breakdown for how to get started meditating.
1. Commit to it. Be excited about meditation! If this is something that has been on your to-do list for a while, attack it with vigor and commit to the process so that you can get the most from it. Beginners may want to start off slowly, with just a two or three minute session. You will also want to meditate during the same general time of day each time, like morning or afternoon. It usually helps to do it after something you normally do every day, like when you make coffee in the morning, or when you get home from work. Make it part of a ritual.
2. Get comfortable. Find a quiet, soothing environment in your house, office, park or wherever you happen to feel peaceful. If it helps, put on some music, light a candle or turn off the lights. Whatever helps rest your mind will be beneficial. You also want to wear comfortable clothing. If its cold, wear a sweater. If its hot, wear shorts. Stay away from tight, cumbersome clothing, and take off your shoes. If it helps you to relax, you can stretch out before beginning or do yoga. Finally, sit comfortably. You can cross your legs, sit on a pillow, lean your back against something, but sit up straight, with your spine erect. There's no wrong way, but if you're even slightly uncomfortable, this may distract the mind.
3. Decide on a time and stick with it. Early on, you may want to just do two minutes or so and increase from there as you get better, but stick with the amount of time you chose and set an alarm if necessary, because you don't want to check you phone or watch constantly while trying to ignore distractions. Knowing you will be reminded of when to stop will aid in easing your mind.
4. Breathe. This one's important. Not only does it keep you alive, but focusing on your breathing will calm and focus the mind. You'll want to be mindful of your inhaling and exhaling, following the air coming in through your nostrils, down into your lungs and back up out of your mouth. To keep the mind from wandering too far whilst meditating, it may help to count your breaths or to repeat a mantra. Focusing on your breath is the central focus in meditation.
5. Stay Focused. Once you are comfortable and aware of your breathing, your mind may wander and you may start noticing sensations such as the beating of your heart, the softness of the cushion you're sitting on, or some sound far off in the distance. This distraction is natural and part of the mediation, but always come back to the breathing.
A mantra is a short, easily remembered word or sound. "Om" is from the ancient Sanskrit language and is the most famous and sacred of all mantras, but your mantra can be anything that helps you silence your mind. A mantra is almost always spiritual in nature and can refer to a deity or prophet, or it could just be a phrase with strong meaning to the user. While important to some, the mantra is not necessary for meditation, but it helps some people achieve the focus necessary to meditate.
Benefits of Meditation
Adherents to meditation claim there are many internal and external benefits to meditating regularly.
- Stress relief and relaxation. These are obvious, but very important. There would be less road rage if everyone took just two minutes out of their day to close their eyes and breathe. It also helps you live longer.
- Insight. Taking a little bit of time everyday to stop, block out the outside world and focus on your mind and body will have enormous effects on how you view yourself and others.
- Increased focus. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have found meditation to improve students' memory and cognitive functions.
- Pleasure. It's enjoyable! It's supposed to be the one time of the day when you don't have to worry about work, school, the kids or whatever is making your eye twitch. Enjoy this time to yourself.
Meditation can happen anywhere and at any time. The basic idea behind meditation is to quiet the mind and to be aware of bodily sensations such as breathing and physical stimuli, and as a result, once you become adept at meditating, you can do it while taking a walk or while eating or driving. All it requires is focus, calm and the time to do it.


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Oops! Birth control failed, and now there's a baby lemur in NC, center says
Call it a happy accident.
Little lemur Marie surprised veterinarians to become the newest addition to a North Carolina center that works to protect her species.
Mom Gertrude was on birth control so she wouldn't conceive early on in her relationship with lemur Remus, the Duke Lemur Center announced on its website Thursday. It turns out contraceptives for lemurs aren't always effective.
"Gertrude and Remus got along very well indeed!" said Dr. Cathy Williams, the center's director of animal care and welfare, per the website. "Marie was the unexpected but very welcome result."
In her first few weeks, the baby primate was seen clinging onto her mom and snuggling with a stuffed animal, the Duke Lemur Center said. Marie was the first baby born this season at the Durham facility, according to its post.
Marie is part of a family that has made its mark on the small screen, the center says. Her grandpa is the late Jovian, "star of the Kratt brothers' beloved PBS children's show "Zoboomafoo," which aired from 1999 to 2001, according to the facility.
The newest lemur is a Coquerel's sifaka, a "critically endangered" species that faces habitat loss in its native Madagascar, the center said. Greg Dye, executive director of Duke Lemur Center, said Marie's "birth strengthens the genetic safety net" that helps preserve her species, according to the online post.
The tiny primate was less than 1 pound when she was born Feb. 23, and the family has "settled in well," Williams said, per the website.
"Any first-time mom or dad knows how stressful figuring out how to be a good parent can be," Dye said, according to the center. "To see these two first-time parents be so successful is a huge tribute to them and to the DLC's amazing staff."


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MILANO, December 29, 2011 – And in June … Meanwhile, in Spain are convinced that Juventus can be one of the first choices of Higuain when the argentine decides to leave Real Madrid because is sick of the continuous "ballot" with Benzema. Marotta and Agnelli made no secret of their interest in the Argentine, although also very well like in Turin is Leandro Damiao, 22 year old striker Internacional of Porto Alegre. Other "big" in the viewfinder for June is the Uruguayan Ramirez of Bologna.
source: GdS; by: Mirko Graziano
adapted by: Mike Prise


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A 'BITTER' Carlton man responsible for sending a dead bird to the wife of Bassetlaw MP John Mann has received a restraining order.
Roger Dyas-Elliott, 65, from Ramsden Crescent, admitted to the indecent act.
Appearing before Worksop Magistrates Court on Thursday 26th July for sentencing, the court heard how Dyas-Elliot found the dead blackbird in his garden before putting it in a jiffy bag and posting it to Coun White's home address.
Coun White, who was voted into office for Worksop East in this year's local elections, returned home to North Wheatley on the evening of Wednesday 16th May to find the package addressed to her. The court heard how the package 'had such an awful and noxious smell that it made her wretch and feel sick'.
Coun White then called the emergency services in fear that it was a bomb, before police, fire and ambulance crews arrived and the area was cordoned off.
Dyas-Elliot said that he sent the package because he was 'bitter' after his application to run as a Labour councillor was declined by the group's Bassetlaw District Applications Panel, which included Coun White - due to his 'unkempt appearance'.
Jo Chadd, prosecuting, said: "He felt very bitter about it, and mostly blamed Coun White. He said that it was a political and personal protest against her and he felt justified at the time, but now regrets his actions."
Defending Dyas-Elliott, Ian Pridham said: "My client realises that he was in the wrong. His upset had built up over time and he was at a low ebb because of his depression."
Sentencing Dyas-Elliott, M Humphrey said: "This was a bitter act and you know that it was offensive."
Dyas-Elliott was given a high-level community order for two years, ordered to pay £100 compensation to Coun White and given a restraining order to stay away and not contact her indefinitely.
Speaking after the sentencing, Coun White said the result was 'a huge relief'.
"I was really shocked to find that it was someone that I knew," she said. "I'm horrified that he wanted to punish me personally. It's shocking and distressing."
Coun White continued: "Hopefully I can now move on and this will draw a line under the whole affair. I'm pleased with the sentencing. I still experience distress and feel uneasy every time I open the mail in my home and this will all take time to get over."
"I don't want to see him ever again."