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Bring In The Usual Suspects…
Posted on | April 23, 2007 | No Comments
You have all my confidence but … How would you like a Medal of Freedom, Fredo?
(AP) Specter: Gonzales hurt administration
(AP) Bush administration under a cloud
(AP) Bush administration awash in scandals
(AP) Vermont Senate: Impeach the president
I can't remember this, something is amiss, my memory's gone awry…
My fundame-ent's store is dry, I'll have to lie.
And when asskissers woo, they still say, "Mw-MW-moo!"… on that you can rely
When senator's inquiries sting, I'll have to lie.
Bald-faced evasions–never out of date.
Wild prevarications, always on my plate.
Disinformations, "Oops, did I misstate that?" is my sure reply.
It's still the same old story, who cares about Old Glory, as long as I get mine!"
George Bush will always love asskissers who always lie!
And if I'm asked how sweet it tastes, I'll have to lie.
Tags: > as time goes by > Bush > cartoon > casablanca > Gonzales > humor > impeachment > Justice Department > political cartoon > politics > prosecutor scandal
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2012 has been a roller coaster ride for me. Lot's a big dips and fast corners. Days of nothing with a frenzy of activity that sets my pulse racing and my brow beading with sweat. It's not over yet, but as of Friday my working year is.
In the last few weeks I've been focused almost 24/7 on finalising my latest conference. It's much bigger and more involved than anything I've worked on before. Given the extremely short time period I had to finalise it I'm quite proud of the end result.
It's also taught me just what I can do when my focus is on a project of a much larger scale than I'm usually comfortable with. This program is the first for our company, and the launching point of a whole new division. Launching a division I've done before. I did it 18 months ago when I joined my company as their first – and only – producer.
Today I'm in charge of that division and am birthing another one. Birthing the creative vision of another person is satisfying. Having that person place their trust in you and your ability with words is satisfying. It's also an exercise in self-awareness and trust.
If the owner of the company has that much faith in your ability to write effectively, to shape and create a vague idea into a solid, high content, product, it forces me to address the question "why don't I?"
I have some great ideas for writing projects, some that are bit fluffy, but mostly the ideas are fairly strong. They should be. I've spent years thinking about them, writing down notes and dot points. I know the characters, the settings, the suggested outcomes. Yet putting finger to keyboard seems so final. What if no one likes them? I've come to realise that a large amount of my self-definition comes not from writing but from "wanting to write". I'm a wannabe.
When I do put finger to keyboard, the drafting isn't a problem. Granted, editing is a whole other story, particularly when I get lost in it and end up ripping the guts and originality out of it. But I fear rejection, and I can't seem to allow "my voice" to be heard.
Rough as they may be, the initial drafts are in my voice. By the time I've edited them they sound like pale, whispy things, devoid of originality, and devoid of heart, soul or humour. For the first time in several years, I've taken annual leave.
My company closes down over Christmas each year, but this year I've taken an extra week. Next week I am at home. A chance to unwind, to relax, to get the house in shape before my annual Boxing Day Hoot'n'Nanny. It is also a chance to look towards firming up some plans for 2013.
Just supposing the world doesn't end on the 21st of December 2012, the idea of forming some goals, some parameters to use as guidelines for 2013 is a good one. I don't want to make the same goals I've made every year since time began – lose weight, quit smoking, pay off credit card – but some goals and guidelines to give my ongoing creative recovery a bit more steam.
As is well documented in here, I'm a procrastinator. I procrastinate about everything. If I can put it off until tomorrow I'll do it on Thursday. Everything I do is an excuse to procrastinate. Even my day job. I am utterly drained at the end of the day. By the time I get home I simply lay on the bed, and watch TV. Maybe tweet a bit.
I find that work is the main excuse for not writing. Week days I'm too tired and most weekends I'm doing research or trying to come up with 3 commercially viable conference ideas for my staff for the next month. It's a valid excuse to a degree.
But you have to wonder when someone uses work as an excuse for everything, whether or not they really are that busy or are they making themselves busy just to have an excuse not to take a risk.
I used to write when I was younger because it was all I had. I didn't have friends at school, I had tormentors. When I got home from school I hid in my room and weekends were spent losing myself in a fantasy world, not going to parties or hanging out.
When I went to work I made friends for the first time. I went out. I socialised. There were parties and hangovers every weekend. It was a whirlwind of social activity and threw myself into it with abandon. I partied harder than everyone. I drank harder than everyone. I danced and I laughed and I spent the Sunday recovering either at home or at another party.
As I got older, the partying continued, new friends replacing old. And it's not until recently that I've realised staying on the Venga Bus was another form of procrastination, another form of escaping into a fantasy world. It was an excuse to avoid writing, to be "a wannabe" rather than an am.
So much of my self-identity has been caught up in "wanting to write" that part of me wonders what will happen when I do it. When I write the novel or the screenplay or the web series and have it made into a product, what do I do then?
My main goal during my holidays is to clear that repetitive thought pattern. To work on an idea without fear. I've got so many. Most of which don't really interest me, but there are a couple that do. By the time I go back to work in January, I want to be able to say
"I used my holidays well. I'm re-energised, I'm ready for another year and I've made some major milestones in *insert project here*".
For now, I have to go and finish a research brief that was sprung on me at the last minute and which I didn't have time to complete before I left work on Friday. If I don't one of my team won't have a product to work on.
I guess the point of this post is that sometimes the goal itself becomes the reality and if you don't take the steps to move beyond the "dream" you end up stuck in a rut, dreaming but never doing.
Only I can take those steps to make the dream real.

subset: commoncrawl


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Davening is the place where the BT can feel vindicated. Park for a moment the speed factor: that is keeping up or better yet catching up with the Minyan. In the private sense, I think most BT's tend to take the Avodah- the job of it seriously and are shocked and outraged when in the place of prayer they occasionally find others involved in all kinds of distracting behavior including talking.
We BT's are usually idealistic. We come to the table primarily interested in connecting with HASHEM. The Siddur is not seen as a school-book and Prayer was never experienced as an activity that was ever thrust upon us as a requirement. It is in fact one of the most safe and rewarding places for a BT. Why might that be generally so?
Reb Tzadok HaKohen said that of the three pillars on which the world stands, Torah, Avoda-Prayer, and Gemilas Chessed, two of the three improve with abundance. The more Torah a person has the greater the capacity to learn and teach they possess. The same is true of Gemilas Chassadim. The more resources one has the more they can do for others. When it comes to prayer, the opposite is true. The more one lacks or realizes their vulnerability the deeper will be the prayer. Davening is the great equalizer. This is the place where our deficiency becomes our asset.
The sincere BT is not there to unload words, or filibuster The Almighty or his conscience. The BT will tend to take the task of the heart to heart until of course he becomes a regular customer and then its time for everyone of us to long for the days when our heads felt empty but our heart were full. Chadesh Yameinu K'Kedem! Renew our days like before!!!
First published on Jan 03, 2006


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Paramount has apparently apologized. Here's the email from the Japanese Amercian Citizens League that started circulating over the weekend:
PARAMOUNT APOLOGIZES TO THE JACLThat's a pretty crappy apology... but it's an apology. The decree came last week to remove the offending scene from all trailer and marketing materials. But the scene still exists in the movie. At this point, I actually don't mind this -- it's a document. It shows that racist foolishness is still alive and kicking in 21st century Hollywood.
Los Angeles - The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation's largest and oldest Asian American civil rights and community advocacy organization, welcomed Paramount Pictures' apology for "racially demeaning language" in its recently released film, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard.
Adam Goodman, President and CEO of Paramount, emailed the apology to National Executive Director and CEO of the JACL, Floyd Mori, on the afternoon of August 21, just prior to a protest that was planned by Guy Aoki, head and co-founder of Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA). Mori and Craig Ishii, JACL Regional Director, and other JACL members and staff participated in the protest. The JACL had expressed its disapproval of the film and the widespread marketing effort in trailers that used an objectionable scene with racial slurs and a feeble attempt to depict a hate crime as comical. The JACL had requested the apology.
Goodman stated in his email: "On behalf of the studio, I want to extend our sincerest apologies to the Japanese American Citizens League and the greater Asian American community for the racially demeaning language used in the scenes depicted in the film." He further explained that the marketing tools in question had been pulled, and he went on to invite the JACL and other leaders in the Asian American community to a continuing dialog on the issue.
Mori welcomed the apology and stated: "We are encouraged that Paramount recognized its error in using a racial slur and violence against Asian Americans as comedy. We find nothing funny about racial slurs nor do we see the comedy in using a well known hate crime as so called satire. We are heartened by Mr. Goodman's invitation to meet with Asian American leaders to discuss the use of racial slurs against Asian Americans, which perpetuates a dangerous message to the younger generation in this country. This movie indicates that there is an ongoing need for groups such as the JACL to be vigilant in the fight against discrimination. We look forward to this discussion with the movie industry."
The scene to which the JACL had objected has a sales manager cheering, "Don't get me started on Pearl Harbor-the J___ flying in low and fast. We are the Americans, and they are the enemy! Never again!" This is followed by the group of sales personnel mobbing and beating up the lone Asian American salesman. There is recognition that a "hate crime" has been committed and then a following attempt to cover up the crime. Many would recognize the similarity of this incident to an actual hate crime against Vincent Chin, who was killed 20 years ago in Detroit by out of work autoworkers who blamed Japanese auto companies for their troubles and took it out on an innocent man whom they mistakenly thought was of Japanese descent.
Some of the other groups that issued statements joining the JACL in their objection to the racial depictions in the movie are The Anti Defamation League (ADL), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the OCA.
Nikkei View has a pretty good roundup of how it all went down: Paramount offers apology for racism in "The Goods." A little more coverage from Joz at Los Angeles Metblogs: Asian American Groups Protest THE GOODS at Paramount Studios: Hate Crimes are not Funny. And documentation (including video and photos) over at MANAA's blog: Asian American coalition protests Paramount and 'The Goods'!


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Articles > inner healing > Listening Prayer and Dreams
(Although George holds a Masters of Science degree in clinical psychology he is not a registered Psychologist. He practices as a counselor or therapist. )
Christian Counselling, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Other sites about George:
Listening Prayer and Dreams
Other articles by George Home Professional Services What Clients Say Contact Us About George
Listening Prayer and Dreams
Listening Prayer and Dreams © George Hartwell M.Sc., updated 2009, all rights reserved
The bible says that God speaks to us in various ways, Job 33:15. Dreams is one way that God speaks to us. We need to learn to listen to God in our dreams through listening prayer. Listening prayer is not the same as 'dream interpretation' using dream symbols.
Read how God spoke to Abimelech in a dream in Genesis 20: 3-7. Remember that Abimelech was not distracted by TV, radio, iPods, etc. and he may have spent 10 - 11 hours on his bed because he did not have electric lights. If you want to be available for God to speak to you during the nighttime, you might consider, for one, turning off the lights early and going to bed.
But we can see from the story of Abimelech that God rebuked and warned in his dream. Further on in Genesis we can see that Jacob received significant guidance from the Angel of God in a dream. Genesis 31:3 - 13.
Like some other cultures it seems that Abraham's line considered dreams significant and shared them with their family. Joseph did in Genesis 37 and got himself in trouble with his brothers. His brothers envied him but his father 'kept the matter in mind.' Even though his feelings were hurt, Joseph's father remembered the message and meditated upon these things.
Joseph did not claim to be able to interpret dreams and their symbols on his own. His stance is that "interpretations belong to God." Genesis 40:8. This means that Joseph is going to use some method to do get in touch with God. He is going to find some way to do listening prayer. See also 41:16.
In Numbers 12:1-13, Yahweh calls it "dark speech" when he speaks to prophets in dreams and visions. That means that the meaning of dreams is obscure and indirect. As Joseph knew interpretation belongs to God. This requires bold humility on our part: bold to approach the Throne of Grace and humility not to trust our own minds but to listen. This is the attitude of listening prayer. We do not trust in our own understanding, Proverbs 3:5.
Daniel, like Joseph, had messages from God yet humbly sought God in prayer to find how to interpret the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel went to his house. He shared the problem with his companions, "that they might seek mercies from the God of Heaven concerning this secret." This was desperate listening prayer "so that Daniel and his companions might not perish." Daniel 2:17, 18.
As it turns out the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. He told the king what his dream was - saving his life and that of his companions!
People evidently shared significant dreams with other. God used this simple act of sharing to encourage Gideon. Gideon heard the dream and the interpretation of the dream of an enemy - yet he was deeply encouraged by it. Obviously Gideon and his enemies had a deep and natural understanding and trust for God's speech through dreams.
Solomon and Yahweh have a long and significant dialogue in a dream. Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream. 1Kings 3:5-15.
Lessons about dream interpretation from the Bible:
1.sometimes the meaning is obvious to those who have ears to hear,
2.dreams are an form of obscure speech - the meaning may not be clear,
3.interpretations are of God - we need humility,
4.sharing of dreams is wise,
5.be open to meeting God in our dreams,
6.not trusting in our own analytical interpretation,
7.make the understanding of dreams a matter of prayer.
Listening Prayer for Dreams
Catch the dream:
Record your dream in writing as close to the time as possible. When working with your dream recover the experience of it by reviewing it in the present as if it were happening in the now. Include not just what happened but also how you are feeling as is happens. Underline the strongest feeling in the dream.
Listening Prayer Question #1:
The first thing we want to know is the specific memory that God wants to bring to recall to heal our life. Ask God: "What memory is connected to the strongest feeling in the dream?"
Listening Prayer Question #2:
The second Listening Prayer Therapy question invites God to show us what needs to be healed in the memory. Ask God about this memory: "What did I believe?"
Listening Prayer Question #3:
After discovering what we believed we now need to know God's healing truth. So the significant question to God is: "What is your truth?"
Listening Prayer and Dreams © George Hartwell, 2008, all rights reserved
Inner Healing
For Sessions with George, Retreats or Phone Counseling: counselling
234-1850 for local calls in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville
or Brampton.
E-mail: e-mail G Hartwell
www.HealMyLife.com (counselling) and www.HealMyLife.net (retreats)
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Thank you for choosing FreerSpirit Akashic Soul Readings for your personal journey through your Akashic Records.
Written readings will be sent in PDF format to you via email on your scheduled reading date. Please choose from one of the following written-reading packages:
Soul Mate Reading ~ $65
It's true that we have many different types of soul mates who come and go or stay seemingly "forever" throughout our lifetimes, but did you know that there is ONE
type of soul mate who is literally the "other half" of your soul? This type of soul mate is known as your Twin Flame Soul Mate, and the Soul Mate Reading answers two questions for you:
- What is my soul connection with this person? (include current full legal name, DOB and current relationship with the individual)
- What is our soul contract with one another for this lifetime?
By asking these two questions, your Akashic Team will let you know what type of soul mate your person of interest is to you and what your souls intentions are for one another. This is a very quick reading that you can receive answers to within 24-72 hours of payment. Readings are scheduled in order of payments received.
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Personal Akashic Reading ~ $100
Ask any questions you wish! This reading fee covers up to five of your most burning questions you have for your higher self and Akashic Team.
How to format your questions for this reading
Remember that Akashic Soul Readings are intended for personal growth and your soul's evolution away from ego, into the higher self and Divine Will.
Though it's not a game, accessing the Akashic Records does come with a set of rules. For example, records for anyone under the age of 18 may not be accessed. There are also rules about what kinds of questions you can ask. For example, "should I," "when" and yes/no questions are not allowed, but hat is not to say that recommendations won't be made, dates won't be given or that a yes/no question won't be addressed within the context of the answer of another question that is properly posed according to the rules. Your guides know what you need from them, and they will freely give it!
Properly formatted questions begin with the following words:
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IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want details, you must be specific and give some background as to why you are asking in order to receive the kind of answers you desire. This is about your personal growth and soul evolution, so please as specific as possible. Please also include full legal names, dates of birth, and your relationship with people you ask about. Also please note whether they are living or deceased and if you have met them in person or not.
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Do you feel connected to or fascinated by a certain era, event or public figure of the past? Have you had vivid, detailed dreams of the past or the future, or even present day that seem so real you cannot shake them? Then this is the reading for you! Get details from three (3) specific past or present/futuristic parallel lives of your choosing. Simply choose the era(s) or describe dreams you have had and your Akash will provide the details you seek. Feel free to mix and match past with parallel life questions for this reading.
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Getting into the head of someone who's taken a life isn't easy (I hope!) But well written books can transport us anywhere, even into the head of a murderer. These are five books I've found very useful in writing my novel. They're all wonderful and enjoyable reads as well.
1. Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo
Blood on Snow is the story of a 'fixer,' a man who works for a crime boss. His job is to 'fix' people who are causing problems. With a bullet to the brain. I can't recommend this book highly enough, to anyone who likes to read, but particularly for those who are writing about a killer. There's a lot to learn from the rich, complex character Nesbo has created here.
2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History is about a group of college students who commit a murder. It's fascinating because these college students are more or less ordinary people. The book delves into both the killing itself, and the aftermath, the way each of the students copes with what they've done and how they can possibly more forward (or not).
3. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood is a classic book about crime. In a small town, four members of a family were savagely murdered, and there seemed to be no motive behind the brutal killing. Truman Capote investigated the killers, and from his findings he put together what remains one of the best investigative journalism books out there.
4. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
The TV show Dexter is based on this novel by Jeff Lindsay. The first few chapters describe Dexter, a serial killer, doing what he does best. It's a powerful glimpse into the mind of a psychopath, and beautifully written.
5. Last Winter We Parted by Fuminori Nakamura
Last Winter We Parted is a brilliant book, but be prepared to read it twice, as the story is so complex. It's a twisted tale of murder and revenge, and I don't want to say too much more for fear of ruining it.
If there are any books that should be on this list, leave a comment and let me know!


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Showcase Attracts Science Superstars
Each autumn, Pitt becomes a playground/workshop for some of the best scientific minds in the business.
Science2011 (the 11th in the series) saw famed Harvard chemist George Whitesides deliver the Provost Lecture, explaning why it's been so difficult to design effective drugs. Previous visitors include Nobel Laureate Mario Capecchi of the University of Utah who developed ways to modify genes in mice in order to create analogs to human disease.
Aside from visiting superstars, the event showcases the region's academic strengths in science, engineering, medicine, and computation and demonstrates how this research can be a catalyst for regional economic development; foster collaboration among academic and industrial scientists; and promote the idea to the public that science can be interesting, exciting, and fun.


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Learn keys to early literacy: Building Blocks episode 2
How can parents make sure their young children are getting the language skills they need? Is the time you spend on your smartphone making you a worse parent?
Opinion editor Robert Mentzer spoke with early-literacy experts Amy McGovern and Connie Zebro of the Wausau School District for this week's episode of "Building Blocks," Daily Tribune Media's new video series about early-childhood issues and how to raise great kids. New episodes every Wednesday all summer.
Building Blocks schedule
Every Wednesday morning through mid-August, we'll post a new video in our "Building Blocks" series of short, practical early childhood-focused interviews. Here's the full schedule of past and upcoming episodes:
June 18:Seeking quality child care
June 25: Language development and early literacy
July 2: 39 Weeks campaign and prenatal health
July 9: Reading with kids
July 16: Family-friendly businesses and best practices
July 23: Developmental screenings and "What Every Child Needs"
July 30: Start Right services
Aug. 6: Parenting resources
Aug. 13: Public policies that support young children
Aug. 20: Series wrap-up and what you can do


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A Game Changing Moment for the Church in the United States?
In his apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel") Pope Francis called for the Church to embark on a "path of pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are." Last July in Orlando, Florida, Catholic leaders came together at the invitation of the bishops of the United States to ask the question, "How do we live the 'Joy of the Gospel' in America as missionary disciples?" In other words, how do we personally and institutionally change from a culture that can sometimes be lethargic and focused on maintenance to one of joyful mission in Jesus Christ?
In the Church in the United States, there had never been a gathering of this type that sought to bring together the whole Church in the United States with bishops, clergy, religious, laity and the many Catholic apostolates and movements. It was a remarkable four days, marked by joy and a spirit of mission.
The spirit of mission permeated every aspect of this gathering and there was a strong outreach to young adults to be part of the convocation. Of the 3,500 attendees, some 700 were between the ages of 18 and 39. The result: We were reminded daily that we are called to be on the move and ready, as missionaries, to bring Christ's love to every encounter with our brothers and sisters.
Each speaker sought to equip attendees with an understanding of the current landscape of the Church in the United States and to go out boldly and joyfully in witness to Christ.
Prayer undergirded everything that was done at the conference. Daily Mass and special devotional activities were an important aspect of each day. A particular highlight was the rosary, which was beautifully and reverently prayed in 10 different languages. One morning featured an outdoor Eucharistic procession with more than 2,000 participants in the July heat of Orlando! The procession signified very beautifully the call to take our faith outside the doors of "the Church" or in this case the air-conditioned convention center!
The true test of whether this was truly a "game changing moment" in the United States is of course what happened after the conference.
I recently attended a meeting of diocesan leaders in New England. This meeting was one of the most open and fruitful conversations that we've had. The two days were marked by a true desire to look at what we're doing and how we can best respond to the current needs in the Church. Quite frankly, I believe this is the type of conversation that the July convocation sought to inspire. It is hoped that this same spirit of joy-filled missionary discipleship and conversation on what we're doing continues to trickle down, from the national level, to the regional (as in this recent meeting), to the diocesan, and ultimately to each of our parishes.
The Archdiocese of Hartford put together a very well done 30 min video of highlights from that gathering in Orlando: vimeo.com/231083728/05fc1cc90b
Deacon Phil Lawson is the executive director of evangelization, catechesis, divine worship, marriage and family and respect Life for the Diocese of Burlington. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The New Evangelization Summit
Streaming April 27-28
Holy Cross Church, 416 Church Road, Colchester
For information: firstname.lastname@example.com
To purchase tickets, register and get more information: newevangelization.ca


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Hi, peeps–
Just wanted to pass along a groovy reading tip. I'm a little late to this party (this book was published in 1997), but I highly recommend Barbara Hambly's A Free Man of Color, which is a murder mystery set in 1833 New Orleans (right around Mardi Gras). This is the first in this series. The main character is Benjamin January (or Janvier, as the French and Creole New Orleans residents call him), a free man of color, whose stepfather freed him upon his death.
Want more? Keep on clickin'…
January is a trained musician and he went to Paris as a free man and learned medicine. He became a surgeon, but found that he missed New Orleans and after the death of his wife, he returned there, where members of his family resided.
Hambly is a prolific and award-winning author in several genres, including science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and historical mystery. She really did her homework to write the Benjamin January series, capturing the hierarchies of New Orleans — and, by extension, Southern — society as categorized through race, skin color, nationality, and gender. January is a free man, yes, but his skin is so dark that he's constantly stopped by white officials and he has to produce his "papers" — the papers that attest to his manumission and the fact that he does, indeed, have dark skin.
New Orleans society places a premium on lighter-colored skin, with all its designations of "mulatto" and "quadroon" and octaroon." Hambly explains in the Author's Note what that means. Read it, because it'll help you get a sense of how truly twisted race and color have made us as a culture, and it weighs heavily in the Benjamin January series.
Here, January has returned from Paris and he's still grieving the death of his wife. He's not entirely certain why he returned to New Orleans, since he's constantly under scrutiny from whites and light-skinned blacks, and he has to affect degrading behavior to deal with whites — especially the influx of white Americans, whom, it seems, most French, Spanish, and Creole residents of New Orleans absolutely loathe for their uneducated and boorish ways as well as their absolute views of race and color. Americans are making it even harder for men like January, who are free but dark-skinned. January can never work as a surgeon in New Orleans because of the racist codes Americans are placing across the city, though he is able to practice minimally through French circles. He therefore must earn his living as a musician and music teacher.
January is about to play music at a Mardi Gras ball (also fraught with social hierarchies and nuances), but on his way in to the venue, he comes across a woman who is in the clutches of a man who is forcing himself upon her near the venue's entrance. She recognizes January, though he doesn't at first recognize her because she's in costume (it's Mardi Gras), but he helps her out, and in that encounter with the white prominent man who is attempting to brutalize a woman, we see how race plays out in 19th-century New Orleans, and what January has to endure in order to ensure the safety of a white woman. From this initial encounter, the reader will be privy to January's anger and humiliation every time he has to deal with a white person who treats him as no better than horseshit on a shoe. And that, unfortunately, is how the majority of whites treat him.
Once January realizes who the woman is (a grown former student of his — he's in his early 40s) — they chat briefly, as he wants to make sure she's okay. As it turns out, she is trying to go into the venue to speak with another woman who has a consummately nasty and vile reputation though she's one of the most beautiful and sought-after light-skinned colored women in French society. January warns his charge not to stick around (because people talk so), and he says he'll set up a meeting between the two women elsewhere. He figures it has something to do with the fact that the woman he just helped is the widow of a man who died 2 months prior, but whose mistress was the nasty high society woman.
And that is a whole other layer of society — prominent white men who are married but take light-skinned mistresses. Here, we get a glimpse of what some women do to ensure their own safety and the safety of their children. It's a social custom, for white men to take light-skinned mistresses and have children with them, and for those mistresses, the custom both further entraps them while at the same time providing a modicum of freedom and decent living standard for them and their children.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, yes? Murder ensues at the ball where January is playing, and January has to negotiate the various lines that divide New Orleans society to find out who the killer is, because he was one of the last people to see the woman who dies alive, and because he's black, he is automatically a prominent suspect.
Hambly writes a rich, beautifully rendered narrative with some most excellent twists. Even her backstories (which, in the hands of less skilled writers, I would call "info dumping") are sewn tightly into the lining of this 19th-century tale, and provide an exquisite view of an era that we claim to be beyond, but yet that influences us still, reflected in current issues that surround race and culture.
You may find this an initially difficult book to get into, and you may stumble over the French names, if you're not familiar with that language. It takes a chapter or two, but do stick with it, because it'll open your eyes as well as provide a wonderful read. And check out Hambly's website, as well, so you can see the range of what she writes.
Happy reading, happy writing!


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For The Answer
Open 9 to 6 Mon. through Sat.
Soon we will all experience the "delight" of moving the time on our clocks back one hour to adjust for daylight savings. Everyone enjoys the extra hour of sleep but have you ever wondered if daylight hours affect the life of a plant? A plant is drastically affected by its night life, especially how long or short the night life is. The same is obviously true for some people, too.
The effect of the length of day and night on plant growth and development is referred to as photoperiodism. Photoperiodism can be defined as the developmental responses of plants to the relative lengths of the light and dark periods. Here it should be emphasized that photoperiodic effects relate directly to the timing of both the light and dark periods.
The responses of plants to photoperiodic stimuli are numerous and very diverse. Some of the more important responses related to photoperiodism include: flowering, tuber and bulb formation, and bud dormancy.
The effect of photoperiod on reproductive development is widespread among plant species. Not all plants respond the same. There are three distinct groups: short?day, long?day and day?neutral plants.
1. Short?day plants will be induced to flower only when the day- length is below a certain critical length. If the critical day-length is exceeded, the plant remains in a vegetative state. The critical day-length varies among species and cultivars. Examples are chrysanthemums, poinsettias and Michalmas daisy.
2. Long?day plants will be induced to flower only when the critical day-length is exceeded. Until the day-length exceeds the critical length, vegetative growth continues. As with the short?day plants, the critical day-length varies both among and within species. Examples are spinach, beet, and radish.
3. Day?neutral plants will flower under any day-length and are exemplified by plants such as tomato, dandelion, rose and African violet.
Unfortunately, there is considerable confusion about photoperiodism, and much of it is the result of inaccurate terminology. The short?day plants are not named because they require a day-length that is necessarily shorter than a long?day plant. This is because that for a short?day plant to flower, the photoperiod must be shorter than the critical day-length. The long?day plant must have a photoperiod longer than the critical day-length.
Photoperiodic responses were taken into account this fall when a spectacular new bedding plant named "Mari-Mum" was introduced to the gardening public. Texas Cooperative Extension horticulturists discovered that fall-planted marigolds can give a sustained flower show from September until the first frost, or until late October or early November when it is time to "fall plant for spring bloom". Transplants that were just forming buds and flowers were sold. The formation of those buds and flowers were stimulated by manipulating the night life to insure immediate bloom. Another interesting discovery was that large-flowered marigolds actually bloom more profusely when planted in the fall. Long April and May day-lengths delay (but don't prevent) the flowering of American type marigolds. Day-lengths exceeding 12 hours both delay flowering and increase marigold height so, if you want a more compact, massive blooming marigold, plant it in the fall—not in the spring when most folks plant marigolds. This is why the Mari-Mum should provide the most spectacular fall bloom display imaginable. Day-length response was also considered when Extension horticulturists recommended that flowering tobacco (Nicotiana) be planted in April. Flowering tobacco responds and flowers more profusely in the spring day-lengths than it does in fall day-lengths.
The induction of tuber and bulb formation has several similarities to the onset of flowering. The photoperiodic stimulus is received by the leaves and is apparently transmitted to the part that actually enlarges to develop into the storage organ, such as tubers (in the Irish potato and Jerusalem artichoke) and bulbs (in the onion).
Gardeners always become impatient in the spring waiting for their onions to bulb. If you plant onion seed in the fall (October) or transplants in the spring (January?March) of recommended varieties for this area, such as Texas A&M 1015Y (Supersweet), Granex or Grano, the onions HAVE to bulb in the spring when the bulb?triggering day-length hours occur. However, if you plant bulblets or seed of the wrong varieties, the onions may never bulb. Bulblets should NEVER be planted because the proper day-length varieties are not available in bulblet form. The onion, depending upon the variety, bulbs during either long-day (13 to more than 14 hours), intermediate (11?1/2 to 12?1/2 hours), or short-day conditions (10 to 11 hours). Long-day varieties will not bulb in Central and South Texas because the days aren't long enough. In this area, long-day types are grown as green onions or scallions. Long-day varieties from seed or bulblets will produce huge plants, large necks, big blooms and no bulbs.
The onset of bud dormancy in many species is, to at least a large degree, a response to the shortening days of late summer and fall. In response to the lengthening days of spring, dormancy is broken and a new season's growth begins. The initiation of growth in the spring is also associated with the advent of rising temperatures. Since buds will not break dormancy in the short days of winter, the plant is provided with protection against premature growth, such as might occur in response to a midwinter warm spell. Fall fertilization (October) can also occur without the worry of rejuvenating plants and causing winter damage. In many deciduous species the initiation of growth in the late fall and early winter is prevented by the requirement for a minimum amount of hours of low temperatures to satisfy the chilling requirement. In the spring, however, no leaves are present, and the buds perceive the lengthening days.
When the photoperiodic phenomenon was initially discovered, the assumption was made that the critical aspect was length of the day. Subsequent research soon indicated, however, that the length of the dark period was the determining factor in whether or not a plant flowered. An interruption of the night with a few minutes of light will prevent a short?day (long?night) plant from flowering and promote flowering of long?day ones. An interruption of the day with a few minutes of darkness has no effect at all.
So as you can see, a plant's night life IS important. Now that horticulturists better understand this phenomenon, we can predict which plants to plant at which times of the year to insure optimum production of flowers and produce.
Mari-Mum Nomenclature and Bloom Explanation
Well, now I've incensed the lovers and purveyors of mums. Sorry, but you mum folks have got to learn to deal with truth. Young mum plants transplanted in the fall never perform as well as the mums planted in the spring, pinched back several times during the summer so that plants are large and full?foliaged with a massive bloom bud surface. Mums planted as small transplants now never grow large enough before blooming begins to make a showy display. The bloom cycle is stimulated by decreasing daylight hours.
For more information about Mari-Mums, see:


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Popular Music star, Sound Sultan is dead, POLITICS NIGERIA has gathered.
Sound Sultan, real names "Olanrewaju Abdulganiyu Fasasi", died after a battle with Cancer. This was contained in a statement signed by his brother, Kayode Fasasi.It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Multi-talented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter, Onlanrewaju Fasasi a.k.a Sound Sultan. He passwed away at the age of 44 following a hard fought battle with "Angoimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma."
"He is survived by his wife, 3 children and his siblings. We, his family appreciate the utmost privacy as we come to grips with this tragic loss."
Sound Sultan's music career started in 1991. He has worked in different musical genres from R&B to Afrobeat, soul and Nigerian Fuji music. He released his first single "Jagbajantis" in 2000 which became a massive hit in Nigeria.
After independently releasing other singles and featuring in hit songs of other artists, he was signed by Kennis Music before moving to Naija Ninjas which he started with Baba Dee. In 2012, it was announced that Sound Sultan was made a UN Ambassador for Peace for his exemplary lifestyle and career.


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With Sarat Ford Lincoln's Auto Financing Options, Driving Your Dream Car in Agawam Can Be a Reality
Getting behind the wheel of the Ford F-150, Super Duty F-250 SRW, Super Duty F-350 SRW, Escape or Super Duty F-550 DRW you have your eye on is easier than ever, when you shop at Sarat Ford Lincoln. That's because we offer auto loans and Ford leases catered to each and every one of the drivers we serve from Springfield, Chicopee and Westfield.
With our car financing team of experts' help, that new Ford vehicle or even that used car is well within your reach!
Can't wait to see how we can make that new Ford F-150, Super Duty F-250 SRW, Super Duty F-350 SRW, Escape and Super Duty F-550 DRW attainable? Just fill out our quick and easy contact form at your convenience. We're also on hand, at our dealership in Agawam, Massachusetts to answer any of your auto financing questions. Just give us a ring or stop in today!


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It's been a while since I posted on the blog, but we are back.
2018 is going to be our year with frequent posts, more brand collaborations, new friends and new opportunities. With that being said, let's jump right into the first post of 2018 with these Steve Madden's.
I first saw these 2017 model Navy Nubuck Steve Madden's on Nordstrom but unfortunately they were sold out. However, with some old fashioned research I managed to snag a pair off Amazon.
With the street style vibe the Madden's give off, I decided to keep the outfit really simple and casual. Styled with a pair of distressed denim Levi jeans, white Adidas Trefoil Tee under an army green M-16 jacket from Zara and a grey felt Fedora from All Saints helped keep this look clean and street worthy.
Disclaimer: Most of the pieces may be out of stock or out of season. Alternatives may be provided.
Let me know your thoughts on the photos and if you would add these Steve Madden's to your collection.
Look out for more posts coming soon as we continue on this journey together. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter where you can let me know what you want to see more of this year.


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Self Discipline Homework by Lizzie, Year 6
Year 5 CyGen Project featuring on BBC Look East
Tolerance Rap
Tolerance Rap from Preston Hedges on Vimeo.
Year 5 & 6 production of The Snow Queen
Snow Queen in the mirror from Preston Hedges on Vimeo.
Gerda in the woods from Preston Hedges on Vimeo.
Year 1 Toy Video
As part of our Toys Topic, we have been reading the story 'Lost in the Toy Museum' in our Literacy lessons. Bunting the cat has been on many adventures and the video shows him exploring our school. We used this as a stimulus for the children's writing using exciting descriptive language. The children have loved reading and writing about the toys and were extremely excited when Bunting the cat came to life!


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System 16 600x12mm (23.6"x0.47") Siegmund Octagonal Welding Table with Plasma Nitration (Item No. 2-950600.P)
- Product SKU: 2-950600.P
- Category: System 16mm Metric Series Welding Tables and Fixturing Accessories
Octagonal Welding Tables for Welding Positioners / Manipulators
Suitable for all Siegmund Positioner Types: Roto and Synchrolift
The octagonal table is particularly suitable with manipulators and robot cells. It offers similar clamping options as a Siegmund welding table system 16 due to the parallel hole pattern on the top. To meet individual requirements, the table can be adapted for specific applications on request.
Welding Table Specs and Features:
- Grid Style: 50x50mm Grid
- Borehole: Ø 16mm (0.630")
- Tabletop Width: 23.6" (600mm)
- Tabletop Diameter: 25.5" (649.44mm)
- Tabletop Side Panel: No Side Panels
- Tabletop Material Thickness: 0.47" (12mm)
- Approximate Table Weight: 139 lbs. (63 kg)
- Official Siegmund Welding Table Part No.: 2-950600.P
- Material Type: Premium Steel S355J2+N, Plasma Nitrided and BAR-Coated
The Octagonal Welding Table Plate without side surface can be safely mounted on a manipulator directly through the bore holes, by using Support Sleeves (Item No. 2-160500) and bolts.
Optional Adapter Plate is Highly Recommended:
The Adapter Plate (Siegmund item no. 0-940000) comes highly recommended by Siegmund, as that is how you connect the Octagonal Table to Platforms, Lifts, Etc. Special adapter plates are available on request. Due to customization, weights will vary and surcharges will apply. Foot plates or adapter plates are not included as standard in the octagonal tables. Foot plates or adapter plates are not included as a standard with the octagonal tables.
The video below displays how our Siegmund Octagonal Welding Tables are used with Robotic Weld Cells.
The video below displays the Toughness and Reliability of our Siegmund System 28 Professional Extreme Series Welding Tables. Showing why they're completely unsurpassable in Strength.
Have a Question?
Be the first to ask a question about this.


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Aimed at young professionals, Van Heusen fashions a unique style statement for the new millennial
New Delhi, December 26, 2016 – Van Heusen, India's fashion forward power dressing brand entered into an arrangement with Amazon Fashion for the exclusive online launch of 'My First Formal' apparel for the young professionals. With this exclusive online launch on Amazon Fashion, Van Heusen is extending itself to young India who is set to enter a new world of exciting careers and opportunities.
Van Heusen, known for its fashion formals has created a young collection `My First Formals' that resonates with their free spirited nature, enterprising at heart and ready to take on the world with enthusiasm and fun.
Van Heusen's 'My First Formals' is unique as it fashionably introduces the never fading classic style with power packed details along with fine fabrics woven beautifully with fresh new tones in the business collection. This fashionable collection will certainly create a new spark in the young professionals' wardrobe. Made from 100% cotton, Van Heusen's `My First Formals' will be available exclusively on Amazon Fashion with 16 bright seasonal colors that represent an elegant palette of young formal shirts. With more than 30 styles to choose from, Van Heusen's `My First Formals' are priced at Rs. 1499/- onwards on the fashion site.
Commenting on the launch, Arun Sirdeshmukh, Head, Amazon Fashion, India said, "Every time our customers visit Amazon Fashion, they will find a great and wide selection of fashion merchandize that suits their varied preferences. We are increasingly becoming a destination that fulfills every fashion need of our customers in India. The launch of "My First Formals" line by Van Heusen on Amazon Fashion validates are constant efforts in that direction and we are excited to bring this line to budding younger professionals across the country through our platform".
Mr. Sooraj Bhat, Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Fashion Brands, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. said, "We are delighted to partner with Amazon Fashion for an exclusive online launch of Van Heusen's first of its kind apparel collection 'My First Formals'. Van Heusen is an aspirational brand as it now extends itself to the young professional who wants to purchase his first formal shirt. This new ensemble resonates the brand's philosophy of making fashion formals accessible to all professionals. Van Heusen's` My First Formals' is a must have for a young man's wardrobe and will elevate work fashion for young professionals".
With more than 15,000 brands and over two million fashion products, Amazon Fashion is amongst the largest fashion stores in India with selection across apparel, shoes, watches, handbags, luggage, sunglasses, fashion & precious jewelry.
All Consumers on www.amazon.in and the Amazon mobile shopping app have an easy and convenient access to 95 million products across hundreds of categories. They benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payments, Cash on Delivery, Amazon's 24x7 customer service support, and a globally recognized and comprehensive 100% purchase protection provided by Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee. They can also enjoy Amazon.in's guaranteed next-day, two day delivery, Sunday and Morning delivery on products fulfilled by Amazon.
About Amazon.in
The Amazon.in marketplace is operated by Amazon Seller Services Private Ltd, an affiliate of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). Amazon.in seeks to build the most customer-centric online destination for customers to find and discover virtually anything they want to buy online by giving them more of what they want – vast selection, low prices, fast and reliable delivery, and a trusted and convenient experience; and provide sellers with a world-class e-commerce platform.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.
About Van Heusen:
Van Heusen is India's No. 1 premium lifestyle brand for professionals. With a rich heritage of 128 years in United States of America, the brand entered India in 1990. Over a period of its 25 years of history in India, Van Heusen has emerged as a fashion authority for the ever evolving Indian professionals becoming the go-to source for the latest in fashion trends as well as for expert advice on what to wear, when to wear it and how to wear it. Today, Van Heusen is not only the most preferred work wear brand, but also effortlessly straddles entire spectrum of occasions like casuals, ceremonial and party wear.


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Using LiveJournal for Authentic Communication in EFL ClassesAaron Patric Campbell
edp03apc [at] sheffield.ac.uk
Ryukoku University (Seta, Japan)
This paper describes a way for teachers to set-up and facilitate authentic international communication in the EFL classroom using LiveJournal.com: a free, hosted weblog tool with a 1.9 million-member-strong community of active users and built-in social networking features. It also highlights the potential that social software, like LiveJournal, has for encouraging greater autonomy and self-direction in foreign language learning.
A Challenge in EFLUnlike most of their ESL counterparts, many EFL students lack access to native speakers for authentic communication, be it speaking or writing. As soon as they leave the classroom, they re-enter a world full of speakers of their own first language, leaving them with little opportunity to use what they've learned. Various approaches to overcoming this problem have led EFL practitioners to design and implement pedagogic strategies incorporating internet based communicative activities, such as the use of keypals, tandem language exchanges, chat, message boards, and discussion forums. Recently, the use of weblogs in the classroom is yet another such approach; one in which students publish their writing and receive comments from outsiders, potentially leading to discussion and further use of the target language. Indeed, several recent papers have appeared in the literature (Duber 2002, Campbell 2003, Godwin-Jones 2003, Johnson 2004, and Dieu 2004) highlighting the possible uses of weblogs for language learning. Fiedler (2003) defines the weblog as a 'reflective conversational tool for self-organized learning', which best captures the constructivist spirit with which the tool can be used for fostering autonomous, self-directed learning approaches.
One of the major difficulties of using weblogs in EFL is lack of participation from readers outside the classroom. Some form of mutual interest must exist between the writer and reader if the latter is to respond in a meaningful way. Simply posting thoughts, journal entries, or homework assignments on a weblog isn't sufficient to generate an immediate and sustained interest for any given reader, nor is it likely that a potentially interested reader would come across the site, given the enormity of activity on the internet. This, therefore, places the time consuming burden of networking on the teacher to find potentially interested readers willing to commit to helping an EFL learner. Most EFL learner blogs run a high risk of stagnation otherwise.
Why LiveJournal?LiveJournal addresses this problem by offering a free weblog hosting service that also facilitates social interaction with members from around the world based on their mutual interests. Learners write and the software helps them find readers and conversational partners with its 'interests', 'friends', and 'community' features. The merger of social networking and blogging creates a 'social semantic web' (Downes 2004), where content and identity are bundled together. In a microcosmic way, LiveJournal may indeed offer a glimpse of the direction in which internet communication at large is evolving. This is excellent news for EFL learners, for it presents them with opportunities to converse with people outside the classroom in a meaningful way, putting to use what is learned in class and being exposed to authentic usage of the language. Below are some other advantages to using LiveJournal in EFL classes:
- LiveJournal hosts a community of approximately 1.9 million active users, 90% of whom are under the age of 25 (Bauer, 2004), making it an ideal peer group of potential conversational partners for EFL learners at the high school and college level.
- After using LiveJournal consistently for several weeks, learners will begin to develop a network of friends centered on their own personally defined interests. What emerges is a cluster of unique personal learning communities in the target language, each transcending the traditional, cultural, linguistic, and geographic boundaries of the classroom.
- As ownership belongs to the learners and their online identities are situated in an authentic, flexible, and unpredictable international context, they can experience a degree of power and freedom not normally granted by their institutions of learning. The teacher should act as a monitor and facilitator of the process. Once the semester is finished, most students should have the skills and means to continue blogging their own, thus encouraging them to take control over their own learning.
How to Use LiveJournal in EFL ClassesIn the spring of 2004, I made the use of LiveJournal a central component in my reading and writing classes for second year university EFL students in Japan, who met once a week for a semester. In addition to working out of a writing textbook and doing face-to-face activities in class, students were required to write weekly on their LiveJournal weblogs. Homework assignments were not only designed to encourage students to put to use what they were learning in class, but also to instill positive and responsible blogging behaviors necessary for success in a text based community of English speakers; such as the importance of linking, commenting, responding to comments, proper source attribution, etc.
Based on my recent experience, what follows is a step-by-step, practical guide for successful implementation of LiveJournal in EFL classes. It should, of course, be adapted according to the circumstances of each classroom. Also, weekly homework assignments should, in part, serve to drive the development of the stages listed below.
- Getting Started: Students will need to sign up for their own LiveJournal accounts. Make sure that each student has a personal email account before attempting to sign up. As part of the registration process, LiveJournal sends out a confirmation email containing a link necessary for activation of the new account. Remind your students that their websites will be available for public viewing and that it is perfectly acceptable for them to use pseudonyms or nicknames when signing up.
- Collecting Student URLs: After registration, require your students to email you their new URLs. That way, you will be able to match screen names and blog titles with actual student names. It is also advisable to create a centralized, tutor weblog with links to all student sites (i.e. thenewtanuki.blogspot.com - screenshot). This can act as an online focal point for the class, where the teacher can make announcements, point students to interesting links for self-study, and highlight student successes with the new medium.
- Customizing Sites: Once students have signed up, ask them to immediately to select a layout and color scheme for their weblogs. LiveJournal provides a generous selection of ready-to-go templates and colors that can be chosen with the click of a mouse. Simple customization is important, for it helps to create a sense of ownership and unique online identity from the very beginning.
- Posting, Editing, and Commenting: Students should now practice creating and editing posts on their weblogs. They should also learn how to make comments on other LiveJournal sites and answer comments on their own sites. A good place to practice this is on the weblogs of other classmates. Encourage your students to post and comment frequently. Especially important is for students to understand the importance of answering comments posted on their own pages. By not doing so, conversation cannot develop. Once students demonstrate proficiency in posting, commenting, and editing; they are ready to interact with the native speaking community at large.
- Setting Interests: Do an activity getting them to list their top ten interests in life. Then, have them each go to their 'manage personal info' pages and enter these ten words into the 'Interests' box. Ask them to be specific. For example, instead of listing 'music', they should list the name of a specific artist (Enya), group (Aerosmith), or genre (hip-hop). At this point, students may also wish to upload a small picture to represent themselves during community interaction. Most of my students chose pictures of small animals or cartoon characters.
- Finding Friends: Have students go to their 'User Info' page (screenshot #1), find their 'Interests' list, and click on the first word that appears. LiveJournal will then reveal a list of communities and other users who have also listed the same word as one of their interests. The students should then follow one of the links and skim the contents on that site, continuing to the same on other sites until an interesting community or person is found. Then, the student should add this person or community to his/her friends list by clicking on the 'add user to friends list' button on the other person's 'user info' page. The student should then comment on one or more of the posts on the new site added. I recommended that my students strive to find two new friends per week.
- Reading the Friends Page and Responding: After 'making friends', students should make frequent visits their 'friends' page, which aggregates the postings of all the friends on their list. Reading the friends page eliminates the need of students having to surf from site to site to read what they're new friends have written; it all comes to one page. Students can also make comments directly from the Friends page. Reading the Friends page and responding with comments should become a part of each student's weekly language learning activities. As McGarry (1995, in Benson 2001, p125) argues, working with authentic materials in language learning plays a major role in fostering autonomy in learners by enabling them to match learning opportunities to their needs.
- Community Building: At this point, students should be in midst of reading and writing in an authentic setting. They will be meeting a variety of people; learning new language patterns, idioms, and vocabulary; and striving to understand comments that were posted on their site or things that were written by their new online acquaintances (screenshot #2). They might even be so lucky as to receive help from outsiders (screenshot #3) From here, it is necessary to teach them the importance of making links in their postings to other users and sources of relevant information on the internet. Linking is vital for community building and will in turn attract more interest to their sites. Along with learning how and when to link comes the ethical practice of attributing sources properly, which is necessary for building trust amongst readers.
- Assigning Homework: Have the students post something weekly, for a quiet page quickly leads to a stagnant one. Scaffold the students' online behavior by designing homework assignments that require putting to use what is studied in class in combination with writing about their own interests. Use your imagination. If more friends are needed, give them the task of finding someone who fits a specific profile. If linking needs to be practiced, have them introduce a new friend on their blog or connect an interest with a source of information on the internet (screenshot #4). If correct attribution is to be learned, either have them quote another blogger and write something in response or have them find a controversial article and post their opinion of it. Try to view homework assignments as the key to unlocking the doors of self-access and learner autonomy. Remind them that their weblog belongs to them and that they are free to write anything at anytime. Urge them to post outside of homework assignments, as they would in a free journal.
Keeping Track of the ActionAs your students begin their individual journeys upon the open waters of internet communication, your job as the teacher will be to keep track of all the activity, not only for the purposes of evaluation, but also to step in and help when necessary. The easiest and most efficient way to accomplish this is through the use of a free, web-based aggregator like Bloglines, which will allow you to subscribe to the RSS feed of each student weblog. RSS, which stands for 'Real Simple Syndication', is a 'behind-the-scenes code', usually referred to as a "feed", which allows a reader (the teacher) to subscribe to the content being generated on that weblog. In this way, the content comes to you instead of you having to go to it (Richardson, 2004). By using Bloglines to subscribe to student RSS feeds, the teacher no longer needs to visit a student site to see if it has been updated. Furthermore, the teacher can:
- be notified of new postings when they happen;
- comment on student postings directly from the aggregator;
- organize weblogs by students' real names rather than pseudonyms;
- view a student's entire semester of postings in a single click
(screenshot #5).
ConclusionThis paper has described how LiveJournal - a large weblog community with built in social networking features – can be used in EFL classes to provide students with a target language community centered around their own personal interests. Such personalization in an authentic conversational environment can motivate students to take more control over their own learning, thus encouraging a move toward greater learner autonomy. Like Illich states, "Most learning is not the result of instruction. It is rather the result of unhampered participation in a meaningful setting" (1970, p56). In the end, they just might have fun doing it, as most of my students did.
- Benson P (2001) Teaching and Researching Autonomy in Language Learning Harlow: Pearson Education.
- Bauer E (2004) 'An Overview of the Weblog Tools Market' Elise.com (Aug 6th, 2004) http://www.elise.com/web/a/an_overview_of_the_weblog_tools_market.php (accessed Aug 14th, 2004).
- Campbell AP (2003) 'Weblogs for Use with ESL Classes' The Internet TESL Journal 9(2) http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html (accessed June 17th, 2004)
- Dieu, B (2004, in press) 'Blogs for Language Learning' Essential Teacher Fall 1(4).
- Downes S (2004) 'The Semantic Social Network' Stephen's Web (Feb 14th, 2004) http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/website/view.cgi?dbs=Article&key=1076791198 (accessed Aug 12th, 2004)
- Duber J (2002). 'Mad blogs and englishmen' TESL-EJ 6(2) http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/information/tesl-ej/ej22/int.html (accessed Aug 11th, 2004)
- Fiedler, S. (2003). 'Personal webpublishing as a reflective conversational tool for self-organized learning' in Proceedings of "BlogTalk - A European conference on weblogs, Vienna, Austria, 23-24 May 2003 http://seblogging.cognitivearchitects.com/stories/storyReader$963 (accessed Aug 12th, 2004).
- Godwin-Jones B (2003) 'Blogs and Wikis: Environments for Online Collaboration' Language Learning and Technology 7(2) p12-16 http://llt.msu.edu/vol7num2/emerging/default.html (accessed Aug 11th, 2004).
- Illich I (1970) Deschooling Society London: Marion Boyers.
- Johnson A (2004) 'Creating a Writing Course Utilizing Class and Student Blogs' The Internet TESL Journal 10(8) http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Johnson-Blogs/ (accessed Aug 14th, 2004)
- McGarry D (1995) Learner Autonomy 4: The Role of Authentic Texts Dublin: Authentik.
- Richardson W (2004) 'Blogging and RSS--the "what's it?" and "how to" of powerful new Web tools for educators' MultiMedia Internet@Schools 11(1) http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan04/richardson.shtml (accessed Aug 14th, 2004)
- LiveJournal can be found at http://www.LiveJournal.com
- Bloglines can be found at http://www.bloglines.com
- Links to the author's LiveJournal student blogs can be found at http://thenewtanuki.blogspot.com
- For teachers interested in learning more about using weblogs in
classes visit:
- Yahoo! Discussion Group: ESL / EFL Weblogs at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/esl_efl_blogs/
- ESL / EFL Weblogs: Creating and using weblogs in ESL / EFL at
The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. X, No. 9, September 2004


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Infiniti has been hyping their Emerg-e Concept for some time now and the hybrid has, at long last, made its debut in Geneva.
The Infiniti Emerg-e has just touched down in Geneva and the concept has already garnered great acclaim. The hybrid concept features incredible styling with serious supercar performance for a revolutionary model we can't help but hope makes its way into production. The Emerg-e Concept runs on a hybrid drivetrain which features two electric motors with a lithium-ion battery pack, four inverters and a range-extending 3-cylinder petrol powerplant.
With a combined total output of 402hp, Infiniti's first-ever supercar can blast off the line to 60mph in 4 seconds and has a driving range of around 300 miles. Its EV range is 30 miles.
"I am very pleased to introduce you a new exploration of Infiniti design language and advanced technology. We have designed a shape of real energy and elegance, and one with the emotional flow you know of Infiniti. But what you cannot see is that this silk dress of a body is super light made out of carbon fiber," said Infiniti Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura. He also stated that Infiniti UK will produce two prototypes later this summer for testing, giving off the clearest indication yet that the Emerg-e could actually make its way into production. With that matte silver finish and front-end, we can only hope Infiniti makes our dream a reality.


text: Winter Nears jupitergrant Haiku, Poetry 18th Sep 2019 1 Minute The cold is biting. Frosted kisses caress me. Dappled ice on ground. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading... Related Tagged#haiku#winterPoetry Published by jupitergrant Writer of erotica and naughty poetry, sex-blogger, and all-round Smutty Siren. Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/GrantJupiter View all posts by jupitergrant Published 18th Sep 2019


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Sup. Well, this is unconventional. I used to give a couple of shits. But now I don't. For example, this is not how I would start a blog post usually. I'd come up with "the perfect sentence" to grab the readers attention. Cause that's what I learned when I was young, writing for the school newspaper. But as you get older you realize there are really no "rules". There's only guidelines. Don't get me wrong, there are things you have to do in life and those things may come with a certain set of rules. But if you have complete freedom, all you gotta do is be yourself. Damn it, i'm a great writer. Sorry, I don't praise myself normally. And in fact, this is an inner thought that i'm sharing. And I don't know why im sharing. But damn! I'm a fantastic writer. I should write more often. My dad calls me a wordsmith. (End of inner thought) So let me "Wordsmith" the shit out of this. And yes! There shall be profanity! Not for anything, but sometimes you need a good FUCK! Cause THAT is the only word that gets it done!
"What's the big deal it doesn't hurt anybody, Fuck Fuckity Fuck Fuck FUCK!" "How would you like to see the school counselor?" "How would you like to suck my balls? "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" "I'm sorry i'm sorry, actually, what I said was; "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUCK MY BALLS!? Mr. Garresen. South Park anyone!? Eric Cartman!? Ehh Fuggedaboutit! You see what I mean. There are no rules.
So let me just say, fuck these people. Fuck whoever created this virus. (China) Fuck whoever is keeping people locked up at home. Fuck the governments for ruining people's lives and business's around the world. This is all part of a bigger agenda. You can wake the fuck up and realize it, or you can live the rest of your life in fear of a fucking virus that kills less people than the fucking FLU. Where is the flu!? Where's the fucking flu!? These illiterate cunts just replaced the word flu, with "Coronavirus", "Covid", "Covid-19". God damn Chinese virus!
I have absolutely had it with this shit. You're scared to die, but you're not living. You're afraid of a virus with a kill rate of 0.2% worldwide, when there are literally a million other things that could kill you instead. This can't be "the new normal". I'm down for masks but don't close peoples businesses. Don't kill their livelihoods. If you are, then at least take care of them. Give them money so they can fucking survive! God damn piece of shits. Zero point Two! That's the God damn death rate. Stop being such pussies and live whatever time you got left on earth as a free person. Make it my choice. Let me decide if I wanna go out or not. Whoever wants to stay home and quarantine you can all kiss my ass and do that. But people should be given the freedom of choice. Amen or what!? And listen if you don't speak English don't translate this shit to Turkish or Arabic. It's not gonna make sense to you. It barely makes sense in English. But I know someone out there will understand me. Like I said, there are no rules, only guidelines. Stop being bitches about this virus. And stop getting tested you assholes. If you feel sick just stay the fuck home until you feel better.


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There is nothing as satisfying as having a healthy and productive garden in your front yard. In fact, that greenery can help keep your bad mood at bay and give you a sense of accomplishment.
Nourishing a garden may seem to be easy but demands an extra amount of care and attention. The process is quite similar to raising a kid, where you have to build a good environment to provide strength, weed out what is not healthy for the growth, and provide the desired support in the initial years.
Plants and flowers are even vulnerable to diseases. That usually happens when your plant gets sick, develops some fungus, or bears unfavorable environmental conditions like humidity or drought.
Having said that, it is essential that you follow these practices so that your young garden gets the proper nutrition and flourishes to bring you pride and satisfaction:
#1 Use the Right Soil
To expect a fine development of your plants, you should have the right soil to work with. Everybody knows that soil makes the garden's foundation, and compromising on its quality means sacrificing your garden's health.
Therefore, ensure that the soil your buy is fertile, permeable, and has the perfect pH balance. It is better to avoid chemical soil treatments and consider using organic soil instead to cultivate strong plants.
#2 Examine the Seeds
Another good practice is buying quality plant seeds from a trusted local grower. This will ensure that you don't invest in low-quality and unproductive seeds and that your plants are away from sickness in the future.
So, during your plant shopping, look for insect infestation, irregular colored leaves, and similar signs to avoid buying improper plants that can spread diseases to the soil as well.
#3 Choose the Right Plants
Just because certain plants are your favorite doesn't mean that you can successfully grow them in your garden. Factors such as light, moisture, drainage, soil quality, and dimensions play a crucial role.
Hence, pick the plants that are not only attractive but adaptable to the planting conditions around your home. Also, make sure they have good resistance to diseases and remain fit throughout all seasons.
#4 Maintain a Proper Spacing
You cannot even imagine how much proper spacing is essential for a healthier life of plants. Each plant requires a good level of air circulation and space to expand roots. Crowded plants create lots of humidity, which allows diseases to spread like wildfire. Leaving even a single plant infected with the fungus can quickly damage the others. So, it is important to keep an eye on the plants as they germinate.
Keep ample space between them to improve the airflow and reduce the humidity levels. Choose an appropriate position that offers appropriate light, water, and nutrients, and don't forget to pull out weeds from time to time that can hog nutrients.


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So, I was at the WordCamp US party for speakers, sponsors and volunteers, and three times over the course of this evening I was introduced as the woman who was the Blue Screen of Death at WordCamp Philly in October.
Get Involved With WordCamp Philly
One of the things I've been up to the past year is serving as one of 10 co-organizers of WordCamp Philly 2017, which was October 28 and 29 at the University of the Sciences. We're winding down for 2017 and looking ahead to next year.
To get started, we're again offering an opportunity for members of the WordPress community to join the organizing team.
If you'd like to be a WordCamp Philly 2018 co-organizer, apply online before January 1. Along with the application you'll find information about what to expect in terms of time and activities. You don't need to be a WordPress expert to get involved in planning a WordCamp. Communication, design, organizational and people skills are just a few of the assets that are more important than knowing code when it comes to planning an event.
Hear About WP in Schools at WordCamp Philly
Interested in how schools are using WordPress? Wondering about the benefits and challenges? WordCamp Philly 2015 will present a one-hour panel on WordPress in Schools at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13.
WordCamp Philly 2015 is June 13-14
The site for WordCamp Philly is up. If you're interested in WordPress, sign up!


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To establish basic policy on department and individual responsibilities for the use of personal protective equipment in situations where there is no other means to control safety hazards.
This policy applies to all University units of operation.
This policy is granted authority by State of Illinois safety laws, and is implemented under the authority of the Office of the Executive Director of Facilities & Services.
Departments must subsidize the purchase of safety shoes, protective eyewear, respirators, and other personal protective equipment when necessary to protect workers.
Information regarding the various standards below can be found in the OSHA booklet on Personal Protective Equipment.
The University recognizes the need to protect the feet of persons whose work exposes them to more than ordinary hazards of foot injury, such as falling or sharp objects, molten metal, and other hazards. Purchase of safety work shoes meeting ANSI Standard Z41.1 will be aided by a subsidy paid for by the employer. The University will, at the request of authorized supervisors and department heads, reimburse any employee or faculty member no less than 30 percent of the cost of such shoes. This subsidy must be budgeted in departmental funds and there will be no general fund set up for financing. To meet the demands of normal wear or damage from on-the-job accidents, the subsidy must be made available as often as necessary.
All employees, students, and visitors exposed to eye hazards in their assigned duties, classes, or areas of work or visit must wear appropriate eye protection. Eye hazards include flying objects or particles, dirt, dust, wind, molten metal, gases, fumes, smoke, liquids, reflected light or glare, and radiant energy, among others. The special protection required for these hazards is outlined in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard 87.1, Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection, and the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Standard 29 CFR 1910.133 Eye and Face Protection.
The University recognizes the need for eye protection for certain types of areas of work. The use of approved eye protection is a condition of employment. Departments must designate work situations, classes, or areas under their jurisdiction that require eye protection. Eye protection will be made available in the form of: (1) safety glasses (Plano), (2) prescription safety glasses, or (3) special devices such as goggles or face shields appropriate to the specific situation. Employees performing only occasional work or authorized visitors, either of whom requires eye protection, must be provided adequate protection during the duration of the work or visits.
Departments may designate acceptable or preferred vendor(s). All eye protection purchased by the University remains the property of the University. The cost of repair or replacement of an employee's damaged eye protection equipment must be paid by the University, providing the employee has exercised reasonable care as determined by the department.
Employees having only one eye, or good vision in only one eye, should wear safety glasses to protect their remaining sight, regardless of assigned duties.
Departments will determine exact procedures for providing students and visitors with required eye protection.
Respirators (face masks) are required in certain situations where high levels of airborne contaminants cannot be controlled by ventilation or other means. If it is deemed that respirators are required, persons using them must be medically qualified (respirator physical), trained, and fit-tested with the type of respirator to be worn. The Division of Safety & Compliance may be contacted to assist with evaluating air quality, selecting respirators if needed, and conducting training and fit-testing.
Please consult the Division of Safety and Compliance, (217) 265-9828.


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Review: 'The Memory of Water' at Thunder River Theatre
The Aspen Times
If You Go …
What: 'The Memory of Water,' presented by Thunder River Theatre Company
Where: Thunder River Theatre, Carbondale
When: Through July 1
How much: $15-$30
Tickets: http://www.thunderrivertheatre.com
As the stage lights come up on "The Memory of Water," we see the baby blue walls of a bedroom that has cracks running from the ceiling and exposed wood beams at its ragged edges. Mary is getting out of bed wearing sunglasses after sleeping with the lights on because, at age 39, she is afraid of the dark.
Over the course of the play, which begins its second weekend of a three-weekend run at Thunder River Theatre in Carbondale tonight, we get intimately acquainted with a family's cracks laid bare and three sisters fearful of what they might find in the darkness of memory.
Director Sue Lavin's Americanized version of Shelagh Stephenson's award-winning play, where coastal Maine stands in for Stephenson's North Yorkshire, deftly walks the thin line between tragedy and comedy, crafting a production that's unafraid to go deep and dark emotionally but manages to land laughs with its biting gallows humor along the way. In one pivotal scene, there's a coffin in the middle of the room and Mary is sobbing uncontrollably, yet a one-liner here gets some of the biggest laughs of the evening. It's that kind of play.
Mary (an outstanding Jennifer Johnson) is the oldest of three bickering sisters who return to their childhood home to bury their mother. All three are self-involved, fighting lonely battles against depression, and figuring out how to mourn. Slowly and warily, they learn to rely on each other.
"I don't know how she managed to have three daughters and send us all into the world so ill-equipped," Mary says early on of their mother.
Mary was the star of the family, an outstanding student who became a doctor and breeded resentment from Teresa (Laura Crow), the crunchy one who cared for mom in her final days and comforts herself in meditation by reciting a recipe for beef stroganoff, and Catherine (Gabrielle Bailes), a wild child who finds refuge in sex, shopping and weed.
In one tour de force of a scene, Teresa and Catherine raid their mother's closet and try on her old dresses — mocking outdated styles and giggling over the bad old days. As they whirl around and toss garments, Mary and her lover Mike (William Bledsoe) sit at the center of this storm attempting to have a serious talk. It's an emotional ballet of delicate stagecraft that's worth the price of admission alone.
"The Memory of Water," then, is about mothers and daughters, sisters and some of the sad truths of family — it's about the invention of memories. It asks some big questions, offers few answers, and plumbs the depths of how parents — for better or worse — live on in children. There are family secrets revealed and some big twists as the play nears its conclusion. But those melodramatic revelations pack less of a punch than the play's more subtle insights and how raw emotions can often only reveal themselves in black humor.
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Are you getting engaged soon, or is your closest friend getting married? If the answer is yes, then you may be facing the exciting task of choosing the right camo wedding ring set…
Most people prefer to have a unique wedding band. The majority of the designs we find in the market today have been replicated many times, making the process of finding a unique wedding ring more difficult.
To find that very special ring for "that" special moment of our lives is probably one of the most important decisions we can experience with trembling hands and beating heart.
Fortunately, we have the perfect solution for you! Camo wedding rings have brought you a wonderful selection of engagement and wedding ring which we have taken great pleasure in sharing in the pages of this site.
You will find a ring that is perfect for you and your soul mate to celebrate and show your love with. Remember to take a look at white camo rings.
Choose A Unique Camo Wedding Ring
The ultimate moment of any marriage ceremony is represented by the moment of exchanging wedding rings. This is unlike any other moment of your life; it is a moment remaining forever cherished in people's memory.
And the best way to make certain you, your life partner, as well as your guests, will always remember this event is by choosing a unique wedding ring.
This is what a Camo Wedding Rings endeavors to do. The wedding band features and camouflage patterns make these rings special. The camouflage pattern may feature as a decorative design accent, or may fully cover the band.
A perfectly chosen Camo ring has a bold appearance, suiting a person who likes the rugged outdoors, the adrenaline rush, or the natural expedition.
Camo wedding rings are unique, and for everyone who dreams of being special. A wedding ring is with you all your life. It is a heartfelt reminder of the love and affection you share together. Being affordable, special and unique, Camo wedding rings are very popular for couples to show their undying love together.
Camo Wedding Rings: A Sense Of Identity For The Adventurous
Camo wedding rings are represented by both engagement and wedding bands and are available in a variety of beautiful rich designs, colors, metal finishes and some camo wedding rings feature diamonds in different sizes and styles.
Camouflage is always associated with the great outdoors, and the love of adventure. This makes the wedding band well-suited for a person who feels so inclined to adventure…..
A marriage can be an awesome adventure, where two people are living a beautiful life together, choosing to take full advantage of the adventures life can bring.
People who find the camo wedding band ideal, are men in uniform. The ring does not just symbolize the marriage, but it also reminds the wearer of his role in society.
A military person will always be reminded of his/her commitment to serve both countries as well as their partner. If you are in the military and about to be deployed after the marriage ceremony, a stunning camo wedding ring may be perfect for you.
You Have The Option To Choose One Of The Wide Range Camo Wedding Ring Sets
Despite being unique, the camo wedding ring sets are never in short supply. There are many stunning designs, sizes, colors, and styles to choose from. The ring will appeal to conservative people just as much as a more outgoing person.
The patterns found on the rings include the woodland patterns that comprise black, green, khaki and brown colors. There is also the desert pattern, which consists of a tan base, chocolate chip, as well as a collection of small colored patterns. There may be patterns of animals as well.
You may choose to have a custom-made ring designed to match your personal tastes and preferences. The camouflage is found on coated rings, Mokume-gane, mother of pearl and Camo insets.
Elegant And Chic Camo Wedding Rings For Her
Despite being viewed as being men's rings, Camo rings are also suitable for women.
Rings for both men and women feature camouflage, but the designs and patterns featured on a woman's camo ring are more stylish and often feature a splash of pink and diamonds to represent feminine women.
Camo wedding rings will usually come in smaller sizes, sparkle more and can be embedded in precious stones.
Pink Camo wedding rings are among the most popular; they bring out femininity and love, while still remaining unique.
Show me a woman who would not like to feel she is special and unique, wearing a distinguished ring on her finger….
The pink band may come with diamonds, titanium, zirconium, and cobalt for the woman who likes a little bling and sparkle on her finger. Other designs include muddy girl, purple, mossy oak, blaze and snow.
Realtree camo wedding rings are known for their unique camo wedding bands which feature unique designs and are made from quality metals and incorporate precious and semi-precious stones for a stunning finish.
So, there are really a lot of choices.
You Can Enjoy The Choice of Mannish Camo Wedding Ring For Men
If you still think only women like to be special, you are tricking yourself. Men like to feel special and unique and it is especially true on that special wedding day or when he is proposing…
Camo wedding ring sets for men are available in a wide range of different patterns, colors, and styles suitable especially for men.
Common colors include green, yellow and red, while the patterns include green leaf, timber tech, wetlands, military, wild oak and much more.
Similar to women's rings, you may also find Camo wedding rings for men with real diamonds, titanium, silver, or other gemstones.
Camo wedding ring set provides a wide range of options for both men and women. The rings suit different situations, whether they be outdoors or indoors. If you've always wanted to stand out from the crowd, then you should probably be considered to a Camo wedding ring for the most important adventure of your life.
You always have a choice in life. You can choose to be superficial about your wedding day, or you can choose to have the most beautiful rings on you and your beloved partner's finger and to enjoy their immense pleasure and happiness as you gaze into their face during the celebration of beginning a new life together.
What can be more important than having wonderful lifelong memories of your wedding day sealed with the perfectly chosen camo wedding ring set?


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One of the most popular uses of spreadsheet software is for Business Scorecards. Is this a good decision? Electronic spreadsheets arrived in the late 1970s as a replacement for bookkeeping tasks traditionally done on paper. Are they capable of handling your scorecards in 2017?
Studies Show a Disappointing Reality
- 94% of spreadsheets contain errors
- 57% of spreadsheet users have never received formal training
- 72% of spreadsheet users report having no audit process to check for accuracy
Do you feel safe in using a spreadsheet to compile your critical business data for tracking performance and making important decisions? Here are some things to consider.
- It's similar to a 'full body scan' – A well-executed BI tool should be able to give users a detailed look at their entire business from top to bottom. Instead of clicking through multiple tabs, BI tools can quickly aggregate the data so managers can make more informed decisions.
- Provide your business with a single source of truth– In today's world, data drives many of our decisions. However, without the necessary controls to ensure your data isn't suspect, are you making the right decisions? BI tools remove this concern by 'locking down' the data.
- Identify key trends and track what you are doing to improve – Instead of handing out the latest spreadsheet, a BI tool offers a number of ways to visualize the information. In addition, by linking and displaying corrective action plans, leaders can quickly see not only how the organization is tracking, but also what is happening to improve those under-performing metrics.
"Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat."
– Jean-Paul Sartre


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In this feature, The Thrill will showcase a typical day of a member of the Kenyon Community: student, faculty, or staff. If you have nominations for people to be showcased, please share them in the comments or email us at email@example.com.
Though Sarah Speroff '18 and I share the same name, most everyone just calls her Speroff: The name printed on the back of her jersey. Speroff has always considered herself to be a sports person; she's had years of experience playing hockey (both field and ice) and lacrosse. She is a member of Kenyon's varsity field hockey team, and she also played lacrosse during her first year. Winter is technically the off-season for field hockey, but the team still gathers together for meals as well as lifting and conditioning. She's also a member of the budding FHockapella, which had its inaugural performance at the fall Gospel Choir concert. On top of being a team member, she is co-president of Kenyon College Athletes for Equality, an organization that works to create awareness of LGBTQ issues in athletics on both the professional and college levels, promoting inclusivity and respect on every sports team. She also works to protect the Kenyon community in her job as a lifeguard at the KAC pool. Beyond the world of athletics, she is a dedicated sophomore biology major with an environmental studies concentration and an anthropology minor. Though she hails from land-locked Cleveland, where she admits Lake Erie does not provide the ideal aquatic ecosystem, her passion has been environmental marine ecology ever since her high school marine biology class visited the Island School in the Bahamas. On campus, her closest connection to the underwater realm is her beloved betta fish Mango, who she keeps in her Taft apartment in a tank that doubles as a terrarium for growing aquaponic basil.
Here is an under-the-surface look at a typical Monday in the life of Sarah Speroff:
8:30 am: I woke up and went to breakfast with my teammates on Old Side. I had eggs. I always have eggs, and maybe hash brown triangles if they have them. Also coffee. I'm addicted and it's rough. On a good day I drink 4 to 7 cups of coffee. I take it straight and black, but I also have a french press for when I want something fancier.