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Are companies taking IT major incidents seriously enough? Dimensional Research surveyed more than 400 IT and business professionals to get an idea.
Executives seem to accept that major incidents are the new normal, but they still aren't hiring staff or investing in preventative technologies necessary to prevent and manage critical events that disrupt their respective businesses. Survey results suggest management may be placing more emphasis on being kept informed during an event than on ensuring timely resolution. Maybe that's why major incident resolution teams break SLAs much too often.
In this slideshow, Troy McAlpin, CEO, xMatters, Inc., provides insights into the results of the survey commissioned by xMatters.
Troy McAlpin brings more than 20 years of experience to his leadership role at xMatters, with expertise in process automation, strategic initiatives and corporate strategy. His domain experience includes IT strategy and vertical market expertise including technology, banking, consumer and retail industries. Prior to founding xMatters, he managed marketing, sales, development, M&A and financial aspects at two successful start-up companies and also worked at AT&T Solutions and Andersen.
Related Topics : A Big Market for Big Data Jobs, Midmarket CIO, IT Management Automation, SharePoint, Technology Markets
The gig economy is clearly disrupting the tech industry, both in positive and negative ways. ... More >>
Is fake news a security issue? Some say yes, as it can be used as a social engineering tool to spread disinformation and conceivably to get unsuspecting users to click on malicious links. ... More >>
Executives at several top tech firms outline the skills they need now and in the near future, including IaaS and IoT security expertise. Other skills listed may surprise you. ... More >>


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Researching International Criminal Law
Judy Gire, Library Director
Sources of International Law
International criminal law is part of public international law and focuses on issues relating to extradition, cybercrime, terrorism, organized crime and narcotics, and human rights and war crimes under international law. It is related to humanitarian law which addresses human rights in wartime as well as international human rights law which focuses on the protection of individuals and groups against violations of their rights under international law.
When researching international law issues, Article 38 of the International Court of Justice Statute http://www.icj-cij.org/documents/index.php?p1=4&p2=2&p3=0lists the sources of international law in order of their weight as authority:
1. International conventions and treaties
2. International custom as evidence of a general practice accepted as law
3. General principles of law recognized by civilized nations (doctrines of fairness and justice applied universally in legal systems throughout the world)
4. Judicial decisions and teachings of the most highly qualified publicists
The first three sources are primary sources while judicial decisions and teachings of the most highly qualified publicists are treated as secondary sources. Only the first three sources apply to international criminal law since "teachings of the most highly qualified publicists, i.e. judges or jurists of international courts or tribunals, cannot create supra-national binding laws as local legislative and adjudicatory bodies do." See M. Cherif Bassiouni, International Criminal Law 4-5(2d ed. 1998).
Getting Started
Introductory Guides
ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law
Excellent discussion on how to do international legal research on the Internet, highlighting important primary and secondary sources. The section on International Criminal Law provides a textual pathfinder to major electronic sources for researching international and transitional crime as well as current issues common to both categories.
Produced by Hauser Global Law School Program of New York University, Globalex offers high quality legal research guides on various international subjects as well as timely articles on international law topics and venues including international criminal law. Offers search function.
ASIL Electronic Information System for International Law (EISIL)
American Society of International Law's comprehensive site with links to law instruments, web sites and online research guides. Includes subsection on international criminal law.
Guide to Law Online (GLIN)
Law Library of Congress portal to Internet links for reference sources for nations and regions. Includes international sources.
United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library
Good place to access U.N. information and documents.
Justice Information Center. National Criminal Justice Reference Service.
Database of abstracts of books, articles and reports published by the U.S. Department of Justice, other state and federal agencies, international organizations and private sector. Areas of focus include: corrections, courts, crime prevention, criminal justice statistics, drugs, international information, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and victims.
Extensive global source of information on criminal justice.
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
U.S. Department of Justice's research agency site with links to international criminal justice community. Includes full-text of articles in NIJ publications.
Check for treatises on international criminal law and justice topics by leading authorities. Search by author and title if known or by subject heading or keyword in an online library catalog.
Useful subject headings include:
Criminal law -- International
Criminal jurisdiction
International offenses
You can also add a geographical limitation to subject headings to locate information in a particular country or region:
International offenses -- Angola
Additionally, you can search by more specific topics:
Narcotics and crime
War crimes
Most international criminal law treatises in the library are classed under KZ.
· MelCat
Online catalog of all library treatise holdings.
· Check Online Catalogs from Other Academic Law Libraries
Some large academic law libraries have special international law collections. Go to the library web pages for the law school you want to search and run a search in their online catalog to identify relevant treatise material and then use our library's interlibrary loan service to obtain the material. The link above is to the online catalog for Harvard which has a large international collection.
· Interlibrary Loan
See Reference Librarian Kathy Fletcher if you need to interlibrary loan treatises not available in the library.
Periodical Articles
Many law reviews and journals include articles on international criminal law topics which are sources for current information and citations to relevant material.
· LegalTrac
Index of Anglo-American legal periodicals and law reviews. Search by author or title if known or by subject heading or keyword. Coverage from 1980-
· Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals
Index to articles on foreign, comparative and international law published in legal periodicals and law reviews from around the world. Search by author, title, subject, keyword. Coverage from 1985-
· Ebscohost
Interdisciplinary databases providing full-text access to many journal articles.
· Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO)
Full-text collection of working papers, journal articles, books, policy briefs, research projects and conference proceedings discussing theory, policy and research of international affairs.
· Interlibrary Loan
See Reference Librarian Kathy Fletcher if you need to interlibrary loan periodical articles.
· Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law
Authoritative encyclopedia on public international law topics written by scholars and practitioners from around the world.
Statistical Sources
· UN Crime and Justice Information Network (UNCJIN): Statistics and Research Sources
Links to collections of global crime statistics and includes the UN Surveys of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems.
· Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). International Justice Statistics
Complete resource for international criminal justice statistics with explanations and references to U.N. statistical sources, international web sites, and National Archive of Criminal Justice Data. Includes crime surveys and studies from individual countries and regions and Global Report on Crime and Justice as well as World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems.
Treaty Sources
Treaty Collections
You can usually retrieve individual treaties by name through an Internet search. Lacking the treaty name, there are several collections of treaties to check to locate the text of a treaty.
· ASIL EISIL Database
American Society of International Law's EISIL database links to selected treaties in the section devoted to international criminal law.
· United Nations Treaty Collection
Collection includes the Leagues of Nations Treaty Series (L.N.T.S.), 1920-1944, and the United Nations Treaty Series (U.N.T.S.), 1944-. The latter collection includes full-text of all bilateral and multilateral treaties registered with the Secretariat. Most comprehensive treaty series, but there can be a time lag.
· HeinOnline Treaties & Agreements Library
Largest and most complete collection of all U.S. treaties and agreements, whether currently in force, expired or not yet officially published. Includes United States Treaties and Other International Agreements set.
· Check Web Sites of Regional Organizations
Web sites for regional organizations like the Council of Europe, European Union or Organization of American States often provide text of treaties between member countries.
Treaty Status
Checking for signatories, status, ratification and reservation information on treaties is important. Options include:
· United Nations Treaty Collection. "Status of Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General"
· Web Sites of Regional Organizations
Web sites for regional organizations often provide status information for treaties of member countries.
· ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law. Treaty Page.
ASIL Treaty Page, Section 5, links to status and ratification information for treaties. Also includes information on declarations and reservations.
· Department of State Web Page for U.S. Treaty Status
The Department of State Web page has links to Treaties in Force http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/treaties/2009/index.htmand to Treaty Actions http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/c3428.htm to check status of U.S. treaties.
Case Law
Decisions of international and national tribunals can be used as persuasive authority.
· Courts, Tribunals and Other Adjudicatory Bodies
Check the ASIL International Criminal Law Resource Guide, Sec. IV for links to the major courts addressing international criminal law issues including: (1) the International Court of Justice; (2) the International Criminal Court; (3) various criminal tribunals; and (4) regional courts. Sites for these bodies often include their decisions.
· Oxford Reports on International Law
Includes four modules of case law from international courts and dispute settlement bodies: (1) International Courts of General Jurisdiction; (2) International Criminal Law; (3) International Human Rights; and (4) International Law in Domestic Court. You can search all four modules simultaneously or filter results to a particular module. Within a module, results may be limited to decisions from a particular jurisdiction or adjudicatory body.
Last revised: February 2012

subset: commoncrawl


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MONTREAL -- The Quebec Labour Relations Board has turned down a request for a temporary injunction against a potential NHL lockout in Quebec.
But the board also ruled Friday that more hearings are needed to make a final decision on a request by 16 members of the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Players' Association to declare a lockout illegal in the province.
No date was set for further hearings.
With the ruling, Canadiens players will be locked out with their colleagues on the NHL's 29 other clubs if a work stoppage goes ahead on schedule for just before midnight Saturday.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly saw the decision by the labour board as as a victory for the league.
"We are pleased but not surprised with the Quebec Labour Board's ruling that any lockout of players will be effective on a league-wide basis, including in Quebec," Daly said in a statement. "And we are extremely appreciative of the expeditious and decisive manner in which the matter was handled.
"We are hopeful that this ruling will cause the players' association to cease pursuing these needless distractions and instead focus all of its efforts and energies on making progress at the bargaining table."
The NHLPA and players from the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have also asked the Alberta Labour Relations Board to declare a lockout illegal in that province. A hearing is set for Sept. 21, the day NHL training camps were scheduled to open.
Lawyers for the players and the league stated their cases at an emergency hearing in thw Quebec case. The NHLPA asked for a quick decision so that Montreal players would not be locked out when the work stoppage begins.
NHLPA director of operations Alexandra Dagg said the aim was to prevent Canadiens, Oilers and Flames players from being locked out and to allow them to attend training camp. They also asked that players be paid while they are locked out.
While lawyers argued, NHL clubs opened their wallets to get their key players signed ahead of the impending lockout, spending a total of US$106.25 million in a single day.
Veteran unrestricted free agent Shane Doan, who reportedly considered jumping to the Vancouver Canucks, opted to stay with the Phoenix Coyotes for four years and $23.2 million. Gritty forward Alex Burrows signed a new four-year, $18 million deal with Vancouver.
Goaltender Kari Lehtonen inked a five-year, $29.5 million pact with the Dallas Stars, defenceman John Carlson signed for six years at $23.8 million with the Washington Capitals and forward Gabriel Bourque signed a two-year deal worth $1.55 million with the Nashville Predators.
The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Justin Abdelkader to a four-year, $7.2 million deal and signed unrestricted free agent Carlo Calaiacovo from the St. Louis Blues on a two-year, $5 million contract.
In Montreal, labour lawyer Michael Cohen led a three-man team that presented the players' arguments while a five-member team from the Heenan Blaikie law firm represented the Canadiens and the NHL.
The NHLPA argued because it is not certified as a union with the province, it's members cannot be locked out under Quebec labour law. The NHL disagreed.
In Alberta, the players will argue that proper procedure wasn't followed, including using a mediator.
No players attended the hearings in Montreal. The players listed on the decision were Peter Budaj, Colby Armstrong, David Desharnais, Brian Gionta, Andre Markov, Max Pacioretty, Brandon Prust, Yannick Weber, Rene Bourque, Erik Cole, Lars Eller, Josh Gorges, Petteri Nokelainen, Carey Price, Travis Moen and Ryan White.
Meanwhile in New York, the NHL and the union say they have been in touch but no new negotiating sessions are scheduled in advance of Saturday's deadline.


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Kaileah Lani – Babe of the Day
Today's Babe of the Day is Kaileah Lani, a model whose name is as poetic as her looks.
Kaileah is a model of the freecam variety, a bartender and entrepreneur. We love a woman who has her mind on her business and looks damn good while doing so. Her content is very NSFW, so take care when you go explore more of what she has to offer. With assets like those, we're going to safely assume that business is a-booming.
Become a fan of Kaileah's on her NSFW Instagram, Twitter and personal website.


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IRVINE, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara's women's volleyball team rebounded from a tough five-set loss at Loyola Marymount on Friday night with a straight set win over UC Irvine on Saturday night.
Kara Sherrard led the Gauchos with 13 kills and 14 digs while Lily Lopez had her third straight match with double digit kills as she had 10 as UCSB won 25-12, 25-23, 25-17. It was UCSB's 10th win in its last 13 contests.
Santa Barbara remained in first place in the Big West Conference as the Gauchos improve to 4-1 in conference and 11-7 overall. UC Irvine falls to 6-10, 1-4.
Leah Sully led the Gauchos with 20 digs and she added eight kills and two service aces for the Gauchos. She narrowly missed her 14th double double of the season.
Chelsey Lowe had 16 digs for UCSB while setter Hanna Nielson added 36 assists, seven digs and three block assists.
It was UCSB's first straight set win since a victory over George Washington on Sept. 17.
All-American Stacey Schmidt had eight kills and 10 digs for the Gauchos, who hit .258 on the night and picked up 70 digs. UCSB also had 9.0 team blocks in the three sets and thoroughly dominated UCI at the net and on defense.
Irvine hit just .056 on the evening and did not have a single player reach double digit kills.
UCSB returns to the friendly confines of the Thunderdome on Saturday, Oct. 15 match with UC Riverside at 7:30 p.m. That will be the night UCSB inducts volleyball star Judy Bellomo as a Legend of the 'Dome. Join us for this historic event. Click here for more information.
For tickets, please click here or call (805) 893-UCSB.


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Ballymaloe House may have availability during this course and there is plenty of alternative local accommodation.
Accommodation is not available at the Ballymaloe Cookery School during this course.
Details of this days recipes to follow.
All bookings for a course or event at Ballymaloe Cookery School are subject to our standard Terms and Conditions.


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Home > > Typhoid Fever
Find out more about the diseases you may encounter, and the vaccine information that can help protect you.
Consult your travel physician for additional health information.
For more information visit: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/diseases.htm
Currently there are 2 vaccines available in the United States.25 You should ask your travel physician to determine which vaccine may be better for you.
Vaccines can help protect you from diseases that are still common in many parts of the world. Make certain you contact your health care provider and determine which vaccines you should receive before you travel.
When you've added your destinations, it is recommended that you take this list to your doctor so you can discuss relevant vaccinations before you travel.
Travel vaccines help protect you from illnesses present in other parts of the world, and help prevent the importation of infectious diseases across international borders. Which vaccinations you need depends on a number of factors, including your age, health status, and previous immunizations.
There are combination vaccines that help protect against multiple diseases that may reduce the number of shots you need.


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[Illinois] weSTEM 2013: Combining Interests and Expertise to Shape Your Career
Published on
A common misconception among graduate students is that people believe they must stick to the same technical research area in which they earned a Ph.D. in order to find a job. While it might be more difficult to switch research areas or to switch fields entirely, it is possible to make this career change with the right motivation and determination. After finishing her Ph.D., Roshni Kasad followed her passion for outreach and community service to Techbridge, an Oakland-based organization that promotes girls' interest and skills in STEM. Roshni will share her personal story of managing the transition from graduate school in Molecular and Cellular Biology to working professionally in the outreach area. She will discuss some challenges she faced along the way to getting her Ph.D. and finding a career that was the right fit for her. Her enthusiasm for STEM and Outreach is contagious and will inspire you to pursue whatever it is you feel passionate about.
Dr. Roshni Kasad's path in STEM started off at the University of Delaware where she earned her B.A. in Biology. After spending a year as a research intern at the National Institutes of Health, she traveled to rural India as an Indicorps Fellow to lead a hands-on science pilot project for middle school students. She went on to complete her doctorate in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley and then joined Techbridge, an Oakland-based science education non-profit. As a Program Manager at Techbridge, Dr. Kasad works on projects that range from engaging more STEM professionals to serve as role models to training and coaching after-school and summer providers on how to lead hands-on STEM with youth. In her free time, she loves to volunteer in her community and do anything related to the outdoors.
Source for information on this page: weSTEM Illinois
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Siebel Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


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David Hirshey writes regularly for Deadspin about soccer.
So that was one auspicious coaching debut by Roman Abramovich yesterday, huh? What's that? Avram Grant is Chelsea's new manager, not the modelizing meglomaniacal billionaire who owns the team and pulls the strings like Russia's own Jerry Joneski?
Seriously, does anyone really think that Grant decided on his own to start Sheva, Makelele and Ferreira, a troika that my beloved Jose Mourinho (remember him?) held in such high esteem that he selected them in only one of Chelsea's first six Prem games? Or that when a spectacularly boneheaded call reduced the Blues to 10 men after 31 minutes, the Israeli didn't look like a gefilte fish out of water as he came bounding down to the touchline and did, as I believe they say, in West London, bubkes, not even uttering so much as a "you shmuck" to Mike Dean, the clown who issued the red card.
I think we all know how Mourinho would have handled that situation. First he would have called Dean a filho da puta (son of a whore) and then garroted him with his cashmere scarf to within an inch of his life before someone like, say, John Terry would pull him off the now soiled-pantsed whistle blower. Ah, those were the days, comrades, when Chelsea was feared by opponents and referees alike. It's safe to say that if Mourinho had been prowling the touchline, Dean would have thought long and hard about awarding a SECOND egregious penalty to United as he did in the 89th minute when Saha went down faster than one of those $600 an hour "escorts" at Ronaldo's recent all-night spankathon.
Not to get all misty-eyed about the Special One, who, despite his formidable managerial skills, remains a smug, narcissistic dick. But, at least he was nobody's lap-dog. How long after Mikel was sent off and Chelsea was forced to play a man down do you think he would have waited to yank Sheva who looked like he couldn't finish a shot of Stoli, let alone a half decent chance? Certainly not until the 58th minute, which is when Grant finally put the Ukranian striker out of his misery, no doubt after the chip implanted in his brain relayed Abramovich's permission to do so.
This is not to say that Chelsea would have won without Dean's staggering ineptitude — United outshot Chelsea 17 to 4 and got a brilliant goal from Tevez off a perfectly bent cross from Giggs, albeit in the THIRD minute of two minutes of first half stoppage time — but that without Mourinho 's commanding presence they looked clueless, toothless and ultimately, perhaps even Champions League-less.
And yet, after the surreal week they endured, could you really blame them for their zombie-like performance? Well, if you're Mourinho, I suppose you could blame your once huggable captain Judas Terry who, according to reports, was so angered by Mourinho questioning his recent drop in form that he told Chelsea's board the manager had lost had the locker room in the wake of the team's midweek draw with Norway's MLS-caliber powerhouse Rosenborg. Abramovich, who had an uneasy relationship at best with Mourinho , decided — by "mutual consent", of course — that it was time for the Special One to take his excellence elsewhere and installed Grant, or as I now call him, the Special Needs One. But if there was any doubt as to who was coaching the team, it was dispelled right after the Rosenborg embarrassment when the oligarch was seen, clipboard in hand, giving Essian a chalk talk through his private translator Sheva. So that's why he paid Milan $30 million for the Ukranian striker. Hell, I would have learned Russian and done the job for $20 million.
It's almost enough to make me feel sorry for Chelsea. In case you haven't noticed, I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to my people (I even defend Rex Grossman, and he isn't even Jewish ). Abramovich and Grant are both MOTT. They even observed Yom Kippur by taking the day off from work Saturday, which is more than you can say for Benny "The Yid" Feilhaber, who came on for Derby in their 5-0 thrashing by league-leading Arsenal (you knew I'd find a way to get it in). Shame on you, Benny. The fact that Fabregas sidestepped you to create enough space for his 70th minute thunderbolt is karmic payback for dissing Yahweh, or at least Sandy Koufax.
However much Ambramovich and Grant atoned, it clearly wasn't enough. They have made the once bad-ass Chelsea look as pathetic as Amy Winehouse's teeth. How comical to watch Terry try to snatch the red card out of Dean's hand when he sent off Mikel for a clumsy studs up tackle on Evra that reminded me of when I cleaned out a player from the New Yorker and she refused to shake my hand afterwards. Never mind that the foul merited no more than a yellow card — Joe Cole scything down Ronaldo from behind was far worse and earned only a caution — Chelsea can no longer complain how referees are out to undermine them. Judging from yesterday's debacle, they hardly need any help.
And finally, all of you who have been begging me to cover the Gay World Cup which kicked off this weekend in Argentina, I'm sorry to say that Leitch has decided I'm not the man for the job. Apparently, when he visited Buenos Aires last year, he found a "blogger" in the next stall of the men's room at the local airport. Evidently, the guy has "a soft touch for a big man," whatever that means.


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Most people with atrial fibrillation (also known as AF or AFib) need to take anticoagulants (e.g., dabigatran, rivaroxaban, warfarin) or antiplatelets (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel). The main goal of these medications, known as blood thinners, is to reduce your risk of stroke. In addition to atrial fibrillation, other risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, age (over 75 years), and prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA, or "mini-stroke").
Blood thinners help prevent blood clots from forming in the heart. Blood clots that dislodge and travel to the brain can block the blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke.
If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, use our Atrial Fibrillation: Stroke Risk Assessment tool to find out your risk of stroke.
It is important to take your medication exactly as your doctor or pharmacist recommended. Keep in mind that you may not always feel atrial fibrillation symptoms. Do not stop taking your medication without talking first to your doctor. Remember that your medications are also reducing your risk of developing long-term complications associated with atrial fibrillation.
You may experience side effects with medications that thin the blood. Some are mild and may go away as your body gets used to them. Some can be easily managed. Others may last longer and may be bothersome to you. However, do not stop your treatment without talking to your doctor. If you experience any side effects or have any concerns about your treatment, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.


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Cary News: Community
Faith Notes: March 16
Lent worship services
• First United Methodist Church - Cary will host worship services throughout Lent at 117 S. Academy St., Cary. For the schedule and details, go to www.fumc-cary.org/Lent.
• Christ the King Lutheran Church will host worship services at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesdays through April 9 at 600 Walnut St., Cary. Dinner is at 5:45 p.m. Wednesdays before the 7 p.m. service. For details, go to www.christthekingcary.org.
Raleigh Christian Women's Connection
Raleigh Christian Women's Connection will meet for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. Linda Wright will talk about "Triumph Over Tragedy," and Beverly Hofert will demonstrate painting canvas floor cloths. Lunch costs $16. A free nursery is available. To make reservations by Thursday, March 13, call 919-337-8003 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Prayer study
Author and speaker Sarah Bush will host a 12-week study on prayer with her book, "The Invitation – Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace," from 10-11:30 a.m. or 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, starting on March 20, at 709 Town Side Drive, Apex. For information or registration, email email@example.com.
Project Dress Up
Grace Bible Fellowship will offer free prom dresses to high school juniors and seniors in Wake County from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at 9043 Chapel Hill Road, Cary. To register, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Sportsmen's Dinner
Sunrise United Methodist Church will host the Sportsmen's Dinner for kids and adults from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Congleton Farm, 1719 Avent Ferry Road, Holly Springs. There will be venison, elk, wild pig, duck, flounder and hot dogs. Brian Dehart, the founder of Anchored Up Ministries, will speak. The church will offer falconry and dog retrieving demonstrations and activities for all ages. Tickets cost $10 for adults, and tickets for ages 16 and younger are free with each adult ticket. To reserve a ticket, email James Bingham at firstname.lastname@example.com.
New Hope Presbytery celebrates new pastors
New Hope Presbytery will celebrate the Rev. Amanda Golbek's installation as associate pastor for youth and young adults and the Rev. Melinda Merkley King as associate pastor for community and discipleship at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadow Drive, Cary. All are welcome.
Men's Breakfast
First Baptist Church - Cary will host a Men's Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5, in the church dining hall, 218 S. Academy St. Former Appalachian State University football coach Jerry Moore will speak. To register, call 919-467-6356 or go to www.caryfbc.org/men.
Easter Egg Hunt
Sunrise United Methodist Church will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt from 10:30 to noon Saturday, April 12, at 5420 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs. The church is looking for volunteers to help set up the event. If you are interested, contact Mary Moss at firstname.lastname@example.com or Cris Preble at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Easter Festival and Egg Hunt
Ambassador Presbyterian Church will host an Easter Festival and Egg Hunt from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at 1010 Schieffelin Road, Apex. In case of bad weather, the event will be on Saturday, April 19. There will be an egg hunt for ages 12 and younger (in four age groups), inflatables, carnival games and prizes, crafts and a hot dog lunch. The event is free and open to the public. For details, call 919-249-0230 or go to www.ambassadorpres.org.
Palm Sunday
White Plains United Methodist Church will host worship services at 8:20 a.m. and 11 a.m. with a Palm Sunday event after the 11 a.m. service Sunday, April 13, at 313 SE Maynard Road, Cary. For details, go to www.wpumc.com.
Christian Book Drive
Sunrise United Methodist Church will host the Christian Book Drive for Christian Library International, a ministry from Raleigh that distributes Christian reading material to prisons, through Sunday, April 13, at 5420 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs. Christian Library International needs Bibles and Christian books, novels, CDs, DVDs, videos, Bible studies and devotionals in English or Spanish. For more information, go to www.christianlibraryinternational.org.
Good Friday worship service
First United Methodist Church - Cary will host a musical Tenebrae service with Craig Courtney at 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, at 117 S. Academy St., Cary. For details, go to www.fumc-cary.org.
Christ the King Preschool registration
Christ the King Preschool of Christ the King Lutheran Church is accepting registration for ages 2-5 for the 2014-15 school year. The church is at 600 Walnut St., Cary. For more information, go to www.christthekingcary.org/Preschool/Registration.aspx.
Contemplative worship service
Woodhaven Baptist Church offers a contemplative worship service with meditation from 8:30-9:15 a.m. Sundays at 4000 Kildaire Farm Road, Apex.
Worship services at The Cary
First United Methodist Church - Cary hosts worship services at The Cary theater at 9:45 a.m. Sundays at 122 E. Chatham St.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Holly Springs United Methodist Church hosts "There is a Solution" Alcoholics Anonymous group meetings from 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at 108 Avent Ferry Road.
Sisters in Support
White Plains United Methodist Church hosts a support group for women who had or currently have breast cancer from 7-8:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at 313 SE Maynard Road, Cary. For more information, email Lee Heathcoat at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Family support ministry meeting
A family support ministry organized by Mary Williams-Farrington and the Pardoned by Christ Ministry meets the second Tuesday of every month at The Point Church, 1503 Walnut St., Cary. The ministry provides support for people who have been incarcerated or who have or have had an incarcerated family member. For details, call 919-272-3045 or 919-255-5883 or go to www.pardonedbychrist.org.
Overeaters Anonymous
Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church hosts Overeaters Anonymous meetings from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays in room 126, 100 Judd Parkway. The group's supportive meetings don't include weigh-ins, diets or fees. For more information, call 919-557-7712 or 919-771-1393.
Celebrate Recovery
Summit Evangelical Covenant Church will host Celebrate Recovery meetings for people recovering from hurting, hangups and habits at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at 590 Westhigh St., Cary. For more information on Celebrate Recovery, go to www.celebraterecovery.com. For more information on the church's program, go to www.summitnc.org or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Labyrinth meditation
Cary Presbyterian Church offers a labyrinth meditation walk from 5:30-7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at 614 Griffis St. For details, call 919-469-1337 or visit www.carypresbyterian.org.
Cancer support group
A cancer support group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room WC108 at Colonial Baptist Church, 6051 Tryon Road, Cary. Details: Phyllis Travers, 919-233-0355.
The Knights of Columbus Council 12119 hosts jackpot bingo at 7 p.m. Thursdays at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 1005 Wilbon Road, Fuquay-Varina. Doors open at 6 p.m. Food and beverages available. Details: Al Munno, 919-557-7718, or Sonny Butler, 845-797-0830.
Celebrate Recovery for Women
Celebrate Recovery for Women meets at 6 p.m. every Friday at the homes of members of North Cary Baptist Church. The group helps women with hurting, hangups and habits. Details: 919-469-8023.
Brown Bag Ministry
The Brown Bag Ministry, which feeds more than 1,400 people a week, is looking for middle- and high school-age volunteers. The group meets at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex about 9 a.m. Saturdays. Volunteers prepare bagged meals and hand them out in Raleigh. The group usually finishes by 1 p.m. Details: www.brownbagministry.org.


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Pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest (organism), a member of the animal kingdom that impacts adversely on human activities. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done, and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest. Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy.
In agriculture, pests are kept at bay by tillage, pesticide and biological pest control means. Ploughing and cultivation of the soil before sowing reduces the pest burden and there is a modern trend to limit the use of pesticides as far as possible. This can be achieved by monitoring the crop, only applying insecticides when necessary, and by growing varieties and crops which are resistant to pests. Where possible, biological means are used, encouraging the Natural selection#Competition of the pests and introducing suitable Predation or Parasitism.
In homes and urban environments, the pests are the rodents, birds, insects and other organisms that share the habitat with humans, and that feed on and spoil possessions. Control of these pests is attempted through exclusion, repulsion, physical removal or chemical means. Alternatively, various methods of biological control can be used including sterilisation programmes.
Pest control is at least as old as agriculture, as there has always been a need to keep crops free from pests. As long ago as 3000 BC in Egypt, cats were used to control pests of grain stores such as rodents.Taylor, D., ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20150615032605/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Cc5BM_aPegkC&pg=PA9&dq=pest+cat+rats&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBDgUahUKEwixhYr7qojGAhUQF9sKHbHbABE#v=onepage&q=pest%20cat%20rats&f=false The Complete Contented Cat: Your Ultimate Guide to Feline Fulfilment]'', David & Charles, 2011, p.9. Archived [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Cc5BM_aPegkC&pg=PA9&dq=pest+cat+rats&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBDgUahUKEwixhYr7qojGAhUQF9sKHbHbABE#v=onepage&q=pest%20cat%20rats&f=false from the Original]Beadle, M., [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tnjgqpNKYksC&pg=PA96&dq=pest+cat+rats&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC4Q6AEwATgKahUKEwiUtsG7qojGAhUMStsKHampAA8#v=onepage&q=pest%20cat%20rats&f=false ''Cat''], Simon and Schuster, 1979, pp. 93–96. Ferrets were domesticated by 500 AD in Europe for use as mousers. Mongooses were introduced into homes to control rodents and snakes, probably by the ancient Egyptians.Sherman, D.M., [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=J6oxHWOnRgoC&pg=PA45&dq=pest+snakes+cats&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCWoVChMIkobkua-IxgIV45nbCh0jmACr#v=onepage&q=pest%20snakes%20cats&f=false ''Tending Animals in the Global Village: A Guide to International Veterinary Medicine'', John Wiley & Sons, 2007, p. 45.]
The conventional approach was probably the first to be employed, since it is comparatively easy to destroy weeds by burning them or ploughing them under, and to kill larger competing herbivores. Techniques such as crop rotation, companion planting (also known as intercropping or mixed cropping), and the selective breeding of pest-resistant cultivars have a long history.
Chemical pesticides were first used around 2500 BC, when the Sumerians used sulphur compounds as insecticides. Modern pest control was stimulated by the spread across the United States of the Colorado potato beetle. After much discussion, Paris green compounds were used to control the beetle and the predicted poisoning of the human population did not occur. This led the way to a widespread acceptance of insecticides across the continent.
Biological pest control is a method of controlling pests such as insects and mites by bioeffector.
Mechanical pest control is the use of hands-on techniques as well as simple equipment and devices, that provides a Termite barrier between plants and insects. This is referred to as tillage and is one of the oldest methods of weed control as well as being useful for pest control; wireworms, the larvae of the Agriotes sputator, are very destructive pests of newly ploughed grassland, and repeated cultivation exposes them to the birds and other predators that feed on them.
Crop rotation can help to control pests by depriving them of their Host (biology). It is a major tactic in the control of Diabrotica, and has reduced early season incidence of Colorado potato beetle by as much as 95%.
The most common shot cartridge is .22 Long Rifle loaded with #12 shot. At a distance of about 10 feet (3 m), which is about the maximum effective range, the pattern is about 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter from a standard rifle. Special smoothbore shotguns, such as the Marlin Model 25MG can produce effective patterns out to 15 or 20 yards using .22 WMR shotshells, which hold 1/8 oz. of #12 shot contained in a plastic capsule.
Poisoned Bait (luring substance) is a common method for controlling rats, mice, birds, slugs, snails, ants, cockroaches and other pests. The basic granules, or other formulation, contains a food attractant for the target species and a suitable poison. For ants, a slow-acting toxin is needed so that the workers have time to carry the substance back to the colony, and for flies, a quick-acting substance to prevent further egg-laying and nuisance.<ref name=O'conner40/> Baits for slugs and snails often contain the molluscide metaldehyde, dangerous to children and household pets.
Laboratory studies conducted with U-5897 (3-chloro-1,2-propanediol) were attempted in the early 1970s for rat control, although these proved unsuccessful. People sometimes attempt to limit rodent damage using repellents. Balsam fir oil from the tree ''Abies balsamea'' is an EPA approved non-toxic rodent repellent.[http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_129035.htm Balsam fir oil (129035) Fact Sheet root emits chemical compounds that repel animals including rats.[http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/acaciapoly.htm PlantzAfrica][http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=99 World AgroForestry Centre]
Insect pests including the Mediterranean flour moth, the Indian mealmoth, the cigarette beetle, the drugstore beetle, the confused flour beetle, the red flour beetle, the merchant grain beetle, the sawtoothed grain beetle, the wheat weevil, the maize weevil and the rice weevil infest stored dry foods such as flour, cereals and pasta.
In the home, foodstuffs found to be infested are usually discarded, and storing such products in sealed containers should prevent the problem from reoccurring. The eggs of these insects are likely to go unnoticed, with the larvae being the destructive life stage, and the adult the most noticeable stage.
Evidence of attack may be found in the form of tiny piles of book-dust and specks of frass. Damage may be concentrated in the spine, the projecting edges of pages and the cover. Prevention of attack relies on keeping books in cool, clean, dry positions with low humidity, and occasional inspections should be made. Treatment can be by freezing for lengthy periods, but some insect eggs are very resistant and can survive for long periods at low temperatures.
Various beetles in the Bostrichoidea superfamily attack the dry, seasoned wood used as structural timber in houses and to make furniture. In most cases, it is the larvae that do the damage; these are invisible from the outside of the timber, but are chewing away at the wood in the interior of the item. Examples of these are the powderpost beetles, which attack the sapwood of hardwoods, and the furniture beetles, which attacks softwoods, including plywood. The damage has already been done by the time the adult beetles bore their way out, leaving neat round holes behind them. The first that a householder knows about the beetle damage is often when a chair leg breaks off or a piece of structural timber caves in. Prevention is through chemical treatment of the timber prior to its use in construction or in furniture manufacture.


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Working at a large agency with offices spanning the globe, I spend more time with voices on the phone and faceless emails than I do with the people around me. I recently had the opportunity to participate in an employee exchange program (EXP) where I was sent to work with my peers at another office location. The trip helped bridge the long distance gap and put faces to the long list of names of people I communicate with daily.
Part of my role is to understand how morale and communication effects efficiency. The EXP is truly an innovative idea that helps solve for some of these issues as our company grows larger. The program gives our people an opportunity to network with team members in a uniquely effective way. Having the opportunity to work in another office gave me the opportunity to learn more about their group's dynamic, which in turn helped improve the way I will communicate with them in the future. In return, the team feels like they have an ally at home base who is looking out for their interests, as well.
In my short four-day trip, I learned more about my co-workers in New York than I had after two years of working with them remotely. In addition to juicy gossip, I gained an understanding of their communication and leadership styles. Trying to learn a personality when you've only ever communicated by email is challenging. Without voice inflection, emails are constantly misinterpreted and unfounded animosity can flourish. Now with a face next to those names, I find myself working harder to better meet their needs. Thanks to this opportunity I have a more keen understanding of the ways that my teammates prefer to communicate. I know when it's more beneficial to pick up the phone, and when they prefer to have a paper trail to keep up with longer discussions.
As companies continue to grow larger and spread out across the globe, more innovation around culture and morale will be crucial. With increasing difficulties in working environments, such as the open office floor plan, many companies will need to find a system to help their employees cope with their new situations. For us, the EXP is just a small step and a way to help triage more severe communication needs. In addition, we're looking at ways to more effectively share documents across our multiple offices, and ways to reduce email by implementing chat platforms. We do all of this with the focus of always putting people first, believing that great work will follow. In order to do this, we create an environment where we encourage suggestions for improvements. Often the best solutions come from those who deal with the issues on a daily basis.
In an increasingly digital world, we have to keep an eye on the human element. For large global companies, it's easy to turn into a machine, quell questions, and enforce redundant policies. It helps to take a step back from time to time to understand how policies affect the group as a whole, as well as how they impact each individual. Without having a face to vent those needs to, innovation is staunched and growth cannot occur. Never be afraid to answer the hard questions; the times when you can't give a solid answer can help adjust the focus.


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OCCA strengthens the arts by ensuring that the Oregon coast has a rich and vibrant arts community through support and promotion of arts organizations and individual artists.
This directory represents the coastal areas of Oregon, which include Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos, and Curry counties and the coastal towns of Lane and Douglas counties. OCCA is the regional arts council for this area. Learn more about OCCA's regional arts activities.
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The Cannon Beach Art Gallery is located in the mid-town area of Cannon Beach. It shares a beautiful, open and bright building with a coffee house, providing patrons the opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and art at the same time.
Nearly 20 galleries offer everything from traditional to contemporary, and every medium from oil and watercolor to wood carving, sculpture, jewelry and glass blowing.
From its very beginnings, the Cannon Beach Library has been an independent operation created and nurtured by volunteers.
Founded in 1969, the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum's goal is to preserve the history of Cannon Beach by seeking, collecting, and protecting historical artifacts and memorabilia of all kinds, by recording oral histories, and by making these materials available to the public whenever possible. The museum is also home to the famous Cannon Beach Cannons.
The Coaster Theatre Playhouse is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the cultural, artistic and civic vitality of Cannon Beach by continuing the tradition of producing quality community theatre and memorable experiences for residents and visitors of all ages.
DragonFire Gallery is one of the largest and most diverse contemporary galleries on the Oregon Coast, focusing on affordable original regional art in a wide range of media.
Northwest By Northwest Gallery is located on the Pacific Coast in the scenic town of Cannon Beach, Oregon. Located downtown across the street from the City Park & Info Center on Spruce, the gallery opens everyday at 11 a.m.
NW By NW Gallery & Oregon Artist Christopher Burkett wish to thank you for many years of patronage and sharing our vision and philosophy of the real cultural value of original art. An appreciation of technique and craft has defined the gallery since 1987, celebrating the beauty and spirit of the Northwest.
Tolovana Community Hall is located in Cannon Beach, Oregon, and is home to numerous community events, including those of the Tolovana Arts Colony and the Cannon Beach Gallery Group. Adjacent to the Cannon Beach Children's Center.
Bronze Coast Gallery is a premier fine art gallery located on the north coast of Oregon specializing in bronze sculpture.
The Cannon Beach Arts Association supports, funds, and enhances the arts and artists in the Cannon Beach community through education, events and exhibits.


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While many females work on the lower ladder of the ski industry, few resorts are actually run by women. But, with Robin Locke being groomed for management and sister Kimberley soon to follow her footsteps, Lake Louise is all set for a female-focused future.
Their father — the oil, gas, real estate, ranching and mountaineering monarch Charlie Locke — first bought Lake Louise in 1981. He retired from operating the hill in 2003 to travel but returned in 2008 to turn it into a family business. "I got tired of retirement," Charlie says. "My heart belongs to the Lake Louise Ski Area." Excited to be teaching the business to the next generation, he says the girls have been involved in Lake Louise since their childhood. "They used to love to ride the chairlift and speak with our visitors," he says. "They'd ask things like 'what made you choose Lake Louise?' and 'how has your time here been so far?' and then bring us back the results."
Louise Locke has always been a behind-the-scenes partner to husband Charlie, focusing on long-range planning, business decisions, negotiations, brochure writing and communications with Parks Canada. She's thrilled that her daughters are bringing back their years of education and outside experience to the family hill: "I'm sure they will bring passion, intelligence and 'new' knowledge and perspective, which will augment and balance our existing 'old' experience and expertise."
Younger daughter Robin, 31, is working full-time with her parents after a career in journalism and MBA studies at Simon Fraser University. It's not her first job at Lake Louise – she was a ski instructor back in 2000-2001 and has worked sporadically in communications for the family firm during her university years.
Now job shadowing Charlie in earnest, she is learning the ropes on the job: "This fall I attended my first company annual general meeting and I left feeling extremely inspired," she says. "Guiding the direction of our marketing and partnership arms has been keeping me busy lately. I plan to spend this winter largely in an information-gathering phase, contributing my experience in communications, but working on a broad scope with all the ski area departments."
With family dinners seeming more like board meetings, the multi-tasking Lockes thrash out business issues at home as well as the office. "A benefit of working with family is you naturally have more face time together," says Robin who compares their leisure time to a corporate retreat.
Sister Kim, 34, has been pursuing her law career since graduating from the University of Victoria. Now married with a two-year-old son, she has nearly finished an MBA and is planning to work at Lake Louise. "Who could ask for a more fun or more beautiful playground?" she says. "My sister and I have countless fond memories of playing here with our friends, of learning to ski and snowboard here, and becoming interested in all of the different aspects of the ski business and business hospitality." But it wasn't all play in the pristine national park setting; the girls were learning the business through osmosis. "We even enjoyed being put to work clearing cafeteria tables or picking up garbage in the parking lot, although my favourite on-hill job was coaching in the Nancy Greene Ski League," says Kim.
So what have the Lake Louise ladies contributed so far? Back in the '90s, they were early advocates of snowboarding at Lake Louise, championing its first terrain park. "We learned on the T-bar back in the day when most ski hills didn't even allow snowboarding," says Robin. Now, with a boarder cross course as well as a terrain park, Lake Louise is launching a Bagjump —a jump with a new soft landing — in January.
The Locke ladies have also helped introduce a new learning and adventure zone. "I can't wait to take my son out," Kim says. "He and kids of all ages will enjoy a completely revamped learners' area with two new progressive surface carpets, a new tube park and a bouncy castle." She believes her own family ski experiences are helping her apply first-hand knowledge to benefit other parents and kids.
The girls also spearheaded the innovative Parents' Share Pass, enabling couples to share skiing and baby-minding for the price of one season pass. "This is something I've been championing since last season," Kim says. "I noticed that a lot of the parents of babies I was meeting had put skiing on hold." She hopes to introduce parent sharing day tickets if this scheme works well.
Their long-term vision includes a skating rink, sleigh rides, new terrain, new lifts, a new lodge and year-round events, services and amenities coupled with an environmentally and ethically responsible mandate. "With any new terrain/new lifts, we'd make sure families can continue to ski around the resort together by installing strategic warming huts to pop into for a hot chocolate to revitalize little ones," says Kim.
The savvy sisters intend to learn the business "from the top down as well as from the bottom up," niftily delegating some of the grunt work to Kim's husband Mike Dixon, who is volunteering around the mountain at weekends, first as a lifty and then in food and beverage.
The Lake Louise ladies' long-term goal is to assume Charlie and Louise's roles full time. But that doesn't mean you won't see Charlie, skimming down the summit runs, monitoring his mountains every day. Neither he nor Louise intends to retire anytime soon. Look for the Lockes skiing en famille this Christmas Day. "We always ski together on Christmas Day. That's a special day for us," says Charlie. "The mountain is quiet, everyone is in a great, festive mood and we take the day off just to enjoy ourselves and time together."


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Opera and Operati, I love you! There's a crate of cider at my place if you want to swing by and pick it up. Yesterday, Opera filed an anti-trust complaint in the EU court against Microsoft:
First, it requests the Commission to obligate Microsoft to unbundle Internet Explorer from Windows and/or carry alternative browsers pre-installed on the desktop. Second, it asks the European Commission to require Microsoft to follow fundamental and open Web standards accepted by the Web-authoring communities.
Read the Opera press release and treat yourself to a smile. They rely in part on the recent decision taken by the court against Microsoft over bundling MediaPlayer with Windows. Opera accuses Microsoft of stifling innovation by embedding a browser than does not support Web standards as it should. All true. How many compromises, hacks and tweaks have we made over the years for Billy Gate's browser?
Of course, if this suit was successful Opera would have a better opportunity to grab themselves some market share. Good on 'em. If Opera had a stripped down version of the browser, but with tools akin to Firebug or Chris Pederick's Web developer toolbar it would be my primary browser, right now.
Co-incidentally, I'm just about to pay Microsoft for the priviledge of a new copy of WinXP, all because I can't run multiple copies of IE for testing on Vista easily. Imagine a world where we could run multiple versions of IE without clever hacks. A world where IE passed the Acid2 Test (like Opera) and conditional comments and IE specific style-sheets became a relic of history. I'm almost salivating at the thought.
There's a long way to go before that happens. I'd like to think that Billy's browser would of made it to the point of goodness regardless but, if Opera's action helps it along, so much the better. It's just a shame these kinds of actions seem necessary. Then again, Kim Stanley Robinson's idea of revolutions by law in Pacific Edge always seemed much more preferable than any other method.
Good luck to them!


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Experiences have the power to engage people and build love for brands. When your customers take a day out of their busy weekend to spend time with your brand, it's your most powerful opportunity to create lifelong loyalty. Unfortunately, many organizations don't take full advantage of their experiential marketing. They only focus on providing a great experience while forgetting to understand who their customers are and fail to engage them in a heartfelt manner. We take this responsibility one-step further and use data and deep insights to help our customers measure and build a lasting impact on brand loyalty and purchase behavior.
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Go beyond the basics to measure what's really important — brand impact and customer loyalty. Our Insights and Analytics turn your experiences into rich actionable data, giving your team the power to optimize your marketing programs. Identify your new fans and advocates, understand exactly how your experiential marketing programs affect brand awareness and purchasing behavior...
...and see the "Why" behind it.
Social Engagement and Virality
Tap into engaged guests by automatically collecting feedback, generating positive reviews and spreading word of mouth.
Visitor Management
Everything you need to run your experiences and connect with your customers before, during and after the event through our customizable CRM. We help you understand which of your visitors are new customers, and which are lifelong brand advocates.
Branded Booking & Ticketing
Take reservations and payments through a booking solution built specifically for tours and experiences. Beautifully integrated into your website and Facebook page, our solution makes your brand shine and engages guests right from the start.
"We see thousands of visitors per year and handling all of those bookings had become quite a bear for us. Teaming up with AnyRoad has streamlined our business, making both our efforts and our guests' experiences that much more pleasurable."
Andie, St. George Spirits
"AnyRoad proved to be a great asset for Peet's Coffee's experiential marketing endeavors. They provided streamlined, easy to use tools for me to use in managing the overall sign up process for the consumer. They were also great in working with our brand team to ensure that the webpage spoke to the true spirit of the Peet's brand."
Jacquelyn, Peet's Coffee & Tea
We live and breathe experiences, and we turn classes, tours, and events into valuable brand impact.Get in Touch


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Pork Chops with Peaches, Bourbon, and Basil Recipe
Your source for quick recipe every single week day.
- Yield:serves 4
- Active time: 20 minutes
- Total time:20 minutes
- 4 thick-cut pork chops (approximately 1 1/2-inches thick)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 peaches, pits removed, each cut into 8 wedges
- Sugar to taste (optional)
- 2 tablespoons bourbon (such as Maker's Mark)
- 16 fresh basil leaves
Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 400°F. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add the chops and cook until browned on both sides, three to four minutes per side. Remove from heat and transfer chops to a large plate. Set aside. Discard excess grease from skillet.
Add the butter to the skillet and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Add the peach wedges, tossing to coat them in the melted butter. Cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the peaches are warm and soft, 1 to 3 minutes depending on ripeness of peaches. If peaches are very under-ripe, add sugar to taste.
Remove skillet from heat and add bourbon. Light a long match and carefully wave it by the skillet to ingnite the whiskey. Allow flame to die naturally, then use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Season sauce to taste with salt, black pepper, and sugar.
Add the pork chops back to the skillet and top each with four basil leaves. Position the peaches on top of the chops. Transfer the skillet to the oven, and cook until chops achieve desired doneness, about 4 minutes for medium. Carefully remove the pan and divide the chops and peaches between four plates. Spoon some of the drippings from the pan on top of the meat and serve.
This Recipe Appears InDinner Tonight: Pork Chops with Peaches, Bourbon, and Basil
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Ph03nix needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 172 designs submitted by 63 freelance designers.
Big Stack Studios
We're a brand new iPhone publisher. Our name comes from poker - the person with the big stack is the person at the table with the most chips.
Primarily iPhone users
Both male and female
Higher household income
Technologically literate
Target 18-30 age group
- Logo in black & white
- Logo in color
- Separate Logo in "iPhone icon" shape (Use the same graphics, obviously, but make it square with rounded corners)
- Fully layered PSD file
- Subtle use of the poker reference - we don't want to be thought of as a poker game developer, but we still want the whole big stack analogy to come through
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Rob Natelson On Supreme Court Day One [AUDIO]
Oral arguments began today at the United States Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obama Care. I spoke with Senior Fellow for Constitutional Studies at the Independence Institute Rob Natelson on Monday about the input his organization has had on the Health Care Act. That interview is attached.
Natelson is also a senior fellow at the Montana Policy Institute, and a former law professor at the University of Montana.


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Back to the homeland
Written by Dr. Hans Ternes
This is how gentlemen ride, this is how ladies ride, and this is how farmers chug along*, but in this case it is our fully laden wagon that rumbles along, and for two weeks already. When we heard that the war had come to an end, we packed our necessary possessions and headed to the West where we assumed the Americans would be. But when we got to the border, the Americans would not let us pass, and what was worse, they handed us over to the Russians who wanted to send us to Siberia because they took us for Germans. After a long dispute, we convinced them that we weren't Germans at all; our papers proved that we were all born in Romania. If that is indeed the case, they told us to turn around and head in the opposite direction. And this is how this terrible trek back to our homeland began, to our village called Caramurat which is located in the Dobrogea, near the Black Sea. Terrible because we were going against the grain, against waves of oncoming Russian battalions. I was 8 years old at the time. Now are goal was back to the homeland! But what awaited us there? When we were resettled by the German Reich in 1940, my grandparents and my parents left everything behind. Just imagine: the horses, the cows, the pigs, the geese, the chickens, everything was left behind. All they could take along was what fit into a few suitcases. My mother told me that her lapdog wouldn't want to leave her; it followed her to the end of the village. She shooed it back again and again until it finally dropped its head and lay down.
Our convoy of about 25 wagons avoided the main streets, moved along on backstreets and often close to forests. But we couldn't totally avoid strafing aircraft. We didn't know whether they were American or Russian airplanes. When they attacked us, we threw ourselves into ditches as fast as possible, shut our ears with both hands and prayed loudly to God for help. I thought it was somehow remarkable that the grownups who seemed so confident otherwise behaved like little
*The beginning of a German nursery rhyme
children in these situations. There were nine of us in the wagon: my grandparents, three aunts, my mother, two of my sisters and myself. My place was usually behind my grandfather who sat together with my grandmother on the coach box. To spare the horses, my mother often walked along the wagon. It was impossible for all of us to sleep in the wagon. My mother and I would sleep at times under the wagon on hay and blankets. I have to mention here that we did not speak High German; we only spoke our dialect.
When we were lying under the wagon one night, I heard my mother whisper:
Child, are you sick?
No, mother. I just cannot sleep. Why do we have to sleep under the wagon?
Child, there is no room in the wagon. Marcella and Helen sleep in the wagon. And it is not that cold either. Are you covered up alright?
I am not cold. It's just that so many things go through my mind. Didn't we want to cross the order to Germany?
Well, the Americans did no let us pass. And the Russians wanted to send us to Siberia, because they thought we were Germans. Because we were able to prove to them that we were born in Romania, they told us we should go there. And now we are on our way back to our Heimat (home, native place).
Mother, what does Heimat really mean?
Child, that is the place where we were born and raised and where we spoke the same language. And where we knew everybody, where we sang the same songs and celebrated the same customs and traditions. Heimat is like a community, a place where you feel safe and taken care of. We lost that when we were resettled, and now we want to get back there. But who knows what awaits us there. We had to leave everything behind when we left.
Mother, I still can't get over it when I think of how grandfather slaughtered the pig. It screamed like crazy because it knew that he wanted to kill it. And how he was running after the pig with a huge knife and had to stab it a few times before it died.
Well, we had to fry everything for the trip. And who knows how long it will last.
Mother, where is dad? We haven't seen him for so long. When he was on furlough last time, he promised to come back soon.
Child, if I only knew where he is. The war is over. Let's hope he wasn't caught by the Russians. We don't know anything about Wendel and Longinus either and haven't heard anything about my brother Georg for a long time. Even if they were alive, how would they know we are on our way back home.
Mother, why do the Czechs hate us so much? We didn't do anything to them.
Child, when we were resettled, we did not know that they would kick out the Czechs and then give us their farms. We wouldn't have liked that either. But despite that they treated us rather well, because they knew that we were not responsible for their eviction. Your grandfather was even imprisoned because he did not want to accept the farm – he saw how they expelled the Czech owners. At the end he said 'yes' nevertheless, but ever since he is mad at the Germans who did this. They (the Czechs) haven't done anything to us, but when we passed through X, I saw how they threw German soldiers out of the hospital window unto the street. Hitler created a tremendous disaster, and a lot of innocent people have to suffer for that now. We won't have it easy as Germans until we get back to our village.
Mother, why do we speak such a strange German language. I was in school only for a short time, but the other children laughed at me when I spoke.
Our language is a mixture. Our ancestors came from different regions in Germany. The Millers came from Swabia, the Ternes clan is supposed to have come from Alsace, and where my mother came from, I don't know, especially when she says 'die Gatz is in de Geller gefall' (the cat fell into the cellar). In our language we also have French words, such as 'plafond' and 'selles'. And when our people left Germany, first to Poland and then to Besserabia, they also picked up some Slavic words. And then in Romania, they added Turkish and Romanian words. We don't even know where some of the words come from. Your Müller grandfather often used 'heidi' and 'greitebaddel', words that are definitely not German. And tomotoes we called 'Baddeltschanne'. We simply accepted a lot of words into our language and babbled in our own way. I think some of our words do not exist anywhere else, as for example 'Dudderwenche' (motorcycle), 'Kraddel' (crotch), and 'Hingelsknecheltje' (chicken bone). When you hear these words, you feel as if you were home. For that reason, I think that our language is also our Heimat.
And all of a sudden they were there. Even though we had heard a few days before that we would soon meet the Russians, we were not really prepared and were terribly afraid of what we were going to encounter. The women besmeared their faces with dirt and pulled their head scarves lower.
Suddenly a troop of drunken Russian soldiers approached us, fired a few shot into the air and screamed a word that sounded like "tschess" and pointed to their wrists. Fortunately, my grandfather wore an old wristwatch which they tore off his hand by force. That seemed to satisfy them for they moved on to the next wagon where the passengers were not so lucky; we heard hysterical cries from women.
Thus the homeless and displaced continue to move on over back roads and through woods. The fear of the Russians is especially visible in the faces of the women. Towards evening we found a hidden clearing in the woods and decided to stop. It was time to snack on meats that had been preserved in lard and open bottles of plum brandy, called 'ţuika' in our dialect. And what surprised me was the change in the mood. The hope of the return to the homeland seemed to have been rekindled and raised everyone's spirit so that some even struck up our Dobrogea song, somewhat subdued of course.
You merry people from the Dobrogea are you all together?
Well then, let us drive on horse and wagon outside the city where the enemy is camping out.
What kind of people are we and what kind of people are you?
We are merry people from the Dobrogea, we are jolly fellas.
What kind of people are we and what kind of people are you?
We are merry people from the Dobrogea, we are jolly fellas.
(free translation)
And all of a sudden, one of my aunts, her hair loose and disheveled and widely gesticulating, ran through the clearing singing a song full-throatedly:
To the Black Sea strand
Where our cradle stood
That is where we want to go
That is where we prospered
That is where we want to go
Despite all the dangers. *
(free translation)
Thus we chugged and trotted along. It was especially unpleasant when it rained. I usually sat behind my grandfather who hardly ever said a word. He was a quiet and very strict person; towards me on the other hand he was always friendly and affectionate. When I was three years old, I sat on the threshing machine and had fun tossing all the tools around me; my grandfather merely laughed. He would not have been so lenient with his own children. He smoked continuously, and I can clearly remember how he held the cigarette between his thumb and his index finger, both of which had turned yellow and brown. He was rather stubborn and absolutely convinced of his opinions which at times did not square with reality. This proved to be true in one particular case. When we left our farm in Czechoslovakia, my grandfather took along a cow so that we would have milk during the trip. Unfortunately the cow took ill and quickly lost weight. So my grandfather thought he would exchange the cow for a horse. Our two horses pulling the wagon didn't look so good anymore; the heavy weight of the wagon and its passengers seemed to be a bit too much for them. Thus my grandfather left for a village with the cow and came back with a splendid black stallion. He was really excited about the trade. No one wanted to believe that he had swapped an emaciated cow for such a beautiful horse.
The enormous shock came two days later. The black stallion lay spread-eagled and rolled around on the ground; white foam dripped from its nostrils and mouth. We stood around the horse agape and terrified; no one seemed to know what to do to help the horse. An uncle of mine approached my grandfather and said: "You traded a cow for a horse that has epilepsy! That was not a good trade!" This reproach my grandfather just had to swallow. But I felt drawn to the horse. I really suffered when it had one of its seizures. My mother once said that horses also have a soul. And when I looked into the horse's eyes, I knew she was right. Because it fell over every once in a while, I named it Fallum (fall over). I took good care of it every day, curried and groomed it and gave it the best hay I could find. Fallum let me ride and sit under it. The horse just put up with me in every way. So Fallum and I became friends, comrades. Yet despite the affection and attachment something unforeseen happened. While I was riding proudly on Fallum in a clearing, two older boys who seemed to be jealous suddenly started hitting the backside of Fallum with switches. Fallum reared up and violently struck out its hind legs. I fell from the horse, got up again and ran after it. Unwary I grabbed the horse's tail and wanted to stop it. Fallum, of course, had no idea that it was I who held on to its tail, lashed out and hit me right on the mouth. My upper lip was split and my front teeth were bleeding. Sure it hurt, but I did not cry because I knew it was my fault. One of my aunts who had seen the entire event wiped away the blood and put a band-aid on my lip, and that was it.
We slowly but surely were running out of food. Only some lard is left over from the meat that had been preserved in it. I didn't know hunger until then; it is something gruesome that gnaws in your entrails and doesn't let you think of anything else. My mother who gives us whatever she can find doesn't know what to do anymore. She has always been there for us, and her love and care gives me a feeling of warmth and security. I can notice how she suffers. And then she decides to swallow her pride. "Come along, Hans," she says, "we are going to get something to eat." By that she means, of course, that we are going to go begging. To be forced to go begging is not a simple matter for somebody like my mother who has worked all her life and managed a farm. "Child," she says, "don't be ashamed, we have to survive, and God is not going to leave us in the lurch."
And so we walk to an Hungarian village and knock somewhat ashamedly at a door. An elderly lady opens the door and looks at us with big compassionate eyes. We don't even have to say anything: she goes back into the house and returns with a can of milk and a loaf of bread. My mother wants to kiss her hands, but she makes the sign of the cross and says something in Hungarian. On the way back, my mother says: "The Hungarians are good people! They don't have much to eat themselves and yet they help wherever they can."
You can't go begging all the time; you have to learn to cope with hunger in your own way. I escape into my imagination to overcome the pain in my bowels. And then I think of my other grandfather, Mülleropa, the teller of fairy tales. My maternal grandfather's name was Markus; he was a short, somewhat chubby man, friendly and full of zest for life. All grandchildren, and I think we were seven, remember him very fondly. He had a special talent; he could relate fairy tales with such sincere conviction that the characters came alive. He also had a very cunning trick: he would wink at one of us and then that person would know that he or she would be the hero or heroine of the tale. We gathered at his feet and listened intently. The fairy tale of the glass mountain was my favorite; I could visually imagine how the king's son climbed up and then slid down the glass mountain. I immersed myself into this fairy tale when my stomach growled. After all I had my own horse, Fallum, on whose back I intended to climb the mountain to win the golden apples of the princess. But how was I to succeed without Fallum skidding down the precipice. Then it occurred to me to put blinders over Fallum's eyes, because then he wouldn't know that he is riding on glass. I was almost paralyzed when I looked at the steep, glassy slope. But I took courage and whispered into Fallum's ears: "Giddy up, dear friend; we'll make it!" It wasn't easy. Fallum slipped every once in a while, but he caught himself and climbed his way step by step up the mountain. Then when we saw the castle from where the princess waved to us with the golden apples, there was no stopping him. The gate of the castle opened, the princess appeared, and handed me the three golden apples and said: "I have been waiting for you for a long time. The apples are yours!" Well, then I thought of a different ending. Full of humility I looked into her beautiful face and said: "Dear princess! You possess magic powers, don't you? Couldn't you give me three loaves of bread that will never run out instead of the golden apples? She looked at me compassionately with her blue eyes and smiled. That is how I slightly altered the fairy tale so that it would soothe the pain at least in my imagination.
The wheels are creaking and clattering and put one to sleep. My mother is walking beside the wagon, because there is hardly any room inside and because she pities the horses. Whenever she turns her face towards me, I can see a scar on her forehead, a scar for which I am actually responsible. Because of the uniform rhythm of the wheels I get lost in a drowsy state in which the images of the guilt-ridden fatality rise before me. I can see myself all alone in a huge room in the middle of which stands a giant tiled stove. It was Christmas! And I was all alone waiting for Santa Claus. Unfortunately, he never came alone; he was always accompanied by his servant Beelzebub, a black man with chains around his shoulders. Santa Claus not only came with presents, but also with a list, on which all the sins committed during the year were written down. And since I was, which everyone knew, a little mischievous rogue it was unavoidable that in my childish exuberance I committed quite a few silly pranks and tricks. So I was all alone in this
large, cold room and waited for Santa Claus and Beelzebub. And I knew what was going to happen to me because I had done a few improper things; I had knocked in a few windows, smashed a lot of cups on telephone masts, put little frogs down girls' necks, stole apples and pears from the neighbor's garden, and who knows what else.
There I stood trembling and terribly afraid. There is a knock at the door, and I expect that the nasty servant would be the first one to enter. In my desperation I grab a piece of kindling wood from a bucket behind the tile stove and throw it with all the might of a five-year old in the direction of the door. But it is not Beelzebub who comes in first but Santa Claus. And to make matters worse, the piece of kindling hits him right in the middle of the forehead. Well, in my mind it was self-defense. Santa Claus is bleeding, Beelzebub approaches, puts me over his knees and gives me a thorough spanking. There is no longer any need to read the list of my misdemeanors. The big surprise comes the next morning. My mother appears with a rather deep wound on her forehead, and I understand all of a sudden who Santa Claus was and that there probably is no real Santa Claus. In hindsight, however, I am rather disappointed with this insight.
The wheels are rattling and rumbling along. All of us are gripped by a certain restlessness, excitement, and expectation of what is awaiting us. I live in my fairy tales and in my imagination, but my countrymen are all adults. How can they just drive into the unknown, into uncertainty like that? I don't quite get it and therefore ask my grandfather about it: "Why are you all so attached to this village Caramurat?" My grandfather turns around and responds seriously and thoughtfully: "Because we built everything with our hands there. We stomped the clay bricks with our feet and dried them in the sun. And then we all put together and had a beautiful church built. Our village was the most beautiful one in all of Dobrogea. But to be honest, I have to add that there was something else. The evenings in the summer were so lukewarm: we would be sitting on benches in front of the house cracking sunflower seeds and telling stories. We didn't need a radio. And then the aroma of the quince apples in late summer – you just cannot imagine what they smelled like. And at night it got so dark, you couldn't see your hands in front of your face. It is really impossible to explain why we're so attached to the homeland." And my aunt, who had placed a band-aid on my lip, adds: "We had such a beautiful mulberry tree in the back yard; when I think of how sweet the berries tasted!" My grandfather laughs and says somewhat ironically: "And on the church wall little manikins would dance at night and if you laughed at them, they would jump down and beat you up." My grandmother raises her voice in the background: "Josep, don't scare the kids; these are mere fairy tales!"
My grandfather who had attended a meeting discussing the route ahead, tells us that we have to drive through Budapest in order to cross the Danube. As we enter the city, we see nothing but rubble, debris, and ashes. Three bridges across the Danube have been bombarded, only one is provisionally traversable. The horses are dragging themselves over a demolished street full of potholes as if they were afraid of something. My mother is warning me: "Hans, don't look down! Just look straight ahead." Of course, I cannot resist and look down. Lifeless bodies are floating down the Danube.
For days our wagons are rolling along the Danube in the direction of Romania. When we finally reach Arad, everyone is heaving a sigh of relief, because now our people can communicate with the population in Romanian. We stay approximately two weeks. The adults take on temporary jobs on farms in order to feed their families; they help weeding in the cornfields and vineyards.
I don't know whether it was the tension within the wagon, the cramped and crowded living conditions, or simply the impatience of my mother.
She decided to leave the trek and continue on her own. She even succeeded in locating a train to Constanţa. But since she could not pay for tickets in a compartment, we ended up in an open cattle wagon without a roof. It would have been bearable if it hadn't rained. But when it started to pour and all of us got soaking wet and our cardboard suitcases softened, my mother was close to despair. She bent over us to protect us from the rain. We were a sorry picture of misery. But there was no end to the misery. When we finally arrived in the Black Sea station, we stood there totally lost: My mother with my younger sister in one arm, in the other a tattered suitcase; I'm dragging the other worn out suitcase along the ground, and my older sister is struggling with a big bag.
My mother is fortunate enough to find a Romanian who works on a collective farm near our village; she convinces him to take us along on his tractor. She is really excited; she knows the road from Constanţa to our village like the back of her hand. She tells me that my dad, after having sold the harvest crop in Constanţa, would have a few drinks and arrive home asleep on the wagon; the horses knew their way home without the coachman.
The driver lets us off. Before we get to our village, we have to cross a Romanian village. The expectation is clearly visible in the eyes of my mother. Her excitement infects me as well. After all, I was born here; however, I remember only vaguely a few details.
What my mother had told me comes back; images of a farm yard full of chickens and geese, of a cow and two horses in a stable, and of a hysterically barking little dog.
We trudge along until we reach our church. My mother has tears in her eyes; she falls to her knees and makes the sign of the cross. "Children, just look how beautiful our church is. I used to sing in the choir here on Sundays!"
But where to now? Nothing belongs to us here any longer; all of the houses are inhabited by Romanians.
"Children, wait here a while! I will look out for accommodations. Hans, take care of your sisters until I return."
It doesn't take long; she is back in half an hour and seems even glad. As she tells us later, not all countrymen had left the village.
A distant relative lives in the rectory and is going to help us. We are offered shelter in a small room in the rectory next to the church. We don't have any beds, but it is possible to sleep on chests all the same.
After some time – I don't know how long it took – the caravan of our people finally arrives in our village. And what surprises all of us, the Romanian owners of our houses offer everyone a place to stay. My maternal and paternal grandparents even find shelter in their former houses. It looks as if our people have taken possession of the village again. But now they are the servants and not the masters. The initial euphoria over having arrived in our native village soon subsides, especially when the women are forced by the mayor to wash uniforms for the Russian army. My mother included. While they are doing their work, they are molested by drunken soldiers. My sisters and I are fortunate; one of our aunts who had arrived with the caravan takes care of us; otherwise we would be totally on our own. The aunt who has taken the place of our mother simply refused to obey the mayor. He beat her mercilessly, but she repeated: "You can beat me to death, but I will stay with the children." Together with her own two children there are five of us now. Who knows what would have happened without her; she was strict but fair.
It seemed that tempers had calmed down and a kind of peaceful normalcy had taken root. But that was pure illusion. Misery returned rather violently. In the evenings armed and drunken Russian soldiers would come into the village and try to pull the women out of the houses. When they came, we children would stand in front outside and scream as loud as possible to protect our mother; sometimes that would melt their hearts, but not always. The fear for my mother weighed me down so much that I would often pray to the mother of God in our church. Then one night it seemed as if I had awakened and was suddenly blinded by a circular bright light. I lay there frozen stiff and could not move. The light slowly dissolved into a smiling face. I somehow recognize the mother of God and believe she wants to console me. I never told anyone about this. It was my secret.
While my sisters were under the care of my aunt, I was free to roam about, which wasn't exactly safe on the streets. The young Macedonian boys of our village didn't take to us kindly. If they caught one of us by alone, there would be a brawl. Thus when we ventured out unto the street, it was with a stick and preferably with somebody else. I was fortunate to have a friend with whom I got along very well. Together we felt more secure and courageous. After a few successful frays, the Macedonian kids left us alone. Since there was no supervision by parents, we went on forays into the surroundings, discovered vineyards and water melon fields, and, of course, took a few things with us. You can't quite call it stealing since we did it because we had nothing to eat.
I remember quite well how my friend and I worked together when a wagon loaded with water melons came into the village. The vendor used to shout: "Hi la pepene!" [water melons for sale]Then one of us would go to the front to talk to the vendor while the other one would stealthily grab a water melon, turn around and walk away. We then ate the entire water melon in our hideout in a haystack. At such moments we felt really great, especially if you keep in mind under what constant stress and fear we lived.
Yesterday, I think it was a Sunday, my mother took me by the hand and said: "Come on 'Junge' [lad, boy] – she often called me 'Junge'– Let's look at our former house." She had avoided this subject, I suppose because that topic hurt. Our house is located in the last row. The people who live in the house were at first wondering why we were examining the house so intently. When my mother explained that the house used to belong to us, they were initially cautious. However, after my mother convinced them that she merely wanted to show me where I was born and where my mother had worked as a farmer's wife, the face of the lady of the house relaxed. She allowed us to look into all rooms, even into the stable. Even though nothing belonged to my mother any more, she was nevertheless happy that everything was kept clean and orderly. We said goodbye to the lady and left our former house which my parents had built with their own hands. My mother turned around once more and said: "Well, that's it!" And I knew what she meant.
When we went to the cemetery - that lay a bit outside the village and was rank with weeds - a few days later, it seemed to me that she had something drastic on her mind. She wanted to take leave of everyone, also of those who were buried in the cemetery. She talked to the dead, which seemed somewhat strange to me, and asked me to pray for all of them. Inadvertently, I felt as if pulled to the grave of my great grandfather who was one of the founders of our village. I was wondering what he looked like. Buried in thoughts we returned to the village.
It soon became clear what she had in mind. She could no longer put up with the brutality of the Russian occupation troops. In addition she had realized that we were foreigners in our own homeland to whom nothing belonged anymore. "Child", she sighed, "we only possess the word for 'Heimat' [homeland], but what the word stands for we lost." My aunts and my grandparents were speechless: "What, you want to leave alone with three kids and no money!" But my mother insisted. What she set her mind on, she stuck to. "We will look for a new 'Heimat' [homeland]", she said optimistically.
And there we stood again, a picture of misery, my mother with my younger sister in one arm, in the other a tattered suitcase, I myself with the other worn out suitcase, and my older sister with a big bag - looking for a new 'Heimat' [homeland].
Towards the end I went once more into our church. On the side altar on the right there stands a statue of the mother of God with the Jesus child in her arms. She wears a blue cloak and beams with beatific love. I kneel down and whisper in a low voice: "Dear mother of God, you smiled at me! Protect us on our search for a new 'Heimat' [homeland]!"


text:
Hope College is presenting its annual fall student dance concerts on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 19 and 20, at the Dow Center dance studio, and on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 3 and 4, at 8 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
All of the works being presented have been created and danced by Hope College students, who also design and create their own costumes and sound/music scores. The students are mentored by the concert co-producers, dance faculty members Steven Iannacone and Matthew Farmer, and are assisted with lighting and technical design by staff member Erik Alberg, who is the college's technical director for the performing arts, and the students of the Production I class.
The students who submit work to be adjudicated by the judging panel range from dance majors and minors, to students in dance composition classes, to students who have danced through their entire high school career but are pursuing a different major. As a result, the concerts highlight what students are learning and experimenting with at Hope in the field of dance and showcase a variety of dance forms.
The program for each of the concert venues will be different, with the pieces matched to the setting that best suits them. Works selected for the Dow "white box" space will have the benefit of a more open, intimate and personal environment with a white floor and backdrop, while the pieces for the Knickerbocker will have the benefit of a traditional "black box" theater with additional technical capacities.
The Dow Center dance studio is on the second floor of the Dow Center, located at 168 E. 13th St., on the corner of 13th Street and Columbia Avenue. The Knickerbocker Theater is located at 86 E. Eighth St.