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PITTSBURGH: For the fourth consecutive year, Chatham University has been admitted to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty, and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. The Honor Roll's Presidential Award is the highest federal recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to community, service-learning, and civic engagement.
Honorees are selected based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service-learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school's commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service. Chatham University's community service is diverse and extensive. Recent examples include:
Educational Community Service
- Words without Walls
- STEM Stars Program
- As part of an elective course, OT students and faculty traveled to Ecuador to provide therapy services to under served populations
Interfaith Community Service
- Multi Faith Council
- All Faith Gathering
- All Faith Living Learning Community
Commemorative Community Service
- RISE: Light of Life Ministries Volunteer Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
- Caps for Cancer
- Reading across America
- Empty Bowls
- University Community Service Day
- Relay for Life Campaign
"We are grateful and proud to be named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fourth year in a row," says Zauyah Waite, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students. "This honor is a testament of Chatham students and their commitment to providing outstanding service to the community."
The honor roll has been overseen since 2006 by the Corporation for National and Community Service, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council of Education, Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education, and the Interfaith Youth Core.
About Chatham University
Now fully coed, Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, has over 2,100 students in the School of Health Sciences; the Falk School of Sustainability; and the School of Arts, Science and Business. Chatham is the alma mater of environmental icon Rachel Carson, and is recognized as a leader in the field of sustainability, having been named to Sierra magazine's list of top 20 "cool schools" and mentioned in Forbes as one of the places "contributing to Pittsburgh's transformation into a destination for green living." Building on these accomplishments, Chatham opened in 2014 the world's first fully sustainable campus in higher education, Eden Hall Campus. Consistently ranked as a best college by "U.S. News & World Report", Chatham earned the highest ranking among western Pennsylvania institutions in the "Regional Universities – North" category for 2015. More information at www.chatham.edu.


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The location of camping Medimare lying 50 km west of Messina, makes it the ideal place to carry out a series of tourist routes within the province of Messina, and it is also the starting point for excursions in Sicily
It stands on the hill chest, a survey of Peloritani Northwest, near the banks of the river Longano. The city center is in Medieval style, with streets, narrow alleys and steep paved with a typial paving stone, which open onto squares and breathtaking points. Visit the Cathedral, within which there are many eighteenth century paintings and a sundial in the darkroom.
It is a fascinating place that boasts a beautiful old town, included among the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Magnificient buildings black and white stand guard at Baroque squares and bustling markets. The Etna lies a short distance to the bustling city and adds a touch of emotion.
The Aeolian islands do not need no introduction, they are one of nature's most beautiful in the world.
On the island of Vulcano can bathe in the natural pools of mud, very healthy for the skin and lungs as inhaled the fumes of sulfur are very good for health. The black sand beaches are worth a visit.
Lipari, the largest and liveliest of the Aeolian Islands is well worth a visit for its beautiful old town to taste the capers and Malvasia!!!
Panarea, the most frequented island by VIPs, about his quiet beauty of its beaches and the complete absence of hidden machinery as it is prohibited from movement.
Stromboli is famous for the Sciara del Fuoco a great natural spectacle that allows you to see every night from the middle of the sea, the volcanic eruption with lava fountnains that rise into the sky for 50 meters.
Alicudi, Salina e Filicudi, ideal places for the relax they are the greenest islands and pristine wilderness.
Milazzo has a beautiful old town and a historic castle and its pensinsula that extends through north and it is a point of great natural charm dotted with rocky coves.
Famous for its medieval castle, which stands on a hill that overlooks and dominates the town of the same name. They are located about 900 meters above the sea level, it is one of the 9 municipalities of the island that are part of the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The thriving medieval village has become, for some years to now a favorite spot of tourists who want to discover the most authentic Sicily and wild for both the historical and architectural heritage and landscape for the folk traditions and gastronomy which it owns, worth a visit the megaliths of Agrimusco.
Palermo is less than 200 km from Medimare, so it is possible to visit it just in one day. With its cathedrals, its buildings, its markets, the vivacity of Palermo and the excellent food shall know make you live an unforgettable experience. To get an idea of the culture of this city you have to visit the old part, where the diversity of architectural styles and the nature of parmitani witness the passage of numerous foreign people who passed through here in the course of history. There has never been a single style or a single people in this artistic and ethnic mix.
S. Stefano di Camastra, a fantastic blue sea or the "land of ceramics". So better known around the world this active center on the border of the provinces of Palermo and Messina. A particular country, the only one of its kind anywhere you turn, you see dishes, tiles, all made of colorful pottery. The fineworkmanship, the quality of the colors, the patience of the artists make a ceramics of Santo Stefnao a product searched everywhere.
A few kilometers from the campsite you can visit the shrine of the Black Virgin of Tindari with the archaelogical area and the greek theater. Located above the natural reserve of Marinello with its lakes and its beautiful beaches is a very interesting site from the natural and cultural point of view.
Taormina is situated in a spectacular position suspended between rocks and sea on a terrace of Tauro Mountain. It is a wonderful place, it has beautiful medieval churches, a famous greeek theater and stunning views of the Gulf of Naxos and Etna.
It is very interesting just a 5 kilometers from the spa baths of screener where you can make spa treatments (mud, aerosol, inhalation, insufflation etc) affiliated with the NHS behind regular reservation to combine physical fitness with a beach holiday at our camping there are particular rates for those who carry out the treatment.

subset: commoncrawl


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Darlene's made this purple tote bag using a bit of her selvage collection and a pattern from McCall's Quilting magazine. What a conversation-piece this will be at her next guild meeting. Good job, Darlene!
She says she's now hooked on making selvage items and is almost finished with a bed-sized purple zinger quilt! We'll keep you posted.


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Everyone loves Ironman!
Imagine if your boyfriend (or girlfriend) got down on one knee and presented you with this...
An Arc Reactor engagement! [via Fashionably Geek]
My little sister loves Dinosaurs (along with heaps of other people)
and I found this shirt with incorporates Dinosaurs and FIREFLY!
It's AMAZING! [via ShirtWoot!]
more Dinosaur related finds...
makes me feel sad :(
poor Dinosaur [via Fashionably Geek]
I've also created a Pinterest board full of free stuff.
Mostly free downloadables etc.
It's awesome! CHECK IT OUT!
So how has everyone been!?
I have a new follower!
HI! *waves frantically*
Just over a week until PAX + epic geek holiday of awesomeness with Alex.
We are spend 4 days in Melbourne for PAX, then flying to Sydney for 6 days.
I'm so excited.
We are going to go to...
Toranga Zoo
Kings Comics
and hopefully go see Pacific Rim at IMAX! So excited!!
I've started packing up my room.
I'll be moving in with mum soon.
So excited to have my own space
a kitchen I won't have to worry about getting in the way!
And being able to make as much mess and not have to clean it up
until I want too! :P
I'm open to suggestion for what to do in Sydney (places to go etc)
also other awesome things!
Ask me questions :D


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'A Spark In The Ashes' : Basil Hogios
"A Spark In The Ashes" is an anthology of Hogios' atmospheric music and soundscapes from a decade of work for the stage and screen, re-arranged, remixed and re-mastered to create a new listening experience that is visually evocative, ethereal and at times dark.
To listen, go to basilhogios.com.au
To listen, go to basilhogios.com.au
Van Louis.
Basil heard a song by Van Louis performed live, just vocals and guitar. He was struck by its beauty, and offered to do a full arrangement and production of the song, complete with piano and strings. The song is in its original language, Greek. Here is the result.


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I'm currently a Researcher at Facebook AI Research. I am also a Professor at University College London and an Allen Distinguished Investigator, leading the Machine Reading Lab. Before that I was a postdoc and research scientist with Andrew McCallum at UMass Amherst, a researcher at Tokyo University and DBCLS with Tsujii Junichi, and a PhD student with Ewan Klein at the University of Edinburgh.
I work on teaching machines how to read and reason, in the intersection of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning. Recently, I have been tackling these problems via forms of end-to-end differentiable program interpreters as well as adversarial regularisation. I am generally interested in deep learning, good old graphical models as well as old-school symbolic AI.
Here are a few recent representative publications:
- Programming with a Differentiable Forth Interpreter, , Proceedings of the 34th International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) 2017 [pdf] [details]
- End-to-end Differentiable Proving, , Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) 2017 [pdf] [details]
- Adversarial Sets for Regularising Neural Link Predictors, , Proceedings of the 33th Annual Conference on Uncertainty in AI (UAI) 2017 [pdf] [details]
- Complex Embeddings for Simple Link Prediction, , International Conference on Machine Learning 2016 [pdf] [details]
See my publication, software and scholar pages for more details.
If you are interested in doing a PhD with me, please have a look at these instructions.


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Mass. AG Sues Major Banks
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is going after the banks, filing suit against Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, and Ally Financial for unlawful mortgage practices. A statement from her office said the "lawsuit seeks accountability for the banks' unlawful and deceptive conduct in the foreclosure process, including unlawful foreclosures, false documentation and robo-signing." Last month Coakley said she was no longer confident that settlement negotiations between lenders and an alliance of attorneys general would be successful.


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Back in March as we kicked off our Spring Membership Drive, I asked one of our longest standing NAWBO sisters, Judy Fourie-founder of the Fourie Group, her thoughts on the value of being a NAWBO member. Here is what she had to say:Pam: Judy, how long have you been a NAWBO member and what do you cons...Read More
Upcoming Meeting
Webinar: Advocacy Day Prep
For all NAWBO members who are planning to attend our annual Advocacy Day and/or our Academy for Public Service, this webinar is for you! Hear about the agenda for the day, how you can prepare, what you should expect, how to make the most of the experienc
The NAWBO Greater Raleigh Membership Committee is asking for YOUR help in recruiting new members during our Spring Membership Drive. Help grow our chapter by expanding our network of women business owners and champion for more female entrepreneurs! Plus, if you help refer a new member, you may be re...Read More
The first Women's Day was held in 1909, and over 100 years later, we're proud to be celebrating with countries around the world - celebrating respect for, appreciation of, and love toward women for their economic, political, and social impact. The official theme for the 2017 International Women's Da...Read More
NAWBO Greater Raleigh is proud to announce that our Board Member and Public Policy Chair Terri Benforado, Owner of EAS NC, will be attending Women's Advocacy Day (WAD) on March 14th at the Museum of Natural Sciences Auditorium in Downtown Raleigh. In addition to meeting with NC ...Read More
Congratulations to member Linda Zoffer, featured as "DESIGNERS & INFLUENCERS" contributor with Replacements, Ltd. "Just like a well-designed home should reflect the people who live in it, the table needs to reflect that also." - Linda Zoffer Congratulations, Linda! To read the full...Read More
55% of business owners say they get over 70% of their new business from networking and referrals. It may be an overstatement to say that relationships are everything, but not a huge one. The people we spend time with largely determine the opportunities that are available to us. Opportunities d...Read More
Are you a goal setter or a goal achiever? Or, are you like I used to be and have simply stopped setting goals?Eventually I got so tired of setting goals and not achieving them that I stopped setting them all together.I don't know about you, but goals made me feel like a total loser because I w...Read More


text: well i love this bass that i have had for all my life (used to be my dad's, he got it about 25 years ago) its a yamaha bb300. sounds great for jazz, but the problem is that in my band we dont really have use for a jazz style bass (we're a metal band). in my other band we play a load of styles and my friends bass (ibanez sound gear with bass boost,dont know the model name) sounds so awesome,especcially popping and slapping. when he first plugged that bass into my bass amp and played one of our songs (and since were a joke band, we called that song "slap it!" ) i almost had an orgasm, it sounds so great! my other friend also says (in his own words)"you can never go wrong with an ibanez". i kinda want a more high end bass though (300-500 dollars) and i was thinking about maybe getting a fender jazz bass (kinda ironic) but im not sure yet. i want a bass that has two pickups (prefferablly humbuckers, at least at the brigde) and one that still sounds good even when the tuning is dropped to almost astronomical proportions, (ok so its drop C) or a five string will do. i have been thinking about a geddy lee jazz bass, but unfortunately i dont have that much money to spend. in conclusion, the bass that i want is as follows 1. a midrange priced bass (300-500 dollars) 2. 2 pickups (preferabally humbuckers) 3. capability of low tunings, or a five string 4. (and im being extremely vague ) great tone i was also thinking about the OLP stingray copy, if it sounds anything like a normal stingray.


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Youth is that period of our lives when we are free from almost all responsibilities. We graduate from college, land a good job and become financially free. The next step, which is also the most obvious one, is settling down. After marriage, we own a responsibility of providing for our family. Even if we don't have kids, we have to provide for our wives. What if we have dependent parents? Wouldn't we have to provide financial assistance to them too?
When you have dependents on you, it becomes imperative to have a financial support for them even when you are not around. How can you create such a support? The answer lies in Life Insurance.
Yes, a life insurance policy is the only financial instrument which protects against the financial loss caused by premature death by providing a lump sum benefit. This benefit provides the much needed financial support to the bereaved family who are dependent on the bread-winner for their lifestyle needs.
How does Life Insurance help?
Term insurance plans sold by life insurance companies are designed to protect the financial loss suffered in case of death of a bread-winner. The premiums required by the plan are very cheap and the level of coverage provided is huge. As such, individuals can easily afford to insure their lives for a considerable amount of Sum Assured at affordable premium rates.
Case Study
– Mr. and Mrs. Mehra, aged 32 years and 30 years respectively, are a young couple. Being recently married, they have no kids. Mr. Mehra is a software engineer while his wife is a housewife. Their basic income and expense structure looks like this:
The Mehras want to invest in a life insurance policy. They do not know which policy would be ideal for their requirements and what should be the cover amount. They are in a dilemma. Which policy would be best suited for their needs?
– The Mehras are a young couple. Since they do not have any kids till now, they do not have the financial burden of planning for their kids' future. However, as Mr. Mehra's wife depends on him financially, his immediate need should be a Term Insurance Plan. This is the only life insurance plan which would enable Mr. Mehra to opt for an optimal level of Sum Assured at premiums which are affordable for his pockets.
What is the optimal level of Sum Assured?
Here comes the tricky and yet the most important part of life insurance planning. A term plan is effective only if a sufficient level of coverage is taken. This optimal coverage level varies as per the needs and requirements of individuals. No two individuals have the same income and expense structure, financial goals and investment planning practice. Thus, there are commonly accepted calculations or methods which aim to calculate the ideal level of coverage which should be taken.
What are the methods?
Some popular methods to calculate the optimal level of coverage are as follows:
- Human Life Value Method
- Income Replacement Method
- Annual income multiple Method, etc.
To understand the above-mentioned methods, let us work on the Mehra's case study.
Human Life Value Method Computation assuming there is no inflation or change in average monthly expenses.
Thus, Mr. Mehra should have a minimum insurance cover of at least Rs.77 lakhs. In case of his unfortunate death, the family could invest the benefit received in a risk-free investment and avail a return which would be sufficient to pay the monthly expenses and thus maintain the same lifestyle.
Income Replacement Method
Under this method, the income which Mr. Mehra is supposed to bring in till his retirement is appropriated. The cover is then determined based on the income which is supposed to be contributed by Mr. Mehra throughout his active life.
Annual Income Multiple Method
This is a very basic method which is also called the 'Underwriter's Thumb Rule' method. The coverage is equated as a multiple of the annual income. The multiple is higher for young individuals and lower for older ones. In case of the Mehras who are a young couple, a 12 to 15 times the annual income are the ideal multiple values. So, their optimal coverage should be Rs.1.08 crores to Rs.1.35 crores
Rider additions
Riders are additional benefits which can be added to a base policy. Riders increase the scope of coverage provided under the plan. A very negligible amount of additional premium is payable for availing riders and riders can be added to any policy when it is being bought. Some common and beneficial riders are as follows:
- Critical Illness Rider
- Accidental Death Benefit Rider
- Waiver of Premium Rider
- Term Rider
Why do riders make sense?
Extended coverage– riders provide an additional benefit, which is usually equal to the Sum Assured of the plan, when the event which is covered by the rider occurs. For instance, a Critical illness Rider covers specified illnesses and when the insured is diagnosed with any of the covered illnesses, the rider benefit is paid. Similarly, the Accidental Death Benefit rider provides an additional Sum Assured in case of an accidental death.
Low premiums– opting for riders is also easy on your pockets. The additional premium required for taking riders is extremely low. It is only a tiny fraction of the basic premium.
Thus, riders enhance the coverage provided by your term insurance plan at very little premium outgoes.
Which riders are suitable for a young couple?
As in the case of the Mehras, who are a young couple, two riders make the most sense. One is the Critical Illness Rider and the other is the Accidental Death Benefit Rider.
Young couples, like the Mehras, are prone to two major risks. One is the health risk of developing a critical ailment while the other is that of facing an accidental death. In case of a critical illness, the expenses incurred on the treatment of the illness are huge. A critical illness rider helps in providing the necessary funds to meet such treatment expenses. They also cut down on the necessity of investing in a separate critical illness health plan.
Even in case of the Accidental Death Benefit Rider, the double Sum Assured received sure helps in tackling the financial emergency faced by the family on loss of the bread-winner.
How to achieve the right balance between a life insurance plan and the required riders?
Yes, we agree that a term insurance plan is the most essential financial instrument. An ideal level of Sum Assured should be taken when buying this plan. Along with a term plan, essential riders should also be included in the coverage. For young couples, an Accidental Death Rider and a Critical Illness Rider would be ideal. So, in case of the Mehras, here's how they can attain the right combination of life insurance and riders:
If the Mehras plan carefully and choose the best plan which provides the said coverage at competitive rates, they can easily secure their future against financial contingencies which are caused due to premature death or any critical illness. This would be their ideal mix of life insurance since they do not have any responsibilities for their kids or planning their retirement. However, there are some points which should be borne in mind when opting for the ideal coverage option. These points are mentioned below:
- The tenure of the term plan should be taken for the maximum possible period. This would ensure longer coverage duration. Nowadays, there are term insurance plans in the market which provide coverage till 80 years of age. These plans should be your ideal choice.
- If a high level of Sum Assured cannot be afforded immediately, a young couple should at first avail the highest possible cover. Later on, the coverage should be reviewed periodically to review the Sum Assured. For instance, when a young couple has kids, the Sum Assured should be increased as expenses and the associated responsibilities increase.
- There is a clause which states that the rider premium should not exceed 30% of the basic premium. As such, there is a limit on the rider coverage available. Despite the limits, riders should be attached to the policy for a better scope of protection.
Thus, as the Mehras were educated, if you too are a young couple, its time you know how to make an ideal insurance choice which combines both a term insurance plan and the necessary riders.
Insurance is the subject matter of the solicitation.


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Bill has learned that being president of the company means you schedule things, deliver things, repair things, run to the store, post office and bank, empty delivery trucks, come in on your day off to clean carpets, the kitchen and bathroom. When time permits, he enjoys helping people with their access issues. As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, he makes life a little easier with stairlifts, ramps, grab bars, outdoor elevators and other home modifications.
Debbie is the driving force behind the company and all that it represents. She is the most altruistic person you'll ever meet. Taking care of her daughter Nicole, who was the inspiration behind the start of this business due to her many disabilities, Debbie was determined to help other families "get through it" as well. She has her finger on the pulse of every aspect of the company and has given "customer service" a fresh and delightful meaning.
Brad is the newest member of our family – which doesn't make him any less appreciated! Brad comes to us with a strong history of retail sales experience, coupled with a fabulous positive personality. As the person responsible for our front end, greeting clients, and dispensing rental equipment; his outstanding organizational skills are admired by the rest of our team and customers alike!
Al has been with us since late 2012. He is the primary "person to person" guy when it comes to most equipment. He helps in the choosing, ordering, assembling and fitting process for wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters, stairlifts and so many other items. His mechanical and technical skills are top notch.
Huguette has been with us since September 2001 and serves as our accounts payable person/ mailer/ biller/ dog feeder / wood stove loader / etc. She works at our "home' office and graciously takes on more tasks than asked. As a former Canadian, she has a hard time pronouncing "th's" but she gives Nort East Mobility a good name.
Laurie started with us in February 2013 as one of our client support representatives. She manages the task of keeping Al and Bill organized. She is often the first point of contact with customers calling in to voice their wish list and helps steer them in the right direction, check on insurance coverage and schedules appointments. Nothing short of a nuclear war seems to rattle her!
Since December 2014, Bethany has been a customer care representative for medical supplies, including incontinence supplies. Her additional skills and experience make her a superb asset for our marketing, sales, and business development. Listening to her talk to customers on the phone, one would think she is a member of their family – striving to make their lives as stress free as possible.
Kevin started with us in March, 2015 as a client support representative for our Supply Solutions division. Kevin grew up in Guyana and attended school for medical coding after he and his family moved here. We are lucky he did because we realized his potential once he spent some time with us as an extern. He loves working on cars and watching The Fast and the Furious whenever he can!
Sharon came to us in early 2014. She is blessed with patience and persistence. She has to be, since she is the billing specialist here and is responsible for "pulling teeth" from the insurance companies or "show me the money" !!! If not for her, our suppliers would be yelling the same thing at us.
Chic keeps the warehouse / shop flowing smoothly. More seems to come in than go out and somehow he finds room to store it. His repair skills go well beyond "lefty-loosey, righty-tighty". Chic started with us in October 2015.
Tobias (Toby) the office cat is the official greeter to all who enter. He's not very task oriented, but will help you forget your troubles for a few minutes.


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ECFA National Student Leadership Committee
We are a team of 12 from the 307 ECFA Activators, representing 11 of the 105 ECFA College Football Hubs across England.
As a team we created a vision using key phrases and thoughts that we wanted to get across to represent us on behalf of the whole of the FE sector; "To be the voice of all students, Uniting and Inspiring the FE Sector through creating inclusive and sustainable opportunities for all to engage in football."
We also set out our team values that we thought all activators should abide by when being both a part of this team as well as outside the national student leadership committee:
- Driven – Inspiring others through having a passion and believing in what we are doing whilst being committed as an individual and as part of a team to contribute to the big picture.
- Inclusive – Understanding other's opinions, showing empathy and respecting the voices and needs of other's, being open-minded.
- Team – Uniting Individuals by being open in communication, and being honest and trustworthy.
After being appointed following an application process, we were split into three priority groups:
- Women's football – Supporting the ECFA to deliver the FA target of 'doubling player and fan base of female football'.
- Diversity and inclusion – Focusing on providing opportunities for hard to reach groups to engage with multiple aspects of football. Also focusing on creating a diverse student workforce within colleges.
- Media production – Showcasing the cross-college impact of football within College Football Hubs, raising the awareness of the ECFA through media production including photos/videos and other marketing and promotional materials.
The NSLC is chaired by Oli Moore of Bridgewater and Taunton College in Somerset, with Holly Hayes of Cambridge Regional College supporting as vice-chair.
As a Committee, we contribute towards the AoC Sport strategy by helping to get more students active through football, and will be challenged to have an impact on increasing the number of students playing football at their college.
Find Out More
If you have any further questions regarding the ECFA National Student Leadership Committee please contact Matt Dandy or Nick Hawkins.


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Showing posts from August, 2016
Book Review: Like a River Glorious
- Get link
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Waiting on Wednesday: RoseBlood
Book Review: Supremacy
Teaser Tuesday: As I Descended, Dark Orbit, & Like a River Glorious
What's Your Status? 8/27/16
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Book Review: Show Me How
Waiting on Wednesday: Aerie
Teaser Tuesday: Show Me How & Occupied Earth
Book Review: Three Dark Crowns
Magic Lamp Sunday 8/21/16
What's Your Status? 8/20/16
Book Review: The Girl From the Savoy
The Shopping Lark #228
Book Review: Occupied Earth
Waiting on Wednesday: Our Chemical Hearts
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Teaser Tuesday: The Girl From the Savoy, The Invisible Man, The Practical Navigator, & Shield
Book Review: The Graces
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"I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions." ― Zora Neale Hurston
Friday, June 30, 2017
What to The Slave is 4th of July? -- 1841 Speech by Frederick Douglass
James Earl Jones reads excerpts from Frederick Douglass' speech "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" (July 5, 1852). --DemocracyNow: July 5, 2004. It is a dramatic reading from excerpts of Howard Zinn's "The People's History of the United States"
Posted by The Black Conservative at 1:42 PM


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Dedicated to two of my sources of inspiration.
Techcrunch was once my daily staple. Today I go there when I need some entertainment reading. But I make it a point to read and bookmark all of Vivek Wadhwa's posts. He's the sanest writer they've got, which is perhaps why even after more than a dozen posts he's still credited as a guest author. He definitely doesn't seem to belong there. I especially love his analysis and flow of writing.
I love contrarians. And Vivek's very sane advice of playing it a little safe is contrarian in the American entrepreneurship world. He gets a lot of people who really need to know that being Zuckerberg is not the definition of success. I wish I could follow what he suggests, but since I started a company while in college and failed multiple times, I guess its too late. At least I've never really seriously considered dropping out, although dropping a semester was the best decision ever.
Peter Thiel is another of my favorite icons. I think he and Elon Musk would be great contenders to play real-life Batman. Both certainly can afford building all the gadgetry themselves! Peter is another contrarian. Their immense intellectual abilities and appetites are astound me. If you Google for Peter Thiel, you'll find videos of him talking about everything from America's economy to an analysis of an obscure 1967 book. Peter just started a grant for students to drop out of college. I think its kind of the wrong incentive to give. Perhaps a dedicated venture fund might have been a better vehicle to find the brilliant college drop-outs.
Both these guys have gone to great lengths to support and prove their beliefs. Vivek with his data based analysis and Peter with his drop-out grant. I would love to see them debate this out! At least debating with Peter will get Vivek the attention he deserves.


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A Happy Birthday for Mom?/
Last Thursday was my birthday. I turned 31--pretty awesome, right? Yeah, no need to congratulate me. Since I became a mom almost five years ago, birthdays haven't been the best. There's really nothing to look forward to, right? Unless my husband whisks me away for an unexpected trip sans kiddos, a birthday is just another day of work. The needs of my children don't vanish for the day so I can lay in bed all day watching movies. Even my dreams of the perfect birthday have been diminished to something as mediocre as watching movies!
If I get really honest with myself, even before motherhood, birthdays were often a let down. I have always expected to get everything I wanted on my birthday, and it pretty much never happened. I think I cried at every birthday party I had as a kid, usually because another child added "cha-cha-cha" to the birthday song when I had specifically requested no "cha-cha-cha's," or something equally horrifying.
Motherhood has only heightened the tension between birthday expectations and birthday realities. A day spent doing whatever you want whenever you want with whoever you want when you're a mom…it's an oxymoron. By definition, the majority of our lives as mothers is spent worrying about what our little people want and need. For years this felt like a death sentence on my birthday happiness, but not anymore.
This year, I decided to give myself a Happy Birthday by choosing to find happiness in whatever I needed to do that day. To celebrate turning 31 I made breakfast, read my Bible, went child shoe shopping and only managed to find 1 of 3 necessary pairs, changed diapers, ate lunch with my boys and MIL at Panera, put a son down for a nap, got a surprise gift of a kiss and an I Love You from my preschooler, helped a toddler stay in his room during quiet time, packed for the cabin, let my sons watch a TV show while at Noodles for dinner, entertained children in the car for 3 hours, received gifts and ate cake and let my boys stay up way too late once we arrived at the cabin, and even managed a few chapters of a book.


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Figuring out the keywords you have to use in your online marketing campaign, regardless of the method you use, is a tricky task. Not only do you have to make sure the keywords are relevant to the theme of your website but also that the competition for them is low so you don't have to try too hard to acquire them. These are basically the things most webmasters are familiar with. What they don't know is that they need to keep updating the list of keywords they are using. This is because keywords tend to become stagnant over time particularly if the list hasn't been updated for a while. It is not as if you can make a list and then forget about it for good.
This is where a keyword discovery tool can come in extremely handy. The discovery tool practically does the work for you and all you need to do is sit back and watch. As the name clearly shows, it is a tool for discovering keywords. Whether you are seeking to launch a new campaign or add keywords to an existing list, the tool will prove to be useful for you. This is why you need to seriously consider using one for your campaign. SEMrush is one of the best keyword discovery tools you will find as it not only helps you find high value and relevant keywords but also organize them in a way that makes it easier for you to use them.
Rather than trumpeting any single keyword discovery tool, it makes more sense to go over some of the factors that help determine the quality of a tool. This way, you will be able to assess the ones you find online and then decide which you want to use. So, without further ado, here are some of the key features that a tool for keywords discovery should have in order to be worthy of your selection.
Relevant Data Sources
There are some tools out there that provide you an unfiltered list of keywords for your campaign. After that, you have to work on your own to determine which of the keywords are not worthy of inclusion in your campaign. This is why you need to select a tool that uses relevant data sources. The keywords suggested by such a tool would be relevant and you won't have to think too much about adding them to your campaign. After all, there is more to keyword discovery than simply copying and pasting keywords to a spreadsheet.
Unique Data Sources
Along with being relevant, the data sources used by the tool have to be unique as well. Of course, it is next to impossible to avoid source overlap between the tools but still you should make the effort to find a tool that uses data sources generally not used by similar tools. What this does for you is to help create a list of keywords that your competitors don't know about. If you are using the same keywords as your competitors, you won't be able to gain an edge on them. You need a keyword tool that helps you find keywords that are unique.
Organizational Tools
As mentioned above, SEMrush is a keyword discovery tool that not only helps you find keywords but also organize them in a format that makes it easier for you to use them. This is something extremely crucial. What's the use of using a tool when you are the one who has to manually set up a spreadsheet and then import the keywords into it? It only adds to the effort you have to put in, which is something not quite necessary. So, find a tool that helps you organize and arrange the keywords as well.
Negative Keywords
One of the most overlooked parts of an online keyword campaign is negative keywords. Negative keywords are basically the ones which you don't want search engines to associate with your campaign. This is something as important as deciding which keywords you do want to be added to your campaign. If a tool for keywords discovery does not have features for negative keywords, you won't be able to benefit from it at all. The bottom-line is that the tool you use should allow you to add negative keywords to your list.
Automatic Synchronization
This is something quite important but not much attention is paid to it by marketers and webmasters. Synchronization will enable you to align the list of keywords you have created to your website or landing page. Otherwise, you would have to do it manually. Keyword discovery will definitely boost your knowledge of SEO and the keywords you should be using but it becomes difficult to apply if you have to do it manually. So, find a tool that lets you avoid this chore.
These are the criteria you can use for selecting a keyword discovery tool. Keep them in mind and you will be able to select the right one for your campaign.


text: If you believe former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, the FBI and DOJ had an informant in the Donald Trump campaign to protect now President Trump from Russian agents. This begs the question if the FBI and DOJ had an informant in the 2008 campaign of Barack Obama? If, for no other reason, than to protect Obama from all of the corrupt politicians and businessmen being investigated in Operation Board Games. While you may have heard about Operation Crossfire Hurricane of late, it being the FBI-DOJ probe into Russian election meddling, have you ever heard of Operation Board Games? You probably have, but not by that particular title. So gather around, Children, as I tell you a fascinating story, all of which is true!


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Galleries: Please register to list your site on this page at no cost
Jim Konoske Consulting, Diamond Bar, CA, USAArcadiaOil on canvas from the Estate of Sam Hyde Harris, 20"x24", $16,000.00.
Other paintings from the Sam Hyde Harris Estate are available.
Spanierman Gallery, New York City
Artnet homepage for this artist2 artworks in total
The Redfern Gallery - California, Laguna Beach, CaliforniaThe Landing George Stern Fine Arts, Carmel, CaliforniaCarmel Mission
All images and text on this Sam Hyde Harris page are copyright 2010 by John Malyon/Artcyclopedia, unless otherwise noted. Note that the listings on this site are a unique compilation of information and are protected by copyright worldwide.


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A Northumberland support worker who helps disabled people into sport has been nominated for a regional award.
Disability Inclusion Officer Ronnie Scheu, of Active Northumberland, has been nominated in the North East Disability Sports Awards for his work managing the Ability 2 Play leisure programme.
He said: "Having the chance to give something back to inspiring young people who have been through so many different hardships is very humbling. Although, it is my name on the nomination, Ability 2 Play wouldn't be what it is today without the support of a fantastic team."
For information about the programme call 01670 622181.


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Start here. Go anywhere.SM
Resources for:
Change Careers Fast
Find flexible ways to finish your degree faster.
I'm undecided. Help me choose a program.
Training & Seminars
Business Resources
Explore NWTC Locations »
Michigan-Wisconsin Post High School Wisconsin Technical College System Reciprocity Agreement and Minnesota-Wisconsin Interstate Compact.
Any Wisconsin student who is a resident of the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College District may attend any of the following schools in Michigan: Bay de Noc and Gogebic Community Colleges, and educational institutions in the counties of Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, and Delta. The student will pay the standard out-of-district, in-state resident tuition rate charged by that institution under this agreement.
Any Michigan student who is a resident of Bay de Noc and Gogebic Community College Districts and the counties of Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, and Delta may attend NWTC campuses at Green Bay, Marinette, and Sturgeon Bay. Students admitted under this agreement will pay an additional nominal fee.
Students from both states shall be charged the same standard out-of-district, in-state resident tuition rate. The tuition rate is established annually by mutual agreement of representatives of each state and the educational districts involved.
A Wisconsin resident enrolled in a full-time program in a Minnesota Vocational-Technical Institute is considered a Minnesota resident for tuition purposes. A Minnesota resident enrolled in a full-time program at NWTC is considered a Wisconsin resident for tuition purposes.


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Cheesy Bacon Omelet
Time needed
5 min preparation + 10 min cooking
Serving Size / Yield
2 servings
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. butter
- 4 slices bacon, cooked
- 1/4 C. cheddar cheese, shredded
Our Readers Also Loved
In a bowl, combine and beat the eggs, salt, and pepper. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the egg mixture. As the eggs start to set, gently lift the edges and tilt to cook all the eggs. Sprinkle the cheese and bacon evenly onto omelet. Take the pan and let half of it rest on the plate and fold the top over it. Serve immediately.
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16 in. Eastern White Cedar Shingles Repair Kit (12 sq. ft./Bundle)
Eastern White Cedar is ideal for construction because it is naturally durable and resistant to moisture, decay and insect damage. Shingles age beautifully, even when left untreated. They enhance the beauty of a home while blending perfectly with other natural materials such as stone and brick. It has a fine even grain, low density and light weight making it easy to work with.
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These 25-Year Medium Cedar Roof Shake Shingles are Energy Star qualified to offer year-round energy and money savings. Featuring a reddish brown color that complements a variety of home designs, these cedar wood shingles offer durability and an appealing look. These versatile shingles are great for both commercial and residential use.
$1257 to $35002


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Searchable Databases
Date story published: Thursday, February 20, 1997
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Sometimes basketball is not that complicated. When Kentucky needed baskets down the stretch, the Cats looked for Ron Mercer to score them.
He did, and UK came away with a hard-fought 75-61 victory at Alabama last night.
Mercer scored 11 of his game-high 23 points down the stretch to help the Cats finally put away an Alabama team playing one of its better games of the season.
It didn't take a genius to figure out Kentucky's defensive game plan, either. Because of injuries and suspensions, Alabama had no choice but to play point guard Brian Williams all 80 minutes last week. So UK planned to give the Tide's iron man 40 hellish minutes of pressure defense. "Our whole thought process tonight was just wear Williams out," UK Coach Rick Pitino said.
Williams, who had only six turnovers in last week's 80 minutes, committed 11 in his 40 minutes against the Cats. "Did he?" said UK guard Wayne Turner. "Oh wow! That's what we wanted."
UK freshman Jamaal Magloire gave the game a surprise element. The Canadian's 13 points matched the most he's scored since Jan. 4. He contributed four blocked shots to UK's season-high total of 11.
With Mercer in foul trouble, Magloire became Kentucky's go-to guy for part of the second half. After Alabama reduced a one-time 13-point second half deficit to six, UK called a 20-second timeout with 5:10 left. The Cats went to Magloire, who missed a shot from the low post.
But Magloire delivered on Kentucky's next possession. After the Tide got within four, he hit a baby hook while being fouled .
"He gave us a big lift," Pitino said . "It doesn't look that pretty, but he's making an attempt to score. We were trying to pound it inside because (Alabama) is not a double-down team that much."
Magloire helped UK weather Mercer's foul trouble. The Cats' super sophomore went to the bench with his third foul at the 13:27 mark. He returned at 10:58. Eleven seconds later, he hit a three-pointer to extend Kentucky's lead to 48-39.
Later in the half, when Alabama kept reducing UK's lead to single digits, Mercer responded again and again. Twice he hit three-pointers. A third time he dunked. All three baskets helped preserve UK's most contentious victory in the post-Derek Anderson portion of the season.
"Ron took over the game when we had to," Pitino said.
Pitino helped Mercer play the hero. When Mercer picked up his fourth foul with 6:15 left, the Cats led 57-48. Thereafter, Pitino alternated Mercer and Turner, Mercer for offense and Turner for defense.
"I was a little bit rested that way," Mercer said.
Kentucky improved to 25-3 overall and 11-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The latter kept the Cats within a game of Eastern Division leader South Carolina. Alabama, which lost its 12th game in the last 16, fell to 14-12 overall and 4-9 in the SEC.
"I really liked our mental toughness down the stretch, offensively and defensively," Pitino said. "We executed the best when we had to. It was not a great game for us, but it was a great victory."
Kentucky made only 38.2 percent of its shots. But stingy - bordering on suffocating - defense enabled the Cats to assume a 32-24 halftime lead.
Alabama made barely a quarter of its first-half shots (25.8 percent), and that stat seemed inflated. UK's defense took over in the final six minutes of the half. In that time, the Cats went on a 13-0 run to take control.
M.C. Mazique's three-pointer gave Alabama a 21-19 lead with 6:26 left. The Tide scored only one more basket the rest of the half: a Williams trey with 27 seconds left that set the halftime score.
During one stretch late in the half, Alabama went nine straight possessions without getting the ball to the rim. UK blocked five straight shots, and six of seven Tide possessions ended with rejections in that stretch. The exception: UK's aggressive post defense caused Demetrius Alexander to lose control of the ball.
Mercer led the way. His 12 first-half points included a couple momentum builders. Early in the game, he seemed to climb over a pack of rebounders to rebound-dunk a missed shot.
Later, Mercer's defense caused Alabama's leading scorer, Eric Washington, to get caught in the air with nowhere to go. UK converted the turnover as Mercer hit a banker off the fast break.
Mercer contributed four points to UK's 13-0 breakout run.
The second half began with promise for Kentucky. With a TV timeout at 15:13, Alabama had only one basket. The timeout came after Williams threw away a pass against the press.
Then momentum swung Alabama's way.
A technical foul on Alabama Coach David Hobbs helped extend UK's lead to 52-39. He was called for protesting a no-call when Williams went to the floor as he drove for the basket. Anthony Epps made both free throws. Magloire's tip-in completed a four-point possession.
The Tide rallied repeatedly. Just as often, it seemed, Mercer stepped up and hit a big shot.
"They got to their All-American guy, and he delivers," Hobbs said. "That's why he's an All-American. And that's why they're the third-ranked team in the country."


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Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 1.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
[1] Sangamo Journal, January 17, 1835. The occasion for Lincoln's humorous remarks was the resolution proposed by Jacob Vandeventer of Schuyler County, as follows: ``That the nomination of Samuel McHatton, for County Surveyor of Schuyler county . . . be vacated for the reason that said office was not vacant at the time said nomination was made'' (House Journal, Ninth General Assembly, First Session, p. 233). The resolution was tabled, in effect following Lincoln's suggestion.


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All viewings are undertaken on the basis that they are at your own risk from a Health & safety perspective.
No charge is made for registering your requirements with Brightwells but unfortunately we can not arrange viewings until we are in receipt of your completed form. Registration Forms will generally be retained for a maximum of 12 weeks, unless advised to the contrary, information will then be securely disposed of.
Please note Brightwells are employed & act on behalf of the landlord.
Deposits & Referencing Fees
Once you have viewed a property should you wish to be considered for a tenancy we will require a holding deposit, the amount of which is individual to each property, and a non refundable referencing fee of £70 per adult applicant. (Please note that husband and wife do class as two applicants). Should the tenant's own bank/building society charge them for a reference, this expenditure will be deemed the potential tenant's own expense. The holding deposit does not guarantee the availability of the property and is used to reserve the property during the vetting procedure. Brightwells generally hold deposits as agents for the Landlord and these monies will be banked immediately and no interest will be payable upon them. The Landlord reserves the right to withdraw the property without explanation or compensation prior to the signing of contracts.
Should a contract be agreed upon, the holding deposit will be transferred under the terms of the tenancy agreement to become the deposit with the signing of the contract and will then have the protection of the Government authorised Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme - The Dispute Service. If your application is unsuccessful the holding deposit will be returned to you by cheque only, unless paid by credit or debit card where it then needs to be refunded to the same card.
If you withdraw your application, or the information you provide us with is incorrect, we reserve the right to deduct our own and our Landlords cost prior to refunding the balance of your holding deposit whether a tenancy has been agreed or not. (Minimum fee of £240 including VAT).
An administration fee equal to one weeks rental plus vat is payable when a tenancy has been offered and accepted. This is payable on or before completion.
Rents are payable by Standing Order monthly in advance on the same day that the tenancy commenced.
We regret that tenancies are only generally available to persons over 21 years of age and who are in a position to prove sufficient income on an ongoing basis to comply with the financial commitments of the tenancy.
Before the commencement of a tenancy we are obliged to seek references which will normally include a credit check. These may be undertaken by a reference checking company. Should a guarantor be needed then they would also be subject to the same referencing procedure. We regret that applicants in receipt of Housing Benefit cannot generally be accepted due to restrictions with mortgages and insurance in most cases.
Non UK citizens can not be considered without a contract of permanent employment in a professional position (i.e. Dentist, Doctor etc.). Proof of the existence of a UK bank account, a copy of their passport and proof of a National Insurance number will also be required.
All tenants are required to take out contents insurance regardless of if a property is furnished or not. Prior to the start of the tenancy we will need evidence from you that cover is in place. We can assist with this if so required.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is payable in regard to some tenancies to the Inland Revenue & is the tenants responsibility. For further details go to www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk


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A different world – meadow by night29th June 2009, Monday
A meadow is a different place at night. The hum of bees is replaced by the hum of midges, and a totally different suite of animals come out to forage. Slugs and snails are abundant, one of the reasons why slow-worm do so well in this habitat. At this time of the year newts are also common here, with three smooth newts observed clambering over the plant stems this evening in a surprisingly three dimensional way.
They do well in this habitat because it offers shelter from desiccation and predators. The base of the lawn is surprisingly damp at the moment, and is full of the slow moving invertebrates these slow-moving vertebrates feed on. And feed they must because they are painfully thin at the moment after the rigours of the breeding season. As this animal moved away the hip bones protruded worryingly under the skin behind the back legs.
Which leaves me with a slight dilemma. If I delay cutting the grass I think the clover may start to rot and produce useless hay. But I will have to relocate the newts in a productive habitat, and frogs and toads no doubt too!


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Educa – Free Education Website is unique,clean and modern freebie Template PSD with beautiful and modern design, perfect for web designers, graphic designers or anyone who looking for a creative design.
Template can be easily converted into responsive WordPress, HTML or Joomla template. Its sleek and modern design will make sure your message is conveyed as you've imagined it. The PSD web templates free are well-organised, well-named, fully layered and easy to modify.
Educa – Free Education Website Free web page templates will be a good choice for your next web project!


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By Portia Abernathy
Lesson Title: Talking Without Words: Using Our Bodies and Movement to Show Our Feelings
Designed for: Youth (8-12 years old), Inclusive
Length: 1 hour
Learning Standards
Responding: Respond to movement to match the emotional content, mood, or rhythm of music.
Creating: Use guided improvisation to explore, invent movement, and apply movement concepts.
Performing: Demonstrate movements in straight and curved pathways. Use movement to demonstrate various emotions (happy, sad, scared, surprised, angry).
Connecting: Move in different groups (pairs and duets). Make movement choices based on preferences.
Images of people demonstrating different emotions
Rubber floor markers
Music and speaker OR live musician
Preview concepts: using movement and our bodies to show emotions and feelings
- Students begin seated in assigned chairs set up in a circle.
- For attendance/check in, ask students (when their name is called) to freeze their face and body (while remaining seated) in a way that can show the group how they are feeling today.
Warm Up
Review concepts: personal and general space, level, shape, and size (large and small)
- Lead students (with musical accompaniment) through the 8-step Brain Dance movement series. (The Brain Dance was developed and created by Anne Green Gilbert)
- Incorporate movements that promote body isolations and highlight the previous weeks' learning concepts; this can also include seasonal imagery (falling leaves or snow, flowers growing, wind, apple picking).
Concept Introduction
New concept: using movement and our bodies to show emotions and feelings
- One by one, show students five different images of people demonstrating different emotions.
- Ask students to silently observe the faces, bodies, movement, posture, etc. of the people in the images.
- Ask students:
- What do you see that made you choose that?
- What is their body doing/what is their face doing/etc.
- After each emotion, have students freeze their own body to demonstrate the feeling.
Review concepts: Traveling on straight pathways, practicing locomotor movements
- Have students travel across the floor in straight and curved pathways, from one floor marker to the other.
- For each round of movement have students (alone or in pairs):
- March
- Tip toe
- Chasse
- Skip
- Jump (over another floor marker along the pathway)
- At the end of each movement round, have students turn and talk to a partner and share which emotion the movement made them feel.
- Demonstrate (or have students demonstrate) two different responses/emotions to the same movement.
- Ask students
- What was different?
- What did you see or notice?
- What makes you say that?
- Ask for 2-3 students to demonstrate their emotion with a locomotor movement, like a gallop or hop, and see if students can guess the emotion.
- Note that students can share and we can understand how people are feeling without using any words.
- Return to seated circle.
- Play a clip of music and allow students to listen and think about how it makes them feel.
- In pairs or trios, have students go into the middle of the circle and free dance (structured improvisation), matching their emotion and movement to the music.
- Remind students to use various body parts, levels, shapes, and qualities of movement.
- Other students should demonstrate audience behavior expectations while observing.
- Close class with group reverence:
- Bow to thank teacher
- Bow to thank musician
- Bow to thank peers
- Bow to thank self
Portia Abernathy, M.A., M.Ed., is Assistant Director of Education and Community Initiatives at Boston Ballet, where she oversees accessible and inclusive dance education and professional development programs.


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Jim Gavin felt Dublin's Super 8s clash with Tyrone in Omagh was a great occasion.
The game was something of a novelty for the Dubs who are more used to playing in Croke Park at this time of year and they delivered another winning performance to become the first team to qualify for the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
"Tonight was all about coming up to Omagh and getting a result," the Dublin manager said in a post-match interview with Sky Sports.
"We're in a group format so two points means a lot to whoever could get it tonight. We're just glad we got it. Will that performance be good enough going forward? I'm not too sure. But we just enjoyed the experience, fantastic Tyrone crowd, fantastic Dublin crowd, everything on the line, two teams going hard at it, I'm sure it made for really good viewing as well so I'm sure everyone will be happy.
"You just look at the Tyrone team, they've got class players, the scores they've been putting up in games has been phenomenal. That's just the work that Mickey has done with the boys."
He added: "I think every team enjoys going on the road. We certainly do anyway and our supporters do. We were passing them by on the bus up there today and they seemed to be all having a good time which is great for them, and great for the economy as well. It's a great format, there are eight teams getting more games as well.
"But there are 24 other teams on the island whose season is finished so maybe that's something for the off-season."Tweet


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According to Hubspot, 92% of all marketers indicated that their efforts in social media have created exposure for their businesses, while 80% of marketers indicated that their social media efforts increased website traffic. Businesses all over the world have been discovering the benefits of social media marketing. Social media has been proven to contribute to the success and growth of many companies.
Are you still skeptical about social media marketing for your business? Below are a few reasons on why social media marketing is beneficial to the success of a business:
Helps Businesses Learn About Their Audience
The key to every successful business is identifying the customer's needs. Social media allows knowing your potential customers easier through social networks. You can acquire the dominant languages spoken by your social media audience, as well as their age and gender. This information can be used to cater campaigns and product offers to your target audience.
Helps Businesses Provide Better Customer Service and Build Relationships
Social media allows businesses to get instant access to customers comments, questions, and concerns. This provides businesses with valuable insight on customer perspective. Although a company may have a dedicated customer service department reachable through phone and email, it is crucial to handle issues along the method of communication consumers prefer. Customers want to know that they can easily be helped if they have a problem. According to Forbes, 71% of consumers who receive a quick response on social media say they are more likely to recommend that brand to other people. If you respond to a customer's concern through a public social media network, such as Facebook or Twitter, it adds a level of transparency to your business. Communicating with your customers directly allows you to build deeper relationships and demonstrates your quality of customer service.
Increase Your Website Traffic
Sharing content on social media invites users to visit your website. It also allows you to reach out to new customers. If you post content of high quality on social media, customers will not only return to your site, but share it with others as well.
Boost SEO Rankings
In the past simply optimizing your site and regularly updating your blog were the only SEO requirements. The presence of social media is one of the most significant factors in increasing rankings. Search engines are receiving "brand-signals" from businesses sharing their content on social media that speaks of their brands legitimacy, credibility, and trustworthiness. It is necessary to be actively posting to receive rankings for specific keywords.
Share Content Easier And Faster With Social Media Marketing—At Zero Cost!
Social media has made it easier and faster to share content. Before marketers had trouble getting content to their customers in the shortest possible time. Also, social networks are a cost-effective way to brand in front of fans and potential customers. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest allow you to advertise and distribute content with no cost outside of your time spent. These social networks provide advanced, but affordable advertising platforms you can use to target your consumers with demographic, keywords and interest-based campaigns.
Social media can open so many doors for your company, especially when you choose to work with BrioDigital. The minute you decide to jump onboard with our team, you are giving your company the opportunity to step into the realm of digital marketing, in which you get the chance to show the world that your company is like no other, and in the process, attract new customers and positive publicity for your company. The success of your business is of the utmost importance to our team, so don't wait to join our team today, and get your company on the map!
Call Us To Begin Your Campaign!
Call us at (888) 310-8074 to experience the benefits of social media. Contact us today! We will show you how social media marketing can increase the value of your brand or company.


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Privacy Policy
At Penrith Physiotherapy Sports Centre we aim to ensure absolute confidentiality and safety of all personal health information collected regarding our patients.
Nature and scope of this practice policy
This practice policy primarily addresses the management of "personal health information" in the practice.
This practice policy covers the following areas:
- Privacy
- Third party access
- Access by a new physiotherapist or other practitioner
- Patient access
- Security
- Staff training
- Informing new patients
- Marketing materials
Personal health information is defined as information which concerns a patient's health, medical history or past or present health care; and which is in a form that enables or could enable the patient to be identified.
This policy is based on the 2001 RACGP/CPMC Best Practice for the Management of Health Information in Medical Practice. The handbook is consistent with the national Principles for the Fair Handling of Personal Information in the Federal Privacy Act 1988 as amended and with AVT, Victoria and proposed NSW health Privacy Legislation.
While the policy focuses on the management of the patient's medical record, it also relates to information recorded, for example, in billing and accounting records, pathology and radiology results, medical certificates and letters to and from hospitals and other doctors.
Retention and Culling of clinical and administration records
All hard copies of information are stored safely and securely on the premises and kept for a minimum of 7 years after final attendance at the practice. In the case of a child, files are stored for 7 years after the final attendance after the child has turned 18 (25 years of age).
Our practice software stores some administrative and clinical records.
All electronic records are kept indefinitely and are made inactive at the discretion of the practice manager and treating practitioner or practice partner in the event the treating practitioner is unable to advise.
If necessary inactive electronic records are made active again using our computer software.
No record will be destroyed at any time without the permission of the treating practitioner or of a practice partner if the treating practitioner is no longer involved in the practice.
In the event of a practitioner being deceased or transferring out of the practice, the practice will post a notice in the practice waiting room or on the practice website informing patients.
OR a departing practitioner may choose to individually inform each patient, asking the patient to nominate a practitioner to whom the record should be transferred.
If the practice closes, patients will be contacted individually or, if this is not practical, a public notice will be placed in the local newspaper indicating the way in which patients should arrange for the transfer of their record to another physiotherapist.
When hard files are due to be destroyed they are shredded as directed by the Practice Manager.
1. Privacy
All practitioners and staff will take steps to ensure that patients can discuss issues relating to their treatment and that the practitioners and other staff can record relevant personal health information, in a private setting where unauthorised people cannot access the information.
For example: practitioners will ensure that consultations are conducted in a manner that prevents conversations from being overheard. Staff will not enter a consultation area without communicating with the practitioner. Staff, other practitioners and students should not be presented during the consultation without the prior permission of the patient.
There is auditory privacy in the waiting areas. The receptionists speak softly without mentioning patient's full name, health conditions or problems.
Consultation areas have a modesty curtain to ensure patient privacy.
2. Access to the Health record and to personal health information by practice staff and for practice research and Quality Assurance.
Patients are informed of who in the practice has access to their records.
Such information is displayed on the practice website.
Patients will be informed and consent gained if the practitioner undertakes research and quality improvement activities in which patient information is to be used.
The practitioner responsible for the activity will ensure that appropriate information is available from the reception staff for patients.
Access to identified records without patient consent may occur if this disclosure is necessary for the practitioners in the practice to carry out a review of their practice for the purpose of improving the quality of care provided and the activity has been approved under Commonwealth or State legislation or by a professional college. This may occur for example during a record audit carried out as part of practice accreditation. This provides safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information provided.
When research projects are conducted in the practice under the approval of an institutional ethics committee, staff must be aware of the requirements to obtain consent specified in the research protocol and ensure that consent is properly obtained.
Where possible identifying information will be removed from personal health information being used for research and QA activities. Where this is not possible, internal staff accessing personal health information are aware that they are under an obligation of confidentiality not to disclose the information. Breaches of that obligation may result in dismissal. The responsible practitioner will ensure that any external researchers are also under an explicit written obligation of confidentiality with appropriate penalties for disclosure.
Other disclosure
Practitioners and staff will ensure that personal health information is disclosed to third parties only where consent of the patient has been obtained. Exceptions to this rule occur when the disclosure is necessary to manage a serious and imminent threat to the patient's health or welfare, or is required by law.
Practitioners will explain the nature of any information to be provided to others about the patient, for example, in letters to referrers, other practitioners and hospitals. If appropriate the letter may be shown to the patient. In terms of a letter patient consent is implicit in their agreement to be referred by their referrer or to take the letter to a hospital or other practitioner.
Practitioners and staff will only disclose to third parties that information which is required to fulfill the needs of the recipient.
Information disclosed to Medicare or other health insurers will be limited to the minimum required to obtain insurance rebates. Information supplied in response to a court order will be limited to the matter under consideration by the court.
Information classified by a practitioner or patient as restricted will not be disclosed without the explicit consent of the patient and/or practitioner.
3. Access to the record by a new treating practitioner
Access to accurate and up-to-date information about the patient by a new treating practitioner is integral to the practitioner providing high quality health care. If a patient transfers away from the practice to another practitioner, and the patient requests that the health record is transferred, the existing practitioner will provide a copy of the record. This may incur a reasonable administration charge.
4. Patient access to records
It is practice policy that all patients have access to the health information contained on their file. The treating practitioner will provide an up-to-date and accurate summary of their health information on request or whenever appropriate.
The treating practitioner will consider in a timely manner any written request made by a patient for access to the health record itself. In doing so he/she will need to consider the risk of any physical or mental harm resulting from the disclosure of health information.
If the practitioner is satisfied that the patient may safely see the record then he/she will either show the patient the record, or arrange for provision of a copy and explain the contents to the patient. A charge may be incurred by the patient for any copying.
5. Security
Practitioners and staff will protect personal health information against unauthorised access while it is being stored and transmitted.
Staff will ensure that patients and other visitors to the practice will not have access to the health record and that records or any other papers containing personal health information are not left where they may be accessed by unauthorised persons.
Non-clinical staff will limit their access to personal health information to the minimum necessary for the performance of their duties.
Fax, e-mail and telephone messages will be treated with security equal to that applying to health records.
Computer screens will be positioned in a way which prevents unauthorised viewing of a patient's personal information. Staff will ensure that computers left unattended cannot be accessed by unauthorised persons.
Practitioners and staff will ensure that personal health information held in the practice is secured against loss or alteration of data.
Patient records will not be taken away from the practice except when required by clinical staff for the care of a patient and kept securely during this time. The responsible clinician will ensure that the record is returned to the practice and left in an appropriate place for filing.
Health records and other papers containing personal health information are either securely disposed of or filed promptly after each patient contact.
Staff will ensure that the computers are secured with a password and that the building is locked when leaving.
The data on the computer system will be backed up daily and a duplicate backup tape given to the nominated staff member for storage off site. Computer systems are constantly updated with latest virus and firewall protection.
6. Staff training
On induction, all practice members are trained in the importance of confidentiality. All staff sign a confidentiality statement stating that breaching confidentiality is a dismissible offense.
Staff are encouraged to attend Receptionist Seminars, where available, as these contain segments on the management of personal health information.
The staff induction program will contain a specific segment on the management of personal health information.
7. Marketing Materials
We strive to deliver highly educational content and ways to improve your overall experience as a patient. We would like to send a periodic email from time to time to keep you updated. You can UNSUBSCRIBE to these emails by clicking the link at the bottom of the email sent to you.


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In the small Ghanaian town of Nsawam, AEF helped Slim Tettey start a bakery which serves the many hungry travelers as they continue north toward other major cities. Nsawam is famous for its sweet bread—give it a try if you are ever stopping through.
We will keep you updated about volunteer, fundraising and other opportunities. Oh yeah, and if there is news, we'll tell you about it.


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By Mason Resnick
With smart phones and tablets becoming a photographic viewing and sharing medium of choice, Nikon today announced their first Wi-Fi-friendly DSLR, the D5300. Is it the best of all worlds?
Nikon today announced a wireless refresh of its mid-range APS DSLR. The In addition to the 5300, Nikon announced a new Nikon D5300 is the first APS sensor Nikon DSLR to offer full Wi-Fi communication ability, giving users the option of sharing images online directly from their camera, or to operate the camera remotely using a free app on their smart phones or tablet computers. As with its predecessor, the Nikon D5300 comes with the superb 24MP DX sensor, which can also be found in the higher-end D7200. Also new is an extra-large 3.2-inch swivel LCD monitor, The D5300 accepts all Nikon F-mount lenses, but is best suited for use with DX lenses, and works seamlessly with the Nikon i-TTL flash system using Speedlights such as the SB-910; flash exposure is seamlessly calculated using the cameras matrix and center-weighted metering system.
58mm f/1.4G lens (see description below).
The Nikon D5300 can be pre-ordered now from Adorama. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit cards will not be charged until orders ship.
- Photo enthusiasts
- Photography students looking for a camera to grow with
- First-time DSLR users who aren't intimidated by an moderately extensive control set
- Habitual online photo sharers who aren't satisfied with cell phone photo quality
What's New
- Nikon added Wi-Fi, instant photo sharing, and wireless camera control via smart phones and tablet comptuers using
- Differences:
- Wi-Fi enabled
- Instant photo sharing via smart phone or tablet
- Control camera via smart phone or tablet
- Built-in GPS and geotagging
- Monitor resolution increased from 921k dots to 1,037k dots, 3.2 vs. 3 inches
- 24MP DX (APS) sensor measures 23.5x15.6mm
- RAW and JPEG Image Capture in 12 or 14 bit
- ISO range 100-12,800, pushable to ISO 25,600.
- 39 point AF system with 9 cross type sensors
- Full-time servo Autofocus
- Built-in HDR
- On-board photo retouch menu
- Picture Control System
Nikon D5300 vs. D7100 vs. D3200
All three Nikon APS DSLRs feature the same highly-rated 24MP sensor. According to DxOMark labs, all cameras performed almost identically in the lab, producing outstanding image quality with excellent color depth, a dynamic range of over 13 stops, and clean image quality through ISO 1200. So, if their image quality is almost identical, what are the differences between these three cameras?
The Nikon D3200: Nikon's entry-level DSLR, the D3200 guides beginners through the picture-taking process, offering on-screen explanations of modes and settings. It is the lightest and least expensive DSLR. Read more.
The Nikon D7100: Designed for enthusiasts and semi-pro photographers, the D7100 puts extensive focus and exposure controls at the user's fingertips. Nikon has removed the low-pass filter, allowing for more light to hit the sensor and effectively boost image quality and low-light performance. Read more.
Nikon D5300 strives to strike a balance, offering many enthusiast-oriented features but at a price that will meet tighter budgets. Unlike the other two cameras, the D5200 has a high-resolution flip-out LCD monitor. Compact and ergonomic, it is also capable of high-quality HD Video (as are the others) but it is the only one that will let you easily share these videos online.
Wi-Fi and beyond
Nikon is hinting that there will be more DSLRs with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, but right now the D5300 is the first and only that will wirelessly connect to D5300 with your smartphone or tablet,* then browse the photos on D5300's memory card, import your favorites and instantly email them, text them or post them online. While connected, your smart device can also act as a remote monitor for the D5300. See what the camera sees and even fire the shutter-perfect for group shots and self portraits! When travelling, built-in GPS geotags all of your shots. Create exciting travel journals, find nearby Points of Interest and easily share your location data when posting photos on Facebook or Flickr.
The Sophisticated AF and Metering
The D5300 has 39 point high-density autofocus system with 9 cross-type sensors. Nikon has 3D tracking that uses the 2016-pixel RGB sensor, so it can recognize a moving subject and follow it and keep it in focus as it moves across the frame. Nikon's Scene Recognition System analyzes each shooting situation and compares it to an onboard database of thousands of scenes and automatically determines the best exposure. If using flash, it calculates and balances flash and ambient light exposure, as well as white balance and autofocus settings.
For more experienced photographers, the camera puts manual exposure, focus, flash and white balance settings within easy reach. You can manually set one, a few, or all of the above. It's your choice. Built-in HDR combines two photos into one image, expanding the dynamic range. D-lighting is another well-known Nikon feature that automatically brightens shadowy areas in images.
The Nikon D5300 also offers the ability to edit photos in camera. Options include cropping, applying filters and effects. And, since the camera has Wi-Fi connectivity, you can immediately share the edited photos via your smartphone or tablet computer.
Nikon D5300 will cost $799.95 at Adorama, body only.
In addition to the D5300, Nikon today announced the New Low-Light Lens
AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G ($1,699.95 at Adorama), designed for use in both DX (APS) sensor and FX (35mm) sensor Nikon cameras. When shooting with a DX sensor camera, the lens effectively becomes a medium telephoto lens, offering a portrait-friendly 85mm field of view. Nikon says the lens produces evenly-lit images with edge-to-edge sharpness and no saggital coma or light falloff, even when shooting at the widest aperture, where many lenses display such optical problems. The 9-blade diaphragm has rounded edges for pleasing bokeh.
Source: Adorama


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We develop smart imaging solutions to quantify, visualize, and monitor shape and reliability of materials in real-time and over time. Our patent-pending technology is comprised of proprietary image recognition and correlation software that detects subtle changes in digital images.
Our algorithm uses the natural pattern of materials and structures to calculate its deformation, providing information about displacements over time, strain distribution, cracks due to fatigue or excessive strains.
This is especially relevant in the engineering industry, where detection and inspection of mechanical reliability are critical in microelectronics, aviation, automotive, construction, civil engineering, nuclear & petrochemical industries. Currently, technologies that are being used, such as x-ray and ultrasound, are slow, costly, heavy/bulky, and require a very high skillset to operate.
We plan to disrupt the current non-destructive testing industry by offering ways to assess and monitor materials at a fraction of the cost, using mobile and wearable hardware. We developed our minimum viable product, having validated the need, use cases, and the technology.
Our product is not limited to the engineering field. We see a significant opportunity in monitoring biomaterials, and we have proven specific use cases in the cosmetics and skin care clinical trials industry. Specifically, we used our algorithm to detect subtle changes in skin after product application, helping companies to quantify product efficacy and support marketing claims.


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Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon by Rabbi Goldberg
How one hundred and fifty years young we are!
Many here today have been loyal members and great supporters of Temple Sholom for a good portion of this time. Please know how indebted we are to you. Thank you! The success of Temple Sholom is due in no small part to your loyalty to and love for this congregation. God bless you!
You know, one hundred and fifty years ago, in 1867, some amazing things happened in the world.
January 9, 1867: African Americans in D.C. are granted the right to vote.
February 13: the Blue Danube Waltz by Strauss premieres in Vienna.
March 2: the US Department of Education is formed.
March 29: the US Congress approves the building of the Lincoln Memorial.
June 12: The Congress that serves the Austro-Hungarian Empire votes to give Jews in the Empire political emancipation. From this vote countless doors will open to Jews in Austria and the Germanic States.
September 12: the 2nd synagogue in Curacao, Emanu-El of Willemstad, is inaugurated.
September 27: the North Chicago Hebrew Congregation is formed. And that will become Temple Sholom of Chicago!
Later events that year include the opening of the first Jewish college in America, Maimonides, and the beginning of the impeachment proceedings against President Andrew Johnson.
But back to September 27 and the beginning of our congregation.
I would like to think that our founders would be excited to see what we have done with the congregation in the last 150 years.
You should know that a congregation that would last this long was not a sure thing. When the original founders of the synagogue met in a lecture room on North Clark Street in 1867 to establish our synagogue they agreed on the fact that Chicago needed a synagogue north of the river. When they dedicated the first modest building on September 27 of that year — it cost a whopping $6000 — they were in agreement that the location was convenient. The outstanding issue that divided them was what kind of Judaism would they practice.
The first senior rabbi, Adolph Ollendorf, who was paid a salary of $100 a month, only lasted for two years. Many think he left because the congregation was divided between those who wanted to practice a traditional Judaism of ritual and observance, and those who favored social justice and the reformation of Judaism.
This tension would not quickly give way and there are those who argue that the next senior rabbi, Aaron Norden, who lasted for decades, ultimately left the congregation for the same reason. The congregation couldn't decide what kind of Jews they wanted to become.
Although eventually the North Chicago Hebrew Congregation would evolve into Temple Sholom of Chicago and align itself with Reform Judaism, the tension between those who valued rituals such as keeping kosher and Shabbat observance and those who preferred the social action of prophetic Judaism remained and to some extent still remains.
Of course, the Jewish elements that the synagogue later discarded, such as head coverings for men, Torah study instead of sermons, prayer shawls, and bar mitzvahs, have all made a comeback. But the early message of social justice is still strong among Temple Sholom members.
I am proud of our social justice tradition. While researching Chicago Reform Jewish history in preparation for this year I came across a dramatic story of a labor strike at the clothing company Hart, Schaffner and Marx in 1910 that pitted poor immigrant Jews from Eastern Europe against a wealthy Reform Jew. Hannah Shapiro, an 18-year-old Russian-born worker, led a walkout in response to a wage cut at a Hart, Schaffner & Marx factory. Within weeks, nearly 40,000 others joined the strike. After four months, Joseph Schaffner, a German-born Jew, settled with his workers in a landmark agreement that established a wage increase of ten percent, a 54-hour work week, and an independent arbitration committee to resolve labor disputes.
Schaffner only agreed to settle the strike when his rabbi, Emil G. Hirsch, convinced him that his establishing a more just place to work was the Jewish thing to do.
This was a great moment for Chicago.
When we celebrate our congregation's momentous birthday, we should be proud of our legacy of social justice allied with our Jewish heritage.
God knows we need social justice now more than ever. The old English major in me keeps being haunted by W. B. Yeats' famous lines, written a century ago but oddly relevant:
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Here's my question: If "the best lack all conviction," then won't the worst "with passionate intensity" have the field to themselves?
Who are the worst who are filled with passionate intensity? I will let you make that determination for yourselves.
As for me, I want to be clear: We need actively to share our values with our beloved country. 150 years of American Jewish life North of the River should be celebrated as a blessing but also recognized as a mandate. The freedom we have enjoyed comes with certain responsibilities. These include fighting for the rights of others as if we were fighting for our own rights.
Let me get more specific: As American Jews it is essential we should express outrage and condemnation of the executive order announced recently that repeals Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA was instituted by President Obama in reaction to years of failed immigration policy, giving many young people who had spent most of their lives in the U.S. hope for the future. I know there is some doubt this drastic and harsh order will be carried out but our task is not to be lulled into complacency.
We American Jews have no choice but to support these immigrants. With vigilance.
We are a nation of immigrants. And as Jews, we are all immigrants. The young people protected by DACA are part of the fabric of our communities and of our country. Their story is the story of our people as well. We know what it is to be strangers. We know the hard work and extraordinary fortitude that is required to succeed as immigrants. And we know this: We must maintain this country's long tradition, and the principles it was founded upon, as a welcoming country, a leader of nations, and a safe haven.
The assault on immigrants is a dangerous precedent and incompatible with both our core Jewish values, and our core American values. We need policies that do not tear families apart, that aren't created out of hate and baseless fear, but that lift up our shared humanity.
The young immigrants affected by DACA are the future of this country. We cannot turn our backs on them. We call for legislative action that provides protection for DACA immigrants and all those who come here seeking a better life for themselves.
Let us then urge our Senators and Representatives to immediately pass the Dream Act of 2017 (S.1615/H.R.3440). Congress must act now to protect DACA recipients from deportation or detention. The bipartisan Dream Act would grant DACA recipients permanent residence status and provide a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers who attend college, work in the U.S., or serve in the military.
We need to support this bill because it is enmeshed in who we are.
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the head of the Religious Action Center, and a future guest this year at Temple Sholom, recently offered this pledge:
We will not be indifferent when a woman of color fears for the safety of her children.
We will not be indifferent when a young man is at risk of losing his essential health care.
We will not be indifferent when take home wages hold millions in poverty or when mass incarceration rips apart millions of American families.
We will not be indifferent when transgender Americans are denied the chance to serve their country.
We will not be indifferent when a sheriff sworn to protect the community abuses the law and preys upon people instead.
We will not be indifferent because we believe so deeply in the power of people of faith to act together and transform our society.
We will not be indifferent because we know
that when we stand with one another,
when we love one another as neighbors,
Then we can hold our leaders accountable
to a higher moral vision
that transcends any political party
and any political moment,
And redeem the soul of our nation.
There are so many other social justice issues. Our Sholom Justice Committee under the leadership of Rabbi Conover, Matty Major and Marla Gross, need your help. We should be proud of all that is being done.
And yet, I fear that too many of us today subscribe to the social justice side of Judaism but have never indulged in the larger view of Judaism, rejected for a time by our Temple Sholom ancestors, but embraced by many in the years that have passed.
Why does this matter?
For one thing, social justice does not equal Judaism.
Tikkun Olam, the commandment to repair the world, and what we usually call social justice, is vital to our mission at Temple Sholom in particular and as Reform Jews in general, but it is does not stand alone at the core of our ancient faith. World-repairing, stripped of its specific theological underpinnings, is nothing more than the vague sort of general goodwill professed not only by Jews but also by Hindus, Zoroastrians, members of the Kiwanis Club, and practically every other sentient being who ever gazed upon God's creation and had the fleeting feeling that it ought to be just a touch more perfect.
To put it another way: It's been said that saying you crave social justice doesn't make you any more Jewish than saying you crave pizza makes you Italian; it's a mood, not a belief system.
Don't misunderstand me: I personally align with progressive values, and I believe that they have a place in Judaism. In fact I celebrate the confluence of many liberal and Jewish values.
But progressive values—or conservative convictions, or libertarian streaks, or any other variety of ideological sentiments—only have a place in our religion if they spring from our corpus of Jewish texts and especially our theology.
Our sacred task as Reform Jews is to teach and reflect the authentic values of our liberal Jewish heritage. They are the values that come from the Torah, the ancient prophets, and the compassionate insights of the classical Sages.
Our 150 year legacy as a congregation– not to mention our 4000 year Jewish heritage — should not be watered down into a vague notion of social action. Unfortunately the term "tikkun olam" has become a general motto of most American Jewry, and like other Jewish words such as "chutzpah" it has entered English vocabulary without translation. American politicians readily invoke it.
Ironically the term did not always refer to social justice work. In medieval Jewish philosophy, the word "tikkun" was often applied to human self-development, and to the quest for human "perfection," self-actualization or moral/spiritual improvement. It was about self growth.
Even in the 1960s the term was not popular. Although he was no stranger to social action or to the teachings of the biblical prophets, Abraham Joshua Heschel did not use the term "tikkun olam" to describe either of them. Heschel advocated the application of a particularly and authentically Jewish way of thinking both to Jewish and universal social, ethical and spiritual issues. Unlike contemporary views of tikkun olam that begin with universalism drawn from non-Jewish ideologies, Heschel advocated the application of particularly Jewish… ideas to universalistic issues.
Simply put, our world does need repair. But so do we.
So this is what I ask of you on this special birthday: allow Temple Sholom to repair the world but also repair ourselves. The need is out there and we've got the cure: Jewish wisdom and practice.
Consider, for instance, Shabbat. I understand that Saturday worship was difficult for generations of Temple Sholom members. Many had to work on Saturday. One response in the early days was to make Sunday the Sabbath. Temple Sholom tried this for years. Then again, many over the years only came twice a year and did not visit the synagogue at all on most sabbaths.
But today is not one hundred years ago, and the demands on our sanity have never been greater. In short Jewish practices that may have seemed irrelevant to our Temple Sholom ancestors are pretty timely now.
We need time away from work, from our smart phones. We need prayerful meditation and the insights of ancient but timely texts.
Temple Sholom offers all of this. In honor of our 150 or in light of our crazy world, I plead with you to take this part of Judaism seriously too.
Working the Monday meal is amazing. Studying on Saturday and Sunday is also a gift, one that I urge you to consider. Being members of this incredible temple gives us a kind of Jewish authenticity that is hard to beat, but there is more that most of us can do to practice Judaism in its fuller sense.
The brochure you have spells out a myriad of opportunities, including studying our Reform Jewish heritage and the teachings of the classic prophets. Please take them home!
In short, we all know that America has many faults that must be repaired. I pray that we find a way as a country to do this work together. We must, as Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said during a 1965 commencement address for Oberlin College, learn to live together as brothers and sisters. Or, we will perish together as fools. But such work does not start in the streets. It starts in the classroom and sacred space. We repair the world first by repairing ourselves.
In conclusion, consider the insight of a Jewish ethical sage:
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
My friends, the new world beckons, the year of celebration begins and the world more than ever needs our help.
I pray we will rise to the challenge, buoyed by our noble and righteous heritage, inspired by the dedication and legacy of the giants who walked before us.
Happy Birthday, Temple Sholom.
Now let's get busy!