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its a research essay, meaning we had to do extensive research on a topic and write an essay on it. i chose chemical dependency counselor because thats the job i am studying for. constructive criticism is highly encouraged. especially towards the end of the essay where i feel like i fizzled out. thanks. i gotta hand this in on thursday, its about 90% done.
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Think of licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADC) as the last line of defense against drug addiction. A counselor is needed only when all other defenses have failed, whether that is parenting, scare tactics, educational programs, or law enforcement.
Sometimes a person will choose this career because of past chemical dependency with their friends, family, or themselves. Personally, I've never had chemical dependency cross paths with my life. I'm choosing this career based on the availability of jobs, interest in the field, and a general desire to make a difference.
Richard Fields has developed many educational programs relating to alcohol drug counseling and also has over thirty years experience. He defines addiction with three parts; the user's life seems to revolve around the object of their addiction, the user cannot avoid using the object of their addiction for a significant amount of time, the user will suffer many negative consequences, but will be unwilling to give up the object of their addiction (Fields 129). Imagine doing your favorite activity. What if that activity was harmful to you? How hard would it be to stop doing that harmful activity? This is only scratching the surface of what people with an addiction struggle with everyday.
Drugs and alcohol have a dramatic effect on the user. Craig Nakken, a counselor with over twenty years of experience, explains, "It [addiction] is a lifestyle in which the person is commanded to give up all other relationships†(Nakken). Severe depression, suicidal thoughts, risk of AIDS through sexual behavior, loss of friends, isolation, loss of job, legal problems, and death can be results of substance abuse (Fields 144). Addicts experience a mood change within themselves. A fear of breaking away from the addiction can occur (Nakken). This fear is derived from the fact that the addiction has become the dominant relationship in their lives. Friends and family have been pushed away through lies, deceit, and the uncontrollable nature of the addict's personality.
The addict and the addict's family are not the only people hurt by substance abuse.
Society as a whole is effected by drug abuse whether or not each person is an abuser themselves. The addict should take responsibility for their own actions. However, the person killed by a drunk driver, the store clerk robbed because of an addict who
needed money for their addiction and a baby born to an alcoholic mother- these people had no say in the matter. According to Dan P. Alsobrooks, president of the National District Attorneys Association in Virginia:
The crimes related to substance abuse range far beyond drug possession. They run the gamut from environmental pollution to murder. Crimes include gang wars to control drug markets; methamphetamine manufacturing sites that are biohazard; deaths caused by drug-impaired drivers. The list goes on.
Indeed, the list goes on. Antonia Abbey states, as told by Richard Fields, "At least half of the sexual assaults on college campuses involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator,
victim, or both†(Fields 7). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome occurs when a pregnant women drinks alcohol. Only two birth defect related diseases- Down syndrome and spinal bifida occurs more often than Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Fields 86). Children growing up with parents preoccupied with substance abuse are four times more likely to end up abusers themselves (Fields 42).
Estimations indicate that there are over twelve million alcoholics in the United States (Fields 5). Each one is harming more people than just themselves. "In 1998, thirty-six percent of convicted jail inmates were under the influence of drugs at the time of their offense†(Alsobrooks 58). No guarantees can be made that these crimes would never have happened had it not been for drugs, but the presence is undeniable.
If you want to pursue a career as a LADC, you must know that on July 1, 2008, new rules take effect concerning licensing for addiction counselors. According to The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, there are four basic requirements; getting a bachelor's degree, complete a internship, passing an oral test, and a written test (1).
Students that complete their education and internship before July 1, 2008 will be eligible for licensure with an associate's degree or its equivalent. According to Val Swanson, teacher for Chemical Dependency classes at Ridgewater College, equivalent means a student must complete at least sixty-four credits; the only required classes are six human services chemical dependency and counseling classes (Swanson). Under the rule changes July 1, 2008, counselors are required to receive a bachelor's degree, not its equivalent. However, to be considered under the current rules, the associate's degree or equivalent and internship must be completed and the letter must be postmarked before or on July 1, 2008 (Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy 1-2).
Schools usually will help their students find a facility to intern for. The student is free to choose their own internship facility, but is not recommended to intern at a facility they were previously a patient (Swanson). An intern will follow a counselor around, participate in group therapy, and do some paperwork.
Once the student gets their licensure, opportunities are not very limited. Students who do not get a job at the facility they interned for, even though that is the goal, have no reason to worry. Val Swanson explains, "Right now is probably the best time of all ever to try to get in […] in Minnesota there is only about fifteen hundred LADCs†(Swanson). Also encouraging for a prospective counselor is the sheer number of counseling centers available. In the area where I live, there are centers in almost every surrounding town. It won't be hard to find places to apply to.
In addition, there is a strong demand for LADCs. This demand is expected to increase through 2014 due to some states that have started requiring treatment instead of jail time for nonviolent related drug possession. (Minnesota Career Information System). Also, many insurance companies would rather send their client to a treatment program rather than a psychiatrist; this is because it is cheaper to send clients to a psychiatrist (Minnesota Career Information System, Swanson).
There are two types of treatment facilities; inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient is where a patient lives in the facility during treatment. Outpatient allows the patient to go to work or school while receiving treatment at night. Insurance companies often times want their client to try outpatient first, because it is cheaper for the insurance company. Conversely, treatment facilities make most of their money through inpatient patients (Swanson). A counselor who works at an inpatient facility typically works a usual nine to five work day. A counselor working in an outpatient facility will usually work at night.
Minnesotans in this career, on average, make more than the national average. The Minnesota average is thirty eight thousand six hundred, while the national average is thirty two thousand five hundred (Minnesota Career Information System).
An addiction counselor's main objective is to help an addict overcome hardships that have occurred with relation to chemical dependency, identify weaknesses, and establish a life beyond their addiction. Counselors will work in group therapy as well as one on one with a patient. Counselors also will help family members, by reconciling their grief and also teaching the family how to support the addict during recovery (Minnesota Career Information System).
When it comes to chemical dependency counseling, much of it involves planning (Swanson). The counselor will put together a profile and steps for the patient to follow. The patient will need to check in for the counselor to verify the appropriate steps and assignments are being completed.
Surprisingly, much of a counselors work is not counseling itself. Paper work must be kept for every client. Phone calls need to be made to reach patient's next facility of care, probation officer, or insurance company (Swanson). If the counselor is working with adolescents, phone calls need to be made to parents and schools.
Another facet of a counselors work is working on themselves for their own personal health. You must be sober for at least one year before applying for licensure. You also have to work on being trustworthy for your patients. If a patient can't trust the counselor, treatment will not work. This can go against males trying to get into this field. Often times, even though it is not always the case, men cannot council women. This is due in large part because many women in recovery for chemical dependency have also been abused (Swanson).
Hopefully I have illustrated why substance abuse is not a victimless crime. Substance use and abuse harms the addict, the addict's family and every living person through indirect, if not direct, contact. LADCs are not a magical solution, in fact, most patients do not succeed in their treatment and recovery is a lifelong process. Swanson explains, "Treatment is like planting seeds, they don't all grow†(Swanson). LADCs are only a piece of a very complex and confusing puzzle in America's defense against substance abuse.
Works Cited
Alsobrooks, Dan P. "Drug Abuse Causes Crime.†Crime and Criminals. Ed. Torr, James
D. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2004.
Fields, Richard. Drugs In Perspective. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.
LADC Licensure Changes
Beginning July 1, 2008. 2 Feb. 2007. 4 Feb. 2007 <http://www.bbht.state.mn.us/
Minnesota Career Information System. Ed. Editor of site. 2006. U at Oregon. 10 Feb.
2007 <http://mncis.intocareers.org/info2.aspx?File=Occ&FileNum=
Swanson, Val. Personal Interview. 12 Feb. 2007.


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Comfort Suites
17W445 Roosevelt Rd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 916-1000
Fax: (630) 916-1068
17W445 Roosevelt Rd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL, US, 60181
- Phone: (630) 916-1000
- Fax: (630) 916-1068
Bars & Cafes
After a hard day's shopping at the Oakbrook Center, saunter in for some TLC. For those who find comfort in food can relish on Beef Tenderloin Lasagna ($15.95), Angel Hair Pasta ($12.95) or Herb Encrusted Salmon Salad ($11.95). The Sunday Brunch ($29.95) offers unlimited wine. The cigar and martini bars have quite a selection. And if you're here just for kicks, there's nothing like mouthfuls of Peach Blueberry Cobbler while watching golf on the television.
»Mike Ditka's - Oakbrook Terrace
This is Chicago's beloved icon Mike Ditka's restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace where you can see the former Bears coach overseeing things. The upscale decor has walls filled with tributes and Ditka's personal mementos. Try one of these original dishes - Kick-Ass Paddle House Steak, Da Pork Chops, Fullback-Sized Filet Mignon and Massive Twice Baked Potatoes. If you want to go for something lighter, go for their wood fired pizzas, seafood and salads. The full bar highlights Ditka's own wine label. For the locals, Mike will always be 'Da Coach', so come and check out why his restaurants are most booked.
»Antico Posto Italian Cafe & Wine Bar
Your growling stomach will fully approve of your choice of venue and menu once you have parked yourself at one of Antico Posto's tables. The homemade ravioli, pastas and tender, succulent meat are worth the money crunch. Thin crust pizzas were never out of fashion, but Posto's makes a style statement with the pizza presentation! Too bad your stomach can't see it!
»Corner Bakery Cafe
What began as a small bread bakery, has evolved into a fast, casual cafe offering a menu of healthy & delicious sandwiches, soups, pastas, salads, paninis, kid's selections and desserts. They offer catering services and Wi-Fi access for patrons dining in the cafe. Corner Bakery also offers a breakfast menu that is certain to start your day in a satisfying way.
»Reel Club
Located at the Oakbrook Center, this is the restaurant to head to for a reel-y good seafood meal. At this classy eatery, you have the opportunity to gorge on some of the freshest seafood in town, and you also have a vast array of sushi rolls from which to choose. Broiled Chilean sea bass, Norwegian salmon and pan-roasted mahi-mahi are just a few of the delicacies from the sea, and you also have charbroiled steaks to enjoy. A meal would be incomplete without a wine pairing, and the Barracuda Lounge has as many as 40 to offer you. Delicious cocktails like the Amaretto Sour and Chef Bonner's Bloody Mary also must be tried.
»Redstone American Grill - Oakbrook Terrace
From being warmly greeted at the door to being seated in their warm and inviting dining room, you will feel special in Redstone American Grill's Oakbrook Terrace branch. Aromas of the grilled dishes and rotisserie specials waft through the air, riveting your eyes towards their open kitchen, which will tantalize your appetite. The menu features signature steaks, innovative appetizers, chicken and seafood all skillfully prepared from scratch. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Redstone is great for an intimate dinner or any other occasion you want celebrate here, whether it is at the warm fireplace or at the bustling bar, you will be delighted. Even a casual meal is made special by the lovely service.
»Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
A steakhouse that has its own USDA Prime certification, Gibsons has large portions of supremely succulent steaks for you to enjoy. The aged meat is flavorful and tender, a treat to the taste buds. Your steak options are numerous, and you can have anything from the 22 ounce W.R.'s Chicago Cut to the 16 ounce bone-in sirloin. The Blue Star Burger, baby back ribs and spit-roasted chicken are popular preparations. No meal is complete without huge confections like macadamia turtle pie and carrot cake. The bar, which stocks many excellent wines, is open from 11a to 2a daily.
»Reza's Restaurant
A Mediterranean eatery famed for its seafood and kabobs, Reza's Restaurant offers you a wonderful dining experience. The lunch and dinner menus abound with exotic preparations that will definitely leave you wanting more, irrespective of whether you're looking for a vegetarian meal or something meaty. Your Mediterranean meal begins with appetizers like dolmeh and maust khiar, after which you can gorge on some delicious kabob sultani, Persian style whitefish and ghormeh sabzi. From the lounge come drinks like the Electric Lemonade and Tiramisu Martini, which you are sure to enjoy.
»Volare Restaurant
Volare Restaurant at Oakbrook Terrace is the sister restaurant of the Chicago one. This Italian gem is bigger with a huge bar, weekend live entertainment and outdoor patio dining. Try their homemade pastas with their signature sauces such as vodka and bolognese or their signature dishes like scaloppine all pizzaiola and chicken vesuvio, you will just love them. You will find the restaurant filled with regulars and it can get noisy but the food is worth everything. It is a steal. Look no further if you want gorgeous Italian food.
One of your dining options at the Oak Brook Promenade, Grotto is a steakhouse that has Italian delicacies for you to savor. A meal at this restaurant begins with appetizers like wings Oreganato, baked clams and crab cakes, after which you can move on to some delicious entrées like Italian style pork chops and New York strip steaks, perfect for meat lovers. House specialties include chicken Vesuvio and eggplant parmesan, and there is a lot of scrumptious seafood on offer as well. Check the website for varying lounge hours.
»La Tosca Ristorante and Pizzeria
La Tosca Ristorante and Pizzeria is known for their Italian delicacies and award-winning pizzas. Must try's are the Chilean sea bass and seafood risotto though the other dishes are also scrumptious. They have weekly lunch buffet, Sunday brunch along with nightly dinners. No matter whatever be the occasion, you can step into La Tosca and have a gratifying meal along with family and friends.
»D.O.C Wine Bar
Head over to D.O.C Wine Bar after some walking around at The Shops on Butterfield. This place has such a wonderful selection of wines. If you don't know what you want, then you're going to have to ask for help! The staff is helpful and will patiently run you through your options, depending on your taste. The food served here is good too. Prices are a little high, but worth the upscale experience.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi Guys
Does anyone know when the trial ends - how you go to a full blown A2 full function suite?
Yes, add in your academic domain to your tenant to verify eligibility and then you'll be able to access the A2 SKU under the "purchase services" section.
.sch.uk and .ac.uk are automatically approved since they're only available to edu customers; any other TLD requires you to fill in a form.
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BWW Reviews: JOSEPH National Tour Starts Slow in Cleveland
The format for "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT," a version of which is now on stage at the Palace Theatre, makes the show unique. In contrast to almost all musicals, except reviews, the show has no script. There is music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, but no spoken format for dialogue, no hints on how to stage the piece. Therefore, each production is dependent upon the creativity of the show's stagers.
JOSEPH is a musical interpretation of the Biblical story of Joseph, who is sold into slavery by his brothers, who are jealous of his being the favorite of Jacob, their father. Joseph, is taken to Egypt and sold as a slave. Oh "Poor, Poor Joseph." His master, "Potiphar" has a beguiling wife who seduces innocent Jo. The boy winds up in jail and laments, "Close Every Door to Me." But fear not. Jo has the ability to interpret dreams. Yes "Any Dream Will Do." His fate turns when he successfully tells the Pharaoh's butler what his dreams mean and there is hope, "Go, Go, Joseph." The Pharaoh is having nightmares, "Poor, Poor Pharaoh." Joseph is brought to him, and "Pharaoh's Dream Explained." The Pharaoh (who could make a fortune in Las Vegas as an Elvis impersonator) appoints him as his "next main man."
His brothers, who are starving back home, oh, "Those Canaan Days," and are unaware that their brother is now the second in command, come to Egypt to beg for food. They actually "Grovel, Grovel" before Joseph. Even though they have partaken in "fratricide", Joseph forgives them and gives them bags of food. But his golden chalice is "stolen." "Who's The Thief?" Benjamin? But, as revealed in "Benjamin Calypso," the whole incident is a ruse to test his brothers.
As happens in fairy tales and Bible stories, there is singing and dancing with a "Joseph Megamix" and the audience goes home happy. At least, many of them walk out pleased to have spent an "hour or two," with Jo and his adventures.
This JOSEPH is a reimagining of the show, which includes a great deal of new musical orchestrations by John Cameron. For those who have seen the show before, readjusting your ears may be necessary. Yes, the hip hop, tap, jazz, rock, calypso, disco and ballad sounds are still there, but many of the songs have a new contemporary sound.
Unfortunately, at least on opening night, all did not go totally well. The first act dragged. There was almost a chaotic community theatre feeling to the goings on. Maybe it was opening night jitters and the knowledge that the reviewers were there. Maybe it was all the constant moving of platforms all over the stage. Maybe it was getting used to the huge Cleveland audience and their reactions.
The second act worked much better, maybe because director Andy Blankenbuehler added shticks and gimmicks and scenic designer Beowulf Boritt eliminated all the dragging around of platforms and turned over the sets to the projections.
Another issue was the lack of continuity. Starting as a sleep scene (filled with wonderful fantasy projections, but which didn't forecast what was coming), the opening morphed into a very contemporary dance number in modern clothing. Then there was an unexplained transitional trip to Canaan, as we are introduced to "Joseph & Sons" and "Joseph's Coat." When the final song states that we are being taken "back to the beginning," why didn't we get a trip in time back to the opening scene? Hey, Mr. Blankenbuehler, words have meaning that tell us what to expect. They should be adhered too!
Another issue may have been the casting of Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young, who are known to many, especially the younger members of the audience, for their appearances on "American Idol."
Adorable DeGarmo started singing in a high pitched voice, which partially abated in the second act. Young, he of handsome face and sculpted body, looks better than he sings, dances or acts. His voice sounded nasal. Both tended to sing words rather than meanings. They weren't terrible, just not what is expected of Broadway performers.
Ryan Williams, he of swiveling hips and the Elvis smirk and snarl, was point-on as the Pharaoh, stopping the show with his "Song of the King" and its several reprises.
Paul Castree (Simeon) and his brothers' French inspired "Those Canaan Days" brought the audience to life with their singing and plate-smacking and stacking routine.
Daniel Brodie's video and projection designs enthrall. Displayed on walls of gauzy material, on parts of costumes and on the stage curtains, they are a lesson in the new trend in Broadway musical theatre sets. (The woman seated behind me squealed, "How are they doing that?" on the first effect and continued to repeat that phrase throughout the visual displays.)
Blankenbuehler's choreography was well conceived to parallel the many sounds of the score. The young man playing Benjamin, who was not identified in the program, did some impressive gymnastics during many of the numbers.
Film rights to JOSEPH have been purchased by Sir Elton John. He, along with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, will produce an animated family feature.
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: JOSEPH is one of my favorite escapist musical theatre scripts. I love the music, the creativity of taking a Bible story and making it into a pleasant family experience without getting preachy. The version now on stage at the Palace was not one of my favorite stagings of the show. Audiences will generally like it, but it could have been "One More Angel in Heaven," at least in show business firmament, but it wasn't.
"JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" is scheduled to run through March 16, 2014. For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to www.playhousesquare.org.


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How are men like lightbulbs?
You have to screw both of them to get a response!
Check out the list of comedians who taped specials in March.
Unlimited streams and downloads of the best stand-up specials for just $5.
Visit our CC Live page for live comedy events near you.


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Snowden Queries Putin On Live TV Regarding Russian Internet Surveillance
Re:Putin actually speaks the truth (396 comments)
Indeed! Russia also requires all telcoms and ISPs, at their expense, to install monitoring equipment of the internet and telephones, This project is called SORM (wikipedia entry for SORM). The system was put into place around 1996-2000, but it has been used as recently as the Winter Olympics (source). It is explicitly a mass-surveillance system, so either Putin is lying or he is bending the truth: Russia doesn't pay for it... but by law the telcoms have to pay it. They don't do illegal wiretapping because it is explicitly legal. And you're right, they might not have the ability to store all that data for long periods of time, but you can be sure they are targeting people. And you can be sure they are targeting foreign governments too (of course). Heck, there were several diplomatic leaks at the beginning of the Crimean crises in order to strain US-EU ties. You can be sure that's due to Russia's intelligence services.


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Book your room at Best Western Hotel City Gävle
Standard RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 infant)
Family RoomMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 infants)
Single RoomMax Occupancy: 1 guest
Gavle hotel with a restaurant
Situated in a shopping district, this hotel is close to Stortorget, Gavle Castle, and Joe Hill Museum. Also nearby are Gavleborg County Museum and Boulognerskogen Park.
Hotel Features
In addition to a restaurant, Best Western Hotel City Gävle features a bar/lounge. Other amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access and dry cleaning/laundry services.
Room Amenities
Televisions come with satellite channels. Guestrooms also feature complimentary wireless Internet access, desks, and hair dryers.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Best Western Hotel City Gävle
At your hotel
The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. This 3.5-star property offers access to a business center and a meeting room.
A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. 5 meeting rooms are available. This Gavle hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, multilingual staff, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Parking is available onsite for a surcharge.
- Total number of rooms - 100
- Number of floors - 4
- Bar/lounge
- Business center
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free Wi-Fi
- Computer station
- One meeting room
- Multilingual staff
- Luggage storage
- Restaurant
- Conference space size (feet) - 72
- Number of meeting rooms - 5
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
Stay connected
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi
Park your car
Self parking (surcharge)
In your room
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Hair dryer
- Shower only
- Hair dryer (on request)
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Desk
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Satellite TV service
- Free Wi-Fi
Eat and drink
HC Bar Restaurant - This restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. Open select days
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
The fine print for Best Western Hotel City Gävle
When you arrive
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
When you leave
Check-out time is noon
How you can pay
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Your pets
Pets allowed, Only dogs are allowed, Maximum number of pets per room 1
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Self parking fee: SEK 100 per day
- Pet fee: SEK 250 per pet (varies based on length of stay)
- Rollaway bed fee: SEK 250 per day
We should mention
This property allows pets in specific rooms only (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can request one of these rooms by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
National Rating
Hotelstars Union assigns an official star rating for properties in Sweden. This property is rated 3 star Superior and is displayed on this page as 3.5 stars.


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17 May 2013 14:45
In the beginning came the Honda CB500F naked and CBR500R sports, now here's the adventure-styled 'X' version of Honda's new twin. Was it worth the wait? brightcove.createExperiences();
24 April 2013 16:48
Last month MCN travelled to Austin, Texas, for our first ride of Ducati's new 1199R, their ultimate superbike. Check out what road tester Michael Neeves thought of the bike around MotoGP's newest circuit. brightcove.createExperiences();
10 April 2013 10:30
MCN took the top dog of adventure bikes, the BMW R1200GS to South Wales to test it against Yamaha's stalwart Super Tenere, last year's winner the Triumph Explorer, and KTM's new pretender the 1190 Adventure R. We spent three days riding through horrible conditions on the famous Black Mountain Road - find out the winner here! brightcove.createExperiences();
03 April 2013 10:09
Last week MCN took BMW's old R1200GS head to head against it's replacement, the 2013 model. Does the new bike - the UK's top-selling bike last year - measure up to what it's replacing? brightcove.createExperiences();
06 March 2013 10:17
The BMW Race Camp at Almeria, Spain is heaven on earth for S1000RR racers and trackday riders. It's backed by BMW, and attended by the technicians who actually developed the S1000RR. Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves went along on his BMW Park Lane S1000RR and discovered it's the fastest trackday in the world. Check out the video to see the ...
06 February 2013 10:34
The naked middleweight sector is really hotting up, with new bikes from MV Agusta, Triumph and Kawasaki in 2013. We took the first Kawasaki Z800 to reach the UK and tested it on frozen roads against it's category rivals - the new Triumph Street Triple, Suzuki GSR750, Yamaha FZ8 and MV Agusta's Brutale 675.
09 January 2013 11:46
King of serious off-road, KTM, has BMW's mighty GS firmly in it's sights with the new 1190 Adventure. The Austrian manufacturer has played to its strengths, focusing on ergonomics, agility, light weight and performance using a V-twin from the RC8R superbike. It's a big step forward from the go-anywhere KTM 990, but can it win a bigger slice of the ...
08 November 2012 14:00
The current Triumph Street Triple, the British firm's best selling machine in the past five years (they've sold 50,000), weighs just 189kg, full of fuel and ready-to-go, which is bugger-all. This new version, available in dealers in the middle of November is lighter still. Weighing a piffling 183kg it's going to strike fear into its main rival: the 211kg Suzuki ...
23 October 2012 11:06
The new BMW F700GS replaces the old F650GS for 2013, although capacity remains at 800cc. We tested it against the Kawasaki Versys, Suzuki V-Strom 650 and Triumph Tiger 800 to see which is the best mid range adventure bike.
08 October 2012 10:58
The lightweight trailie market was once a booming sector, with all major manufacturers getting involved, but the current 250cc trail bike sector is a limited one. Honda hopes to reignite the class with the introduction of the CRF250L which uses the single-cylinder engine from the CBR250. We put the new bike up against the Kawasaki KLX250 and Rieju Tango. brightcove.createExperiences();
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Check out the biggest barbecue in history, in Texas, of course.
Ching's Golden Gate Chili Ribs turn any meal into a finger-licking picnic.
Dave shares tips he learned in Memphis for perfect, flavorful dry-rub ribs.
Get a taste of Skylight Inn's whole-hog barbecue with Roger in Ayden, N.C.
Bobby takes a look back at the Neelys' wet-ribs vs. dry-ribs family feud.
Satisfy the hungriest guests by roasting a whole pig over hot coals.
Join Tyler Florence for a cooking lesson with the legendary Martin Yan.
Kelsey infuses Cumin-Scented Oven-Baked Ribs with outdoor barbecue flavor.
Roger Mooking takes a trip to West Point, Texas to meet Tink Pinkard.
Alex's dad's love of Asian cooking inspired this fabulous spareribs recipe.
Get Cooking Channel on your TV.


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Getting Pregnant
Labor and Delivery
Baby and Beyond
Who here has read it? I must say it took me a LONG time to get into the book, I'm about 550 pages into it and I'd say the last 20 pages are so is what really started grabbing my attention. It takes forever it seems for the story to really start unfolding & the tension to build ~ but now I gotta say it's a pretty good story! Anyone else here go through the same thing, when first reading the book? Are the others like this? At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to erad the others due to my mild dislike (but too stubborn to stop reading lol) of the book ~ but now I think I will.
I've tried to read it,but haven't been able to. But I maytry again later. To many other things to read now.
I have no clue on the book, but totally had to say Congrats on the pregnancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG OMG OMG Chimmy!!! WOW Congrats!!!!!
I'm reading the series right now (currently on book 5 - The Fiery Cross). I was hooked pretty early on into Outlander. It isn't the same kind of "gotta read" obsession as the Twilight Saga, but has still held me enough that I'm on book 5. I started reading Outlander the 2nd week of Dec.
There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic. ~ The Thirteenth Tale
WOAH! Your one fast reader lol I'm almost finished with Outlander & it has me pretty hooked now. Whew there are some tense area's in the book!! lol
I've loved the series for years! The only one I haven't read yet is A Breath of Snow and Ashes. With the first book, it took me a little while to get into it, but I was pretty much grabbed by the time she met Jamie. I can't remember if it's the 2nd or 3rd, but one of the two starts oddly and it threw me for a loop. However, they are all amazing!
Congrats on the pregnancy!!!


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Fuerstenfelder Hotel
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Travel Blogs from Furstenfeldbruck
... br> Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810.
Ever since Dan and I started talking about and planning our travels we had Oktoberfest on the brain. This was the festival that made us determined to join our fellow NZ Visa holders in the UK.
Leading up to the event we ordered our traditional Dirndl (beer wench outfit) and Lederhosen (mens outfit), got together a group of friends and booked a ...
... and chatted before taking a photo with Daniel and going into eat. Lucky I was sitting between two lovely guys at a table with Emily. One of the guys was hilarious and we were laughing rather loudly all night. We had yummy food and a lot of wine because they constantly kept filling our glasses. I was feeling a little happy.
Then they cut the cake and got ready for dancing. Daniel came and asked for a dance I didn't think I could say no so I did. He asked if I ...
Sausage with that? Danke and Innsbruck
... back to sleep in the same country you woke up. Yep, mind blown. Innsbruck was absolutely beautiful. It's an old mid evil town in the center of the mountains. The alps were incredible and filled with mt bikers for summer but usually with snow boarding and skiers. At first it seemed a bit steep to pay 22 euro to ride to the top of them but now I understand why. You go up 2500 meters high through various levels and you get to get off a couple of times and just take in ...
Sunshine , snow .Munchen shines..
... long remembered for the tragic events of terrorism, it has also blended in with suburban Munich and can now be a place of family fun, activities and space, the arena is used mostly for music/ cultural events, the swimming Hall ( home of the famous Mark Spitz record winning 7 gold Olympic medals) is always in use for swim teams and the public. Triathlons etc are constantly held here..
The best viewpoint these days is up The Olympiaturm Tower..it has ...
... of battle scenes and medieval women, and the stair cases were narrow and spiralling. Of course because it wasn't a real medieval castle, the furniture inside was only at most two hundred years old. There was even a loaf of bread that was 120 years old!
Seeing Munich made me realize how diverse Europe is! You can't say you've seen it all if you've only been to one part, because within a country there are different dialects, traditional foods and life ...
TripAdvisor Reviews Fuerstenfelder Hotel Furstenfeldbruck
Other places to stay in Furstenfeldbruck
Romantik Zur Post FuerstenfeldbruckHauptstrasse 7, Furstenfeldbruck | 4 star hotelfrom $168
Hotel HartmannLeonhardplatz 1, Furstenfeldbruck | Hotelfrom $120


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John Donne
11 of 21 portraits of John Donne
© National Portrait Gallery, London
John Donne
by William Marshall, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1649
5 in. x 3 in. (127 mm x 76 mm)
Purchased, 1966
Reference Collection
Click on the links below to find out more:
Sitterback to top
- John Donne (1572-1631), Poet and divine. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- William Marshall (active 1617-1649), Engraver. Artist associated with 180 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.
- Unknown artist. Artist associated with 6255 portraits.


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TFA's Response to my Rejection (and of course, my response back!)
So recently, TFA offered me $1000, and I declined the money. My friend from TFA who relayed the offer yesterday responded to my blog post. Below is his reply, and mine, in the full spirit of transparency.
Hi Hannah,
I hope all is well! I'm reaching out because I was deeply disappointed to read your blog post today. Regardless of the tenor of the online conversation, you and I have always maintained excellent working relations, predicated on our shared desire to operate in the best interest of kids at all times. I have great respect for your passion and dedication. It was your passion and dedication to elevate student voices that sparked the idea, during our an initial conversation in the fall, to bring students themselves on USC campus to share their own voices. I remain as dedicated to that idea and excited about its potential to empower students as leaders in education.
I believe that true change will come from student leadership and that's why I hoped to support you and the EdEmpowered Conference this Spring. After reading your blog, I am sadden that, what could have been a moment of true collaboration for and with students, feels like another moment of division among adults. My hope was to help the conference in any way to elevate student's voices as the central focus. The only request that I made to accompany that support was that we keep the distraction of online attacks out of the equation. The contribution was offered in the spirit of two organizations with shared goals maximizing our collective energies and resources for a common purpose. The education conversation has become increasingly polarized by a host of issues. It is time that adults, such as you and I, move our personal agendas aside and truly empower students to advocate for students.
As key advocates of USC's Ed Month, having in the past co-sponsored numerous events, including one hosted by our Founder and former CEO Wendy Kopp, TFA remains available to help the conference move forward- especially if local student's voices are central.
All the best,
[omitted for privacy]
(P.S. Thank you for respecting my anonymity online; but I do ask that in the spirit of full transparency that you place this correspondence on your blog- THNAKS!)
Hi [omitted for privacy],
I hope all is well with you as well!
I want to be clear. I did genuinely appreciate your support for this event. After you called me the first time, I decided to share with you the materials I shared with everyone else that I had reached out to for support, because I have faith that you really do care about students' voices, and I deeply respect your passion for this event's mission. That has not changed one bit, and I appreciate you saying what you did because it really rings true for me.
The reason I am upset, however, is because originally I had asked for your support, as an individual. I made clear from the beginning that my request was for individual donations from personal supporters of the event. Yesterday when you called me with the offer, I was confused because I was under the impression that donations would be coming from people in your networks who you shared it with, as this has been been the method by which I have been asking friends of mine to help spread awareness and raise funds for the event. It wasn't until you talked about taking off the #resistTFA content on the EmpowerED website and you mentioned the organization a couple times that I realized the money would be coming, with strings attached, from TFA itself, despite my previous requests. At this point, I felt powerless, censored, and manipulated by an organization that wanted to put their name on my event, once again despite my previous requests. I was very taken aback and confused by the whole thing. And while technical reasons do make it difficult to take money from TFA, I will reiterate my reasons for refusing funds from TFA.
I did it essentially to honor student voice.
A lot of TFA staff people talk about working together for the sake of students and setting aside personal agenda. All my life, I have been the kind of person who believes in that idea. But this isn't about interference with an agenda; it's about my values. I cannot morally accept funds from an organization that I resist because I value the experiences and voices of my fellow student organizers. I cannot work with an organization that is hurting public education in the same communities that students on the EmpowerED core team call home. I cannot work with an org that is simultaneously in the way of what I am trying to achieve, which is to honor student voice, and of what EmpowerED students are trying to achieve, which is educational justice for their communities.
In fact, the high school student representing the Newark Students Union just spoke up last week about the NSU's stance against having TFA in their schools because they see the org as a threat to educational justice in their community. The student representatives from Chicago have also had a history of resisting Teach for America as a force that was undermining their community schools. So in the spirit of solidarity with those students and other students in the student power movement, I refuse to affiliate with an organization that so many students are actively fighting against. I choose instead to value their stories.
TFA may have sponsored past EdMonth events, but this EdMonth event will not be one of them. Because the conversation is shifting and EmpowerED will be unprecedented in its ability to unite students who say enough to top-down corporate education reforms that were made without their voice.
So while I understand and appreciate that you as an individual believe so much in the power of student voice, I cannot say the same for Teach for America. These are my reasons for declining this partnership.
Thank you.
Hannah Nguyen
Today, I was offered $1,000. By Teach for America.
And I'm turning it down. Here's why:
As you all may know, I've been very busy recently putting together a student-led education conference for youth in LA called EmpowerED: Los Angeles Student Power 2014. I'm incredibly excited for this event, but have been struggling to raise money to fly in student organizers from all over the country. So I've been running a crowd-funding campaign to get the funds to make this personal dream of mine come true. Right now, I am a little less than $1000 short of my goal.
Let's backtrack to a few months ago, when the ideas were still brewing in my mind. I knew that I wanted to provide a space for students to elevate their student voices and organize together for educational justice, but I wasn't quite sure how at the time. Also during this time, my organization, Students United for Public Education, an entirely student-led, grassroots organization that defends public ed and believes in elevating student/community voice in the struggle for #edujustice (not #edreform), had just launched its first campaign: Students Resisting Teach for America.
After I started participating in the #resistTFA campaign a few months back, TFA folks started to reach out to me to speak with me about the campaign. They were all very respectful, very amicable, and very open to my ideas. We formed friendships, despite our differences in opinions about TFA, based on our mutual passion for education.
Like I always say, I don't automatically hate everyone in TFA. I know there are genuinely passionate and caring individuals in the organization; I'm even friends with a few of them. With them, I shared my story, my reasons for doing the work that I do, and what I fight for in education, which included my vision for elevating student voice through the EmpowerED conference, a vision that is now coming true by the end of March!
And just a few weeks ago, one of the people I spoke to from TFA a few months back reached out to me, told me they (for privacy reasons) heard about my conference, and were very excited that my vision I had shared with them months ago was actually coming true! They offered their support in any way possible, and I was grateful…
…but careful. I trusted them, but I couldn't trust the organization they was a part of. I told them that right now, my biggest problem was funding, but I could not (for paperwork reasons) and would not accept funds from any organization (in my mind: especially not TFA). Support had to come individually, from people who were personally standing by the cause. I shared with them information that I had shared with all of my friends/colleagues who I had reached out to in the past to help me spread the word and raise funds through my crowd-funding campaign. To be honest, I didn't think much would come of it. Crowd-funding has been very exhausting, and I've reached out to so many people, with very little outcomes. Needless to say, I was in a desperate position as an organizer.
Now today, I get a call that I will be getting $1000, enough to meet my goal for the EmpowerED conference. I was ecstatic.
But then I was told that I had to take off the embedded SUPE facebook page on the EmpowerED website, because there were posts about #resistTFA there. And that's when I realized that this money had strings attached, as it would be, despite my previous requests for individual donations, coming from the organization itself, an organization that I resist for very deeply personal, complex, and unique reasons.
I am ashamed to say that I was tempted. Of course, I was tempted. This money, as dirty as it was, would save me so much time and energy trying to raise the remaining $1000 on my own, or trying to make my event work with $1000 less than I intended. I was in a desperate position, but I ultimately decided, a few minutes after talking to them and thinking it through, that I could not accept the money.
I refuse to accept money from a corporation that is funded by those who contribute to the destabilization of so many communities. These communities are home to the students who will be featured at EmpowerED, students who have made history by coming together with their peers and fighting back against injustices like school closings, high stakes testing, budget cuts, and charter expansion, all of which TFA has had either a direct or indirect role in causing/perpetuating.
How could I take their money? This money was Walton, Gates, and Broad money. This money was made off of the backs of workers and poor communities. This money was behind the oppression of my people.
So, no. I will not be accepting $1000 from Teach for America.
Because I cannot be bought.
If you are an individual who supports student voice in education, please make a donation to EmpowerED 2014. We have to take care of our own. This money will be going directly to a truly grassroots, student-led event that will revolutionize education through the student power movement. Not the corporate, top-down education reform movement.
Thank you.
Peace, love, and lots of power,
Hannah Nguyen
"All the World's a Stage" – Singing and Teaching
Alright so I'll admit it. Since school has started up, I've barely had enough time to blog. Don't get me wrong… I've stayed by my word and have been doing things a lot more than writing, which is good. But I do miss sitting in front of my laptop for a whole day and just spilling thoughts onto a page. Hopefully, as things die down, I can get back to doing that.
These past few weeks have been especially tough, with the #resistTFA campaign and the news that I became a top 12 finalist for this singing competition at my university.
I've always loved to sing, and I never got the guts to do so until late in high school, and I've never taken classes or had professional training… so I really didn't see this coming, and I really didn't expect the competition to happen to quickly. But I know I had to do this competition anyway. Because if for some strange reason I don't end up living out my first dream of becoming a high school social studies teacher, I would want to sing for the rest of my life (preferably on Broadway). I'm still going to keep singing though, even when I do become a teacher, because it's how I cope with everything in my life. I sing whenever I can, and during classes or work or any stressful situation, I'll leave the room for a few minutes to find an empty space to belt out a few notes from Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" or Barbra Streisand's "Don't Rain on my Parade." Because I want to… because I have to. How else does anyone get through the day?
The world is my stage, and I sure do love to perform. I know I won't be great at it at first, but I'll always love it. I just like to feel what I'm doing and to share that passion with others. I probably have way too much optimism about how my future students are going to react to my lessons. I myself was always an enthusiastic learner, but I know not everyone is like that. But even in math class (and if you know me, you know how dull I think math is), I was excited by how excited my teacher was about teaching math, sharing that passion with us. And that's why I want to spend every day on stage, in front of a classroom. Sharing happiness and enthusiasm, what can get any better than that?
But for now, as I'm preparing for the main stage of my career, I'll keep singing on regular stages, because I am lucky enough to have found another art, another passion that gives me the same rush of exhilaration and enthusiasm as teaching. When I sing, when I feel the song I'm singing, and when I'm just dying to share that feeling with the audience, I feel the most alive. That's about as close as I can get to teaching.
So yes, I'm going to end this post with my music video that you probably have heard way too much about. I know we might not know each other, but I'd really appreciate it if you could watch it, and if you enjoy it, like and share it on Facebook. I'm so honored to be in the top 12 and now I've never wanted to win something so bad (even if it's just a school competition). I also worked really hard on this video, and while I don't think it's my best singing (for some of my best singing, check out the second video of this post), I did put my heart into the song, and your support would mean so much to me :) Thank you!
Honeymoon Avenue (music video/cover) – Ariana Grande
LIKE/SHARE original post (for your vote to count!): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202201939515793
Girl on Fire (acapella cover) – Hannah Nguyen
Curing my writer's block one impassioned sentence at a time.
When I first told my dad about how I was fighting for an educational revolution, he got really scared. He did not give me permission to continue. He was incredibly stern about it and wanted to change the subject. I left the conversation feeling hurt and confused.
I knew exactly why he got scared. He grew up during the Vietnam War, and his father (my grandpa) was a revolutionary, a secret agent working for the South Vietnamese government to resist and overthrow the North. One day he didn't come home. My dad received news that his father was tortured and killed.
Later, my dad confirmed my guesses and told me that challenging those in power could get me killed. I laughed naively and said that there's no way they would dare do that to their reputation. He said that I underestimated their power. And I really really do.
The side I fight against is powerful, to say the least. They are well-equipped with tons of money, political leverage, human resources, and a bunch of fancy PR. I am discovering that more and more each and every day. I follow a lot of "reformers" on twitter. Their ability to tweet a great-sounding lie, and then get the world to blindly believe it and spread it, is astounding and utterly frustrating.
Another thing I am realizing is how draining this struggle is. Sometimes I feel really alone. Sometimes I feel really defeated. Sometimes I feel really overwhelmed. Sometimes I feel so small. Sometimes I feel like I don't exist.
Then I stop and realize that this is what my dad meant by death. That there is something even more dreadful than actually ceasing to exist, and that is still being alive but being completely oppressed and insignificant. I realize that the worst thing they can do to me is kill my voice, my passion, my will to fight.
So I won't let them do that. As frustrating and incredibly frightening as this is, I won't let them win. I lose if I let them take away my resilience to stand up for what I believe is right. They cannot and will not get away with it.
I am reminding myself of all this as I build the website for the Students Resisting Teach for America campaign, which is highly controversial. I just realized that Teach for America literally has the money and power to pay an intern a few extra hundreds to make sure that my voice is completely delegitimized and irrelevant. They can stamp out all my work and effort with little to not effort at all. So why should I even keep going?
Because it matters. Because the fight against neoliberal corporate reform matters. Because the students whose voices aren't being heard matter. Because the students losing out on a great education matter. Because the students who were cheated and lied to by TFA matter. Because the truth matters. Because I fucking matter.
I'm probably gonna be up all night creating the campaign website, but you couldn't pay me a million dollars to not finish it. You could offer to buy me a plane ticket home so I can see my family and puppy, and I still wouldn't stop making it. My beliefs are informed by my experiences and by the stories of those I listen to and you cannot take that away from me. I don't care if you have the power to completely oppress me.
I'd like to see you fucking try.
yes I swear but "cussing doesn't come from a lack of vocabulary – I know all the other words. None of them speak the same language that my fucking heart does." –Anis Mojgani
SUPE's Students Resisting Teach for America Campaign
As you may have already heard, my organization, Students United for Public Education, is preparing to launch our first national, student-led campaign:
On October 1st, we will be announcing our official launch, but before then, we've decided to hold a fundraiser to support our campaign, since we are a completely grassroots, student-led org with little to no funds. In about 3 days, we've successfully raised over $1200 thanks to the generosity of so many justice-minded educators, parents, and students.
We are so grateful to everyone who is helping make this campaign happen, but we're not done yet! We still need your help to reach our goal of $1650! So please, if you can and if you haven't done so already, please donate to this campaign. I promise that we at SUPE are working tirelessly to make sure that your donations have a very large impact.
If you are a college student interested in starting this campaign at your school, or if you're anyone who wants to stay up-to-date with the campaign, please fill out this form to receive regular updates and/or a comprehensive campaign tool-kit!
If you are a student or TFA alumni who wants to share your story on why YOU resist/oppose Teach for America's actions and corporate interests, please fill out this form!
Here's a breakdown of the campaign, straight from the donation website:
For years, college campuses across the country have been the core recruiting ground for Teach for America (TFA). For many soon-to-be graduates, concerned as they should be with the rampant inequality embedded in American public schools, TFA appears to be an opportunity to make a difference.
Using the rhetoric of civil rights and egalitarian politics, TFA promises ambitious college students that their hard work and good intentions are a crucial component of what it will take to fix the crisis within our education system. Yet, as numerous TFA alums and professionals have made it increasingly clear, rather than fighting inequality, TFA actually promotes it.
The high-need schools in which most TFA corps members teach demand the most experienced teachers, not the least. TFA's five-week-long summer institute, insufficient to prepare any new teacher, is therefore not only inadequate preparation for corps member teachers, but also unjust for the public school students who deserve nothing less than a fully-qualified and experienced instructor.
In today's political climate, however, where many urban school districts are conducting mass layoffs and cutting teacher benefit packages, such experienced teachers are becoming increasingly rare. Here too, TFA is partially to blame, as in many of the same school districts where experienced teachers have been laid off, TFA recruits have come in to replace them.
Since most TFA teachers do not stay in their schools beyond their two-year commitment, they are far less likely to demand the higher pay and benefits, and thus stand as an attractive alternative, from the districts' perspective, to career teachers and their unions.
Increasingly across the country, college students are becoming aware of TFA's role in perpetuating inequality in our schools.
Our task now is to challenge the legitimized recruiting position that TFA enjoys on many of our college campuses, both by raising awareness and taking direct action.
And we know we can't do this alone.
That is why we–Students United for Public Education (SUPE)–will be launching the first national student-led campaign against Teach for America.
Our campaign is planned to include:
*Example of flyering already being done by SUPE member*
- Distribution of campaign tool-kits (via PDF) to students at different campuses interested in participating.These tool-kits will include flyers, different tactics to approach/bring awareness about TFA on their campus, etc.
- Creating a website about our campaign along with different resources and articles in which students can learn more about the resistance against TFA from not only students, but TFA alum, teachers, and other professionals.
- Providing prospective TFA corps members with testimonies (from students who oppose TFA/chose not to do TFA and TFA alumni who now oppose the organization) so they can make an informed decision.
- Teach-Ins where students can learn more about TFA resistance
- Panelists of TFA Alums, professionals, and students
- Other ideas are still welcomed!
What Do We Need Funding For?
In order to effectively run this 25-day long campaign (October 25th is their next application's due date), we do need funds of some sort (after all, we are just college students!).
Below is listed where your funds will be used. We will be transparent on how each dollar is spent throughout the campaign, and the funds that aren't used by the end of this campaign will be deposited into our SUPE General Funds.
We thank you all in advance for your support, and we look forward to our official launch date on October 1st.
Funds Will Be Used For:
- Color Flyers: 2,000 flyers (Staples) = $300
- Stickers: 2,000 stickers (StickerRobot.com) –> $200
- Website: Domain (WordPress.com) = $25
- Travel Expenses for Panelists: $1000
- GoFundMe Fee: (5% for each donation received) = ~$77.5
Contact Us:
Facebook: facebook.com/StudentsUnitedForPublicEducation
Twitter: @SUPEnational
Website: http://studentsunitedforpubliced.org/
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Additional Resources:
- An Open Letter to New Teach for America Recruits
- University of Minnesota Students Protest Teach for America
- Teach for America Apostates: a Primer of Alumni Resistance
- Why Teach for America Can't Recruit in my Classroom
- Student On Why She Doesn't Support TFA
- Teach For America Is Finally Getting the Scrutiny It Deserves
- Teach For America's Civil War
- Reconsidering TFA
[We also want to emphasize that we are targeting Teach for America as an organization and not the individuals who are corps members or alumni (after all, many of our supporters are TFA alumni who now disagree with the organization's role in education.)]
Thanks for reading! If you made it this far, enjoy this flyer that I just made :)
Highlights from Terri's Alabama Teacher Town Hall video – A MUST WATCH!
A commentor by the name of "Jack" was kind enough to post details of Terri's wonderful video, that captures Michelle Rhee's Teacher Town Hall in Birmingham last Thursday in all its shameful glory. Here is the video once again and Jack's comment:
Regarding this video from Birmingham,
here are some highlights:
Rhee mocks Hannah Nguyen at about
02:13 – 02:40 — quoting out of context
and distorting what Hannah wrote to her
in her email.
At 05:05, Terri Michal (MIKE-uhl) attempts to
voice her opinion—and others followed suit,
saying, "I did, too," and watch how she's
At 06:08, they rip the mic away from
her (though you can see it because
she had to hide the camera, because
cameras were not allowed… resulting
in a bad camera angle).
As the caption indicates, forum participant
Steve "unionized-teachers-are-roaches"
Perry then does not answer the Terri's
question, but instead gives the stock
answer, or rather, non-answer, which the
crowd, stacked with corporate reformers,
The security guards threatens to remove her.
By this point, the visual portion of the video
is black, with just audio.
Rhee brags about firing D.C.'s "ineffective"
teachers, but the truth is that these teachers
were the high-paid veterans that were fired
because of their high pay, and in spite of
their quality. She had fabricated a budget
deficit to do so. Shortly afterwards, she
claimed that the money was there after all.
A city councilman then said that if that's
the case, hire back the teachers.
Rhee then challenged the city councilman
and those who agreed with him to enroll
their own kids in the public schools where
the fired teachers taught… while Rhee
herself doesn't send her own kids to public
At 13:15, Terri's caption talks about Rhee
trying to stare her down… again, because
of the hidden camera, again, caused
by Rhee barring cameras from the event,
you can't see Rhee doing so… though
you can her screaming.
Rhee then assumes, that because Terri is
white, she must some elitist who "sends her
kids to tony private schools"… without any
proof of this, as it's not true. Terri tries to set
her straight, but is silenced by the security
Terri then continues refuting this with her
caption and a picture showing her actual
family… the picture speaks for itself.
Then at 14:38, sell-out George Parker talks
about how he and Rhee support improving
public schools side-by-side with charter
and private schools, but Terri's caption
correctly points out that the Alabama
Accountability Act—that Rhee pumped
millions of Students First dollars into
lobbying and political races in order to get
it passed—drains the public schools of
funding and puts them into private and
charter schools.
Then at 17:14, Steve "unionized-teacher-
are-roaches" Perry talks about all you
need to attend his school are "a pulse
and an address"… and again, Terri's
caption puts a lie to this in that the make-up
of his students are "more affluent than than
the surrounding public schools, have less
distance to travel, and are more likely to
have a bed to sleep in at night."
(Bruce Baker, Jon Pelto, and Jersey
Jazzman have posted all the data backing
this up.)
Terri's captions then back all of this up
with data from Jon Pelto's website.
(NOTE how earlier, the moderator
rushed Terri, refusing to let her preface
her question with comments, with the
reasoning that they were already "in
overtime" and had to rush… yet shortly
afterwards, Parker and Perry were allowed
to run their mouths for minutes on end.)
Near the end, Terri's caption reads:
"Thank you, Ms. Rhee for this 'teacher
town hall'.
"You have now proven that your words
mean nothing, and you have no interest
in dialogue.
"I guarantee that you have won over
no protestors in Birmingham.
"Good luck in Philadelphia!
BAT's will be flying!"
Terri has also reported that the local news has covered the protest that occurred outside before the event. They did a pretty poor job of it, but that just means they're afraid of the truth.
In other news, the Philly Teacher Town Hall happened today… From what I could gather one twitter… it got pretty heated. No sign of a large action/protest yet. If you have any info about what happened, I'd love to know! Thanks!
Brave Alabama BAT speaks out at Michelle Rhee's #RealEdTalk…Your move, Philadelphia!
Last Thursday, Michelle Rhee and her cronies, Steve Perry and George Parker, made their next stop on their three-city Teacher Town Hall tour in Birmingham, Alabama. I had a sliver (a minuscule sliver) of hope that this Teacher Town Hall would be less disastrous than the first that I experienced last week in LA. I was proved terribly wrong.
The video above was taped in secret by Terri Michal (@Free_2_B), a wonderful Alabama BAT who is committed to defending public education in her state and who bravely confronted Rhee & Co. last Thursday. She voices her concerns in the video at 3:34 but be sure to watch the whole video; as nauseating as it is to hear the panelists talk mindlessly about issues they know so little about, Terri adds amazingly helpful commentary that exposes the truth behind their propaganda.
I had been in contact with Terri over the past week since she saw the video of my speech, and I had been helping her prepare for the Teacher Town Hall in Alabama, so that she could make sure that her voice was heard. I am very excited to read her full report on the protest both outside and inside the event. She was one of the few outside protestors who attended the event, and I am very glad that she did and that she fought to have her voice heard. I am, however, equally horrified at the panelists' and moderator's (who I believe is Rhee's husband? correct me if I'm wrong) responses.
The bullying and intimidation tactics in this video on the part of the panelists is absolutely revolting. The tactics they used to silence the opposition is ridiculous (though not surprising). Their avoiding to answer the questions is utterly embarrassing. Almost everything the panelists said in this video were the same exact talking points that they used at the last event. Rhee even mentions me at 2:13, and completely twists her encounter with me, not-so-ironically while I am not there to defend myself (Terri's commentary tells the TRUTH that I reported to Terri over twitter). Typical reformy tactics. They can dish but they can't take.
This event was just as controlled, manipulative, and oppressive as the last. I can't say I'm surprised at the reformers, but that doesn't make me any less disgusted. Thank goodness for the brave people in this video who fought to have the true voices of those in the Birmingham educational community heard!
Tomorrow, Rhee's next stop will be in Philadelphia. I am way too excited to see what will happen there. I've been in contact with the Philly Student Union and they have confirmed their attendance. Diane Ravitch might also attend since the event coincides with her book tour. With the recent state of public education in Philly amid drastic budget cuts… the event should be nothing less than interesting… Stay tuned!
Students, if you will be attending the event, I just want you to remember that NO ONE can tell you what's best for you. You have the power to think for yourself and have a voice in your education, and you shouldn't let ANYONE (no matter how much great-sounding propaganda they throw at you) take that away from you.
Everyone else, please spread this Terri's video like fire! This is SUCH an important piece of the truth, especially with Terri's amazing added commentary on the video. We cannot let Rhee and her cronies get away with the dangerous propaganda they spread!
What I Would Have Said If I Had Gotten More Time
This is far overdue but in case you're wondering, here's what I would have said if I didn't get cut off… and if I wasn't so flustered and upset:
…but my main point is: listen to the students. LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS.
Education belongs to the STUDENTS. It is students who are getting the education and it is the students who should have a say in what that education looks like. My biggest problem with reform is that people like you three, who have all this corporate power and money, get to sit up on these physical and political stages and either implement or support policies that affect classrooms and communities that you've never stepped into or even bothered to listen to. You haven't even bothered to listen to these dedicated teachers in these past two hours! I had to fight for my chance to speak because this so-called "conversation" was just two hours of you all defending your views through a series of straw man arguments.
How dare you speak for people you don't wish to truly listen to?
How dare you talk about the "students' interests" when you have not listened to what students all over this country are saying?
How dare you talk about "high expectations" when you obviously don't expect that students are capable of thinking for and fighting for themselves?
How dare you talk about "choice" when you don't give students any choices in what and how they learn?
How dare you talk about "every student" when you refuse to acknowledge and honor the complex humanity of our each and every student?
How dare you talk about "accountability" when you can't even hold yourselves accountable for the disastrous effects your reforms have had on communities everywhere?
Students are not data points on a graph you can talk about but never listen to. They are humans with hearts, minds, and stories of their own. They are resilient and beautiful and insightful. They deserve better than high stakes tests that don't capture their humanity, better than charters that exclude and criminalize certain youth, better than the poverty that creates an opportunity gap well before they begin school, better than limited curriculum that doesn't allow them to explore other options, better than policies that instill fear and oppress critical thought, better than budgets that leave their schools and classrooms dilapidated and unbearable, better than decisions that are made without their input. We can do better than current reform. We can do much better because our youth deserve much better.
Educational justice will not be achieved by top-down approaches that deliberately silence the voices of those at the bottom. It will not be achieved by policies that exclude, divide, and oppress. It WILL be achieved by PEOPLE working with and fighting with the students who live this everyday reality. The best way to put "Students First" is by listening to them. So walk your talk and start listening.
Michelle Rhee's Teacher Town Hall… Through A Student's Eyes
Last Thursday, I met Michelle Rhee for the first time. After months of writing about her, researching her, and reading her book (which I couldn't finish out of boredom), I finally got to see in person the woman I once adored and now completely mistrust. Not only that, but I got to speak directly to her. Needless to say, it was quite an interesting encounter.
Thanks to my network of support on and off line you've probably already heard about the speech that I gave to Michelle Rhee, Steve Perry, and George Parker during the Los Angeles Teacher Town Hall. But a lot went on before and after that I would like to bring light to now, especially for the folks who plan to attend the Teacher Town Halls in Birmingham, Alabama on 9/12 or Philadelphia on 9/16.
Please use my experience to help you plan some sort of resistance. We need our voices to be heard.
In summary, the event was a complete disappointment. I came in expecting a vibrant and balanced discussion with equal opportunity for both sides to speak. After all, the word "conversation" was on the screen behind the panelists the entire night. By the end of the night, I seriously wondered if they even understood the concept of a conversation at all.
Here's a bullet-point breakdown of what happened:
- In my apartment before the event, I made this poster:
- I also bought masking tape that I planned to put over my mouth during the event. I meant to allude to the incident where Michelle Rhee taped the mouths of her 1st grade students.
- When I arrived, I was greeted by members of United Teachers Los Angeles (LA's teachers' union) who were passing out flyers and holding up signs outside the library where the event was held. One of them was my friend Noah, who I met a few weeks back and am currently working with on a campaign called Schools LA Students Deserve. I also met the one and only activist teacher Alex Caputo-Pearl, who was recently fired from Crenshaw High for leading an educational program that taught students to *gasp* think for themselves and learn through a social justice/civic engagement lens. His story and the stories of the students who fought to save their school are phenomenal.
- Once inside, I registered at the table and stood in line waiting to enter the auditorium. Everyone was given a question card that looked like this:
- When I asked if the questions would be filtered, the lady told me that the questions would be grouped by topic and they would try to get through as many as they could.
- As I was in line writing my question, my poster was on the ground next to me. A security guard came by and told me I could not bring it into the event. So I folded it up and stuck it in my backpack.
- There were about 200+ people in the room.
- I sat in the second row with tape over my mouth. The tape said, "Listen to STUDENTS!"
- From what I could estimate from the applause after certain talking points, at least 80% of the room was pro-corporate reform.
- Security guards lined the perimeter. I felt highly policed.
- The panelists were welcomed onto the stage. I have my opinions about each… but you can go research them for yourselves.
- The moderator then laid out the ground rules for the event.
- She would say the name of the person whose question card she was holding.
- That person would be given exactly 2 minutes to speak to the panel and ask their question.
- There was absolutely NO touching the microphone. (again… tons of paranoid policing that sent a clear message of, "Your voice is under our control.")
- The panelists then would be given unlimited time to answer.
- The moderator also gave a very condescending speech about how we needed to "turn down the music of our own radios" and listen to "other people's music."
- Later on, I realized that this only applied to people who disagreed with corporate reform because the music of the reform-opponents was barely even allowed to be played.
- Only 16 question cards were in the moderator's hand to be answered.
- Only 8 questions were answered. My question was not chosen to be answered as I expected.
- TWO of those 8 questions were considered "controversial" (by their standards).
- The rest were in the "policy-related" category but for some reason all went back to the matter of teachers unions.
- Panelists (who were all in general agreement on the issues) spoke for 95% of the time.
- Those who asked questions were not allowed time for rebuttal.
- The first "controversial" question asked what the panelists would say to the UTLA members protesting the event outside. Michelle said she wishes they would have come inside to speak, and then proceeded to speak for them by assuming they did not want to engage in a discussion that's "good for students."
- The other controversial question was asked by a Los Angeles teacher who asked about the use of standardized tests in teacher evaluations if poverty is one factor of student performance. The panelists did not answer the question at all and proceeded instead to throw around cute but meaningless slogans about how "poverty is not destiny" or "all kids can learn."
- Steve Perry even had the nerve to say that battling child poverty "isn't even necessary!" and brush off a point about English language learners. I guess the only students that matter are those who can take tests.
- The rest of the questions basically gave the panelists the opportunity to elaborate on their points of view.
- Topics covered were: Waiting for Superman (lol), unions, tenure, testing, charters, and vouchers.
- It was mostly a union-bashing party with little productive or balanced discussion of how we move forward or how we can work together.
- Every panelist played victim and responded defensively to a question that was actually asked by someone who agreed with them. How did they do that? Three words:
- Straw
- Man
- Arguments
- The ONLY good point brought up by the panelists was that "bad" charters should be held accountable.
- Absolutely no thorough discussion of concrete topics like Common Core, NCLB waivers, curriculum, teacher prep/training, student-centered learning, critical pedagogy, or alternatives to testing.
- Steve Perry even had the nerve to ask "why don't people who oppose testing ever provide alternatives?" without giving the audience a chance to speak (I have a great answer for that question) OR proposing any alternatives of his own. What a Grade A "educator".
- Actually… there was no thorough discussion with substantial data support whatsoever. Everything was vague and shallow ("success", "all students", "high expectations", "accountability"), full of false dichotomies, sweeping generalizations, and logical fallacies. I gave up counting after about an hour of 37 total fallacies.
Now here's the good part:
- Near the end of the event, Steve Perry was making his last comment in response to an LAUSD teacher who screamed out earlier during the event in rage as the panelists did not answer the second "controversial" question.
- When Perry said that "the students' interests did not line up with the union's interests", I drew the line.
- I pulled the poster out of my backpack and held up high right in the middle of Perry's speech. It caught all the panelists' eyes but Perry continued to speak.
- A security guard came over and told me to give him the sign while simultaneously pulling it away from me.
- I tugged back and caused a bit of noise that attracted some attention.
- After Perry finished speaking, the moderator was about to close the event when George Parker interrupted her and insisted that I be given a chance to speak.
- The moderator insisted that no one else would be given a chance to speak.
- The woman next to me (who was shouting curses against unions the whole night and was the cause for my gigantic headache) ironically yelled that I should be given the chance to speak.
- The whole room began to cheer and egg me on, and so the man with the microphone gave me the chance to speak.
- Completely enraged, totally flustered, and quite honestly a little nervous, I gave my two-minute speech and was cut off before I could get to the good part. (Stay tuned for a post about what I WOULD HAVE said if I got more time.)
- After I spoke, the moderator brought the event to a close, with no public response to my speech from the panelists.
- Right after the event ended, as I was ready to cure my headache with a nice grilled cheese sandwich from my favorite food truck, Michelle Rhee approached me and wanted to speak to me personally.
- She gave her response to my speech, only focusing on my point about charters.
- She mainly talked about funding for charters and claimed that students in public schools are funded more than students in charters.
- When I brought up the point about charters being funded by private billionaire donors and corporations, she questioned why public schools don't ask for grants so they can be funded like charters.
- My response:
- I was then asked by StudentsFirst to do an interview.
- In the interview I basically just expanded on the importance of listening to students.
- The next day, I got an email from Michelle Rhee. Here's her email and my reply:
That's basically it! If you're planning on the future Teacher Town Halls, I hope I've given you enough information so things won't take you too much by surprise. I now am going to echo what I said in my previous post:
If you are going to the Teacher Town Hall in Birmingham on 9/12 or Philadelphia on 9/16, PLEASE invite students to come and tell their stories. Chants work well. Posters work well. Collective actions and gestures are most powerful. This is not the end; we still have a long way to go before education is put back into the hands of educators and students. This event does not have to be as one-sided and manipulated as it was for me. You can demand your right to have your voice heard. You can turn the discussion around. This is an opportunity for a meaningful action that will shine a national light on the opposition to the corporate education deform movement and could spur a discussion on alternatives to this movement that promote true educational justice and equity. Do not let them speak for your students and children. Do not let them play victim and use straw man arguments to promote their views. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! GO AND SPEAK OUT!
Thank you for reading!
Love and solidarity,
Hannah Nguyen
Related articles
- Student Calls Out Michelle Rhee at Teacher Town Hall [VIDEO!] (teacherunderconstruction.com)
- My Speech at the Los Angeles Teacher Town Hall, AND a VERY Important Message (inspireducation.wordpress.com)
- Student Takes on Michelle Rhee (washingtonpost.com)
- Michelle Rhee's Teacher Town Hall: A Students Stands Up and Disagrees (dianeravitch.net)
- Michelle Rhee's Teacher Town Hall: A Students Stands Up and Disagrees (bloggerstech.wordpress.com)
- Michelle Rhee Comes to Los Angeles; The City Shrugs (k12newsnetwork.com)
My Speech at the Los Angeles Teacher Town Hall, AND a VERY Important Message
I'm just posting the video here so that people can connect the video to my blog and vice versa. I will be posting a lot of important things on here soon, so please stay tuned.
Here's the main gist of my very important message (copied from my comments under the youtube video):
Unfortunately, our fight for public education does not end here. The fact that I got a chance to speak was a stroke of luck; there are millions of student voices across the country that are being silenced under corporate reform, most of which will never have the chance to be heard unless we ACT NOW. We cannot continue to let Rhee & Co. exploit and speak FOR students. LET STUDENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!
If you will be in Birmingham on 9/12 or Philadelphia on 9/16, I STRONGLY URGE you to come to the Teacher Town Hall and let your voices be heard. They will make sure you are silenced but you MUST do whatever it takes to speak truth to power. Also, invite students to come and speak. Youth engagement is VITAL if we are ever going to win this fight. Educators, continue to EMPOWER and ENCOURAGE your students to take charge of their education and rights. We are strongest if we fight WITH the students!
A few, well deserved thank you's:
Thank you to Vincent Precht for taking this video (apologies once again for making you move every time I went in and out of our row) despite the tight security in the room.
Thank you to my sweetheart Alexis Estioko for coming to this event with me, sitting by my side supporting me, and always giving me the strength to do the right thing. I love you more than words can explain.
Thank you to my little brother, who I miss every day and who gives me the strength to fight for him even when it's hard.
Thank you to Stephanie Rivera for her beautiful friendship and inspiring mentorship. Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a true organizer for educational justice and for giving me the opportunity to pursue my passions through SUPE (Students United for Public Education).
Thank you to EVERYONE who shared my video and sent me words of encouragement and support. Thank you for all that you do to celebrate your students and their humanity, and thank you for your steadfast dedication to justice and educational equity. I want to name you all, but that list would be endless. Expect to be featured on a page on my blog soon. I love you all.
And finally, thank you to my fellow students, whose stories and experiences have made my blood boil with passion to fight, organize, agitate, mobilize and WIN!


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This weekend, Eleanor Davis and Ed Piskor are going to rock Georgia's lit festival in Decatur. Free to the public on Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st, the Decatur Book Festival is all over downtown Decatur.
Eleanor is giving a presentation along with Liz Prince and moderator Kerry Leibling at the "How to Be Graphic" panel on Saturday, August 30th. A little less salty than it sounds, be at the Marriott Conference Center Ballroom A promptly at 1:45pm! (130 Clairemont Ave, Decatur, GA 30030) A book signing to follow.Meanwhile, on Sunday Ed Piskor has the Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2 - Book Launch at 5pm. Along with moderator Edward A. Hall, Piskor will talk about the jump hip-hop has made from legends to comic book panels. Join him at Marriott Conference Center Ballroom. (130 Clairemont Ave, Decatur, GA 30030)A book signing to follow.So we'll see you, DECATUR, this weekend!
Good stuff!
Maureen Corrigan reviews the new graphic novel from Jules Feiffer:
The title, Kill My Mother, has about as much subtlety as a migraine, but Jules Feiffer isn't going for subtlety in this, his first graphic novel. Instead, he's going for ricocheting bullets, imploding nuclear families, knuckle sandwiches, booze, broads, and paranoia gone ballistic. In short, at the ripe old age of 85, Feiffer has returned to the seedy comic strips, hard-boiled novels and B movies of his youth: this time out, he's going for noir.
I can't wait to read the new book by the great Jules Feiffer. BUT - let the record show - this is NOT, as Corrigan states and the NYT Book Review cover story implied - this is not Feiffer's first graphic novel. Ok, this may be his first historical GN, or some variation upon a historical, pulp, or detective graphic novel. But his 1980ish graphic novel Tantrum is one of my very favorites… It's the cartoon saga of a fifty or sixty something guy who chooses to return to life as a little baby… With the dialogue and chutzpah of his real age. Don't miss any Feiffer, any chance you get.
Holly Hill Florida, the first place shuffleboard was played on land in the USA, in 1913.
I miss shuffleboard. If anybody near Atlanta Ga knows a court, or a miniature golf course… I'll take you on.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Jen Keith recommends Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #1
Walking long-legged beds and menageries of strange creatures, a face in the moon and candy-made kids! Nemo is back and walking the dreamscape, however reluctantly, in Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #1.
First published in the New York Herald in 1905, Winsor McCay's celebrated strip Little Nemo in Slumberland is a classic. It's been adapted into various media including an animated film in 1989 that, I admit, terrified me as a child. The story follows young Nemo's fantastic adventures when called into Slumberland by King Morpheus. Here too is where we meet Nemo afresh as he's commanded to become the playmate of Slumberland's princess. However, it's not easy to get to the land of dreams when all of your progress is lost upon falling out of bed.
Locke & Key's artist Gabriel Rodriguez's (gr-comics) detailed architecture and stylization remains faithful to McCay's art nouveau influences with decorative flourishes and nods to the original jaunty layouts. Meanwhile, writer Eric Shanower is a wonderful fit what with his work on Marvel's Oz books; he's no stranger to giving a great voice to kids finding themselves in bizarre new lands. This team works well together in bringing their own touch while keeping that quintessential Nemo look and feel. The story is a whimsical ride with surprises around every corner and as unpredictable as our own dreamtime escapades. Its unfettered pacing flows surreally as it never would in waking hours.
While sure to be a hit for all ages and a great jumping off point for new and old fans alike, if you need more journeys into imagination then try Marvel's Figment.
Don't wait for bedtime to explore dreamland when you join Nemo on his nightly romps through Slumberland. Happy reading and pleasant dreams!
[Read Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #1]
Jen Keith is a Digital Editor at comiXology, comic artist, music addict, and could really use a nap herself right about now.
I don't think I could come up with a better #comicsforyourkids pick to come out this week than this.
I read this remarkable pastiche today, and can recommend it wholeheartedly. If you love Little Nemo, Winsor McCay, or Eric Shanower, you will love this, too.
(via idwcomics)
From the Archives: Civil War Letter
In the Trenches before Atlanta
Georgia Sunday Aug 21, 1864
Kind Friends,
The mail of yesterday brought me the tobacco you sent for which you will please accept my heartfelt thanks for your kindness. your letter I got 5 or 6 days since + would have answered it sooner, but I thought I would…
150 years ago…
People Who Don't Want To See
This may seem a little bit irreverent in light of what is going on in Ferguson, I mention it because it seems to be a little bit indicative of a toxic mindset.
A while back, after seeing peaceful protests all over the world ignored by the supposedly leftist media, I wrote a comic book called the…
Good writing, Gail Simone!
Do you ever talk to your pets? Legend has it that St. Francis of Assisi spent a lot of his time talking to animals he met on his travels. Bread and Puppet Theater's charming St. Francis Preaches to the Birds recounts the story of Francis preaching to a flock of birds he meets one day.
The Masonite relief cuts and text were done by Peter Schumann. The hand-coloring of the images was done by Solveig Schumann and Kaja McGowan. Claire Van Vliet designed and printed the book at Janus Press in 1978.
This copy of the text was generously donated to Special Collections this past summer by New York book collector Jerry Buff.
Gorgeous block prints!
Bread and Puppet theater… in a beautiful book.
Robin Williams (1951-2014)
Actor, Comedian, Friend to the USO and the troops
Comedian and actor Robin Williams shakes hands with US Army (USA) CHIEF Warrant Office Two (WO2) Davis, 4th Infantry Division (ID) at Kirkuk Air Base (AB), Iraq (IRQ). Mr. Williams is in Kirkuk as part of the USO (United Service Organization) tour traveling through Southwest Asia with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of STAFF (JCS) during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, 12/17/2003
Robin Williams, a comedian and an actor, performs for troops during a United Services Organization (USO) visit at the Base Exchange at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 14, 2004. (USAF PHOTO by SENIOR AIRMAN Christopher A. Marasky) (Released), 12/14/2004
Actor/Comedian Robin Williams entertains the crew of US Navy (USN) ENTERPRISE CLASS: Aircraft Carrier, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), during a holiday special hosted by the United Service Organization (USO), during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, 12/19/2003
Actor/Comedian Robin Williams (center) visits with Ohio (OH), Air National Guard (ANG) Technical Sergeant (TSGT), Chuck Juhasz, during his visit to the 39th Medical Group (MG), Hospital at Incirlik Air Base (AB), Turkey, during Operation NORTHERN WATCH. USAF Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jerome Limoge, Surgeon, 39th Medical Group looks on, 10/14/2002
God bless, rest, and keep Robin Williams.
Robin Williams, Depression, Tweetsplurge.
In the wake of the tragic death of Robin Williams (at time of writing a suspected but unconfirmed suicide, reportedly related to the great man's depression) I've seen a few comments - especially on Facebook - which have caused me to slightly break one of my own rules. To whit: this isn't a…
I think Si Spurrier here expresses thinking about depression worth sharing and repeating. Amen.
"Arf! Arf! Arf!" (Popeye the Sailor Man)
(Source: , via rubberhoseanimation)


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Wells Condo Rentals with Internet Access(20)
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5 more choices from the HomeAway Network
Recent Wells Reviews
A wonderful place to stay in Wells!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here! The rental process went very smoothly due to the owners, Marilis and Dan, who were very prompt and helpful as well as gracious hosts. The roomy unit was very clean and well-appointed, with up-to-date appliances and tasteful decor that reflected a breezy beach getaway. Amenities were plentiful and included quality pots and pans, festive dish ware, and very comfortable furniture and bedding. The immediate surroundings are quiet and nicely landscaped, the neighbors are friendly, and the pool was perfect for our young son. Barefoot Cottages is a great stepping-off point to many fun activities in and around Wells, and our unit was especially welcoming to come home to after a day out. We hope to come back some day!
Always have the best time,
had the best time, unit is always clean and it has everything..everything is near by. will be renting again this year as soon as I have the dates of my vacation...
Beach Access is Great!
We stayed in one of the smaller units that are not described in this advertisement. It was a little different than this picture - there are actually two buildings with multiple apartments. The building we stayed in was not pictured in the promotions, but on a nearby side street.That being said, it's literally a stone's throw from the public access to the beach. We loved the convenience of being so close!! The apartment itself is a good bargain for the space you get. We had two bedrooms (one Queen and one Full), a dining room kitchen combo with full sized appliances, and a small living room. Be warned, this is by no means a luxury apartment. The furniture is old and worn (most of it looks like it came from a yard sale) and the apartment itself is old - pretty dated interior. BUT, it was clean and for the high season, it was a reasonable price. There were three adults and one infant staying there, and we felt it was a little tight, but manageable. It's also a nice part of the beach. Don't confuse this for Moody Beach (also in the Wells) which is closer to Ogunquit. They are similar, but during high tide, Wells Beach is harder to walk on. There's less beach exposed, but again, this location is literally across the road, so you can always walk over check it out and walk back if it's not a good time. We usually come in the fall and stopped in at Ogunquit beach one day just to see it. There were literally thousands of people crammed into a small space. We were happy we chose to stay where we did! I'd recommend this place if you are looking for easy beach access and need a little extra space than a hotel room, or if you need a kitchen like we did.