text:
There are different acoustic requirements when it comes to commercial and public buildings, depending on the use of the space. With a wide range of potential areas and usage, it may be necessary to tailor a solution to a specific application and acoustic requirement.
For large, open areas such as foyers or shopping centres there may be the requirement for sound absorption due to noise generated by high pedestrian and equipment traffic, as well as music and speech. This noise could reverberate and echo around that space, creating an uncomfortable acoustic environment. However, spaces such office meeting rooms require sound resistant lining systems in order to ensure privacy and quiet, functional acoustic environments.
Knauf offers and easy to use online Reverberation Time Calculator which estimates the amount and type of sound absorbers required for a acoustic comfort.
Superior acoustic environments
Using Knauf products and systems, solutions for both sound reduction and absorption improve the ambience and the acoustic environment. Designpanel and Stratopanel seamless perforated plasterboard can be used to absorb and control reverberation of excessive sound, whilst the use of SoundShield and SonaRock will minimise the transmission of sound through wall and ceiling systems.
For systems with sound insulation ratings - click either BLUEPRINT for steel framed or Technical Manual for Timber.


text:
Junk Removal 55% off
April 18, 2011 by The Bargain Sleuth
Filed under: Uncategorized
Filed under: Uncategorized
I am in a desperate need for spring cleaning. Well, not so much spring cleaning as spring PURGE of all the stuff I want to get out of my house. If you feel like me, today's side deal for Groupon Green Bay might be an option for you: $83 for $183 Worth of Junk-Removal Services from SpaceMakers.
That will get you 1/4 load hauled away. Only problem is I do not see specs on what a full load would constitute.
As with any daily deal, make sure you read all rules and restrictions before you buy.
Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Awards and Achievements
2018 Award Recipients
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award: Krista Winters '06
Distinguished Alumnus Award: Craig Willis '90
Nominations are now open.
Please follow the links below to fill out your nomination form. All nominations may be turned into the Foundation Office or emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Nominees must -
- have completed a degree or certificate from Carl Sandburg College
- demonstrate notable achievements in career field
- demonstrate specific philanthropic or public service activity that supports the community and/or College
- have achieved recognition at a national level
- provide inspirational impact or significance
- have continued interest in and support of education and community colleges
Nomination form: Alumni-Giving/Alumni-Awards/nomination-form1.docx
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Nominees must -
- have completed a degree or certificate within the last 10 years from Carl Sandburg College
- demonstrate outstanding professional achievement in career field
Nomination form: Young Alumni Nomination Form
Distinguished Service Award
This award serves to recognize leadership within the college community, excellence in performing the tasks required by the position held at the college, service in organizations outside the college community, humility, and sincere effort in self-growth. Retirees and past employees are eligible for nomination.
Nomination form: Alumni-Giving/Alumni-Awards/nomination-form.docx
Please call 309.341.5349 if you have questions or for more information about the awards and nomination requirements.


text:
Lovely Riverside Court townhome with 2 BRs/2,5 Baths, 3 stories, 2 car attached garage, built in 2004.
Great views of the garden. Low monthly maint. Takes care of the exterior, common areas, landscaping, pool and other amenities.
Both the kitchen and baths have been recently updated. Gas HVAC, wired for Ethernet. Close to NYC, NYC trans, shopping, restaurants and more.
$435000 / 2br – 1889ft² – 2 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths Townhouse 10 Mins to New York City.
If anyone you know is interested in moving into this neighborhood, Please call Listing Agent Nadia Rivest at (201) 923-8454 for a showing appointment.
NADIA RIVEST | Sale Associate
Cell : (201) 923-8454|
Better Homes and Gardens RE | Coccia Realty
11 Park Avenue Rutherford , NJ 07070


text:
Nissan Debuts 2007 Altima Hybrid
Reluctant hybrid-maker Nissan has debuted its first gasoline-electric hybrid, the Altima hybrid 2007. The powertrain is partly based on licensed Toyota technology (more on the electric than gasoline side, apparently): The Nissan-made QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is coupled with a 30 kW (40 hp) electric motor and an electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT). The Altima Hybrid's hybrid system is rated at a net power of 198 horsepower (148 kW) with fuel economy estimated at 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway (39 mpg combined) and emissions rated Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). "Combined with Altima's standard 20-gallon fuel tank, the Altima Hybrid has a projected driving range of up to 700 miles between fill-ups." As we reported before, the Altima hybrid will be made in Nissan's Smyrna plant in Tennessee and the company wants to sell 50,000 units a year at first.
the new Altima Hybrid will be available in eight states. The vehicle has been certified to meet California emissions requirements and will be sold beginning in early 2007 in those states that have adopted California emissions regulations: California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey. These states are among the strongest markets for hybrid vehicles. [...]
The 2007 Altima Hybrid will be available in early 2007, following the November 2006 introduction of the 2007 Altima 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 gasoline-powered models.
Unfortunately, there are apparently no plans from Nissan to expand the sale of Altima hybrids to other states than the 8 above. We wouldn't be surprised if strong sales and good publicity for the company changed that position, though.
::Nissan Debuts Altima Hybrid, Company's First, ::Nissan Altima Hybrid Debuts at Orange County Auto Show, ::Nissan to Develop Own Hybrid Technology, ::Nissan Will Build Altima Hybrid in Tennessee, ::Nissan Wants to Sell 50,000 Altima Hybrids a Year, ::Hybrid Version of Nissan Altima to be Made in USA


text:
Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
Rick's LiveJournal:
The trip north was amazing! I'm way behind on posting photos (and even further behind on travel blog entries!), but I will be posting those in the coming weeks.
Between the trip, and then getting back to the day job, things have been busy. Here are the reviews I've written.
On Goodreads
Samurai by Louie Stowell, illustrated by Jason Engle: A history of the warriors of feudal Japan for young readers.
On Comic A Day
Mighty Archie Players #1: Some classic movie plots performed by classic Archie Comics characters in this Free Comic Book Day giveaway.
Scott Pilgrim Volume 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together: The fourth book in the epic series by Bryan Lee O'Malley.
Fist of Justice Vol. 1 #1: A Free Comic Book Day giveaway from Digital Webbing.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw: The third book in Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series.
Venus Needs Sharks: A minicomic collection of gag strips by Matt Finley.
Scott Pilgrim Volume 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe: The penultimate book in Bryan Lee O'Malley's epic tale.
Little Archie: The House That Wouldn't Move: A promotional ashcan from Archie Comics in 2007.
Also This Week
I supported Elise Warshaver, who ran the Boston Marathon for UMass Boston's scholarship fund in memory of Boston Marathon bombing victim Krystle Campbell. She was successful in her marathon run; it it is still possible to donate.
I have joined Dreamwidth! These review recaps will be posted at ricksilvawriting.dreamwidth.org from here on. I will be closing my LJ account in the next couple of weeks.
Heading to the USA on June 16. Leaving for Shanghai on July 27.
I'm a bit late with this recap as we were closing in on the end of a marking period at the day job. But we're now on Spring Break, and I'm traveling tomorrow.
In the meantime, I got several new reviews posted over the last two weeks. All are posted on my Comic A Day blog, and several of those are cross-posted on Goodreads and Amazon.
Heavenly Bride Book 1: A supernatural romance manga by Katrina Joyner.
Avengers/Invaders Sketchbook: Promotional book for the Avengers/Invaders crossover from Marvel Comics.
Mr. Emergency Special Edition: Promotional minicomic by Wade L. Busby.
Catch A Dragon By The Tail: Minicomic fairy tale by Roxanne Larson.
Lontar #1: Journal of Southeast Asian speculative fiction.Scott Pilgrim Volume 3: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness: Third volume of Bryan Lee O'Malley's epic tale of musicians, slackers, and evil ex-boyfriends.The Diary of Amos Lee: I Sit, I Write, I Flush: Graphic novel of middle school life in Singapore.
The Avengers: Free Comic Book Day 2009: Aftermath of Marvel's Civil War from 2009.
Boston's Walk for Hunger is an event I have supported over the years. I have walked in the event several times, starting in high school. This year I am supporting my friend Mary Perez, who will be participating in the event this year and raising money to help feed the hungry in the Boston area.
I'm also supporting author Peter David, who has reached out for help with his financial difficulties. I've read many of Mr. David's comics over the years, as well as a couple of my favorite Star Trek stories that he wrote, Rock and a Hard Place and Q-In-Law.
I've also been catching up on posting photos from recent travels. I have posted new photo sets from Kep, Cambodia, and Rabbit Island, Cambodia. And I've posted a set of photos taken on the road, traveling around Cambodia.
Leaving tomorrow for Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa, in northern Vietnam.
I've read fifteen books so far in 2017 (this includes chapter books read aloud to the Kiddo). I'm ahead of pace on my goal of 55 for the year.
A couple of the above books are in this week's set of reviews.
The Case of the Cursed Dodo: A hardboiled animal detective story by Jake G. Panda.
Leave It To Chance #1: The first issue of the great urban fantasy series by James Robinson and Paul Smith from Image's Homage Comics imprint.
X-Men #1: Free Comic Book Day 2008: An excellent example of how to do a good story that is accessible to new readers for a series with as complex a continuity as Marvel's X-Men.
Heavenly Bride Book One: A supernatural romance by Katrina Joyner.
Pi Day was also Giving Day at my Alma Mater, Cornell University. I chose to support undergraduate scholarships in the College of Arts and Sciences. Donations are still being accepted.
Friday and Saturday was the SaiMUN Model United Nations conference here in Ho Chi Minh City, which my students attended (and I helped to chaperone). I posted a set of pictures here.
We leave for a week in Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa, Vietnam on August 2.
Camp Nanowrimo will be happening in April, and I'll be working on putting together a second draft of the novel I wrote in November 2016.
I have plans to do some last bits of sightseeing around Ho Chi Minh City in the time between our Spring Break and the end of the school year.
We'll also be starting to pack up for our move to China. We depart for the USA on June 16, and we'll be heading to China around the end of July. We're still figuring out our plans for our time in the US. We have a wedding to attend in Maryland, and some possible time we'll be spending in the New York City area, in addition to our usual haunts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I'm also looking at a trip to Maine with the Kiddo, which may include the Port Con Maine convention.
Another week where I managed to get in a few reviews. I also finally started to get caught up on photo processing. I've had a backlog of photos going back to the trips we took in late December and early January. Here are the photo sets I've gotten posted this week from December's trip to Cambodia:
Photos from the Aeon Mall in Phnom Penh are here.
Photos from the National Museum in Phnom Penh are here.
Photos from Phnom Penh's New Years Eve fireworks are here.
And finally, the rest of the pictures I took in Phnom Penh can be found here.
I still have a lot of follow-up to do from those two trips, including Tripadvisor reviews, some more detailed blog entries here, and a bunch more photo sets.
In the meantime, here are this week's reviews.
Saigon Sketches: A travel and art book about Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, written and drawn by Eleanor Burke.
Quick update: I've read 13 books so far in 2017, which puts me ahead of pace for my goal of 55 books in the year. The book I'm currently reading (The Source, by James Michener) is quite long, but I'm taking breaks from it occasionally to read some of the shorter books in the to-read pile. I have a number of books in that pile that I'm planning to give away so that I don't have to take them back to the US, so right now my emphasis is on finishing books that are longer and that I'm not planning to keep.
On Comic A Day
Jughead Comics: A Night At Geppi's Entertainment Museum: Free Comic Book Day Edition: An Archie Comics special set at Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore MD.
The World Builder: A science fiction short story in zine form by Brett James.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth: Book 5 of the popular graphic novel series by Jeff Kinney.
Quick update here too: I have a bit less than 60 comics in the unread comics stack, so I'm on reasonable track to get that stack finished off before I head back to the US in June.
I'm supporting my good friend Rachel Schwartz in her efforts to raise money to support urban farming in London, UK.
My last Model United Nations conference of the year is this coming weekend, here in Saigon.
Trip to Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa has been booked for the first week in April.
We head home to the US around June 17. We'll have a bit more than a month, mostly in New England, before we'll be leaving for Shanghai sometime in late July. I currently have tentative plans to attend the Port Con Maine convention June 22-25 in Portland ME.
I had a pretty productive week going as far as reviews and making some progress on prepping for the first revision of The Lady of Three Faces at the end of February, but I proceeded to get sick last week. I spent most of last week dragging myself in to the Day job and not having the energy for much else. I'm feeling better now, so hope to be back on track with reviews and some writing this week.
But since this recap covers some productive days before I came down with whatever bug I had, here are some reviews that I did accomplish.
Kraya the Blood Shark by Adam Blade: The fourth book in Adam Blade's Deep Dive/Sea Quest series that is quickly becoming one of the Kiddo's favorites.
Love & Capes #7 Free Comic Book Day Edition: A romantic superhero comedy by Thomas F. Zahler from 2008.
The Death of Antisocialman Chapter 12 Preview Pages: A promotional freebie for the Death of Antisocialman series by Matt Feazell and Walt Lockley.
World's Finest #159: Classic silver-age Batman and Superman story from 1966.
The Sleeplessness: Full-color horror comic by Jay Kennedy.
I'm supporting my friend Nakita Lashaun Caruso, who is looking for help funding her driving lessons so that she can improve her life and the lives of her two children.
I'm slowly getting caught up on posting photos from the two trips we took around Christmas and New Years. Photos from the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, can be found here.
The trip I've been hinting at for a while has been booked! We're headed to Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 2, for a week-long trip that will include an overnight cruise on Halong Bay, and a trip to Sapa. Can't wait! This will be our last excursion in Southeast Asia, at least for a while, as we prepare to head to China in late July.
Before China, though, we'll have a few weeks back in the US. Those travel arranges are currently being finalized and it looks like we will be arriving in Boston around the 18th of June. Tentative plans include traveling to Maryland, and a father/son road trip to Maine. Other than those, we'll be sticking to our usual stomping grounds of Boston, Cape Cod, and New Hampshire.
Now that we've answered the question of where we'll be next year, it's time to focus on finishing up this school year and getting ready for the move.
Today is the last day of Tet Break, and it's back to the day job tomorrow. We didn't travel on this break. The plan was to work on the job search as much as possible. Fortunately that got resolved early in the break, so we were able to enjoy some of the Tet festivities here in Saigon.
I also did some reading and wrote a few reviews.
On Goodreads
The Lies of Locke Lamora: A crime novel set in an epic fantasy city by Scott Lynch.
Project Superpowers: The Death-Defying Devil: Free Comic Book Day Special Edition: A freebie from Dynamite Entertainment's superhero universe, featuring the Golden-Age version of Daredevil (here called the Devil).
Savage Dragon #148 Free Comic Book Day Edition: A team-up with Savage Dragon and (by odd coincidence, since I pulled these two comics out of the stack randomly) the Golden-Age version of Daredevil!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules: The second book in Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series.
I'm supporting author Elizabeth Donald by preordering her new short story collection, Moonlight Sonata. If you like short horror fiction, give this a look. I read one of Donald's previous collections and it is fun and creepy!
Model United Conference this weekend. This is our "home" event at American International School here in Ho Chi Minh City. It's grown each year we've run it, and we're looking forward to a good event this time around.
Well, the uncertainty of the last few months has finally come to an end. I am very happy to report that I have signed a contract for a new job for the next school year, in one of the biggest and fastest-growing cities on the planet!
We will be moving to Shanghai, China!
The new job is on a similar calendar to my current gig, so that means that we'll be visiting the US from late June until we head to China in late July.
Up until then, we'll be trying to make the most of our remaining time in Vietnam. We just celebrated Tet, and welcomed the Year of the Rooster, and I've got the rest of this week off from work. I've been getting things reorganized now that I'm out of job search mode, and I've had time to write some new reviews.
How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell: The amusing book that was the (admittedly loose) basis for the hit film.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: The classic English romance. I read a lovely Grosset & Dunlap illustrated hardcover edition.
Manak: The Silent Predator by Adam Blade: My favorite of the Adam Blade books that I've read with the Kiddo so far.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #14: From Marvel's Unmasked storyline in 2007.
Fantasy Theater #18: Featuring two adventures of Lady Spectra & Sparky.
The fundraiser I was supporting this week has ended, so I'm going to repost links to fundraisers for two people battling cancer that could still use more support.
Sabrina Chick, a friend of a family member of mine.Duane Nelson, the husband of a friend.
I have a big backlog of photos to process and upload from recent travels as well as Tet festivities around Ho Chi Minh City.
In early April, we're looking at a possible trip to Sapa/Hanoi/Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam.
We leave for about a month in the US in late June, and then on to Shanghai in late July! No travel plans beyond that, but as of right now, my expectation is that most traveling we do in the 2017-2018 school year will probably be within China. It's a big country with a lot to see!
I know it's past the season for Christmas songs, but I am thinking today (while I avoid the political) of a line by Trans Siberian Orchestra:
"To know who needs help, you need only just ask."
My mom would have been 70 yesterday. She had her life cut short by cancer, and most of us know someone who they have lost or someone who is suffering from this disease now.
So, right now, three people that either I know or whose loved ones I am friends or family with, are in their own battles with cancer.
My mom was fortunate enough to have excellent health insurance through the union she'd been a member of for many years. She got the best care in available in the world. Many others are not so fortunate. So I'm contributing small donations to fundraising efforts for these three individuals.
Here are the three appeals I am donating to.
For Sabrina Chick, a friend of a family member of mine.
For Duane Nelson, the husband of a friend.
For friend and longtime SF convention attendee, Hugh Casey, who has a benefit convention being held next Sunday (Jan 29) in Philadelphia PA USA to fundraise for his expenses.
I would urge those with the funds to help out somehow, to do the same. For one of these three people, for someone else you know who is in their own battle with cancer, or for a stranger whose fundraising appeal you've found out about.
To know who needs help, you need only just ask.
Most of late December and early January was spent traveling.
We had an overland trip to Cambodia to finish up 2016, and then immediately started 2017 by adding a new countries to our list of nations visited with our trip to Bangkok, Thailand. I was there for the International Schools Services Job Fair, and got 8 interviews, but have not yet received a job offer. Several places I interviewed with are still considering candidates, so I may still hear from them, and I've had another interview over Skype since the fair.
We also managed some sightseeing in Bangkok, and there will be pictures and reviews from both trips coming soon.
Not many new reviews since the last recap, as we've been busy with travel and recovery-from-travel.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: Atwood's dystopian classic.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling: I read this fairy tale collection from the Harry Potter universe to the Kiddo.
Fisso's World in Cambodia: Living in a Kingdom of Wonders by Sophie Lizeray: A collection of cartoons that I bought in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Also reviewed on Goodreads).
I'm supporting the Alzheimers Association's efforts to combat a disease that has affected my family among so many others.
I am also supporting the efforts to raise money in support of SCAdian Duane Nelson's medical treatment and expenses.
Over on Comic A Day, I posted two more quick entries today: A 2016 recap, and a quick look at a couple of Thai language graphic novels I picked up in Bangkok.
I've added a goal of reviewing 150 comics in 2017 to my other goals for the year.
No immediate travel plans on the horizon. We are hoping to get to the north of Vietnam in the Spring, but nothing definite has been planned. At the moment, we're planning to stay in Saigon during the Tet break, but we might possibly book a last-minute trip somewhere if finances work out.
Welcome 2017!
We spent New Year's Eve in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and got a nice view of the Phnom Penh fireworks from the rooftop garden of the hotel we were staying in.
2017 begins with uncertainty. I didn't sign a contract with my current day job, so we're moving on at the end of the school year. I was hoping to have some definite news on the job front by now, but I've had two verbal offers that fell through for various reasons, so off I go to the job fair in Bangkok, Thailand this week. We'll see if I have something by the end of the weekend. Either way, I'm looking forward to my first time in Thailand.
Looking Back At 2016
Traveling: We traveled to Phu Quoc Island and Vung Tau (twice!) in Vietnam. I also had two trips to Cambodia: One work trip to Phnom Penh, and the vacation trip to Phnom Penh and Kep that we just got back from. We went to Singapore in the Fall, the one new country we added to our list in 2016. We had our trip home to the US in the Summer, including the annual father/son road trip, which took myself and the Kiddo to Ithaca NY. Other places we visited in the US included Newark NJ, New York City, Rhode Island, New Hampshire (including a family event on Hampton Beach). I went back to the US for a few days in November for less happy reasons when my Grandmother passed away.
Writing: This was a slow year, writing-wise, but I did achieve my goals of 1) writing 50,000 words as part of Nanowrimo, and 2) writing a complete story for Nanowrimo.
Reviews: I've kept up pretty well with reviews in 2016, reviewing over 50 books on goodreads, as well as posting my ongoing comic reviews on my comic blog, dailycomicreview.blogspot.com.
Reading: It's been a good year for reading. For the second year in a row, I beat my 50-book goal on Goodreads. My last book read in 2016 was Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, which seemed an appropriate end to the year's reading. My complete recap of the year's reading on Goodreads is here. My five favorite books read in 2016 (not in a specific order) were:
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodA Short Ride in the Jungle by Antonia Bolingbroke-KentGodel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. HofstadterFinding George Orwell In Burma by Emma LarkinCoraline by Neil Gaiman
Movies: I'm not as much of a movie buff as they typical nerd, so I only tend to see a few per year. The 2016 releases that I got to see were (with my one-word assessment):
The Jungle Book (Good)Captain America: Civil War (Excellent)Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Meh)Ghostbusters (Good)Independence Day: Resurgence (Awful)Star Trek Beyond (Good)Doctor Strange (Good)Moana (Excellent)Arrival (Excellent)Rogue One (Excellent)
2016 In Pictures
Here are some collages I put together of pictures I took in 2016. First of all, a set of highlights of the four countries that we spent time in during 2016.
And I also put together a set of wildlife collages by country.
Vietnam Wildlife
USA Wildlife
Singapore Wildlife
Cambodia Wildlife
Here's the Kiddo's suitcase at the end of 2016. More flags hopefully coming soon!
And finally, here's a collage of my favorite 9 pictures that I took in 2016.
Looking Ahead: Resolutions for 2017
Secure employment! Outside of the US if possible. I'd love for our overseas adventures to continue.
Edit! Edit the Nano novel. Edit the previous novel I was working on.
Play more boardgames. I fell out of the habit of this in the second half of 2016. Need to do more tabletop gaming.
Read 55 books. Having made the goal of 50 for two years in a row, I'm upping the challenge slightly. My 2017 Goodreads challenge is here.
Keep up with this blog and try to expand it and add more content. Keep up with my other social media.
Lastly, I've decided to make a serious attempt at a weekly donation, each week to a different cause I support.
Hope everyone reading this has a safe and happy 2017! Chuc mung nam moi 2017!
Christmas festivities are underway at the Silva household. We had a lovely traditional Christmas dinner tonight at Scott & Jeremy's in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1.
Tomorrow we cook breakfast, open gifts, and head for Cambodia by bus!
Between finishing up with day-job stuff and Christmas shopping/wrapping, I did manage to write a couple of reviews this week.
Trapped in the Overworld by Winter Morgan: An unofficial Minecraft tie-in novel that I read with the Kiddo.
Snakes: A horror minicomic by Benjamin Wright-Heuman from 2014.
Two trips coming up! We leave tomorrow for Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We spend one full day in Phnom Penh, then head to Kep, Cambodia for the rest of the week. New Year's Eve back in Phnom Penh, followed by the bus trip back to Ho Chi Minh City on New Year's Day.
A few days after that, we fly to Bangkok, Thailand, for about five days there.
I'm not bringing comics to read on our trips, so Comic A Day will not have much going on until January. In the meantime, though, keep an eye on @dandelionstudios on Instagram for lots of photo updates from our travels!
This was exam week at the day job, so things have been hectic. Today was also the second of two Saturdays in a row when I had to work (exam review last week, Model UN training session this week).
I am back to reviewing comics somewhat steadily, though not quite at the comic-a-day rate that my blog's title implies. For prose reading, I've started a couple of longer works which I will probably finish on the upcoming school vacation. In other reading news, my Year in Books on Goodreads is now available!
Here's what I reviewed this week.
On Comic A Day:
Jessica Jones #2: Second issue of the new series from Marvel Comics. This was the last of the small stack of comics I brought back from my short trip home in November.Darth Vader #21: Also from Marvel, I bought this Star Wars comic for the fun cover variant!
Terminal Velocity Book 1: An autobiographical comic by indy cartoonist Barry Corbett that I picked up from him at Massive Comic Con in Worcester MA.
The two trips for Christmas break are now booked. First up, we'll be heading to Cambodia by bus: Two nights in Phnom Penh, then four nights in Kep, and then New Year's Eve in Phnom Penh before we head back to Saigon for two days.
Then it's off to Bangkok, Thailand. This was scheduled to be a business trip, but if circumstances work out in the next week or so, I am hoping it will be turned into a purely fun trip. Either way, I'm excited to see Bangkok for the first time.
Another busy work week as we head into midterm exams. Only two reviews this week. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book was actually crossposted to Comic A Day, as I consider it a graphic novel (and as usual, my book reviews on Goodreads are also crossposted to Amazon).
Wake by Robert J Sawyer: The first book of Robert J. Sawyer's WWW trilogy of YA cyberpunk novels.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Greg Kinney: The Kiddo picked this one out, skipping all the way to #10 in this series.
Trip to Cambodia in December has been booked. We're leaving Christmas Day by bus from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We get one full day in Phnom Penh, then we head by Cambodian Postal Service Passenger Van (No, really! This is a thing!) to Kep, Cambodia, for four days. Back to Phnom Penh for New Year's eve, and back to Saigon on January 1.
It looks like we will then be turning around and heading to Bangkok, Thailand, a few days after that, so there should be lots of travel photos forthcoming!
This week was all about meeting goals.
I am officially a 2016 Nanowrimo winner! I made my goal with exactly 50,000 words, and also achieved my secondary goal which was to tell a complete story. In fact, as I got closer to the end, I realized that I could go with another slightly sillier goal, and managed to end my story such that word #49,000 was "THE" and word #50,000 was END. As you can see from the graph, I fell behind for most of the month, but managed to pull it together in the end. Synopsis and excerpt for my novel, The Lady of Three Faces, are here.
A few days after that, I achieved the goal of my 50-book reading challenge that I set for 2016 on Goodreads. You can see the list of books I read here.
My other goal has been to secure a new teaching position for the 2017-2018 school year. This seems early to the thinking about that, but most of the international teaching hiring for next school year is happening in the next month or two. I have made some good progress on this goal this week, and hope to have some news in the next few weeks.
I also got back to doing some reviewing.
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1: The first issue of the new Batgirl comic from DC.
Mockingbird #5: A fun, snarky tale from Marvel.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1: An all-ages crossover from DC and IDW.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: A science fiction classic by Robert A Heinlein.Coraline: A dark fairy tale by Neil Gaiman.
In addition to participating in Nanowrimo, I am donating in support of their programs for young writers. You can donate here.
The holiday season is fast approaching, and we're in the process of planning a trip to Phnom Penh and Kep, Cambodia. We're also looking at other destinations for our Tet break in January/February.
This has been a busy week, with Nanowrimo in full swing, plus normal day job work, and now, the beginnings of a job search.
I did not sign a renewal of my contract, so I'm looking for a new position for the 2017-2018 school year. We're open to going just about anywhere on Earth, so it will be interesting to see where our next adventure takes us. As part of the process, the tentative trip to Bangkok during Winter Break will include an international schools job fair.
With everything going on this week, I did manage to write a few reviews.
Prison Diary by Ho Chi Minh: This book of poetry was written by the Vietnamese leader when he was imprisoned in China in 1942. This edition contains the poems in three languages: Chinese (they were originally written in Chinese), Vietnamese, and English. This book was #47 in my goal of reading 50 books in 2016. Only 3 to go!The Warrior Queens by Elka Ray: I usually don't do reviews of picture book I read aloud to the Kiddo. I keep track of them on a separate list on Goodreads and give them a rating, but not a written review. But I though this retelling of a Vietnamese legend by Elka Ray was interesting enough to warrant a short review.
Wolverine: Origins of an X-Man #1: Free Comic Book Day 2009: This is an all-ages Wolverine story by Marvel Comics, given out as a freebie for 2009's Free Comic Book Day.
On Tripadvisor
Balconitel Boutique Hotel: Where we stayed for the school trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In light of the US election, I am supporting the American Civil Liberties Union with a donation this week.
Nanowrimo wordcount stands at 13,182. My novel is called The Lady of Three Faces. It's a middle-grade steampunk fantasy. No synopsis or excerpt yet, but I should have them up on the novel page soon.
Plans are still up in the air for trips to Bangkok, Thailand, and Kep, Cambodia, during Winter Break.


text:
The Parmer Scholar Foundation consists of former recipients of the W.O. Parmer Scholarship, as well as individuals who share the vision and mission of the organization.
Vision Statement
As members of the Parmer Scholars Foundation, we will ensure future generations of hardworking and deserving students in South Alabama continue to receive the W.O. Parmer Scholarship that was so generously awarded to us.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to honor and continue the legacy of our benefactor, Walter O. Parmer, by supplementing the scholarship fund that provided the foundation for our own success. As humble and appreciative recipients, the Parmer Scholars will build a corpus of assets to become a self-sustaining organization that benefits future W.O. Parmer Scholarship recipients.


text:
Our temple marriage has given me a sense of security, knowing the promises we have made to each other as man and wife exceed the bonds of this life. Whether school is difficult or I'm having a hard time, she will always be there to support me. —Jacob Craft
For him, it was love at first sight in a Wyoming parking lot.
For her, true love came after putting him through the nice-guy test.
More than a year later, Jacob and Emily Craft are married and attend the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he is a 6-foot-7 forward for the men's basketball team and she is a 6-foot-2 center for the women's team.
The story of how the towering, redheaded Jacob Craft found his tall bride in Wyoming, their courtship and how they ended up in Alaska is an interesting one. Amid the drama of basketball and college life, their relationship has been strengthened by their LDS faith and temple marriage.
"Our temple marriage has given me a sense of security, knowing the promises we have made to each other as man and wife exceed the bonds of this life," Jacob Craft said in a phone interview with the Deseret News. "Whether school is difficult or I'm having a hard time, she will always be there to support me."
"Knowing you have a special bond that lasts longer than this life means everything," Emily Craft said.
A Wyoming parking lot
Scoping out the dating scene at Central Wyoming College was far from Jacob Craft's thoughts when he pulled his car into a Riverton, Wyo., parking lot in the fall of 2012.
Why was he even there?
Craft was there on a basketball scholarship, an impressive feat considering he was cut from the Jordan High School basketball team as a senior.
After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Norway, Craft still believed he could play at the next level. Mentally strengthened by his mission experiences, he invested significant time in workouts at ASAP Training and E3 Basketball in Orem, Utah, in hopes of earning a tryout with a college team.
Once in shape, Craft drew interest from Dixie State, Southern Utah, Weber State and BYU-Hawaii, but their rosters were full. Finally, Central Wyoming, a junior college, offered him a scholarship and Craft gratefully accepted.
"It was a great blessing," he said. "After I committed, I was a little uneasy about my decision, but through contemplation and prayer, I came to the conclusion it was the right place to go, that something good would arise from it. And that's where I met my wife."
As he stepped from his car, the pretty face of a girl with dark hair immediately came into view. Craft experienced one of those time-stopping magical moments.
"The thing that attracted me to her right away was that I could see her above the cars," Craft said. "When I first saw her, I had the feeling that she was the one. ... I basically fell in love at first sight."
Nice-guy test
She was a sophomore, and her name was Emily Smith. She came from a family of tall women and was a member of the school's women's basketball team. Over the next few weeks, they saw each other often but didn't really talk until one day at church.
"On a campus of about 2,000 students, we attended an LDS branch of about 30 people," Jacob Craft said. "It was easy to find her."
As Emily Craft remembers it, he first approached her in a class.
"He asked if he could sit by me. I didn't look up or anything but said, 'Yeah, sure.' He made a comment on my shoes," she said. "That's when I took notice. Later, at a dinner, I made my move. I went over and talked to him about his mission in Norway."
"She didn't know where it (the country) was," Jacob Craft said.
The ice broken, the two began dating. A few other guys were interested in her, but Jacob Craft "made it clear that wasn't happening," he said.
Despite how well things were going, she decided to break up with him after a few weeks.
"He was too nice," she said. "Usually, guys that nice aren't looking for a relationship, they are doing it for other reasons. I was pretty sure he was the one for me, but I got scared and dumped him."
Considering his strong feelings, the breakup rattled Jacob Craft. He went to his parents for advice. A similar scenario had played out before they were married.
"My dad said to stay nice, keep talking to her and you will find the right moment to show that you are still interested," Jacob Craft said. "He was right. Things worked out."
Following his father's advice, Jacob Craft gave her flowers and a stuffed cheetah for her birthday about a month later.
"I figured he still likes me," said Emily Craft, whose biggest fear was marrying a shorter guy. "He was genuine. He was consistent."
The following May, they were married in the Draper Utah Temple. Their wedding cake was decorated with a basketball theme.
A couple of Seawolves
Life was good off the court, but not so good on the court.
While participating in a rebound drill, Jacob Craft dislocated his right shoulder. He didn't want to lose his hard-earned scholarship, so he played on. The injury worsened when he suffered a torn shoulder labrum, ending his season.
UAA men's basketball coach Rusty Osborne had seen Craft play before the injury. At the end of the season, UAA assistant coach Cameron Turner talked to Jacob Craft about coming to Alaska the following year. Craft asked if there was interest in him coming right away.
Emily Craft's junior college career was over. She had averaged 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Rustlers. When it was learned that UAA women's coach Ryan McCarthy had one scholarship and needed a post player, the Crafts became a package deal.
"I fit the bill," Emily Craft said.
Life in Alaska
In his first full season since his junior year of high school, Jacob Craft is averaging 2.1 points and a rebound in about five minutes of action per game. The Seawolves are 13-11 overall. Despite losing to Brigham Young University in a 99-68 blowout in a November exhibition game, he fulfilled a dream of playing in the Marriott Center. He is studying pre-law and is used to the Alaskan climate after living in Norway.
Emily Craft is scoring 7.5 points and pulling down 4.8 rebounds in about 18 minutes per game. The women's team is 14-6. She is studying history.
Both are enjoying their experience, although teammates often remind Jacob Craft that at age 23, he is one of the oldest freshmen in the country.
The Crafts are active in their LDS ward and serve as young single adult representatives. They have had several opportunities to discuss their LDS beliefs. Jacob Craft said he gave a Book of Mormon to a teammate who has since transferred, and Emily Craft once invited some track athletes to church.
While she is the only Mormon on the women's team, his teammates Brad Mears and Teancum Stafford are both married and returned missionaries.
The biggest challenge for the Crafts is the amount of travel. Despite the separation, they do their best to support one another, especially after a tough loss.
When asked what message they might share with young single adults, the couple offered this advice.
"Be yourself," Emily Craft said.
"I wasn't planning on dating anyone when I went to Central," Jacob Craft said. "I had dated several girls after my mission and was over it. Then I wanted to marry the first girl I saw on campus. As long as you are faithful and put your trust in God, things will work out, and in the way you least expect it."
Email: [email protected] Twitter: tbtoone


text:
In the interests of intellectual exchange, the author explores the world of shoes in an attempt to inform and entertain. This is an add free site .
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Fashion blogs: Paradigm shift
A new study suggests that women's passion for killer heels has caused them to receive medical attention. Researchers say that a fifth of females polled have ended up twisting their ankle or tearing a tendon when wearing their heels. One third reported falling flat on their face as a result of their heels, with many damaging their teeth and breaking their wrists. The poll of 3,000 women, found other injuries sustained in the name of fashion include broken ankles and twisted knees. One cannot rule out other contributory factors such as too much of the singing syrup. Despite the warnings of the shoe police the 'killer heel' continues to be popular as stores continue to promote the skyscraper heel trend. New kid on the side walk is the platform heel or 'Sky Heel' Shoes. The combo footwear is a fashion platform shoe with up to 9 inch heels. Their popularity is in no short measure due to those fashion slaves who worship at the feet of Lady GaGa. However celebrities are having far less influence than previously according to experts (?) who believe the power of by blog idols like Carine Roitfeld and Emmanuelle Alt , Kate Lanphear and Giovanna Battaglia take over. New style savants blindly follow influential fashion blogs like Jak & Jil, Who What Wear and Citizen Couture. The prominent bloggers are also magnets to designers and mainstream American merchants, who have built marketing strategies around them.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
First Baby Bucket List
Today I'm excited to share a guest post from my friend Payton of A Hopeful Happenstance. She has some pretty rad posts on motherhood, marriage, faith, and more. Enjoy!
I have a tiny little 15 month old beauty. She lights up my life and makes my heart whole. So whole that it seems it may explode out of my chest most days. I love her so much I'm sure before I had her I barely knew what love was. I love her so much it hurts all the time. I tell you this to preface what I'm about to write...
There are a thousand things I should have done before I had her. Well, let me clarify; there are a thousand moments I should have paused to savor. Things move so rapidly once little ones jump into the family picture. Granted, things always come up that make people say, 'oh I should have done that before I ... [insert major life event here].' We can always come up with reasons not to do something, I'm not saying wait to have kids till you check off every dream and goal for your life. Your kids will force you to grow and you'll be stretched and formed into a better person daily. Taking them along with you on the road to your hopes and dreams only makes them better when you finally reach your destination.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't savor your baby free days either; you really should, this way you can have those times to hold onto when you feel you might collapse from exhaustion as you clean mashed banana out of your littles hair. Spending only a month with a tiny but steadily growing human proves to moms that life is insanely short (if the thousands of people saying it over and over wasn't enough). We learn to take a deep breath and savor all those baby sights and smells that make us so weary. Some day these moments we try to soak up will be memories we struggle to pull to the front of our minds. We know the baby days are short but you know what no one told me!? The single days are short. The baby free married days are shorter! The pregnancy is SHORT! I LOVE being a young married momma, but no one reminded me to soak up those days like they remind me to soak up my little baby.
Here it is, your reminder. All the days are long but the years are extremely short. Soak it all up and tuck it away for later. Your memories of the baby years will get you through some tough days. When your kiddo heads off to school. When your last born moves out. Weddings and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. People will remind you of this. What I'm reminding you of now, your memories of your free time, peeing in peace, shaving both legs at once, sleeping in … these will get you through some crazy nights and long days during the baby years. You need a well of moments to draw from when you need to escape the baby and momma drama just the same as later in life when you'll want a well of baby day moments to savor.
You can't live trying to avoid regret and let your life be dictated by 'FOMO' … I can't believe that's even a thing. Anyway, someday you'll look back and realize you did nothing but worry about missing out.. Which will cause you to miss a lot! But there are some simple pleasures I definitely wish I would have savored more. If you're pregnant or trying to conceive, expecting baby number one someday soon, working to adopt, or whatever your road to parenthood, take note: Savor the basics. Make a list, think it over, check it twice, do some big things because yes, your free time will greatly diminish. But I'm not talking about skydiving or climbing Everest, I'm talking about these…
@@The Pre-Baby Bucket List@@:
Take a 30 minute shower.
Shower till the hot water runs out. Take a bath and then take a shower. Put music on while you shower because you don't yet have to parent from said shower; 'go find Daniel Tiger baby, go eat your Cheerios, and try not to break anything for the three minutes so I can shave my other leg pleaseeeee.'
Eat a hot meal.
Eat every bite like you'll never eat a hot meal again.. Because you might not. Warm maybe... Hot, I doubt it. Eat all of your favorite foods and junk food and sugary snacks with freedom because like the good parent you are (wanting to feed your child healthy snacks and all) very soon you'll be eating that chocolate hiding in your bedroom with your secret stash.
Watch a movie.
A wholeeeeeee movie!!! Watch an old fav or visit the theater and find a new one. No.. Do both! Definitely do both. I'll save our recent trip to the movie theater for another day but I'll tell you now it involves a new set of clothes for more than one person and many many trips to the lobby.
Sleep till noon. Sleep for hours straight. Savor those hours because they're going to have to hold you over for a few years (per baby). Nap. Nap on the couch, on a chair, you could nap really anywhere! On a train or on a plane for soon no sleep will make you insane! You'll watch cartoons and the babies will quiet. But the second your eyes close, your patience? They'll try it. ... Sorry, we've been on a Dr. Suess jag. Just take a nap okay?
Try them all. Personally I wish I had more time to paint, or sew, or learn to knit... But I love you ladies so I use my spare time to share my words with you! I'm working on finding a balance between me time and work time. We'll see how it goes...
You have a few right? Well go see them right now! Tell them you love them and that someday you'll ignore them and hide away in your home. Kindly ask them to give you time with your new baby and after an appropriate amount to come over and pull you out of those yoga pants, help stuff you into some jeans, and take you out for a girls night. There are many things in life that if you stop doing them... You forget how much you need them... Girls night is one. You need time with other women and without your precious child. It's hard but make time for your friends and savor the fact that you can make plans with friends without planning around all of your children!
Okay, I hear you. You're saying that ALL of these items are things you do all the time! This isn't a bucket list!
Well, you just wait. Trust me. Go down the list. Savor these things. You can get a babysitter for the big real bucket list items you have.. Bungee jumping and whatnot. But you probably won't hire a sitter to let you eat your dinner while it's still hot or let you finish that late night movie.
I know the days are long and you know the years are short. Savor it all, fill up your well, you'll thank yourself someday. I promise!
Meet Payton of A Hopeful Happenstance
In 2015 I had a baby and found that, though the days were challenging, the work I was doing just wasn't very stimulating. I follow several amazing women on social media that have helped me in many ways during this new leg of life. Whether through helpful hints on how to handle this new tiny human or articles that simply said, 'you rock mama.' They put a lot of hard work into their pages and I thought, 'I'd love to do what they do,' but really I'd just love something to focus on other than changing diapers and reading about breastfeeding (which was a lot in the first few months). It was then I set out to challenge myself to create something that a stay at home mom could be proud of, and that thing was this blog; my teeny tiny corner of the internet full of confusing coding and all things foreign to my 'non-techy' brain. It's been an interesting adventure so far and I'm excited about this new leg of the journey. Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest


text:
Weddings Are A Memorable Experience
Boulders is the perfect location for any family event. Warm and inviting, Boulders Conference Center offers a wonderful setting for family reunions, bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, dances, class reunions, weddings and more! We can accommodate groups up to 400 and offer a variety of caterers to suit any taste or budget.
Personal Events
Boulders is the perfect place for birthday parties and class reunions. Give Mom a break and let us handle the room setup and cleaning. There's plenty of space for adults to visit and kids to have an area for games. We even have a TV and DVD player for rent for a nominal fee if you want to watch movies! There's no cooking in the facility, but groups up to 100 can bring in their own food for a minimal fee instead of hiring a caterer.
Bridal showers, baby showers and class reunions are ideal for Boulders. Our staff sets the room to your specifications, and we clean up afterward. All you have to do is decorate. Our dance floor can be used in any room. Hire a DJ, band or plug your CD player or iPod into our state-of-the-art sound system for great sound.


text:
Centrality 21 June 2010Posted by MOZAFFAR in Misc.
The Qur'an challenges you — believer, non-believer, rejector — to extend your beliefs to their logical conclusions. Meaning, take what you believe about anything and everything, and understand what the consequences of these beliefs really are.
If this challenge is too difficult, look to your actions. Your actions will reveal much about your true beliefs. Look at the expect results of your actions, and see where your actions take you. Actions result in destinations. What are the destinations of your actions.
If that challenge is too difficult then look to your actions from yesterday. Take a serious evaluation of how you spent and invested your time yesterday, and look to the expected results of those actions. Some of your actions from yesterday met their exact, intended results yesterday. But, what of those actions that were invested toward longer, more distant goals?
Look then to your goals. Identify one simple goal in your life. Maybe you have a dream of reaching a particular career. What did you do yesterday to help reach that career? Perhaps your goal is to raise a child into a successful someone. What specifically? Are you raising your child to be successful in a career, successful as a citizen, successful as a believer, successful on the Day of Judgment? What did you do yesterday to reach that goal? If your goal is companionship, what did you do yesterday to find companionship?
Thus, the point here is to evaluate your actions and take them to their logical conclusions.
Having said that, if you believe in the Day of Judgment, then look specifically at the role the Day of Judgment plays in your life. What have you done today, thus far, to prepare for it? Are the obligations placed upon you obligations that you are working to fulfill? This is the simple question. Take a serious look at your actions to determine what type of preparation you did for the Day of Judgment. From there, take a serious look to see what direction your life is taking in preparation for that Day.
It is very easy — almost comfortable — to avoid these uncomfortable questions. In some cases, we run from these fundamental questions by escaping into other topics. In some cases, we run from these fundamental questions by escaping into conversations about reform of the Tradition. Indeed, much of the conversation about the reform of the Tradition places focus on bringing people closer to the Divine. But, much of the conversation about this reform is simply an escape from the fundamental questions, by way of escaping into secondary (though sometimes important) questions.
So, as a way of calibrating your actions toward particular goals, identify the centrality (or lack of centrality) of the Day of Judgment in your worldview, your beliefs, and especially your actions.
And Allah knows best.
- 1. Australian Muslim - 21 June 2010
Simple but true


text:
A leading accounting firm says in an internal audit that arrives just as President Donald Trump is proposing a boost in the military budget.
Ernst & Young found that the Defense Logistics Agency failed to properly document more than $800 million in construction projects, just one of a series of examples where it lacks a paper trail for millions of dollars in property and equipment. Across the board, its financial management is so weak that its leaders and oversight bodies have no reliable way to track the huge sums it's responsible for, the firm warned in its initial audit of the massive Pentagon purchasing agent.
The audit raises new questions about whether the Defense Department can responsibly manage its $700 billion annual budget — let alone the additional billions that Trump plans to propose this month. The department has never undergone a full audit despite a congressional mandate — and to some lawmakers, the messy state of the Defense Logistics Agency's books indicates one may never even be possible.
"If you can't follow the money, you aren't going to be able to do an audit," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican and senior member of the Budget and Finance committees, who has pushed successive administrations to clean up the Pentagon's notoriously wasteful and disorganized accounting system.
The $40 billion-a-year logistics agency is a test case in how unachievable that task may be. The DLA serves as the Walmart of the military, with 25,000 employees who process roughly 100,000 orders a day on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and a host of other federal agencies — for everything from poultry to pharmaceuticals, precious metals and aircraft parts.
But as the auditors found, the agency often has little solid evidence for where much of that money is going. That bodes ill for ever getting a handle on spending at the Defense Department as a whole, which has a combined $2.2 trillion in assets.
In one part of the audit, completed in mid-December, Ernst & Young found that misstatements in the agency's books totaled at least $465 million for construction projects it financed for the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies. For construction projects designated as still "in progress," meanwhile, it didn't have sufficient documentation — or any documentation at all — for another $384 million worth of spending.
The agency also couldn't produce supporting evidence for many items that are documented in some form — including records for $100 million worth of assets in the computer systems that conduct the agency's day-to-day business.
"The documentation, such as the evidence demonstrating that the asset was tested and accepted, is not retained or available," it said.
The report, which covers the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2016, also found that $46 million in computer assets were "inappropriately recorded" as belonging to the Defense Logistics Agency. It also warned that the agency cannot reconcile balances from its general ledger with the Treasury Department.
The agency maintains it will overcome its many hurdles to ultimately get a clean audit.
"The initial audit has provided us with a valuable independent view of our current financial operations," Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams, the agency's director, wrote in response to Ernst & Young's findings. "We are committed to resolving the material weaknesses and strengthening internal controls around DLA's operations."


text:
By Phone:
Call us toll-free at 1-800-308-0374 Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST. Operators are available to answer your questions in English or Spanish. Be sure to tell them you are calling about the HealthCareSavingsLink.com offers.
By Mail:
Best Benefits Plan
Coverdell & Company, Inc.
8770 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60631


text:
Manually Backup Your WordPress Database
If you are thinking of creating a WordPress site by yourself, but you're worried that you aren't tech savvy, don't worry – that's what we're here for! Our Recommended WordPress plug-in and our guide will help you grow your blog. The plugin WordPress Database Backup will assist you to back up your database automatically. Sometimes,…Read more


text:
The Junior League of Edmonton (JLE) partners with community agencies that reflect our mission, vision and values. Focused on improving girl's mental health and empowerment, the Junior League of Edmonton provides much-needed volunteer resources and funding, and serves as a catalyst for positive change through our partnerships.
Current ProjectsIn 2017-2018 we are funding the Girls Growing Strong program at Uncles and Aunts at Large in its entirety instead of giving out a few CAF grants this year. We will be directly involved with the girls on 4 occasions where we will be able to use our expertise and share with them about various topics to help build their self-esteem and expose them to new empowering experiences.
Girls in the Know
Past Projects
In the fall of 2012 the Junior League of Edmonton partnered with Belmead School. Members have donated numerous hours each week working with students individually and in small groups. Members have become much more than just reading partners, they have also taken on mentorship roles for the children while working on building reading and other literacy skills.
Although literacy skills have been the main focus, JLE have also made financial and in-kind donations, including the funds to purchase a new fridge and food for the for the snack program as well donated and purchased numerous books for the school's library.
Early in 2013 JLE also held their general meeting at Belmead school and incorporated an evening of making muffins and other nutritional food for out of school.
Over the course of two days volunteers painted the fence for the Kid with Cancer House.
To address the urgent issue of childhood obesity, the Junior League of Edmonton, with the support of parents and other caregivers, has implemented a program to empower the children in our community to adopt healthy eating habits.
The Junior League's Kids in the Kitchen initiative, which uses a hands-on educational approach, is now in its 7th year in our community, and has been launched by Junior Leagues in more than 250 other communities across Canada, the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
More information is available on the Association of Junior Leagues International's (AJLI) Kids in the Kitchen website!
"By joining together to make an impact on the future health of our youth, Junior Leagues will heighten awareness and recognition of the power of voluntarism to address community problems on both the grassroots and international levels."
When the Junior League of Edmonton first learnt about the local community's need for diapers, we couldn't ignore it. And so it was decided that from September to November 2010, the JLE new member group would partner with Huggies' Every Little Bottom to raise awareness of the issue of diaper need and close the diaper gap by holding a number of community-based diaper drives within the city.
With a goal of 90,000 diapers in 90 days, the group of six (Monita, Erin, Ashley, Mimi, Carol, and Megan) had their hopes set very high. But with a lot of hard work and a lot of help, the committee exceeded their goal by raising 100,003 diapers in support of Edmonton's Food Bank and the Terra Association.
Huggies' Every Little Bottom soon evolved into the new member provisional project 'A Bare Bottom Should Be A Choice." Junior League of Edmonton's through community based events and diaper drives, outfitted families in need at the Bissell Centre. Diaper Drive was a successful campaign for many years and through the generous support of Edmontonians raised diapers to ensure a bare bottom was a choice.
The Canadian Federation of Junior Leagues and Talbots partnered for the "Clear Out Your Closet" Clothing Drive for Women again in 2005 and 2006. All collected clothing from Edmonton and Winnipeg will be donated to Changing Together.
Changing Together helps Edmonton and area immigrant women and their families overcome personal and systemic barriers that keep them from participating fully in Canadian Society.
Junior Chefs was created to inspire children to develop the skills necessary to create healthy meals and snacks with commonly available, economically priced food items.
Groups of children participate in food preparation by reading recipes, gathering ingredients and cookware, learning about food and equipment safety, and participating in cleanup. The 90-minute sessions are offered through community agencies. Junior League of Edmonton members and sustainers, as well as community volunteers, deliver the program.
Past venues include Boys' & Girls' Clubs of Edmonton and Norwood Child & Family Resource Centre.
The Edmonton Social Planning Council has figures to indicate that almost 10,000 children in Edmonton are persistently hungry. They are often without after-school care and do not have experience in safely preparing healthy food in the kitchen.
Junior League of Edmonton, Culinary Team Alberta and ongoing community donations
In 2002, WINGS (Women in Need of Growing Stronger) of Providence Society was in the process of building its new 20-unit apartment building. This second-stage shelter would provide women and children who had experienced family violence with independent living in a safe, secure, supportive environment.
The Junior League of Edmonton's 2002–03 new members' class took on the project of creating a Healing Garden on the grounds of this new facility. Creation of the garden included everything from raising in-kind donations to working with a designer to develop a safe and healing space for women and children. The League hired a landscape architect for $2,235 to help design the space; donated $7,000 toward the playground, which is an extension of the garden; and committed $10,000 for creation of the space. The project was completed in May 2004 with an Impact Edmonton planting opportunity.
The first year of Books for Babies saw the launch of this project in collaboration with Prospects Literacy Association. The project encouraged parents with low literacy skills or few financial resources to read to their babies on a regular basis. The intent was to enable young children, who would otherwise be in a disadvantaged position, to develop lifelong language and reading skills. The project consisted of both a mentoring component and the distribution of book bags.
In the first year, the League succeeded in designing and producing 125 sturdy book bags, selecting six baby books that met the criteria and collecting other literacy resources to insert into the bags, along with a Shaw bear. A number of successful library orientation and mentoring programs were developed with the Jasper Place and Sprucewood branches of the Edmonton Public Library, with the referral of new mothers and babies coming from West Jasper Place and Eastwood health centres of Capital Health. These sessions included the distribution of the book bags and free library cards for the participants, a library orientation and tour, Mother Goose Rhymes That Bind sessions and a mentoring program for reading to babies.
The League committed $25,000 to this project over three years. In the spring of 1999, the League was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Edmonton Community Lottery Board so that Books for Babies could expand over the following two years.
In 1993, the League, in collaboration with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Edmonton, presented workshops to children 6 to 12 years of age to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent them from being sexually abused. The program was unique in that it provided one-to-one training in personal safety to children paired with trained volunteers who were guided by an experienced facilitator.
Kids in the "No" workshops were first delivered to children associated with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Edmonton and then expanded to include children from the community at large.
The program was turned over to the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Edmonton in 1996.
In 1991, the League obtained a $50,000 grant from the Wild Rose Foundation to supervise the production of In Our Defence, a film about women and violence. At that time, the film company, Image Works, was attempting to correct misinformation surrounding the violence issue, but addressing the topic was in its infancy.
In Our Defence was the most successful independent production ever made: the film is still a required resource used by the RCMP in its training, and duplication rights were purchased by every provincial education department in Canada.
Image Works still gets 20 to 30 requests per year for the film. As of 1999, In Our Defence was still the best resource on the topic—there is nothing newer or better dealing with the topic of violence against women.
n early 1990, after over one year of investigation and in keeping with its three-year focus on the family, the League selected the Northern Alberta Brain Injury Society (NABIS) Family Support Project.
The 1990–91 committee hired a part-time project coordinator and undertook an extensive needs assessment of the families of brain-injured individuals. This led to the development of a report that provided NABIS with a wealth of information about its members, as well as a powerful advocacy tool.
The report provided a set of recommendations from which the 1991–92 committee developed an action plan for the development of a new public awareness poster for NABIS. During this year, NABIS itself underwent a major internal reevaluation and restructuring.
The 1992–93 committee developed the new poster with NABIS and coordinated the distribution of 2,000 posters throughout the Edmonton area—from hospitals and health care facilities to schools, churches and firehalls.
The committee then developed a project evaluation tool that included input from all past and present committee members. The resulting report was presented to NABIS and the League. The turnover also included a continual maintenance report to assist NABIS in any future mailouts of this kind.
In 1982, an international leadership training program for teenagers was initiated by the Association of Junior Leagues International. Students were trained to work in teams with adult mentors in volunteer projects serving their communities. Project LEAD was implemented by the Association of Junior Leagues International in collaboration with the Quest National Centre and operated in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In 1986, the Junior League of Edmonton approved the development of Project LEAD for Edmonton high schools. Community projects developed by LEAD teams following leadership training courses have included
- a smoking awareness program for 200 Grade 3–4 children
- a skate-a-thon, with proceeds going to the Youth Emergency Centre
- a job search workshop
- a one-day community cleanup
- the recruitment of teens to volunteer as camp counsellors.
In 1991, Project LEAD was turned over to the Rural Education and Development Association.
In 1986, the membership approved the development of a Fundraising Management Resource Centre in conjunction with Grant MacEwan Community College. The centre was to assist the nonprofit community in the Edmonton area to become better fundraisers through training and development opportunities.
In July 1987, a three-party letter of agreement was signed by the Junior League of Edmonton, Grant MacEwan Community College and the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. October 1987 saw the official opening of the Fundraising Management Resource Centre at Grant MacEwan Community College. In 1988, the name of the centre was changed to the Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations to reflect the broader scope of the centre. The League provided enhancement to the centre in the form of an annual speakers' series and a quarterly newsletter, as well as input into the management of the centre itself. In 1989, the League received $17,000 from the secretary of state to undertake a study of fundraising trends in the nonprofit sector. In 1990, the centre received a grant of $39,000 from the Wild Rose Foundation to ensure its continued operation following the League's turnover to Grant MacEwan Community College.
The centre is now an integral part of the Voluntary Sector Management program at the downtown campus of Grant MacEwan College.
In 1985, the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy requested volunteers from theCanadian Federation of Junior Leagues to assist in promoting its goals across Canada. The Junior League of Edmonton responded to the request by appointing a member to act as a liaison between the League and the centre. The representative also served as a liaison between the centre and its associate members in Edmonton. In addition, the League researched and provided information to the centre on various Edmonton organizations.
The League committed $35,000 and membership participation in furnishing and decorating the playroom at Ronald McDonald House, setting up a speaker's bureau and developing a volunteer training program. In August 1985, Ronald McDonald House was officially opened. League involvement with this project was completed in April 1987.
In 1982, the Junior League of Edmonton acquired puppets and trained members to assist elementary school children with their understanding of the handicapped. In 1983, six teams of puppeteers performed 175 presentations to Grade 3 students. Another set of puppets was acquired in 1984. Demand for the program grew steadily, and League volunteers loved this placement. In June 1987, the project entered into collaboration with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. In April 1988, the League provided assistance in setting up training workshops for Glenrose volunteers. The turnover was successfully completed in April 1989.
This was started as a joint project with the Volunteer Action Centre. The purpose of the project was to develop and give workshops on effective board management to community organizations. League involvement with this project was completed in April 1987.
Two members were placed with WIN House in 1981. The Distress Line was aided with members in 1982, and St. John Ambulance and the Elizabeth Fry Society were assisted in 1984. Due to membership constraints, the Leaguer on Loan project was curtailed in 1986.
The project approved was "to plan and coordinate the orientation of the World Student Games volunteers." A volunteer handbook was researched, compiled and published, and a script for orientation presentations was compiled. Members participated in presenting the orientation sessions.
Forty League members were trained and took part in various areas of the Commonwealth Games, including venue tours, the badminton venue, the farewell party and dignitary visitations.
The plays were produced with the Family Service Association, with League members acting as discussion leaders. Three plays were shown during the length of the project.
A child advocacy survey was conducted to determine services available and the needs of children. The survey was sent to the Association of Junior Leagues International and community groups. During the project, the following issues were dealt with by various committees:
- daycare forum
- a donation toward a film on daycare
- a brief to the Alberta government
- research and a position paper on the Children's Hospital
- turnover of the Toy Lending Library to the Edmonton Public Library
- establishment of a child abuse issues file
- a study of women and pensions.
In addition, the committee educated members on advocacy skills and offered a legislative tour and constitutional workshop. The term child was dropped from the committee in 1978 to allow for a broader field of investigation. The committee was terminated in 1983, and two advocacy members were appointed to the Training Corps.
The Volunteer Career Development course was taken by two members. The course was first offered to League members in 1976. A Volunteer Community Career Development pilot project was conducted in 1977. In the ensuing years, community workshops for both adults and youth groups were presented.
A project was conceived of a mobile library of toys in 1974. The van was ordered in 1975 and was based at the Guidance Clinic, then moved to Elves Memorial Child Development Centre in 1976. In 1979, the service was extended to Norwood and Mill Woods. Advocacy assisted in the search for a community agency to take over the project. The toys were turned over to the Edmonton Public Library in 1982, with toys being lent in four branches using League volunteers. By 1984, the number of members involved was reduced to three, with the project phased out on January 1, 1985.
A booklet covering 30 services and agencies to assist the dependent handicapped was completed, and 800 copies were distributed to caregivers and agencies.
The League donated $2,500 to provide half-salary for a coordinator of volunteers for the Operation Friendship program. A New Horizon grant enabled the League to withdraw in six months.
This project involved furnishing Rowand House at Fort Edmonton. This was a commitment of $30,000 plus research and acquisition of furnishings by the membership. An interpretive program commenced and members acted as guides until termination of involvement in 1977.
The film was purchased from the Miami League in 1971. 160 classes were shown the film in 1972 when it was introduced as a project. The project was renamed Youth Education in 1975 when AADAC agreed to continue the program.
A booklet listing conveniences (or lack thereof) in 285 facilities in Edmonton was produced with the assistance of all members. Social services for the disabled were included. In 1971, the Junior League of Edmonton, along with the Junior League of Calgary (which had undertaken a similar project), received the Patron's Award for the Disabled.
A community awareness program was planned, executed and attended by League provisionals, the National Council of Jewish Women, Anglican Church women, the Catholic Women's League and mothers of the Norwood Readiness Centre.
A booklet listing conveniences (or lack thereof) in 285 facilities in Edmonton was produced with the assistance of all members. Social services for the disabled were included. In 1971, the Junior League of Edmonton, along with the Junior League of Calgary (which had undertaken a similar project), received the Patron's Award for the Disabled.
The Emergency Shelter for Women opened in January 1969 at All Saints Cathedral. The League donated $4,000 to help initiate and run the program. The League also designated a member to sit on the management board.
League involvement included a $2,000 commitment, as well as a member acting as liaison for a four-month period.
Volunteers taught English to new Canadians.
Volunteers worked on a pilot project, assisting teachers at Elmwood School.
This project included production and delivery of 525 games books, sent to 11 agencies every month. League involvement included providing volunteers and covering the cost of the books.
Volunteers assisted in a playschool program for bedridden preschool children at the Glenrose Hospital. The project was terminated in 1969 because volunteers were unqualified to assist the growing number of emotionally disturbed children.
Volunteers participated in taping textbooks for the blind.
A project was organized with the University of Alberta and the National Council of Jewish Women to teach learning activities to disadvantaged children. The League donated $6,400 and volunteers over the years. Norwood citizens, financed by Preventive Social Services, took over operation of the project in 1968. The Readiness Centre House opened in 1970. Volunteer participation was terminated in 1973.
The Children's Art Gallery was the League's centennial project, with a commitment of $50,000 and volunteer participation. The Edmonton Art Gallery opened in December 1968, and the Junior Gallery officially opened in the Edmonton Art Gallery in April 1969. Volunteer participation was terminated in 1971.
This project involved establishing a kindergarten for learning-impaired children. The League donated $6,000 for the salary of a teacher, as well as volunteers.
Established in January 1963, the Edmonton Day Care Program sought to provide recreation and rehabilitation for homeless, unemployed men. The Junior League of Edmonton provided $5,500 in funding for a rehabilitation counsellor, as well as volunteer participation. The project became eligible for United Community Fund support in 1964.
Established in January 1963, the Edmonton Day Care Program sought to provide recreation and rehabilitation for homeless, unemployed men. The Junior League of Edmonton provided $5,500 in funding for a rehabilitation counsellor, as well as volunteer participation. The project became eligible for United Community Fundsupport in 1964.
A Social Service Bursary was set up with the Lady Aberdeen League for $1,000 for postgraduate work in social work. The bursary was increased to $1,500 in 1963 and renamed the Dr. Allison Proctor Social Work Bursary in 1964. It was awarded in the field of learning disabilities in 1973 and terminated in 1974. The Allison Proctor Memorial Booklet was published in 1976.
The first Children's Theatre performance was Wizard of Oz in October 1954. It was produced jointly by the Junior Hospital League and Edmonton Recreation Commission. The project was turned over to the Junior Arts Council in 1966.
Central Volunteer Bureau opened in May 1952. Its purpose was to make the best use of volunteer help in the city. By 1953, 40 agencies had been contacted, and 1,117 volunteers, placed. The League received the Mayfair Award for community service in 1954 for establishing the Central Volunteer Bureau. A community board was set up for the Central Volunteer Bureau in 1956, and the bureau was accepted into the United Community Fund in 1961.
Two rooms were furnished in Elizabeth House.
Emergency Housekeeper Service was inaugurated in 1946. Its purpose was to attempt to help families in emergency situations by making available the services of a housekeeper. Keeping families together in times of trouble was made possible by this League project. It was accepted as a member of the Community Chest of Greater Edmonton in 1950 and turned over to Family Services in 1954.
Volunteers assisted with the care of crippled children in the orthopaedic ward of theUniversity of Alberta Hospital. The Junior Hospital League also provided for a teacher (1932–58), a therapeutic pool (1934), formation of a Brownie pack (1936), reading lamps for the isolation ward (1940) and a rehabilitation kitchen (1958).


text:
Guest Profile
Jerry Bagel, MDCompany: Medical Director of Windsor Dermatology, Inc
Location: NJ
Industry: Healthcare
Dr. Bagel is Board Certified in dermatology and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. A nationally recognized expert in the treatment of psoriasis, he is regularly invited to speak across the country and internationally about this medical condition and its treatment. Practicing dermatology and dermatologic surgery for 25 years, he is: Senior Attending Physician at the University Medical Center at Princeton; Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; teaches at the Drexel University College of Medicine; Editor: Practical Dermatology; Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University; Associate Editor for Psoriasis Forum.
Dr. Bagel has been named a Top Doctor in the Castle Connolly Medical Top Doctors of the New York Metro Area every year from 2001-2010. He was named a 2005 New Jersey Top Doctor by New Jersey Life; a Best Doctor in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly in 2001 and 2003; and received a Patients' Choice award in 2008.


text:
I'm a writer. I write m/m erotica. Kind of dark stuff, even though in real life I like rainbows and puppies and kittens. Not all at once though. That would be overwhelming.
Hi everyone!
The King of Dublin blog tour kicks off on the 24th. Follow me and Heidi around, leave a comment somewhere, and you could win one of each of our backlist titles, and also an Irish-related thingummy. I can't be more specific, as I haven't seen the thungummy. But I'm sure it's very nice.


text:
Rand Paul sent out a video supporting the idea of a Life At Conception Act. The video is at:
I agree with this message. DNA proves that life in the womb is an innocent human individual. The idea that it isn't a human individual, or that it is only tissue, is a form of myth which crumbles in the face of indisputable science. My sincere wish is for full healing for anyone who has gone through abortion. Legally, the practice is akin to the concept of slavery, with both reasoning that although this may be a human individual it somehow has less value or rights than other's lives do. The stated reasoning in both Roe v. Wade and Dred Scott was stated in terms of, (close paraphrase), "is this life really a person? We don't think so…" I believe abortion must also eventually go the way of slavery. There can be no moral defense for willfully taking another human individual's life when that individual has their entire life ahead of them. Sadly, I believe many people experience cognitive dissonance, or allow themeselves to be deceived into not really believing they are taking an innocent life. But it's impossible to escape reality. Forgiveness is the road to healing and the truth really does set us free.


text:
Spacious suites of different architectures with view on the Ardennes or the historic palace courtyard. The suites are located in the main building as well as the side buildings with an individual architecture and a floor area between 50 and 75 m².
Room rates
|From Sunday till Friday
|From Friday till Sunday
|Suite Manoriale
|339,- €
|399,- €
Technical equipment
All suites and rooms have been equipped with Air Conditioning, flatscreen TV, DVD- and CD-player, Internet, minibar, electronic safe and telephone.


text:
How credit card reform will impact you
Americans -- and retailers -- have grown to love the convenience of gift cards. Their terms have not always been consumer-friendly, though, and the law takes aim at some of them.
Fed issues rules addressing gift card fees, restrictions -- Clearer disclosures of gift card fees terms and conditions are also included in the rules that take effect in August 2010 ... (more)
Buyers' guide to gift cards: 5 questions to ask before buying -- Want to save money on gift card purchases? Ask yourself some key questions and do a bit of homework; your extra effort can mean cash left over in your pocket ... (more)See related: Back to main page: Credit card reform arrives, How the Credit CARD Act affects consumers, How the Credit CARD affects young adults under 21, A comprehensive guide to the Credit CARD Act of 2009, Complete archive of Credit CARD Act articles


text:
Before you are subjected to my ranting – watch this story about two different crafters
I am always out there looking for crafters to help.
I have just done a small video that is a story, and tells a very important thing about some crafters – a very important story.
While I tell the story with a smile, and allow that you are probably not that sort of crafter, I do meet them everyday. I find them on the forums, on social media and in the line at the till at my local shopping center.
This is a small rant – sorry
I do not know why so many people think they do not ever need to try to keep on educating themselves anymore.
99% of people when asked will say that they are open to learning new skills everyday.
But then when I offer them a free three video course that will help them double their sales, they tell me they are too busy and do not have the time to do "that"
Go figure…
When I go to the actual craft markets and start chatting to the crafters that are selling their goods on the markets, they are friendly as hell, BUT…
As soon as I email them or encourage them to do anything marketing related they all seem to go lame and unable to do anything.
While it is not my problem and is theirs, it is sad to see a person who is aware of the fact that they need to do more effort to sell more, and yet cannot do the smallest thing to start to boost their sales of their crafts.
Right now I do not have a specific course I feel you should start with but you can do this…
Go see all the latest posts on my blog – http://workfromhomemembership.com/
or go and look at the free courses I have available for you to start with – http://workfromhomemembership.com/complete-product-index/


text:
We are delighted to announce that two Research Assistants have been apointed to work on the project with us – Carmen D'Cruz, who will be based at the University of Reading School of Law, and Laura Mayne, who will be based at the University of Portsmouth School of of Social, Historical and Literary Studies. They will be working during 2014 to bring the project to fruition, engaging with archival, empirical, and documentary sources to gain new insights into change over time.
As such, we will be looking for relevant archival sites and sources that really speak to the realities of health and safety regulation, policy, and change since 1960, and will also be looking to interview key players from the worlds of policy, industry, regulation, and the trade unions. If you have ideas about sources, or things that we should definitely be looking for, then please do get in touch or drop us a comment via this blog site! Thank you!
Paul and Mike


text:
London: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Monday termed the 95-run win over England, their first Test victory at the historic Lord`s in nearly three decades, a "memorable" one and said the visitors had learnt from their disastrous 2011 tour.
India rode on Ishant Sharma`s inspired spell of fast bowling to demolish England by 95 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series here.
"It was a memorable win for us because not many players have played Test cricket in England. But their approach was brilliant, it was a fantastic performance," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"I think we learnt from the 2011 series that it is important to stay in the game till the third day, because then our spinners come into the game. That was something that was needed, but we couldn`t do it in 2011," he said.
India last won a Test match at the `Home of Cricket` 28 years back when `Kapil Dev`s team achieved the feat back in June 1986 winning by five wickets.
Dhoni heaped praise on his batting department for their gritty display, especially on the first day of the Test on a lively Lord`s pitch.
"It was a crucial toss because there was something for the fast bowlers. I think the openers and No. 3 batsmen made the England bowlers bowl to them, you want the opposition to bowl more than 90 overs. Overall the batting department is really doing well, the tailenders are also contributing," he said.
The India skipper had special praise for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and lanky speedster Ishant, who grabbed a career-best seven for 74, to bowl out England for 223 in pursuit of a competitive victory target of 319.
"Jadeja has to play that kind of game. I think the more Test cricket he plays, the more he will become a proper Test batsman. I think his technique is very good, but he is someone who doubts himself more than most. I think we have been cribbing about the lack of quick bowling all-rounder, but we have to use the resources we have," Dhoni said about Jadeja.
"That last over before lunch, Ishant didn`t want to bowl short, I just told him he has to and turned away. It was a fantastic performance," he added.
Ishant, who was declared Man of the Match for his match-winning bowling spell in the second innings, said all his wickets belonged to Dhoni as it was the willy skipper who inspired him to bowl short Monday.
"Cricket is a great leveller, the way MS (Dhoni) bhai handled the team, the way he keeps on motivating the guys. I think all these wickets are not for me, it is only for the captain. He told me you are tall enough, you have to try the bouncer," Ishant said.
He also had words of appreciation for the batting department.
"The way our batsmen played in the first innings was commendable. Ajinkya played really well in the first innings. That gave us the momentum. Also the way (Murali) Vijay, Jaddu (Jadeja) and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) played," Ishant said.
Meanwhile, under-fire home team skipper Alastair Cook said he was trying hard to get England back to winning ways and said he will take a call on whether to relinquish captaincy only after the end of the summer.
Cook said he has to lead by example to get England back on track and the only way of doing this was by scoring runs himself.
"I'm trying my heart out to turn this around. First and foremost, I have to start scoring runs. The recent past hasn't been kind to me, but I have won some games as captain as well," he said.
"If I am not good enough after the end of summer I will take a call," an emotional Cook said.
Asked about the reason behind England's prolonged lean patch, Cook said: "Definitely it's an issue of confidence, and getting over the finish line.
"There is a group of player desperate to win for England. But it will take a lot of determination to turn this around," he said.
"A lot of our performances have been by the younger guys, that's good for English cricket. Yes, the older guys are not playing as well as their record suggest, same for myself, I have to start scoring runs as well."
Terming it as a "tough defeat", Cook said India outplayed them in the match.
"It's a tough defeat, I think we have to give India a lot of credit, they have outbowled and outbatted us."
Main Menu
- Home
- Astrology
- Career
- Health
- India
- Notable Personality
- Temples
- Tourism
- Traditions
- Spirituality
- Inspirational
- Entertainment
- News
- Videos
- More