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On the cusp of reaching his middle age, Daniel Black has yet to decide whether he wants to keep growing older or start to age backwards. Faced with the momentous decision to either continue to decay until his death or gradually revert to an infant state and eventually disappear into nothing, Black has been carefully weighing his options regarding how he'd like to spend his last forty years on Earth.
"I'm coming up on my fortieth birthday," said Black of the day upon which all people must determine whether they want to continue getting older or start getting younger. "On the one hand, it'd be nice to avoid the march into decrepitude that is aging, but on the other, I really do not want to go through high school again, and I'm not excited about shrinking back down to the size of a baby."
"Especially now that my mom's already fifteen years old again," added Black, of his own mother who elected to start aging in reverse when she arrived at her middle age.
Black's wife, Melissa, made it clear that no matter which direction Black chooses to age in, she hopes he keeps everything in perspective. "The middle age is a tough moment for everyone," Melissa said. "Suddenly you have to confront the fact that no matter which direction you choose, you're going to die in exactly forty years. I'm just praying that he doesn't blow his retirement fund on a fancy boat or re-enroll in his doctorate program so he can begin to un-learn organic chemistry."
Black is preparing for his big day by getting himself on a more regular sleep schedule and re-embracing a cavalier attitude towards his health. Aware that his back is either going to start bothering him regularly or his hair will grow back over his current bald spot, Black is taking all necessary precautions.
"We know big or little things are waiting for Daniel here at the office," said Black's boss, Richard Lockhart. "He'll either climb up the corporate ladder or descend back to his place in the mailroom. Personally, I think he should choose to grow young. I might be the boss, but I need glasses to read everything. It's the worst."
As of press time, Black was leaning towards getting older because he always wanted to play Willie Loman in "Death of a Salesman" at his local playhouse.


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KH was delighted to have the opportunity to host the inaugaral Great Reads Awards. This is an initative by the School Library Association of Ireland recognizing first time authors of Young Adult Fiction. Students in Irish Second Level schools vote online for their favourite title on the shortlist.
The Master of Ceremonies for the awards was well known author Paul Howard more well know for his alter ego, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly. The awards were attended by five of the shortlisted authors and the winners, who were also in attendance to receive their prizes were:
Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden was the "Most Read" title.
Junior Category: Moira Fowley-Doyle for The Accident Season
Senior Category: Lisa Williamson for The Art of Being Normal
Representative students from many schools came along for the morning with their school librarians and were treated to a great talk from Paul Howard, the winning authors, and some of the runner up authors as well. The event went off flawlessly and a huge well done to our Librarian Joan Kelly and all her student literary critics and helpers on the day.
Click here for the video of Paul Howard speaking to the audience.
Click here for the video of our students reviewing the shortlisted books.

subset: commoncrawl


text: We prefer the quality of the product than the quantity we produce. We only sell the quality products so as to gain the trust of the customers. Our latest collection is available at cheaper prices and you can order any doormat according to your need and requirement. We also deal in rugs, carpets, blankets, bath floorings, runners and much more. Once you visit you will come again. We make high quality of fiber which gives a stable look to our produced products as to give the facility of 100% security to the product and its quality is determined by the customers with whom we have built our relations before.


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On Sunday, 05/27/2018 the KOHL's Department store at 9357 Ben C Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers, contacted the Fort Myers Police Department regarding a theft observed on the store's surveillance system. A loss prevention supervisor for the store reported watching a male subject selecting a variety of men's shirts and then proceed to adjacent areas and select cargo pants, shorts and men's socks. The male then went into a fitting room and came out with nothing in his hands but appeared to be bulked up and layered with merchandise on his person. Store staff checked the fitting room and found nothing inside. The subject walked out of the store, making no attempt to purchase, jumped into a smoke grey Toyota Corolla and sped off. The department store and FMPD are asking for the public's assistance in identifying and arresting the suspect for felony theft.
If anyone can identify the individual they are ask to please call FMPD Detective Jose Gomez at (239) 321-8018 or remain anonymous through tip411 on the FMPD website at www.fmpolice.com or send a text to 847411 and include the keyword FMPD.
Tipsters can also remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000 by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477), or online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com and by submitting information on the P3Tips mobile app.


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Our Community Safety Teams work in partnership with the Police, Fire Brigade, Health and other key agencies through the Safer Stockton Partnership to develop projects and initiatives to deter and reduce crime.
Every three years we undertake a Crime and Disorder Audit, and following public consultation, we produce a Community Safety Plan which sets out how we intend to achieve our targets in crime reduction. The latest audit was concluded in October 2013 and the priorities have formed the basis of the Community Safety Plan 2014 - 2017.
Top six crime priorities were:
The top six ASB priorities were:
The Council's Crime and Disorder Select Committee monitors and evaluates the way in which we work and how policies are being implemented and developed.
View the Community Safety Plan 2017 - 2020
Visit the Safer Stockton Partnership web pages for more information on the latest plans and targets.
Can't find what you're looking for? Let us know and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction


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Amber Riley Teases a Different Mercedes, and New Musical Direction in Season 3Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Brassy, big-voiced Mercedes Jones spent much of Glee's second season in "Hell to the No" mode, but according to Amber Riley, the show's latest crop of episodes will find her singing a more tender tune.
"Mercedes is actually going to be shown in a different light for once. She has a relationship, and you're going to see a softer side of her," Riley revealed at Fox's fall kickoff party. "She's very lovey-dovey. It's kind of like, 'Oh my God? Is this Mercedes?!' She dresses different. She's girlier now."
As previously reported by TVLine, Glee has cast Cougar Town's Lamarcus Tinker as Mercedes' love interest, a lineman for the McKinley Titans named Marcus. But Riley said she's not certain whether there's a duet in the couple's future. "I don't know if LaMarcus can sing or not," she explained. "I never asked."
Of course, when Gleeks last saw Mercedes, she was surreptitiously holding hands with Sam (Chord Overstreet) in the Season 2 finale — a romantic pairing that took Riley by surprise at the time. "We found out about that two days before it happened, so we were like, 'Oh, Sam and Mercedes are going to be together. OK. Cool.'"
Since that revelation, however, Overstreet went through a rather public breakup with Glee, which begs the question: Will the demise of Samcedes be addressed? "Yeah, it is," hinted Riley, though when asked for further explanation, she stayed tight-lipped. "Hmm," Riley added with a laugh. "It's addressed."
Riley was a little more forthcoming about the musical direction of Glee's third season. "We're doing a lot more Broadway songs this season. The first couple episodes are very, very Broadway."


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This plaque shows when this fountain was opened to the public. It was officiated by the Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar on 2nd July 2001.
This is a much clearer picture of the fountain, sorry about the yellow lighting cause the floodlights were in the way. And if you look carefully at the top of the fountain you will see a structure that resembles the action Batu Pahat which means Chiselled Rock.
During weekend nights, most parents will bring their families there to relax cause of the cool breeze and the relaxed atmosphere. Some of them will bring footballs, kites or toy bicycles there for the kids. For those who feel the hassle of carrying too many things to the park, they have this toy rentals for kids as shown below.
For those who wants to just buy balloons or bubble blowing toys, they can get it from these stalls below. Sometimes during windy days, these stalls do sell kites. Ever seen countless people fly kite at night? Never, right .. but only in Batu Pahat Dataran you can see them.
For those who wants to buy snacks and drinks, there is always the mobile stalls to browse through.
Me and my girlfriend had a lot of fun, the night I took this photos, we bought some bubble blowing toys and started blowing out lots and lots of bubbles to the joy of this anonymous kid.


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2017 gore-tex transalpine run
Disapointing end to my 7th Gore-Tex Transalpine run.Read More
Trail runner living in Kelowna, BC. Sharing her adventures in the Okangan and beyond
Trail runner & running coach living in Kelowna, BC & sharing her adventures in the Okanagan and beyond...
Disapointing end to my 7th Gore-Tex Transalpine run.Read More
How do you know when it's time to hit the taper button?Read More
Sorting through Gore-Tex Transalpine Run travel logisticsRead More
If this is your first time running the Gore-Tex Transalpine Run and you're wondering what to expect, here is a small glimpse into a typical day at this beautiful and emotional alps race!Read More
Have you downloaded the online training plan from the Gore-Tex Transalpine website and want to learn more about terrain specific workouts? Click here to read PART 1 of my training accompaniments...Read More
The reasons you sign up for a race like the Gore-Tex Transalpine Run and what you end up getting out of it in the end, will undoubtedly surprise you. Prepare to be dazzled...Read More
There's nothing quite as motivating as signing up for a multiday foot race across the European Alps. The second you make the decision to take on a race like the Gore-Tex Transalpine Run your way of thinking starts to change. Before you can commit to a race like this, however, you need to find a partner.Read More
how I worked through my decision making process for 2017...Read More
An ongoing blog post that summarizes every year I have ran the Gore-Tex Transalpine Run...Read More
What exactly keeps drawing me back to the Gore-Tex Transalpine Run every year...Read More


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Letters to the Editor
Year-round school, abortion, coal
Some school districts have year-round schedules, with short breaks throughout the year. This seems like a much better alternative to the system we have now.
There are still about the same numberof school days, but the students do not forget the material over the summer.
Why have we not switched to this system yet?Hank Lobaugh Olathe Abortions rights
The Kansas legislators who passed House Bill 2253 and Senate Bill 142 undermined medical progress with radical and unscientific stipulations. On July 1, the resulting law went into effect, sending Kansas backward on more than just women's right to choose.
The legislation requires that physicians caution patients about an alleged increased risk of breast cancer associated with abortion — an antiquated myth that was disproved by the National Cancer Institute in 2003.
And because the law bans many organizations from providing sexual health training (even when non-abortion related), fewer young adults will learn about their bodies and how to form healthy relationships — skills necessary to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place.
Notably, women constitute fewer than 25 percent of the representatives and 30 percent of the senators. I wonder whether greater gender equity would shift the legislators' stances.
Indeed, we need to move toward policies that unite Kansas in making progress — in science and in conscience.Katherine Heflin Master of science student Health Policy Harvard School of Public Health Silver Lake, Kan. War on coal, people
President Barack Obama announced his war on coal last month, and the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Public Utilities has announced it is one of the first casualties.
The president knew that benighted members of Congress, who still must face elections, would not vote for a tax to stop the overheating, and then flooding and elimination of Earth. So he's having the Environmental Protection Agency handle it.
A recent BPU newsletter reports that the new EPA rules on coal emissions mean that the BPU may not be able to afford coal in the future. That's too bad, the company said, because coal costs about half what other energy sources cost and coal is much more effective.
But wait. The BPU said it will be able to pay the $250 million cost of the new standards by charging customers an environmental surcharge, soon to be well-known by the initials ESC.
The BPU also will start a fund for customers "in temporary financial crisis" after trying to pay their fair share of the $250 million. Notice, this is all temporary. Once the waters stop rising, we're OK.
The BPU noted it has done "benchmarking research" to aid customers, including ending late fees for those who prepay and upgrading its website.
Oh, what a lovely war.Bob Friskel Kansas City, Kan. Twinkies return
Emporia, Kan., is the perfect place to make Twinkies (7-13, A10, "Twinkies make early return at Wal-Mart").Ken Hedden Parkville Keep KCI as is
My family traveled to Florida recently.
After walking a mile upon arrival and taking a tram to the baggage-claim area, we had to walk again to find ground transportation. Kansas City International Airport it was not.
At KCI, we had arrived an hour before boarding, took the bus, checked bags curbside, ate and hit the restrooms before standing in a short security line. We purchased bottles of water; other passengers were eating sandwiches. We experienced the same easy-peasy, stress-free airport we always have.
On our return flight, thousands of travelers congregated at the departure terminal to stand in four lines for the security agents to check papers. We then entered the bottleneck-long, amusement-ride corrals, until ultimately our carry-on luggage and our persons were cleared.
This took nearly an hour, and we hopped on the tram to our gate. We passed a plethora of eateries and souvenir shops, but after a week, we'd had our fill. The airport was not our destination.
I sang, "I want my KCI."
Our population exceeds theirs by 230,000. Until we build a Disneyfarm or an Experimental Prototype Prairie of Tomorrow and the accompanying resorts to draw those crowds here, leave our airport alone.Tammy Clem Stilwell KC Museum director
The Kansas City Museum could not have had a more knowledgeable, innovative and articulate director than Christopher Leitch (7-15, A1, "Kansas City Museum's future in flux").
Having belonged to the Friends of the Kansas City Museum for a number of years and serving on the Cliff Drive Corridor Management Committee for more than eight years, I am stunned by this turn of events.
The Cliff Drive Committee met monthly at the museum, and Christopher attended each of our meetings. His long-term goals for the museum were truly visionary.
You will be hard-pressed to find anyone who will have the passion that Christopher has for the museum.Evelyn Hougland Olathe Post-racial myth
Barack Obama is elected president in 2008. America pats itself on the back for electing a black man president.
Chief Justice John Roberts and his Supreme Court decide "America has changed," and they gut the Voters Rights Act.
You see, we are so racial-neutral now the federal government doesn't need to intervene when states openly pass laws to prevent or alter ballots from minority voters.
It's so nice to know so much change has made life for non-whites so easy.
Then comes Florida and the undisputed killing of Trayvon Martin.
Once again, white America must face how people really feel about black men. Has the election of one black man to the highest office in the land made black men less scary?
Apparently, not in some eyes. Black men are suspect even if they are standing, walking, smiling or talking on a cellphone.
I myself have a husband and two sons. Am I afraid for them?
Always. However, my fear did not begin with the Martin verdict. It did not end with Obama's election.
I was born in 1962. I have never feared for them more.Robin Marshall Blue Springs Dressing casually
Am I the only one noticing that letter carriers for the U.S. Postal Service have been dressing a bit more casually lately?
The letter carriers in our Brookside neighborhood have all but given up on their traditional uniforms and have opted for anything from mesh shorts and a T-shirt to jeans.
One guy who dropped off a larger box to my office recently was identifiable as a U.S. Postal Service worker only by the truck he drove.
I'm not aware of any recent cut to the uniform budget, but I think as long as they are delivering mail door to door, they should be in uniform so people know who is walking through their yards.Matt Hoefer Kansas City Chuck Ned Yost
I am sorry to say, Kansas City Royals fans, but as long as Ned Yost is manager the Royals are not going anywhere. His handling of the pitchers is awful.
He pulls starters when they still have their good stuff and are obviously in a groove. I have seen too many times the starter pulled for no apparent reason, and we go on to lose the game.
Ned, give them some credit and a chance to finish what they started.
The batting order seems to be an ongoing experiment. How can there be any consistency when the order changes practically every day?
Good managers stick with their first six or seven in the order so they get used to it and gain confidence.
I just do not think Yost knows what he is doing, and it makes me wonder whether the players might think that. A player has to believe in his manager to be successful.
If there is doubt, it spreads throughout the roster. I just don't think Ned Yost is the guy to get the Royals to the next level, and neither did the Milwaukee Brewers.
Let's get a manager who can before it's too late.Michael Dean Shawnee


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|Current Materials Center
|Example of table sign. I glue it to construction paper, trim it all down and laminate
|Current Materials Center
|Example of table sign. I glue it to construction paper, trim it all down and laminate
Thanks for this post.Very important and timely article. Information provided is concise and informative. Keep up the great work!
buy enametag
LOVE your table organization! I have one year under my belt now but I am so conflicted about seating charts! I felt like it would be necessary and started the year with them but mid-way I abandoned the idea, it felt like a waste of time. Assigning them to a TABLE might be a happy medium! I could keep it up on the whiteboard before each class begins so they can see and sit. Another challenge was the addition of CENTERS; this format went over like gangbusters BUT "whole group instruction" was limited to the reading rug since all my tables were being used for centers.
Pencils were a real issue this year, keeping a cup in the center seems like a simple solution.
Do you do lesson then checkout?
Yes- I do lesson then checkout. The pencil thing can be a nightmare - I added a sharpened and unsharpened cup to a materials table to reduce the "sharpener" distraction.
I didn't do centers last year because of time issues, but when I did, I stored center materials in large expandable folders and kept them in a central location. Students then came and grabbed the center stuff and took it to their tables when they needed it. If the center materials were too big for folders, I found crates worked well for storing and moving them quickly:)


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Things have been a little k-R-a-Z-y in my life right now...
Lots going on, and not enough answers to the problems.
These two faces always make me smile though...
and for that one simple moment...
All my troubles disappear.
|Punta Cana was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. We got there just after the hurricane had passed through, so "Praise the Lord", we had beautiful weather the entire week we were there!
|We stayed at the Riu Palace which is the best resort in Punta Cana. It was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. Nick and I had a suite. The hotel was beautiful, the resort was beautiful, the staff was sooo friendly, and I felt like royalty the whole time I was there!
|The cocktails were plenty and yes...Nick and I participated in some adult beverage drinking while we were there!
|The resort had some sort of show every night for entertainment. Let me tell ya...those Dominicans can DANCE!
|This is Nick and I in the safari bus on the way to our ziplining through the Dominican jungle's canopy adventure. The ride up the mountain was CRAZY bumpy, and we ran into a herd of random cows on the way up. Nick and I made the mistake of not bringing any CASH with us on our trip since we had an all inclusive trip....we figured we wouldn't need any. We were wrong. Cause when we went ziplining, they took away all our cameras and forced us to buy the pictures on CD that their own photographer took. Unfortunately for us, we had no cash....so we didn't get any cool ziplining pictures. However, the experience was awesome. I had some trouble with the zipline cause I didn't weigh enough so I kept spinning in circles in the middle of the cable. The guy had to come save me a few times cause I got stuck! It was a lot of hiking through the jungle, but being strapped to a cable and just sliding above the canopy was truly a breathtaking experience! I'm glad we did it! What an experience!
|On our third day, we took a snorkeling, swimming with sharks and stingrays, and kayaking trip. It was by far my FAVORITE day in Punta Cana. The weather was a little cloudy, but the water was so clear. They took us out in the middle of the ocean on a boat to this little man made island. From there they we did some snorkeling and kayaking. The coolest thing was getting to swim with sharks...REAL LIVE SHARKS! For those of you who know Nick, know his fear of sharks...which is the biggest reason why he refuses to swim in the ocean back in Cali. It turns out, I'm more afraid of them than he is! We also got to hold a stingray and swim with them too! It was so much fun.
|The majority of the vacationers we saw in Punta Cana were Europeans. They were a little too weird for us (meaning their customs and lack of modesty was a little much for Nick and I!). We met a small group of Americans at the hotel pool who had decided to band together as Americans in the midst of all the foreigners! Most of the couples were honeymooners. Meeting them made the vacation so much more fun. We also randomly met a former Marine and his new wife. Nick and him seemed to have a lot more to talk about having the Marine Corps in common.
|The vacation was a success and very much needed. The last day, I got really sick so I spent the day just relaxing in the hotel room. We have already decided on planning our next vacation next year! Costa Rica or England! We were happy to be coming back though cause we missed Dannika so much!


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FRIDAY, May 17, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Although being openly gay appears to affect a male actor's masculinity ratings, it does not affect views on his performance, according to a new study.
Researchers from Clemson University in South Carolina found that an actor who is "out" can be convincing when playing a heterosexual role, despite stereotypes about homosexuals.
"Early research showed that people tend to perceive a direct connection between sexual orientation and established gender roles, especially in the entertainment industry," said the study's leader, Paul Merritt, a psychology professor, in a Clemson news release. "However, these new findings indicate that knowledge of an actor's sexual orientation doesn't necessarily cause their performance to be perceived in light of stereotypes about gays and lesbians."
The study, published recently in Psychology of Popular Media Culture, was conducted in the wake of news columns that maintained that knowing someone is gay will bias perceptions of his or her performance in a heterosexual role.
The researchers questioned roughly 400 college students about a male actor's fictional Facebook page, featuring photos and information about his sexual orientation.
The students then watched a video of the actor and rated his performance. The students also stated how likely they would be to cast the actor in their own production. The study revealed that being openly gay didn't affect perceptions or ratings of the actor's performance, but it did influence their opinion of his masculinity.
More information
The American Psychological Association has more about sexual orientation and homosexuality.


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Tuck. Ever since he started walking he's been an extra-happy little guy.
I spent much of Tuesday purging and reorganizing our pantry. I could have shown you a picture of piles of food all over my countertops, but the end result is much nicer. I threw out some spices that had 2003 expiration dates!
Check out the hole in the knee of Dash's jeans. He's so proud of it. I, on the other hand, am wishing I'd bought a few more pairs. Kohl's doesn't have these any more, and it's hard to find toddler jeans with elastic all the way around the waist.
Dash and Grandma.
When I left the room, Dash was wearing a shirt and underwear. When I returned, he'd styled himself.
We babysat some friends' daughters on Saturday night. Four kids = chaos!
Aliums. My mother secretly planted these for me when I was pregnant with Tuck, and it was such a fun surprise when they popped up in my garden last spring.
Happy Monday, everyone!


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Warwickshire's links to the Gunpowder Plot are explored in a new production coming to Warwick tonight (Friday).
It's well known that Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and was captured on November 5 1605, but few remember the rest of the plot.
There was the desperate raid by Catesby and his men on Warwick Castle, the plotters' plan to take Princess Elizabeth from Coombe Abbey and make her queen after the removal of her father King James VI & I and the dramatic shootout at Holbeche House in nearby Staffordshire.
Warwickshire families and houses were a large part of the plot, with five of the 12 main conspirators - Bates, Rookwood, Catesby, Grant and Keyes - hailing from the county.
Baddesley Clinton, Ashby St Ledgers, Coughton Court, Norbrook, Coombe Abbey, Warwick Castle, the Red Lion at Dunchurch and many other local places feature strongly in the tale that unfolds.
The production is presented by Warwickshire-based theatre company Tell Tale, before it tours nationally in 2016.
Director Taresh Solanki said: "This is theatre but not quite as you know it. Forget sitting silently in the dark - Gunpowder Plot audiences will get a chance to reveal secret messages by candle light, and learn how to make invisible ink as the plots unfold around them.
"We have tried to make history fun and accessible to all the family without over simplifying it and I hope that comes across"
Playwright Emma Sian Cooper said: "The Gunpowder plot is a fascinating part of British history and makes for a great story. The more you learn the better it gets too."
The performance takes place at Warwick Quaker Meeting House in High Street, Warwick. Tickets cost £9 or £5 for concession and are available on the door or in advance. Call 0844 8842920 or visit Skiddle.com/tickets to book. Email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.


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With a Minute Maid on hand, I get to cool down after lounging in the sun and soaking up the beauty of nature! It's fresh taste and pulpy bits helps quench my thirst plus keeps my well hydrated. What's great about Minute Maid Pulpy Orange is that it's flavor is as close to nature as you can get. It doesn't have that fake orange-y taste at all. The pulp bits are plump and juicy and in abundance throughout the entire bottle.
There's something, in my opinion, very primal about sitting in the sand. It's kinda like going to the very core of my soul. The Minute Maid I am drinking is kind of like that, I'd like to think. It's like going back to the very core of nature. Why? Because of the freshly squeezed taste of that natural orange goodness plus all the refreshing and juicy pulpy bits. Every gulp is definitely cools you down, inside and out! That's how I best enjoy my Minute Maid Pulpy Orange!


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|+44 (0)1925 398535
Fabian was born in Buenos Aires in 1967 and brought up in the small but dynamic Argentinian city of Campana 50 miles outside the capital. From the age of nine he felt at home holding a paintbrush, producing surprisingly mature portraits of family and friends. His extraordinary parents played a huge part in his creative development; his mother was artistic and imaginative, while his father was a fascinating figure - well known locally both to the people and the police as a somewhat clandestine character with a hand in various business dealings that operated after dark in the nightclubs and on the streets of the city.
His fathers activities meant that the young Fabian was exposed to an interesting cast of characters, from handsome men who lived their lives on the edge to women who, as he himself puts it, could seduce a man simply by lighting a cigarette. Add to this a world of sultry and glamourous tango dancers, flamenco guitarists and gypsy musicians, and Fabians stunning paintings fall into context as atmospheric representations of forbidden sensuality and unnamed desires.
At the age of 16 he lost his mother, and at 19 his father followed, leading Fabian bereft. His search for an anchor in his life led him to the pursuit of self knowledge through martial arts, and through this search he met the second great influential figure of his life who was to become his Karate master. His exceptional skill at Karate introduced discipline into a life which had been ruled by passion and instinct, and encouraged Fabian to take charge of his own future. He decided to leave Argentina and travelled around Brazil, Italy and Japan before settling in Los Angeles in Spring 2001. It was here that his work was noticed by the official artistic establishment, and before long he was holding sell out exhibitions and publishing his work to great critical acclaim.
Although he admires various schools of art including the Impressionists, Fabian is reluctant to have his work categorised. It is perhaps best to refer to his own description - Emotionalism - which best sums up his uniquely expressive style. Having experimented extensively with watercolour, tempura and acrylics he settled some years ago on oils as his preferred medium, as he believes they allow him to achieve the atmosphere of compressed energy and passion within his work, and allows his beautifully described figures to live and breath on the canvas.


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Fanfarlo: ReservoirThis is the debut by the London based band fronted by Swede Simon Balthazar and a beautiful album it is to. The music brings to mind The Thrills, Belle & Sebastian and at times Dexy's Midnight Runners, but Balthazar's vocals add an ethereal feel giving it an individuality that sets it apart from the afore mentioned bands.
The album is infused with lush instrumentation ranging from glockenspiels to melodicas, adding a twee feel which is favoured by Balthazar's fellow Swedes Håkan Hellström and Jens Lekman. Opener I'm A Pilot is all sweeping drums, pianos and strings, rising and crashing effortlessly with a real understanding of what makes a perfect pop song. The driving strings and brass of Ghosts melt with the thumping bass sounding like vintage Dexy's in there prime.
Luna proves to be a highlight, the Arcade Fire comparisons aside. The AF comparisons are also to the fore on Drowning Men, all chopped beats and bass interlaced with strings. A personal favourite is the 2008 single, Harold T. Wilkins. Simple, but instantly memorable.
Quite simply there is not a bad track on here. Reservoir is an accomplished and uplifting piece of work that I'm sure will stand the test of time and deserves to be heard.
[][][][][ (4.5/5)


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If you like the funny animals series you should also read about Funny Cat Pictures, Horny match animal and Innocent Ladies also Funniest jokes of Animal and now This is Getting The Best Fun Pictures Animals.Woman Breast and Anti Abortions
Reviews about Funny Animals. Read up the info about Fun Pictures. Do not spend any money for Funny Pictures of animals until you read this!


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James Duwayne Shaffer, 57, of Toledo, IL passed away at 3:59 pm on April 12, 2018 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center in Mattoon, IL.
Memorial visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday April 17, 2018 at the Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup, IL. A memorial service will begin at 7:00 pm.
Jim was born in Terre Haute, IN on December 19, 1960 to Fred & Marilyn (Keith) Shaffer. Surviving are his parents of Boynton Beach, FL; daughter Janna Shaffer of Casey, son Braden Shaffer of Champaign, IL; One grandson Waylon Shaffer; Brothers Tony (Dee) Keith of Greencastle, IN, Timothy Shaffer of Orlando, FL and David Shaffer of Boynton Beach, FL; sister Diana McCullough of Lake Worth, FL.
Jim was a Jack of all trades kind of guy, most recently working for John Lewis Const. Memorials contributions can be made to the family. Online condolences can be expressed at www.barkleyfuneralchapels.com


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There are few places where one can go to study church history more rewarding than Dr. John Piper's biographical talks. He has a way of opening up the life of a great hero of the faith and showing us what we can learn from them. I'm finding myself in John Owen's Communion with the Triune God quite consistently at the moment, and am now over half-way through the book. I am finding it to be sweet to the soul and, thanks to Justin & Company, relatively easy going on the eyes!
I thought I would have a look at what the modern John has to say about his namesake. Piper begins his biography by emphasizing just how prominent an influence Owen has had in the centuries since his death. He even quotes approvingly those who elevate John Owen above Piper's other theological hero, Jonathan Edwards! Certainly his list of modern greats who express their debt to Owen is impressive.
But what I want to draw your attention to this Friday is the section which speaks about the experiential nature of an event that happened to John Owen years after he had become intellectually convinced of Calvinism. The event below is often described as Owen's conversion, although Piper, in introdcucing it, expresses some doubt about that. When confronted with events as experiential as those described below, we are faced with a dilemma. Many Christians today never experience this kind of personalized assurance of salvation. For many of those who have come before us, until they knew something of the love of God shed abroad in their own hearts, they could not confidently claim to be Christians.
Thus, one of two conclusions become possible. First, we might infer from reading about previous heroes of the faith that all salvation MUST be accompanied by an experience. Thus, we would have to conclude that many alive today in our churches have never truly been saved. Second, we could infer that while it is possible to become a Christian without any great emotional fireworks being set off, there is a distinct experience of God's Spirit that is available and brings assurance.
Ironically, a doctrine of a distinct experience of God could, in fact, be necessary precisely to allow for the fact that believers differ in the extent of their awareness of the presence and love of God. Far from creating "second class" Christians, it could be that this doctrine is necessary to ensure that people whose conversion expereince is not as dramatic as those outlined below can still be classed as Christians.
Can anyone read these accounts and be satisfied with an inferior experience of God? Or, like me, does reading them make you yearn for more of God? If the latter, let me encourage you to pray that God will reveal himself personally to you in the way he has to so many others before you. Then, read the Bible, sit under sermons, and continue to trust in God irrespective of what you feel while earnestly seeking the God who loved you so much that he came and died for you.
Let's see how John Piper describes the conversion of John Owen, which he writes about in a section detailing five events that shaped Owen's life:
The first is his conversion—or his assurance of salvation and deepening of his personal communion with God. It is remarkable that it happened in a way almost identical to Charles Spurgeon's conversion two centuries later. On January 6, 1850 Spurgeon was driven by a snow storm into a Primitive Methodist Chapel where a layman stood in for the pastor and took the text from Isaiah 45:22, "Look to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth." Spurgeon looked and was saved.
Owen was a convinced Calvinist with large doctrinal knowledge, but he lacked the sense of the reality of his own salvation. That sense of personal reality in all that he wrote was going to make all the difference in the world for Owen in the years to come. So what happened one Sunday in 1642 is very important.When Owen was 26 years old he went with his cousin to hear the famous Presbyterian, Edmund Calamy, at St. Mary's Church Aldermanbury. But it turned out Calamy could not preach and a country preacher took his place. Owen's cousin wanted to leave. But something held Owen to his seat. The simple preacher took as his text Matthew 8:26, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" It was God's appointed word and appointed time for Owen's awakening. His doubts and fears and worries as to whether he was truly born anew by the Holy Spirit were gone. He felt himself liberated and adopted as a Son of God. When you read the penetrating practical works of Owen on the work of the Spirit and the nature of true communion with God it is hard to doubt the reality of what God did on this Sunday in 1642.
Later in this biographical article Piper quotes Packer to further elaborate on this vital issue of communion with God:
Packer says that the Puritans differ from evangelicals today because with them ". . . communion with God was a great thing; to evangelicals today it is a comparatively small thing. The Puritans were concerned about communion with God in a way that we are not. The measure of our unconcern is the little that we say about it. When Christians meet, they talk to each other about their Christian work and Christian interests, their Christian acquaintances, the state of the churches, and the problems of theology—but rarely of their daily experience of God."
But God was seeing to it that Owen and the suffering Puritans of his day lived closer to God and sought after communion with God more earnestly than we. Writing a letter during an illness in 1674 he said to a friend, "Christ is our best friend, and ere long will be our only friend. I pray God with all my heart that I may be weary of everything else but converse and communion with Him." God was using illness and all the other pressures of Owen's life to drive him into communion with God and not away from it.
But Owen was also very intentional about his communion with God. He said, "Friendship is most maintained and kept up by visits; and these, the more free and less occasioned by urgent business . . ." In other words, in the midst of all his academic and political and ecclesiastical labors he made many visits to his Friend, Jesus Christ.
And when he went he did not just go with petitions for things or even for deliverance in his many hardships. He went to see his glorious friend and to contemplate his greatness. The last book he wrote—he was finishing it as he died—is called Meditations on the Glory of Christ. That says a great deal about the focus and outcome of Owen's life. In it he said:
"The revelation . . . of Christ . . . deserves the severest of our thoughts, the best of our meditations and our utmost diligence in them . . . What better preparation can there be for [our future enjoyment of the glory of Christ] than in a constant previous contemplation of that glory in the revelation that is made in the Gospel?"
Lest we be in any doubt about how personally challenging John Piper finds the life of Owen, he states:
"Owen was authentic in commending in public only what he had experienced in private.
One great hindrance to holiness in the ministry of the word is that we are prone to preach and write without pressing
into the things we say and making them real to our own souls. Over the years words begin to come easy, and we find we can speak of mysteries without standing in awe; we can speak of purity without feeling pure; we can speak of zeal without spiritual passion; we can speak of God's holiness without trembling; we can speak of sin without sorrow; we can speak of heaven without eagerness. And the result is a terrible hardening of the spiritual life."
Piper goes on to quote Owen as follows:
"A man preacheth that sermon only well unto others which preacheth itself in his own soul. And he that doth not feed on and thrive in the digestion of the food which he provides for others will scarce make it savoury unto them; yea, he knows not but the food he hath provided may be poison, unless he have really tasted of it himself. If the word do not dwell with power in us, it will not pass with power from us."


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My First Fish
Hi, my name is Emory and I am three years old. I'm the one in yellow, one of my favorite colors.
I went fishing up north this summer near Hayward and my cousin Aaron (left) helped me reel in this sunfish. It is my very first fish!
His sister Elizabeth (right) said, "Hey Emory, that's a huge fish, it's as big as your ear!" I caught more fish later in the week.
I love fishing.


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To Dewey defeats Truman, add James defeats Nowitkzi — at least in the Miami Herald's world.
As if things weren't miserable enough for the Heat and their fans today, the Miami New Times blog gleefully reports that the Herald ran a nearly full-page Macy's ad congratulating LeBron James and his teammates for winning the NBA title, and hawking championship T-shirts and hats.
To make the error even more stunning, the ad is on an NBA Finals page, with a story about how the Heat never got it together. Neither did the Herald, apparently.
Click here to read more and see images of the newspaper page. Also, the Herald has published a brief correction.
The Mavericks beat the Heat 105-95 in Game 6 of the NBA finals on Sunday in Miami to win the series 4-2.


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Jazz is a dance form that appeals to everyone because of its energy, variety, and vitality. Jazz dance can be seen everywhere from music videos to hit Broadway shows. Jazz emphasizes style, technique, expression and sharp, strong movements. Read More
This exciting dance form is an extremely popular dance sport that combines Gymnastics and Jazz elements to create excitement, learning and fun! Exploring both dance and acrobatic tricks keeps the kids engaged, excited, and eager for every class. Read More.
Tap Dance is a timeless art that combines dance and percussion. Tap Dance classes explore the two traditions of rhythm tap (hoofing) and Broadway tap. Tap dancing is a blend of syncopated rhythm which emphasizes footwork and the expression of rhythm through sound. Read More.
Hip Hop
Dancers will have fun participating in exciting and energetic classes that focus on the most popular dance moves seen today as well as develop coordination, body awareness, build self- esteem and promote confidence. This program is a high-energy dance experience that is fun for dancers of all ages! Read More.
Ballet is the basis and foundation of all dance forms. The benefits of taking ballet include development of technical strength, body awareness, self-discipline and musicality. Ballet training provides dancers with the opportunity to develop grace, poise, fitness and self-confidence, as well as a joy of dance and an appreciation of classical music. Read More.
Shining Stars
Our Shining Stars Ballet class is a wonderful introduction to dance for children aged 2 ½ -3 ½ years of age. Read More.


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Watch your TV on your smartphone or tablet
SlingPlayer software allows your customers to extend their living room TV experience to their smartphone or tablet. With a Slingbox at home, they can enjoy live or recorded TV from SlingPlayer on their compatible device. They can flip through channels with the virtual remote control; pause, fast forward, rewind and even schedule recordings from their digital video recorder (DVR). With SlingPlayer, your customers never need to miss another show or game—whether they're out to lunch, on the road or on the other side of the world.
Anytime, Anywhere
SlingPlayer keeps viewers entertained anytime, anywhere—waiting for a flight, in need of a TV fix or when the kids are bored.
Watch Your Favorite Shows
Viewers can tune in to their favorite TV shows—sports, special events or any live programming—or catch up on recorded shows and listen to music channels.
Take Control
Viewers can easily change TV channels, navigate program guides and schedule recordings on their DVR.
Getting started with SlingPlayer is simple:
- Purchase and download SlingPlayer to a mobile device. Compatible devices include:
- iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
- Android phones and tablets
- Kindle Fire
- Hook up to your internet-connected Slingbox (required).
CompatibilityiPHONE, iPOD TOUCH and iPAD
- All iPhone and iPod touch* devices with iOS 5.0 or above
- All iPad devices with iOS 5.0 or above
- All Android phone devices running Android 2.2 or above
- All Android tablet devices running Android 3.0 or above
- All Kindle Fire devices
- Windows Phone 7.5 / 7.8 / 7.10 / 8.0


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2001 Notable Children's Recordings Committee: Margie L. Stern, Chair, Delaware (PA) County Library System; Karen M. Allen, Greenville (SC) County Library; Bruce S. Farrar, Public Library of Nashville; Patricia Jefferson, TX; Vivian Landfair, Ortona Elementary School, FL; Elizabeth A. Long, New York Public Library; Diane G. Person, NY; Louise L. Sherman, Ann C. Scott School, NJ.
Bud, Not Buddy.
Performed by James Avery. 5:15 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8209-X. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
James Avery's rich baritone voice vividly evokes the 1930's setting of this Newbery- award winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop!
Performed by Richard Allen and Charlie Parker. 7:08 mins. cassette and paperback, ISBN: 0-87499-669-4, $15.95. cassette only, O-87499-668-6, $9.95.
Live Oak Media.
Jazz vocalist Richard Allen reads and sings this text set to Parker's original recording, "A Night in Tunisia." Author Raschka provides an introduction and historical perspective. This multimedia set is seven minutes of visual and musical brilliance.
Performed by Kate Forbes. 4 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-7887-4243-4. $29.
Recorded Books, LLC.
High-spirited Jerusha Abbot is sent to college by an anonymous wealthy benefactor who expects her to write a letter to him once a month. Kate Forbes's entertaining portrayal of this classical character will delight a new generation of listeners.
Dance on a Moonbeam: A Collection of Songs and Poems.
Performed by Bill Crofut with others. 1 hr. 1 CD. CD-80554. $15.95.
Folksongs and musical settings of English and American poetry , bridged with Shakespearean passages, are performed by renowned artists. Crofut and cohorts manage to combine Bach, Humperdinck, Shakespeare and folksongs into a CD that respects a child's capacity to respond to artistic excellence.
Duke Ellington.
Performed by Forest Whitaker; music by Duke Ellington and Joel Goodman. 18:10 mins. cassette and hardcover book. 1-55592-057-8. $24.95.
Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
A swirl of words and music introduces listeners to Duke Ellington in this award-winning story. As much a history of the Jazz Age as a biography of Ellington, the exuberance of the early years of the 20th century can be heard in the narrator's voice. It whirls through the glittering era of the Harlem Renaissance.
Narrated by Christina Moore. 15 mins. 1 cassette. 0-7887-4229-9. $11.
Recorded Books, LLC.
Travel through the life of young Eleanor Roosevelt as she grows from an awkward child to a poised and confident young woman. Christina Moore's sensitive narration of this poignant story by Barbara Cooney introduces today's listeners to one of America's most admired women.
The Folk Keeper.
Performed by Marian Tomas Griffin. 5 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8421- 1. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Listeners will be drawn into the intrigue of this beautifully narrated fantasy of fierce "folk." Griffin's lovely brogue and compelling reading perfectly match the gripping and flawlessly written text.
Freddy the Pilot.
Performed by John McDonough. 5 hrs. 4 cassettes. 0-7887-4023-7. $37.
Recorded Books, LLC.
Freddy and the animals on Mr. Bean's farm join forces to save a circus bareback rider from an unwanted suitor. John McDonough excels in giving each animal its own voice and brings a beloved story from the fifties to today's children.
George Washington's Mother.
Performed by B. J. Ward. 22:22 mins. cassette and softcover book. ISBN: 1-55592-065-9. $12.95.
Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
The father of his country had quite a mother! The eccentric Mary Ball Washington is enlivened by the combination of Jean Fritz's text, B. J. Ward's sprightly narration and pleasant sound effects.
The Great Turkey Walk.
Performed by Tom Stechschulte. 5 hrs. 4 cassettes. 0-7887-3522-5. $36.
Recorded Books, LLC.
We've heard of cattle drives --but turkey drives? Kathleen Karr's story is based on real life events from the mid-1800's. Tom Stechschulte's folksy narration allows us to feel a part of Simon's unusual journey from Missouri to Denver.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Performed by Jim Dale. 20:52 hrs. 12 cassettes. 0- 8072-8793-8. $55.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Jim Dale again superbly recreates J.K. Rowling's well known characters, as Harry Potter begins his fourth year at Hogwarts. In this exciting, funny tale, Harry tries desperately to be just a normal student at wizard school.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Performed by Jim Dale. 11:48 hrs. 7 cassettes. 0-8072-8315-0. $46.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
In Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts he is back with friends and foes where he must face the feared Sirius Black, escapee from Azkaban Prison. Jim Dale's narration brings each character to life through a variety of voices.
Howliday Inn.
Performed by Victor Garber. 3:21 hrs. 2 cassettes. 0-8072-8381-9. $23.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Victor Garber gives a very funny reading of this tale of Harold the dog and Chester the cat when they are sent to board at a kennel. Garber captures the pomposity of Harold and Chester, as well as the nitwit antics of the other residents of the sinister Chateau Bow-Wow.
I Was A Sixth Grade Alien.
Performed by William Dufris. 2:52 hrs. 2 cassettes. 0-8072-8200-6. $23.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Tim Tompkins is pleased when he meets his new classmate, Pleskit Meenom, a purple alien. Complications arise when they discover a plot to undermine this alien mission. William Dufris' skillful reading of Pleskit's alien language in this popular Bruce Coville novel is a narrative tour-de-force.
Kit's Wilderness.
Peformed by Charles Keating. 5:04 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8215-4. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Young teenagers in a British mining town are fascinated by a game called "'Death." Kit Watson is helped by another long-dead Kit Watson when the game threatens to become a reality. Charles Keating's spellbinding reading will keep listeners enthralled.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.
Performed by Laura Hamilton. 16:22 mins. cassette and hardcover book. 0-87499-687-2. $24.95. cassette only, 0-87499-685-6, $9.95.
Live Oak Media.
Narrator Laura Hamilton shines in this lively tale about Lilly who takes her new purse, movie star sunglasses and three shiny quarters to school to share with her classmates. When things unexpectedly go wrong, Lilly learns about patience and forgiveness.
Matilda Bone.
Performed by Janet McTeer. 4:01 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8737-7. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Through her many accents and voices, Janet McTeer brilliantly shows the fascinating and sometimes comic world of 14-year old Matilda, an apprentice bonesetter in medieval England as she struggles to achieve a more spiritual existence and to find her place in the world.
Mr. Popper's Penguins.
Performed by Paul Hecht. 2 hrs. 2 cassettes, ISBN: 0-7887-2724-9, $26. 2 CDs, ISBN: 0-7887-5216-2, $22.
Recorded Books, LLC.
The Atwaters' classic story of the house painter whose love for polar exploration results in a house full of penguins is as hilarious today as when first published in 1938. Hecht's captivating new narration ably brings the story to today's young listeners.
Music of the American Colonies.
Performed by Anne Enslow and Ridley Enslow. 61 mins. CD. 0-7660-1614-5. $24.95.
Enslow Publishing, Inc.
Using authentic colonial instruments, the Enslows have compiled a diverse, delightful collection of traditional American folksongs. This well documented anthology takes listeners on a musical journey through Colonial America.
Nory Ryan's Song.
Performed by Susan Lynch. 3:30 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8728-8. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Patricia Reilly Giff's moving story of a young girl's struggle to keep the remnants of her family alive at the height of the Irish potato famine is enhanced by Susan Lynch's sensitive reading. Her lilting Irish accent perfectly evokes the mood and setting of the story.
Performed by Martin Jarvis; music by Chris Kubie. 13:49 mins. cassette and hardcover book, ISBN: 0-87499-679-1, $24.95. cassette only, ISBN: 0-87499-677-5, $9.95.
Live Oak Media.
The devil's grandmother rescues a humble peasant boy, blessed with a distinguishing birthmark and a pure soul, and assures his ascendancy to the throne in Natalie Babbitt's retelling of this tale from Grimm. This lively, rollicking rendition has all the elements familiar to the most successful fairy tales.
Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story.
Performed by Ken Mochizuki. 16:41 mins. cassette and hardcover book, ISBN: 0-87499-631-7, $24.95. cassette and paperback book, ISBN: 0-87499-630-9, $15.95. cassette only, ISBN: 0-87499-629-5, $9.95.
Live Oak Media.
Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese vice-consul in Lithuania at the start of WWII, acted on his own human decency to save the lives of thousands of Jewish refugees. Ken Mochizuki's narration of his moving story introduces listeners to genuine heroism.
Rhythm in My Shoes.
Performed by Jessica Harper. 40:28 mins. CD, ISBN: 1-57940-046-9, $15.98. cassette, ISBN: 1-57940-047-7, $10.98.
Rounder Records.
Jessica Harper's innovative lyrics, music and joyous vocals characterize this recording that parents and children will enjoy together. The songs are playful, fun, and full of clever wordplays that children will repeat long after the CD/cassette is over.
Performed by George Guidall; music by Chris Kubie. 5:52 mins. cassette and hardcover book, ISBN: 0-87499-627-9, $24.95. cassette only, ISBN: 0-87499-625-2, $9.95.
Live Oak Media.
A small boy responds to the wonder of a fresh snowfall as he watches his village transformed into a magical vista in this Caldecott Honor book. Guidall's narration and Kubie's music work together to provide a charming fresh tableau revealing a child's innocent delight in simple events.
Spider Sparrow.
Narrated by Christian Rodska. 3:26 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8406-8. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Richly read by Christian Rodska this is the story of a special boy and the impact he makes on the lives of an English farming community. Dick King-Smith delights readers with the story of a child who manifests a remarkable talent for communicating with animals.
Still the Same Me.
Performed by Sweet Honey In the Rock. 41:13 mins. cassette, ISBN: 0-1166-181004-4, $8.99. CD, ISBN: 0-1166-181002-0, $12.99.
Rounder Records.
Listeners of all ages will enjoy the enthusiasm of this renowned African Arnerican a capella ensemble as they perform a collection of motivating and heart-warming songs, interspersed with innovative percussion improvisation.
The Subtle Knife.
Performed by Philip Pullman and a full cast. 8:55 hrs. 8 cassettes. 0-8072-8196-4. $50.
Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Author/narrator Philip Pullman and a full cast of characters take listeners on a perilous journey from world to world. As Lyra and Will search for the Subtle Knife. they uncover deadly secrets, encounter people with extraordinary gifts, and glimpse their own destiny.
The Trolls.
Performed by Julie Hagerty. 3:25 hrs. 2 cassettes. 0-8072-8371-1. $23.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Aunt Sally comes from Vancouver Island to Ohio to baby-sit the Anderson children. She dresses strangely and tells the most outrageous family stories, including one about the trolls who live deep in the woods. Hagerty's skillfully timed delivery and authentic accents bring these droll troll stories to life.
Water Torture, the Barking Mouse and Other Tales of Wonder.
Performed by Antonio Sacre, with production music by Steve Rashid. 43 mins. 1 cassette. 1-886283-15- X. $10.
Woodside Avenue Music Productions. Distributed by Rounder Kids.
Antonio Sacre delights audiences of all ages with these richly told tales of wonder. Sacre's smooth blending of English and Spanish brings out the originality of these diverse stories.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town.
Performed by Will Patton. 4:59 hrs. 3 cassettes. 0-8072-8393-2. $30.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
13-year-old Toby and his friend Cal explore the meaning of friendship during the summer of 1971 when 600 pound Zachary Beaver comes to Antler, Texas. Will Patton reads this sensitive coming-of-age story with warmth and compassion.
Wiley and the Hairy Man: Adapted from an American Folktale.
Performed by Robin Miles.18:28 mins. cassette and paperback book, ISBN: 0-87499-617-1, $15.95. cassette only, ISBN: 0-87499-616-3, $9.95.
Live Oak Media.
Wiley and his mother outwit the hairy man in this soulfully told traditional tale of the Tombigbee River swampland. Molly Bang's beginning-reader retelling makes an outstanding read-a-long.
A Year Down Yonder.
Performed by Lois Smith. 3:25 hrs. 2 cassettes. 0-8072-8750-4. $23.
Listening Library, an imprint of The Random House Audio Publishing Group.
Hard hit by the Depression, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice's family sends her to live with her eccentric grandma in rural Illinois. Lois Smith captures Grandma Dowdel's character and spirit, as well as Mary Alice's ambivalence in this thought-provoking, humorous story.
Yo! Yes?
Performed by Ryann Williams & Tucker Bliss; music by Jerry Dale McFadden. 3:09 mins. cassette and hardcover book, ISBN: 1-55592-066-7 , $24.95. cassette and softcover, ISBN: 1-55592-067-5 , $12.95.
Weston Woods Studios, Inc.
Getting acquainted is often difficult, as seen in Chris Raschka's award-winning book. The dual reading of Williams and Bliss warmly depicts this simple story of a budding friendship between two boys.


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More than a decade of dominance was culminated in history for the Ohio State men's tennis team against Northwestern.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (20-2, 5-0) defeated the No. 28 Wildcats, 4-3, Friday at the Varsity Tennis Center for their 185th consecutive home victory, the most by any team in NCAA history.
The Stanford women's tennis previously held the record, going undefeated in Palo Alto, Calif., from 1999-2011. The Buckeyes began their home dominance with a 5-2 win over Purdue April 5, 2003.
"Obviously you're happy for the guys in the room. They were able to come together and fight," OSU coach Ty Tucker said. "For five or six straight matches all we do is talk about the streak. People come out, there's excitement around tennis because of the streak. Every time we have to rise up and win and we were able to do it. And it wasn't easy."
The Wildcats (12-8, 1-3) did their best to come in and put an end to the streak and send the crowd — one that included OSU Director of Athletics and Vice President Gene Smith — home in disappointment.
Doubles play began with the Buckeye duo of redshirt-junior Hunter Callahan and redshirt-freshman Ralf Steinbach breaking serve early and holding on to beat sophomore Mihir Kumar and freshman Konrad Zieba, 8-6.
The Buckeyes' No. 6-ranked team of senior Peter Kobelt and redshirt-junior Kevin Metka stayed on serve all match with senior Raleigh Smith and freshman Sam Shropshire. In the tiebreak though, Kobelt took over. He was responsible for five points en route to the 8-7 (7-2) victory, securing the doubles point and putting OSU just only three singles wins away from the record.
The Wildcats came out strong in singles, earning three first set wins. Unfortunately for them, they needed one more.
Metka was off first, breaking Kumar's serve once each set and holding his own serve the whole match to win 6-3, 6-3.
Mere minutes after Metka's victory, Steinbach dominated his second set tiebreak to defeat junior Alex Pasareanu 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
With only one more win needed to go down in history, OSU turned again to Kobelt, the captain and lone senior on the squad.
After cruising in the first set, Kobelt found himself tied at five with Smith in their second set. Sensing the match was within grasp, he finally got the break he needed and crossed the court with the chance to win on his serve.
With recording devices of all kind in the air trying to capture the moment, Kobelt fired a huge serve that Smith barely returned over the net. When the ball just made it over, Kobelt smashed it into the corner for the winner and 6-1, 7-5 victory.
Afterwards, Kobelt said he knew he had the opportunity to close things out.
"Our coaches always tell us not to watch the scoreboard, but it's a pretty nice and big scoreboard, so you end up catching yourself looking up at it," Kobelt said. "There was a moment where I was like 'It's going to come down to me.'"
Although the remaining matches had to be finished before the teams could head to the locker rooms, the crowd stayed the whole time to give the Buckeyes the ovation they deserved.
"I'll be thinking about it for the rest of my life," Metka said. "We'll be in the record books. It's a really big accomplishment. I'm proud of everyone."
Despite having an indoor national championship in hand and now an NCAA record, Tucker still wants improvement from his team down the final stretch. Especially with No. 10 Illinois set to come to town Sunday.
"There's a lot of work left to do and we have to find a way," Tucker said "A couple spots didn't show up tonight, so we have to find a way to get that improved over the next 24 to 48 hours."
The Buckeyes are scheduled take on the Fighting Illini at 12 p.m. Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Center.


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'Big Talk' considers religious extremism
Students filed into the Agnes Arnold Auditorium Tuesday for a conversation about countering religious extremism.
The event, part of the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication's "Big Talk" series, brought together a wide field of industry experts to offer their perspectives on the issues of extremism and immigration.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee opened the conversation by denouncing the proliferation of hate speech and its effects.
"It is clearly important to be able to say that the way we should run this country is not through fear and intimidation and hate," Lee said. "We will never succeed if that is what is going to be our direction."
The forum was moderated by a representative from the student-run organization MEtoWE, a group of Valenti graduate students who work to provide information and facilitate open discussions about Islam and Muslim immigration.
The organization is part of the "Peer to Peer: Challenging Extremism" national initiative sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security.
Panelists included William Beltran from the Department of Homeland Security; Hesham Elgamiel from the Houston division of the FBI; Council on American-Islamic Relations' Texas chapter executive director Mustafaa Carroll; Imam Mubasher Ahmad from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; pastor Mike Acosta from Grace Church; Danny Hermosillo from KHOU; and UH assistant professor Lea Hellmueller.
The representative fielded questions submitted by students about the causes of terrorism and common misconceptions about Muslims.
"Terrorism is a multi-faceted issue that addresses many factors of our daily lives," Beltran said. "There is no single profile of a person involved in terrorism."
Throughout the discussion, the role of the media in covering, and sometimes sensationalizing, acts of terrorism and subsequently reinforcing harmful stereotypes became a prominent topic.
"We kind of reinforce stereotypes sometimes with the way we select stories," Hellmueller said. "We see a lot of those frames related to Islam and terrorists, so the more we learn about those two things occurring together, the more we build those links."
Last month's executive-ordered travel ban was a dominant subject at the Big Talk, with many panelists agreeing the ban had not been helpful and had further perpetuated baseless stigmas about Muslims.
The panelists also discussed the challenges of fighting against an ideology, the mislabeling of domestic terrorism as a race or gun control issue, and how the Christian community responds to attacks where they have been targeted.
"If your opinion is different than those surrounding you, you still have the opportunity, the responsibility, the strength to speak up for yourself," said public relations graduate student and MEtoWE founding member Carley Jones. "You can have a different opinion than someone and not think that you have to hate them."
Students who attended the Big Talk said they came away recognizing the need for greater understanding about the Muslim community and how it's portrayed in media.
"I've learned about how the media sort of distorts Islam," said public relations sophomore Sephora Sakombi. "People who only watch Fox News, for example, have an image of what Islam is, and it's not."
In terms of what college students can do to counter extremism, the panelists said to get educated and get involved.
"You have to raise the awareness," Hermosillo said. "You are the media. If you do something and you get organized, please show up."


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Postgraduate study is a decision not lightly taken because of huge demands on time, money and the sacrifices in family and recreation, but it does open doors. Tim Mendham looks at the coming crop of courses.
Put it down to the need for practical training, student demand, the lure of free software or even shortfalls in university funding, but whatever the reason, vendors are increasingly being seen on campus, even in the lofty realms of postgraduate study.
Charles Sturt University, for example, offers its IT Masters program, which has a range of courses for IT networking professionals, system developers, security specialists and managers that draws on technical input from Microsoft, Cisco and Sun as integral components.
Microsoft has a range of partnerships with tertiary education institutions that deliver a variety of graduate and postgraduate courses, while also supporting the academics that deliver these courses by offering training to keep staff in touch with technology developments.
Under the MSDN Academic Alliance banner, Microsoft also offers a range of programs and resources for tertiary institution staff, including in-depth labs, curriculum workshops, faculty summits (such as attending Microsoft's TechEd conference and Microsoft's Redmond campus), online curriculum repositories, academic developer relationship managers, university relationship managers from Microsoft research, and facilitating licence subscriptions for staff and their students for the latest development tools, operating systems and server software.
In Australia, the MSDNAA now has 93 members (mostly university faculties), up from 23 members in January 2003.
Cisco has implemented the Cisco Networking Academy program in 27 Australian universities and 47 TAFEs. Most of these deliver the program integrated within undergraduate degrees and some within postgraduate degrees. Many universities are utilising it at stand-alone, fee-paying, diploma level.
All 27 universities are using the CCNA curriculum and eight are using it at CCNP level. Cisco says that it provides all the curriculum to non-profit, government or community-funded educational institutions at no cost, as well as providing discounted Cisco equipment and underwriting the trainer-training costs.
It adds that it allows tertiary institutions considerable flexibility in delivery and therefore does not have direct access to how the curriculum has been integrated into postgraduate degrees.
In 1997, SAP Education launched its University Alliance Program with a view to incorporating SAP's solutions into undergraduate and postgraduate courses of study so that students may be exposed to latest SAP knowledge and skills. As at October 2003, 10 universities around Australia are currently participating in the program: Sydney, Macquarie, UTS, UWS, Monash, Melbourne, Victoria, QUT, South Australia and Edith Cowan.
The institutions themselves are willing participants in such ventures, although by no means do all have any vendor content in their postgraduate (or even undergraduate) programs.
University of Queensland gives credit for CCNA and MCSE diplomas towards its conversion masters program, both for programs taught at UQ and those given at some vendor sites.
Cisco and SAP components earn credit within QUT's Master of IT programs.
UTS offers an MSc in Internetworking which includes Cisco subjects and provides coverage of CCNA and CCNP, although not the certification itself. The Cisco material is incorporated with other UTS material to form award courses; these are not stand-alone courses and even Cisco-based subjects have some UTS content (and some subjects have no Cisco content).
UWA has vendor participation in its final-year capstone project unit, with software developers from Motorola mentoring students, who work in teams of six on a significant project. Postgraduate projects may be undertaken with industrial input.
Sydney Uni receives industry support for the programs in Electrical and Information Engineering from Cisco (course materials and funding), IBM (course materials and software), Microsoft (course materials and software), and Cadence (IC design tools).
UNSW's School of Information Systems, Technology and Management, uses some Oracle products in the skills components in some of its database courses, which are part of the Master of Commerce program, and academic staff have the opportunity to attend Oracle training courses in the products used.
Swinburne's School of Information Technology has a range of associations with particular IT vendors, including IBM Rational and Microsoft that provide advice and support for several postgraduate subjects in the Master of IT, and the Master of Science in Network Systems includes industry certification material such as Cisco CCNA and CCNP and Microsoft MCSE.
And Curtin University's School of Information Systems has had "the odd, one-off short course" for staff in new areas, such as a course on Oracle from the vendor. They have brought in the occasional consultant-run course as well, usually on campus. Staff members have also been sent to external courses from time to time. "What little we have done for our staff has not been part of any degree course."
And the academic status of vendor-oriented courses?
In most cases, they are not recognised as postgraduate Masters-level qualifications in their own right. However, many elements of vendor-courses are incorporated into degree courses, and as such they achieve some level of academic acceptability.
Dr Alison Anderson, assistant dean (postgraduate studies), of QUT's Faculty of Information Technology, says "One would have to ask (and we do) in what sense are these programs 'master' level? Universities are continuously reviewing the quality of their courses and one of the tasks at this faculty is to articulate what we mean by a 'masters' degree. This involves elements of critical thinking and high-level problem solving and it is hard to see how a vendor program would develop attributes like this."
Dr Nick Spadaccini, head of the School of Computer Science & Software Engineering at the University of Western Australia, thinks such courses can be recognised, "and if properly organised there is no reason why they shouldn't be".
The view from academe
Some institutions see this as a positive move, while others have some reservations.
Peter Scope, Cisco Systems' business development manager, Networking Academy Program, says the trend has been increasing for a few years.
"TAFE institutes have seen this and are taking to it within the vocational sector with no issues whatsoever. Universities also have seen that this type of partnership fills a void that they have not been able to fill, that of industry-recognised accreditation/certification. It is seen that for universities to gain advantage, to attract students, they must not only offer the quality, research-based curriculum but also give employment initiatives as a bonus. This is a major benefit to graduates who regularly find that having a degree is simply not enough, that practical and business skills are virtually mandatory."
David Wilson, associate dean (Education), from UTS's Faculty of Information Technology, agrees that the trend is increasing, but implies that it is the vendors hanging on the coattails of the academics: "The vendor certifications are recognised within the IT industry but lead to fairly narrow jobs and job prospects. When the industry certification is built into an academic award with broader more conceptual university content then students/graduates get the best of both worlds."
Of course, vendors benefit in other ways from the relationship. RMIT points out that vendors realise that by providing full versions of their software to universities free of charge, for academic purposes, graduates will enter the IT workforce with skills in the vendor products. It quotes the free availability of the Unix operating system for over 20 years as "the most striking example of this phenomenon". Over time, it suggests, graduates have in a large measure influenced the propagation of Unix.
It does, however, warn that, "The software of today will not be the software the student will necessarily use in 10 years time."
Spadaccini thinks the involvement of industry is important to identify trends. Beyond the practical aspects of vendor-based study, "there is the opportunity for industry to reflect the trends of what is being used and applied in the industry. Academics will be in a position to relay the latest in research and what new developments are or will be coming along".
Anderson begrudges that "there is a trend which is a result of universities being starved of funding as well as student demand. But the long-term benefit to universities is that it makes them think about what they do that is different from vendor programs. Students want immediately applicable vendor-specific skills, but one of our jobs is to give them that as well as the higher-level skills that would mean they are not necessarily chained to one set of technology platforms."
But some even deny that there is a trend at all.
Professor Simon Kaplan, head of the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at the University of Queensland, says it's "not really a trend that we see. It was a good idea when IT was 'hot' but seems to be not so popular among our students now." Of course, he adds, UQ may see more "academic" postgraduate students anyway. "The point of Masters-level education should be lifelong learning; focus on specific technologies that does not teach underlying principles which helps students to 'teach themselves as technology evolves' seems inappropriate to us."
Dr John Venable, head of the School of Information Systems at Curtin University of Technology (where the idea of vendor participation was considered but rejected) says that the main issue is the difference between "education" and "training".
"Training is for providing specific practical skills. Education shapes the overall knowledge, including theory and principles, as well as practical skills. Many of the practical skills needed tend to come and go in a field as dynamic as IT. It is the role of universities to provide the education, including the ability to acquire new and updated skills. Vendor organizations can have a role in providing skills, but cannot have the length of contact and the structure of a degree program needed to provide the overall background to understand the field and enable life-long learning."
Tertiary postgraduate courses
With or without vendor participation, the academic cycle continues. The following are new IT postgraduate courses and programs at some Australian universities for the rest of 2004 and 2005.
Central Queensland 2004: Two new Masters degrees in 2004, both are going through final CRICOS code approval for a July 2004 start - a completely redesigned Master of Information Systems with two specializations (technology management and business and technology); and a Master of Information Technology with three specializations (e-commerce, information security and software development). New initiatives can be introduced within the overall structure and old ones retired if no longer needed. The IS specialization will meet the knowledge requirements of the Security+ certification, and CUQ will be announcing a similar certification for the project management component of these programs shortly. Both degrees have ACS accreditation.
2005: Health informatics will be a major new offering and CQU has gained input from international and national bodies in its quest to design a program of most use to its graduates. An advanced, one-year coursework and project (research and industry) is also being considered. Other programs are yet to be announced.
Curtin 2004: Already introduced a ground-up revision of the entire postgraduate curriculum in IS/IT/eBusiness, with some units to be introduced next semester. The courses were all standardised to create the following sequence for skills and knowledge upgrading: graduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, Professional Masters, and Master of Commerce. Also introduced in semester one was a new suite of programs in logistics and eBusiness, and in semester two, revised programs in logistics and supply chain management (limited IT content).
2005: New suites of postgraduate programs will hopefully be introduced in June in logistics & IT management and logistics & strategic procurement (at graduate certificate, graduate diploma and Professional Masters levels). Master of Commerce level programs are still being considered in light of new requirements from the Curtin Business School (the parent division of the faculty).
New England: 2005: Plans to re-badge the Information Systems stream in the Master of IT as a new degree called Master of Information Systems.
QUT: 2004: The nested graduate certificate structure previously announced has been approved and will be available for direct entry from mid-2004.
RMIT: 2004: New subjects include software requirements engineering, software reuse, Web development technologies, Web media technologies, and Web services. New program is the two-year Master of Applied Science (Information Systems), an extension of three existing Masters.
2005: New subjects include computer and Internet forensics, advanced Web technologies, mobile computing, enterprise architecture, Web scripting for programmers, and advanced topics in bio-informatics. New programs planned include a Graduate Diploma in Enterprise Architecture aimed at IT professionals with three to five years experience as software developers, analysts, or architects, and a joint Masters is being developed in collaboration with both the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the School of Business IT, covering subjects offered in the Master of Technology (Internet and Web computing), the Master of Engineering (IT), and the Master of Business (IT).
Swinburne: 2004: Two new postgraduate programs for semester two this year (subject to accreditation):
- Master of Information Technology (Information Technology Management) will allow students to study a relatively non-technical program focusing on strategic business and information systems issues (project management, e-commerce, ERP systems, knowledge management, security, IT strategies, data modelling and software process improvement), and is designed to support future senior information systems management roles in organizations.
- Master of Technology with optional specializations in software engineering, information systems, Internet computing or IT management. (A graduate diploma exit point is available after completing eight subjects.) The program requires no previous IT qualifications and allows students to choose between a broad-based IT program, and several programs of study that are designed to cover a particular specialist area of IT. Those without a tertiary qualification, but who have several years relevant work experience, can enter at Graduate Certificate level.
2005: Swinburne will be reviewing its range of badged specializations in its Master of Information Technology in response to market demand, and in consultation with its Industry Advisory Board Swinburne will be adding a range of new subjects to address the key emerging areas of .NET development, knowledge management, process improvement and ERP systems.
Sydney: 2004: No specifics on new courses, although current units include foundation units of study (including engineering software requirements, computer design, real time computing, and software project management) and specialist units of study (including advanced communication networks, e-commerce systems, computer and network security). Graduate certificates available for 2004 in the School Of Electrical And Information Engineering include Integrated Systems, Photonics, and Computer Systems Engineering. Graduate diplomas include computer systems engineering.
The School of Electrical and Information Engineering collaborates with the Faculties of Science, Economics and Business to offer the Master of Information Technology, offered in a number of streams including computer engineering and telecommunications.
2005: The School of Electrical and Information Engineering will offer Masters of Engineering Programs in Wireless Communications and Computer Networks.
UNSW: 2005: The School of Information Systems, Technology and Management will be introducing a new Master of Information Systems degree for IS/IT professionals with a minimum of three years relevant work experience who aspire to management roles in industry. The courses to be offered in the new MIS include a broad range of technical and management themes: IT and business strategy; managing and delivering IT services; IT quality and project management; security of enterprise IT resources; managing integrated enterprise systems; IT management project (industry-based project); contemporary issues in IT law; managing the human side of organizational and technological innovation; interpersonal and career skills for the IT manager; and accounting and business analysis for IT managers.
University of Queensland: 2004: Masters in Systems Engineering builds on UQ's Masters degree in software engineering to create systems engineers, who it says are much in demand in defence and complex industrial projects.
2005: Masters of Science in Computer Science (postgraduate masters coursework program for people with undergrad IT or engineering degree) as well as upgraded subjects in software engineering, bioinformatics and web services for our masters degrees (both conversion masters and coursework masters for IT graduates).
UTS: 2005: The current MSc in Computing will be re-badged MSc in Professional Computing and includes specializations in human-centred design, data mining, computer graphics and gaming, software engineering, IT management, e-business technology, and organizational systems. Aimed at computing/IT graduates with two to three years industry experience.
A new MSc in Advanced Computing will be introduced with new advanced subjects focussed on the Faculty's research interests The Grad Dip IT and Masters in IT (conversion courses for graduates from other disciplines) will be changed to allow direct entry to the MIT.
Western Australia: 2005: No intentions for new courses, although new topics and material can be introduced into the "Advanced Topics" units if the opportunity arises.
Western Sydney: 2005: Three new or revamped courses will be introduced in 2005:
- Master of Information Technology (e-business) introduces students to the technologies used to develop e-business applications and associated security issues, enterprise business applications, business process modelling and management methods, and contemporary issues related to e-business such as legal, social and intellectual property
- Master of Information Technology (Web engineering and design) will address all issues related to Web sites, applications, and services development. This course has been successfully run by UWS for past several years and has now been revised to bring it up to date with changes in Web technologies, their applications and methodologies.
- Master of Information Technology (IS management) aims to prepare students for positions as IT managers and senior professionals.


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Hey! Thanks For Stopping By!
I'm Amy Payne and I am an environment artist living in Beijing, China. For the past two years I've had the fantastic opportunity to work for Mindwalk Studios, one of the top outsourcing studios in China, and have been loving every minute of it!
During my time here, I've gained valuable industry insights and knowledge by working heavily on multiple projects using a variety of styles and software. As head of the 'R&D' department much of my time is spent searching for more efficient workflows to be implemented studio wide. After identifying these I'll write and record sets of tutorials to train all team members and new hires for full integration into our studio culture.
One of my passions is specializing in texture creation and I've recently fallen in love with Substance Designer. I find the challenge of procedural texturing to be highly motivating and inspiring. Honestly, I don't want to texture any other way.


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The Nut Plat Retreat
UK England South East England Kent Sevenoaks
Some glamping sites build high-tech treehouses, others pluck for super-shiny Airstream caravans. But visit The Nut Plat Retreat in rural Kent and you'll be in no doubt of how best to go glamping in England. If you could bottle up the history of the British countryside and turn it into a quaint-as-they-come glamping site, The Nut Plat Retreat would be it. The glorious riverside setting – where horses chomp through grass on the opposite bank – combined with authentic, vintage accommodation avoids the 'quaint' becoming 'twee', while a handy location just 45 minutes outside of London make this a glamping site accessible for the quickest of quick breaks. If you want Kent with character, The Nut Plat Retreat is spot on.
On the northwest edge of the Kent Downs, this charming glamping getaway is full of history and intrigue. Glampers arrive to an 18th-century farmhouse, home of owners Duncan and Rachel, and are led along a shady, woodland path to the riverside clearing where the two antique living vans reveal themselves. Towed behind steam rollers during the 1800s, the vans are the real deal, complete with original wrought iron wheels and the old, heavy crank handle for applying the break. Inside, however, while a sense of history remains, interiors have been spruced up to provide a comfortable living space. There's a double bed, fold-out table, oak chairs, a wood burner and beautiful stained-glass windows from Rye Cinque Port in Sussex. Outside, meanwhile, each of the two wagons has it's own private kitchen space, shower room and toilet, along with a firepit and barbecue for late nights around an open fire (marshmallows provided!). Ransoms, the hut with the traditional green and yellow exterior, even comes with its own wood-fired hot tub – not something the 19th-century work force would have enjoyed!
While the living vans are things of beauty in their own right, the hidden setting is all part of the glampsite's appeal. On the edge of a nut orchard, glampers can pluck cobnuts straight from the trees or help out with the harvest, before wandering through the wild gardens of the farm. You needn't wander too far, either. The nearest pub – a proper local bolthole – is just a few hundred metres down the lane, while footpaths from the campsite lead you along cow-parsley-crowded field sides to other fine establishments. There's English Heritage-owned Old Soar Manor – a beautiful stone home built in the 13th century – a 20 minute walk away, or the National Trust's moated manor house, Ightham Mote (40 minutes). Or, of course, you could pick another good pub – The Swan on the Green – which has its own micro-brewery and a sunny beer garden. The choices are endless, the choices are charming and the choices are all excellent. You might just want to stay for longer.
The Owner Says
Come to the Nut Plat Retreat for peace and quiet just 45 minutes from the middle of London.
Kick back on the river bank in the Garden of England and watch the natural world go by
The two vintage living vans have been carefully restored to a comfortable standard with out compromising their heritage
Each has its own facilities - a well stocked camp kitchen, safari style shower and comfortable compost loo.
You can help yourselves to as many logs as you need
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2016 Amazon
With the rapid development of the Internet, the importance of logistics has been gradually recognized, different forms of logistics enterprises began to appear, including the transformation of traditional transport warehousing freight forwarding enterprises, emerging third-party logistics enterprises and specialized in transport, warehousing enterprises. Wisdom Logistics is accompanied by the development of the logistics industry and the progress of logistics technology is gradually developed.
Automatic and quickly perceived the number of goods out of a comprehensive tracking of each cargo flow dynamics, shift library, scheduling and other work orderly, the background of the physical inventory at a glance, the cost is significantly reduced; think of a medical use of advanced Internet of things technology and network Transmission technology, to create intelligent integrated warehousing management system to help enterprises in the storage and logistics management on the "cost reduction, to achieve fine management." So, all this is how to achieve it?
Why is the traditional warehousing and logistics transformation?
Warehouse management in the logistics management occupy the core position. However, there are many problems in traditional warehouse management, such as:
Data collection by manual entry or bar code scanning, low efficiency
Warehouse cargo location is not clear, stacking chaos, unfavorable convergence
Physical inventory technology behind, leading to often do not match the truth
Human factors, the error rate is high, increase the additional cost
Lack of process tracking, the responsibility is difficult to define
These problems have seriously affected the efficiency of warehousing and logistics, and the high cost of logistics.
Wisdom Promotion: Intelligent Integrated Warehouse Management System
In order to solve the existing pain point of warehousing and logistics management, Siqi Medical is based on advanced Internet of things technology, combined with various network transmission technology, software in series hardware, the storage of all aspects of business elements into the same management system, to create intelligent integration Warehousing management system, so that the core business of warehousing logistics has been significantly improved:
Intelligent integrated warehousing management system can be stored / out of the library information and the number of large quantities of automatic collection and verification (up to 200-300 group can be read), at the same time, the background of the inventory status will be synchronized with changes in physical inventory Update.
Orderly transfer library
Through the cargo label and the goods of the precise binding and decoupling, precise control shift library operations, to prevent mistakes, so that shift library work to be orderly, shift library during the management of goods is no longer chaotic.
Accurate inventory
In the intelligent integrated management system, both through the handheld to collect cargo label data
Wireless monitoring
Through the application of wireless temperature and humidity detector, can achieve 24 hours of indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity monitoring, and real-time monitoring of data transmission wireless (transmission distance up to 50 meters above the wall, open space 2 km above).
ESL display
Can be applied on the shelves ESL electronic paper labels, display clear and low energy consumption, dynamic display of real-time information, and through the background wireless real-time updates.
Intelligent dispatch
The system is based on omni-directional accurate data acquisition, large data analysis, intelligent scheduling strategy, equipment, operations and personnel for all-round scheduling.
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