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Ir-respective of one's later spiritual direction many peoples first initiation to the spiritual path in the last 100 years or so was due to reading the works of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda
The water from the roof flows through a spout that is shaped like a lion's head. It looks as if the lion were bringing the water out through its mouth. But look at the source of the water! A cloud gathers in the sky and rain falls on the roof; then the water flows through the pipe and at last comes out through the spout.
Vishwanatha Swamigal has said that Niranjanananda Swamigal used to read Lalita Sahasranamam daily. Occasionally when he missed Parayana for any reason the reading was completed by Ramana Maharshi on his behalf.Lalita Sahasranamam has the answer to the question raised in the previous Facebook post about the origin of Sri Chakra Puja in the ashram. One name of Divine Mother Lalita is Siva-shakti-iyka-rupini which means the Mother Lalita forms the unity of Siva with His Shakti. Thus Divine Mother?s worship in the ashram is related to Sri Ramana Maharshi just as Sunlight is related to the Sun. We now quote from Kapali Sastriar?s book ?the Maharshi?:?After the Veda Parayana, both of us were taken by the Sarvadhikari to his office. From the cupboard Raju Sastri took out a plate and handed it to him and he in turn placed it in my hand. It was a few inches square, but its weight betrayed to me the metal immediately; indeed, it was solid gold. The diagram was Sri Chakram; I saw the whole thing, it was neatly done. Then there was another, a smaller plate; that too was taken out. The third one contained letters inscribed in the diagram; it was Subrahmanya Yantra. He spoke to me how he was able to get it all done, why so much care for safety had to be taken etc. We all came out and he took us to another hut where I was shown Meru in solid rock. The workmanship was indeed quite fine. I do not remember to have seen such a big sized Meru in rock though I have myself worshipped one made of gold (small size)?.
Saw this post on a Facebook page related to Bhagavan Ramana and I want to know whether the highlighted portion is true i,e Bhagavan Ramana read Sri Lalitha Sahasranama on behalf of Sri Niranjananda Swami during his absence .
During Bhagavan?s days on the Hill, Spiritual Grace was in abundance but material comforts were minimal or non-existent. It is possible that some great devotee may have advised Niranjananda Swamigal that worship of the Sri Chakra will lead to prosperity and he started the worship. But this is at best a surmise.


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Governor Cuomo Announces Winners of $3 Million Clean Energy Competition for Colleges and Universities in New York State
Student-Led Coalitions at Bard College, University at Buffalo and SUNY Broome Community College Awarded $1 Million Each to Develop Innovative Clean Energy Projects in their Communities
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State will award $1 million each to Bard College, University at Buffalo and SUNY Broome Community College as part of the "Energy to Lead Competition." The competition, first announced by the Governor in October 2015, challenged student-led coalitions from New York colleges and universities to design and develop innovative plans for campus and community-wide clean energy projects. The announcement was made at Bard College in Dutchess County.
"The 'Energy to Lead Competition' is challenging New York's emerging energy leaders to turn innovative ideas into cutting-edge solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy bills and improve resiliency in communities across the state," Governor Cuomo said. "I congratulate our winning students and faculty, and commend them for their commitment to helping to build a cleaner, greener New York."
Collectively, the three winning college projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking 17,000 cars off the road each year.
SUNY Broome Community College's "Geothermal Learning Laboratory" project will show how a geothermal system can harness the energy stored in the earth to heat and cool a campus, serve as a hands-on learning resource for college and secondary school students, and generate energy bill savings that can be reinvested in energy conservation measures. The project is expected to result in the avoidance of 135 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The greening of SUNY Broome just took a huge leap forward. We can't thank the Governor and NYSERDA enough for such a critical award," said SUNY Broome President Kevin E. Drumm. "This initiative will substantially decrease our carbon footprint while fostering student involvement in sustainability efforts and entrepreneurship. It must be noted that students were integral to the development of this proposal. What better way to inspire the green innovators of the future!

subset: commoncrawl


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On Aug 16, 2009, at 6:40 PM, der Mouse wrote:
As page sizes increase, we also need to deal with subpage uareas.Why? Is it really worth recovering the rest of the page containing theuarea? While there certainly are machines so small that that much memory is worth thinking about, I'm inclined to doubt that that occurs together with pages big enough that a subpage uarea is an issue.
Well, mips can now have 16KB pages and USPACE used to be 8KB so I can put two uareas per page now. And I can see going to 32KB or 64KB pages if you have 16+GB of ram. The situation is closer than you think.


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Benoit's Youth Karate Program is a developmentally appropriate karate program designed specifically for children 8 to 12 years of age. Through positive encouragement the children will learn a variety of karate movements and techniques to enhance gross motor skills, fine motor skills, balance, coordination, attention and self confidence.
The Youth Program is a great way for children to expend their energy in a safe learning environment.
Please refer to the Current Training Schedule for training times.
Benoit's Goju-Ryu Karate-Do is always dedicated to improving and enhancing programs that benefit the children.
If you are the site owner, please renew your premium subscription or contact support.


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Insurance Claims
Q: Will my insurance company pay for a new roof?
A: Your insurance company will pay for damage that is the result of an act of nature or accident, such as a hailstorm, hurricane, tornado, falling branches or debris, or other incident.
Q: Who should I call first if I think my roof is damaged, Compass Roofing & Construction or my insurance company?
A: First call Compass Roofing & Construction to inspect your roof and document damage, including a written description and digital photographs. We can help you determine if there is enough damage to warrant an insurance claim. If so, we can speed the process and get your roof restored quickly.
Q: Can you represent me during the insurance inspection?
A: Yes, our inspector can be on hand when your insurance adjustor arrives to inspect the damage, and make sure all areas of concern are included on the final report. This ensures you get all the compensation you need for quality repairs.
Q: How much money will I get from my insurance company?
A: The final determination of the value of the claim will be made by your insurance company, based on the report from the insurance adjustor. Depending on the age of your roof, the amount paid may be less than the full cost of repair or replacement (due to depreciation). This figure can sometimes be negotiated.
Q: I got several estimates to repair my roof but they vary widely. Why?
A: Before making a decision, make sure all the estimates are offering the same quality of materials and workmanship. One contractor might propose using 25-year shingles, while another may offer installation of a 50-year shingle for only slightly more. Make sure you're getting the most for your money.
Professional Fort Worth Roof Inspection and Repair
Trust the repair and restoration of your roof to the professionals at Compass Roofing & Construction. Call (817) 349-3129 to schedule a Fort Worth roof inspection today or complete our online quote request form.
Address: 6040 Camp Bowie Blvd. #58
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Telephone: (817) 349-3129
Operating Hours:
8:00am – 6:00pm, Monday – Friday


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A recent survey conducted by Pechter Middle East Polls, in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations, ahead of the possible Palestinian bid for statehood in September, revealed that given a choice, the majority of east Jerusalem residents would prefer to remain Israelis.
The survey sampled 1,039 Palestinians living in all 19 neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, and was supervised by Dr. David Pollock.
Perhaps the most striking finding regarded the residents' citizenship preference, after a two-state solution is reached: When asked if they preferred to become citizens of Palestine or remain citizens of Israel, only 30% chose Palestinian citizenship.
Thirty five percent chose Israeli citizenship and 35% declined to answer or said they didn't know.
The survey's findings were presented as part of a Tel Aviv University conference hosted by its International Conflict Resolution Program.
- For the full survey click here
A similar question asked participant what they thought the majority in their neighborhood would prefer, and found that 31% estimated that most people prefer Palestinian citizenship; 39% estimated that most people prefer Israeli citizenship; and 30% declined to answer or said they didn't know.
When asked if they would move to a different home inside Israel if their neighborhood became part of Palestine,40% said they were "likely to move to Israel" and 27% said they were "likely to move to Palestine" if their neighborhood became part of Israel.
Also, 44% of east Jerusalem's residents seem content with their standard of living, while 31% said they were not content with it.
East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)
The main concerns expressed by those polled were the possible loss of access to Temple Mount, and concerned over an uncertain financial future.
When asked how a unilateral Palestinian bid for statehood would affect life in east Jerusalem, 34% said it would have a positive impact, 35% said it would have a negative impact, and 27% said it would have no impact at all.
The survey asked participants to rate the greatest problems they encounter daily. The first issue noted was the inconvenience cause by checkpoints, the second concern was crime, followed by threats made by Jewish settlers and Israeli police and Border Guard officers.
An important notation in the survey was that none of its participants said they supported the division of Jerusalem. The reasoning was pragmatic, and centered on movement limitations such a division will cause.
The margin of error given to the survey was 3%.
Aviel Magnezi contributed to this report
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook


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but it is almost the weekend- and time to do some relaxing and re-charging!
Feathered Nest Friday
but it is almost the weekend- and time to do some relaxing and re-charging!
33 comments
Wishing you a blessed Easter!ReplyDelete
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Thanks for hosting, Courtney! Happy Easter!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting the party! Love your brass lamp. I'm so glad brass is back!ReplyDelete
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing my bird's nest! Have a great weekend!...hugs...DebbieReplyDelete
Thanks for the party, Courtney! Happy Easter! :)ReplyDelete
What a joyous surprise to see you featured my bathroom changes. Thank you! Have a wonderful Easter weekend.
Thanks so much for hosting Courtney. Happy Easter!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting the party, Courtney. Hope you have a nice Easter.ReplyDelete
Thank you for hosting the party. Have a lovely weekend.ReplyDelete
Thank you, Courtney, and Happy Easter weekend!ReplyDelete
Have a wonderful Easter, Courtney!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting Courtney and I hope you have a wonderful Easter.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for hosting! I will enjoy browsing through all of the fabulous link ups!ReplyDelete
Hey Courtney. Thank for hosting!ReplyDelete
Thank you for hosting. Have a Happy Easter!ReplyDelete
Love this party - thanks for hosting!ReplyDelete
Love your week in review and the features!....I have been admiring that brass lamp at PB!....Have a great weekend a most Joyous Easter!ReplyDelete
Thank you for hosting Courtney and Happy Easter!ReplyDelete
Wishing you a happy Easter! Thank you for hosting!ReplyDelete
Thank you very much for hosting this party! Happy Easter. JoReplyDelete
Thanks for the party, Courtney! Happy Easter.ReplyDelete
Thanks for another great party and have a great Holiday weekend.ReplyDelete
Mary @ Orphans With Makeup
Thanks you for hosting Courtney! Have a Happy Easter!ReplyDelete
Happy Easter! Thank you for hosting!ReplyDelete
Thank you for the party, Courtney, and happy Easter to you and your family! ~ZuniReplyDelete
Happy Easter Weekend Courtney! Thanks so much for hosting!ReplyDelete
Oh and that brass lamp, I needed one! giggle
love that patio look, i can't wait until it's time (here) to get outside. not quite yet in philly. happy easter!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for sharing my Pink Spring Hutch! You made my day. Happy Easter!ReplyDelete
Stopping by from Lii Brags. Thanks for hosting!!!ReplyDelete
Happy Easter!!
Hello cute lady! Thank you for hosting such a great party! I really appreciate it. Please take a moment to stop by our party. We would love to party with you twice this week.ReplyDelete
Lou Lou Girls
Thanks for hosting, Courtney. I LOVE your new bathroom! I hope you have a very Happy Easter weekend!ReplyDelete
Theresa from Shoestring Elegance
Beautiful bathroom. Thanks for hosting. Have a fabulous EasterReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting, Courtney! Wishing you and your family a Happy Easter!ReplyDelete


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Love Your Pastor Thursday!
February 12, 2015
Pastor Mike Drouin
World Harvest Church Ministerial Alliance
Ordained under World Harvest Church, Pastor Mike Drouin is both founder and full-time Pastor at 'The Remnant'—a Church located in New Castle, Indiana. This ministry was recently established in 2010—it is growing and going, and is currently moving forward to a second location in Indianapolis. Both locations have been launched by the apostolic and prophetic, and collectively continue to minister passionately by the Word of God and direction of the Holy Ghost. Pastor Drouin has over 20 years of ministry experience, and has been faithfully serving and submitting to Pastor Parsley and the World Harvest Ministerial Alliance for 10 years. Because of a divine revelation of the Kingdom of God, his vision for both his ministry and personal life is far from status quo.
He fearlessly delivers the Word of the Lord with a timely and prophetic unction, bringing about an atmosphere for the demonstration of the power of the Gospel. With a fervent evangelistic call, Pastor Mike's preaching is followed by salvation, deliverance, miracles—impacting both locally and around the globe.After receiving Christ as his savior in college Michael heard and responded to the call of God on his life.


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Morphism is a mathematical software consultancy specializing in applying research mathematics to industrial software.
I am Eitan Chatav, and I deliver correct, maintainable software projects and research results that will have impact.
Eitan's experience in real world Haskell and his knowledge of functional programming patterns have greatly improved the design and implementation of my service. It is a pleasure to be able to share my great experience using Eitan's services, and to recommend him as a fast, skillful, and thorough developer.
– Azad Bolour, Principal at Bolour Computing
Where my skills come in handy:
Whether it's number theory, elliptic curves, quantum information theory or statistical privacy, math keeps creating new applications in cryptography.
My passion for cryptocurrency goes back to reading Satoshi Nakamoto's white paper. It felt like enlightenment.
Category theory applies to relational algebra which makes the database a natural construct in strongly typed functional programming.
Eitan's recommendations are based on careful and elegant mathematical thinking. His solutions were logical and effective solutions to our problems at hand.
-David James, Data Scientist


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A year ago we were saying our last goodbyes and stepping onto a plane into the unknown. Since that day we have experienced, endured, loved, been loved and expanded our understanding of God, some of His people, and parts of His world.
This past year:
· *We spent a few days of restful vacation in Fiji after the whirlwind of leaving America and before we started the adventure that has been our life in Papua New Guinea thus far.
· *Landed in Papua New Guinea, the land of the unexpected, and began to unpack and settle into our roles.
· We were asked to delay our POC (Pacific Orientation Course) training from August when we expected to participate, to the next course in January because of the Auto Shop's great need for Evan.
· *Evan went on two vehicle rescues, spent a week of late nights repairing a bridge, flew out to the Western Provence to repair an airstrip lawn mower and repaired many items that only he had the skill to repair (as the only welder in the shop) in the first month. In short our family experienced first-hand how vital our role is here.
· *Experienced giardiasis for the first time (Liz)
· *We had to readjust expectations for what could be reasonably accomplished in a day when we are reliant on solar clothes drying, solar water heating, and we must bleach all produce, make many of our foods from scratch (including bread and yogurt)
· * We had the fact reiterated that drinkable water is precious (especially when your only source is a tank collecting rainwater off the roof).
· *We had to readjust our planning strategies as we learned that stores (even in town – which we have to hitch a ride to as we have no car of our own) are closed on weekends and holidays (including the Queen's Birthday and 14 days at Christmastime(our store only for the latter of these))
· *Learned to cook things we still only know as Kumu (greens) and other things we still don't the name of.
· *We made friends with people from all over the world
· * Evan participated in a weekly Bible Study in one of the neighboring villages
· *Liz began work at the Secondary school library
· *We moved again as we purchased a house that now Liam (and the rest of us too) refers to as his home.
· *We had our first Thanksgiving away from our family with friends who have become our second family
· *We had our first Christmas via Skype
· * We learned a second language – Melanesian pidgin (tok pisin) (still a work in progress)
· *Spent 14 weeks at POC (5 of which we spent in a village) learning to expand our understandings and our limits.
· * Evan returned as a son after 9 years to his host family in Bagame village where Liz and the boys were welcomed as family as well.
· *We've flown in small aircraft and ridden in PMV's (Public Motor Vehicles) that sometimes are just the back of a pickup truck
· *Swam 1 mile (Evan) and ½ mile (Liz) in the ocean
· *Danced with a cockatoo
· *Walked a piglet (Liam and Julien)
· *Washed clothes and dishes in a river
· *Liz carried firewood on her head
· *Liz danced at a sing-sing (traditional celebration)
· *Julien experienced malaria, ear infections, giardiasis, severe eye allergies, and pneumonia and nearly being medivaced all while at our training in Madang.
· *Liz contracted Dengue fever
· *Liam became potty-trained in the village
· *We returned back to Ukarumpa and back to our home where the boys continue to thrive
· *We have enjoyed eating different foods (crocodile, fish eyeballs (well, not all of us enjoyed that one), squid, rambutans, cocoa beans straight from the tree, and cooking bananas to name a few)
· *And so many other things that we can't list them all…it's been quite the ride and we are still going!
Things we are looking forward to this year:
* Liam starting preschool
*Liz possibly beginning some part-time work with the literacy department
*Evan training a new welding intern
*Welcoming two new members to the autoshop team (including another welder named Evan!)
*Liz's parents hopefully coming for a visit next May


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If you're Canadian, and you want to join Kobo, you can use my affiliate link and get $5 off while getting me a $10 credit on my account. Publishing partner Ulysses has made my hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing guides digitally available there too!
Nine of us have compiled family stories about our ancestors into a new book called Beads in a Necklace.
It's also on sale for $20 in Montreal at:
Listen to my interview with Mutsumi Takahashi from the CTV radio news team.


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Online Casino Reviews
Let me take the guess work out of finding the best online casinos . Our online casino reviews give you all the most important information on all the casinos listed here. We tell you about what deposit options each casino offers, their games, how to contact them, what the payouts are on most of the casino and what special promotions are in store for you at each of the casinos. Microgaming, Playtech, RTG, Cryptologic and Odds On ,you'll find them all right here and more. Gambling online with confidence is my goal for you, it should be yours.
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Online Casino Gambling
Our step by step guide to online casino gambling. Once you have decided where to play, you need to set up your account. Setting up an account is easy, just follow the prompts in the casino, fill in the necessary information and you will be issued a player account name and a password. Most of the time you pick the password. In a free casino game, you don't need to give a lot of personal information. When you select to gamble for money then you will be required to fill in more about yourself such as name, address, phone number etc. You will also be directed to the cashier to select how you wish to make your deposit. The information you enter here is very secure. There are many ways to deposit money into your player account. Credit card, Neteller, FirePay, Prepaid ATM, Click2Pay, and 900 Pay are a few ways. After you have made your deposit, you are ready to play. Click to go back to the games and start playing. Many casinos offer games starting at a nickel and going up to $5 or more a hand. Bet what you feel comfortable with. Online gambling will give you many hours of pleasure and excitement.
The BEST casinos using Microgaming. You'll also find the Viper software at some of these casinos. Gambling has never been more exciting than it is right now, so get in on the action and select from these great Casinos.
Microgaming Casinos are among the best loved casinos online. The most outstanding software graphics and an array of casino games that will have you coming back for more time again. Progressive Jackpots, Slots, Table Games and Video Poker are just a sampling at what you'll find at these great casinos.
Microgaming started out in 1994 and ever since then their mission has be to develop software and management systems to allow players to join in the implementation of fair play and the promotion of responsible gaming online. They the first software company to develop an operational online casino system. Since 1994 they have been the industry leader and have set new standards in the innovation of this business. By releasing brand new state of the art tools and high quality games, they have been able to raise the online casino industry to a new level of professionalism. Microgaming software makes completely functional online casino software that is used to run all of its games, the portfolio contains more than 100 different and very stimulating games to choose from. All of the casinos are run separately after the company franchised the software out the them. All of the casinos that have the software are very trustworthy and helpful. Microgaming recently paid out the winnings to players of a casino, that used to use their software, because the casino closed down and refused to pay. So as you can see this is a very fair company that is very concerned with the happiness of their customers. In addition to being the most fair software company they also strive to provide quality and user friendly software for easy download and play. There are about 75 separate casinos that use this software, since they are all run individually the quality varies from casino to casino but in all microgaming casinos there is a standard level that must be kept to continue using this software. So you can rest assured that any casino you choose that employs this software will be a good casino to play your money
at. The casinos that offer this software have a wide variety of games, but, not all casinos offer the same games. Standard casinos offering this software offer between 18 and 25 different games.


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Regions that plan ahead for catastrophe are more prepared and better able to recover after a disaster strikes. Such disasters can be natural or manmade, but the Sacramento region cannot ignore that it is prone to varying types of weather-related threats that – if severe enough – could collapse the regional economy.
Resiliency planning can be a major economic benefit to help the business community prepare for potential disasters and help preserve the economy after a disaster strikes. Increasing incidents of weather-related disasters – including severe storms, flooding, wildfire, extreme heat and drought – present an economic risk to businesses in the Capital Region and have already cost local economies billions of dollars.
What is the goal?
The goal is to increase awareness of and preparedness for business continuity risks faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in California's Capital Region so that our business community is prepared to withstand the economic consequences that could result from an unexpected disruption in operations.
Why is this important?
This work is important because small and medium enterprises are critical to the economic vitality of the Capital Region. There are approximately 60,000 businesses operating in the four-county Sacramento Metropolitan Statistical Area (includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties). Roughly 96 percent of these businesses have fewer than 50 employees, and they account for nearly 50 percent of the private sector jobs within the metro area.
Small businesses are especially vulnerable to disruptions for a number of reasons: they lack the capital and resources of larger organizations to quickly recover economically; the majority operate from a single physical location; and the majority have done little or no advance preparedness work. This makes small business more vulnerable to loss compared to larger companies that have backup resources at alternate facilities or branch locations. The median cost of downtime from a small business affected by an extreme weather event is $3,000 per day. Becoming fully operational can take up to 11.5 days on average.
According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, an estimated 25 percent of small to mid-sized businesses do not reopen following a major disaster. The majority of small businesses have not closely analyzed the potential economic losses from extreme weather events or other climate-related risks, according to a report by the American Sustainable Business Council. Moreover, 57 percent of small businesses have no disaster recovery plan.
Helping these businesses be better prepare to manage potential business threats will help preserve significant jobs at stake and protect the health and strength of the region's economy. In addition, increasing capacity for business continuity planning will aid the small business sector in recovering from disruption in the aftermath, whether it's a major or minor event.
What is Valley Vision doing about it?
Valley Vision launched the Business Resiliency Initiative (BRI), a bold and innovative regional collaborative, to help reduce risks and economic impacts of potential disasters. Through the BRI, Valley Vision and its partners are galvanizing wide-ranging leadership support from cross-sector stakeholders, to help build small business capacity before a time of crisis and create a community that's prepared to weather any storm.
The initiative provides a toolkit of interventions – available at resilientbusiness.org – to help SMEs manage risks and enhance business resiliency. A strategic outreach campaign has engaged leaders from the business, government and community sectors to enhance preparedness for economic resilience in light of weather-related disaster threats.
What is our desired impact?
To minimize the impacts of an economic crisis potentially caused by unforeseen disaster, and to put California's Capital Region at the forefront of other regions across the country looking to learn from and replicate an effective regional BRI framework.
How does this effort affect triple-bottom-line objectives?
Economy: Small business resiliency is fundamentally about economic resiliency, strength, and diversity. In the aggregate, small businesses contribute significant strength and vitality to our region's economy, employ tens of thousands, and deliver important services to residents and other businesses. Improving the ability of small businesses to withstand and respond quickly to disasters will improve our economy's stability and strength.
Environment: The natural disasters to which our region is vulnerable are likely to become more extreme and unpredictable as climate change advances. Connecting economic resiliency to climate change impacts is fundamentally about adaptation, an emerging area of focus within the fields of climate science. Through the BRI, Valley Vision is a member of the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, and in addition the BRI complements other Valley Vision environmental initiatives including its ongoing work with the Cleaner Air Partnership (CAP).
Equity: Small businesses across our region are under-prepared for disaster, and those in disadvantaged parts of the region are just as much a focus of BRI as those that are not. Valley Vision is working with business membership organizations across the region, including PBIDs and Chambers of Commerce, to reach out to, educate, and motivate their small business members to take action on their own behalf.
This project launched in October 2014. Following the creation and launch of the resiliency toolkit at resilientbusiness.org, the project conducted outreach and education directed to small businesses, in partnership with many business membership associations across the region.
- Established project team and Valley Vision Board Champion
- Secured seed-funding to advance project plan
- Conducted outreach to regional stakeholders
- Published King Fire Learning Paper
- Produced webinars for channel partners and business audience
- Established Technical Advisory Team
- Developed toolkit of information and resources
- Designed robust outreach and education program for small business community


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When it is your first love, you tend to depend a lot from story books you've read or movies you grew up watching,
but neither comes to life when it happens.
He doesn't make you nervous when he touches you,
instead you'll go weak on your knees.
He doesn't tell you "i love u" every night before bed,
but he'll tell you "i love u" when you hate yourself.
He doesn't love your flaws,
instead he accepts it.
He doesn't kiss you under the moonlight,
but he'll kiss you in the car when it's pouring rain outside.
He doesn't sing to every word of your favourite song,
instead he'll just hold your hands while you hum to it.
When it is your first love, nobody told you it was going to be easy,
and it isn't.
Nobody told you that you'll give it a million chance even if you knew it was bound to be over.
Nobody told you that you'll stop loving him one day,
because you'll only love him more each day,
and if you're lucky, when you do,
he'll love you too.
"I read a novel at the age of 13 and was inspired to start writing. Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, I want to make this dream of being a writer come true so that one day I can inspire others to write. Write your feelings out. Write until it doesn't hurt anymore." – Preetijit Chaal
Have poems to share with us? Send em over to firstname.lastname@example.com and do include a short description of yourself and a pretty or handsome image of you!


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Rev Up Your Online Business with the Help of an Australian WordPress Developer
You would only become successful in keeping your online business competitive if you optimize affordable and effective tools and technologies such as WordPress. However, lack of knowledge may put your business at risk. Thus, it is a good idea to seek the expertise of a professional such as...Continue reading »


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cPanel is essentially a simplified interface for hosting a website. Clients and end users are often given or buy cPanel so they don't have to continually engage the services of an IT and web expert to keep their website running. The developing team for the website can essentially set you up with a better user interface that lets you control most of the functions and capabilities of your website without needing to open the command console.
Along with your cPanel license, you also get built-in anti-virus through ClamAV. While you may think that this is a great value, some users find that their website still experiences attacks and is vulnerable to threats even with ClamAV.
Craxyboutlinux posted on the cPanel forums:
Please don't suggest me ClamAV its really poor, recently our client's website got Hacked by the hackers & i scanned that website to check how many pages are infected, but ClamAV says website is OK
Still, ClamAV does handle some threats, if not all. To make sure that you have ClamAV installed to offer some initial virus protection, here are the steps:
ClamAV Scanner configuration
To configure ClamAV Scanner:
Here's how to configure ClamAV scanner for configured users:
If you wish to override the ClamAV Scanner configuration for specific users, click User Configuration. The User Configuration interface also allows you to set override defaults for all configured users.
Add or remove configured users
Before you can configure a user's ClamAV Scanner settings, that user must appear on the Configured Users menu.
To add a user to the Configured Users menu:
To remove a user from the Configured Users menu:
ClamAV and Malware
Keep in mind that just like any other anti-virus protection software, ClamAV has its limitations. Sometimes, other software can be added to cover all your bases. When it comes to malware, here's what the experts have to say:
Malware uploads happen to the server through two main vulnerabilities:
1. Account password disclosure
2. Vulnerable applications in websites
Malware uploads through account password disclosure can be prevented using CXS (augmented by ClamAV unofficial signatures + LMD signatures).
Malware uploads through vulnerable applications can be prevented using mod_security (with signatures from ASL Lite).


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#6 low-carb fear: Nutrient deficiencies
The answer? Probably the opposite. The foods consumed on a low-carb diet are highly nutritious.1 For example, eggs (a staple for most people on low carb) may provide the most complete nutrition of any food on the planet.
Consider that a complete chicken can be formed from the nutrients inside the egg. There's no way for the chicken to pop out and get some vitamins while growing in the egg, everything has to be there. And by eating an egg we get all those nutrients.
Meat, fish and vegetables are also highly nutritious foods. And many people eating low carb tend to replace nutrient-poor pasta, rice and potatoes with more nutrient-rich vegetables.
Compared to that, modern flour is more or less devoid of any nutrition whatsoever apart from pure starch. Usually it's legally required to add vitamins to flour, so that people who eat a lot of it do not get vitamin deficiencies.
On top of that problem, grains like wheat are high in phytic acid that can reduce absorption of many minerals.
Fruit is often thought to be very nutritious. This is a sad misunderstanding. Apart from vitamin C there are very few nutrients in most modern fruit. These days, they are modified to be very sweet and mostly supply nutrients in the form of sugar. Fruit is basically candy from nature, and should probably be eaten in moderation. Juice is of course even worse.
Modern fast food and junk food also contain a lot of calories and not much nutrition. And low-fat products are low in essential fat-soluble vitamins.
Bottom line: Switching from a standard Western diet to a low-carb diet based on real foods is likely to significantly increase the amount of vitamins and minerals you get from your diet.
Top 14 Low-Carb Fears (And Whether You Should Be Worried)
Natural fats, meat, poultry, sea food, eggs, vegetables and berries.


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Legal information and terms & conditions
Contact details:
Zopf/Edlinger family
Weissenbach 162
A-5350 Strobl am Wolfgangsee
Tel.: +43-6137-54-31
Fax: +43-6137-54-31-5
E-mail: email@example.com
You can pay your bill in cash, using a debit card, Visa or Mastercard.
Our package deals may be settled either in cash or using a debit card; no credit cards. Alternatively you may also make a fee-free bank transfer to our account.
You can pay part of the bill before you arrive, or pay the agreed deposit – if required – into our account:
Sparkasse Bad Ischl AG – Strobl branch
BIC: SKBIAT 21xxx
Upon receipt of the amount you will automatically receive a booking confirmation from us. Includes all taxes and duties.
Dogs can stay on request; fee payable.
- Up to 3 weeks before your booked date there is no charge.
- 2 weeks in advance, 50% of the total amount is charged
- From 1 week to 0 days before, 100% of the total amount is charged
To avoid having to pay cancellation costs we recommend that you take out European hotel cancellation insurance.
European travel insurance - Trust us with your Austrian holiday. Just calculate our premium and book.
Company accounts registrar: Salzburg regional court
Arrival from 2:00 p.m.; Departure by 11:00 a.m.
Your package deal starts from 2:00 p.m. with the option to use the swimming area and move in to your room /suite. Upon your departure by 11:00 a.m. our services are no longer available. Should you want to use our swimming pool area after this we offer a special rate of Euro 7.50 for 3.5 hours.
Should you be arriving after 6:00 p.m. we would ask you to please let us know. Please note that in the event of later arrival or early departure, the full package deal amount will still be charged.
Website implementation
|Siezenheimer Straße 39b
5020 Salzburg
- Web design
- Web concept
- Technical implementation
- Generation and input of content
Image credits
Photos: Hotel Bergrose, www.31plus.at, SalzburgerLand Tourismus, Golfclub Salzburg, www.wolfgangsee.at, www.salzkammergut.at, Österreich Werbung (Author: Hofer, Keil, J.Nottebrock C.Sattler, Burgstaller, Bartl, Weinhaeupl).


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Ray Romano Net Worth
Ray Romano Net Worth: Ray Romano is an American stand-up comedian turned actor and writer who has a net worth of $130 million. Ray Romano was born and raised in Queens, New York. Romano began pursuing a career in comedy during the late 1980s and early 1990s, competing in the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search, appearing on Star Search and eventually landing a spot on The Late Show with David Letterman and a recurring voice role on the Comedy Central show Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. Romano's big break came with the hit CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, with Romano in the titular role. Everybody Loves Raymond ran for nine seasons, 210 episodes in total and earned much critical praise along with commercial success. The show received numerous award nominations, with Romano himself earning three Screen Actor's Guild Awards, four People's Choice Awards, and an Emmy Award, among others. Additionally, Romano served as a producer and writer for the showing, co-writing fifteen episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond. Romano also guest starred on several television shows including The Nanny, The King of Queens, The Simpsons, and Hannah Montana. Romano leant his voice to the 2002 computer animated film Ice Age, which grossed $383 million worldwide and followed up with two sequels, Ice Age: The Meltdown (grossed $651.8 million worldwide) and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (grossed $884 million worldwide, one of the highest-grossing animated films in history). Romano was also part of the cast of the underrated TNT comedic drama television show, Men of a Certain Age. In 2017, Romano came roaring back with two high profile projects – the romantic comedy The Big Sick, produced by Judd Apatow and directed by Michael Showalter, and which garnered some welcome good notices for Romano's performance, and Get Shorty, a television series based on the Elmore Leonard crime novel of the same name.
Ray Romano
|Net Worth:
|$130 Million
|Date of Birth:
|Dec 21, 1957 (62 years old)
|6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|Comedian, Actor, Television producer, Screenwriter, Voice Actor, Stand-up comedian
|United States of America
Ray Romano Earnings
- Everybody Loves Raymond$19,000,000/year


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From business cards to Sunday ads and even church bulletins, QR codes are popping up everywhere. So, it's likely you've used an online QR code generator, or at least scanned one in the last few months. (Get up to speed on QR codes by reading our short post.) Today, however, we'd like to explore a few lesser-known facts and statistics about QR codes.
- QR codes don't have to be black and white – As long as the contrast between light and dark areas is great enough for readers to detect, you can create branded QR codes to help promote your business.
- Scanning grew 1200% during the last quarter of 2010.
- The largest QR code on record was created by Audi, which measures a whopping 159 square meters (that's 1711 square feet, for the non-metrically inclined).
- The iPhone is the most popular scanning device for QR codes.
- They were first introduced in 1994 – The Japanese firm, Denso Wave Inc., first created them for the sole purpose of tracking vehicle parts.
- Two-thirds of all QR codes are scanned by women.
- Print media accounts for only 1% of all scanned QR codes.
- "Extreme Scanning" is when users excessively scan QR codes hundreds of times more than the average user – Contests appear to be the driving force behind this phenomenon.
- Over one-fourth of all scanned QR codes were scanned by 35-44 year old consumers.
- Excluding Japan, the United States has the highest QR code usage rate than any other country.
Related Article: Barcode: The Ultimate Guide to Barcodes
We'll continue to see different applications and unique uses for QR Codes, just like this one here. What's the coolest QR code placement you've seen?
Sources: mobioid.com | jumpscan.com
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]10 Cool Facts About QR Codes,


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DAY 15 (Tuesday)
Ah, the perils of using child photographers! Haha!
Pink linen Archer Shirt | RTW jeans | RTW Coatigan
Oh, I should also point out that I also carry my handmade 241 Tote every day too, bonus points for a handmade bag!
DAY 16 (Wednesday)
Cropped linen Willow Tank | Estelle Ponte Jacket | RTW jeans
DAY 17 (Thursday)
I'm not really sure what my child photographer did to the colours today, but it was a weird photo! Ha!
Cotton clip dot View Ridge Top | stretch twill Persephone Pants | Blackwood Cardigan
DAY 18 (Friday)
Alice Top | Blackwood Cardigan | Secondhand jeans*
*Jeans are something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I have a hard time fitting them into my dream of a handmade wardrobe, if I'm totally honest. I LOVE the act of sewing jeans, but I find it difficult to source denim that looks and feels the way I would like it to. In addition, I'm fortunate to be someone who doesn't struggle to find RTW jeans that fit nicely. So it seems foolish to spend time constructing a pair of jeans made out of denim that isn't as stretchy/soft/high quality as I would like, when I can just go out and buy a pair of RTW jeans that are made out of denim that is a pleasure to wear, and fit me right off the bat.
The problem is that I'm less interested in participating in the cycle of new garment production than I've ever been, hence part of the reason why I enjoy making my own clothes in the first place! Such a conundrum caused by the humble jeans! I do have several pairs of jeans that fit me nicely, but I also have some gaps in my jeans wardrobe that have been niggling me for a little while now. (I wear jeans almost exclusively during the winter months – and, let's face it this is Melbourne, so during some of the warmer months too – so I try not to feel too bad about having several pairs in different cuts/colours/styles/etc …!)
All this to say that recently I've experimented with buying secondhand jeans from thrift stores (Am I the last person in the world to get into thrifting?!). And do you know what? I'm sold! It's amazing what's out there in the secondhand market once you start looking! This week I've filled a handful of gaps in my closet with thrifted jeans, simultaneously saving unwanted existing garments from landfill, and saving myself a huge chunk of change! Maybe I'll do a full post on my recent thrift store finds sometime …
Okay, back to regularly schedued MMM18 programming!
DAY 19 (Saturday)
Today's MMMay picture is brought to you from in front of our partially constructed house!
In the Folds Peplum Top ( from Peppermint Magazine) | Blackwood Cardigan | Secondhand black jeans
DAY 20 (Sunday)
Me Made May brunch in South Yarra edition!
Ethel Designer Top | Blackwood Cardigan | Thrifted jeans
DAY 21 (Monday)
Kalle Shirt in cotton lawn | Secondhand black RTW jeans | RTW Coatigan
So there's the third week of MMMay done! I have to admit that although I love wearing my me made clothes, the weather has cooled quite a bit since the beginning of May, and I'm still building the cool weather side of my handmade wardrobe. My options for staying warm are pretty limited! There are definitely some gaps to fill!


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We the people like to party.
Cheers to 240 years!
The Fourth of July is easily one of my favorite holidays. Surrounded by fireworks, barbecues, and family wearing nothing but swimsuits and sunscreen. This is the heart of summer right here.
I like to think that back in the 1700s the Founding Fathers celebrated with a drink or two on the 4th. They declared our independence for crying out loud, those men deserve a hamburger and a beer.
One of these weekends I would love to celebrate on the back end of a boat with the sun in my hair and a drink in my hand, but for these small towns in Wisconsin are doing alright for me. I especially love coming up north for the holiday because the weather allows for some decent firework shows. There is just something about lighting fireworks off the top of a hotel that doesn't quite say "Freedom" to me, but seeing them lit straight off the ground in front of me with a little bit of ash falling on my clothes, that says America.
So what do I need in order to make this weekend a success?
The perfect outfit
It is time to break out that USA shirt I only wear once a year. I wear it for the 4th, wash it, and hang it up in my closet to be revisited 365 days later. Unless I do some sort of 'Merica political Halloween costume again. You never know; it is an election year.
I'm kicking myself because I left my cutoffs at home but these light blue denim shorts from H&M are way more comfortable.
I didn't forget my converse! I never know when an impromptu football game will take place and I don't want to be the chump wearing sandals.
Maybe John Adams didn't wear a crop top but I'm sure he would be a fan of our efforts.
An appetite
Calories don't count on holidays. Potato salad, summer salad, baked beans, jello, hamburgers, and hotdogs consume every square inch of the counter. I typically walk out with two plates, judge me. My family is very Pinterest savvy so I will bet my bottom dollar that everyone is going to come with a patriotic dish of some sort. My teeth will be red, white, and blue for a week.
Swimsuits and caps
I never noticed how well these pieces go together. Plus, I don't want any more red on my face than I already have.
Extra long sparklers
Fire is not something I play with too often and I think that would upset Sir Benjamin Franklin. I'm totally fine standing on the sidelines while everyone else takes turns lighting off little firecrackers. I'll be in the background spelling my name out with a sparkler and probably attempting to take a cute picture.
Classic Cocktail Recipes
Summer refreshers, mojitos, and margaritas are all fine and dandy but cracking out some fun, festive cocktails seems a little more appropriate. I like to think I'm making the Founding Fathers proud by indulging in alcoholic beverages. George Washington spent 7% of his income on whiskey. Clearly, I keep tradition and party like its 1776.
What can I say? Red, White, and Booze is America's past time. Be safe this holiday and don't forget to go back for seconds. Seriously, it is not a holiday unless you're stuffed.


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Travel Theme: Oceans
"Not all those who wander are lost."
"Not all those who wander are lost."
Pingback: Travel Challenge: Ocean « craftcrazygran
Pingback: 10 Reasons Why It's More Fun in the Philippines « Project Magellan
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Thanks for visiting my travel blog. Glad to see we share a love of the beautiful Philippines! Make sure to stop by whenever you like and drop me a comment 🙂


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GBP/USD (currently at: 1.5745) continued uptrend run to break 1.5699 and it fell after touching 1.5766. This is what I expected in this post.
The BOE is still watching the economic data of UK with no serious action. However, the recent data was strong enough to push everyone to buy sterling pound, this is what I call the election sales. On the other hand, the dollar is still suffering from uncertainty and mixed expectations about the timing of the first rate hike. In addition, moderate to weak economic data releases had effect too on the US dollar. Sterling pound is strong enough to stay for a while within this range and the way to 1.5805 (the next major resistance) should be very easy.
My technical overview adds another space for the current uptrend rally again and I can see that there is higher chances that this uptrend will last for a while till we break 1.5805 first and then, we will see whether this trend will continue or not. This move will be struggling battles between bears and bulls during the next few days or weeks and the sideline moves will be noticed once we move above 1.5805. Buy GBP/USD and watch this resistance level: 1.5805 as a checkpoint for this rally. Our close support levels are: 1.5000 and 1.5565
The GBP/USD has the following major resistance and support levels:
Breaking these levels in any direction will take us higher or lower.
My Daily BUY/SELL advice (30 pips stop-loss applied):
- Sell: at 1.5805 – Take profit 1.5705 (100 pips profits)
- Sell: at 1.5990 – Take profit 1.5890 (100 pips profits)
- Buy: at 1.5650 – Take profit 1.5750 (100 pips profits)
- Buy: at 1.5550 – Take profit 1.5750 (200 pips profits)
- Buy: at 1.5565 – Take profit 1.5665 (100 pips profits)
This review is valid during trading week: 13th to 15th of May, 2015


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We've been making both customers and their lawns happy since 2003!
Hear what some of Terra's satisfied customers have to say:
Tony, West Chester PA
"Great, Personal Attention" "We love the great personal attention given to our lawn by Scott. Our lawn has never looked better. Scott is aware of our pets and always call in advance to let us know he will be doing a treatment that day. Thanks, Scott!"
Josephine, Blue Bell PA
"Wonderful Care, Every Season" "I own my home, and as a single senior citizen, it is very difficult to maintain my property. Terra always takes wonderful care of my property every season, whether it's snow removal, lawn cutting or fertilizations."
Debbie and Ken, Worcester PA
"Sheer Perfection" "After living in our home for 14 years and not being completely satisfied with other lawn care programs, we decided to switch to Terra Lawn Care Company. This is our first year using their turf care program, and our lawn is sheer perfection.
Mrs. T, East Norriton PA
"Polite & Respectful" "This is the first year I have ever had to use a lawn care service. Aside from the good job Terra always does, the crews are always polite and respectful."


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Promising the presidential suite for the price of a budget motel room, a hotel auction site called Off & Away recently began operating online.
Two nights in the Tata Suite at the Pierre in New York — list price: $40,000 — was the first to go up for auction at the Web site, which deals the best room in the house at each participating hotel. The room ultimately went for $938.25.
Unlike most auction sites, which list a base price, Off & Away starts a sale at zero with minimum bids of $.25, and continues for 24 to 48 hours, closing on the highest bid when time expires. To keep the noncommitted from running up the price artificially, the site requires bidders to buy "bid packs," essentially chits sold in $10, $20, $50 and $100 increments and used to raise the auction price.
According to its chief executive officer Doug Aley, the financial commitment ensures only those serious about their hotel stay will bid for $20,000 suites normally patronized by the rich and famous. This way, high-end hotels generate revenue on rooms that would otherwise be visited only by housekeeping.
"We'd like to democratize the process a little and get other people to experience these amazing suites," he said.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: June 20, 2010
A report in the In Transit column last Sunday about the hotel auction site Off & Away, offandaway.com, misstated the amount of "bid packs," essentially chits, that bidders can buy in order to bid for a hotel room. Participants can buy $1 bids in packs of 10, 20, 50 and 100; it is not the case that they can buy only packs of 100 for $100. The report also misstated the surname of the company's chief executive officer. He is Doug Aley, not Anley.


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Bria's A Daddy's Girl.
Name: Bria Whitaker.
Age: 20.
Occupation: "I work at Michael Kors."
Found: Deep Ellum.
How would you describe your style? "Luxurious chic."
What are you wearing? "My necklace and bangles are form Charlotte Russe. My pointed shoes are from GoJane. I got this skirt in Hong Kong when I studied abroad. My crop top is from Charlotte Russe as well."
What inspires your sense of fashion? "My father. He was really big in fashion even though he was a firefighter. He was big on GQ and men's fashion, very sophisticated."


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• Fujimori's Fusillade: Correspondent Lucien Chauvin says that the opening of the trial of former President Alberto Fujimori was "three hours of boredom and two minutes of excitement" (see story).
The routine presentation of the witness list was shattered by an unexpected outburst by Mr. Fujimori, who asked for a second of the court's time and launched into a loud defense of his government and proclaimed his innocence.
Lucien, who was standing with about 25 reporters in the Lima courtroom, says Fujimori's supporters nodded as he spoke, while family members of victims shook their heads in disbelief.
Finally, the judge told Fujimori, "I'm in charge here; you have to stop speaking." After about 30 seconds, he stopped, says Lucien, and the judge adjourned the hearing.
Lucien says it reminded him of a similar outburst he witnessed in 2004 during the trial of the leader of the Shining Path, a Maoist guerrilla group. Abimael Guzman turned to the cameras and brought the proceeding to a halt by shouting, "Long live the Communist Party of Peru! "
The judge declared a mistrial.
• Treasure Hunt: Reporter Lisa Abend has been following the battle over ownership of ancient Spanish coins since earlier this year (see story). In October, she was in the port city of Algeciras, Spain, when authorities forced one of Odyssey's ships to shore. "Odyssey execs knew it would happen and invited the international press on board. I was waiting on the dock. The police confiscated all photos. They weren't looking for silver coins but the location of the salvage site," she says. Spain sees Odyssey as greedy capitalists stealing cultural treasures." Of course, the gold and silver was once taken from Latin America. She says there's no indication yet if one of those countries might also sue for ownership.
– David Clark Scott
World editor


text: scoloco2 Report post Posted October 29, 2015 I have some Chauvet Intimidator Spot LED 350 and also some Chauvet Intimidator Beam LED 350 movers and am having a bit of problems. Once they are patched in, I can only change colour and gobo using the encoder wheels and not the touch screen. There is no button available to "automatically generate palette" and for the gobos it is the same. Would this be a profile issue or some FLX setting I don't know about? Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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text: How can a building make you smile?Reimagining and redeveloping The Courts Imagine a place where a young person's background, race, beliefs, gender, physical ability and economic status had nothing to do with how good they could be, what they could achieve. A space where they could fully explore their creative potential, receive support and mentoring, and find meaningful work. That place is the Old Bristol Magistrates Courts (The Courts). An enterprise centre to help young people set up their own creative businesses and develop their opportunities. A place where there are no barriers to their future, where the only things that count are their abilities and talents. Thanks to the The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Bristol City Council we are developing detailed business and architectural plans to reimagine and redevelop this historic city landmark as a place that will complement Bristol's renowned and growing creative industries sector. To get involved and keep up to date with our progress, sign up to our newsletter. The Problem with Creativity The Creative Surplus UK creative industries are a true success story. They are growing at twice the rate of the UK economy, while employment in the sector grows at four times the rate of the national workforce. Creative industries form a key sector of UK industry, generating around £92 billion per annum and contributing more than 5% of the UK economy (DCMS, 2017). Taken as a whole, the creative industries employ about 15,900 people in the Bristol and Bath area. The region's creatives are estimated to be 50% more productive than the UK average and productivity in creative businesses across Bristol and Bath has increased by 106% since 1999. The Creative Deficit All those positive statistics mask stark reminders about how inequality and other disadvantages are stopping many very able young people from entering the creative industries. White people hold 88% of the jobs and only 11% are occupied by BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) people. Men dominate the sector holding 63% of the jobs. In the gaming industry, a creative field in which the UK excels, 86% of jobs are held by men, 96% by white people. It is also significantly difficult if a young person comes from state education. Since 2010, there has been a 28% drop in the number of students taking creative GCSEs, with a corresponding drop in the number of specialist arts teachers. Our Solution The Courts will throw open the doors to creativity through an open, enabling and supportive environment for those talented but disadvantaged or marginalised young people seeking to enter the creative industries. Floor by floor plan Basement It is envisaged the basement level (the old cell block) will contain incubator space and enterprise workshops for young people. Our plan is to let this space on a short-term and quick-release basis for people looking to develop a business, or starting out as a young professional. Ground floor The ground floor currently has four courtrooms, one of which will be restored to its original condition and offered as a film, television and performance location. The remaining rooms will be developed into lettable spaces for multipurpose use. These will include space for Creative Youth Network services, for creative industries, youth participation work, performance, gallery exhibition and a bar/café.A public entry will ensure everyone, regardless of their physical ability, can use the same entrance. First, second & third floors The first, second and third floors will provide 1,115m² of high-quality office space let commercially and accommodating around 110 workers. These tenant organisations will share our organisational values and ethos for the building.A new lift will connect all four floors, again ensuring full access, while the old staircase will be retained as a heritage feature. We are also considering a green-roof across some of the open spaces covering the rooftop to complement the high-spec insulation, heating and cooling, and energy conservation measures planned to ensure The Courts has the lowest possible environmental impact. Youth Participation: What's the point? "Participation" and "Have your say" are often phrases that are used across youth services, but young people often wonder 'what is the point?' and what does 'participation' even mean? Participation means meaningfully ensuring services are relevant for young people today, by including them in service design and delivery. To an organisation, it could be simply consulting with young people about a small decision, completing surveys and even right up to volunteers, youth committee groups and young trustees, resulting in quality youth services that have young people at the heart. However, some could argue that the young people who engage in participation reap most of the benefits, which to name a few can include: Increased confidence and self esteem Sense of connectedness, and feeling of being valued, which can contribute to positive mental health Gaining skills for CV (including references for future employment) Meeting new people and making friends – reducing loneliness and isolation Access to training and support Learning about how youth services work and progressing into a career in youth work The South Gloucestershire Youth Partnership (SGYP), includes youth organisations across South Glos: Creative Youth Network, Southern Brooks, Diversity Trust, Krunch South West and Wickwar Youth Centre who have come together through a passion and determination for delivering quality youth services for young people in South Gloucestershire. Even though I like to think of myself as still being young and across the partnership we have over 30 years' experience of youth work, we need young people to help us ensure we are providing a quality youth service that is relevant for young people today. To make sure we do this in a meaningful way, we have created a new Youth Ambassador volunteer role, who I cannot wait to start working with. Interested in getting involved? I'd love to hear from you – 07747271919 / [email protected] – Facebook – Hannah Cyn Do you work in a youth organisation? How do you make sure that youth participation is meaningful? How can we help?


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subhanallah pemandangannya indah sekali.. where is this ?
Archive Honors Adventures
UDHP Dominican Republic Spring Break Trip 2015
SATURDAY, MARCH 28th, 2015
Madison Gutekunst, Class of 2017
Our adventure started at 9 PM on Friday. We all gathered at Carrie's apartment to wait for the shuttle to bring us to JFK. Jama arrived to bring us snacks for the plane and books to bring to the Batey. The ride to JFK was long but relaxing. When we got to the ticket counter, nobody was there, so we hung out and slept on the airport floor. At 3 AM, we checked into our flights and checked baggage (a backpack for me). We all got small breakfasts and boarded the flight. After three hours of sleeping like a rock, we landed in Santiago, Republica Dominicana!
We went through customs and met Dana Henderson, Yspaniola's Local program manager, along with Chelsea and Emma, two Princeton Fellows, outside the airport. We crammed into a van and drove to our hotel, Hotel Colonial. We dropped our luggage and hit the road. We walked a little ways to exchange money, 50 USD exchanged to 2200 pesos. Then we walked back to get lunch at the Chinese Restaurant (not Chinese- just Dominican food). I had pollo gizado (stewed chicken). After lunch, we went to the Carnival de Santiago exhibit and saw amazing masks and costumes from Carnival.
Then we saw the fortress with amazing artwork, guns and swords. We finally climbed to the top of the monument to see an aerial of Santiago. So beautiful!
The mountains in the distance were spectacular.
Then, we got yummy coconuts on the street. We drank the coconut water and ate some meat from the coconuts, too. We took much needed naps when we returned to our hotel. We woke around 6 PM and left for dinner, hiking up to the monument area to eat. We had delicious plantains, rice, chicken, French fries, yucca, arepas and red soda. Eating outside was so peaceful as well. We walked back and stopped at YogenFruz for ice cream. The first day was delicious, warm and exciting!
SATURDAY, MARCH 29th, 2015
Amanda Abrom, Class of 2016
The next morning we all woke up incredibly refreshed. We all had a nice breakfast of passion fruit juice, sweet coffee, toast with jam, ham, eggs, and plantains. Then we all tied our luggage to the top of the van and piled inside for the long journey to Dajabón.
We bumped up and down the highway, taking in the beautiful scenery and mountains that whizzed by. The time was passed by creating slow motion videos, playing music, telling crazy stories, and attempting to rap. After an amusing two hour drive, we finally arrived in Dajabón.
Dajabón was definitely smaller and less bustling than Santiago, and we really stood out. It was hard not to notice a group of 12 Americans loudly speaking English while walking down the street. For lunch, we went to a restaurant called Dona Pura's. We had been looking forward to this meal for weeks, as it was hyped up by our travel leader during our first meeting of the semester. For lunch, we had chicken, beans, rice, fresh fruit juice, salad, eggs and my personal favorite…fried cheese. Some of us were even brave enough to try the hot sauce…which didn't end too well.
Then Dana, Yspaniola's site leader, took all of us to see the old and new border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. First, we went to the old border, which was completely shut down. We had to ask the armed guard at the gate permission to pass under the archway and onto the bridge. A gated wall split the bridge in two.
Looking down from the bridge, we saw many people washing their clothes in the river below. Their blankets and clothes were laid out next to the river making the beach look like a checkered mosaic. There were pigs, goats and children running around in the water. Some of the poorly clothed children climbed up on the bridge and were shouting at us through the gate asking for money. Even though we were told that there was a real town beyond the horizon in Haiti, it was still sobering looking down at the border, and the dirty, small river with trash sprawled on the beach.
The new border was very similar to the old border, except that there were many people lined up on the Haitian side of the gate waiting to get in. Every person that entered had to answer to a few guards to pass through. Most of the people were bringing in their goods to set up for market day.
After taking in the border, we had free time in the afternoon. The whole group took this opportunity to explore Dajabón. We walked around the town and finally found ourselves at a small park with a basketball court and a gazebo. Some of the boys played basketball with the kids there, and we got a chance to talk to some of the children that lived in Dajabón.
Some of the children that we talked to had come over from Haiti and were now homeless. Others had injuries that really needed medical attention. They weren't in school and had no one to care for them, which was really sad to see. In a few days we would be returning to the US and they would still be in Dajabón living on the streets.
At night, we all went to dinner and then afterwards got ice cream at a shop on a corner. We stood outside of the quaint little ice cream store talking, dancing and thinking about what it would be like to go to the Batey tomorrow. We were all nervous with anticipation, but excited to see what the next few days would hold.
MONDAY, MARCH 30th, 2015
Sarah Rice and Jayesh Gupta, Class of 2017
I don't know about anyone else, but I could tell Monday was going to be a great day when we started off with a breakfast that included peanut butter. After we had our fill of bananas, peanut butter, bread, and delicious street vendor empanadas, we headed for the border between Haiti and Dajabón to watch it open for the market. The international market, which just opened a few years ago, allows both Haitians and Dominicans to sell their goods, and market days (Monday or Friday) are the only time when Haitians can cross the border freely with no issues. When we reached the border, we saw masses of people crowded behind it, either prepared with their intended goods for sale and carrying ridiculously heavy loads, or just anxious to get some shopping done. As soon as the border opened, they flowed in like a stampede; we stood there watching for at least ten minutes and the crowds just kept coming.
After that, we broke up into smaller groups and prepared to enter the craziness of the market. The boys were warned to physically hold their money in their pockets and the girls were warned to keep their purses close, as pick-pocketing is extremely common and easy to get away with because of the crowded nature of the market. Trying to navigate the market was definitely an experience; the rows between vendors were narrow and I'm pretty sure I almost got run over by a large wheelbarrow-looking type thing (that vendors used to transport their goods) at least ten times. Products sold at the market range from clothes and shoes to furniture to electronics to food. I ended up purchasing a pair of Toms for the equivalent of five dollars, which made the bargain-hunter in me super happy.
Unfortunately, I had to learn the lesson of pick-pocketers the hard way. I had been carrying the trip camera (for the blog—sorry Jama!!) in a small bag on my waist, and after checking on it for the fifth time, I realized that the zipper was open and the camera was gone. Upon seeing the empty bag, I was kind of in a state of shock—how could I not feel someone unzip a bag so close to my body?? Word for the wise: carry as little as possible if you ever plan to walk the international market.
After about 45 minutes of haggling and weaving through an insane obstacle course of people in the heat, the market became a little overwhelming, and my group decided to head back to the hotel. After a little bit of free time, when most of the group hung out with some of the local kids at a park down the street from the hotel, and a much needed nap, we headed for Dona Pura's for lunch once again! Pineapple juice, fried cheese, and rice & beans were exactly what I needed to re-energize myself for the afternoon trip to the Batey!
We left Dajabon in the afternoon and headed for Batey Libertad. As I sat in the car, I had no clue what to expect. In fact, I was feeling a little nervous. How do I act in front of the residents of the Batey? What if they say something and I cannot understand it? We were dropped off on a dirt road near a big empty field, which we later learned was called "The Play" as it was used to play sports. We were then introduced to some of the members that lived in the Batey and were involved with Yspaniola.
Small kids took notice of our arrival and instantly started gathering around us and wanting to play with us. They held our hands, asked our names, and never left our side as we took a tour of the Batey. At first, I felt slightly uncomfortable at how the kids always wanted to hold my hand.
Next, we were led to our houses and introduced to our host families. The parents only spoke Creole, but their kids spoke Spanish. Later that evening, the kids in the Batey played a soccer game on The Play and I tried playing as well, but they were just too good. After the soccer game, I headed back to my host home for dinner. It was very surprising to see the limited resources they had to make food. In fact, this entire day was a big culture shock as I saw how little the people had in the Batey compared to me in the United States.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31st, 2015
Erica Comber, Class of 2017
Today we woke up in our respective beds and rode in a truck to the banana plantation neighboring Batey Libertad.
We walked up to a building structure without walls whose roof covered two large wash bins. Dozens of hooks for hanging bunches of bananas dangled from the beams; their straight lines emphasized the linearity of the structure's columns.
The planation is very methodical. It uses an irrigation system of visible, above-ground pipes to supply water that supplements the rain as needed. A system of colored ribbons tracks the 10 weeks of fruit growth for each tree. The workers tie plastic bags filled with insecticides to the trees just before their stalks branch out. It takes forty years for a banana tree to grow each stalk. The placement of the pesticide in thisvicinity is designed to keep the chemicals away from the fruit.
The quality of bananas grown is divided into three categories. Premium bananas exceed eight centimeters in length and have no marks on them; they are sent to European markets. The second group, which is also sent abroad, consists of bananas that do not have marks, but are less than 8 centimeters. Bananas, which do not meet these European standards but are still good to eat, make up the third and final category. They are sold in local markets in the Dominican Republic.
After ascending a set of stairs to reach the top of the building, we took in a breathtaking view of the tops of the banana trees. Each stood tall amongst the curtain of fog that shifted with force of the wind, wind that sent raindrops forcefully downward to meet the ground at our feet. From above, it was clear just how much work each employee must put in to make this type of production possible.
The plantation has ten permanent employees but with temporary workers it averages that only twenty-five people work on this massive amount of land each day. Viviana, one of the Princeton Fellows that works for Yspaniola, noted that the children in the Batey do not grow up wanting to work in the banana plantations. My mind wandered to thinking about my host brother. He wants to be a doctor. I believe that in the U.S., his intelligence and resourcefulness would make it possible for his dream to become a reality. Here, I am not so sure. I am afraid that his dreams will be forced to linger just below the tops of the trees like the fog in front of me and then dry out in the sun. His capacity for greatness astounds me. I hope his hands never know this type of hard labor.
Walking along the paths into the green growth, we had the opportunity to taste the fruit of a cashew tree. The first bite instantly dried out the sides of my mouth and tongue. There is a reason why this fruit is not that popular in my opinion.
Next we headed to the rice factory where we saw machines that completed tasks such as removing grit, shelling the rice, burning the shells, and bleaching the rice to clean it. Machines harvest the crop in the fields and horses drag it back to be processed. Standing there, shifting a handful of grains in the palm of my hand, I felt small…like one of the specks of rice among the millions of grains. They are all packaged and stacked in towers that dwarf us all. The rain continually pounded the pavement outside, and the whiteness of the sky sent dreary light into the massive space of rice skyscrapers and glistening metal.
Later in the day, we spent time creating resources for the learning center. We worked on sticker charts, repairing books, and contact papering Spanish words for the center's "word wall" of commonly misspelled Spanish words.
At 4:30 pm, we met with the Executive Director of Yspaniola, Jon DiMaio, to learn about Yspaniola's mission to create a high quality educational program and its theories of change. A group of students at Yale who had taken trips to Bateys in the Dominican Republic originally founded Yspaniola as a university scholars program. They soon realized that a lack of funds for college is actually one of the last barriers to a high quality education for students here because many children get stuck behind earlier roadblocks. They identified the need for education resources to supplement the public education system for levels pre-K through high school. With teachers in short supply and a lack of qualifications and training for those who teach, the education system falls short. Some students are still being pushed through grade levels without ever mastering reading skills.
Another huge barrier is documentation for Dominicans of Haitian descent living in the Batey. They are denied basic human and civil rights because they do not have the records to prove their citizenship. Often, schools kick out young students who lack paperwork. Yspaniola tries to prevent local schools from denying education to individuals on this basis. Also, even if a student manages to make it through the high school level, they cannot attend a university without documentation and funds. They become trapped in a cycle of poverty, limited to non-contracted construction and agriculture work. The Dominican government conducted raids as well to deport Dominicans of Haitian descent without papers. Government officers often yield this power of deportation to make money from those who can pay to avoid deportation. Everything is based on the color of your skin here, no questions asked. Yspaniola hopes to develop its own legal team to document and challenge the denial of citizenship in the country first at the local, then national and international level.
Outreach to citizens of other countries is another aspect that the organization focuses on. They want North Americans to learn about the struggles people living in the Batey face and residents to learn about the world outside their communities.
My favorite part of Jon's talk was learning about the big picture of why Yspaniola exists. What started with tutoring hours and then became a learning center is now also helping to challenge threats to civil rights. The goal is to educate young students here to create local leaders who have the education needed to create change in their own countries. The hope is that these students can obtain higher status in society and use their gains to better life in the communities from which they originated. Yspaniola hopes to generate a strategic system in Batey Libertad, which can then be implemented in Bateys throughout the Dominican Republic. In five years, Jon hopes the program will be developed enough that the organization can extend to at least one other Batey.
At night, we all went to reading hours in the learning center where we sat on the floor and at tables, surrounded by bright minds practicing their Spanish reading skills. We all bonded a lot with the children.
We ended the night by listening to the music of the Dominican Republic and learning the local dances. Most of us stumbled through the dirt paths in the dark to reach The Play where residents play soccer on a daily basis. The field is a gathering spot for children of all ages at all times of the day.
With the full moon directly above our heads, I felt especially thankful for the quality of education I grew up with in the U.S. The knowledge of the Spanish language which most of us obtained in a classroom now made it possible for our group to discuss the cultural differences between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic with Batey residents. Every now and then someone would raise their hand up towards the sky in awe. I was reminded again no matter how different the lives people live, we can all look up at night and see the same stars.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1st, 2015
Vaishnavi Gadicharla and Selby Seador, Class of 2017
This morning I awoke to the sound of the vegetable cart man driving through town and advertising his produce to the citizens of the Batey. This has been standard procedure since the first day here, and appears to be part of the daily routine.
Breakfast was hard-boiled eggs and mashed potatoes, which are actually two of my favorite foods, although I've never eaten them for breakfast before. After breakfast someone stopped by with our bracelets, which will be great souvenirs to have later to remind us of our time in the Batey.
This morning it was my turn to observe in the Learning Center and see what the lessons and activities are like there. Since my mom is a teacher, it was interesting to see what learning techniques are used and to see the kids be so engaged in their education. They all seemed excited to learn, and I was amazed at the patience of the learning center teachers. Holding the attention of so many children and getting them to sit quietly and learn is hard work, but they seemed to handle it with ease.
After observation, I worked on resource creation, where we put together books and covered them in contact paper. If there's one skill I learned on this trip, it's how to successfully apply contact paper!
When resource creation was over, a representative from an organization called Deportes Para la Vida came to tell us about the program and lead us in some example activities. Deportes Para la Vida is a program that educates youth about STDs and prevention through games with meaningful messages. The game we played was called "pase la pelota" (pass the ball). We were divided into two teams and stood in lines across from each other with our arms behind our backs. The point of the game is for one team to pass the ball behind their backs, and when the leader calls "stop," whoever is holding the ball must keep it and the other team has to guess which person has the ball. It was hard to guess just from looking at somebody whether or not they had the ball, and this is supposed to teach people it's hard to tell from someone's appearance whether or not they have HIV/AIDS. This is a very important lesson since there is a stigma that you can tell just from looking at someone if they have HIV/AIDS. It was fun to participate in an activity like this and see first-hand how Deportes Para la Vida works to educate youth in the community about STD's and sexual health.
After the presentation, we ate lunch to fuel up before our trip to El Chorro (the waterfall)! Sarah and I ate rice and meat cooked in a yummy sauce. One of my favorite meals in the Dominican Republic is meat, beans, and sauce mixed in with a huge mound of rice. It sounds so simple, but it's really delicious! Jon and his friend Domingo joined us for lunch. It was really interesting talking with Domingo because he had a lot of insight on the politics and history of the Dominican Republic. I'm in a Latin American politics class and a Caribbean history class, so it was enlightening to hear a new perspective on the events and concepts I've been learning about this semester.
Next came, the event many of us had been waiting for, the visit to El Chorro! Due to the rain we'd been seeing earlier in the week, we were worried the weather wouldn't be nice, but it was a sunny, pleasant day. About half of us loaded up into the back of a truck, and the rest traveled in a van. The scenery on the way was gorgeous, with mountains in the background. It was nice and refreshing to ride in the open air!
We were dropped off near El Chorro, but the vehicles could only go so far, so we had to walk the rest of the way. The hike was only about 30 minutes, but climbing over rocks and through water while wearing flip-flops was definitely a challenge! After the hike, we got to cool off in the water. Trees shaded the area, so the water was really cold! I didn't stay in for long because I couldn't stop shivering, but the water did feel really good after the exhausting hike. The waterfall was fairly small but really beautiful, and the area around it was incredibly peaceful. The rocks surrounding the waterfall had some outcroppings, so some of the people in our group decided to try and climb it.
We stayed at the waterfall for a little while and ate some snacks before the hike back. Dana is the best and brought snacks, including saltine crackers and cookie sandwiches that I've fallen in love with since arriving in the DR, but they weren't Dinos, which are my favorite solely because they are cookies with little dinosaur faces on them. Before heading out we took plenty of group photos in front of El Chorro, and then it was time to hike back.
While hiking towards the back of the group with Vaishnavi and Eric we…may have gotten a little lost. Our savior was a Victoria's Secret bag abandoned in the creek that reminded us what direction we had come from on the way there and where we needed to go in order to get back. After emerging from the woods and hiking up a steep hill in the scorching sun, we rode back in the truck and watched the beautiful mountain scenery recede behind us as we made our way back to the Batey to start the second part of our day!
When we arrived back at the Batey, we had the opportunity to visit with the vodou priest. We entered the dim surroundings where the vodou priest resided. Murals of Catholic priests surrounded the walls, and two skulls nestled in the middle. We progressed into a smaller room where the rituals took place, which was full of assorted objects. A deck of cards, various potions, and dolls were some of the few things that caught my eye.
The vodou priest sat in the corner with long dreadlocks, waiting for us to all settle down in the benches before him. He then began explaining his beliefs in Creole, with a two-way translation following in Spanish and English. He said there were spirits involved, bad spirits, and various traditions that have been passed down through generations to battle such forces. For example, he explained the significance of various color flags for different days of the week that appease various saints. He took questions quite earnestly, ready to answer whatever we asked. Experiencing a belief system so unfamiliar to me really pushed me to observe with an open mind. Much pop culture showcases vodou with misinterpretations, and such false notions can severely impair understanding the world as it truly is.
In the evening, we went to the Resource Center to read to the kids- one of my favorite parts of the trip. Every child that I read to has always been so eager to have someone read to them. Even though they corrected my pronunciation a few times, making me a little self-conscious, I was amazed at their sincerity. They truly wanted a chance to learn Spanish and immerse themselves into their education. One child really loved learning about baseball, and only chose books about David Ortiz or Babe Ruth. I was pleased that he had a passion, and that his life was not completely eclipsed by his socioeconomic status. A child's innocence and potential is always a comforting thought, and with that awareness the day was over.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2nd, 2015
Matthew Rojas, Class of 2017
I awoke on the sixth day to sunlight streaming through the mosquito net onto my face. After a night of restlessness stemming from the excitement of the night before, I was reluctant to get out of bed. However, once the aroma of scrambled eggs and fried cheese wafted through my room, I bolted into the kitchen. I was greeted by the perpetually smiling faces of my host family and quickly scarfed down my delicious breakfast.
After waving goodbye to my host family for the day, I ambled over to the Women's Empowerment Center for a session of resource creation. I rendezvoused with the rest of the gang and we got down to work. Today, we were cutting out letters of the alphabet for the teachers to use in the Learning Center. After we cut them out, we were instructed to "contact paper" the letters. Basically, this was a form of lamination from what I understood. Now, this instruction went way over my head so I diplomatically delegated the task to someone else and before I knew it, we were done and ready to move on.
The next event for the day was a rice-eating contest. This contest had been hyped up since before we ever left for the Dominican Republic. Compounding this, all of the guys in the Batey had been egging me on throughout the week to win the all-important competition. So, with my ego being as fragile as it is, I walked towards the heaping platters of rice with the weight of a nation on my shoulders. As a large American who is no stranger to eating ridiculous amounts of food in one sitting, I made quick work of the rice and returned home for lunch to gorge on even more delectable food.
As I walked into my home, I was greeted by Jon, the Executive Director of Yspaniola, who was making his rounds to meet every student on the trip. Through this conversation, I was able to learn about all of the amazing things that the organization does for the Batey. It was truly inspiring to hear about how Jon has been able to rapidly expand his organization's footprint in such a transformational way.
After sharing lunch with Jon, Jayesh and I walked over to the Learning Center where we all conducted reading hours with the children. Illiteracy is a huge issue in the region, particularly amongst residents of Bateys, so it was vital that we put the appropriate amount of time and effort into reading development. We all had a blast spending time with the kids and I even got to read "Tikki Tikki Tembo", which is one of my childhood favorites!
A few members of the Batey were kind enough to host a souvenir fair so that we could bring home gifts for our families and friends. In hindsight, I might have spent too many pesos at the shop but it was well worth it nonetheless. We were even able to purchase CDs recorded and produced by members of the Batey and after listening to it a few times, I can confidently assert that it is the hottest mixtape of 2015.
We closed out the night with a going away party that the Batey organized for all of us. It was a perfect ending to an incredible stay and we were all extremely grateful for the love and hospitality exuded by the members of the Batey. After the dancing and music died down, a few of us hung around the Play for a little while longer and then left for our individual homes. It was difficult to internalize that we would be leaving the Batey the next morning, but we all knew that we had made the most of our time there and slept peacefully with that in mind.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3rd, 2015
Ian Pollack, Class of 2017
When we woke up on Friday morning we still had last night's laughter on our breath. We ignored it for as long as we could yesterday, but today we had to face the fact that we were leaving Batey Libertad. We ate our final breakfasts and said goodbye to our respective host families. We reluctantly made our way to the vans that would take us to Santo Domingo and said goodbye to our newly made friends. We were happy to have made such a great group of friends but sad to leave them so quickly.
The vans took off, and after about three hours of bumpy sleep and longing stares out the window, we arrived at Hotel Residence with stiff legs and sleepy excitement. We took a moment to rest and settle in our respective hotel rooms, and set out through the streets of Santo Domingo for lunch.
We all realized how hungry we had gotten during our day of travel. After a filling and delightful meal, we explored the colonial style streets of Santo Domingo.
Before long we found ourselves in a chocolate shop, and we immediately started eating an inappropriate amount of free samples that would lead to an eventual stomachache for some.
Shortly after the chocolate shop adventure, it started raining; so we took shelter in a souvenir shop. We browsed the merchandise but many left empty handed because of our lack of pesos.
We returned to our hotel, relaxed, and then prepared for the night ahead of us. Before dinner we watched a parade of Dominicans dressed as Roman Centurions, which is a symbol of Good Friday and Easter.
At dinner we sat together near the ocean, and laughed and reflected over a delicious dinner of crab, beef, tostones, and salad. The plates were soon clean and our stomachs were even sooner full. We walked to get ice cream because there is always room for ice cream.
After getting ice cream we slowly walked back to the Hotel Residence. We made our way up to the roof of the hotel and took in the warm Dominican air. Soon we were all dancing or learning how to dance the salsa and tango. We laughed and hollered but in the back of our minds we knew this was our last night in the DR and another goodbye awaited us tomorrow. One by one we left the roof to get some rest for a big day of travel tomorrow.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4th, 2015
Daniel Farmer, Class of 2017
And like all good things, the trip came to a close.
And like all life-changing events, the ending was bittersweet.
Though this one felt particularly bitter.
On the morning of the final day before we left the Dominican Republic, we were given the opportunity to eat breakfast with a lawyer for Human Rights Watch who supports Yspaniola. He is researching the issues of documentation in the country. It is his hope and intention that the publishing of his report will bring the injustice surrounding documentation to light. And beyond that, it will put pressure on government officials to change the law.
Afterwards, we said heartfelt goodbyes to Dana and the Princeton Fellows, who graciously showed us the time of our lives, and who always will be an inspiration and reminder that there are good people in this world.
A plane ride, and uncomfortably rough landing later, we found ourselves in a UD shuttle, which by Dominican standards, could fit a group
four times our size.
On the long ride back, it was hard not think about how daunting it is to just suddenly be a college student again, and ensure my brain and my heart made it back with me to Newark, DE.
Though the walk home through campus was instinctual, it felt incredibly alien.
The paths here are paved and well lit.
The buildings are large, impressive, and considerably less colorful.
The streets are barren of wide-eyed, expectant, beautiful, and playful children.
The view lacking a picturesque mountain range.
The air, lacking a warmth. And not temperature, but kindness, happiness, and love.
And the moon this far north stays much lower on the horizon.
Whereas the Dominican moon sat directly overhead,
looking down on us…
A constant reminder of how small we are,
thus accentuating the importance that we never forget this week and these people.
That we never forget all the good that can be done in the world.
And that we one day, we'll return, and remind the Bateyeros that we care about them, and that they made a positive impact on our lives.
Kelli Lynn Shermeyer
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