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More search options and features available at www.richmond.edu/directory.
The Military Science and Leadership Program at the University of Richmond, the home of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, is dedicated to commissioning high caliber and diverse future officer leadership for the U.S. Army from the University of Richmond and its partnership schools.
Honoring First Lieutenant Robert C. L. FergussonOn November 8, the Military Science department honored First Lieutenant Robert C. L. Fergusson, the first UR graduate killed in the Vietnam War. The event was covered by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Collegian.
Feature Stories
University of Richmond Holds Ceremony, Unveils Memorial Honoring UR ROTC Graduate Killed in Vietnam War
The University of Richmond will honor First Lieutenant Robert C. L. Fergusson, a 1966 Business School graduate who was the first UR graduate to be killed in action during the Vietnam War. Fergusson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the U.S. Army for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty.
ROTC Alumni WallAfter the 2018 Officer Commisioning Ceremony, the Military Science department unveiled a ROTC Alumni Wall, which wall recognizes the seven UR alumni who have achieved the rank of General Officer in the United States Army. Reaching the rank of General Officer in the Army is very selective; the population is comprised of about one-fifteenth of one percent (0.069%) of the overall total Army end-strength of just over one million soldiers. Having seven that have graduated from UR speaks volumes of the talent selected to attend this prestigious University.
As the only law student in the University of Richmond's Army ROTC battalion, Polina Tsvetikova is putting her status to good use.
Josh Young, '17
A Gates Millennium Scholar ponders how to be a force for change and dialogue while finding his place at Richmond.
Junior Colin Billings spent part of his summer in the Middle East, learning ways to break down barriers between people of different faiths.
Spider Battalion awards $2.4 million in ROTC scholarships
The University of Richmond's Army ROTC battalion has awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships to incoming freshmen at six Virginia colleges that compose the Spider Battalion.
Three members of the University of Richmond's Spider Battalion, were commissioned into the United States Army on Saturday, May 9 at Cannon Memorial Chapel.
The University of Richmond's ROTC program has long been a nationally recognized program, in large part because of the balance the program strikes, offering rigorous military training set against the backdrop of a highly selective liberal arts institution.
"I've done everything from volunteer work through the program to jumping out of airplanes," says Jeremiah Hencke, '10, of his involvement with ROTC at Richmond. "I've been able to attend Army specialty schools, compete against other ROTC schools in the annual Ranger Challenge competition and learn what it means to be a United States Army Officer."
Contact Us
Mailing address:
Spider Battalion Main Office
Millhiser Gym Building
367 College Road
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Richmond ROTC Office: (804) 289-8540
Richmond Fax: (804) 289-8829
Spider Battalion Recruiting Officer: Mr. Tony Chau
Battalion Commander: LTC Cecil Stinnie


text: Outrage and sadness as eminent flute Professor farewelled Categories News Date October 26, 2018 Past students of an eminent flute teacher are happy he has been awarded the title of Professor Emeritus, but say the recognition is too little, too late. Prof Uwe Grodd, who has taught flute performance and conducting at the University of Auckland since 1984, confirmed to RNZ in June he was made redundant, as a result of a School of Music restructure process. Though the 59-year-old's teaching days at the University are over, he challenged the decision, and the University Council voted on October 17 to award him the title of Professor Emeritus upon early retirement, from November 2. The Vice-chancellor Prof Stuart McCutcheon wrote in the letter offering the honour to Prof Grodd that "The significant contribution you have made throughout your career with the University is greatly appreciated and recognised by the University in the bestowal of this award." "It is an honour to accept this prestigious title on behalf of all my many fabulous students," Prof Grodd told Newshub. However, Prof Grodd's past students and colleagues remain dissatisfied with – and skeptical of – the restructure process that cost the professor his job in the first place. Clare Penny, an Auckland-based performer who recently completed her Masters of Music under Prof Grodd, said that while the Professor Emeritus title was "incredibly well-deserved," it "does nothing to offset the silencing of staff, students and other stakeholders' opinions during the deeply unpopular and damaging "restructure' process." "Nor does it address the total failure of the University to provide the public with any reason whatever for the disestablishment of his position," she added. Newshub asked the University for comment on this claim and the others made in the story, but the Vice-chancellor responded only that the University does not comment on the situation of individual staff members and had no further comment for the story. Ms Penny presented Prof Grodd with a bouquet of roses and lilies at his final flute class on 15 October, where seven alumni from around the world Skyped in to listen. Oregon-based Abigail Sperling who completed her DMA (Doctor of Music Arts) under Prof Grodd in 2015, told Newshub it was a "major loss to the university and to New Zealand music" that he would no longer be teaching at the institution. "I have witnessed some of the best performers and pedagogues in the world teach masterclasses and lessons and none of them have what you do or can offer what you can," she wrote in a tribute to her former teacher on Facebook. "Your intimate knowledge of the flute, your rapport with students, and your laudable teaching skills are evidenced by the number and quality of people who have opted for your guidance and coaching over the years." A student who completed her Bachelor of Music with Prof Grodd in June this year described her former teacher as "very patient, "amazingly kind and encouraging." The 21-year-old said she had been planning to attend Auckland University specifically to study with Prof Grodd since she was 15. She said she was "very upset" she would no longer be able to complete her Honours year under the professor as she had intended, and had subsequently changed her plans to study secondary teaching instead. A senior School of Music staff member, wishing to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal by the University, wrote on Facebook that disestablishing Prof Grodd's position was a "dreadful decision," and an "unexplained mystery." However, Liz Hirst, a former student of Prof Grodd believes that Head of School Assoc Prof Martin Rummel, who oversaw the restructuring along with the University's Vice-chancellor, bears some responsibility. "That the University Council has recognised Professor Grodd's service and abilities with an Emeritus title speaks in their favour," she said. "I hope the Council will investigate fully the events leading up to the "financial" restructure at the now devastated School of Music, at which the current HOD [Head of Department] Martin Rummel is in no way representing his staff's interests." Speaking to RNZ in September, assoc Prof Rummel maintains he was "caught up" in the restructure just as other staff were. "Anyone who is in the process is caught up with it," he said. "Again this is nobody's business. [The restructure is] not subject to public discussion." His response came less than three months after the Tertiary education Union accused the University of "silencing" music staff in a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor. University Communications Manager Lisa Finucane told RNZ the assertion was "untrue," on the grounds that the Vice-chancellor was only requesting that staff comply with consultation procedures they "previously agreed to in their employment agreements." Students have also claimed they are not being listened to. The president of the School of Music Students' Association Leo Jaffrey wrote in a submission made to the restructure process quoted on RNZ that "students have been told that their opinions on this subject will be actively disregarded. "It is clearly tantamount to a systematic attempt to prevent dissenting student voices from providing any input," he stated. Newshub contacted Assoc Prof Rummel for comment on the accusations twice but he did not respond by the deadline. Newshub. Áine Kelly-Costello was also a former flute student of Prof Grodd. Share: admin Previous post Young performer 'overwhelmed' by win October 26, 2018 Next post Orchestra Celebrates with 25th Fireworks November 21, 2018

subset: commoncrawl


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Learning Laravel 4 Application Development
Laravel 4 is a clean and classy framework for PHP web development. It attempts to ease the development of web applications by simplifying the common tasks required in the majority of web projects, such as authentication, routing, sessions, and caching.
"Learning Laravel 4 Application Development" uses a step-by-step approach to teach you how to build real-world web applications. You will learn how to create a web application from scratch as well as how to create and use packages to build reusable components to be used in your projects.
This book begins by familiarizing you with MVC concepts as well as the Laravel 4 framework. From there, it moves on to the creation of the frontend and backend of your web application. As you progress through the book, you will learn how you can authenticate users as well as develop RESTful APIs. You will also learn how to configure, optimize, and secure your applications. Lastly, it teaches you how to deploy your applications using different approaches like Git, FTP, and SSH.
Laravel 4 Application Development will teach you everything you need to know to create accessible real-world web applications quickly and efficiently.
|Page Count
|Course Length
|7 hours 40 minutes
|Date Of Publication
|24 Dec 2013


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Citrus Ginger Steak
Steak and vegetable stir fry with a sweet and citrusy flavor.
- In a small saucepan, combine marinade ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Continue cooking for 10 minutes, until thickened. Place marinade in a medium bowl, allow to cool for 15 minutes. Remove half of marinade, reserve. Add steak to bowl, marinate for 30 minutes. Remove steak from marinade, discard marinade and toss steak in corn starch.
- In a large sauté pan or wok, heat 1 ½ teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Cook steak in batches until browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer cooked meat to a plate.
- In same sauté pan or wok, heat remaining oil. Sauté onion and carrots until softened, about 4 minutes. Add zucchini, red pepper and mushrooms. Continue cooking for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened. Add steak and reserved marinade. Cook for 2 more minutes until heated through and sauce is bubbling. Transfer stir fry to a platter and garnish with green onions. Serve with rice or noodles.
Recipe Courtesy of ALDI Test Kitchen


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EndNote is a software tool for managing your own personal library. You can save full-text articles in your own database and use that to build reference lists in your own work.
References can be imported via the import citation options many research databases offer. Full text can be save instantly. The large output style library allows you to use EndNote for in article citations and the reference list for almost all publishing styles and requested formats.
The University of Twente has a license for EndNote that also allows for it to be installed at home, and with the new 7.0 features the synchronization of your EndNote library over different computers has become a stable feature.


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If you've missed out on the 6x6 G-Class then this Hennessey F-150 Raptor is just the ticket. Based on Ford's badass truck and with power from the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 boosted to 600bhp, there's little mother nature can throw at it in the shape of an obstacle.
Other notable changes are obviously the extended bed and an extra lockable rear axle, while the suspension has been upgraded with Fox shock absorbers and 20in wheels. Cosmetically, it is pure menace with notably more muscular front and rear bumpers, and extra lights fixed to the cab's roof.
However, there's a small matter of price. The Hennessey Raptor starts at $295K (Dh1.0mil), and goes up to $317K (Dh1.16mil).


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Porcelain Veneers Frisco, TX
- Age:
- 30 - 39
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- Female
- Ethnicity:
- Black
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- Undisclosed
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- Undisclosed
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- 37804
Procedure Details
Patient was unhappy with her smile. Porcelain veneers on top six teeth in the front allowed us to make the teeth an ideal shape and color.More
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Patient was unhappy with her smile. Porcelain veneers allowed us to make teeth ideal shape and color. More
Popular Searches
*All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.


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A recent story published by Scripps Howard News Service indicates that ancient humans had the hots for monkey butt.
The chimpanzee is the closest relative to humans in the animal world. Scientist conducted a recent study that resulted in a new DNA analysis of Chimps and Humans. The scientist sifted through about 800 times more DNA than earlier studies did, and found that parts of the DNA sequences at some points were are so different that they (Chimps and Humans) must have become isolated from each other as far back as as 10 million years ago, yet at other points in time, other DNA parts are so similar that the species (Chimps and Humans) appear to have been exchanging genes until at least 6.3 million years ago.
The findings seem to point to hybridization - the initial separation of the species, followed by an interbreeding that may have created one or more hybrid ancestors to both species followed by a final split (the monkeys took their butts some place else).
This study, if people dared to accept its conclusions, speaks to the truth of evolution and, the potentiality of some type of intelligent intervention in the evolution of man. Think about it.


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It seems suitable to wrap up the year with the final, and top, pick in my selection of the 10 finest mountain trails I've had the privilege to trek. My favourite trek over the many pairs of boots I've worn out is in Ethiopia, atop the mountain range known as the Roof of Africa.
The Simien Mountains aren't the highest peaks in Africa, though at 4550m Ras Dashen is often claimed as the fourth-highest on the continent (which conveniently overlooks a few unnamed peaks in the Ruwenzori). But it's not the head-spinning glory of altitude that elevates the Simiens to the head of my list. It's the headiness of its escarpment, combined with the life – both human and animal – that's scratched out on its plateau. Continue reading


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Barbel acoustic tagging and tracking (2015-2016)
Regulation of rivers for the purposes of flood defence, hydropower generation and navigation has profound physical and ecological impacts through disruptions to hydrology, natural functioning and connectivity. Whilst river regulatory schemes provide major ecosystem services for societal benefit, the resultant habitat disruption, including blockages to fish migration and physical changes to channel form, are increasingly recognised as a major global threat to freshwater fish diversity.
This project, focussing on the River Teme in the Severn catchment (western England) is investigating the ecological consequences for freshwater fishes of river regulation schemes that are designed to deliver enhanced ecosystem services. The European barbel (Barbus barbus) is used as its focal species, given its propensity for long-distance freshwater migrations that make it highly sensitivity to disturbance.
Acoustic tagging and telemetry are being utilised to determine the longitudinal connectivity of the study rivers for B. barbus, through assessment of their daily, seasonal and annual movements. Twenty-two barbel were captured in September 2015 from a mixture of angling and electric fishing. These fish were anaesthetised and had acoustic transmitters internally fitted. After recovery the fish were returned to the same stretch of water from which they were captured. An array of 14 acoustic receivers are located along the river length, recording pings from the transmitters; data are then periodically downloaded and fish movement patterns are analysed. Mobile tracking will be also used during 2016 to determine specific spawning and feeding locations of tagged fish.


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To build a safe and successful pipeline project, you need a lot of help and input from others. And the Coastal GasLink team knows there's more to building a pipeline than just materials and construction. Our success relies on working with local communities, listening to their views, incorporating their feedback where possible, and caring for sensitive landscapes and culturally and historically significant places.
Since announcing Coastal GasLink in June 2012, we have been actively meeting with and listening to input from many communities along the line. And we've engaged with Indigenous groups whose traditional territories are proposed to be crossed by or are near the pipeline route. It's something we have been and remain committed to. We know that sitting down with Indigenous communities, even when we have different perspectives, is critical. We're able to address their questions and concerns, and we benefit from their local and traditional knowledge. We want to build projects in a way that respects the environment, traditional and cultural resources while providing community benefits.
This collaborative approach resulted in us investigating and preparing to apply for an alternate route to address some of the input we received from the Wet'suwet'en people. In fact, our productive two-way conversations with all Indigenous groups has resulted in many changes to the project, and also led to Agreements being signed between six First Nations. The agreements mean that they will participate in the many benefits of the project while maintaining their environment, culture and way of life.
We have worked closely with Indigenous groups to further protect and conserve the environment near the pipeline route. Throughout the development of the project we were pleased to have many Indigenous community members join us to conduct field work. It's a priority for us that their valuable, local knowledge goes into our project plans.
In addition, Indigenous input during the regulatory process helped guide our efforts in developing a plan to protect caribou and grizzly bears and their habitat during construction and operation of the project and providing funding toward management programs. We have also developed many other management plans to protect the environment and provided these to local Indigenous communities for review and input.
Supporting this project doesn't mean choosing between economics and environment; nor does it mean sacrificing the right to a traditional way of life. Active participation in projects like Coastal GasLink provides an opportunity for Indigenous groups to influence the project and participate in skills training, contracts and jobs, and long-term financial benefits for their communities.
If there's one message we can leave you with, it's this – we want to collaborate; we want to listen to input; we want to protect the land and environment. We care.


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When Buying A Property, Make Sure You Hire A Real Estate Attorney
Making a big investment and purchasing a property is never a walk in the park especially if this is your first time. You might have a problem if you have just purchased a home that is too spacious and is too pricey or you might even buy one have just been recently renovated. I think you will agree with me when I say that buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. If you want to make sure that you clearly understand every detail of your contract and that you won't regret the big decision you will make, it is advisable to get yourself an experienced attorney at law.
There are some investors or home buyers that believe it is not necessary to hire an experienced attorney at law or a real estate attorney and that they are just an added expense. But even if you are closing a deal with your relative, you will still need the services of a good real estate attorney. In this article, allow me to share with you some of the many benefits of having a reputable real estate attorney by your side.
1. He will tell you the truth.
When you make the decision to hire an experienced attorney at law when purchasing a property, you will only be hearing the truth from him. Although hiring a real estate agent will also benefit you, the only professional that can help you when it comes to the legal matters is a real estate attorney. Regardless if you are hiring his services to make sure you get the right documentations from the owner or you just need him to represent you, you can always count on him because he will make sure your home purchase goes well.
2. You will be able to negotiate better.
Hiring the services of an experienced attorney at law when purchasing a property is always a huge advantage. When you hire a real estate attorney, you can even save money because he can help you negotiate and you will get the property you like for a lower price. He will be giving you a logical argument that can help you get your desired property for a lower cost. You will learn a lot from your real estate attorney and you will be confident that you are making a smart investment. Keep in mind that negotiating is an important skill in the real estate industry.
3. They will help you find any property liens.
Another advantage of having an experienced attorney at law by your side when purchasing a property is that they can help you find any property liens. Remember that when you agree to buy real estate, you are also buying the debts that are attached to it. An experienced real estate lawyer can create a clear contract that absolves you of any debts or property liens.


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A gift for my fellow bird obsessed friend on her graduation from Pratt (congrats, Madeleine!).
The idea to do stained glass in paper had always been floating around in my head, but it wasn't until I saw the new stained glass work of Kehinde Wiley at the Brooklyn Museum in the spring of 2015 that I really wanted to get my hands dirty. While not employing translucent paper, I wanted to give the effect of those thick metal lines in between blotches of color (plus I do not mind the mucha-like halo around a delicate subject one bit).
There are plans somewhere in the back of my head to make this into a series of four birds.
Cardstock 8" x 6" // Summer 2015


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Main Street to close nightly between Santa Fe and James Garner
Main Street will close nightly between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning tonight for the one block segment between Santa Fe Avenue and James Garner Avenue. The overnight closures allow for the installation of multiple fire lines across Main Street. This work is estimated to be completed in three to four evenings. Main Street will be open full use during the day time hours.
Signs will be in place to assist motorists to detour one block south to Comanche Street around the construction.
Any questions can be directed to Tim Miles, City of Norman capital projects engineer, at 366-5454.
The contractor for the project is Central Contracting.
The Main Street waterline project currently being installed between Park Drive and James Garner Avenue will increase capacity and replace the aging infrastructure prior to the construction of the Main Street Streetscape Project later this summer. The streetscape project will include landscaping, sidewalks, street furniture, ADA ramps, decorative lighting, cobblestone paving band and asphalt pavement rehabilitation. When completed, these improvements will closely match the Main Street segment between Jones Avenue and Porter Avenue.


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Winter holidays in Hopfgarten - Holidays in Tyrol
Winter in Hopfgarten in the Kitzbüheler Alpen is a lot of fun. Plenty of snow, wonderful winter scenery and a huge recreation offer for families and active leisure holidaymakers are the hallmarks of Hopfgarten. Winter in Hopfgarten offers numerous attractions, from skiing to ice-skating, from tobogganing to shopping and from winter hiking to apres-ski. Boredom doesn't stand a chance here.
For skiers, the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental provides one of the largest skiing areas in Europe. With the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStar Card you have the opportunity to explore 10 skiing areas in Tyrol and Salzburg and to cover more than 1,000 kilometers of slopes. The gondola lift in Hopfgarten is located right in the center and the two practice areas for children can also be reached on foot. Cross-country skiers can enjoy generous cross-country ski tracks - classic and skating. When ski touring or winter hiking you can discover the nicest corners of the Kitzbüheler Alpen on your holidays. Have you experienced winter sports in the Kitzbüheler Alpen yet? Here you can find suitable offers for your winter holidays in Tyrol!
Hopfgarten has already made a name for itself as a well-known winter sports destination in Tyrol among insiders. A wonderful town center surrounded by the mountains of Tyrol with rustic huts and numerous activities beckons visitors from near and far. Visit the Kitzbüheler Alpen and the holiday resort of Hopfgarten.


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Within culture, small pockets of individuals continually emerge as cultural celebrities –figures who generate hype through newfound style, skills and originality. With the styles of automotive culture forever evolving and transgressing, these figures play a intrinsic role creating trends that shape the future direction of car cultures.
Whilst the digital age has played, and continues to play a role in slowly colliding different segments of car culture with each other, these individuals remain highly important characters in identifying cultures as different to each other. They are responsible for redefining the boundaries of car culture, directly enhancing the environments in which enthusiasts can interact amongst themselves and with their craft.
There remains no more significant figure in Japanese car culture than that of Keiichi Tsuchiya. Now in his late fifties, the former race car driver is part of Japanese folk law, a God to enthusiasts and the granddaddy of one of motorsports most entertaining forms, Drifting. Armed with his almost as famous Toyota AE86 Trueno, in which demands its own reputation as one of Japan's most well balance driving machines, Keiichi exists as an immortal character in Japanese car culture.
Tsuchiya's legend has roots back to his early racing days. Unlike other drivers of the same era, Tsuchiya developed his skills and driving flair through Illegal Street racing; driving down precariously steep and technical mountain passes in Japan. Today, this form of driving is widely recognised as 'Touge', and represents much of grassroots driving development car enthusiasts take part in Japan.
Tsuchiya's skills were recognised globally in 1987 when he featured in a film demonstrating his driving skills. His drifting technique was a collision of the limits of his driving skill and the mechanical potential of his AE86, driving the car sideways through narrow corners at high speed. The film, which remains still in circulation today, is recognised as having inspired a whole generation of drivers, who actively hone their skills and build cars with the purpose of drifting.
Ultimately, Tsuchiya's driving style created a progression of driving that has now become a significant part of car culture. Drifting, whether grassroots, or at an international level, has fostered an entire generation of enthusiasts, who's experiences, both within drifting and within other facets of car culture have evolved universally.
Australia's abundance of Drift events, drift coverage and drift culture are indicative of Tsuchiya's influence on Japanese car culture. Images like that below would not be current without Tsychiya.


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Athlete Assessments' Services
At Athlete Assessments, we are the experts in the 'people side' of sport. While we are best known for our athlete profiling and sports team consulting using the AthleteDISC, CoachDISC and Sports ManagerDISC, we do more than just Assessments. Athlete Assessments Services include Sport Specific DISC Profiles, Performance Reviews, Team Consulting, Program Reviews, Keynote Speaking, Events & Professional Development Programs.
DISC profiling builds the self-awareness you need as a Coach, an athlete or sports professional, to take your performance to the next level. To get ahead and stay ahead. Use it to develop your emotional intelligence and understand how to consistently achieve your best results as an individual and with others. Athlete Assessments' DISC profiles use proven techniques based on decades of behavioral research and are created and used specifically for sport.
Where so many other factors in sport, across sports programs and organizations, are very similar, it is how well the 'people side' is managed that differentiates the mediocre and truly great. DISC Profiling will take your teams' performance to the next level, allowing you to get ahead and stay ahead. With our services we do not provide the DISC Profiles and leave you to struggle with the application. Our team packages include DISC Assessments plus importantly, a series of consultations via video conference.
Coaches are unanimous in saying that they struggle with HOW to develop resiliency. So ATHLETE TOUGH™ was developed to answer this call. Mental toughness is not a mythical quality possessed by only a few. It is a teachable skill and there are proven strategies to develop your athletes to be ATHLETE TOUGH. ATHLETE TOUGH Handbook & Video Series offers proven strategies to help improve your athletes' mental toughness and grit. But don't just take our word for it, take a look for yourself.
Does your camp develop the skills that really matter? Make your camp stand out and be more than just physical development. Great Coaches know that physical development is only a small part of developing great athletes. Help your camp athletes develop strong skills that really matter. Make sure your camp stands out from the rest by providing the opportunity to achieve improved performance with better communication, relationships and team skills.
Let's face it, in elite sport every team has quality equipment and facilities, a scientific training program and strong game or race strategies. The only competitive edge to be gained is through investing in your people and the most valuable people skill is leadership. Leadership underpins every great success story and leaves a gaping hole when it's lacking. The good news is it is something we can be proactive about. Leadership is no longer seen as something you are born with but rather a skill that can be developed and grown.
The best coaches understand the importance of staying ahead of the game, focusing on the influences that really drive performance and the benefit of insights from experts in their field. We expect our athletes to continuously improve and here's how you can take the lead. Master class your coaching with like-minded professionals in exclusive small grouped coaching sessions. Join the Coaches Club with Bo Hanson in this unique environment to continue to develop the art and science of your coaching.
The most significant contributor to consistent, high performance is not what most people assume. But you know that all of the research points to the same conclusion: technical and physical ability is never the defining factor in top performance. Getting the people side right is what differentiates the best from the rest. Develop the vital 'people skills' in your Coaches that will differentiate them in the competitive employment market that is elite sport.
In today's competitive world, great technical ability is assumed. What differentiates the most successful sports professionals is their ability to navigate the people side of sport. The success of your students reflects the success of your University Academic Program. Whether you teach Sport Management, Sport Coaching, Sport and Health Sciences or Sports Psychology, provide your students with the skills which differentiate them when they enter the competitive sports industry.
As a successful consultant, you know what the defining factor for high performance is, and it's never technical or physical ability. Instead, it comes down to managing the people side of sport. Are you a sport psychologist, sport coaching consultant, sport performance consultant or other sports professional in private practice? Here's how to accelerate your results! Take your consultancy to the next level. Sports Profiling is the tool you need to help your clients realize their potential.
What do high school teams have in common with the world's best teams? They both fall over or reach their best potential based on whether or not they get the people side right. Just because High School teams aren't competing for Olympic medals doesn't mean they should ignore the most important performance factors. The only true competitive advantage is gained by investing in the mental, emotional and relationship skills of your people.
In the business world, more than 90% of private sector organizations have a performance appraisal system in place because they are effective in developing greater performance. So why is it any different for sport? Most people feel their existing Performance Review process is ineffective and many don't even have a consistent process each year. This needs to change. Performance Reviews are vital for any successful sports organization and CAN be extremely rewarding, useful and stress free – if you get the execution right.
A significant contribution Athlete Assessments makes to the sports industry is our professional development programs. Whether that be keynote speeches at international sports conferences, running in-house programs tailored to our client's needs or one of our own 'Open' programs that bring together sports professionals from various organizations, the feedback and results are always consistent. We deliver excellence in service and exceptional experiences that last long after the event. Just ask any of our clients!
If you want to improve your performance you need to invest in yourself. Whether you are an athlete, coach, or sports professional, Athlete Assessments' behavioral profiles will give you the edge you are looking for. You can easily order DISC Profiles for Sport online here. If instead you are looking to purchase multiple assessments to use with your team or organization, or as a consultant, please contact us for personalized service.
Here you will find all of Athlete Assessments Internet Special Offers for Sport. All of our packages guarantee exceptional service and are great value. To find out how Athlete Assessments can help you or your team or organization please contact us today and we'll be happy to talk about your needs. Here you will find the "Get Ahead" Packages for individual coaches, sports professionals and athletes. All of our packages guarantee exceptional service and are great value.
At Athlete Assessments, we're here to provide you with excellence in service and to help you be your best. If there is anything we can assist you with, please Contact Us.


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Wang Yuyang was born in the Heilongjiang province, China, in 1979. He graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts with an MA in 2008 and currently teaches in the Experimental Art department of the same school. Wang Yuyang questions the experience of technology – that is, our interactions with the digital and the robotic – while utilizing everyday objects to create the illusion of futurism.
Wang Yuyang's work was the subject of the solo show One Painting, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China (2009). He has also exhibited in major museum group shows, including Thingworld – International Triennial of New Media Art, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China (2014); ON/OFF: China's Young Artists in Concept & Practice, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China (2013); Image History Existence, TAIKANG Life 15th Anniversary Art Collection Exhibition, National Art Museum of China (2011); Reflections of Minds – MoCA Shanghai Envisage III, MoCA Shanghai, Shanghai, China (2010); China China China!, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK (2009); Real Realm-Freakishness, Modern Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (2009); First White Rabbit Show, White Rabbit Gallery, Sydney, Australia (2009); Jiong, Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China (2008); Cine Cine Cine!!! Chinese Contemporary Art Beyond the Global Market, Palazzo Strozzino, Florence, Italy (2008); and Coming from Life, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China (2006).
Wang Yuyang lives and works in Beijing, China.


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avoid this guy when you have a bad day to start with...he draws the best unflattering portraits :)
woensdag 30 juni 2010
dinsdag 29 juni 2010
la photocabine
Get in the mood with this "photocabine".
Make your own snapshots and download, print or share them at facebook.
Fun, fun, fun!
zondag 27 juni 2010
paola colombo
Great funny pillows, made by Paola Colombo.
Her site is under construction but you should see her flickr space because she has done other lovely works.
It was nice yesterday at Vintage Bazaar. I forgot my camera, so no pictures yet. We build the market outside (instead of inside "de serres") on a cute grass field with cherry trees and a huge weeping-willow (my favourite tree, I remember myself asking one at Santa Claus).
I bought this hot-mama dishtowel. It's from Blue Q but here you can buy it at Lolalifelines.
Today: fleamarket, cleaning and chilling-day. It is hot in Antwerp but I love it!
These are my treasures of the fleamarket:
- a little brocante mirror (its going to look good on the toilet wall)
- le creuset cast iron pans (yes, another addiction...)
vrijdag 25 juni 2010
Marilyn Patrizio is an illustrator/shoe designer/crocheting do-all, with a nice blog...she writes in a very humourous way about the things she does and adds lovely drawings or pics to show you what she is talking about! we likealot.
pics below are about a storage cabinet she wants to buy and pants that no longer fit (know the feeling :) She turned them into a yoga mat carrier and shoesies! whaw!
pics below are about a storage cabinet she wants to buy and pants that no longer fit (know the feeling :) She turned them into a yoga mat carrier and shoesies! whaw!
woensdag 23 juni 2010
belgium family style
As we wrote before about the paumes collection of books:
the new paumes book has been released, and we are in it!
"Belgium family style"
We have received it by post today.
Our friend monique is in it too, show you the pictures later.
Take a peak:
dinsdag 22 juni 2010
tin and tape
new paper tape bought at pichouline and tin at lolalifelines
two happy webshops for instant happyness!
maandag 21 juni 2010
ready for the sun!
flowers: check
cherries: check
bubbles: check
ready for the sun!
by the way: petit bazaar was awesome yesterday!
zaterdag 19 juni 2010
finishing touch
vrijdag 18 juni 2010
shop till you drop!
yes! you can see us in real life with all our zeza & flor and eva v. products.
visit us on petit bazaar this sunday or at vintage bazaar next saturday,
and...shop till you drop!
donderdag 17 juni 2010
cristian turdera
don't remember whether we aleady posted something on this amazing spanish illustrator before...does not really matter, all his drawings are so great, you'll never get bored looking at them!
funny how the owl's eyes follow you, when you visit his site.
funny how the owl's eyes follow you, when you visit his site.
home made happiness
This is a good idea: homemadehappiness sells digital cards, cupcake ornaments, postcards, garlands and more. It's very simple: you choose a product, buy it online, download it and print it out as much as you like!
Our favorite: "get organised set" ...
woensdag 16 juni 2010
mouse in a box
Cute! This little mouse in a box is my daughter's, but you can see the whole family here.
dinsdag 15 juni 2010
alain grée
Found a little treasure last weekend: 6 Alain Grée books in perfect condition!
We love this french illustrator and author of children's books. Alain Grée was born in '36 and published over 300 books for several editors. They were translated around the world into 20 different languages.
zondag 13 juni 2010
vrijdag 11 juni 2010
this is the fabric I've bought today in a second hand shop
this is the skirt it became! (size 38 and for sale)
donderdag 10 juni 2010
what a fresh and colourful jewelry....we adore all necklaces!
everything is handmade and original, with materials like bronze, leather, wooden beads and more.
soon new ones will be online in the sunken treasure shop!
everything is handmade and original, with materials like bronze, leather, wooden beads and more.
soon new ones will be online in the sunken treasure shop!
woensdag 9 juni 2010
Noëlle Smit
what a clear and light illustrations, from Noëlle Smit!
she lives in amsterdam, the netherlands and draws the finest art for children's books!
check check!
dinsdag 8 juni 2010
whow! i've bought these peonies last thursday, five little pink closed buds and look how they look now.
huge and surprise, surprise: yellow stamen inside!
maandag 7 juni 2010
we really like michelle forsyth's work, especially these ostinatos made out of paper, beads, felt and pins.
more nice pictures on her website!
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A man was robbed of jewelry, his cell phone and money while he was going to the bathroom in a Clearwater McDonald's, authorities said.
Two men followed the victim into the bathroom and when he entered the stall, the two suspects barged in with a semi-automatic handgun, a police reported said.
McKinley Alan Smith, 20, was arrested Sunday and identified as one of the suspect, The Tampa Bay Times reported authorities as saying.
The two suspects fled from the scene during the April robbery. The second suspect remains at large, the report said.
Smith was identified by the victim after Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies found him driving a stolen car, the report said.
When deputies tried pulling him over, Smith ran and hid behind a barbecue grill, the report said.
Smith faces charges including robbery and grand theft. He was being held at Pinellas County Jail Tuesday on a $40,150 bond, according to online records. It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney.
More Local Stories:


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This weekend was a big weekend for the sport of mixed martial arts, as one of the sport's best-ever fighters, Canadian Georges St-Pierre, returned to action after an 18-month injury hiatus to reclaim his undisputed UFC welterweight title.
It wasn't just the return of a great athlete, it was the return of one of the sport's biggest ambassadors.
To say St-Pierre is big box office is a bit like saying Lionel Messi is "quite good" at football. He's a bona-fide superstar and a national hero. India had Sachin Tendulkar, England had David Beckham and Canada has St-Pierre.
His rise to stardom, and his approach to helping promote the sport in a positive manner, has helped propel the world's biggest MMA promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), into the mainstream in North America. And its popularity is spreading across the world at a rapid rate, too, including here in the UK.
There's a growing market for the sport of MMA in this country. Gyms are cropping up all over the UK and, where kids used to train in traditional martial arts like judo, karate and jiu jitsu, many are now training in MMA, the multi-discipline sport that encompasses all of the world's top combat sports and martial arts.
Spearheaded by the growth of the UFC, mixed martial arts' popularity has never been bigger, and domestic promotions put on MMA events throughout the year.
As someone covering the sport, I've seen interest and uptake of MMA content go through the roof and here at the Mirror we've seen a huge uptake in our live event coverage in particular, surpassing that of our other more traditionally popular sports.
With the sport on a high in North America and Brazil, and growing quickly worldwide, it's now time the mainstream media started taking notice and giving the sport the coverage it deserves.
Too often in this country the coverage we see is negative, ill-informed and in the news pages, rather than the sports sections. The sensationalism and ill-educated references to "cage fighting", "no holds barred fighting", and the dismissal of MMA as a sport with no skill or class has to stop.
The truth is the athletes at the top of the sport compare with those from any other sport you care to mention. The level of physical fitness, the breadth of skills they possess and the commitment and heart they exhibit set top mixed martial artists apart as some of the greatest pure athletes in the sporting world.
Take St-Pierre as an example. He possesses black belts in four martial arts: Kyokushin karate, Shidokan karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Gaidojutsu, He's a skilled boxer who has been tutored by Manny Pacquiao's legendary trainer Freddie Roach and his wrestling skills are so sharp he was considered a serious contender to compete for Canada in the London 2012 freestyle wrestling event. In short, he's a world-class athlete in a range of disciplines.
And he's far from the only example. Middleweight world champion Anderson Silva is considered one of the greatest combat sportsmen of all time and has been legitimately compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee. Heavyweight world champion Junior Dos Santos is a skilled boxer and mixed martial artist, while Dutch superstar Alistair Overeem is a two sport world champion, winning world titles in mixed martial arts and kickboxing.
Contrary to what some reporters might have you believe, these aren't "cage fighters", brain-dead bloodthirsty meatheads who just want to rip another human limb from limb. They're world-class athletes, with elite-level skills learned over many years of intensive training and dedication to their sport.
Many are college or university educated and a fair few have transitioned into MMA from other sports such as amateur wrestling, American Football and boxing. Some are even former Olympians. They're all part of a sport that is growing rapidly across the globe and they deserve as much respect and coverage as the mainstream sports stars we're used to reading about in the sports pages every week.
Here in the UK the market for MMA in this country is huge, but we're lagging a few years behind our American cousins when it comes to our recognition and coverage of the sport.
And with a host of British fighters now plying their trade at the highest level in the UFC, plus a host of domestic promotions providing a legitimate breeding ground for the stars of the future, the sport deserves more coverage than it's currently getting.
Yet at the moment there's only one national newspaper journalist – the Telegraph's Gareth A Davies – with a remit as a mixed martial arts correspondent. That will hopefully change over time, too.
While the likes of Carl Froch, Amir Khan and David Price get the newspaper column inches they deserve for their exploits in the boxing ring, their MMA equivalents, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett, get precious little. They are no less talented and, based on fan reaction, they're hugely popular with the fans. Hopefully things will change in the coming months and the UFC's Brits in particular start getting more coverage, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Of course, mixed martial arts won't be everyone's cup of tea, but then again neither is boxing, Formula 1, rugby or golf. But with popularity, attendance and participation in the sport growing in this country, the mainstream media can surely only turn a blind eye to the sport for so long.
Like many who have been switched on to the sport for a few years now, I look forward to the day when MMA, and the superb athletes who compete in the sport, get the coverage they deserve.


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Patrick Lakey
University of Texas at Austin, 1993, BFA
Patrick Lakey
1998 MFA, Visual Arts, University of California, San Diego, CA
1994 Post-baccalaureate study, The Center for the Study of Modernism, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
1993 BFA, Photography, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Solo Exhibitions
2007 An Abyss of Folly, The Happy Lion, Los Angeles, CA
2006 German Photographs (1724-2005), Jessica Murray Projects, New York, NY
2005 German Photographs (1724-2005), The Happy Lion, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 Happy Lions: Patrick Lakey and Brian Wills, 5 Traverse, Providence, RI
2006 On View: Patrick Lakey, McClain Gallery, Houston, TX
2005 Ordering the Ordinary, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London, UK
Repeat Performance, Anthony Grant Inc, New York, NY
Recent Works from L.A., Galerie Michael Janssen, Cologne, Germany
I-10, McClain Gallery, Houston, TX
Bâtir, Kinsey Gallery, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
2004 Sight Lines, The Happy Lion, Los Angeles, CA
2002 Das Spyder-Män, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA
1995 Boomtown, public art projects, San Diego, CA
Selected Press & Catalogs
2007 Patrick Lakey, "German Photographs (1724-2005): Heidegger," Art Journal Vol. 66, Nr. 3 (Fall 2007), pp. 103-105
Brian Sholis, "Deep Frieze," Artforum.com, http://www.artforum.com/diary/id=18...
Patrick Lakey, "Artist Project: German Photographs," Cabinet Nr. 25 (Spring 2007)
2005 Catalog: I-10, McClain Gallery, Houston, TX
Peter Frank, "Road Show," Houston (May/June 2005)
Claudia Funke, "Neues von der Westküste," Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Nr. 64 (March 17, 2005)
Martin Herbert, "Ordering the Ordinary," Time Out London (August 10-17, 2005)
Tony Wood, "Ordering the Ordinary," Art Monthly Nr. 289 (September 2005)
2004 Thomas McGovern, "'Sight Lines' at The Happy Lion," Artweek (September 2004)
Holly Myers, "Around the Galleries: Extending off into the Horizon," Los Angeles Times (June 18, 2004)
2002 Holly Myers, "Turning Impulses Into Works of Art," Los Angeles Times (August 16, 2002)
Elizabeth Pence, "'Das Spyder-Män' at Lace," Artweek (October 2002)
Patrick Lakey lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.
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Check-In time
Check-In Instructions
If your arrival time is after 9pm please contact Reception directly (prior to your arrival date) to arrange for a late check in.
Check-Out time
Children & Extra Beds
All children under 2 years stay free of charge when using existing beds. One child under 2 years stays free of charge in a crib. One older child or adult is charged NZD 20 per person per night in an extra bed. The maximum number of extra beds/cribs in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed or crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management. Additional fees are not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.
Pets are not allowed.
Free WiFi availabile in all rooms. A fair use policy may apply.
Free onsite parking for all house guests.
Accepted Cards
The Fine Print
If you expect to arrive outside reception opening hours, please inform Carramar Motor Inn in advance, using the contact details found on our contact page. Please note that our fully licenced Cafe is open Monday-Friday 7am-8pm. Room charge-back facility available for all guests.


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Doctors and specialists are telling me that to attract more medical staff and health educators to our shire we need a health and wellbeing precinct in Ballina and better support infrastructure. We already have the convenience of visiting GPs and specialists around Tamar Street and accessing allied services such as x-ray, pathology, remedial massage and physio.
By formally creating a Health and Wellbeing precinct we can encourage the development of better health facilities which becomes a drawcard for top health specialists and more GPs to work in Ballina.
Sign the petition below if you would like to see a new health precinct for Ballina.
Dear Tamara
I support a Health and Wellbeing precinct for Ballina to attract and retain more doctors, specialists, health educators and health support services to the area.


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Pulp! From Beyond the Veil
Horror and Sci-Fi submissions for your approval.
We found 9 episodes of Pulp! From Beyond the Veil with the tag "horror".
Curbside Pulp!: New Yet Familiar
March 29th, 2020 | 18 mins 55 secs
bizarre, comedy, fiction, horror, occult, podcast, scifi
The first installment of Curbside Pulp! has arrived!
[BONUS CONTENT] ALL SNOWED IN (pt. 1&2)
December 24th, 2019 | Season 1 | 39 mins 7 secs
bizarre, christmas, fiction, horror, occult, podcast, scifi
((Now you can enjoy one of your favorite Pulp! tales in it's entirety! ALL SNOWED IN, parts one and two))
Eggnog 'n Pulp! Minisode
December 16th, 2019 | Season 1 | 26 mins 25 secs
aliens, bizarre, christmas, fiction, horror, occult, podcast, scifi, ufos
Holiday horrors abound in these two tales brimming frothily with the Christmas spirit!
Episode 10: Boneroaster
October 30th, 2019 | Season 1 | 49 mins 52 secs
bizarre, christmas, comedy, fiction, horror, occult, podcast, scifi, weed
We begin this episode with the stunning conclusion to "ALL SNOWED IN," a story we began the last episode. If you haven't listened to episode nine, we strongly encourage you to do so. What will befall the remaining guests at this housewarming from Hell? Tune in to find out!
Episode 9: All Snowed In
May 1st, 2019 | Season 1 | 45 mins 55 secs
bizarre, christmas, fiction, horror, occult, plague, podcast, scifi
The Season One penultimate episode takes is to the cobbled streets of 14th century Bamburg, where a profane priest has whipped the populace into a religious fervor. Then, take a trip back to December in Vermont where a stately colonial home houses something dark beneath the backdrop of a holiday housewarming party.
Episode 8: Order of the Sorcerer
March 12th, 2019 | Season 1 | 39 mins 54 secs
2020, bizarre, election, fiction, happy, horror, jack, occult, pizza, podcast, scifi, woods
A quiet night in the woods, or something more malevolent than Smores? With election season fast approaching, Pulp! is your go-to source for which candidate should rule YOU. And later, an atypical pizza delivery man and his familiar stumble across a ritual that cannot be ignored. . .
Episode 7: Valentine! from Beyond the Veil
February 19th, 2019 | Season 1 | 42 mins 40 secs
asmodeus, bizarre, court drama, fiction, horror, laundry, occult, podcast, scifi, st. peter, time stop, valentine
Because you've been so good to us, we made you this Valentine. We hope you like it!
Episode 6: The Tale of the Dead
February 5th, 2019 | Season 1 | 38 mins 4 secs
bizarre, dungeons and dragons, fiction, ghastly, gourmet, horror, occult, pathfinder, podcast, scifi
What do a shady gnome saleswoman, a bookish youth with a journal and shotgun, and a nice braised crown of lamb have in common? They're all in this episode of Pulp! from Beyond the Veil!
Episode 5: The Drive
January 24th, 2019 | Season 1 | 33 mins 34 secs
bizarre, fiction, horror, occult, podcast, scifi
The latest offering from Pulp! is bound to make your long commute uneasy and spoil your next trip into the woods!


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Thought of the day
Autumn Skin
The most dangerous time of year for breakouts and the offset of acne.
The change of season from warm to cold and central heating going back on, gives our skin a lot to cope with and it needs time to adjust. The dryness and warmth of an indoor environment is in deep contrast with the windy and cold environment outdoors. The skin develops a thin layer of dry skin that does not allow it to breathe, trapping in sebum and for those prone to breakouts this causes spots to develop.
Also, this time of year our immune system is working overtime as new flu and cold viruses are starting to emerge everywhere, leaving our skin with less support than usual. This is also for many a rather busy and stressful time with school runs and a lot to organise for the winter ahead. Stress and breakouts also go hand in hand.
Here's how to ensure your skin stays healthy and glowing during Autumn:
Get enough sleep, this allows your skin to restore properly.
Eat healthy and take Vitamin C and Zinc to support your immune system.
Dry brush your face daily to activate the lymphatic system and get rid of toxins.
Do a deep pore cleanse at least 3 times per week with Angel Balm.
As soon as you feel a spot coming up, apply Spotless.
Don't have central heating on during the night.


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Digital & Data Innovation Articles
A review of UK local council websites
This video was created by PureOnlineGenius, an internet marketing agency in the U.K. dedicated to small and medium sized business.
1,001 visits and Top 5 posts
Just a week ago I wrote a post on how this blog had already received 500 visits after just 23
The Inspirational Social Innovation Camp Video
Social Innovation Camp II, Dec 2008 from The People Speak on Vimeo. I've recently been introduced to Social Innovation Camp
Status of UK Local Councils Facebook Fan Pages and Groups as of 22nd July 2009
UK local councils tend to use fan pages rather than groups to deliver their services through Facebook. The differences between fan pages and groups are listed in the table below. This informational table was created by Authority Domains and the link can be found here.
Interview with Lichfield Dictrict Council on Twitter Usage
Straight from the Horses Mouth Lichfield District Council Planning Twitter: http://twitter.com/ldcplanning Twitter stats followers: 19 Twitter stats updates: 138 Twitter
Lichfield District Councils Innovative User Generated Content (UGC) Approach to using Flickr
Lichfield District photo from Steve Lightfoot We currently have 23 members and 332 photos in the group pool, which, given
500 visits after 23 days from 17 countries!
I'm glad to announce that this website has now had 500 visits after just 23 days! This is however according
UK Local Council Twitter Followers
FYI – This list was not compiled to measure a twitter accounts success by its followers, it was merely created
Mashups in government
Simon Grice @simongrice from Ideas.org recently asked me a few questions on mashups, so I thought I'd include the compilation
Councillor James Cousins on Blogging and Twitter Pt.2
Yesterday we introduced talked a little bit on how Councillor James Cousins started blogging. This post feature some Q&A's on
Councillor James Cousins on Blogging and Twitter Pt. 1
COUNCILLORS BLOGGING: BEGINNER Part 2 here Dear readers, This is the 1st part of my interview with Councillor James Cousins,
LGEOResearch is proud to introduce: Straight from the Horse's Mouth
Dear Lovely and Respected Readers, I have been MIA earlier today, no updates, no tweets and no emails. I was
My UKGovWeb09 Campaign Video
This video was made after meeting Dave Briggs from www.davepress.net at British Library. We talked about the UKGovWeb09 and I
Top 5 Posts
Wikis and blogs as instruments for citizen participation List and status of UK Local Council Twitters as of 18th December
My Future Posts: Any ideas?
Its been a great few weeks since the launch of this blog. My cup was empty but now its half
List of UK local government departments and decision makers
I often think that in order to encourage dialogue, we must talk through the problem in a manner that our
The Groundswell Video by Charlene Li
Charlene Li is a vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research. She is one of the driving forces behind
MyGovernmentIdea: A 'Social Government' with 'Social Proof'?
WARNING: This post is hot out of the oven and comes with a new idea. 😉 Taking a break from
© 2018 LGEO Research. All rights reserved.


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Three months ago when Tony and I booked our flights for Arizona we thought JoAnna would be preparing to go on a mission, but didn't know it would be the mission for marriage. As it worked out since Tony was busy with Brent, I was able to help get some things done in preparation for the wedding in April. It is coming quickly, and with her so far away it is a bit of a challenge for me to help out much.
Saturday morning JoAnna and I prepared to go into Tucson for wedding shopping. Randi decided to stay home with Brenna so it wouldn't mess up her sleeping schedule. I felt bad leaving them, but understand how difficult it is when you have a tired baby to keep her content.
We both ended up matching our shirts and JoAnna mentioned that Cindy, (JoAnna's future mother in law) will feel bad to see us matching and her not, however when we arrived to pick her up she walked out with the same color shirt on. We all had a good laugh over that and proceeded with our shopping. At one point another shopper came up to us and stated the obvious. "Did you know you are all matching?" I just said it was the color of the day, and she must not have gotten the memo.
In our shopping excursion we were able to buy the dad's ties, boys shirts, info for printing the invitations, which later got completed. Toward the end however JoAnna was getting a bit overwhelmed and ready for a melt down, so we called it a day. Sometimes its hard to focus on one step at a time, rather than the whole journey, which usually is very discouraging.
We all had a great day as well as the time spent one with another.
Its amazing how we can set out in life with one set of plans, then so quickly every thing changes. I know that JoAnna is excited to be part of the Cindy & Russ Donkin's family, and we are excited for her also.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Joy in parenting
There is no doubt in my mind of the love that Brent & Randi share as parents of there sweet Brenna. It is evident in everything they do for her, and with her.
Whether it be feeding time, changing time, cuddle time, play time, scripture time, or family prayer time, it is always treasured time, which I really appreciate seeing.
Too often in this world we live in, children are a burden to their parents, and never have the chance to feel total comfort or love. Therefore they grow up not knowing how to love or nurture, so its hard for them to understand the great love that our Savior has for each of us, or to truly realize that this life is to experience JOY.
Posted by Lorna DeRoest at 6:42 AM 2 comments:
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Grampa's Girl
This trip proved to be quite a bonding time for Tony and Brenna.
I'm not sure if it was grampa's beard with mustache, his animated facial expressions, or just the total comfort and love that was felt that drew them both so close to one another, but it was truly tender to watch.
And I know it really made Tony feel great to have such a reaction from her.
Posted by Lorna DeRoest at 5:01 PM 1 comment:
Friday, January 22, 2010
Auntie JoJo
JoAnna has been in Arizona now for 6 months caring for Brennalyn while Randi is at work and as you can see enjoys the time they spend together.
with kisses, laughter, tickle time, and lots of playtime.
I enjoyed watching the interaction they shared with one another. You can really tell how much Brenna loves her auntie Jo.
In all the excitement with JoAnna preparing for her upcoming wedding, I think that having Brenna to care for will help her to enjoy the journey even more.
But then comes the time of separation in April that I know will be very difficult for her to be so far away. The sad part is Brenna is so young she won't remember the special times they have shared with one another, and will need to rely on pictures to bring back memories.
with kisses, laughter, tickle time, and lots of playtime.
I enjoyed watching the interaction they shared with one another. You can really tell how much Brenna loves her auntie Jo.
In all the excitement with JoAnna preparing for her upcoming wedding, I think that having Brenna to care for will help her to enjoy the journey even more.
But then comes the time of separation in April that I know will be very difficult for her to be so far away. The sad part is Brenna is so young she won't remember the special times they have shared with one another, and will need to rely on pictures to bring back memories.
Posted by Lorna DeRoest at 7:23 PM 2 comments:
Monday, January 18, 2010
The golf excursion
Last fall Brent invited Tony to come to Arizona for a golf excursion with him over this past holiday weekend. Tony has never been to Arizona to visit, so since we had some free sky miles that would expire we both decided to make the trip. I was told that I could come if I wanted, but this trip was so he could be with his dad.
I got the point loud and clear.
We arrived in Arizona Friday afternoon, so they had time to hit a bucket of balls before going out for dinner, and as a warm up before the game the next day.
It was a beautiful day, with some amazing shots. Two times in a row Tony managed to hit a beautiful long drive, but the high voltage power line which crossed the fairway got in the way both times to cause his ball to deflect downward and implant itself into the ground below. The first time they thought it was amazing, the second time was unbelievable, and they laughed about the odds.
Brent had quite a slice on his fairway shots, however his short game was his saving grace. It seemed the longer the putt the more accurate he would be. (they were talking 75 foot putts.)All in all they had a wonderful time together, and as you can see they took the game very seriously.
Posted by Lorna DeRoest at 6:42 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Precious moments, sweet expressions
I'm not sure why children learn to high five at such an early age, but even Brenna had fun playing it with grandpa.
Ethan's first experience with the miracle of snow. As we drove to and from the beach there was snow along side the road. I wanted so badly to stop and watch him experience being able to touch it, or play a little, however time didn't permit. Tuesday however while I was enjoying some one on one time with JoAnna it started to snow, and didn't stop for quite awhile, which made it extra special for a first time experience to not only play in it, but to actually be able to watch the beautiful white falling from the sky. Chelsea was able to capture this picture so we could all enjoy with Ethan.
One of these days we will have all of our sweet grandchildren in one place to experience life together. This was Ethan and Brennalyn first time meeting, and though he wasn't as excited to see her as he was Savannah in September, he was so gentle and cute knowing she was little. She was at least older than when he met Alexandra. at 1 1/2 months old. There was very little interest with her other than an occational wanting to hold her. I think one of the cutest times was when he wanted to swaddle Brenna in a large blanket, or as we saw it was to roll her like a burrito. He would roll her up, then pull on the blanket to unroll her, and she would laugh out loud, which made us all laugh. It was the simple, precious moments that I will treasure forever.
Posted by Lorna DeRoest at 7:46 AM 2 comments:
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Study to expand Houston Ship Channel Underway
The Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) are undertaking a feasibility study on expanding the Houston Ship Channel (HSC), known as the Houston Ship Channel 45- Foot Expansion Channel Improvement Project (HSC ECIP). This study was authorized by WRRDA 2014 as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of the federal channel. The PHA as the local sponsor will work with the Army Corps on the project and provide a 50% cost-share.
Background: 3x3x3 Rule and SMART Planning
In a 2012 memo, then-Commander Major General Michael Walsh issued guidance on a new feasibility study paradigm to modernize the Army Corps' planning processes. The so-called "3x3x3 rule" sets the goals for a project to be accomplished in three years or less, for a cost of $3 million or less, and with three levels of vertical coordination (i.e., the District, Division, and Headquarters levels of the Corps coordinate simultaneously rather than sequentially). Additionally, the final report should be 100 pages or less. This change was implemented to ensure that feasibility studies would be completed in a timely and cost-effective fashion.
The Corps' method for achieving these goals is SMART planning, an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, risk-informed, and timely, designed to shift the planning processes and outputs from task-focused to decision-focused.
Some projects are too complicated to be accomplished within the specified time and budget of the 3x3x3 specifications, however, and the HSC study is one of them. The HSC study received an exemption from the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations to increase the timeline to four years and the budget to $10 million, but it will still use three levels of vertical coordination and adhere to the SMART planning process.
The HSC Study
The scoping stage of the study began in early 2016. The project will look at six regions of the HSC: I-610 Bridge to Turning Basin; Sims Bayou to the I-610 Bridge; Boggy Bayou to Sims Bayou; Bayport Ship Channel; Barbours Cut Ship Channel; and Bay-reach safety and efficiency. Dividing the channel project into separable segments will allow work authorized by the completed study to be performed in stages as funding and resources allow, as opposed to working on the entire channel at once.
A key restriction for this study is that it will not evaluate any deepening past the current federal channel of 45 feet. The underwater topography of the Gulf of Mexico is shallow with a gradual decline. The Houston Ship Channel joins with the Galveston Harbor and Extended Entrance Channel at Bolivar Roads to extend miles offshore to naturally deep waters so that vessels can enter it from open water. The Houston Pilots show the distance traveled from the sea buoy to the Turning Basin to be 58.9 nautical miles (approximately 67.8 miles). Deepening the Houston Ship Channel to 50 feet to match the new Panama Canal locks would require the channel to be extended an additional 11 miles until the ocean floor slopes to naturally meet that depth. Back of the envelope calculations put the cost of this operation to be in the billions of dollars to dredge, let alone maintain, which was determined to be infeasible at this time.
Channel Improvements Under Consideration
The two uppermost study sections of the HSC, I-610 Bridge to Turning Basin and Sims Bayou to the I-610 Bridge, will be evaluated for deepening, widening, and navigation improvements. This may include deepening past the current 36-foot depth, widening the channel, and re-evaluating the dimensions of the Turning Basin.
Boggy Bayou to Sims Bayou is currently designed to be 40 feet deep and 300 feet wide. Potential improvements for this section are deepening beyond 40 feet, increasing the width, and improvements to the turning and mooring areas. One of the main obstacles for this section is the Washburn Tunnel, almost equidistance between Beltway 8 and I-610, which was built under the channel at a depth of 45 feet.
Bayport Ship Channel and Barbours Cut Ship Channel, the two channels leading to the PHA container terminals and some private facilities, are authorized at 40 feet. However, the PHA has authority under 33 U.S.C. Section 408 to deepen the channels to 45 feet to match the depth of the Houston, and PHA has exercised this authority. The deepening of Barbours Cut to 45 feet was completed in September 2015, and Bayport deepening to 45 feet and selective widening is anticipated to be completed in late 2016. The navigation study will determine if these projects will be included in Federal authorization, as well as consider further improvements, such as additional widening, jetties to reduce shoaling, and flare improvements.
The final section, bay-reach safety and efficiency through the 45-foot channel, will be evaluated for a variety of navigation and safety improvements. Modifications currently under consideration include: selectively widening the narrow 530-foot channel to improve vessel passing and meeting conditions, developing a mid-bay anchorage, deepening the barge lines on the outside edges of the channel, and straightening or improving turns and bends in the channel.
The Army Corps is hosting two public scoping sessions in mid-May to inform the public about the study and to receive public comments. More information about the study and the public meetings can be found at: http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/HoustonShipChannelExpansion.aspx.
- Date May 10, 2016
- Tags May 2016


text: Ever heard someone say to someone who is complaining, (while rubbing their thumb and forefinger together), "You know what this is? It's the world's tiniest violin, playing just for you." I played around with my violin and came up with what I thought that might sound like. It is a commentary on how we like to blame all of our problems on …my wife, she…my dog, it….my parents, they… Sooner or later we have to move past that, take some responsibility, get over it, and move on.


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DigiMOTOR 3
Designed for SMART3 DOLLY (PRO or Reflex)
Obtain precise and smooth movements regardless of the camera weight.
Ultra low noise industrial motor with digital encoder.
Stop worrying about start and stop, DigiMOTOR 3 always guarantees the smoothness you need also in start and stop movements.
NOTE: A DigiDRIVE Basic or DigiDRIVE Portable is needed in order to correctly drive the motor
DescriptionAdditional information
Discontinued product replaced my DigiMOTOR 3 mark-I
Additional information
|Package Weight
|2.7000 kg
|Package Dimensions
|32 × 27 × 11 cm


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Man impersonating SRP worker in phone scam
A man posing as an SRP worker is calling customers and telling them their bill is overdue, asking them for credit card information.
CHANDLER — Chandler police say someone pretending to be a Salt River Project employee is trying to bilk local businesses for money.
Police spokesman Seth Tyler says a man posing over the telephone as an SRP worker has been telling business owners to pay for overdue utility bills.
Tyler says the scammer also tells victims that their power will be shut off within an hour if the bill is not paid in full.
According to authorities, the caller instructs victims to get a pre-paid credit card and provide an access code to him.
SRP officials say residential and business customers are never contacted by phone over past due bills nor would they be threatened with immediate termination of their power.
They say anyone approached by the caller should call police or verify their account by calling SRP.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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girl, a town on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin ( Joshua 16:7 ), not far probably from Jericho, to the north ( 1 Chronicles 7:28 ).
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. "Entry for Naarath". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".


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How to choose a roofer
Buying a new roof system is an important investment. Before you spend your money, spend time learning how to evaluate roofing contractors. You should insist on working with a professional roofing contractor. New Image Roofing wants to assist you in getting the kind of results you expect, a quality roof system at a fair price. All roofing contractors are not alike, and New Image Roofing recommends that you pre-qualify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time. The following guidelines will help you select a professional:
,Flat roof repair Houston, Katy flat roof repair, Spring flat roof repair, the Woodlands flat roof repair, Austin flat roof repair, San Antonio flat roof repair, San Antonio roof coating, flat roof repair, Austin roof Coating, Texas Roof Coating, East Texas Roof Coating,flat roof replacement
- Check for a tax identification number. This lets you know that the company is registered with the IRS and files taxes under the business name. Fly by night roofing companies usually work under a persons name "Smith Roofing" and hire illegal labor and therefore do not pay taxes.
- Don't hesitate to ask a roofing contractor for proof of insurance. In fact, insist on seeing copies of his liability coverage. Make sure the coverage specifies roofing. Most contractors have general contracting insurance and are not covered for roofing. Many building and home owners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured or under-insured roofing contractors. Also, if a contractor is not properly insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
- Insist on a detailed, written contract and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures.
- Have the contractor list the roofing manufacturers with which his firm is a licensed or approved applicator. Most roof systems require special application expertise to achieve lasting quality.
- Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in charge of your project, how many workers will be required and estimated completion time.
- Carefully read and understand any roofing warranties offered, and watch for provisions that would void it.
- Choose a company committed to worker safety and education. Ask the contractor what type of safety training he provides for his workers and what industry education programs they have attended. The best roofing contractor is only as good as the workers who install the roof system.
- Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many fly-by-night contractors' below-cost bids seem attractive, but these contractors often are uninsured, do not pay taxes, perform substandard work and will not be in business long term with less than market value pricing. Remember, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism, experience and quality workmanship should weigh heavily in your decision.
,Flat roof repair Houston, Katy flat roof repair, Spring flat roof repair, the Woodlands flat roof repair, Austin flat roof repair, San Antonio flat roof repair, San Antonio roof coating, flat roof repair, Austin roof Coating, Texas Roof Coating, East Texas Roof Coating,flat roof replacement
Copyright © 2015


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A Gift-Wrapped Opening Loss In Chicago
At the end of Chicago's 24-21 win over Cincinnati, long after the most of the players had made their way to the locker rooms; A.J. Green and Charles Tillman met at the 50-yard line, removed their jerseys, then signed and traded them.
It was the last of many giveaways by the Bengals.
For much of the game, Cincinnati demonstrated why it is considered a Super Bowl contender: Green was unstoppable with 9 catches for 162 yards, Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert showed the potential of a two tight end attack as they combined for 10 receptions, and the Bengals defense held the Bears to 97 yards in the first half.
But three turnovers, eight penalties, and poor clock management proved to be costly as the Bengals squandered an 11-point second half lead.
"We had chances to kind of put it away and we weren't able to do it," said Andy Dalton. "We turned the ball over, and turnovers killed us offensively today. Whenever you turn the ball over as often as we did, it's hard to win."
"There are things you can't do, and we did all three today," said Marvin Lewis. "We lost on third down defensively at critical moments; we turned the ball over when we were making positive plays, and then the penalties. We've got to get it cleaned up."
"Terrible penalties, bad time-out management – that's an understatement saying it was bad – bad game management at the end of the first half," said CBS broadcaster Phil Simms. "Those little mistakes added up to just enough."
The Bears obviously deserve credit. After all, the Bengals head-scratching decision not to run out the clock from deep in their own territory at the end of the half might have been forgotten if Robbie Gould didn't drill a franchise-record 58-yard field goal. And the turnovers didn't just happen – Tillman made a great play on his first interception and a great catch on his second one, and the Bears' uncanny ability to force fumbles by punching the ball out of receivers' hands resulted in Mohamed Sanu's critical fourth quarter fumble.
That final turnover gave Jay Cutler the opportunity to lead the Bears on an eight-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that saw Chicago overcome a 3rd-down-and-three, a 2nd-down-and-20, and a 4th-down-and-one before the game-winning TD pass to Brandon Marshall.
"If you give Jay Cutler some opportunities to throw it down the field he'll usually get it done," said Simms.
"They executed – especially in the fourth quarter," said Leon Hall. "A lot of times in close games like that, that's really what it comes down to. They just executed better than we did – flat out."
"It's disappointing," said Vontaze Burfict. "They're a great team, but I feel like we folded a little bit."
"We allowed them the opportunity to stay in the game and beat us," said Lewis.
As last year's 44-13 week one drubbing in Baltimore proved, a season-opening loss doesn't necessarily portend a disappointing season. But the Bengals are not trying to repeat their trip to the playoffs; they are trying to advance in the postseason. Teams that win in January simply can't make the mistakes that Cincinnati made in Chicago.
"We played really hard and that's good to see, but we just didn't play smart at all times," said Dalton. "That's what hurt us and that's what lost the game."
"Everybody had a hand in this today," said Lewis.
I'd love to hear from you at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
And I'm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dan.hoard.1


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Birkenstock Arizona Brown Birko-Flor Womens Leather Sandals
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About Research Area
Miraikan houses a jointly operated research area, and research activities are being carried out daily on multiple projects in a separate area behind the corridor of the Exhibition Zone from the third to fifth floor. In the spirit of sharing what a research laboratory studying cutting-edge technology looks like with the public, each research laboratory is equipped with a glass wall that allows visitors to see the activities of researchers from the corridors.
Ongoing Projects
Science communication activities with resident projects
Leveraging the unique nature of its in-house research area, Miraikan is holding many science communication events in collaboration with the researchers of resident projects, such as talk events, demonstration experiment events, and visits to the research laboratories. These activities seek to provide an opportunity for the public to connect with actual scientific research, while also offering researchers a chance to review the significance of their work based on interactions with the public, and reflect public feedback in their research.


text: I can't believe how quickly this has stitched up. 10 days and it was done. OK so it was also the school holidays and I'm lucky enough to be off for those and I did get a bit obsessed with it, but it was such fun to stitch I couldn't help myself! Read the rest of this entry


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The majority of this content is taken from the Virginia coaches handbook |Coaches Guide.
Volunteering to coach Odyssey of the Mind will change your life in an amazing way. Basically, as the coach, you will teach a team of up to 7 students how to think creatively, work as a team, manage time and money, all while they expand their skills in a safe, fun environment. You will get them to consider new ways of doing things without you giving them any answers.
New coaches should understand the timeline of competition season.
(or what to do with 5-7 creative minds)
So… now you have a room full of excited young minds, ready to get started. What do they do? What do YOU do? Coaching an Odyssey team can be the most rewarding activity you have ever experienced. The primary key to success is to keep your sense of perspective. You need to enjoy and appreciate young people. You need to laugh, giggle, scowl, sigh, tease, moan, and maybe even growl at your team. But if you LOVE YOUR TEAM and keep your sense of humor, there are no problems they cannot conquer, with your guidance. Just remember that the team's problems are not YOUR problems. They must solve their problems by themselves with some nudges and facilitation from you. They are creating things no one has ever seen before, learning things they never learned before, and that fact alone should make you very proud of them. YOU will make this possible, and that makes you a hero, regardless of scores or a performance on one given day! You are making a difference in children's lives forever. And it should be FUN!
Ideally, your first meeting will include the parents. You need to set guidelines for behavior, agree on meeting times, days, and places, convince all team members and parents of the importance of attending every meeting possible, and, perhaps involve the parents in a spontaneous problem … just so they can experience a sample of the activities their children will be doing.
At the end of this section, there are suggested "LESSON PLANS" for the first 5 meetings. These include spontaneous problem suggestions, team building ideas, fundamental brainstorming methods, and ideas for tackling the Long-Term problem. Use these as a springboard for your own ideas … there is NO RIGHT OR WRONG METHOD for conducting meetings, so long as you avoid giving Outside Assistance. Feel free to adapt any or all ideas to meet your own needs and materials. Odyssey of the Mind meetings should be fun, but you should emphasize that this is your home (or their school) and insist the team respect each other and other people's property at all time! The rule is this: You may only have the input of 7 minds in any Odyssey year. So long as you have never had 7 team members, you may add up to seven any time up until you register for the tournament. If you have had 7, you may not ever replace someone who drops out. Other suggestions from experienced coaches include:
Teach the team skills such as sewing, painting, engineering, drama …
Refrain from outside assistance. Sure, you can figure out how to attach that sheet to a board, and you can probably paint that tree trunk to look pretty realistic. But the Long-Term problem is NOT YOUR PROBLEM to solve!! If you do work for the team, or give them suggestions, they will not "OWN" their solution. One of the most basic goals of Odyssey of the Mind is to give children the power to do things themselves, and to feel the pride of knowing they did it all by themselves. If you so much as suggest a costume, or staple a piece of paper, you have "sank" the team's "ship of self-esteem"!
Keep the team on task. Encourage them to make a "Must Do" list, and keep them on that one, not the "Maybe Do" list! Let them cross off items that are completed … we all like to feel a sense of accomplishment. Have a "Master Calendar" setting down goals.
Resolve social conflicts as soon as you notice them. Learning to work as a team is one of the most important things an Odyssey team can do. It is OK to allow disagreements, and, ideally, let the team resolve conflicts themselves. But do not allow feelings to be hurt. Avoid plurality votes — someone always loses. Approval voting, where each person tells all the ideas he likes, is better. Better yet is never to vote at all, but to come to consensus.
Make safety a top priority. Always supervise the use of tools, including hot glue guns, and make sure the kids know the safe way to use them. Use safety goggles, when appropriate (such as when testing balsa structures.) In addition, make sure adults and parents (including the coach!) know how to appropriately act around team members.
PRACTICE SPONTANEOUS at every meeting, if possible. Enlist a co-coach or parent to plan and bring materials for hands-on practices, if that makes your life easier! You may wish to have a Spontaneous Coach.
Talk with older teams (above Primary level especially) about all of the following issues:
Learn how to ask questions and how to answer a question with a question. Learning the technique of questioning is the best way to help your team while avoiding outside assistance. The art of asking questions is mainly the ability to be very open-ended. Here are some examples of "good" questions and "bad" questions:
|Limiting questions (and steering from the coach)
|Open-ended (allow the team to be creative)
|How can you sew a duck costume?
|How can you make someone seem to be a duck?
|Can you use (item) to solve that problem?
|What exactly does this item need to do? How can you cause that to happen?
|Do you want some glue to put those things together?
|How might you fasten those things together?
Well, you get the idea here — let the team make decisions for themselves, but encourage them to brainstorm the questions. Try not to limit their thinking… What they come up with won't usually be what YOU would have done … but that is OK!
If the team asks you a question, try to answer with another question that will start them thinking in the right direction:
|Team asks:
|Coach asks:
|Do you think this glue will work?
|How can you find that out?
|Should we put more yellow in the tree?
|What does the team think?
|Why did the vehicle wheel come off?
|Let's look at it… What do you think happened?
After a time, the team will learn to ask THEMSELVES the right questions. But, at first, it will be hard, because they are used to adults giving them the correct answers! Let them discover that THEY have the power to come up with answers, and that they can find "correct" ones… or, at least, ones that work… all by themselves.
Help the team understand what STYLE is all about. Be sure they DO NOT CHOOSE SOMETHING SCORED IN LONG-TERM for a Style Element. (If they do, the staging area judge will ask them to change it. Teams handle this just fine, but surprises the day of the tournament are best avoided!)
Arrange practices for the team when tournament day approaches. The best method is to simulate a tournament — practice setting up, time the performance, and perhaps videotape. Rehearsing a couple of weeks before the tournament will allow the team to go "back to the drawing board" with any problems. They can refine the script to get the performance under 8 minutes, repair or redesign sets or props, etc. Watching a videotape will allow them to critique themselves — can you hear everyone? are they facing the audience? (Note: if YOU, as coach, tell them these things, it is outside assistance. Help them critique and discover things for themselves!) NEVER allow the team to be discouraged when things go wrong. Tell them "this is what a rehearsal is all about!" Remain their biggest cheerleader.
NEVER feel that "this is never going to come together." IT WILL! Don't get depressed — if you could see every other team at the same stage of preparation, you would learn that every team has some difficulties the last few weeks. Every coach feels like, in the words of one coach, "running down the hall screaming". It would be unusual for a coach not to have a few dreams about Odyssey at this point! Have faith… It WILL come together! NEVER assume that the performance site will be a particular orientation or set-up. Have the team practice with different configurations.
BRAINSTORM "what if's"… What if the judges are sitting over here or aren't seated at all? what if the vehicle stops? what if someone forgets his lines? what if our structure isn't "legal? what if the sun is in our eyes? what if a loud noise occurs during our performance? (This happened once at a regional tournament when a TV began blaring, and the team never skipped a beat!). Being prepared for a disaster will help team members feel more confident going into competition, and help them keep it together if a catastrophe should occur. As in life, many things may happen which are out of their control, but they CAN control their reactions! Remember a fix-it kit — but this should, as always, be the team's work to put together.
To the coach: it is the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind to encourage creativity, divergent thinking, and creative problem solving. Nothing less is expected of coaches. These lessons are only intended as a starting point, to get coaches thinking of ways to approach taking 5-7 excited students and get them to work together to make something uniquely theirs. Please feel free to change, delete, adapt, rewrite … in short, to vary… these plans to suit the team's needs as well as the coach's. Odyssey should be fun and exciting, and each team has an individual chemistry and its own way of working and problem solving. Keep this in mind as you take your own unique ODYSSEY OF THE MIND®!
Thank you to Lisa Love of Virginia Odyssey of the Mind for putting this guide together.
This would be a good time to have a meeting of both parents and students (for Divisions I and II) and to cover some of the basics (in all Divisions.) It would also be a good time for at least one fun activity to demonstrate the principals of Odyssey of the Mind to parents and students. Discussing the parent guide (also in Word Document form) with the team member's parents is great idea too.
Suggestions for basics to cover with parents and students:
This meeting would be a good time to work on teaching the team the Odyssey philosophy and some of the basic skills used in Odyssey: thinking creatively and working cooperatively. It is still recommended that you not discuss a Long- Term problem solution at this meeting! You might begin this meeting, and all subsequent ones, with a spontaneous problem or team-building exercise.
Discussion: Ask the team "what answers did you hear that you liked?" Let each person have a chance to contribute his/her praise of another person's written answer. Ask the team: "were there any answers that you thought might be impractical?" "how could you change or adapt the answer so that it is more practical?" "have you improved on the original idea?" "does hearing all ideas make you think of more and better ones?" Discuss the idea that in Odyssey there are NOT ANY BAD IDEAS, only ones that may need further work or discussion. Suggest RULE No. 1: All ideas should be allowed and never criticized! Suggest that the team begin a list of "OUR TEAM'S RULES" tailored to "Just Us." (Note: empowering the team to make their own set of rules gives them ownership that will promote their following the rules by choice. It also begins teaching them that in Odyssey of the Mind, they are encouraged - required, actually - to do the work themselves. The coach may write team's lists in Div. I if words are the team's own.)
This meeting might be the time to begin discussion of Long-Term. However, you may continue to work on Spontaneous for another week. Some new teams might require three meetings to achieve all the goals thus far. Adapt to meet your group's needs! Again, you might start the meeting with a spontaneous problem, or, better yet 2-3.
This meeting might be a good time to examine the Long-Term problem in more depth and brainstorm skills and task necessary to complete a solution.
The lesson plan for this meeting is less detailed. By now, you should have a thread going through your meetings, a team "style" for brainstorming and for working together. You should also be going in some direction in terms of Long-Term and planning your time together. Some suggestions for this meeting might be:
An appreciation for creative young minds (because this is NOT a quiet, structured activity most of the time!)
A sense of humor (because Murphy's Law prevails)
A copy of the rules in the program guide (because this is the team's ultimate authority, superseded only by Long Term Problem Limitation and Clarifications)
Spontaneous problems to practice (found in many books, and on the internet)
Your regional coaches' training (because we are all in this together… for the kids!)
Supportive parents (because the team needs help with transportation, snacks, and encouragement)
Clarifications and clarification forms (because that is the only way to ask whether a solution is "legal" if your team isn't sure, and clarifications take precedence over all other rules)
Websites all over the country dealing with Odyssey of the Mind, starting with http://www.odysseyofthemind.com (but be VERY careful of discussions that might be Outside Assistance!)
Food (because teams will be much happier when snacks are involved)


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Friday, February 15, 2013
Room 206 (Hynes Convention Center)
The flavor quality of commercial tomatoes has been a source of consumer dissatisfaction for many decades. The deterioration of flavor is part of a larger problem; nutrient quality of many crops has dropped as breeders have emphasized high yield. A large part of the problem is that flavor quality is poorly understood at the genetic and chemical level. A necessary first step to improving flavor in a complex whole food such as the tomato is to define the foundation of what chemicals contribute to consumer liking. To accomplish that end, we took a step back, screening a large number of chemically diverse "heirloom" tomatoes. We conducted a large scale study, determining consumer preferences and correlating liking with chemical composition for ~100 varieties. The results were somewhat surprising, illustrating the weakness of traditional predictive methods and uncovering significant interactions between the taste and olfactory systems. Of particular interest is the enhancement of sweet perception by specific volatile compounds that is independent of sugar. The results provide a roadmap for the genetic improvement of tomato flavor and more broadly, processed foods and drinks.