text:
Title: Store Associate
Reports To: General Manager
Status: Hourly Part-Time or Full-Time/Non-Exempt
Job Summary: The Shoe Carnival Store Associate assists customers with selecting and purchasing merchandise and offers a Surprise in Store through excellent customer service.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Total Rewards:
The Shoe Carnival, Inc. Total Rewards program offers eligible associates highly competitive benefits, including the following:
Full-Time associates may be eligible for additional benefits including Paid Time Off (Vacation & Sick Leave), Comprehensive Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, and Life, Disability, and Voluntary Benefits.
Shoe Carnival, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Joining our Talent Network will enhance your job search and application process. Whether you choose to apply or just leave your information, we look forward to staying connected with you.


text:
Ahead of the release of their new album, 'Crown & Treaty', Tim from Sweet Billy Pilgrim reveals the secrets of his recording process, including recording the door of a dishwasher...
"I guess if we should be remembered for anything, it would be that we were the first band to perform a song featuring a plucked dishwasher and the sound of a badly fitted grill pan squeaking and rattling in its mounting, at a televised music awards ceremony. Our Twitter profile refers to us as 'serial white goods abusers,' but that's possibly disingenuous. We're prepared to abuse almost any stationary, non-living thing if there's a chance it'll make an interesting noise when we do it.
I've always liked the idea of integrating non-musical things into very musical settings. Much as I've loved bands like Einstürzende Neubauten and Test Dept, their bloody resetting of what constitutes music with its furious outpouring of hammered fire extinguishers and barely-controlled pneumatic drills can eventually seem like something of a dead-end, because extremity inevitably becomes non-inclusive. Perhaps necessarily so, as many things arrive, blunt and ugly, at the outskirts of popular culture and work their way in, progressively becoming more refined and therefore more acceptable to us as they do so.
This can snuff the spark of what made those things so thrilling in the first place, but - for me - it was the adoption of that pure sound aesthetic by Public Enemy's production team, the Bomb Squad in the late 80's that ignited the biggest thrill of all. Creating songs from densely layered, often non-musical sources seemed almost miraculous to me, and despite taking a rather different direction with my band (to the immense relief of hip-hop fans the world over), I was overjoyed that all the music I heard as I stepped out of my front door; the chance harmony of a lawn mower combining with the bumblebee drone of a light aircraft; the windscreen wipers' free-jazz skittering across the steady rhythmic chuckle of a diesel engine; the unashamed joy in sound, could actually be willed into songs. My Uzi didn't weigh a ton, but - as I learned how to record my songs - my densely packed imagination almost collapsed in on itself under its own weight, like a slightly apologetic English black hole.
The first two Sweet Billy Pilgrim albums were an opportunity for me to take these found sounds and run them through guitar FX and loop pedals. To run them backwards, to chop them up and fold them in like so much Burroughsian aural confetti. But I always came back to the same question; am I doing this for the song ? If the answer was yes, then I was free to develop that thought. The song is the thing. Always. And those sounds might just be unusual and intriguing places in which to plant the seed of an idea; a better way to tell a story, perhaps.
Our new album, Crown & Treaty is a further distillation of that kind of storytelling. There's lots of sonic detail, but this time I wanted to weave those sounds even more seamlessly into the song, mainly so that they didn't distract too much from the voices, which it had suddenly occurred to me (embarrassingly late in my musical life), were the most unique and universal element in communicating anything musically.
But listen and it's there. There's a tuned metallic squeak in the introduction to 'Blue Sky Falls', which was the door of my new dishwasher being opened and closed very slowly. The song is in C#maj - a pretty unusual key for a guitar based song - and by amazing coincidence (I'm aware that 'amazing coincidence' might be overstating this, incidentally), so is my dishwasher. Where the song breaks down before the final verse, you can also hear my washing machine cycling lazily away in the background.
'Blakefield Gold' included an audio channel on my mixing desk marked 'Chair Punch'. Far from being another of those euphemisms for bizarre sexual violence, this came from my needing a dull, baggy bass drum sound that no self respecting drummer or sample library could provide me with. I ended up miking up an old leather armchair and punching one of the arms in time with the song, like Vic or Bob in one of their more demented musical moments, thereby achieving the requisite cheapness, with the additional, gentle realisation that being a musician is rarely a dignified business.
The iPhone was put to good use too, providing all the location recordings you hear on the record, including the demented tramp abusing the children's choir In Vienna, and the footsteps at the beginning of 'Blakefield Gold'. For that, Anthony listened to a metronome app via headphones for the tempo, and set the pace accordingly, while I did the actual recording of our clumsy stomping into my Voice Recorder app.
'Joyful Reunion' saw the first appearance of a Stylophone on a SBP record, and it feels kind of cool to be in the company of 'Space Oddity', at the same time as acknowledging a musical debt to Rolf Harris.
'Kracklite' needed a trumpet part, which - in the absence of a trumpet player - I managed to construct from samples, but in order to make it sound more real, I had to make it sound less authentic; ie. kind of admit to - and make a feature of - its synthetic-ness. In the end, I put the sample into iTunes, loaded it into the djay turntable app on my iPad and 'scratched' the part live onto an audio track, returning later to add vinyl crackle for - ironically - authenticity.
Finally, honourable mentions should go to the hand pumped Indian harmonium which features on many songs, and just seems to have a solemnity and sadness that the cheery accordion somehow lacks.
The baritone guitar that forms the intro to 'Blue Sky Falls' and the heavy bits in 'Kracklite', which, falling pitchwise as it does somewhere between a bass and a guitar, can lead to hours lost trying to perfect the solo from 'Wichita Lineman'; and my kalimba, which gave me blisters like golf balls on my thumb as I assembled the verses to 'Blakefield Gold'.
All of which, perhaps, is a little more detail than anyone needed. But as I proof read this, in between winces, my eyes are drawn to the phrase 'joy in sound'. That's what unites my record collection, my own music and my being the owner of two very ordinary ears in an extraordinary world of noise. It might deprive me of sleep on some nights, and of patience when it all arrives at once, but it never deprives me of inspiration.
Sweet Billy Pilgrim release Crown & Treaty, the follow up to their Mercury nominated album, on 30th April 2012.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
HistoryPoints News
Railway tragedy in Pwllheli
Pwllheli station is a place of happy memory for countless holidaymakers, but it was a scene of tragedy in 1889 when a talented young musician fell under the wheels of a train ...
while the platform was packed with people returning from the Gwynedd eisteddfod. Pianist Catherine Ann Parry, aged 18, had been accompanying a choir at the eisteddfod and was jostled by the crowd behind her. For more about the station's history - including the relocation of Pwllheli's shoreline for the railway's extension to the town-centre station site - use your mobile to scan the HistoryPoints QR codes on the information board outside the station entrance. Or click here


text:
Trend Continuation
Wait for BCR of the supply and demand on the 4hr and execute long after the continuation of three bullish candles. Risk accordingly
AUD weak. USD strong. Trend continuation
Wait for the retest of 200 EMA & S&D zone on 15min. Wait for 3 continuation red candles with momentum and take the trade. RR ratio 1.6 i risk 0.5% Trade safe. Don't follow blindly.
EURAUD Short
Daily gap trade idea. Waiting for a break and close beneath the 50 EMA on the 15 min Chart.
8EMA Daily Gap close
4Hr TF: Price above 8EMA 1Hr TF: BCR of 50EMA in progress. Wait for it to be complete 15min TF: Wait for BCR of 50EMA + 3 Continuation candles + Sniper criteria Please note: Daily Gap closes require patience, do not take any short cuts and let the criteria come on side. Risk accordingly, trade safe. Good luck
Trend Continuation
AUD weak. USD strong. Trend continuation
EURAUD Short
8EMA Daily Gap close
Andrew LockwoodX30+ years experience
Started in the trading pits of London with some of the biggest traders in the world. Migrated to screen trading around 2005 now trades full time focusing on FX, Indices, commodities.
Max NorburyX10+ years experience
Max is a diligent and pro-active individual with a wealth of experience in technical and fundamental analysis, high-probability trading and mentoring within the financial markets. He has also has a variety of non-accredited analytical certifications.
Mark BennellX15+ years experience
Certified Financial Technician (CFTe), Diploma of Technical Analysis, Diploma of Share Trading and Investment. 14+ yrs trading experience. Focus on the process and the money will follow.
Featured Mentor
Join now for a 7 days free trial. Share your trading idea and get feedback from the mentors.unlock comments


text:
Due to the residential nature of the Castle, entrance is via guided tour only. Tours have limited spaces. The tour times shown are a general guide as it is sometimes necessary to cancel tours at short notice due to student and commercial activities.
Check tour times online
Durham Castle is a working building and tours maybe cancelled last minute so check with Palace Green Library on 0191 334 2932 or the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre on 0191 334 3805, or by email firstname.lastname@example.com.
During term-time: every afternoon at 1.15pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm. Full details of the term dates are on Durham University website www.durham.ac.uk/dates.
During university vacations: daily 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm, 2.15pm, 2.45pm, 3.15pm, 3.45pm, 4.15pm.
Please note that the Castle is closed for fresher's week at the beginning of October, congregation in the middle of January and at the end of June and the festive season from late December till early January each year.


text:
Stocks Stumble on Rocky Budget Talks
Investors flocked to the safe end of the stock market for a second session, as they looked for signs from Washington that lawmakers would push forward on talks on a budget deal. Brendan Conway has details on The News Hub. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... on now for a quick look at the markets to the big ball that about ninety points on the Dow point seven percent down ... the Nasdaq point three percent down a diamond mine points on the SB down by awful to send it ... on the cusp of fourteen hundred that we got Brendan Conway patterns columnist joining us on the site to explain you'll see less ... make minority out of money as you do all the time ... so ... stock indexes today had been trucking along small gains and losses for its increasing economic data this morning ... this afternoon part of that was the ... housing data from the acetate ... sheet a Shiller index which is a pretty good about yet on any kids yet is that that that is a very encouraging reading for a lot of folks you know a lot of homes are still underwater ... in life interests are still well below you know really wanted the that their home equity ... you to see that's ... going to help sentiment ... speaking of sentiment there is also consumer sentiment gauge ... which pre date ... you know we didn't see any really kind of ... big negative arcane seen the impact that that was the Pirie Regional ... Aiden driven I'm told by the drop in gasoline prices on the back of Impala all back and people see fell by one or not ... I mean what's up trying to get caught yes I mean on the inside sentiment is not you know kind of falling noticeably even though you have this fiscal ... cliff issues that are Starner rattled the markets ... on their office and durable goods data this morning to basically not going to Vermont and a long coat of durable goods out of the things that last more than a couple years ... By has a riotous ... on things like that yet strip of autos for other transportation which is to ... fairly bullet aisle and this is a solid number I mean I mean ... you need it soundly beat what coach are expecting so that on the market was positive ... Intel the second ... a toss up midway in coming weeks ... said something like Harry Reid ... and also his GOP counterparts ... in the Senate they basically came as Mr McConnell McConnell ... me told me yet ... that ... did very little progress on the so-called fiscal cliff nondecision West taxes aseptic ovens and government spending is set to be slashed ... in any studs Kion's this summer because I'm you know ... one fifty nine if an agreement is reached to read the same as brittle products he said there's very little progress on the market kind of you know ... lost its mojo for the day they sent me back to me said no no wait wait I'm still optimistic things will still be okay with that and I spent the time I mean they're starting the finger pointing ... at the end and that is our demand is low and that you're putting on the back of the rate I basically say that so it was ... when both leaders of this and already are starting the finger pointing he retell it so that's it says this business right out of it to that ... so it has something they always leave this to the last minute yes I mean it scientists began to check in the finest nominee stand on the front ... and you know ... the Swan and jumps of the chicken ... you know some of the market ... likes to give Washington the benefit of doubt write ... the market likes to think that Washington will solve its problems and that ... and that you know ... analysts can go back to ... looking at PE ratios and ... other things that they liked look at when the analyze fundamentals ... I did this I frankly partially don't think it's can happen ... this deadline at the end of the year is going to creep up on some fast ... in part because ... Washington has a hard time getting anything done ... in three or four weeks under normal circumstances much less the Christmas holiday urging ... much less with the lame duck ... aam but I'd I think the markets are strong were were going to have another sell off ... we headed of for us to chronicle my saying the market is wrong thank you my much time playing a rummage or the plush having Brandon


text:
Starbursts in Dwarf Galaxies are a Global Affair
(PhysOrg.com) -- Bursts of star making in a galaxy have been compared to a Fourth of July fireworks display: They occur at a fast and furious pace, lighting up a region for a short time before winking out.
But these fleeting starbursts are only pieces of the story, astronomers say. An analysis of archival images of small, or dwarf, galaxies taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope suggests that starbursts, intense regions of star formation, sweep across the whole galaxy and last 100 times longer than astronomers thought. The longer duration may affect how dwarf galaxies change over time, and therefore may shed light on galaxy evolution.
"Our analysis shows that starburst activity in a dwarf galaxy happens on a global scale," explains Kristen McQuinn of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and leader of the study. "There are pockets of intense star formation that propagate throughout the galaxy, like a string of firecrackers going off." According to McQuinn, the duration of all the starburst events in a single dwarf galaxy would total 200 million to 400 million years.
These longer timescales are vastly more than the 5 million to 10 million years proposed by astronomers who have studied star formation in dwarf galaxies. "They were only looking at individual clusters and not the whole galaxy, so they assumed starbursts in galaxies lasted for a short time," McQuinn says.
Dwarf galaxies are considered by many astronomers to be the building blocks of the large galaxies seen today, so the length of starbursts is important for understanding how galaxies evolve.
"Astronomers are really interested to find out the steps of galaxy evolution," McQuinn says. "Exploring these smaller galaxies is important because, according to popular theory, large galaxies are created from the merger of smaller, dwarf galaxies. So understanding these smaller pieces is an important part of filling in that scenario."
McQuinn's team analyzed archival Advanced Camera for Surveys data of three dwarf galaxies, NGC 4163, NGC 4068, and IC 4662. Their distances range from 8 million to 14 million light-years away. The trio is part of a survey of starbursts in 18 nearby dwarf galaxies.
Hubble's superb resolution allowed McQuinn's team to pick out individual stars in the galaxies and measure their brightness and color, two important characteristics astronomers use to determine stellar ages. By determining the ages of the stars, the astronomers could reconstruct the starburst history in each galaxy.
Two of the galaxies, NGC 4068 and IC 4662, show active, brilliant starburst regions in the Hubble images. The most recent starburst in the third galaxy, NGC 4163, occurred 200 million years ago and has faded from view.
The team looked at regions of high and low densities of stars, piecing together a picture of the starbursts. The galaxies were making a few stars, when something, perhaps an encounter with another galaxy, pushed them into high star-making mode. Instead of forming eight stars every thousand years, the galaxies started making 40 stars every thousand years, which is a lot for a small galaxy, McQuinn says. The typical dwarf is 10,000 to 30,000 light-years wide. By comparison, a normal-sized galaxy such as our Milky Way is about 100,000 light-years wide.
About 300 million to 400 million years ago star formation occurred in the outer areas of the galaxies. Then it began migrating inward as explosions of massive stars triggered new star formation in adjoining regions. Starbursts are still occurring in the inner parts of NGC 4068 and IC 4662.
The total duration of starburst activity depends on many factors, including the amount of gas in a galaxy, the distribution and density of the gas, and the event that triggered the starburst. A merger or an interaction with a large galaxy, for example, could create a longer starburst event than an interaction with a smaller system.
McQuinn plans to expand her study to a larger sample of more than 20 galaxies. "Studying nearby dwarf galaxies, where we can see the stars in great detail, will help us interpret observations of galaxies in the distant universe, where starbursts were much more common because galaxies had more gas with which to make stars," McQuinn explains.
McQuinn's results appeared in the April 10 issue of The Astrophysical Journal.
Provided by European Space Agency (news : web)
Explore further


text:
Fund: Trident Capital
Posted by Robert H Shellman on 2007-10-15
I am the CEO of a rapidly growing company in the transportation supply chain BPO space. Our transportation freight under management will exceed $600 million this year and net revenues grow by 30% annually.
Four and half years ago we launched the company with a $20M funding from the VC community. All CEO's are often very lonely in negotiating/deciding a deal structure and selecting the lead and follow-on investors. I would recommend minimizing the number of investors and the size of the Board. It can be very difficult working with a large number of diverse personalities as well as wasting precious time trying to gain alignment among the various Board members.
We were lucky to have several lead term sheets and many interested follow-on investors. You need to be very careful when selecting a lead as this will drive the rest of the process for good or bad. We were fortunate enough to have selected Trident Capital as the lead investor and have been exceptionally pleased with both the initial closing process and the continual support in all categories. They were efficient on the due diligence and provided significant insight for deal structure. Most important they were flexible in accommodating deal modifications that we believed were important. Trident has continued to facilitate/support the company as we invest for growth and international expansions. The Trident partner on our transaction was Venetia Kontogouris.PRIVATE: Members Only (214 Characters)


text:
This just in. The Chevy Camaro will be re-branded Ke Mai Luo for sales in China. As far as we can tell, it either means "Ministry of Running to Catch Something," or "a subordinate in a gang of bandits."
GM's prepping the Camaro-in-China message ahead of the car's China launch at the Shanghai auto show next month. The base model Ke Mai Luo with a 3.6-liter engine will be priced around RMB 500,000, or US$76,295.
GM says the Camaro's "masculine design" will join China's Euro-dominated luxury sports car market, which grew 141% in 2010.


text:
Free Kindle Book: How To Purify Water
NOTE: The Kindle books we post on Survivalist Daily may only be free for a limited time. If you click the link below and this is not free then I'm afraid you missed the author's special offer this time around. To make sure you get notified next time a Kindle book is made available for free, make sure you like Survivalist Daily on Facebook.
How To Purify Water
Click Here To Download Your Free Copy Now
Don't own a Kindle yet? Don't worry. You can still read Kindle books by downloading Kindle For PC. It's free. All of your Kindle purchases and freebies will be downloaded to your computer for you to read at home. You can also download the Kindle Reader app to your iPhone or iPad too.
Want to own a Kindle? You can buy a Kindle for as little as $69 now so you can take your books with you everywhere you go.
Remember that these offers are available for a very limited period of time. So if you visit the link above and it's no longer free, then I'm afraid you missed out this time so like us on Facebook to make sure you don't miss out next time.


text:
The Sunoikisis Undergraduate Research Symposium, hosted at Harvard University's Center for Hellenic Studies in December, 2012, included a panel on "Research on manuscripts of the Homer Multitext project." Video of the session was recently posted on vimeo. The panel was planned as a single, continuous presentation, split across four videos. This page from the Holy Cross Manuscripts, Inscriptions and Documents Club links the four videos from the panel in sequence.
Page updated: on the linked pages, a link to a fifth video of the q/a discussion following the panel has now been added. The undergraduate panellists' responses to questions from the audience may be more impressive than the formal presentations.


text:
With winter fast approaching, colder temperatures will soon turn our lakes, ponds and streams into a winter wonderland. Though they can provide wonderful recreational opportunities, it is important to use caution and be aware of the potential dangers that these icy conditions can bring. Here …Continue Reading Ice Safety Awareness
We want to hear from you. Connect with us.


text:
Artists2artists Social Network
Brought to you by ArtDeadline.Com
Added by Valaria Davis
0 Comments
Join Artists2artists Social Network
Welcome toArtists2artists Social Network
Sign Upor Sign In
Or sign in with:
Ms Kristen T. Woodward critiques of members art.
Superfine! Art Fair
Sell @ 100 Galleries: Annual Sales Festival
11th Annual Manifest Prize
NYC4PA Black & White 2020
Color Photography: 2020
B.J. Spoke Gallery' Expo 40
CAGO 2020 Open/No Theme Online Art Competition
WHY: An International Call for Works of Art About Causation
WHEN: An International Call for Works of Art About Timing
WHAT: An International Call for Works of Art About Specificity
Added by A2a Editor
2 Comments
2017-2020 All Rights Reserved - All images, information, text, and html found within this site and on individual artist pages, may not be copied, reproduced, modified, or distributed without prior written consent of content owner.
Member Terms of Service
© 2020 Created by A2a Editor.
Powered by
Badges |
Report an Issue |
Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
So you've spent a few grand on a Vertu phone, but need something else to illustrate just how much of a high roller you are. Would a matching Vertu pen, Bluetooth headset and memory card reader do the job?
Sold together under the 'V Collection' title, the pricing hasn't been confirmed yet but we don't need to tell you it'll be more than the average phone costs.
Looking much like the ballpoint pen included in the collection, the Bluetooth 2.1 headset has six hours of talktime, and features a fold-out earpiece with metal ear loop for attaching to your hearing-hole. The memory card reader, which also looks like a pen, only reads microSD cards so won't be of much help to digital camera users unless they use a microSD card adapter too. [Vertu V Collection via SlashGear]


text:
NTSB suggests cutting legal BAC level
Board believes lowering BAC could save more lives
The National Transportation Safety Board wants states to make major changes to DUI laws, drastically cutting the blood-alcohol level which is considered drunk from the current .08 percent. News 8's Jim Sinkovitz explains.
It's only a recommendation to states at this time to prevent more alcohol-related deaths and injuries on the roadways, but the recommendations are causing serious concern to the State Restaurant and Lodging Association.
The NTSB believes lowering the blood-alcohol legal limit could save another 1,000 lives a year in alcohol-related accidents on the highways and prevent thousands of injuries.
Critics said the recommendation is draconian and would only criminalize perfectly responsible behavior.
"That is not going to take the drunk drivers off the road. They're still going to have a problem. What it is going to do, I fear, is discourage responsible consumers from going out to a bar, a restaurant, hotel and having a glass of wine with their dinner," said Pat Conway, with the PA Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Conway calls the recommendation unreasonable and says it raises serious concerns.
The NTSB has no authority to change the law -- that would be left up to the states or the U.S. Transportation Department. To our knowledge, there is no legislation yet in Pennsylvania that would lower the legal blood alcohol limit.


text:
Q&A With "Prints Charming" Author Rebeca Seitz
- Staff Christianbook.com
- 2007 6 Mar
Wife, mother, scrapbooker, p.r. firm owner and writer Rebeca Seitz is the author of "Prints Charming" (West Bow Publishing).
In "Prints Charming," Jane Sandburg turns to her Sisters, Ink scrapbooking friends for support after her divorce. But just when things are looking up – she convinces the girls to turn their hobby into a business and she has a new romantic interest – her ex-husband returns! He says he's changed and won't hurt her again. But can her scrapped marriage be recycled?
In this author interview, Rebeca talks about how she created "Prints Charming," writing, her love for scrapbooking and much more. …
How did you come up with the concept for "Prints Charming"?
You know, I often say that novelists are just socially acceptable schizophrenics. We walk around with characters talking to us all day. I even argue with mine! When the editor at Thomas Nelson told me of the need for fiction geared toward scrapbookers, Jane and Lydia began talking in my head. By the time I got home from my lunch with that editor, there was a full-fledged scene happening. I rushed upstairs to my laptop and started typing – barely able to keep up with those two!
Then, out of nowhere, Jake walks through the parking lot and Jane opens her car door onto him. I thought, "Where'd you come from?" I had no idea at that point he would play such a pivotal role in the story!
I'd like to say I sat down, wrote an outline, and was very organized about the whole thing. But that would be the other voice in my head talking.
Is any part of "Prints Charming" factual?
Oh, wow, what a question. Yes, there are parts of it that are based in reality. The Mari character is based on my best friend, who is from Puerto Rico and now lives in Florida. I was calling Mari all day long for a couple of weeks asking, "What pet name do you have for John? What pet name would you call your daughter? How do I say this in Spanish?" I think I wore her out, but she's so patient with me she never gave a hint of it. Gracias, mi amiga.
Jake is, of course, based on my wonderful romance with my husband. When I needed the scene where Jake gives a gift to Jane, I went to Charlie (my hubby) and described the situation. The AOL cds were completely his idea. He's truly that amazing about speaking to me in my love language – gifts. I tend to need something tangible to hold and point to so that I can say, "There, I know he loves me because I'm holding proof of it in my hand." I guess all of the characters start in the reality of my existence and grow from there. Sol Stein spoke to this in his fabulous book, "Stein On Writing." He tells writers that readers don't want to read about boring, ordinary people. They want to read about extraordinary people or extraordinary circumstances. That's what makes a story compelling and entertaining.
So, I took my ordinary experiences and embellished them to be extraordinary. Suddenly, my brother-in-law sports fan became a sports fanatic and the character of Dale was born, etc.
How closely is "Prints Charming" based on your life?
Well, I'm as much of a scrapbooking nut as these girls. I have a scrapbooking studio here at my house and so do some of my friends and my sister. I LOVE getting together with other women to scrapbook. I can just feel the creativity in the room when we're all focused on creating our layouts or positioning our pictures just so.
When I lived in Nashville, I got together with my two good friends Deonne and Danielle to scrapbook. We'd all get together after work. Danielle would bring her husband and two kiddos and everybody would meet somewhere for dinner – usually O'Charleys because the kids eat free. Then we'd go back to my house to my scrapping studio and scrap until the husbands told us to call it a night. We've all moved away from Nashville now. Deonne's up in Michigan and Danielle's out in Colorado. But we send each other scrapping-related gifts and talk at least once a week. We're even putting together a trip to the next Making Memories sale in Salt Lake City. Now THAT will be fun!
How long did "Prints Charming" take you to complete?
I had to chuckle when I read this. Do you mean the first time I wrote it or the second time? Ha ha! The first time was seven weeks. Then the most fabulous editor in the universe, Karen Ball, was hired to read it. She came back to me with 18 single-spaced pages of suggestions and changes. The main thing? The story was good, but it'd be even better if it took place a year later. A year later!
I nearly had a heart attack. The book was due in 7 days. Moving the timeline would necessitate almost an entire re-write. But Karen's suggestions were dead-on. I knew it would be a better book if I made the changes. So, I got to work.
On the seventh day of re-writing (I scrapped nearly everything but the first chapter), I was still needing about 10,000 words and I was tired. I got an instant message from a friend of mine, Kathleen Y'Barbo, who was working for my publicity firm at the time and who knew about my re-writing frenzy. She asked how it was going and I told her I thought I'd finally found something I couldn't do. Something that I had promised I would do, but in reality I proved to be incapable.
Kathleen kicked my tail through the IM box. She told me to unplug my laptop and turn off the phone, go out to my porch, and sit my behind down and write until I was done. She told me I could do this and I would do this. It was just what I needed.
I emailed the finished manuscript that afternoon to my publisher – and promptly consumed 40,000 pounds of chocolate in celebration.
Do you have a favorite character? Why?
Jane's my favorite because she's a lot like me. Jake's my favorite because he's a lot like my wonderful hubby. Mac's my favorite because she's a mix of my mother and another good friend. Lydia's my favorite because she's quite a bit like my sister. Mari's my favorite because she shares many things with my best friend. Wilson Wellington is my favorite because, in reality, I've had him by my side for five years. He's the best dog in the world!
How much research did "Prints Charming" take?
Not too much since I've been a scrapper for nearly a decade. I already knew the ins and outs of the scrapping world. I did, however, have to do some research about juvenile delinquents and young adult offenders so that I could accurately write Tabitha's character. And I had to bug Mari for hours on end to brush up on my Spanish skills again.
Do you prefer to write contemporary fiction? Why?
Definitely! The stories that play in my head begin in the world in which I live. Last week, I was at the beach in Naples, Florida visiting my in-laws (lovely people!). I was all relaxed on a warm beach towel, hearing the sound of seagulls in the air, enjoying the beautiful picture of my toddler and husband playing in the breaking waves in front of me, when I caught an incredible sight out of the corner of my eye.
About 15 yards down the beach, an elderly woman in a black bathing suit was standing at the water's edge. She was leaning forward, hands on hips, and her posture clearly indicated she wanted to go into the water. I watched her for a few seconds, wondering if she would get up the nerve to go in. (The water is pretty cold this time of year.) Then I watched an elderly man stand up in the water, step over a breaking wave, and reach out for her hand. He was wearing black and white trunks and had that paunch that nearly all old men have. But the way he took her hand … It took my breath. When she put her hand in his, every ounce of hesitation left her posture. She stepped right on into that water as if she'd never thought of staying on dry ground. I watched her make her way across the breaking waves and out into the calmer waters, never letting go of his hand.
Those are the scenes that my mind captures and spins stories with. I put my book down (it was a Dean Koontz book – man, can he write!) and let my imagination run with all the possibilities of story captured in the scene I had just witnessed. Were they a couple who had been married for decades, weathering the death of their children, retiring here in sunny Naples? Did she have a long-held fear of water that today, for the first time in her long life, she had decided to overcome? Or were they newlyweds? Did they meet two months ago and get married in Vegas? Was he the flamboyant one who fell in love with a shy girl from Florida? So many possibilities!
What are some of the challenges you face as an author?
My main challenge is balance. I own Glass Road PR, the only publicity firm in the country dedicated solely to representing novelists writing from a Christian worldview. Our staff is currently handling about 50 books, which makes for a ton of plates to keep spinning in the air! I'm also a wife and mom who takes her responsibilities and familial blessings seriously. I travel around the country speaking at writers conferences about publicity and meeting with media representatives. Every two months, I go to Atlanta to film the fiction episodes for Deeper Shopping TV, which airs to 55 million homes in Europe and the UK and here in America via Faith TV on the Sky Angel Satellite system. This year, I also start school again to obtain my Masters in Mass Communications. Oh, and we're busily renovating a 107-year-old house we purchased in 2005.
It's a busy life and the opportunities for exhaustion and burnout abound. But I like my life that way – full, crazy, exciting. I have an amazing husband who helps me juggle it all, who brings me cookies when I need a sugar burst and apples when I don't. And, in the odd moment when I stop to think about the flurry of activity that is my life, I'm humbled and amazed that God lets me do any of this. Me, a kid who grew up in a town of 300 people on the family farm! Who wiled away her days hiding out in the barn with a Nancy Drew book in hand! God just astounds me. The very idea that He cared enough to give me breath, to listen to me when I cried out to Him – how could I say no to anything He brings me? When my very existence rests in His hands? I just couldn't. If He deems me worthy of completing a task, then I trust He's got the energy reserves to give me and will dole them out as I need them. For thirty years, he's been doing just that.
Are there any other new projects on the horizon?
Yep! I'm currently working on a series of books for scrapbookers.
What advice would you give to a person trying to become a fiction writer?
Invest in Diet Mello Yello. Seriously. It's the only way to go. Okay, I'm kidding.
I'd tell you to be prepared for a long path and make sure this is what God is calling you to do (not your ego). Fiction writing ain't easy, folks. As soon as you think you're finished, some editor will come along and tell you to re-write the whole thing. Or some reviewer will rip your book to shreds.
If it's a mission God has called you to, though, then those things are just part of the path He has set you on. Thank Him for the lessons He's allowing you to learn in those situations. Be grateful that He's sharpening you because that's what He does with those whom He chooses to use.
What message would you like your readers to take away from "Prints Charming"?
You remember the story of Naomi and Ruth in the Bible? Or Mary and Elizabeth? Do you recall how important those women were to each other? When Mary found out she was pregnant with the Christ-child, she headed straight to Elizabeth to share the good news! We women are given the gift of relationship and I think it's important that we not neglect that gift. I'm more than a mom and wife. I am those things because God made me woman. And part of being woman is being a friend – a good friend – a friend in times of trouble and laughter. My life has been so enriched by my girlfriends over the years and I know that's because, when I chose to believe in Jesus, He promised to show me how to live. How to have life abundantly. Part of that abundance is the bond of sisterhood. I hope my readers will learn about that in Prints Charming and treasure – or form – their own friendships with other women.
What is your goal or mission as a writer?
Oh, shoot. I'm supposed to be organized enough to have goals?! That's it. I quit. Seriously, when I'm writing, I just want to be beside God when I'm typing. I love the mystery of creation – both God's creation of this world and His partnership with me in the creation of the story of "Prints Charming." It's an awesome endeavor to undertake and an extremely cool way to reflect that I'm made in the Creator's image.
© 2007 Christianbook.com. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Find what you're looking for at Christianbook.com. Shop for books, Bibles, videos, music, homeschooling resources, software, clothing, gifts and more. Daily discounts, too!


text:
Skip to comments.
|Free Republic 4th Qtr 2020 Fundraising Target: $88,000
|Receipts & Pledges to-date: $27,665
|Woo hoo!! And we're now over 31%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.
Posted on 01/22/2014 11:12:30 AM PST by Jim Robinson
We are reminded as we pass the 41st anniversary of Roe v Wade of where the immoral godless extremism of the liberal/progressive movement leads. Roe is responsible for the slaughter of more than 55 million babies in our country - more than 1.3 million a year. Life has been the standard for all civilized societies throughout the history of mankind. With few exceptions, only in godless totalitarian societies run by ruthless kings or dictators would you find governments wantonly slaughtering millions of its own citizens. In modern times that would be leftist/fascist dictators such as Lennon, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, etc. Strange that communist totalitarian societies like Russia and China are moving away from their failed anti-capitalist, anti-freedom, anti-God policies while American progressives and liberals are stepping up their goal of removing God from our public life and curtailing more and more of our God-given freedoms while replacing them with anti-capitalist, anti-freedom policies and tighter and tighter centralized government control over society.
When a government or society abandons God and reduces the value of human life to that of a common animal with no soul, then history proves that said government will treat humans accordingly. Man will be herded, enslaved, used as beasts of burden and slaughtered at will by ruthless, Godless, soulless totalitarians.
This is where the godless extremism of leftism always leads. Yes, they want to kill God. They want to say man has no soul. Man is just another animal that crawled out of the sea and onto the ground. That modern man has overpopulated the planet is now killing mother earth, so modern man must be brought under control.
Leftist extremism will do the job. Thus the rush to deprive us of our religious freedom. To slaughter millions of our innocent unborn children and for we the people to accept that as normal and not extreme. To force on us the obvious extremism of same sex marriage to erode away and ultimately destroy the foundations of our society, the basic family unit. The family structure is to be replaced by government. And we the people are to accept that as normal and not extreme.
They are busily destroying our economic freedoms. Capitalism is bad. Free enterprise is bad. Profit is a bad word. Socialism is good. All the good we have ever known is now evil and must be replaced by what we've always known is truly evil.
Nationalism is bad. National pride is bad. National sovereignty is bad. Borders must be erased. Free governments must be weakened or destroyed. To save the planet, we must have one umbrella entity controlling all. A United Nations movement to control mankind and save the planet.
To accomplish the above, the people obviously must be disarmed and the evil guns collected and destroyed. The church must be destroyed. God must be airbrushed out. The basic family unit destroyed. Patriotism and constitutional principles must no longer be taught in school. Freedom will only be a memory in old men's dreams, then eventually blanked out forever.
We've seen it all before. We've read the book. We know where it ends.
Conservatives are people who wish to defend traditional American values and our American heritage. We wish to conserve the constitution. Restore limited government. Restore our God-given freedom. This is not racism and not extremism. The extremists are the liberal progressives who wish to destroy freedom. Destroy God. Destroy America. Destroy life.
Our wannabe dictator is making great strides in his stated goal of fundamentally transforming America from a free Republic to a communist police state. ObamaCare alone has nullified our constitution, killed our economy and crippled our nation. Now he wants to step up his campaign of spying on we the people. Not satisfied with simply politicizing the IRS, EPA, NSA, etc, he's now weaponizing them to use against us. The Marxist usurper stated early on that he wanted to build a civilian army more powerful than the military--and he's doing it. He's building his own personal police force to enforce HIS rule while actively purging our military of any high ranking officers who disagree with him. He's openly bragging about ignoring the congress. The congress has ceded all power to Obama and he owns the courts. Obama is busily building the statist/fascist totalitarian regime that only a dictator could love.
Now, ironically, he invokes the American Revolution, patriotism and the constitution to step up his power grabs and his fascist domestic spying programs. Obama has now issued a directive telling the congress what HE'S going to do. If the congress does not act, he promises to bypass the constitutional legislative process and move his leftist agenda on his own, unconstitutionally, by executive decree and through the unelected, unaccountable "rule-making" federal bureaucracy.
The Marxist usurper and his godless/extremist socialist democrat party have effectively declared war against the constitution, the states, and the citizens of the U.S. And the congress tucks tail and does nothing. The courts look the other way and do nothing. It's up to we the people.
No surrender, no retreat!!
We are the resistance. Do not submit to tyranny. Do not meekly give up your Liberty. Do not comply!!
Lets keep those cards and letters coming in folks. We need your support now more than ever. Time to turn this thing around.
FUBO!! You want my freedom, come and take it!!
Please click the secure server link above or donate by mail to: Free Republic - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Make it a monthly if you can. We have some very generous FReeper sponsors kicking in an extra ten bucks for every new monthly signed up. We already have 12 new monthly donors this quarter.
Or send in a hundred dollars or more per quarter and join I_be_tc's growing list of 300 Club patriots. I_be_tc sends in $100 per quarter and challenges 300 others to do the same. And we have received 48 donations of $100 or more so far this quarter. If we could get 300 FReepers to send in $100 per quarter, these FReepathons would complete much faster.
Help us keep freedom alive!!
Thank you all very much!!
God bless.
Bumping that new FReepathon thread!
please click the pic
~Ronald Reagan
please click the pic
help support the most conservative online site!
There is a consistency in the Old Testament where the defining lines and battle lines were whether the children were given to Molech, made to pass through the fire.
This is the struggle og human history. Those who sacrifice their children vs those who know it as the abomination it is.
We are on the wrong side since Roe and it shows.
~Ronald Reagan
please click the pic
help support Free Republic
"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable Rights; that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
~Thomas Jefferson
"I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born."
~Ronald Reagan, quoted in New York Times, 22 September 1980
Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!
Dang stalkers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
I've never made scones before -- in fact, I don't believe I've ever had a real scone before. Sure, I've made muffin-like scones {lemon blueberry ones!}, but not real scones. The kind you buy in the coffee shop scones.
A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a friend asking me if I had a recipe for Maple Oat Scones -- and I set out on a quest to develop a recipe for such a request.
These were delightful to enjoy with a warm cup of apple honey tea on a sunny fall Saturday morning! Perfect for before and after our morning walk ;-)
Hey... Pippin says there are first and second breakfasts, right?!
Maple Oat Scones - Finding Joy in My Kitchen
{Print Recipe}
1 egg
1/2 C buttermilk
1/4 C maple syrup
2 1/4 C white whole wheat flour
1/2 C quick cooking oats
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 T butter, cubed
1/4 - 1/2 C powdered sugar
1/8 C maple syrup
1 T milk
Mix together egg, buttermilk and maple syrup.
Then, in another bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the moist ingredients.
Then, slowly add the cubed butter to the mixing batter and allow the dough to knead for 5ish minutes. I used my mixer to do this.
Shape the dough into a ball, and then freeze for 5 minutes.
Then, roll the dough flat into a large rectangle.
Roll up the dough and press with your hands to flatten. The dough should now resemble a rectangle.
Slice the rectangle into 4 equal portions.
Cut each portion diagonally in half.
Place the halves onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 425 for 18 minutes, until scones are lightly browned.
Meanwhile, mix the powdered sugar, syrup and milk together to form a glaze.
Drizzle over the warm scones and serve.
This recipe is linked to:


text:
As of December 2004, occupational exposure to HIV has resulted in 57 documented cases of HIV seroconversion among healthcare personnel (HCP) in the United States. To prevent transmission of HIV to healthcare personnel in the workplace, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following recommendations.
Preventive Strategies
Healthcare personnel should assume that the blood and other body fluids from all patients are potentially infectious. They should therefore follow infection control precautions at all times.
These precautions include:
- the routine use of barriers (such as gloves and/or goggles) when anticipating contact with blood or body fluids,
- washing hands and other skin surfaces immediately after contact with blood or body fluids, and
- the careful handling and disposing of sharp instruments during and after use.
Safety devices have been developed to help prevent needle-stick injuries. If used properly, these types of devices may reduce the risk of exposure to HIV. Many percutaneous injuries are related to sharps disposal. Strategies for safer disposal, including safer design of disposal containers and placement of containers, are being developed.
Although the most important strategy for reducing the risk of occupational HIV transmission is to prevent occupational exposures, plans for postexposure management of health care personnel should be in place. CDC has issued guidelines for the management of HCP exposures to HIV and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP): Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis (PDF) (June 29, 2001).
These guidelines outline a number of considerations in determining whether or not healthcare personnel should receive PEP and in choosing the type of PEP regimen. For most HIV exposures that warrant PEP, a basic 4-week, two-drug (there are several options) regimen is recommended. For HIV exposures that pose an increased risk of transmission (based on the infection status of the source and the type of exposure), a three-drug regimen may be recommended. Special circumstances such as a delayed exposure report, unknown source person, pregnancy in the exposed person, resistance of the source virus to antiviral agents, and toxicity of PEP regimens are also discussed in the guidelines. Occupational exposures should be considered urgent medical concerns.
Building Better Prevention Programs for Health Care Workers
Continued work in the following areas is needed to reduce the risk of occupational HIV transmission to healthcare personnel:
Administrative efforts. All healthcare organizations should train HCP in infection control procedures and on the importance of reporting occupational exposures. They should develop a system to monitor reporting and management of occupational exposures.
Develop and promote the use of safety devices. Effective and competitively priced devices engineered to prevent sharps injuries are needed for HCP who frequently come into contact with potentially HIV-infected blood and other body fluids. Proper and consistent use of such safety devices should be evaluated.
Monitor the effects of PEP. More data are needed on the safety and acceptability of different regimens of PEP, particularly those regimens that include new antiretroviral agents. Furthermore, improved communication prior to treatment about possible side effects and close follow-up of HCP receiving treatment are needed to increase compliance with the PEP.


text:
Rule Number Two
There are two rules of war.
--M*A*S*H: TV show
Voice Awards for Leadership and Advocacy in Trauma
Kraft was honored by SAMSHA at the 2011 Voice Awards for leadership and advocacy in trauma.
Rule Number Two
by Heidi Squier Kraft
When Lieutenant Commander Heidi Kraft's twin son and daughter were fifteen months old, she was deployed to Iraq . A clinical psychologist in the US Navy, Kraft's job was to uncover the wounds of war that a surgeon would never see. She put away thoughts of her children back home, acclimated to the sound of incoming rockets, and learned how to listen to the most traumatic stories a war zone has to offer.
One of the toughest lessons of her deployment was perfectly articulated by the TV show M*A*S*H: "There are two rules of war. Rule number one is that young men die. Rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one." Some Marines, Kraft realized, and even some of their doctors, would be damaged by war in ways she could not repair. And sometimes, people were repaired in ways she never expected.
RULE NUMBER TWO is a powerful firsthand account of providing comfort admidst the chaos of war, and of what it takes to endure.
The Poem that Started it all: The List
Early Acclaim for Rule Number Two
"Heidi Kraft has given us a rare, insightful look into today's battlefield. It is personal, emotional, and unique. She captures a perspective that only a psychologist, mother, and officer on the front lines can describe. Every American needs to read this."
-- General Anthony C. Zinni
About the Author
Heidi Squier Kraft received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of California - San Diego School of Medicine in 1996. She joined the Navy during her internship at Duke University Medical Center, serving as both a flight and clinical psychologist.
In February 2004 , Heidi Squier Kraft deployed to Iraq for seven months with a Marine Corps surgical company, when her boy and girl twins were fifteen months old. more
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund provides financial assistance to:
- Marines injured in combat and in training
- Other service members injured while in direct support of Marine units
- Their families.
This assistance is in the form of a grant with no expectation of repayment. Grants may help with immediate financial needs such as travel, childcare, lodging or problems resulting from lost wages. Assistance is also given for long term needs such as modified homes and vans.
The author will donate 10 percent of royalties she receives from sales of all Little, Brown and Company editions of this book to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.


text:
How Will Fed Policy Affect Precious Metals?
Fed policy will have a pronounced impact on the precious metals market, regardless of how much the central bank chooses to taper its bond-buying program this week. Lear Capital CEO Scott Carter joins MoneyBeat. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... it is Wednesday September a team and what are we doing on the market today with everyone knowing when to see what the Federal Reserve does a two pm today ... policy statement expected in the stocks this morning ... down a little bit worried that ... the holding pattern waiting to see what is that what the Fed does this afternoon the big story in the markets today ... you will obviously have an impact on markets everywhere not just here in the U S but even overseas for all we focus alot on on equities is going to affect other markets of all bonds obviously but also the metals market gold and silver ... regardless of how much the Central Bank chooses to taper its bond buying program this week ... we are Capital CEO Scott Carter joins us this morning from Los Angeles to talk about this ... so Scott and really only talk about equities a lot in equities reacting in the avian very fast market ... the one you looking at when you look at gold and silver what are you looking at when you think about this Fed meeting this afternoon ... well certainly it will be an important ... steps are sometimes met in a way ... makes the dollar stronger and a gold and silver is priced in dollars so ... the fact that there's been so much liquidity has been a component of white gold and silver performed well ... so there is a modest tightening there might be short-term impact but I think the reality is that ... that the Fed is still providing seventy five billion dollars a month even after a taper in its estimated ten billion seventy five billion a month ... liquidity and that's gotta be bullish for the metals market as well as equity ... but that's assuming that they cut ten billion out of bond buying with what most people think ... it will be around ... not gotten very interesting story right and he was flying was doing spectacularly ... it has fallen sharply we saw that the furnace second up to around thirteen hundred ... has it stabilized around thirteen hundred ... in my view it as it drop down to twelve seventy twelve maybe there's a lot of resistance and you will or lunch reported that level ... and they're still lot some of ... actions be had on the outside ... I think everybody's and we see though the Fed doesn't want the economy is going for ... gold as a diversification strategy has been a great component ... because the liquidity higher interest rates and a slowing economy as well as ... debt issues have been bullish for gold and silver and ... that seems to be what were expanded into the mix for five years so that's why ... they're still lot of bulls out there gold and silver ... a cafe ... a lot of people thought and the Fed and not without reason ... that when the Fed is printing this much money when the Fed is is doing this much stimulus ... that is inflationary when you look especially the United States and even overseas ... there's very little inflation going through the pipeline ... that I have to think that her golden somewhere doesn't it ... to some extent then there's two reasons ... one how we measure it is important I need ... a bit of a person knows that inflation is that gas is tired and was fine till mill ... all those things that can energy are excluded in the inflation cut to its basically everything we need to see in Le so inflation is out there and our dollar is not by as much as they did five years ago ... but ... more important thing is that a lot to be ... the the stimulus money is still sitting on the bank's balance sheet meeting it has been put into the economy ... if they start to put that into the economy to try to force growth ... then I think you can see inflation Sekoff and that will be bullish for gold silver as well ... leave it that step father thank very much for a fifth time today ... but for ... me


text:
Boston_Zhao wrote:What if he pees? They don't tell you they want to pee
NicoleBell wrote:Neptune loves to hang out me. If we are watching a movie he love to hang out under the blankets, he makes a little hideout it super cute. Neptune also will climb up and hang out my chest! ( I thought I was the only one) My turtle is very social he likes coming out the tank and hang out with people.
Return to General Care Discussion
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


text:
The Literacy Council of Williamson County is offering FREE English as a Second Language Beginning Classes from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Literacy Council Office, second floor, Round Rock Public Library. No registration is required. On the first Tuesday of each month, the class is held from 10 to 11 a.m.
The Literacy Council also offers ESL and GED information on a walk-in basis, Mondays through Saturdays, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.


text:
Contribute to ReadWriteThink / RSS / FAQs / Site Demonstrations / Contact Us / About Us
Find the latest in professional publications, learn new techniques and strategies, and find out how you can connect with other literacy professionals.
Home › Professional Development › Professional Library
Journal > Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy
Graphic Novels in the Secondary Classroom and School Libraries
|7 – 12
|November 2010
If you subscribe to Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy you can read the full article
Not a subscriber?
Subscribe now
The author examines the rise in popularity of graphic novels, the sales of which have steadily increased as their influence expands into adolescent culture. This article also includes an overview of current research results supporting the use of graphic novels within the classroom and school library; graphic novels support English-language learners and those students with reading disabilities. Finally, graphic novels are changing the language we use to frame our knowledge about literacy, text, and image.
Griffith, P.E. (2010). Graphic novels in the secondary classroom and school libraries. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(3), 181189.
Related Resources
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Students craft comic scripts using clear, descriptive, and detailed writing that shows (illustrates) and tells (directs). After peers create an artistic interpretation of the script, students revise their original scripts.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Buzz! Whiz! Bang! Using Comic Books to Teach Onomatopoeia
This lesson is sure to sizzle, not fizzle, as students use comic strips to find onomatopoetic words, develop a vocabulary list from the words, and discuss why writers use onomatopoeia.


text:
The red-carpet event and screening will take place at the Hong Kong Culture Center, which is receiving a makeover of IMAX proportions exclusively for this event – complete with a 60-by-34-foot IMAX screen and IMAX's proprietary projection and sound technology.
Attendees of the event also will be able to see up close and personal the new IMAX® 3D Digital Camera, which is being flown to the premiere from IMAX's headquarters in Toronto where it is housed. Transformers: Age of Extinction is the first feature film to have been captured using the state-of-the-art 3D camera.
Attending the world premiere in Hong Kong is director Michael Bay, cast members Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Li Bingbing, T. J. Miller, Han Geng and the band IMAGINE DRAGONS, who wrote the original song "Battle Cry" for the film and will perform live on the rooftop of Harbour City following the film's screening.
"With Transformers: Age of Extinction, Michael Bay is taking IMAX 3D to the next level - putting moviegoers smack in the middle of the action with the Autobots as audiences have never seen before," said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. "We could not be more pleased to partner with our friends at Paramount to premiere the film at this one-of-a-kind world event."
"We are thrilled to be partnering with IMAX in Hong Kong as we debut Transformers: Age of Extinction on the worldwide stage," said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman, Paramount Pictures. "IMAX's 3D experience is a perfect fit for the size and spectacle of Michael Bay's new film and will excite and entertain audiences at the world premiere and around the globe."
Exclusively in IMAX® theatres, sequences filmed with the camera will expand to fill more of the IMAX screen and provide moviegoers with even greater scope, breathtaking image quality and earth-shattering 3D for a truly immersive experience.
Transformers: Age of Extinction, the fourth film in director Michael Bay's global blockbuster franchise, stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing, Titus Welliver and T. J. Miller. Produced By Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. Based on Hasbro's Transformers™ Action Figures. Written By Ehren Kruger. Directed By Michael Bay.
Transformers: Age of Extinction is produced by Paramount Pictures, with production assistance in mainland China by 1905 (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd., China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises.
For more information about Transformers: Age of Extinction, please visit Paramount Pictures' official website at http://www.transformersmovie.com/.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of March 31, 2014, there were 840 IMAX theatres (707 commercial multiplexes, 18 commercial destinations and 115 institutions) in 57 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter ( www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube ( www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
For additional information please contact:
Business Media:
Sloane & Company – New York
Entertainment Media:
Photo -
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/MM01969LOGO
SOURCE IMAX Corporation
|IMAX Corporation
Hong Kong Culture Center
Paramount Pictures Corporation
Web: http://www.imax.com


text:
Worst Valentine's gifts you can give her
Avoid these presents for a romantic Valentine's Day
So with Valentine's Day nearly here, you've got it all figured out, right guys?
You've chosen the perfect gift that's you're sure is going to seal your spot in the boyfriend/husband Hall of Fame forever. Sure, there might be a couple Valentine's Day hiccups in your past, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that stuff, yeah?
But wait. What if you haven't learned?
How can you be sure your present will be met with adulation rather than an abhorrence that will send you straight to the couch for the night?
Before you give the woman of your dreams something along the lines of athletic socks or tickets to your favorite team's upcoming big game, stop, think it through and make sure your gift isn't one of the following worst Valentine's Day gifts ever ...
No. 5: Lingerie
Really, getting most any article of clothing for your significant other's Valentine's gift is a decision fraught with peril.
God help you if you choose the wrong size -- in either direction -- or choose something so hideous that even Snooki would have second thoughts about wearing it.
You might think you're making a grand romantic gesture, but, face it, it's more or less a gift for yourself. A good, thoughtful gift is supposed to be for her enjoyment, as much as if not more than yours, so no, that silky swatch of fabric from Frederick's of Hollywood that requires instructions for putting on just ain't going to cut it -- not this, or any, year.
If your Valentine is into lingerie, you're better off buying a gift certificate so she can go and spoil herself on your dime and get exactly what she wants. That way you'll both be happy.
No. 4: Anything that's really for yourself
Granted, that new Xbox game is beyond cool. With tons of action and eye-popping graphics, you can already see yourself slaying zombies and demons in your living room.
But unless your wife or girlfriend is a serious gamer, you better get out of electronics and hightail it to the jewelry counter.
That also goes for those new power tools, that sweet grill and that awesome framed "Cool Hand Luke" movie poster that you've had your eye on.
Any of those would prove a great Valentine's Day gift if your significant other is a female version of Bob Vila -- hopefully without the beard -- can't get enough of barbecuing or would have left you in a heartbeat for Paul Newman.
But if not, don't be that guy. Pretending that a gift you've gotten for yourself is really a romantic gesture doesn't sit well on any holiday, but it's a particularly bad Valentine's Day move.
No. 3: 'Helpful' gifts
Your Valentine might really need those jumper cables or that new vacuum cleaner, but don't expect them to jump excitedly in your arms when they open it up come Valentine's Day.
There are occasions that are perfect for helpful, useful, everyday gifts. Valentine's Day is not one of those occasions.
Yeah, it's a holiday we wouldn't be celebrating today if it weren't for the promotional efforts of jewelers, candy makers, greeting card companies and florists that stop just short of blackmail. But it's still a romantic holiday.
You want to pick out a gift that says "I love you" and "You're the most special person in the whole world to me," not, "Hey, the couch needs vacuuming under."
Put a little thought into your gift and it won't matter how much time or money spent on it, just that you were thinking of ways to show your love instead of your practical side.
No. 2: Shape up gifts
You're on your own if you are dim enough to buy the woman in your life a treadmill or any other piece of exercise equipment.
The same applies to scales, self-help books, workout DVDs, gym memberships and any other gift designed to help her "better" herself.
If there are quicker ways to derail a romantic Valentine's Day effort than planting the seeds of doubt in your better half's mind, well, we're not sure what they could be.
Valentine's Day is an opportunity to make the love of your life feel like she's beyond perfect in your mind. You want to aim for romance, unconditional love and devotion.
But the message you're sending with a fitness, diet or other self-help gift is "If you weren't such a [insert your choice of insult here], you'd be getting flowers and chocolate. Sorry, better luck next year."
Better luck to you too.
No. 1: Absolutely nothing
If your Valentine is watching her weight, candy can be an iffy proposition. Some women just aren't into jewelry and others find flowers that will soon wilt and die either depressing or a waste of money.
But even if your wife or girlfriend falls into one of those categories, you're still better off getting her one of those gifts than showing up empty-handed.
If you haven't gotten it by now, the key to a romantic Valentine's Day is expressing your love. In the end, it doesn't matter what shape that expression takes, as long as it's heartfelt.
If you can't be bothered to remember Valentine's Day with just a homemade card, a corny burned mix CD or even a simple home-cooked meal, you're telling your Valentine she wasn't worth the effort. She might just feel inclined to return the favor, but with a more direct approach.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Welcome to the California 8h the debrief.
Man was I looking forward to this event… not so much because I thought it was going to be a thriller (it was good, but in a genetic GT racing kind of way, fairly predictable) but because I wasn't sure it was actually going to happen… even a week before race day!
Why do I say that? Because this is SRO's second attempt at bringing the Intercontinental GT Challenge to America… I specifically signed up to volunteer the PWC season opener at COTA last year just for the Circuit of the America's 6 hour race… that never happened.
I am glad however that this event took place, and most importantly that it was a success! We only had 19 cars on grid, which is a low number. But the racing was good. One brand dominated… Nobody could keep up with the pace of the Audi's… not McLaren. Not Acura. And definitely not Porsche whose very reliable 911 GT3 RSR's started falling lap down first… at one point there was only four cars on the lead lap, which is silly.
Luckily the battles for first were good. Team Land Audi lead for most of the event. Belgian Team WRT took over briefly and then spun out into the kitty litter, going down a few laps by the time it was recovered. And Magnus racing saved the best for last and won. McLaren ran Okay… went down a few times but finished on the lead lap. And Acura didn't fare so well either. One of the cars DNF'ed… the other finished in fourth or so. I think all of the Porsche 911's finished a lap down. In GT4 field the Ginetta, Aston Martin and Porsche Cayman had a great battle. And the Invitational Mazda3 V8's finished a strong 9th and 10th. Which is pretty cool! Those cars were very neat… one was left hand drive, one right hand drive. And featured two shades of the Mazda famous red paint. (while being powered by a Ford Coyote 5.0 liter V8)
So what's the verdict for this event?
If it happens again, I think it would be tremendously better if more cars show up. That of course could be said about any other event, but in this case it would have made a huge difference.
Anything else they could change?
YES! I hope and pray that SRO or USAC/PWC/SFR SCCA spring up a few bucks to buy some "SC" – Safety Car boards. It was absolutely absurd waving double yellows every time there was full course caution. Who made that decision? It's Stupid! Any kind of waving yellow flag for no good reason (absent an SC board) waters down/diluted the importance of the safety aspect of waving yellow flags. How much could the boards possibly cost? Can't SRO just bring their own… I mean they already bring containers full of equipment. Bring the pink Code 60 flag along too! If I could change one thing I would have changed that first…


text:
The CIA tortured Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his fellow alleged 9/11 conspirators, a decision that, for years, jeopardized any prosecution for the deadly terror attacks. But when admitted al-Qaida member Majid Khan accepted a plea bargain at Guantanamo Bay, it practically paved the way for Wednesday's announcement of a 9/11 trial. Months from now, Khan will take the stand against "KSM" and his co-defendants – and significantly minimize, if not eliminate, the amount of evidence presented in the trial that the government obtained through cruel, inhuman or degrading measures.
According to experts in national security law, it's a tremendous win for the government. But it comes with a price. Alongside a criminal inquiry into CIA torture that concluded without recommending prosecutions, a 9/11 trial unblemished by torture will mean the U.S. government will face no consequences for employing techniques long repudiated by the civilized world.
It's largely thanks to Brig. Gen. Mark Martins that there's even a military commission for the 9/11 defendants at all. Martins, a former official at the Bagram airfield prison in Afghanistan, is the new chief prosecutor for the commissions. Unlike his predecessors, Martins approached his defendants like a criminal prosecutor: he prioritized among them, and offered deals to the smaller fish in exchange for their testimony against the larger ones.
There is no larger fish at Guantanamo Bay than KSM, the architect of the 9/11 plot. And in late February, Martins effectively announced had a viable path to prosecuting KSM: Majid Khan, a Baltimore-educated former associate of KSM also detained at Guantanamo, had agreed to a 19-year prison deal in exchange for testimony against the 9/11 conspirators. Barely a month later, the military announced it would soon put KSM and the other conspirators on trial at Guantanamo.
The two developments are intimately related. "If they have Khan and he can present on the stand under non-coercive circumstances evidence about 9/11 and evidence about the operational aspects of al-Qaida pursuant to 9/11, then the prosecution doesn't think it has to introduce evidence gained through the torture of KSM, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and the others," says Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School. "Majid Khan's testimony is not the result of torture. Therefore, you don't need KSM's confessions or anything that's arguably compromised by torture."
Under the rules of the military commissions – which were written after 9/11 for terrorism trials and have been revised many times – evidence gained through torture is supposed to be inadmissible. KSM was waterboarded 183 times in the first month of his captivity. He and his fellow 9/11 conspirators were held by the CIA for years in secret prisons where the agency used interrogation techniques that included contorting detainees' bodies in painful conditions, depriving them of sleep and sharply reducing their caloric intakes. Even though KSM confessed to playing a lead role in 9/11 years later, his confession may not be allowed to be used as evidence.
By contrast, the rules of the commissions are congenial to Khan's testimony. Khan was not party to the 9/11 plot. But military commissions allow greater flexibility to introduce hearsay evidence than civilian courts do.
Much of the prosecutorial strategy depends on how much leeway the military judge provides Martins to use Khan. Khan is not believed to have first-hand knowledge of the 9/11 plot, and interacted with KSM in 2002 about an alleged follow-on attack. But he is believed to have learned much about the plot through KSM. "I dont think he's a slam dunk," says Andrea Prasow, the chief terrorism researcher for Human Rights Watch, "but I absolutely believe the plea bargain is a huge win for the government for keeping torture out of the public view."
Additionally, Khan won't be sentenced for four years. That means the structure of the deal Martins made with Khan is effectively contingent on how Khan performs on the stand against KSM. "The incentives for Khan are so huge," Greenberg observes. "There's no deal until Khan testifies. It all happens in four years. It hangs over his head."
Before Khan testifies, the military commissions will work out the parameters of his testimony – especially what's admissible. Pre-trial hearings will begin at Guantanamo by early May at the latest. There, lawyers for the 9/11 defendants will file motions arguing for the inadmissibility of various pieces of evidence, surely to include Khan's hearsay. These pre-trial hearings typically take months.
Even if the military judge assigned to the 9/11 trial permits the vast majority of Khan's testimony, the 9/11 lawyers will still endeavor to make the torture of their clients an issue at the trial. The problem, Greenberg says, is that the deck is stacked against them, institutionally.
"Unless the Convening Authority [who runs the commissions] says we won't allow word torture, the defense will find a way to get it in," she says. "But the military commission rules give the Convening Authority a lot of leeway to introduce and exclude evidence. Even if he does exclude evidence gained through torture, the fact that the jury is picked by the judge and the commissions' office of defense works within the prosecutor's office with half the resources provide ways of stacking the system."
All that points to an underwhelming conclusion to the bitter, ten-year controversy over torture in the 9/11 Era. Last year, the Justice Department concluded an inquiry into CIA torture without recommending prosecutions in 99 out of 101 cases. If the 9/11 trial proceeds with torture as an afterthought, then the government will have faced no hinderance, consequence or reprisal from the use of a practice most of the world considers barbarous and illegal.
"There hasn't been a public accounting for torture. There hasn't been a detailed analysis about what happened and who's responsible," says Prasow. "If you don't know what happened, you can't make sure it never happens again."


text:
Let's cruise to Santa Cruz with its right point breaks, coves, rivermouths and beach breaks
For surfers, California stands alone as a mythical destination, for the many of us who have grown up absorbing its image through the surf media, a visit here can feel like a home coming. However, this mental image tends to relate more to southern California, between San Diego and Santa Barbara, than the green rugged coastline around Santa Cruz.
120k's (75mi) South of San Francisco is Monterey Bay and its beautiful underwater canyon, while the Monterey/Carmel peninsula feels much like anywhere else in central California, Santa Cruz has a unique laid-back style with many pretty neighbourhoods.