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Stranger Than Fiction is a 2006 film about an IRS agent whose tidy but empty life is abruptly changed when a mysterious voice begins to narrate his existence.
Directed by Marc Forster. Written by Zach Helm.
== Karen P. Eiffel ==
This is a story about a man named Harold Crick. And his wristwatch.
Harold Crick was a man of infinite numbers, endless calculations and incredibly few words.
And although this was an extraordinary day—a day to be remembered for the rest of Harold's life — Harold just thought it was a Wednesday.
As much as I would like to, I simply cannot throw Harold Crick off a building.
Little did he know that this simple, seemingly innocuous act would result in his imminent death.
Everyone thinks about leaping off a building.
We're imagining car wrecks!
Pneumonia. That's an interesting way to die.
Is this a joke?
I don't need a nicotine patch, Penny; I smoke cigarettes.
Like anything worth writing, it came inexplicably and without method.
Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy... in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And fortunately when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin... or a kind and loving gesture... or a subtle encouragement... or a loving embrace or an offert of comfort. Not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs... and uneaten Danish... and soft-spoken secrets... and Fender Stratocasters... and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are, in fact, here for a much larger and nobler cause: They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange. But i also know that it just so happens to be true.
== Harold Crick ==
The cookies were good. Thank you for forcing me to eat them.
I am relieved to know I am not a golem.
This may sound like gibberish, but I think I'm in a tragedy.
SHUT UP! [narrator continues] No I'm not. I'm cursing you stupid voice; so shut up and leave me alone!
I left my thimble and Socialist reading material at home.
I brought you flours.
Alright, who just said "Harold just counted brush strokes."?
== Jules Hilbert ==
You have to die. It's a masterpiece.
No one wants to die Harold, unfortunately we do. Harold, Harold listen to me. Harold, you will die, some day, some time; heart failure at the bank, choke on a mint. Some long drawn-out disease you've contracted on vacation, you will die. You will absolutely die. Even if you avoid this death, another will find you. And I guarantee, that it won't be nearly as poetic or as meaningful as what she's written. I'm sorry but it's ... it's the nature of all tragedies Harold. The hero dies, and the story goes on forever.
To Harold
Aren't you relieved to know you're not a Golem?
To Harold
It's been a very revealing 10 seconds.
'Little did he know', That means there's something he doesn't know, which means there's something you don't know, did you know that?
Meeting an insurance agent the day your policy runs out is coincidence. Getting a letter from the Emperor saying he's visiting is plot. Having your apartment eaten by a wrecking ball ... is something else entirely. Harold, you don't control your fate.
Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes.
== Ana Pascal ==
Get bent, taxman!
Apology accepted. But only because you stammered.
Anarchists have a group? ... They assemble? ... Wouldn't that defeat the whole purpose?.
== Dialogue ==
Harold: 'Harold thought it was Wednesday.' Did you hear it?
Lady at bus stop: Who's Harold?
Harold: I am.
Lady at bus stop: Don't worry Harold, it's Wednesday.Harold: What would you do if you knew you were going to die? Possibly soon...
Dave: Am I the richest man alive?
Harold: No, you're you.
Dave: Do I have superpowers?
Harold: What? No, you're you.
Dave: Well you said it was hypothetical.
Harold: All right, you're really good at math.
Dave: That's a skill, not a superpower.
Harold: Fine, you're really good at math and you're invisible. What would you do?
Dave: Easy. I'd go to space camp.
Harold: You're invisible and you'd go to space camp?
Dave: I didn't pick invisible, you picked invisible.Penny Escher: I will gladly and quietly help you kill Harold Crick.
Karen Eiffel: And this coming from someone who's never thought about leaping off a building.Penny Escher: Are you Ms. Eiffel?
Karen Eiffel: Yes.
Penny Escher: Excellent. May I ask what you're doing?
Karen Eiffel: Research.
Penny Escher: Oh. Am I interrupting?
Karen Eiffel: Yes!
Penny Escher: I'm sorry.Penny Escher: Sitting in the rain isn't going to write a book.
Karen Eiffel: That illustrates exactly how much you know about writing books.Penny Escher: And I suppose you smoked all these cigarettes?
Karen Eiffel: No, they came pre-smoked.
Penny Escher: (Under her breath) They told me that you were funny.Karen Eiffel: What's this?
Penny Escher: It's literature on the nicotine patch.
Karen Eiffel: I don't need a nicotine patch, Penny. I smoke cigarettes.Ana Pascal: You're staring at my tits.
Harold Crick: Uuh.. I wu.. I don't think I was. I don't think I would do that. If I was I can assure you, it was only as a representative of the United States Government.[Harold gives Ana bags of flour and confesses his love for her.]
Harold Crick: Miss Pascal, I've been odd and I... I know that I've been odd. And... I want you.
Ana Pascal: What?
Harold Crick: There are so many reasons, so many influences in my life that are telling me, at times quite litterally, that I should have come here and bring you these. But... but I'm doing this because I want you.
Ana Pascal: You want me?
Harold Crick: In no uncertain terms.
Ana Pascal: Isn't there some very... clearer and established... rule about... fraternization?
Harold Crick: Auditor/ auditee protocol?
Ana Pascal: Yeah!
Harold Crick: Yeah, but I don't care.
Ana Pascal: Why?
Harold Crick: Because I want you.Jules Hilbert: Married?
Harold Crick: No.
Jules Hilbert: Ever?
Harold Crick: Engaged to an auditor. She left me for an actuary.Jules Hilbert: You were right. This narrator might very well kill you. So I humbly suggest that you just forget all this and go live your life.
Harold Crick: Go live my life? I am living my life. I'd like to continue to live my life.
Jules Hilbert: I know. Of course. I mean all of it. However long you have left. You know, I mean, Howard,you could use it to have an adventure. You know, invent something, or just finish reading Crime and Punishment. Hell, Harold, you could just eat nothing but pancakes if you wanted.
Harold Crick: What's wrong with you? Hey. I don't wanna eat nothing but pancakes. I wanna live. Who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living chooses pancakes?
Jules Hilbert: Harold, if you'd pause to think. I believe you'd realize that that answer's inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led and, of course,the quality of the pancakes.
Harold Crick: You don't understand. What I'm saying.
Jules Hilbert: Yes, I do.
Harold Crick: But you have to understand that this isn't a philosophy or a literary theory or a story to me. It's my life.
Jules Hilbert:Absolutely. So just go make it the one you've always wanted.
== Taglines ==
Harold Crick isn't ready to go. Period.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
He's not crazy. He's just written that way.
Harold Crick isn't ready to go. Full Stop.
== Cast ==
Will Ferrell - Harold Crick
Emma Thompson - Karen Eiffel
Dustin Hoffman - Professor Jules Hilbert
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Ana Pascal
Queen Latifah - Penny Escher
Tony Hale - Dave
Tom Hulce - Dr. Cayly
Linda Hunt - Dr. Mittag-Leffler
Kristin Chenoweth as Book Channel host
== External links ==
Stranger Than Fiction quotes at the Internet Movie Database
Stranger Than Fiction at Rotten Tomatoes
The official Stranger Than Fiction site


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Epic Theatres of Hendersonville Showtimes
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In Harwinton, will Chiaramonte and Criss battle again for first selectman seat?
HARWINTON >> Though the Democratic and Republican town committees won't meet for another few months to put forward candidates for the town's first selectman seat, a rematch could be in the cards.
Two years ago, then-First Selectman Frank Chiaramonte, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Criss battled in a close and contentious race for the seat, with Criss coming out on top by only 30 votes, 993-963.
With his first term in office entering its final stretch, Criss said he would be excited about another term, if the town's voters want him to stay on.
"Would I love to run again? Absolutely. I've loved the job," Criss said. "But the people are paying me to work and that's my focus. There is still so much to do, things that will help this town for years to come, no matter who is in this chair."
As for Chiaramonte, he said he has barely thought about running again this year.
"It's too early in the game," said Chiaramonte. He is not even certain if he wants to stay on the board.
"We will see how things go this spring," said Chiaramonte. "When I finish this term, I will have been on the board of selectman for 12 years. That's a long time. I'm not sure how much longer I want to do it."
Regardless of his decision, Chiaramonte said this will be a critical year for him.
The town committees will go into a caucus in June to formally vote on a candidate for the race.
Before his loss last year, Chiaramonte had served as first selectman for three terms and sat on the Board of Selectmen for five terms.
While the race was heated, the fall out after Criss was announced the winner was even more spectacular.
At the time, Chiaramonte told the Register Citizen that he was disappointed at the loss. Initially, he refused to serve on the board of selectman and said, "I am not serving on the board...I don't want to serve on that board. I don't respect them, I don't like them, I don't trust them and I won't serve with those people," also referencing newly elected selectman Jon Truskauskas.
Chiaramonte was upset after signs stating "Frank's got his electricity, how come you don't?," popped up around town after the October 2011 nor'easter, days before the election.
However, Chiaramonte changed his mind and decided to retain his seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Chiaramonte explained in an interview today that he chose to take the seat after a running mate decided not to take the spot.
He explained that he decided to sit on the board of selectman because it was "important to my constituents." There were a lot of people who voted for him who wanted him to be their eyes and ears on the board, said Chiaramonte.
As far as how the term has been, Chiaramonte said, "Well, it's OK."
Criss said there was a big learning curve when he and his administration took over, because Chiaramonte refused to help.
"Normally between administrations you have couple weeks of transition. My predecessor refused to transition with me," Criss said. "But we were able to put personal things aside, listen we're going to work for the town, we rolled up our sleeves and dove right in."
Criss said he has "extended the olive branch" to the Democrats and worked well with them.
"It doesn't matter what the party affiliation is, if they have a concern or an issue, the door is always open. It doesn't matter who it is," Criss said.
Following the show that was last term's first selectman race, the obvious question is what will happen this time around?
Republican Town Committee Chairman, Candace Jones-Pacholski, said she wouldn't be surprised if Criss decided to run again.
"I can't speak for the whole town committee but speaking for myself, I think he's done a great job," said Jones-Pacholski.
She said that she has received many comments for people within Harwinton who are happy with the job Criss has done during his first term.
Criss pointed to things he has helped bring to town, like a Youth Services Bureau, which he partnered with Tom Donaldson of Torrington to get accomplished. Criss also worked to get the town's first food pantry opened.
He said he has worked well with the town's two resident troopers to make the community safer, especially by reducing speed on the roads and increasing the enforcement taken.
Criss has also focused on carrying through projects that were started before he took office, like the new ambulance building and the Harwinton House restoration.
"Being in this position, you have to put your own feelings and agenda aside," Criss said. "When people vote, you have to listen, whether it's on your plans or something you support. You support it wholeheartedly."
With another difficult budget season underway, Criss has also made a trip to Hartford to argue for more money for his small town.
"If you go down there your voice doesn't get heard," Criss said. "At least they know I was there and I voiced my concerns. If it falls on deaf ears, it falls on deaf ears. But I hope this year they listen to us, and cut us a break."
Criss said he wants to give back to the community, whether it is as first selectman or just as a town resident, but he hopes he can stay in his seat.
"My heart is here," Criss said. "Hopefully they'll choose me to run again. I'm going to continue to work hard for the community right up and through the election, and hopefully I can continue on after that, if the voter's want me to."
Reach Kate Hartman at 860-489-3121, ext. 343.


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Academic Services enriches Augusta Prep's community by offering a broad range of initiatives promoting student success, ensuring access, and enhancing the educational experience of all students. Advocating for the needs of a diverse student population by utilizing learning communities, experiential learning, and tutorial programs, Academic Services cultivates life skills critical for successful navigation through the curriculum and beyond graduation.
As an independent school, we also see the results of our services pinpointing student needs, including SAT prep and ACT prep. The average SAT score of our students rate more than 350 points higher than the national average, while ACT scores of our students average nearly 6 entire points more!
In addition, they develop:
We feel our additional services compare favorably to other area private schools – and we encourage you to ask for more information on what we do by emailing the following:
Lower School, Christi Yeager - firstname.lastname@example.com
Middle School, Amanda Riggs - email@example.com
Upper School, Samuel Gruber - firstname.lastname@example.com


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Swamp Snappers Camera Club learning cell phone photography Jan. 5
CANASTOTA -- The Swamp Snappers Camera Club will meet at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Great Swamp Conservancy, 8375 N. Main St.
A short business meeting will be followed by John Haeger presenting a program on cell phone photography. Members are reminded of their assignment, "'tis the season," and to bring photos to share for discussion.
The Swamp Snappers invite anyone interested in photography, whether beginner or advanced, to join them. The club's main focus is to learn more about photography, especially in nature.
For more information, call Eleanor at 363-1458.


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Ham House in Surrey will be hosting a series of guided tours exploring sleeping habits in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Dr Sasha Handley of Northumbria University has been researching historic sleeping patterns. She will talk about how, where and when people used to sleep in houses such as Ham.
The tours will take place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 August, at 12:15, 14:00 and 15:00. They will be open to all visitors on a first-come-first-served basis. Yawning during the tours will be actively encouraged.
51.567320 -1.799415


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A medical practice in the Australian state of Queensland, the Miami Family Medical Centre, has been hit by ransomware said to originate in Russia.
ABC News reports staff arrived at the practice last week, turned on computers and found messages proclaiming that patients' records had been encrypted. Seven years' worth of patients records are now inaccessible.
The report goes on to say that the practice has decided it does not negotiate with cyber-terrorists and won't be handing over the $AUD4,000 that has been demanded to decrypt the files. The practice will therefore rebuild a database, and appears to have written off its current collection of records.
Queensland Police say this is not the first such case in the state – 11 similar incidents have been reported in the last year.
The reason for the attack seems to be poor security: the practice says it ran anti-virus software, but the attackers seem to have divined passwords for both PCs and servers, brushing aside AV on their way into the centre's systems. ®


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Firefighters battle 2 fires in Marion County
Woman, 3 children escape mobile home blaze
Dozens of Marion County firefighters worked to put out two building fires Saturday morning.
Fire officials said a mobile home in the 19000 block of South Highway 42 in the Umatilla area caught fire just before 4 a.m. Saturday.
A woman and her three children called 911 to report the fire. All four got out safely, fire officials said.
The fire caused $50,000 in damage to the mobile home.
Firefighters also extinguished a fire at Blossom's Florists and Gifts in the Evans Shopping Plaza at 1210 South U.S. 441 in Belleview about 5 a.m. Saturday.
The northbound lanes of U.S. 441 were blocked for more than two hours as firefighters battled the fire.
Authorities said the blaze caused $500,000 in damage to the shopping center, and spread to several other stores.
No injuries were reported in either incident, Marion County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Jessica Green said.
The cause of both fires appears to be accidental, officials said.


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Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Erwin: "GUERRILLA HUNTERS IN CIVIL WAR MISSOURI"
From the 1861-62 winter period onward, the federally funded Missouri State Militia (MSM) was the primary counter-guerrilla force in the state. Fourteen regiments were raised, composing something under 15,000 men, as well as a small number of battalions, artillery batteries, and independent companies (although subsequent reorganizations and consolidations reduced these numbers).
In confronting Confederate cavalry forces, several units, such as the 3rd, 7th, and 8th MSM, performed on a level belying the typical dismissive attitude most observers held regarding the reliability of Civil War militia organizations. On the other hand, in terms of treatment of civilians and enemy prisoners, the reputation of the MSM was not a spotless one, with atrocities committed on both sides. Unfortunately, their significant service remains almost entirely overshadowed by the vast and still rapidly growing literature devoted to the guerrillas themselves. Not a single full MSM regimental history has been published. If nothing else, James Erwin's Guerrilla Hunters in Civil War Missouri brings some much deserved attention to these militiamen and their units.
Erwin's book is neither a comprehensive treatment of the organization and operations of the MSM nor an attempt at a social and demographic analysis of its membership. Instead, it is a selective (but geographically inclusive) narrative history of units and individuals. Brief accounts of battles fought by MSM units against guerrillas, Confederate recruitment expeditions, and cavalry raids are present, as well as profiles of prominent leaders like Odon Guitar and Bazel Lazear. In addition to these, Erwin also offers readers glimpses into the ranks, following the stories of a half dozen or so enlisted men. The 3rd MSM's George Wolz, especially, is present throughout the book. Other organizations, like the Enrolled Missouri Militia (EMM)*, are also briefly mentioned. The book's photography is strong, and includes some rarely seen images, an example of which is an excellent group photo of a blockhouse garrison of EMM with their distinctive strips of white cloth secured around their hats (necessary to identify the otherwise non-uniformed combatants).
On the downside, the bibliography is thin and the text is undocumented. There are a few noticeable errors spread about, including the author's unfortunate decision to present both sides of the fictional Pulliam's Farm Massacre, as if the thoroughly discredited claims of a mass killing of pro-Confederate civilians at that location remain open to debate. While Guerrilla Hunters in Civil War Missouri doesn't offer new information for seasoned readers, author James Erwin deserves credit for bringing the subject of the Missouri State Militia to a potentially wider audience. No other book length publication has done this, in popular or scholarly format, and there's real value in that.
* - if you find the array of Civil War Missouri militia formations bewildering, I would suggest Kirby Ross's Missouri Militias as an excellent introduction.
3 comments:
Oh dear, Ponder's Neoconfederate fantasies are still circulating through the literature? I thought the Pulliam's Farm Massacre was buried along with his atrocious books.ReplyDeleteReplies
They should be, but I still encounter them in bibliographies.Delete
Historian Kirby Ross does a thorough skewering of Ponder's "evidence" on page 214 and 215 in his end notes to the Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand.Delete
Ponder's sources were:
1. An unpublished essay by his aunt that, upon study, makes no mention of civilians being killed at the skirmish at Pulliam's Farm.
2. A high school term paper from the 1920s that cites no sources.
3. Divorce proceedings against the Union officer involved, which upon study make no mention of the supposed massacre. In fact, the proceedings were initiated by the officer himself, months before the skirmish.
No military reports, memoirs, letters, or newspapers mention the massacre.
Sadly, this sort of "history" is all too common among Neoconfederates like Ponder.
If you wish to comment, please sign your name. Otherwise, your submission may be rejected, at my discretion. Also, outside promotions are not allowed in the comments section.


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Since the 2020 GSH program was hosted virtually, these photos are from 2019. We are preparing to host both types of programs in 2021, depending on the circumstances.
Welcome to the Tennessee Governor's School for the Humanities on the Web!
A four-week summer program built on the School's rich tradition as Tennessee's first Governor's School, the Governor's School for the Humanities offers rising high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn three semester credit hours from UT Martin. GSH celebrates the expression of who we are, what we believe, how we know what we know, where we've been as a society, and the power of originality and ideas in creating shared communities.
You can browse our site by visiting the links to the left. To view the Web sites of other Tennessee Governor's Schools, click here.
All applications must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2021.
General Information
The Governor's School for the Humanities is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Education.


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Your Favorite Music Fan Will Treasure This Twistable Wireless Speaker
Give the gift of noise this holiday season. HiddenRadio is a uniquely designed, portable wireless speaker that you can "unwrap" each time you use it.
Rather than traditional button volume adjustment, twist HiddenRadio's outer shell to increase or decrease volume. As you would expect, the volume increase as more of the speaker becomes exposed.
In a promo video, co-creator John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen call's HiddenRadio "the world's simplest and most intuitive Bluetooth and radio speaker, ever." The device itself looks like a futuristic canister. It comes in three colors — pure white, graphite black or metallic silver, which matches Mac laptops.
HiddenRadio is Bluetooth-enabled. It searches for matching devices when you first unscrew the speaker, and connecting is as easy as finding the Bluetooth menu on your device. There's also a discreetly placed 3.5mm mini-jack connector on the bottom of HiddenRadio, if you're old school and want to connect your Walkman.
Above all, your friends and family will love HiddenRadio because it looks awesome. But aside from top-notch design, they'll adore its portability and lack of wires.
For all its compactness, however, the device takes a hit in sound quality. And while the device is capable of producing a loud volume, it is not going to replicate the audio of a full-sized speaker. For those who prefer watch movies and TV shows on a laptop, however, HiddenRadio is a perfect solution to the volume troubles you're likely to experience with built-in laptop speakers.
Price: $189.95


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Highlight: a solarium in the gigunda master bathroom complete with potted plants and birds, starred in The Alamo!
When you live in Texas, there is just something about owning a ranch as a second home that is so dang appealing. It gets in your blood as the ultimate great escape for the weekend. Having hundreds of acres around you centers you with the wild things, and that agriculture exemption is real nice, too: running lifestock on the acreage holds down property taxes. Owning a ranch and living the ranch life just feels so very "Giant". Or Larry McMurtry-esque, kind of a hallmark of Texas real estate. And I think the best ranches are to be found in the Texas Hill Country!
Austin developer H.C. Carter and his wife, interior designer Lynnda Colby-Carter have put their ranch in Dripping Springs, a charming Hill Country town off Highway 281 I know well, on the market for a whopping $5.6 million. But before you balk at paying that much for 270 acres, you have to know that life on the Carter Ranch is not exactly rough. Which is, of course, why it's my kind of ranch.
The spread has more than ¾ of a mile of frontage here on beautiful Onion Creek, a spring fed, constant level river. (Many lakes or "tanks" in the Hill Country get bone-dry in dry seasons, such as what we are experiencing right now. Was down there last week and the tanks at our place are lowest they've been.) This is property is a virgin — never been on the market before. You amble up a road that crosses Onion Creek to reach to the guest house. The rustic but chic main house is completely updated like the Ritz with a beautiful backyard.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Hal Box, late dean of the UT School of Architecture, designed this space. A large picture window delivers tons of light and glorious sunsets. Elevated ceilings plus stained-and-scored concrete floors give the rooms volume. (I see a lot of concrete floors in the Hill Country, including down at the goregous BlueGreen development Vintage Oaks.) A stone wall, a must in every Hill Country ranch, ties the rustic nature of the rest of the home into this new space.
The master features a tall, slanted ceiling, a kiva fireplace, and a wall of windows and glass doors that lead to the front porch and intimate sitting nooks.
The master bathroom is huge with a center solarium oasis, loaded with potted plants and caged birds. Talavera tiles surround a large, L-shaped vanity and walk-in car wash shower. An oval tub is set into the floor below an angled skylight.
The linen closet has glass doors etched with custom-designed deer and wild turkey etchings. The Carters each have a closet offering many built-ins; hers is the size of some bedrooms and large enough for a center desk!
Outside, sitting and reflecting spots everywhere. A back courtyard circles a fountain and is filled with ferns, palm trees and other lush flora. A large pavilion next to a koi pond and aviary contains picnic tables and an outdoor kitchen with a grill and smoker. This area was custom created when Carter hosted a barbecue for the Southern Governors' Association's annual meeting one year.
The guest house is an historic, 100-year-old log cabin the Carters moved in from northern New Mexico. Dogtrot-style, it features two identical bedrooms on either side of the breezeway with stone floors and stone fireplaces, old-fashioned clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks and pull-chain toilets. The log construction is Hill Country German style construction mortar and log. There is a 4-stall barn with bunkhouse, bath, tack room and hay loft. Over on Onion Creek, there is a dock for swimming or launching your canoe. Now when you entertain on a ranch, guests often have to spend the night — the drive is usually pretty far. That's why there is an entertaining area will hold easily over 300 guests who can camp out in the log cabin.
Not only do you get all this, but the Carter Ranch starred in the movie, The Alamo. The film sets were left behind over on one ridge, making the ranch a popular spot for shooting commercials and one reason why its so popular for location shoots. So you could live here and send your kids to the rock-solid Dripping Springs school district, or become a weekend rancher now or later. Listed with Lynn Robin of Capital City Sotheby's.


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Two Former Pentagram Designers Form Partnership
Two former Pentagram designers have teamed up to join forces, announcing this week that they've combined their two independent shops into one international company. John Dowling and Rob Duncan, both formerly of Pentagram's London office from the late-90s to the mid-2000s (the latter also worked at their San Francisco office), have founded Dowling | Duncan, with the first representing the UK and the second in the Bay Area. Dowling's work you might recall best was designing those handsome Pantone chip books every firm and agency likely has a few, well-used copies of laying around. Duncan, who was a senior designer at Pentagram, and was also briefly at Apple, has worked on projects for everyone from the GAP to the AIGA. Always nice to see two good people wind up together, even if they are separated by a fairly large distance, and we wish them and their new company all the best.


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As the Financial Services Institute prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, appropriately enough considering its advocacy efforts, by holding its FSI OneVoice annual conference in Washington, D.C., in January, Investment Advisor Editor Jamie Green caught up with FSI's president and CEO, Dale Brown, to take a look back at its history, to assess FSI's current state and to look ahead at where it will focus its efforts in the New Year.
Jamie Green: It's been a busy year for FSI. You've added many new individual financial advisor members—750 over the past month from three different BDs—your inaugural FA Summit meeting was a success and you've launched a new website with a stronger focus on social media.
Dale Brown: The most important thing to remember is why we accomplished those tasks you referenced. Our members are looking to us to be their advocate—for close to 10 years now—to create a healthier regulatory environment.
From day one, our army of members has been active on the grassroots level, carrying that important message. Our membership growth is such an important part of our advocacy efforts. And our FA Summit deepened our engagement with advisors, partly by giving them tools to get them more committed.
JG: At the recent Schwab IMPACT conference, former Senator Olympia Snowe spoke about the importance of Americans directly contacting their elected representatives to let them know what they care about. She said that during the government shutdown, polls showed that many Americans were unhappy with Congress, but she lamented the fact that too few Americans were actually contacting their congressmen to tell them that because that's who members of Congress listen to.
DB: That's the key to our long-term success: making sure that every member of Congress is hearing from independent financial advisors back in their districts, and to do so not on a one-off basis, but continually over time. When [members of Congress] go back to their districts, they'll bump into these advisors in coffee shops, in churches—that's how we'll get significant influence on these issues.
JG: Speaking of influence, FSI has been very vocal on the Department of Labor's proposed redefinition of fiduciary in retirement planning, and a recent survey of FSI members showed that advisors themselves were not in favor of such a redefinition. We've heard that Phyllis Borzi of DOL will present this redefinition by year's end. Is that what you hear?
DB: The best information we have is that the DOL is on track to send the proposal to the Office of Management and Budget [OMB] by the end of this year. That [timing] could obviously change, but it will go to OMB first, which will have a minimum of 90 days to review [the reproposal] before it goes to the next step, which will essentially be a repeat of the public comment process that happened in 2010. We'll get to see the reproposal in the second quarter of 2014.
JG: Any idea if the reproposal will answer FSI's issues with the original proposal?
DB: We've had lots of good ongoing dialogue with the Department of Labor on the issues. That's been a constructive process, but they're keeping things close to the vest. Once it's out, we're prepared to act: First to read and understand it and analyze it, then we'll be ready to take action.
JG: Going back to FSI itself, you recently announced some additions to your board of directors and leadership, including big names like Valerie Brown of Cetera, Scott Curtis of Raymond James and Amy Webber of Cambridge Investment Research. How do you get these highly accomplished people to serve?
DB: The power of FSI is that we bring together financial advisors and the executives of the firms that serve and license those advisors to get them to work together to achieve shared outcomes.
Our board reflects the diversity of our membership. The common denominator is the passionate support of the independent FA model in its various iterations. There are numerous firm sizes and ownership structures, but all in support of that key business model, which provides services to a broad cross-section of clients, especially middle American clients.
JG: Speaking of middle Americans, how important is it to FSI to monitor the performance of the stock market, the slow growth in the economy, the persistently high unemployment rate?
DB: It's important that we understand all the external dynamics and factors, like the economy, unemployment, the markets. But think of it: 25 years ago we were talking about how critical it was to [help advisors' clients] save for retirement, care for aging parents and do college funding planning. They're all important for an advisor to understand, to keep her eye on all those things as well. Those fundamental dreams and desires and needs—such as honoring the generation that went before by taking care of them in their old age—haven't changed.
JG: What about the demographics of financial advisors and their clients? We know the average advisor is in their 50s, and their clients are generally older as well. Where will the next generation of advisors come from? How will advisors attract the next generation of clients? Is your focus on social media part of where FSI fits in on these issues?
DB: The demographics of older financial advisors and clients is a hot topic with all our firms and financial advisors, as is social media. Who will be the next generation of advisors? Who will be the next generation of clients?
The next generation of clients will want the same things [from advisors] but delivered in a different way. In addition to the advocacy that we focus on all day, every day, FSI also serves as an industry think tank on those types of issues.
JG: The interesting thing about FSI is that these firms all compete with each other, yet they come together on issues of common concern.
DB: The great thing about FSI, and perhaps it isn't necessarily unique, is that people in this business have always been willing to set aside the competition and talk about those best practices and common challenges to come up with industry-wide solutions to those issues. Actually, not every solution has to be industry-wide; sometimes the solution is firm by firm, advisor by advisor, figuring out what's going to work, coming up with innovative solutions.
JG: On areas like social media, it seems that the larger broker-dealer firms have a much better handle on how to incorporate social media in a compliant way, while smaller firms are holding back, often out of compliance concerns.
DB: Our small firm leaders, those who are succeeding, know what makes them unique—they're not trying to compete with the large firms. For all size firms, FSI is a forum where they can learn from each other.
JG: Beyond the past year's accomplishments that I mentioned at the start of our conversation, what else has FSI accomplished that might have escaped some readers?
DB: We've deepened our engagement on several state issues—social media, transaction taxes, in Minnesota on registration and licensing. The pinnacle of that success this year was legislation in Florida, where we worked with the state Office of Financial Regulation, the state legislature and the governor to make Florida a notice-filing state [Ed. Note: The legislation was signed by Governor Rick Scott in June]. That means advisors don't have to put their entire business on hold for days or weeks [during the process of applying to make certain changes to their business, such as when advisors change their broker-dealer affiliation].
JG: Are there any significant issues that FSI will be focusing on in 2014?
DB: While there are no significant new issues that are on our radar right now, seeing this DOL reproposal through will obviously be a high priority next year. We've also built significant bipartisan momentum [on the DOL fiduciary reproposal] and have made great headway on educating members of Congress on our business model. We'll be sure to keep our eyes on proposals that would change the independent contractor rules, which would affect our members' fundamental business model.
Our focus on state legislators and regulators won't change any time soon. They've always been important, but are becoming a bigger factor in the cost and complexity of the regulatory environment. We're committing resources to engage on behalf of our members [in the states] and we're encouraging FSI members to build relationships with key lawmakers and regulators.
JG: There are elections next year—a third of the Senate seats will be in play. Will FSI be involved in those and any other races in 2014?
DB: It's funny: Elections have a way of fine-tuning legislators' focus on their constituents, so we'll take advantage of that opportunity. I like to say that if you like your representative, in addition to voting for them, give them money to support their reelection. I'm also encouraging advisors to run themselves. It's a great opportunity to give back to their communities and get involved.
JG: It would seem that the skills advisors have would be helpful in government—in planning, in budgeting, in helping people to make decisions that are good for them in the long run.
DB: Speaking of advisors' skills that would be helpful in government, being able to understand and listen to their clients [would be valuable].
JG: How are plans going for the January OneVoice conference [which will be held in Washington from Jan. 27–29]?
DB: Washington is the perfect place to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and registrations are looking very good.


text:
[Samui hotels]
中 文
日 本
Chaweng Cove Beach Resort
17/4 Moo 3, T. Bophut
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
Chaweng Beach
Hotel category:
Traveler ratings
Summary of 45 reviews :
Room :
Facilities :
Service :
Location :
Chaweng Cove Beach Resort is located on the white sandy beach of Chaweng, the most famous beach in Samui. In the immediate vicinity you will find countless restaurants, bars and entertainment options and all sights around the island are easy to reach. Samui International Airport is just a short 15-minute drive away.
The rooms of the resort offer 32-50 square meters of living space and are equipped with the latest facilities such as air conditioning, hot shower, TV, DVD player, minibar, kettle, safe, hairdryer, writing and seating, balcony or terrace and free WiFi internet. Extensive facilities and services such as 3 outdoor pools with sun terrace and pool bar, a restaurant with local and international cuisine, a fitness center, an internet cafe and library, a children's club, a tour desk, a bar, luggage storage, room service, transfers, a laundry service , Babysitting, a business room, a beauty salon, parking, function rooms and a spa are also available to guests. Because of its perfect location right on the beach, Chaweng Cove is the perfect place for a relaxing vacation.
Hotel summary
Rates & Reservation
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Travel reviews for Chaweng Cove Beach Resort
Date of stay:
Aug 03, 2016
Accommodation and facilities:
Nice hotel right on the beach. Huge breakfast buffet, but rather expensive restaurant.Bungalows are nice, with all you need. Wifi works very well Terrace is nice, but you are very close to all of your neighbors. Poolbungalows are very close to swimmingpool - very....Pool is nice, and beach the best of Chaweng - wonderfull. Lunch ½ price at Seascape Resort 50m. down the beach. Town starts outside the hotel and continues app. 3 km. Citysquare is around 1,5 km away - no problem by foot. All in all a good, quite and nice hotel. I reccomend..
Reservation service:
Top !
Aug 06, 2016
written by:
Thomas Jeppesen
Date of stay:
Jun 30, 2014
Accommodation and facilities:
Very value for quality/price, staff very helpful and friendly, good location and service, only breakfast it s little poor,could too better with more choose.
Reservation service:
very good, nobody problem very efficient!
Jul 03, 2014
written by:
Date of stay:
Jan 19, 2014
Accommodation and facilities:
We enjoyed 12 nights at the Chaweng Cove Resort. We occupied 2 x Pool Rooms. We enjoyed the location of the rooms and only had a problem once with people at the pool at 1 in the morning and again 5 in the morning, talking so loudly we couldn t sleep (same people). They were eventually sorted out by security. Although lots of choices for breakfast, it would be good to see some changes as it is the same every day. I also think the hotel needs to have signs up for reserving sunbeds. Sometimes people would put towels down at 6 in the morning to reserve their beds. Not great. All in all a good choice of hotel.
Reservation service:
Booking service was great and the operators were very patient with me with changes.
Feb 02, 2014
written by:
Kirsty Hunt
Date of stay:
Sep 21, 2013
Accommodation and facilities:
really an wonderfull hotel perfect service and also at the best location in chaweng
Reservation service:
very easy
Sep 24, 2013
written by:
Harald Weissenboecmk
Date of stay:
Sep 17, 2013
Accommodation and facilities:
Reservation service:
booking service is perfect!
Sep 20, 2013
written by:
Bernhard Schaer
Date of stay:
Dec 20, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
Quiet place on Chaweng beach. Very good service at the reception. Rooms clean and neat.
Reservation service:
Very good.
Jan 09, 2013
written by:
Carina Hansson
Date of stay:
Nov 21, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
Hotel: Good location, nice beachfront access, staff helpful, breakfast could be more imaginitive but sufficient. Agent: It is easier with other agents to either pay up front and be able to cancel if needed, or to pay on arrival. It is annoying to have to remember a date to pay final amount as one might be traveling and it is not always easy to have internet access.
Reservation service:
Nov 29, 2012
written by:
Lynn Hollies
Date of stay:
Oct 05, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
great view and great location. nice pool, considerate services. breakfast is of limited variety.
Reservation service:
fast and efficient.
Oct 08, 2012
written by:
Ben Cheung
Date of stay:
Sep 10, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
Very good hotel The service was excelent
Reservation service:
Sep 13, 2012
written by:
Golan Rotem
Date of stay:
May 05, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
Impressively again of this place,this is our third time to samui and thrid stayed with Chaweng Cove Resotel cause we love everything about this place even more.clean room,clean swimming pool,delicious brekfast,friendly staff.and we love thank you to CHATNA and BANANA (hope i spell is right) two of them just made our holiday much more fun and helpful at all time,the minutes we had arrived to resotel we had a friendly smile,kind,and warm welcoming from two of them and this is mean a lots to us.the treat we have this time is far better than the frist time in last three years.See you soon our second home in samui and we hope to see CHATNA and BANANA soon too. Take a good care.
Reservation service:
We possibly will be your regular costomer in the future.
May 17, 2012
written by:
Mrs Kannika Lucas
Date of stay:
Apr 28, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
Lovely hotel friendly staff, constantly cleaning. Great location and situated next door to one of the best restaurants on ko samui (which i may add we tried to stay in and found that it was very expensive) imagine how pleased we were to find we were next door .
Reservation service:
May 18, 2012
written by:
Pamela Henderson
Date of stay:
Apr 22, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
Reservation service:
Apr 25, 2012
written by:
Poh Chin Kim
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Relaxed with friendly and cozy surroundings for easy going beachfront holidays, mixed age group of international casual audience.
An idyllic resort built in contemporary Thai architecture set directly on the beach front location of the vibrant Chaweng Beach offering 101 cozily decorated guestrooms and classic charming bungalows nested in a tropical lush garden to be complimented with full services and facilities for enjoyable tropical beach holiday experience.
Our rooms are spacious and furnished with all the modern facilities allowing you to relax and enjoy your holiday. There are a number of different room types to choose from including Beach Front Pool Villa, Pool Side Room, Garden View Room, Villas and Hotel Rooms.
:: Superior Room ::
Room size: 36 sq.m. / Total: 26 units / Bedding: 1 king or 1 king + 1 single
Spacious rooms located in a 3 storey low rise building with a large window overlooking the distanced mountain and the beach road below. Its separate bathroom comes with standing shower and toilet.
:: Deluxe Balcony Room ::
Room size: 36 sq.m. / Total: 16 units / Bedding: 1 king or 1 king + 1 single
Spacious rooms located in a 3 storey low rise building with a large window overlooking the tropical lush garden or the azure ocean comes with a set of wooden furniture for relaxing moments. Its separate bathroom comes with standing shower and toilet.
:: Superior Garden Bungalow ::
Room size: 32 sq.m. / Total: 24 units / Bedding: 1 king or 2 singles
Alone standing classic bungalows set in the tropical lush garden with spacious terrace comes with a set of garden furniture for relaxing moments. All bungalows are cozily decorated. Its separate bathroom comes with standing shower and toilet.
:: Superior Poolside Bungalow ::
Room size: 36 sq.m. / Total: 6 units / Bedding: 1 king bed plus 1 single bed.
Each two adjoining classic bungalows standing alone set around the main out-door pool with spacious terrace comes with a set of garden furniture for relaxing moments. All bungalows are cosily decorated. Its separate bathroom comes with standing shower and toilet.
:: Deluxe Garden Bungalow ::
Room size: 48 sq.m. / Total: 23 units / Bedding: 1 king or 2 singles
Spacious twin idyllic bungalows set in the tropical lush garden with connecting door set at its spacious terrace comes with a set of garden furniture for relaxing moments. All bungalows have are cozily decorated. Its separate bathroom comes with standing shower and toilet.
:: Beachfront Pool Villa ::
Room size: 50 sq.m. / Total: 4 units / Bedding: 1 king bed 1 single bed.
Exquisite villas set at beachfront with private pool and terrace with ocean view for private relaxing and enjoyable moments. All villas are cozily appointed specially designed and created for honeymooners and couples. Its separate bathroom comes with standing shower and toilet.
Guestroom Amenities
Air conditioning
Complimentary bottled water
DVD/CD player
Hair dryer
IDD Phone
In room safe
Mini bar
Wi-Fi in room internet access
The Cove:
An International & Thai All - Day dining outlet. The resort's main casual in door & out door dining outlet set at beach front serving international and authentic Thai delicacies where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner by the sea.
Seating capacity : 80 - 100 / Service hours : 07.00 hrs - 23.00 hrs
Pool Side Bar:
Guests can enjoy soft drinks, fresh juices, cocktails while unwind at our outdoor swimming pool.
Seating capacity : 10 - 20 / Service hours : 08.00 hrs - 23.00 hrs
In Room Dining:
Enjoying your favourite dishes served in your room or villa in private atmosphere.
Service hours : 07.00 hrs - 23.00 hrs
Electrical Current:
220 Volt and 50 Cycles. All electrical equipment use 2 point plug
Outdoor Swimming Pool :
3 Adult pools (15m x 8m, 10m x 8m, 5m x 7m)
Sun deck :
Sun beds with sun umbrellas and beach towels provided
Service hours : 08.00 hrs - 19.00 hrs
Our well equipped gym room created for the fitness and wellbeing of your body.
Internet Cafe & Library:
Comfortably set for guests who wish to surf on the internet or who just wish to relax on the sofa set by reading your favorite books and magazines.
Check - In / Check - Out:
14.00 pm. / 12.00 noon
Credit Cards:
Major credit cards are accepted; Visa, Master Card, American Express
Kids Club:
Where our guests' children can be entertained by safe toys while our guests can enjoy private moments
Tour Desk:
Located in the lobby area, our tour desk service officer will assist our guests in arranging sightseeing tours, off-site activities or transfers.
Wedding Packages "Yes, I do"
Let nature bear witness of the celebration of the precious moments of a lifetime, the resort is offering wedding packages in Thai and Western style ceremonies for your exclusive wedding experience by the sea.
Honeymoon Packages "Just two of us"
Our tailor made packages with great food and wine served at romantic bungalow your villa. A true romantic beach front holiday experience for freshly married honeymooners and couples celebrating their wedding anniversary.
:: Other Services & Facilities ::
Outdoor pool
Tour desk
Kids club
Internet access
Mailing & postage
Room service
Luggage porter
Luggage storage
24 hrs. security
:: Off Site Activities ::
Off site activities can be arranged by our tour desk on your behalf.
Scuba diving
Water skiing
Island hopping
10 minutes drive away distance from the airport, set on the beach front location of Chaweng Beach within short walking distance to the nearby vibrant commercial area.
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[Chaweng Cove Beach Resort ]
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text:
The chew is my favorite candy genre. From Now and Laters to gummies, I like the sweets where my mouth burns a few calories before the final full satisfaction of eating and swallowing. Yes, of course I also like the candies that just melt away, but I don't yeaaaaarn for them – nor for the ones that I keep chewing until I'm ready to spit out, like gum.
These Hi Chews…well with the name alone they kinda got me before the word go. Still, I wouldn't be much of a candy reviewer if I didn't do the due diligence of stuffing a bunch of these things in my mouth and giving you the blow by blow. (wow that reads inappropriate.)
I enlisted my kids to join in since they've been bugging me for a month to eat these things and because it turns out kids like candy. whodathunk.
So here's our take on the 6 flavors we tried: Peach, Mango, Melon, Green Apple, Banana and Grape.
Note that I cut these things in half for the kids, and I of course went full portion. Even the half portion had my kid chewing for a while. It appears Hi Chew is an apt name.
First off with the peach, the kids liked it. Secondly, they had no idea it was peach. Which is ridiculous because it tastes just like peach. Ok maybe not the peach you get off the tree but every other peach taste you've had.
Next up, Mango. First words out of Kid 1's mouth: "I love these." Why? "Because this one is really good."
I gotta veritable Shakespeare on my hands.
I will say that generally speaking mango is a great candy flavor. It's the one fruit flavor that actually tastes like the fruit. I mean I love grape more than the next guy but I've rarely if ever had a grape flavor that tastes like the grapes I buy from the store. With mango candy on the other hand, they usually taste like what I buy. So the Hi Chews do mango right.
Now we're on to melon. "It's kinda like peach," says Kid 1. I think it tastes like cantaloupe but the kids said not so much.
Side note: something I love about Hi Chews — they take a long time to eat if you let them. As the little one said when we told her to hurry up, 'these are just really good and I want to keep eating them.'
On to banana, about which Kid 2 says "This one is really good". Not sure I've ever heard a kid say that about any banana flavored candy. But this has a fruity banana taste. It's more like heavy banana overtones of a general fruit flavor.
"Oh my god it's so good it's awesome. yum." I guess green apple is a hit. And they're right again – these are super good. Green apple is generally always good yes? Can we all agree there? From Jolly Rancher to lollipops and Haribo the world over, most of us agree that green apple is often the best flavor of the bunch. With Hi Chew, the flavor isn't muted at all. It's strong and lasts all candy long.
And finally grape: "I dont really like it, it kinda tastes like grape medicine." WTF? That's dissapointing to hear from the little'uns. And I disagree. To me these taste like concord grape juice. Really strong grape flavor that is almost like drinking a cup of juice. As I said above, grape doesn't reaaaaaaaaallllllllllly ever taste like the grapes I eat from a store, but these taste exactly like the grape you get in grape juice.
So to sum up – green apple, mango and peach was top 3 for kid 1, and mango ("favorite favorite one"), green apple and banana were the faves of kid 2. And I liked them all.
Hi Chews should make millions in this country. They are like Starbursts without being too soft nor saccharine-y sweet, with flavors that are fuller and truer. The consistency is more like a Mamba right at the get go, but kinda turns to being a tougher bubble gum consistency in the middle before it breaks down and you swallow. I simply can't just eat one of these. I'm always looking at finishing the entire package. Good for them – not good for the back fat.
Finally, the flavors are the real hit here. They are strong and pervasive throughout the lifetime of the piece in your mouth. The banana is one of the most interesting to me since it's absolutely a banana flavor, that they paired with a slightly general fruit so it's like a real juicy banana. I keep wanting to re-eat that one. Also, the melon tastes a tad strange when you pop it in but then it's all cantaloupe until the end. I love cantaloupe. And how many cantaloupe candies in America have you tried?
All you Starburst, Mamba and Now and Later lovers – go forth and buy Hi Chews. They are better. Yes, I said it.


text:
As a power provider, your goal is to reliably and cost effectively produce electricity.
You need to improve operational efficiencies despite aging assets. You have to address increasing environmental regulations. Yet you have to meet these demands with a shrinking pool of resources and experienced workers.
We have the technology and solutions to mitigate the potential risks that are associated with these challenges. We can help you adapt to the changing landscape of electricity generation through a broad portfolio that:
We offer integrated process control, motor control, safety, and information solutions in one open, scalable architecture. This provides complete plant-wide control for conventional or renewable energy generation.
While it may not be the future direction of the industry, it is still the workhorse. You work every day to keep your plant up and running. Our flexible solutions help you do that with the lowest total cost of ownership.
There are many gas-fueled plants out there, and they should be responsive. Some need upgrades to help ensure longevity, while others struggle with reliability. Our portfolio of control solutions helps you achieve maximum uptime so you can meet your production goals.
Hydroelectric is the original renewable. Plants that have been around for decades are now in need of updates. Our proven control and information systems can help you get the most from your assets.
As the adoption of biomass as a fuel source gathers pace globally, so does the need for flexible control systems. With various feedstocks being used, your ability to adapt and maintain constant levels of generation is always a challenge. Our solutions provide the answer.
There is a growing push to have more electricity generated from renewables. Solar PV is rapidly becoming a viable alternative. Use our integrated control and information solutions to capture and convert the rays of the sun more efficiently.
Our PlantPAx? distributed control system provides seamless integration between critical process areas and the balance of your plant. It also integrates process, discrete, motor control, information, and safety. One control platform saves on spares and training costs.
This PlantPAx DCS project has set the standard for all future projects at our plant and is a model for Veresen plant design.
Brett Weber, operations and maintenance manager, Ripon Cogen
Along with our many partners, we have helped power generating plants for decades. Our power plant automation, SCADA, and control systems help with reliability and keep costs under control.


text:
Here's a mix of what I think we'll get and what I'd like:Anakin/Vader - Derek Thompson concept art figurePadme - Sang Jun Lee concept art figureYoda - Senate DuelUtai 2-packNute Gunray Merumeru - Wookiee CaptainB-A-D - BD-3000 "Bettybot"
Mine,Nute GunrayRune HaakoRute GunnayTikkesPo Nudo's Shi'ido AidePassel Argente (New Sculpt!)
All I really want is the two main Palpatines, Padmes and the Utai. Otherwise, IMO ROTS is the most complete of the 6 films figure wise (with ESB being a close second)
Page created in 0.062 seconds with 18 queries.


text:
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Preparing for and Conducting Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences can be stressful, for you and the parents, but with proper planning and organization you can lay the groundwork for a production relationship that will benefit the best interest of the child. Explore the following resources for advice on getting the most from your parent-teacher conferences.
- How Can You Deal With Angry Parents?
We present advice collected from seasoned classroom veterans, from NEA members who posted their ideas on our discussion board, and from Jerry Newberry, head of the NEA Health Information Network, who used to train teachers to work with parents.
- Parents in the Picture
Often the lone volunteer in her sons' classrooms, Amy Anderson used to make assumptions about the other, missing parents —that they didn't care, or that their priorities were somehow out of whack. That was before she met Lorelei...
Works4Me Tips
Practical advice written by readers of our popular Works4Me e-newsletter for other teachers.
- Parent/Teacher Conference Preparation
Nine steps to a productive parent-teacher conference, from Judy Bonfilio, a retired fifth grade teacher.
- Getting Parents to Conferences
What to do when parents are not required to attend conferences, from Julie Woletz, a business education teacher at Cambridge High School in Cambridge, Wisconsin.
- Student Comments for Conferences
How to enlist your students as partners in your preparation for parent-teacher conferences, from Michele DeBerry, a second and third grade combination teacher, in Ft. Meade, Maryland.
More Strategies for Building Effective Parent Partnerships
- There's No Place Like Home...Visits
- Weekly Folders Deliver News from School to Home
- Modeling the Parent-Teacher Strategies of Special Education
- Research Spotlight on Home Visits
- Research Spotlight on Parental Involvement in Education
- Students Share Their Accomplishments With "Brag Calls"!
- The 'Helicopter Parent'


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Stiff neck might keep Peralta out of Classic
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Joel Peralta continues to be limited in what activities he can participate in due to a stiff neck.
Though Peralta played catch Friday, the Rays' setup man does not anticipate throwing a bullpen session for several days, which he now believes will prevent him from participating in the World Baseball Classic.
"The chances don't look good," Peralta said.
Peralta, who was supposed to pitch for the Dominican Republic, planned on talking to the team's general manager, former Major Leaguer Moises Alou, on Friday. While Peralta doesn't think he'll participate, the right-hander might end up trying to play if Team Dominican Republic decides to hold a spot open for him.
Read More: Dominican Republic


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Actually, it's not our own horn that we'll be tooting, but rather the horn of the editorial folks with the corner suites on the top floor of Ledger/Star HQ, who work so hard day-in and day-out (or rather week-in and week-out - they don't work that hard) to keep you informed and timely. (Can we say "toot their horn" in a family newspaper? Well, too late now.)
And every once in a while they are even ahead of the curve, enabling you to drop a morsel of little-known knowledge at your next fancy dinner party over white wine by the antipasto platter, or even over corn nuts and a pint of your favorite brew down at your local dive.
Such is the case a few weeks back, when the whole world was in love with Caroline Kennedy and couldn't wait to send her down to Washington, D.C. in a throne of top of a pedestal on top of a chariot pulled by eight of the strongest stallions that Joseph Bruno's upstate horse farms could breed.
Of course, that was before she, you know, gave all of those, you know, interviews.
But not the Ledger/Star! No, if you had been paying attention, some prescient folks on the Editorial Board lambasted Kennedy for thinking that her family pedigree and instantly recognizable political name were qualifications enough to take over the seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton, and thereby become the next junior senator representing the good people of New York State. Instead, they threw out the name of Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, or as we like to call her, Gillary.
Now, of course, we would be lying to you if we told you that Pol Position was on board with this from the very start. We, like probably most of you out there, said Kristen who? "Holy Chuck Schumer!" we thought. "Where did they dig up that name? Does she even live in New York City?"
We also made our disbelief known to some members of the Editorial Board while they wanted for the "up" elevator and we waited for the "down" to ferry us to our dank and dark basement offices. We wish we could say we did this in a dignified manner, but in actuality it involved childish name-calling, several prank phone calls, a bit of schoolyard bullying, and even an anonymous blog: www.ledgerstarlovesgillary4ever.blogspot.com (since removed).
Looking back, we're not proud.
Although, that could just be because they turned out to be right, and had Kennedy - or even Anthony Cuomo - been chosen instead to replace Hil, we would be updating our blog right now instead of writing this column.
So, you can imagine our shock and embarrassment when we opened up last weekend's paper on Tuesday morning and discovered that Governor David Paterson had actually chosen Gillibrand to replace Clinton. (Which made our Monday blog post all the more shameful!)
So congratulations Editorial Board, you actually got one right. And to our loyal readers, we promise that next week we will be back to chronicling the humorous affectations and political shortcomings of our elected officials, with a little bit of our characteristic self-loathing and insecure ramblings sprinkled on top.


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I know the Day of Archaeology is meant to be about what archaeologists typically do, so I feel a bit odd reporting on something I've never done before, but it also sums up why archaeology is so great. You never know what's going to happen… I'm at the inaugural day of the Heritage Jam; a concept dreamt up by Anthony Masinton, based on his experience incorporating gaming technologies into his digital heritage work.
I asked Anthony how the idea came to him, and he said he heard about a Game Jam that took place in Chicago, where game designers and museum curators worked together to produce innovative heritage-based outputs. While he didn't want to create games, he saw the format of putting a group together to work intensively, and produce something over a short period of time as a way to explore heritage visualisation in a new way. In his experience, the creative discourse surrounding heritage visualisation is in need of development, and he saw the Jam format as a way to start building a canon for heritage visualisation. The Heritage Jam might have stayed an idea, but when Anthony talked about it with Sara Perry, she agreed and came on board to make it happen. They were able to secure some funding, and the 'Jam team' set to work to organise today's event.
While the Chicago example took two groups of people with quite disparate perspectives and brought them together, today's group is wonderfully mixed. Everyone has interests in visualisation and/or heritage, but come from a broad variety of backgrounds. We have about 25 people in the room at the moment, including archaeologists, conservators, historians, artists, and digital practitioners. Even though we come from different backgrounds, its obvious what we really have is a room full of people who are combinations of all those things, and very comfortable moving into new creative territories, so the day is full of potential!
We started with a warm welcome by Sara, followed by an inspiring introduction to the Jam concept by Anthony, and a wonderful intro to the Jam topic of the representation of burials and burial spaces by Julie Rugg of the York Cemetery Research Group. Flo Laino then walked us through the extensive resources she pulled together to augment our visit to York Cemetery. Colleen Morgan also created a series of very interesting videos about the site, as well as challenges for the Jam participants, which are uploaded onto the Jam website, created by Ian Kirkpatrick. Knowing we would have lots of resources already to hand, we headed out together to the cemetery in the lovely sunshine. I must confess I've lived in York nearly 10 years, but I've never been to the cemetery, which is a pity, as it's a fascinating place.
Not knowing much about the history of the place, I was immediately struck by how differently kept the site is. Everything is leafy and calm, but in some areas the landscape is manicured, while in others it appears the landscape is being encouraged to reclaim the graves. The ivy is so pervasive on the unkempt gravestones it gives the reclamation an almost aggressive quality. I walked around with one of the four groups, and we all seemed to focus on the general feel of the place, but didn't really read the gravestones themselves. We lingered longest at the small, more private area set aside for babies. The multitude of objects surrounding the graves were markedly different from the restraint displayed with the adult graves, and we were all moved by it. After about 30 minutes, we headed back to campus, and I had a chance to speak with Julie Rugg about why some parts of the cemetery were left overgrown, while others scrupulously maintained. She said the cemetery had always been a commercial enterprise; closed in the 1960s, and left derelict until the 1980s. When the deterioration became concerning, York residents formed groups to reclaim it, though initially not as a cemetery, but as a green space. Since then, some areas are now back in active use, while others continue on as part of the green space, and the differences between the areas reflect this history.
Once back in the meeting room, everyone got to work. I spent most of the time with one group; Katie Campbell, Kat Foxton, Clara Molina Sánchez, and Mary Garrison. I got to listen to how they were interpreting the site, and the way they wanted to bring it to life visually. Ideas came from TS Eliot's Four Quartets, the Anekantavada, RTI, and well…hedgehogs.
At the end of the day, each group shared what they created over a glass of wine, including the paradata document (explaining their process and choices). They couldn't have been more different, and I won't try to explain them here. So much thought and work went into all of them, I couldn't do them justice! They are already featured in the Heritage Jam website, alongside the twelve international 'remote' entries. Have a look yourself at the Jam Gallery! Brilliant day!


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As jt1134 may no longer be active, attached is a slight revision of the script to work with on all current tivos (including 11.x+).
Tivo introduced an extra DCKey named DBSOffset into the software line to accommodate the Australian version of the TiVoHD (TSN 663), which receives Direct Broadcast Satellite. Even though US TiVoHD's don't use that key, a mismatched one will still cause an Error #51. The revised version removes the DBSOffset key in addition to the two DiskConfiguration keys (if the script detects that one is running 11.x).


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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Facing a D.C. United team riding a seven-match unbeaten streak might be daunting for some clubs.
For the San Jose Earthquakes, it's just a typical 2012 matchup.
So far this year, the Quakes have beaten teams sitting tied for first (Real Salt Lake), third (Vancouver) and fourth (Seattle) in the Western Conference, and gathered a road tie with a New York team that was then No. 2 in the East.
Wednesday night, San Jose (6-1-1) — whose own unbeaten streak is at six games and counting — host D.C. (4-2-3) in what promises to be another exciting clash of teams at or near the top of the their respective tables (10 pm ET; watch LIVE online).
"Teams have been in form when we play them, but each game is tough, no matter who you're playing," San Jose head coach Frank Yallop said. "We feel good that when we go up against guys in form, it's good. It's good that we can do that right now with this team. We feel the team can play with anybody in this league right now."
Given the Quakes' success against other top clubs — their only defeat came at the hands of Houston (2-2-2) in a game they dominated — you might expect to hear a little woofing from their locker room. However, San Jose have been silent on that front.
"It doesn't do any good to talk about it or to Tweet about it," Quakes star Chris Wondolowski told MLSsoccer.com. "The only thing to do is to try to live it, and to perform. We feel we can go out there and produce. And that's all that matters."
Part of it is the sheer volume of matches left to play. Yes, the Quakes have pulled 19 points out of a possible 24 to this point — the second-highest percentage in the league, trailing only Sporting Kansas City, who have 21 points out of 24. But San Jose aren't even a quarter of the way through their schedule, a point that Yallop made sure to hammer home last week before the team traveled to Philadelphia and beat the Union 2-1 with a stoppage-time game-winner from Steven Lenhart.
"I had a meeting with the guys and I just said, 'Hey, we've had a great start to the season, exactly what we wanted to do, but we cannot get carried away with it, because that's not us as a club, us as players or me as a coach,'" Yallop said. "We've played well enough [to win] in games last year, and we didn't get anything [points-wise]."
Strictly in terms of an organizational demeanor, Yallop and the Quakes put heavy impetus on stock doing things in the right manner, alongside striving to gain positive results.
"Things can change, but our standards have been set now," Yallop said. "We've got to expect to go out and perform well each game. Whether that turns into a victory, we don't know. But I've been very pleased with the performances."
Geoff Lepper covers the Earthquakes for MLSsoccer.com.


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Last time I explained the obstacles I was facing trying to get street children an education, and how I couldn't support the activities of the NGOs I'd come across in those early days. I soon, however, began to uncover some that seemed encouraging. Two manifested themselves to me at the same time:
I discovered that a group of students at the university have started a project outside the city across the river where they have established a school for very poor children many of whom are orphans and HIV+. The students seem idealistic and thoroughly decent and many are student teachers adding to their teaching experience. I said I'd take a look. An hour later a friend who frequented my 'sanctuary' bar asked me to visit the slum where he was helping out.
A few years ago the government wanted to clear out the thousands of residents of a notorious housing scheme so it mysteriously caught fire, killing many. Now the government is hankering after expanding ministerial buildings into the area so sooner or later another accident will happen (the location is a supreme example of ostentatious wealth right next door to the most appalling poverty).
In the meantime hundreds of raggedy kids have no education and they're looking to us. Under a tin roof with no electricity to drive the fan the heat in the classroom will be murderous but on the other hand I feel far less intimidated surrounded by yama'd up young Khmer gangsters than in bars populated by American fuckwits. The director is a crazy toothless old man who had been a monk before the Khmer Rouge gave him the choice of disrobing or death and he's offered to create a room for me where I can live rent-free.
I've lived without electricity and running water before but not in such intolerable heat or amongst drugged up gangsters, and I've gone a bit soft lately so I'm holding back on that. The wily old chap – I thought he'd invited my friend and me on a guided tour of the area but he whisked us off to have dinner with his family. I thought my mate cottoned on pretty quickly as he took an inordinate interest in dad's brass badge making workshop, leaving me trapped with the women as they all-but married the eighteen-year old daughter off to me. Okay it's nice to meet one of the invisible majority of Khmer 'good girls' but come on.
I got more embedded into the other project run by the university students. It's in a slum community which is usually on the bank of the main river that flows through Cambodia. At this time of year towards the end of the monsoon the land is flooded – this happens every year and is quite expected but the abject poor can do nothing to prevent their flimsy homes disappearing.
The pagoda welcomes the community within its walls and allows them to build temporary shacks which still suffer flooding when it rains heavily and the place looks and smells pretty rank. Having said that it is my feeling that I've finally found what I didn't really see in Thailand – real religion.
The monks serve the marginalised peoples. I met one monk who has some financial backing from an Aussie NGO which enables him to give rice and medicine to families and he teaches a class of Buddhist-based morality for some of the kids, many of whom are orphans and HIV+.
There is a government school within the pagoda compound and in common with other state schools the teachers are so inadequately paid they have to charge pupils for the free education – except that here they don't because the monk pays the teachers to not charge the children. It's not corruption – it's Cambodia. I usually go to the class held at lunchtime since the evening class clashes with my university teaching, but one time I went in the evening at it was quite scary to see every third unit for a kilometre on the road leading there is a two-buck brothel.
They offer English classes to fifty of the local kids whose ages range from about 9 to 17. They rent a very basic open-sided room just outside the pagoda gate which has a tin roof and no electricity. The first day I went the classroom and area within the gate was deeply flooded after a heavy downpour the previous night. I returned the next day and found the kids delightful, so desperately poor but whilst not angelic they have an innocence about them which makes them distinct from the kids at the other community.
In both cases I just felt right, same as tutoring the kids on the streets on riverside. I'm nursing a bruised foot just now after it was run over by a motorbike. It's the kind of accident you expect to happen in Cambodia, but not in a classroom when you're standing in front of the whiteboard.
My early impressions of the organisation is that the people are just the sort I've been looking for. It was established nine months ago but is still in a very embryonic stage with no funding beyond the core members' pockets and whilst they have a good mission statement and vision to bring education to the poor children at various locations on the outskirts of the city and deep into the rural provinces none of that actually exists yet.
What I do see is real potential and a group of truly idealistic, good-hearted young people most but not all of whom speak good English. There are enough of them to currently teach the children basic English perfectly well from what I've observed but they are genuinely keen on bringing me in and calling on my experience and expertise.
As I mentioned, the feel of the other project is very different. Everyone is very touchy-feely – small children, sassy teenage girls and old men will all take me by the hand and lead me around. The kids are hardened streetwise types but in their own way very likeable – even the 18 or 19 year old drug-trafficking gangsters.
I hope I come to feel the same way about some of the older men. Reminding me of my experiences in India, the community's boxing instructor tried to convince me that it's the rule in the community that anyone coming in to support a project in the community has to 'support' the boxing programme first. I politely suggested that if the community wants me to teach its children it changes its rule
The contrasts between jobs is quite interesting. As I said the students in my class in The Building are the earthiest you can imagine but they are reasonably attentive and well behaved in my lessons. That must be down to my experience at class control because the kids at the other voluntary project are much more polite but the Khmer teachers cannot assert any sense of discipline so the kids tend to make a right din and disrupt classes. I guess some teacher training will fall on my shoulders.
Andy Ahmed


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Muslims, Christians, and Jesus
- Carl Medearis Author
- 2009 19 Feb
Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Connections by Carl Medearis (Bethany House).
This book began in 1983, when I first moved to the Middle East. Back then, the majority of Americans knew little about the Middle East or Islam. The Reagan administration was in its first term, and Communism and the Cold War crowded the headlines. Baath-party socialist Saddam Hussein had been in power for only four years, and the secular government of Iraq was at war with its Shi'ite neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran. The news also brought us occasional stories about the Afghan campaign against Soviet troops, Libya's Muammar Khaddafi as a top-shelf bad guy, and the Ayatollah Khomeini, who had replaced the CIA-sponsored Shah of Iran. Still, there was little to no fear or suspicion of Islam in the West, mainly because the reality of terrorism was not yet on our doorstep. All was quiet on the Middle-Eastern front.
Until 2001.
As the world watched smoke and ash spew into the Manhattan sky on September 11, 2001, I was busy in Beirut, Lebanon, trying to console my friends and family. My phone rang all day. Muslim friend after another called me, each in shock. One friend, Ahmed (not his real name), came by our house, sat on the couch opposite me, and rubbed his face with his hands. "Carl," he said, "these terrorists have just shattered the peace we have worked so hard for."
"What do you mean?"
"America will go to war," he said, shaking his head, "and I am afraid that it will not end for years."
"I know."
"The West does not understand us. They see an Arab and they feel fear. They hear talk of Islam and they are suspicious. I am afraid that things will spiral out of control and that hatred will grow between my people and your people." He sighed. "Again."
"Ahmed," I said, looking him in the eyes, "we are each other's people. We are both followers of Jesus, friends of God, and brothers in a way that boundaries cannot take from us."
"I know," he said, "but to see Islam and Christianity at war once again is something that will break my heart. I have so many loved ones on both sides." A tear slid down his face and he tried to wipe it away before I noticed.
* * *
I lived in Lebanon from 1992 until 2004. If 9/11 was going to rip the world apart, I was going to do everything I could to stop it. We had worked long to build friendships, and the last thing I wanted was to let them be torn away by international politics, hatred, and misunderstanding.
During that time I made several trips into Iraq. The war in Iraq had torn up the status quo by the roots, and my Iraqi friends were practically pleading with us to come over.
It was surreal, to say the least. At the border, we halted at a coalition checkpoint and for the first time in years I heard the Midwestern accent of an American in the middle of the desert: "Welcome to Iraq; may I take your order?" The troops were enthusiastic—GIs doing their job. We shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, and hit the road again, southbound for Basra.
A few weeks later, my life nearly ended, along with the rest of the team. As we returned north on the route at 160 clicks per hour, we were overtaken by a black Mercedes with one notable distinction: rifles. We were forced to the shoulder and escorted out into the sand and out of sight, below the lip of a wadi—a dry riverbed. There we were dragged from our vehicle, then lined up in the sand on our knees, hearts pounding and palms sweating.
Let me tell you, when an AK-47 stares at you, you find an incredible capacity for introspection, along with a unique closeness to God.
I asked myself, If I had to do it all over again, would I spend my life in the Middle East, living among Arabs, trying to be a visible expression of Jesus to them?
I had my answer immediately. The Holy Spirit spoke inside of me so strongly that my body trembled. I heard the words, I love these people.
That's when I realized the truth: I loved these Arabs too. But it wasn't my love that drove me—it was his love for them. I was simply a part of the story.
* * *
Sadly, when my wife and I returned to the United States, we found that the temper of Western Christianity was markedly different. TV, radio, magazines, pulpit messages: so many voices, so much conflict.
Some called for the destruction of Islamic nations, and even Islam on the whole. Others disagreed, but it seemed that almost no one knew what to do, what to say, or even what to hope for.
Entering the arena were many religious voices who found an outlet where they could iterate their political allegiances and use them to fire upon Muslims, Arabs, and sometimes non-Christians in general.
At this juncture I came to a horrifying realization: The momentum within Christianity was moving rapidly into the realm of politics. Some people who felt wounded and vulnerable from the 9/11 attacks found it relatively easy to assume terrorism was synonymous with Islam, making it justifiable in their eyes to beat our plowshares back into swords. I know this is an observation that does not include all Westerners, Americans, or Christians. I also know I am treading on sensitive ground with this subject. But a problem resurfaced that had not been seen since the Crusades. The causes of men were falsely aligned with the causes of God, linking our military successes to his will and broadcasting the message that God is "on our side."
At least that's how my Arab friends saw it. The Christians are coming. Again.
* * *
After we had moved back to the United States, I received invitation after invitation to speak at universities, churches, and other places. I was puzzled by my newfound popularity. One day I realized the truth. It wasn't me that people were interested in; a thirst had awakened, a desire to become more familiar with this religion called Islam. My ego wasn't deflated at all. In fact, my heart surged with hope. Many Christians are now choosing the road less traveled, driven to learn about Islam and thirsty to see if there is a way to reach out to Muslims.
In fact, when I'm asked—as I often am—what is the answer to the issues in the Middle East and I answer "Jesus," I am often mocked as being simplistic, even by my committed Christian friends.
They are looking for a political answer that simply doesn't exist.
When I can't make sense of something, I pull everything back to its simplest point, stripping away the confusion and noisy complexities. What matters is what has always mattered:
* * *
Maybe you're reading this book because you want to understand your Muslim friend or neighbor. Maybe you want to go to the Middle East to share Jesus' love with people. Maybe you're just curious about what makes a Muslim different from you. In any case, my intention is to give you some information to help you befriend a Muslim and practical tips on how to live a life that's truly Good News to a Muslim. I cannot hope to speak for every perspective on every issue. I'm not infallible, I'm not the final word on Islam. I'm only a follower of Jesus who loves Muslims. This book is not intended—in any way—to be the complete and final treatise on this matter; just helpful and genuine.
I've had Muslim scholars read each of these chapters, and they have agreed that what I've said is fair. At the end of many chapters are sections entitled "A Christlike Perspective," which are what I believe would be a response sanctioned by Jesus Christ. For those of us looking to live our lives as much like Jesus as possible, I lay out what he might want us to do with the subject at hand.
Throughout the book you will also find sections called "A Story of Faith," where I recount some of our family's most special experiences. Many occurred during our times in the Middle East, but I believe they will provide important insights—and inspiration—for the interactions and friendships you might have with Muslims anywhere.
Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Connections
Copyright © 2008 by Carl Medearis
Published by Bethany House Publishing, a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287 Grand Rapids MI 49516-6287
Used by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.


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10 Reasons Alex Trebek is Awesome
Quick, if you could pick any game show host to have on your side during a fight, who would it be? Bob Barker? C'mon. Everyone picks Bob Barker. Just because he wielded a mean set of fists in Happy Gilmore doesn't mean he would in real life. No, I think you'd better go with Alex Trebek. Dude is tough. If you haven't heard the latest Trebek-related news, check out #1 on the list, and then read on for nine other things that make him kind of amazing.
1. When he recently woke up his San Francisco hotel room to find a robber rifling through his possessions, Alex Trebek chased the robber down and cornered her in the ice machine alcove. He ended up getting everything back except some cash and a bracelet that was a gift from his mother.
2. Under the category "Things You Probably Didn't Want to Know About Alex Trebek": he sleeps nude. When he gave an interview to The Today Show this morning, Trebek mentioned that he put underwear on before tearing out the door after the burglar.
3. I guess we shouldn't be surprised by the commando sleeping, because he was once fully prepared to do part of Jeopardy! pantless. During the Ken Jennings era, Ken and his two fellow contestants, both male, decided it would help their nerves if they all stood in their skivvies behind their podiums. Alex agreed to join in, not realizing it was all a prank.
4. He was one of the original Men in Black on the X-Files. So was Jesse Ventura.
5. He carried the Olympic Torch for a leg through Jacksonville, Florida, for the Atlanta Games in 1996.
6. Unlike the Will Ferrell version of him, the real Alex Trebek has a pretty good sense of humor.
7. When asked if he watched Bob Barker's final show on The Price is Right his response was, "I was doing some electrical work in an attic today."
8. Time's Techland interviewed Trebek last year and said, "I always imagine an obscure question coming up at a dinner party and everybody says, 'Oh, well, let's ask Alex. He knows everything because of Jeopardy.'"
Alex's response? "Yeah, well, that doesn't happen at dinner parties. I'm too busy drinking [laughs]."
9. As a Christmas gift for the cast and crew of Jeopardy! one year, he took everyone indoor skydiving. He also once hired a dance instructor to teach them all to moonwalk (he himself opted out after an attempt or two).
10. And then there's this video. Is he actually drinking? Hard to say. But there's no doubt that he's cursing like a sailor (there's your forewarning).