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The US agenda driving this week's Africa Summit in Washington, where some 50 African states will be represented, remains something of a mystery. Africa's agenda, by contrast, should be clear – economic ties and trade developments including the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). President Barack Obama's African genes, China's rapid expansion into Africa and the sense of African neglect in Mr Obama's foreign policy have been offered by US academics as the reasons for the gathering, but as far as the African nations are concerned, the outcome must hold tangible benefits for the continent and not just more promises and platitudes. The agenda is likely to include options and possible solutions to kidnappings and killings by Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Kenya, the war and tragedy in South Sudan and the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.
From an African perspective, the summit will have a strong economic aspect. The key issue is AGOA and its extension for another 15 years, as South Africa is going to suggest to the White House and to the Washington lawmakers who are due to review the AGOA legislation. Opposition to any extension is mounting in the US Congress. South Africa's participation in the duty-free access to US markets provided by AGOA membership hangs by the proverbial thread due to mounting pressure within Congress and elements in the US executive to determine that, because South Africa is a 'middle-income' country, it should no longer be allowed AGOA benefits.
South African sources acknowledged that trade and industry department arguments for Pretoria's continued membership are going to be a very hard sell. While there is some confidence that AGOA itself will be extended, concern remains over how much longer AGOA will be in play and there is real concern over South Africa's continued participation. The consensus among Southern African Development Community (SADC) officials in Gaborone and Pretoria, according to sources, is that AGOA will survive, but it may be scaled back with some additional exclusions and a shorter timeframe. The idea would be to give African beneficiaries of the programme sufficient time to wean themselves off the AGOA process, which many of its opponents in the US Congress say was never intended to be without end.
While there may be some temptation to regard this week's gatherings (there will be more than one) as a junket and US sightseeing opportunity, it is imperative for the African delegations to push trade and economic benefits while there is still some opportunity to do so. Attitudes in the US are hardening and freebies are going to become more and more difficult to secure, despite any pressure the US may feel from its 'competition' in Africa against China. While it may be galling and difficult to understand why the US continues to insist on imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe while inviting Egyptian coup leaders, African delegations must not be distracted. A united front and strong rational arguments will be needed in Washington next week.
WHY DO WE CARE? The AGOA process has certainly contributed to African trade development even though it has also been exploited by third parties to gain access to US markets. It is a better process than direct budget support and it has social benefits beyond economic progress. But AGOA was never intended to be open ended and pressure is building in the US Congress to rein it in. This week's Africa Summit in Washington and the various sideshows and gala dinners will be very important in swaying lawmakers to maintain the programme and lend political weight to AGOA supporters. AGOA will survive this round, but for how much longer and to what extent remains an open question. South Africa faces the hardest sell of all.
Analyst: Gary van Staden


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It is peace that you need—Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it.
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As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen something of the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence. You feel that sin has separated you from God, that you are in bondage to the power of evil. The more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness. Your motives are impure; your heart is unclean. You see that your life has been filled with selfishness and sin. You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free. Harmony with God, likeness to Him—what can you do to obtain it?
It is peace that you need—Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift, "without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1. It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lord says, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Ezekiel 36:26.
Henceforth you are not your own; you are bought with a price. "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold;... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and [p. 52] without spot." 1 Peter 1:18, 19. Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has begotten a new life in your heart. You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Son.
Now that you have given yourself to Jesus, do not draw back, do not take yourself away from Him, but day by day say, "I am Christ's; I have given myself to Him;" and ask Him to give you His Spirit and keep you by His grace. As it is by giving yourself to God, and believing Him, that you become His child, so you are to live in Him. The apostle says, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." Colossians 2:6.
Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot resist evil. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weakness, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at His feet in penitence. It is His glory to encircle us in the arms of His love and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse us from all impurity.
Here is where thousands fail; they do not believe that Jesus pardons them personally, individually. They do not take God at His word. It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God's promises are not meant for you. They are for every [p. 53] repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; He bids them live and not die.
God does not deal with us as finite men deal with one another. His thoughts are thoughts of mercy, love, and tenderest compassion. He says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins." Isaiah 55:7; 44:22.
With the rich promises of the Bible before you, can you give place to doubt? Can you believe that when the poor sinner longs to return, longs to forsake his sins, the Lord sternly withholds him from coming to His feet in repentance? Away with such thoughts! Nothing can hurt your own soul more than to entertain such a conception of our heavenly Father. He hates sin, but He loves the sinner, and He gave Himself in the person of Christ, that all who would might be saved and have eternal blessedness in the kingdom of glory. What stronger or more tender language could have been employed than He has chosen in which to express His love toward us? He declares, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Isaiah 49:15.
Look up, you that are doubting and trembling; [p. 55] for Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Thank God for the gift of His dear Son and pray that He may not have died for you in vain. The Spirit invites you today. Come with your whole heart to Jesus, and you may claim His blessing.
As you read the promises, remember they are the expression of unutterable love and pity. The great heart of Infinite Love is drawn toward the sinner with boundless compassion. "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Ephesians 1:7. Yes, only believe that God is your helper. He wants to restore His moral image in man. As you draw near to Him with confession and repentance, He will draw near to you with mercy and forgiveness.

subset: commoncrawl


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Karl Stefanovic marries Jasmine Yarbrough in Mexico!
Karl Stefanovic and fashion designer Jasmine Yarbrough have married and Jasmine looked stunning in her ultra-modern look.
Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough have got married
Karl Stefanovic and his bride Jasmine Yarbrough had a gorgeous evening wedding ceremony in Mexico as they got married on 8 December 2018. The wedding was solemnized in the presence of more than 200 guests which were part of the bridal party. It was on top of the stairs of the One&Only Chapel at Palmilla resort in El Cabos. There was security around the venue with Mexican Marines deployed off the shore for the beachside nuptials.
The wedding dresses and outfits
Jasmine, 34 looked stunning in her Jess Andreatta gown which had a daringly short hemline. She had worn a detachable skirt which featured soft blush tulle undertones. There were also soft blush tulle undertones.
She had seven bridesmaids. These included her high school friends such as Sarah Johnson, Jimilla Houghton, Sophie Pentland, Georgie Fleming, and Stoj Bulic. The other two bridesmaids were her sister Jade Yarbrough and her business partner who is Tamie Ingham. All of them were in black floor-length dresses created by Rachel Gilbert.
What was the bridegroom wearing?
Karl, 44 was in a white blazer and white shirt with black pants which were designed by Tom Ford. He also had seven groomsmen and they were all dressed in black. The gorgeous couple said I Do and kissed each other atop the stairs of the chapel.
News by the media outlets
Many of the media outlets and magazines put on their social media about this wedding. Who magazine wrote on their Instagram to their 107k followers:
"BREAKING [email protected] host @karlstefanovic and his gorgeous wife @jasyarby have tied the knot in a beautiful Los Cabo ceremony."
The wedding was also witnessed by Karl's brother Peter and his sister-in-law and Today co-host Sylvia Jeffreys. Just before the due wedding ceremony, guests had accumulated on the outside courtyard of the chapel to watch the nuptials and also give their blessings to the couple. The former contestant of the show My Kitchen Rules Della Muscat uploaded a group picture of the guests which included the son of Richard Wilkins Christian and captioned the picture thus:
"Here we go!"
Christian Wilkins could be seen wearing a sleeveless sheer top and was clutching a Moschino bag. Della also shared on her social media a picture of the decorated chapel which was adorned with white-colored flowers for the occasion. She also displayed on her social media a picture of the cute trinket which was given to the guests on arrival. There was also a picture of the guests when they had taken their respective seats outside the chapel. When the ceremony was over and the couple was leaving the venue, there was a mariachi band playing in the background for them and the guests.
Also read The pre-wedding tiara incident! Meghan Markle learns the royal family protocols the harsh way!
The British TV presenter and fashion blogger Louise Roe also was amongst the guests. He put up a picture of outside the chapel for his 697.5k Instagram fans. He captioned it:
"My hot wedding [email protected] #letsgetfizzykarl"
The other attendee included pro skateboarder and sports broadcaster Corbin Harris and he put up a story on his Instagram Story and the picture he uploaded was of himself and fellow attendees which included model Montana Cox as they made their way to the venue. They were dressed to the nines. Many of the other guests also uploaded pictures of the event on their Instagram. They all hashtagged it #letsgetfizzykarl.
Also read Justin Bieber confirms his wedding to Hailey Baldwin and says that he is a married man!
Credit: US weekly, people, daily mail


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We will plan to still ski unless the roads or weather doesn't allow. Please have students at their school at 3:20 to load the buses. The sooner the buses are loaded, the sooner we will be able to leave.
Ski & Snowboard Program
"So much fun!
I'm signing up every year!"
We're excited for another fun season this year! Registration will remain open until the buses are full.
Dates: January 6, 27, February 3 and Tuesday Feb 11. Night skiing.
Available to Middle School and Jr. High students in Madison County.
Lessons available for beginner students.
(more info)
All students will ride a bus to and from the resort.
Chaperones are provided.
Classes are taught by professional instructors provided by Kelly Canyon.
(more info)
$22 - sign up fee
$50 - four days of skiing
$60 - bus ride each day, both ways
Lessons & rentals available
(more info)
What if school is canceled?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
Do you have a Facebook page?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
Follow Rexburg Community Ski Program on Facebook to stay up to date.
Where can I buy parent/sibling tickets?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
Parent and sibling tickets must be purchased directly from Kelly Canyon at the ticket office. You can buy them on the days that you ski with your student for a discounted rate of $19 for parent tickets and $16 for sibling tickets.
When do the buses leave for Kelly Canyon?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
Students will load the buses right after school and the buses will leave as soon as possible after that.
In case of an emergency, how can I contact a chaperone while my child is at Kelly Canyon?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
We have little to no cell service on the mountain so you will be unable to reach us on our cell phones while we are skiing. In case of an emergency we will contact you using a land line at Kelly Canyon. If you need to contact us you can call the Kelly Canyon ticket office at (208) 538 – 6251. They usually close by 8:00 pm.
How do I get to Kelly Canyon?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
Directions to Kelly Canyon from Rexburg can be found HERE.
Map of the Mountain
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
The lodge is located between lifts 2 and 3. The rental shop is located near lifts 1 and 2.
To view the full sized map, click on the picture or click HERE to visit the Kelly Canyon Website.
Green= Easy (35%)
Blue= Medium (45%)
Black= Difficult (20%)
Will My Child Ski Alone?
// iSkiRexburg // Uncategorized No Responses
A: If your child is a new skier/snowboarder, it is ALWAYS best that they plan to ski with a friend or two. Their lessons will only take one hour and then the rest of the evening they will be free to ski/board on their own. Please advise your children that if they are unfamiliar with the hill, they should stay on Skier's Lane (lift #3) or the bunny hill for their first couple of trips. If they are unsure of what lift to ride, they can always ask an iSki Chaperone (will be wearing red armbands) a Kelly Canyon employee, or a member of the Ski Patrol (wearing red and black coats).
Have a question?
Please message us through the iSkiRexburg Facebook page


text: Entertainment Fashion & Style Dress to Flatter Your Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Share PINTEREST Email Print Fashion & Style Dresses Accessories Tops & Sweaters Skirts Jeans Pants Outerwear Lingerie & Swimwear Do It Yourself Shoes Skincare Advice Makeup Hair Fragrance Tattoos and Body Piercings Kids and Teens Bumps & Babies Learn More By Paula Darnell Updated October 25, 2017 01 of 07 The Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Type Alyssa Milano attends a party in Phoenix, February 2008. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc./Getty Images Do you have broad shoulders and/or a full bust and small hips and thighs? If so, then you have an inverted triangle-shaped figure type. Inverted triangle figures can be any size; it's the shape that determines the type. Although the inverted triangle is the least common petite figure type, this shape is the envy of others because a full bust and wide shoulders bring emphasis to the top of the figure, rather than the hips and thighs. Some petite celebrities who also have a triangle figure include: Alyssa MilanoBette MidlerDolly Parton Petite women who have inverted triangle-shaped figures have more of a challenge in dressing because they are short. So if you're a petite women who has an inverted triangle figure, you'll want to combine flattering styles for your figure types and also dress to look longer and leaner. Here petite Alyssa Milano flatters her inverted triangle figure in this black cocktail dress by wearing: Black - a dark color.Strapless dress, which shows off beautiful bare shoulders.Sleek high heels, a great style for short women.Horizontal line across narrow hip, which helps balance the figure (women with other figure shapes should not use this technique!) 02 of 07 Dress to Balance Your Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Actress Alyssa Milano attends a book signing at Borders in New York to promote her book 'Safe at Home'on March 30, 2009. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Entertainment When dressing to flatter figure, your main challenge will be to balance your figure so that you don't look top-heavy. Try to achieve a look that mimics an hourglass shape. Strategize your style so that you emphasize your lower body and minimize your top half. So avoid styles that tend to over-emphasize the top. For example, if you wear puffed sleeves, your top will look even bigger and make you look more out of balance. Strive to achieve a more balanced look, and create some waist definition by calling attention to your slimmest areas from under the bust to your waistline. In our example pictured above, although this isn't a terrible look for Alyssa Milano, it could be better. The puffed sleeves and light ivory color of her blouse are both features that emphasize her inverted triangle-shaped figure. Dark-wash jeans with straight legs work well for most petites, so to balance this look, a sleeveless dark top would do the trick. 03 of 07 Tops That Flatter Your Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Navy V-neck top. Image Courtesy of Banana Republic Strategy Strive for balance so that your figure appears more like the ideal hourglass figure. Look for tops that won't make you appear bigger on top while maintaining the look of a defined waistline. At the same time, look for style details that will help you look taller. Color Wearing a dark color on top will help make the top appear a bit smaller. Shaping If a very large bust looks quite disproportionate, wearing a minimizer bra will make for a less top heavy look. Necklines V-necklines and U-necklines are good because they add height. If you have an inverted triangle-shaped figure, avoid boatneck styles because they visually widen your top. Waistline Make sure that any top you select gives you the appearance of a defined waistline. This may either be at your natural waistline or under the bust with an empire style top. If the top has an under-bust seam or band, it should fall under and not across the bust. You may need to go up a size so that tops will fit properly in the bust. Sleeves Select narrow sleeves that extend at least to the elbow, and avoid short cap sleeves, flutter sleeves, or puff sleeves because they widen your shoulder line. Sleeveless styles usually look best on women who have slender, toned arms. Lines Surplice styles, princess seams, and vertical or chevron stripes all add to the illusion of height, so they are also desirable. What to Avoid Stay away from off-the-shoulder styles, details at the shoulders, and big shoulder pads. Also avoid shapeless styles with no waistline, chunky knit fabric, and high necklines. In the example pictured, the petite navy top from Banana Republic (Buy Direct) would flatter a short woman with an inverted triangle-shaped figure because of the dark color, the V-neckline, and the narrow three-quarter length sleeves. 04 of 07 Jackets That Flatter Your Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Peplum jacket from Shopbop. Image Courtesy of Shopbop Finding a jacket to fit an inverted triangle-shaped figure can sometimes be challenging because many jackets feature thick shoulder padding and extended shoulder lines, neither of which works very well for a short woman who has an inverted triangle-shaped figure. Classicly styled single-breasted jackets, which are fitted or semi-fitted to give some waistline definition, can be a good choice as long as the jacket's style doesn't emphasize the shoulder line. Look for jackets that button to form a flattering V-neckline, rather than jewel-neck or mandarin collar jackets. Jackets with princess seams give a nice vertical line that flatters short women, and peplum jackets work well because they balance the figure by enhancing the hip. Avoid bolero or cropped styles. Women who have inverted triangle-shaped figures have the only figure type that actually benefits from more hip emphasis, so jacket details that fall below the natural waistline, such as patch pockets, will help balance the figure. In the example pictured above, the single-breasted, semi-fitted jacket from Shopbop (Buy Direct) features a shallow V-neckline, single-breasted styling, flattering three-quarter length sleeves, dark color, and peplum. 05 of 07 Skirts That Flatter Your inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Purple skirt from Gap has fullness, a good feature for petites who have inverted triangle shaped figures. Image Courtesy of Gap If you have an inverted triangle-shaped figure, you're able to wear skirts that have more fullness. In fact, yours is the only petite figure type that really can wear fuller skirts well. Fullness in a skirt enhances the hips, which you can afford to do in order to balance a larger top. Other skirt styles that will work for short women who have inverted triangle-shaped figures are A-line styles and pegged skirts. A pegged skirt is narrower at the hem than at the hip, and this type of styling makes the hips look larger. Consider the length of the skirt because when the hem of a skirt falls across a thick part of the leg, either thigh or calf, it makes you look wider and shorter. However, many short women who have inverted triangle-shaped figures also have slender legs. In that case, you may be able to wear a mini-skirt, but avoid mini-skirts unless you do have slender legs. Otherwise, keep the skirt length around the knee at the most flattering length. In most cases, the best skirt length for short women is just above the knee, at the knee, or just below the knee. If you're wearing a pegged skirt, it's essential that the hem be above the knee so that you're able to walk in it. If you wear boots with a skirt, the boots should be high enough and your skirt hem low enough that there's no gap between them. This gives you an unbroken vertical line and helps you look taller. In our example above, the purple skirt, available in petite sizes, from Gap (Buy Direct) features smocking detail at the hip, side pockets at the hip, and fullness in the styling, all features which will emphasize the hips. 06 of 07 Pants That Flatter Your Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure Petite women who have inverted triangle shaped figures are able to wear tapered jeans. Image Courtesy of Lands' End Dark-colored pants with straight legs work best for most petites because they give short women a more slender and taller appearance. If you're 5'0" or under, you may also need to find pants with a shorter inseam than regular petite pants have. If you have an inverted triangle-shaped figure, you can wear pants or jeans with pocket details to enhance your hips. You're also able to wear tapered pants or jeans, which will make hips appear larger to balance out your top. If you're also a tiny petite with very slender legs, you may be able to wear skinny jeans. Because of your small hips, you're able to find jeans that fit more easily than women who have other figure types. These petite tapered jeans from Lands' End feature a traditional at-the-waist fit, classic style, and rinsed dark indigo color. The tapered jeans are available in petite sizes 2-18, and there are three inseam options for these petite jeans--26", 28", and 30"--so that gives petites plenty of flexibility. Another neat feature is that you can try them on a virtual model to get an idea of how they would fit you. 07 of 07 Dresses That Flatter Your Inverted Triangle-Shaped Figure White silk dress from Fernanda Carneiro Designs is available in sizes 2-12. Image Courtesy of Fernanda Carneiro Designs If you have an inverted triangle-shaped figure, your first consideration in selecting a dress is to make sure that it fits well in the bust. Avoid dresses that pull across the bust because that makes for an unflattering appearance. Even if a dress that fits well in the bust is too big in the hips, it can be taken in if necessary. There are three types of styles that work especially well for short women who have inverted triangle-shaped figures: Wrap Dresses Wrap dresses, which form V-necklines, work well for the inverted triangle figure type. Avoid puffed sleeves and ruffles on a wrap dress so that the top won't look larger. Sheath Dresses with Pegged Skirts A well-fitting sheath dress with a pegged skirt to make hips appear a bit more in balance with broad shoulders is another workable style for the petite woman who has an inverted triangle-shaped figure. Dresses with Hip Detail Dresses with hip detail, such as a ruffle or pockets, also put more emphasis on hips and help balance the shape of an inverted triangle figure so that it looks more like an hourglass. The white silk dress pictured above from Fernanda Carneiro Designs features a flattering V-neckline, sheath styling, and ruffle at hip, all style details that flatter a woman with an inverted triangle-shaped figure.


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My formula for student success is never using a formula! Rather, I personalize my tutoring to meet the specific needs of my clients. Naturally curious and passionate about teaching, I've found that assessing how every individual student learns is critical to academic success!
The "aha" moment when my student is learning, poised to make a big breakthrough!
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Getting to know exactly how they learn and forming a strategy to build confidence and boost performance.
TEFL/TESOL certified, Online instructor, Bachelor of Arts degree, 20 years of professional journalism experience.
$25 per hourly sessions with discounts for tutoring packages of 10 sessions or more.
During my years as a supervisory desk editor at The Voice of America, I trained, managed and evaluated new staff writers and interns. I also edited and guided many foreign journalists (non-native English speakers). My staffers recommended me to incoming staff, praising my one on one attention and ability to up their writing game.


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Walking on to a Division I football team isn't easy – for a walk-on to earn a scholarship is even more difficult. Eastern Michigan University redshirt junior linebacker Great Ibe (pronounced "e-bay") did just that.
Two years ago, he transferred from Concordia University-Ann Arbor, which is about five minutes north of campus – if you take Geddes Road.
"I just wanted to always be a part of building something great and building something that is strong – that I could look back on and be proud of," Ibe said. "That's why I picked Eastern Michigan."
Ibe said he's been playing football for as long as he can remember.
"I've been playing since 1999, I think," Ibe said. "Every memory I've had, I have football in it. I remember I always had a lot of energy, was always bouncing off the walls, so I think football was a good fit for me growing up."
Ibe said he's looking forward to earning his degree and figuring out what the next step in his life is going to be, after football.
He said he's learned a great deal from his current teammates, as well as some former Eagles.
"Pudge [Cotton] was a big guy who I talked to a lot when I first got here," Ibe said. "Sean Kurtz was a strong guy that really helped me out a lot. Learning from other people's mistakes – things I saw when I was a redshirt – helped me to become a better player."
Ibe said he likes to unwind like many EMU students do – by watching Netflix and hanging out with his roommates.
"I actually live with five other football players, so we just like to chill and relax," he said.
How is it living with five other football players?
"It's good," Ibe said. "[There are] a lot of Dom's trips – going to get a lot of donuts and just relaxing. It's a good time."
Cotton, a defensive co-captain, said that Ibe works hard to earn his accomplishments on the field.
"He's a man," Cotton said. "If you watched the first two games, he's on every tackle, every play – he works hard. For you to earn a scholarship – a Division I scholarship as a walk-on, that says a lot. He's definitely a leader on defense with OC [Pat O'Connor] and he brings energy every day to practice, [he] works hard, he expects that from other people – demands that of other people – and he's a playmaker."
EMU coach Chris Creighton said that Ibe stood out to him in the offseason. An offseason injury to Ike Spearman – one of the team's starting linebackers – opened the door for Ibe to see extended playing time.
"I went to Coach McCaslin – it was after Ike [Spearman] suffered his injury and I've always known he [Ibe] was a great football player and he's got a lot inside of him, but it was probably the practice immediately following that where I saw him emerge as a leader, and he has not turned back since that time," Creighton said. "His passion for the game and the way he plays it is inspiring. I think he's a winner and I get excited about thinking about him playing and leading our team."
Ibe has already made an impact this season – he's made 32 total tackles, of which 21 were unassisted. He's also credited with 3.5 tackles for loss and half a sack – in three games.
Great Ibe's Football Card (credit:emueagles.com)
Full Name: Kelechukwu Great Ibe
Age: 21
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 230 lbs
Hometown: Hanover, Md.
High School: Meade High School
2014 (to date):
Games Played: 3
Total tackles: 32 (21 solo, 11 assists) – 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks
Career (to date):
Games Played: 15
Total Tackles: 84 (39 solo, 45 assists)
Fumble Recoveries: 0
Interceptions: 0
Defensive Touchdowns: 0
Social Media
Follow Al Willman on Twitter: @AlWillmanEcho


text:
Hello There,
Southerners know the value of ice tea, for them it is an elegant affair according to author Fred Thompson in his book "Iced Tea." And, he should know he is a food stylist and recipe developer who trained at the Culinary Institute of America.
I agree with Thompson who grew up in the South watching his grandmother, mother and aunties make tea who states that "one does not need to be from the South to be a big ice tea lover and to appreciate the wonderful flavors associated with this icy cold beverage." I believe it's a tragic mistake not to have beverages like ice tea on hand when our clients come in the door of our establishments after making their way through the grueling and steamy summer heat into our beautifully appointed spas or medical esthetic facial clinics. Just imagine not only do you come across as extremely hospitable but think for a moment about and how refreshing it would be for your clients if you were to have some sparkling strawberry tea ready to hand to them as soon as they arrive all sticky, hot and, perspired. Mixing tea with blended frozen strawberries and combining it with thawed limeade concentrate in a blender until it is frothy and pouring it into a tall glass garnished with a few sprigs of mint is a great way to let your clients know how much you care about their comfort.
Thompson mentions in his book a really wild combination of tea and V-8 juice which he says was inspired by a very creative Australian chef. He says that "tomatoes and tea may sound bazaar but he claims it's actually quite uplifting on a scorching day." The sun-dried tomatoes add just a hint of smokiness to the beverage – giving it a good measure of zing. According to the book, it is easy enough to make, all we have to do is combine one 14 ½ -ounce can diced tomatoes with 6-8 sun-dried tomatoes (without oil) mix with six cups icy cold water and one tablespoon of Ceylon tea leaves. Thompson instructs us to bring the canned tomatoes and the sun-dried tomatoes with 2 cups of water along with the tea leaves to a boil, cover the mixture, remove it from heat, and let it steep for 10 minutes. Afterward, he directs us to strain it through a fine-mesh strainer into a 1 ½ quart container, pressing firmly on the solids to release the juices and to add the remaining 4 cups of water and stir. He suggests we chill the mixture then… serve it over plenty of ice.
Here is just a sampling of some more of Thompson's iced tea blends mentioned but… you will have to get his book though, if you want the recipes:
- Mixed-berry with green tea blended with raspberry yogurt
- Iced green tea which he suggests making with honey and fresh lemon
- A nice blend of Earl Grey tea, Irish breakfast tea in combination with raspberry tea
- Cha Yen (Thai iced tea)
- Tea blended with lemon yogurt and garnished with lemon slices
- And, for adults – Green Tea Martinis – which Fred says are made with the addition of orange flavored vodka poured over cracked ice, placed in a cocktail shaker for 30 seconds and served up chilled in martini glasses and garnished with small lime wedges, sweetened to taste.
Additional Resources –
Thai Iced Tea Recipes
How to make the perfect Ice Tea – with all the properties in tact of hot tea
Secrets for Making Faultless Ice Tea
Best teas to make Iced Teas
Exotic Eastern Asian Iced Boba Tea Mixture


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Massage Therapy
Practiced for thousands of years, massage therapy provides many health benefits. TheraWays offers massage techniques with a wide variety of pressures and movements. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes, even forearms, elbows, or feet are used.
Currently, more and more people, including insurers, recognize the health benefits of massage therapy. They are seeking relief from painful symptoms or help to heal injuries and to promote overall wellness.
Diane Gottlich, MS, CNMT, LMT, OMT, E-RYT500, CR
- CNMT – Certified Neuromuscular Therapist
- LMT – Licensed massage therapist in the state of Georgia (MT000228)
- OMT – Oncology massage therapist (cancer patients)
- E-RYT500 – Experienced, Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500 hour level
- CR – Certified reflexologist
Diane has 20 years of massage experience and is certified in neuromuscular massage, deep tissue, Swedish, reflexology and chair massage.
She holds an NCBTMB certification, (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) which is awarded only after passing a strenuous national massage board, competency exam. If passed, it recognizes the therapist as the most competent in their field.
In addition, she is an experienced yoga instructor certified by the Yoga Alliance and teaches anatomy for Yoga Teacher Training programs.
She holds a BS (Bachelor of Science) undergraduate degree in Health Information Management and an (MS) Masters degree in Psychology with a secondary degree in Business Communications.
Thai-Yoga Massage at TheraWays Wellness
Thai-Yoga Massage is a combination of deep compression, breath-work, & stretches to increase range of motion, aid joint pain, & help release muscle tension.
Deep Tissue Massage at TheraWays Wellness
Deep Tissue Massage combines effective techniques that target trigger points and allow the therapist to work the inner layer of muscles aids in pain relief.
Swedish Massage at TheraWays Wellness
Swedish Massage can relax and renew muscle tissue. The therapist uses long gliding strokes that aid blood flow back to the heart and is great for relaxation.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
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Periodically we'll send e-mails with updated class schedules, new instructors and other items of interest. Sign up now to stay in touch.


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Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort is just around the corner. We have all the treats that will be coming to this spooktacular event starting September
Category: Disneyland Events
Incredibles Float Coming To Paint The Night Parade
The much-anticipated Incredibles 2 movie is coming to theaters on June 15, 2018. The first Incredibles movie came out over 14 years ago! Yet, this
Pixar Fest Parades, Fireworks and Entertainment in Disneyland!
Calling all Pixar fans! Disneyland Park is hosting its first ever Pixar Fest event, a Celebration of Friendship and Beyond! This event began on April 13,


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Friday, 15 May, 2009
Report no. 19/2009
The Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. hereby provides the proposed resolutions to be passed at the Ordinary General Meeting convened for 16 June 2009. The proposed resolution regarding the appropriation of Company profit for financial year 2008 will be provided at a later time in connection with current report no. 18/2009 published 15 May 2009.


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One of the first things you might do every morning is turn on a sink or open a water bottle. But, do you really know how it's affecting your home, your body, and your budget? How do you know if you have high quality water?
Even though city water goes through a process to be made safe for home use, contaminants and particles still slip through the city's system and into your home. Those of you who have gotten a boiling water alert know this to be true. These elements can cause harm to your family and home and can lead to long-term health concerns for homeowners. These are some of the leading contaminants:
Some contaminants found in tap water have even been linked to cancer.
Is water with high levels of specific contaminants and minerals. These elements react to the chemicals found in soaps, resulting in "soap scum," which is actually not soap or scum at all. This chemical reaction causes damage to skin and hair and can lead to bacteria being trapped in the skin. This can create uncomfortable and sometimes disruptive conditions that can detract from your quality of life. The effects of hard water on skin and hair may also make it necessary to invest in dermatology appointments or excess skin and hair products.
Those who live with specific and serious health concerns often require purified water in order to inhibit further damage to their bodies. When this is the case, city water will not suffice.
Health risks aside, build-up caused from hard water wears appliances down, making it necessary to repair and replace them at a much higher rate than households with soft water or conditioners running through their pipes. Imagine needing to replace a water heater every few years! The cost over time adds up to a staggering amount when compared to water heaters that need to be replaced only a third or fourth of the frequency of homes with hard water. This water also affects other building features, such as plumbing fixtures, washing machines, dish washers, and other household appliances.
You may think of turning to bottled water solutions. However, the costs add up, and waiting in line at water kiosks or lugging cases from the store can eat up valuable time and effort that are precious commodities. If you do the math, the cost of purchasing bottled water for a family of four throughout the span of a year is more than the cost of a purification system. And you have to pay that year after year after year, whereas once a purification system is paid off, your money stops going out and the water keeps coming in. Bottled water also does nothing to address health concerns and appliance wear-and-tear.
Waiting to purchase or lease-to-own a purification system doesn't make sense. A Puretap Water Systems does. Keep reading to learn more about our advanced water systems, from drinking water filtration systems to full house water filtration systems as well as information on how to measure water hardness and getting your water tested.
Ociel was my tech for today's service call, very courteous and professional. Really like the tracking system for the technician's arrival time.
Always polite, quick, and do a good job. We love the water!
Very professional, and knowledgeable of his work service. Explained, and answered all that we had questions regarding the water system. The price was very reasonable and at no time did we feel pressured to commit to any other service they offered. We're new to the osmosis water system so we really didn't have any idea of what needs to be done to it. Jesus explained to us everything we needed to know, and was very courteous and professional. Thank You for your great service and we will continue to do business with your company in the future. We highly recommend Pure Tap Water System to anyone who is in the market of installing one or having service done. The Ramirez Family Harlingen Texas.
Puretap truly cares about their customers. It customer service first with them. I'm glad I chose puretap
Jesus was punctual, informative, knowledgeable, and very professional. Have been doing business with Puretap many years-superb service and service personnel. Thank you-Delia
I've had a great experience so far. Fantastic pricing, and the technician was very polite and explained everything well.
Still waiting to finish my house to have the completed product, but so far, I am extremely satisfied!"
Ociel is a good man (tech) ,he gets it done. I appreciate y'all taking care of my ranch systems.I like your customer dispatch text system.Thanks, Randy Hausenfluck
Timely arrival of the technician. Very amicable and courteous. Very knowledgeable and efficient. My system was up and running in no time at all. Thank you. Mrs. Luis Vela
Serviceman friendly and good install
Always excellent service that is reliable. Technician is very professional and respectful. Thank you!!!
Purified water is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. Puretap Water Systems brings you the most convenient method of having safe, healthy water available to you and your family. Don't be fooled by any water filtration systems that say they simply "purify" your water. Let us test your water, free of charge, and compare results with Puretap's Reverse Osmosis Purified Water. At Puretap, we have one goal in mind: customer satisfaction.
We are so confident that you will be completely satisfied with your Puretap unit that we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee.
If after seven days of clean, healthy water straight from your faucet you are not completely satisfied, we will pick the unit up and refund your money, no questions asked.
Welcome to Puretap Water Systems, the no-fuss solution to bottled drinking water and poor water quality. The professionals at Puretap Water Systems have been dedicated to improving the standards of water in homes and businesses since 1994.
We service customers throughout the Rio Grande Valley. You can find our products in McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, Weslaco, Donna, La Feria, Mercedes, Harlingen, Brownsville, South Padre Island, Los Fresnos, Rancho Viejo, and more.
We also provide clean water throughout other parts of South and West Texas in cities like Corpus Christi, Laredo, and anywhere in between.
We specialize in providing safe and pure water for your home, office, restaurant, or refinery through reverse osmosis and water softener appliances that use the latest water-purifying technology on the market. Our acclaimed system provides crystal-clear purified water on demand, so you never need to worry about running out, changing out heavy water bottles, or experiencing excess costs and/or health concerns.
We're located in San Juan, Texas, but we provide pure, healthy, water for businesses, homes, and restaurants far and wide to deliver clean, safe water that saves you money and extends the life of your appliances. Whether you need a home water softener in Brownsville or a reverse osmosis system commercial install in Laredo, we can do it for you.
We can create a tailored plan for a strong and reliable water purification system for businesses of any type or size. Many of our systems are currently in place in oil refineries, industrial processing plants, and hotels all over West Texas and South Texas, delivering quality water treatment for thousands of important purposes.
When it comes to providing the highest quality of water for your home, know that we'll go out of our way to deliver. We know the importance of clean water, so it doesn't matter where you live. We provide home water treatment systems for families all over Texas.
For a place of business where cleanliness is key, our drinking water filtration systems will purify your water levels so that they're safe for public drinking. You can comfortably serve great-tasting water to your customers straight from the tap.
When it comes to offering the best in water purification systems, services, and accessories, we have the knowledge, determination, and experience to create solid solutions to settle your needs.
Puretap® Water Systems has proudly been serving the Rio Grande Valley since 1994, and since our establishment, we've created a company that has become synonymous in the industry with excellence in water purification solutions.
With over two decades of offering unsurpassed products and services, know that you can trust our technicians to take care of all of your water purification needs.
When searching for a well-established and experienced company to properly handle your water filtration system, look no further than Puretap® Water Systems.
We're accredited by the Better Business Bureau and licensed by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. We're also proud members of the Water Quality Association and the Texas Water Quality Association.
With these accreditations and memberships, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the partnership you've created with us to handle your water purification needs will be handled professionally, thoroughly, and timely.
We're Open & Here to Help
Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm,
The health and safety of our associates, our customers and our communities is our top priority, and we want to share the steps we're taking in response to the corona virus (COVID-19) crisis.
Our customers depend on us for the equipment they need to have clean water for drinking and cooking that will keep their households safe and secure by eliminating the need to go out and try to find bottled water.
So we're doing our best to continue to serve you with as little disruption as possible, and at the same time, we're putting the health and safety of our people and customers first.
With health and safety as our top priority, we'll continue to monitor and follow the guidance of the experts at the CDC and other governmental authorities. Including but not limited to monitoring the health of our associates, wearing masks, gloves and protective clothing as well as sanitizing.
We're committed to do all we can to continue to serve your needs, and most importantly, help keep you and our associates healthy and safe.
Thank you and God bless,
The Walker Family & Puretap Water Systems, INC


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me® button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
January 31, 2020, All Day
Submit via email to [email protected], fax to 734-222-6528, mail/in person at 200 N. Main Street, Suite 120, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 by 5:00pm.


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Henryka & Colm
Tai chi gives me more energy. My balance has improved. I like the combination of slow movements that make up the form. As an instructor Declan is very detailed, positive and inclusive.
My flexibility has improved and the pain in my left shoulder has disappeared. I have better balance, my posture has improved and I sit straighter. Declan is an excellent instructor, very patient and encouraging.
What I enjoy most in class is the form. It's beautiful. Tai Chi helped me to strengthen my core after giving birth. I am now much more aware of my posture. Nicole is very patient. She can always figure out what works for each student.
Lantern Centre
Tai Chi has made me more aware of my body. It helps me to strengthen and relax my body. It is a technique that helps me to unwind from everyday stress. Nicole is easy going. I like her attention to detail on an individual level.
My corrected posture is already improving my singing. Also it lessened lower back pain during long walks.
I enjoy the relaxed approach to learning the discipline of the short form and the partner work. Nicole teaches attentively and inclusively.
Nicole is a great teacher, patient, easy to follow instructions. Also I enjoy the partner work she does with us to show us the original intention of a particular move and also its application as a defense move, which I had not done before, and I found that very helpful in improving my understanding of the form.
My balance has improved enormously, I am more relaxed and focused. And it has improved my core strength.
I like tai chi because it is low impact with minimal stress on joints and the fact that it can be done anywhere.


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VA loans to individual borrowers are simpler than the requirements for VA loans to two or more borrowers. When two or more people are buying a property together, there are different VA rules which may apply in different situations. A military couple – where both spouses are veterans – has a different set of rules, for example, than those which cover underwriting a VA mortgage for two unmarried veterans.
This is because of credit underwriting requirements by the VA rather than any specific policy about who can purchase property with whom.
Credit and income factors are reviewed for each borrower. VA will only guaranty the military member's portion of any home loan between a vet and non-veteran. In addition, civilian co-borrowers must not have a disproportionate share of the financial burden on the VA mortgage. The veteran applicant is expected to have a more or less equal financial stake in the purchase of the property.
Co-borrowing is not the only area that gets a bit tricky when it comes to multiple borrowers investing in a home. What happens if a couple purchases a home with a VA loan, then experiences a divorce?
Legally, the couple and their lawyers must work out the details of ownership of the property, but for refinancing the home with a VA loan, a civilian, divorced spouse would not be automatically eligible. The military member is required to participate in any VA insured refinancing.
VA rules say, "The spouse cannot get an IRRRL unless the veteran agrees to be obligated on the new loan and commit his or her entitlement to the new loan. A person without entitlement cannot get an IRRRL or any other type of VA loan."
Any civilian co-borrower must seek conventional or FHA refinancing options; the Department of Veterans Affairs will only extend benefits to qualified military veterans. In these situations, if the veteran borrower agrees to use his or her benefits, there is no problem as long as all parties are otherwise qualified for the new loan.


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Garage Door Cable Repair
Garage Door Cable Repair Kansas City MO
Garage door cables play an integral role in the functioning of electric garage doors. If the cables are missing, there will be immense pressure on the extension and torsion springs of a garage door system. And this can finally cause the garage door springs to become damaged. Garage door cables are thus an inseparable part of a garage door. As homeowners, if you want your garage door to function properly, you're always recommended that you check your garage door cables. Malfunctioning cables can hamper the normal functioning of a garage door and eventually it can also lead to numerous injuries and accidents.
A garage door cable is a safety net between the springs and the tracks of a garage door. If there are any faults in the garage door cables, it is always better to contact professionals who have a thorough understanding of the specific requirements of their customers. If you are based in Kansas, you can avail yourself of the services of Kansas City Garage Door Experts such as garage door spring repair, garage door opener repair & others. Here, we have a specialized team, which has knowledge of the latest garage door tools available in the market. By using technologically advanced garage door tools, our professionals can offer services such as garage door cable repair and garage door cable replacement with precision and accuracy.
If you've recently noticed that your garage door cable has come off, you should not attempt to repair the cables yourself. In fact, cable repair without the use of adequate tools can lead to numerous accidents and injuries.
Garage Door Cable Repair and Other Garage Door Services
Garage Door Cable Repair and other garage door services At Kansas City Garage Door Experts, re extensive. We offer all kinds of garage door repairand other services including garage door repair, replacement, installation and maintenance. A garage door is composed of numerous working parts that help in its smooth functioning. In fact, there are technicalities involved because of the tension and the counterbalance associated with garage doors. Handling garage door parts requires the help of trained garage door repair professionals who have knowledge of all the garage door services.
Advantages of Availing Garage Door Services by Kansas City Garage Door Experts
- Trained and Skilled Experts: Hiring trained and skilled technicians for cable repair and replacement can not only save your time but you can also get a smoothly functioning garage door easily.
- Best Warranties on Our Workmanship: Our Company has often been acknowledged for providing the most notable warranties on our products and services.
- Varied Services: We are a one-stop-shop for all garage door services. Be it cable repair or replacement of an entire garage door, we ensure that you can always avail yourself of the best garage door services.
- Prompt Services: Whether you're looking for garage door service for nay garage door parts like garage door cable repair, garage door cable replacement, broken garage door spring repair or replacement you can trust our efficient services.
- Deals: We provide excellent deals on most of our garage door products and services. Our deals are available almost all throughout the year.
- Knowledgeable Staff: We have a team of well-trained professionals who offer excellent garage door services.
For any assistance, you can always speak to our customer-care executives or email us. Our executives will guide you in all the garage door services.


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Misty McLaughlin
Vice President, Consulting
We're excited to welcome Springboard 4.17 to town, featuring a number of usability and user-experience improvements.
4.17 introduces:Read more »
Misty McLaughlin
Vice President, Consulting
We're excited to bring you the next edition of Springboard, including a number of new ideas proposed by our terrific clients.Read more »
David Lanier
Drupal Developer
SANDcamp 2017 Report
I went to San Diego Drupal Camp in February, with a focus on tracking Drupal 8 developments. Now that Drupal 8 has been around for well over a year, I have my first opportunity to use it for a client project, so naturally I tuned in to Drupal 8 talks. SANDcamp is a small, comfortable camp that's not overwhelming and enables plenty of face to face conversations.Read more »
Alice Hendricks
Founder & Advisor
At NTC last week, I was reminded of a great truth about Jackson River: While our software is terrific, it's really not Springboard that makes our company successful. It's our client service model.
It all started at a party. The VP of Member Communications and the Senior Director of Digital from one of our client organizations were chatting with our VP of Professional Services, Jennie Corman, who is also their account lead. I walked up to say hello.Read more »
Misty McLaughlin
Vice President, Consulting
Come See Us at #17NTC
Like so many of you, we're getting our Nonprofit Technology Conference on this Thursday through Saturday in Washington, DC.Read more »


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Here's a taster from a series of photos I shot in Port Richmond and New Brighton, Staten Island, in December 2016. I had to cut my walk short after 3 or 4 hours but intend to finish it fairly soon.
In 1901, the Scottish philanthopist/industrialist's organization, the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, gave $5.2 million to New York City for its libraries across the five boroughs. This started a remarkable project that would go on to build 1,680 Carnegie libraries across the United States and another 800 plus in Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere in the world.
Carnegie paid for the buildings, but the city would have to buy or acquire the land, buy the books, and provide for maintenance and upkeep, in perpetuity. Carnegie helped set up the library commissions and boards.
67 such libraries were constructed in NYC over the 20th Century's first three decades. Of those, eight have been razed. I'd like to visit the remaining 59 and chronicle this remarkable project that adds to New York city's richness of historic architecture.
Four Carnegie Libraries were built on Staten Island in St. George, Stapleton, Port Richmond and Tottenville. This one on Bennett Street and Heberton Avenue facing Veterans Park, which functions as Port Richmond's town square, was constructed in 1905 in a Classical Revival style by architects John Carrere and Thomas Hastings, the architects behind all four of Staten Island's Carnegie Libraries, Staten Island's Borough Hall, and the main branch of the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue and West 42nd Street. John Carrere was a part-time Staten Islander, maintaining an home and office at St. Marks and Fort Places in St. George.
"Comment as you see fit." email@example.com


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- Published: 15 January 2017
- Imprint: Penguin
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 480
In The Time Of Dragon Moon
A rich medieval fantasy novel from an author whose work has been called "TRULY ORIGINAL . . . FANTASY AT ITS BEST."
A perfectly crafted combination of medieval history, mythology, and fantasy, set on Wilde Island, featuring Uma Quarteney--a half Euit and half English girl, who has never been fully accepted by her Euit tribe--and Jackrun Pendragon--a fiery dragonrider with dragon, fairy, and human blood.
On the southernmost tip of Wilde Island--far from the Dragonswood sanctuary and the Pendragon Castle--live the native Euit people. Uma wants to become a healer like her Euit father. But the mad English queen in the north, desperate for another child, kidnaps Uma and her father and demands that he cure her barrenness. After her father dies, Uma must ensure that the queen is with child by the time of the Dragon Moon, or be burned at the stake.
Terrified and alone, Uma reaches out to her only possible ally: the king's nephew Jackrun, a fiery dragonrider with dragon, fairy, and human blood. Together, they must navigate through a sea of untold secrets, unveil a dark plot spawned long ago in Dragonswood, and find a way to accept all the elements--Euit, English, dragon, and fairy--that make them who they are.
- Published: 15 January 2017
- Imprint: Penguin
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 480
Praise for In The Time Of Dragon Moon
"The author's world-building is detailed and fascinating, and Uma is a strong, admirable heroine. This is a must-purchase for libraries owning the earlier installments and a great choice for where teen fantasy is popular."—School Library Journal "A story of courage and romance that readers will not soon forget. While Uma's struggle to help the queen and save her people is intriguing, the depth of her character reaches much further, exploring issues of race, gender, and identity....The text will be a sure favorite of fans of high fantasy."—VOYA "Both elegant and immersive."—BCCB "A satisfying tale of a girl who must come to terms with her own blended identity."—Kirkus Praise for Dragonswood and Dragon's Keep: "Painful, cathartic and cautiously hopeful."—Kirkus, starred review for Dragonswood "Readers will look forward to the future of Wilde Island. . . Perfectly crafted"—School Library Journal, starred review for Dragonswood "Stunning, lyrical prose."—Booklist, starred review for Dragon's Keep "While the story has roots in traditional fairy tales and legends, the author has crafted something new and magical."—School Library Journal, starred review for Dragon's Keep


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Jesusegun Alagbe
The presidential candidate of the KOWA Party in the 2015 elections, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, has said she will contest again in next year's presidential election.
The don stated that even though four other aspirants had indicated interest in the party's presidential ticket, she was hopeful she would make it in the primary.
Sonaiya made her decision known at the commemoration of the 2018 International Women's Day which held on Thursday at the WFM91.7, Arepo, Ogun State. The event was organised by the Media Women Forum, with the theme, "Mobilising women for politics."
Asked if she was planning to contest in the 2019 presidential election, she replied, "Yes, I am coming out. I am planning to run as one of the aspirants in KOWA Party. Four other people have indicated their interest in the ticket, so let's see what happens after our primary."
The 63-year-old charged women nationwide to start being involved in politics, noting that no nation could develop without women participation in governance.
She said, "My message to women is that the time to stand is now; the reason is that we have short-changed ourselves as a nation. We cannot have a developed nation without women's involvement. We have the skills and abilities to prepare for leadership.
"By leaving the leadership position to men alone, we have denied ourselves our rights. I really hope that women will be determined and stand, in not just talking about the situation of things, but assuming responsibilities. We should not be begged to take charge."
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]


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Well I must say that when I first came to know the name Richard
Dawkins it was by complete accident, a random post on a social network
which included a video documentary of yours. But little did I know
that following that single click, my life was about to change. I've
been an atheist for some time now, and as far as I can remember I
recall questioning every aspect of religions even at an early age.
When I was to go through First Holy Communion, I remember that I
rejected the classes. It just felt like I was being lied to, like I
was receiving a formal education on myths which I didn't think any
adult took seriously.
Until I was older I did not realize that I was much different than a
lot of people I knew. I didn't have a tendency to do things just
because others did them, and honestly through the early part of my
schooling I wasn't very popular to say the least. I've always had a
tendency to debate, and have been extremely cynical as long as I can
remember. Until a few years ago I didn't realize that these qualities
were actually good ones, apposed to being told they weren't for most
of my life.
When I discovered the world of Richard Dawkins and the other rational
scientists which I'm glad to share existence on this planet with, I
discovered that I am not so lonely. I discovered that it's not so bad
to think and act the way I do, because in all probability it is the
natural way for the human mind to work. I like many people did not
believe, but did fear the myths and legends which were told to me. I
proclaimed atheism but still had a fear in the back of my mind for
many years, "what if there really is something there?" And for the
first time I felt like I could truly look into the sky without being
fearful of anything that could be there, and say "I'm free now." But
really, I've been free all along.
Witnessing the converts corner on this page is a truly magnificent
sight. After reading a few of the letters in detail, I noticed how
many there actually were. Scrolling through the page, seeing
"Freedom" over and over again was definitely a moving experience for
me, even now. The beauty of reality and our universe is something we
are all entitled to experience, and seeing people finally accepting
that is something which brought tears to my eyes.
There are many hateful people out there, in full defense of their way
of life (which to some is the only way they know), and they're going
to fight until the very end. But I have to thank you and everyone
else who plays a part in this battle for rationality and mental
freedom. And of course, I'll do my part as well.


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Rupert Christiansen
Dance to the Music of Time
Rhythm & Colour
By Richard Emerson
Golden Hare 623pp £35 order from our bookshop
The selfless, meticulous scholarship that underpins this book is humbling. Elegantly printed and lavishly illustrated, it runs to over six hundred pages and includes ninety pages of footnotes. It must have taken years to research; subsidy has enabled its publication and nobody will be expecting it to appear on the bestseller lists. It seems not so much a labour of love as the fruit of single-minded obsession on the part of librarian and art historian Richard Emerson, who writes fluent, unaffected prose that never sinks into tedious detail. Its subject is the interlocking lives of three 20th-century women dancers, Margaret Morris, Hélène Vanel and Loïs Hutton – independent spirits who deserve a small place in cultural history for their contribution to dance, an art form at the centre of the modernist impulse to explore the human body and organic form.


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Deal: Grab a Samsung Galaxy S3 with one year of service from FreedomPop for just $150 (85% off)
Before Samsung went and changed its entire design philosophy this year with the Galaxy S6, the company's Galaxy S3 handset from 2012 featured an iconic design language of its own. It featured a rounded, comfortable aesthetic that many people grew to love. And at the time, the device featured some of the best specifications available on the market including a 4.8-inch 720 x 1280 display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus processor and a powerful 8MP camera.
Today, if you purchase the phone on its own, it might cost you somewhere around $200. But in a new promotion that's just made its way to the AA Deals Store, you can pick up a certified pre-owned Samsung Galaxy S3 in Pebble Blue with one full year of service from FreedomPop for just $149.99. The service includes unlimited talk and text, 500MB of 4G LTE data per month, visual voicemail, tethering, and usage alerts. FreedomPop also doesn't have any contracts or early termination fees, so you can cancel the service at any time with no repercussions. If you'd like to save a massive 85% off on this promotion, head to the link below.
Not only can you save on the Galaxy S3 along with FreedomPop service, the AA Deals Store is also offering the Innori 15000mAh Battery Pack for just $29.99 (50% off)! If you need to charge your smartphone, tablet or other mobile device when you're out and about, this external battery pack is right for you. With the ability to charge two USB-enabled devices at one time, this battery pack is super convenient, powerful and affordable.
If you're interested in checking out any of the deals listed here today, head to the links below for more information. And as always, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions.


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Phoenicia University ensures that qualified students can pursue an outstanding higher education regardless of their financial status. The financial aid and scholarships program reflects the University's mission to support access to quality education for all.
82.48% of the total number of enrolled students benefit from our financial aid program in Fall 2019-2020. Of the total number of financial aid applications submitted for Fall 2019-2020, 97.5% of the applications have been accepted. These figures indicate that students' socioeconomic status would never hinder their progress throughout their academic journey.
The University offers numerous scholarships and financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students who are in good academic standing and financial need. The financial aid and scholarship program includes:
- Financial Aid
- Merit Scholarships
- Work-Study Arrangements


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Sally Painter
Salem Conference Center
The Salem Conference Center was designed to revitalize downtown Salem by building to modern standards, while at the same time melding with its historic surroundings.
Salem, Oregon
Client: LMN Architects, Arbuckle Costic Architects
Building Size: 78,000 sf
Project Cost: $22.3 million
Certifications: LEED EB Certified
Adjoining the new Phoenix Grand Hotel, the Salem Conference Center can host groups up to 1,800. The 29,000 sf of meeting space also includes a 12,000 sf grand ballroom. The prefunction areas of the conference center were given special attention. Because of their expansive quality and transient occupancy, they were designed to allow a much wider temperature range than would be possible in a confined space, such as the meeting rooms. Interface developed a number of ingenious design solutions to address this unique opportunity for energy savings.
In 2009, Interface was brought back to the Salem Conference Center to verify that the mechanical, lighting and water systems selected and installed several years prior were functioning interactively and in compliance with the Owner's needs. Ultimately, the goal desired, was for the Conference Center to achieve LEED EB Certification.


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3 Answers · Politics & Government · 14/09/2008
Make a request through the team s website. Thats the easiest way that doesn t make you look like some type of freak stalker.
1 Answers · Sports · 26/10/2008
the skins should resign landry. with him, they already have the sickest safety duo in the league! oj atogwe and laron landry. they didn't do too well this year, but it's still sick
2 Answers · Sports · 26/12/2011
lol micheal moore does not even look like peter griffin at all ever seiryklav
3 Answers · Entertainment & Music · 10/11/2008
As of May 23, 2009 retired Marine general and veteran space shuttle astronaut, Charles "Charlie" Bolden Jr. was made NASA's Administrator. In my opinion, I'm...
1 Answers · Science & Mathematics · 26/05/2009
Henne isn't as versatile as Young but he his poise in the pocket, quick reads, and cannon arm outweighs Youngs legs. IMO, Henne has a much brighter future. Yeremiah Bell is one of the...
6 Answers · Sports · 28/08/2010
Who will be a better NBA player when both of their careers are over - Blake Griffin or Michael Beasley?
Michael Beasley
7 Answers · Sports · 31/05/2009
i think so i didnt see it but my friend told me he did.
1 Answers · Sports · 26/09/2007
* Griffin Michael * Griffin Matthew * Griffin Richard
10 Answers · Pregnancy & Parenting · 28/10/2009
I don't know about these match ups, I like Robert Griffin 111 and Tim Tebow, Griffin looks to be a ...
6 Answers · Sports · 17/12/2011


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Co. Antrim → Massereene Upper → Ballinderry Civil Parish → Aghacarnan
We don't know what Electoral Division Aghacarnan is in. Aghacarnan is in the Civil Parish of Ballinderry. Aghacarnan is in the Barony of Massereene Upper. Aghacarnan is in Co. Antrim
The Irish name for Aghacarnan is Achadh Carnain
Aghacarnan is not matched up to Logainm.ie yet.
It is located at 54° 33' 37" N, 6° 8' 19" W.
Aghacarnan has an area of:
Nationwide, it is the 47320th largest townland that we know about
Within Co. Antrim, it is the 1464th largest townland
Aghacarnan borders the following other townlands:
We don't know about any subtownlands in Aghacarnan.
Curious to see who lived in Aghacarnan in the past? Maybe even seeing scans of their handwritten census returns?
Aghacarnan was added to OpenStreetMap on 19 Jan 2015 by Stephen_Co_Antrim.


text: Recently, I built my first rig. It is composed of a saphire 5700xt reference, 3700x(stock clocks), 16 gb tridentz 3200, Aorus Pro Wifi x570, and a seasonic 650w platinum psu. I have been recieving crashes at complete random since the beginning of building the pc. There is no rhyme or reason to any time that it has crashed. My pc cannot see that the 5700xt is in slot or read temps or anything on it at any time. When it crashes, the screen either goes black, or freezes the image on screen. If I let it take its course, it will BSOD and then reboot and generally be okay afterwards until recieving another similar crash. I have begun leaving task manager open on my other monitor in order to watch what is happening and since doing so I have noticed that it is occasionally discord that appears to cause the crash as the gpu will begin using 100% of its power on just discord prior to crashing. However, this is not always the case. It has also crashed while idling, browsing the web, watching youtube, and literally at any other time under any other workload. I am running the most recent graphics drivers and the most recent bios, windows, and ryzen master. I have done a fresh windows install, I have done driver updates, I have gotten onto other forums and tried all the recommendations that made sense from that. If someone could please find the solution to my issue I would greatly appreciate it. I have also seen that the same issue is arising for large amounts of the community and causing many people to swap back or swap to Nvidia. This being said, I would very much like to keep my all Red team build so please find the issue.


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Torvet 1
8500 Grenaa
Phone:+45 33 79 00 79
Use the paths for exercise and to experience the life of the city, the history, and the recreational oases. All 4 routes begin at the city square (by the church), but it is also possible to start at any other point of the route.
The routes have different length and color:
Green: 2½ km
Blue: 5 km
Red: 7½ km
Black: 12,8 km
See descriptions of routes here.
See maps with audience facilities here.
Torvet 1
8500 Grenaa
Bicycle trips
Walking tours
For the whole family
Nature experiences


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|EW: Weyrlingmaster's Office
|Ahnika makes her report on her fitness and health as W'red had ordered her to, and W'red reveals that he knows about her relationship with Max, cautioning against it though not prohibiting it.
It is in that little crevice of time between morning lessons and lunch, where Weyrlings are more or less expected to use the time to clean their stations in the barracks, or attend to some scrape received during training or other odds and ends of personal, but productive, time, and Jhath and Ahnika enter the barracks after an extra few rounds of exercise for them both. Grabbing up a towel to wipe herself down, the redheaded weyrling eyes the entrance to the Weyrlingmaster's office before asking Jhath to ask Tavaith if the Weyrlingmaster is in his office and available to be met with. Politely. Jhath does, but even after given leave to see the Weyrlingmaster, Ahnika trudges down the short hallway to his office and knocks respectfully on the door before poking her head in, "Sir, I'm told you might have a few moments to spare for me?"
W'red is sitting in the chair behind his desk, all his work is up to date and he is taking a moment to do nothing, he is deep in thought when the knock on the door makes its way through the daydreaming, even though Tavaith had asked if Ahnika could come and see him. The deep voice barks out a little more harshly than it is perhaps meant too, "Come", the door is already opening and the redheaded weyrling pokes her head, W'red sits up a little straighter, "Yes, yes, come in sit, Ahnika."
Ahnika can't be said to look unhappy, precisely, but she isn't smiling. Her expression is simply neutral. This is all "business" in her mind. She comes in the rest of the way and closes the door, snapping off a salute, "Thank you, sir. You wanted to be informed when the Infirmary has concluded my injuries finished healing, sir. They've removed my bandages," something that was actually done sevens ago, allowing Ahnika to return to lighter, better-breathing and short-sleeved tunics, "and I've finished out the ointment that they gave me for the scarring, and my right arm still holds a little weakness, but I'm able to do all the tasks I was able to do before the … incident, now, and the Healers say the strength will continue to get better over time, sir."
W'red returns the salute, waits for the weyrling to enter fully into the office, he listens to her rattle off the report on her health and a smile spreads slowly across his face wrinkling the crows feet in the corners of his eyes. "I am glad to hear that it has healed well, I have noticed also that your training is almost back to full pace." He nods with his head towards her right arm, "Just take care not too overdo it with that arm it may be getting back to full strength but we are going to push it way past where it was before the injury, I will still give you some leeway for another sevenday or so but after that you will be treated as all the other Weyrlings, no slacking or special treatment. The part most likely to give you trouble is going to be tossing firestone sacks, you can't throw short as it will fall down onto some unsuspecting rider, so that I think will have to be your biggest focus and challenge at this stage." The Weyrlingmaster leans back a little in his chair, "thank you for the report back though," blue eyes staying focused on the green weyrling.
"Yes, sir," Ahnika says, remaining in her at-attention position in all but her eyes, giving W'red her attention respectfully as opposed to the opposite wall. "Thank you, sir. A sevenday is more than enough time," she says, somewhat boldly and more than a little to reassure both herself and him. She really has no idea, but she's going to continue to do the exercises the Healers explained to her and intends to be back up to full speed as soon as possible. As his blue eyes remain focused on her, however, she shifts a little and then does look at the opposite wall, "That is all I needed to report to you, sir." Subtly asking for dismissal? Perhaps.
Noticing the stiff at attention stance of the Weyrling W'red's smile still in place, "At ease Weyrling, when I invite you into my office and offer you a seat, it means you can be at ease immediately, otherwise I would not ask you to sit but would leave you standing there at attention." He nods, "yes that is what you were asked to report back to me on," the smile briefly flickers before he continues, "please sit, there is something else I would like to discuss with you, although it will come up in training later it is perhaps something that I feel I need to bring up with -you- as an individual now rather than later."
Her expression shifted into a guarded look now, Ahnika nods, "Yes, sir," and takes one of the stool seats offered her. Her hands fidget in her lap. If she is curious about what he wants to bring up, she doesn't look it, which likely means Ahnika knows precisely what is coming, or rather, she thinks she knows anyway.
W'red's smile changes to a light chuckle as he notices the change in her face, he has heard rumours of a fight and that one of his Weyrlings was involved, but from what he can understand no one was hurt, so that doesn't concern him much at this time, although if new developments were brought to his attention that too could change. "What I'm about to say, you may think is none of my business, but as long as you are a Weyrling under my charge everything about you is my business, as with your injury, you may have thought it could be hidden but in this job of mine almost everything eventually finds its way to my desk or ears." The brownriders smile is forcibly removed from his face, as he tries to make light but not a joke of the subject he is about to bring up. "It has been brought to my attention that you are..have been..still are, having a relationship with someone outside of the weyrling barracks? How long this has been going on or how far it has gone, I am not sure of but it needs to be discussed."
Indeed, Ahnika thought she was about to get laid into for having a very public and inappropriately disrespectful argument with a Journeyman Healer. And so when W'red begins talking, her grey eyes slide to his face, still guarded but not quite as closed up as before. It is when he brings up the relationship that she stiffens noticeably. Anyone playing cards with her will rake in all her marks with the amount of 'tells' this young woman has. In an effort to keep her cool, Ahni puts her gaze elsewhere now, to a point in the back of the room. "What would you like to know, sir?" she asks stiffly, but respectfully.
Dragon> To Tavaith, Jhath drifts in with heady incense and a little warmth from her hearth fire, but not as much as she has been known to have when starting a conversation, « Mine has done nothing wrong. »
Seeing the girl's body stiffen up, W'red realizes what he was told by T'bin was obviously true, he had decided to tackle the green weyrling first as Max had no obligation to him or the position he held the weyrling however was a different story. "I fully trust that the restrictions placed on the class are being adhered to as far as physically getting involved with another, this however is not my concern as with everything that too would find its way back to me." Hoping that the girl would at least relax a little, knowing that he is not going to confine her or punish her for anything. "What concerns me more is what happens after Weyrlinghood, you a greenrider, he a walker. If you have managed to learn to block somethings from your young dragonet, now may be a good, time if not, I will be as tactful as possible here, without bringing undue concern to Jhath, therefore not putting into words what I am sure you fully understand, where that is concerned." The Weyrlingmaster waits a few seconds before he continues, "The relationship itself is going to be difficult to maintain, with what you know is inevitable. This is something normally only applicable when a dragon is older and these things can be spoken about freely, but you need to know if this was with another dragonrider you wouldn't be here, as it is a fully understood fact, that the inevitable will happen. I need you to know that a relationship with a walker very seldom works out for a rider, most especially riding on a green."
Dragon> To Jhath, Tavaith 's mind voice is soft and melodic as he sends soothing sounds the young greens way « mine is not accusing yours of anything, he is giving her good counsel, for her future and yours. »
Ahnika frowns a little, but doesn't move and doesn't relax. She remains dutifully attentive and quiet, until the pause is given and she says, simply, "Yes, sir. I have some ability to filter things to her now." It wasn't always the case. Took some discipline and a lot of practice. Then Ahnika lapses silent once more, listening to him continue. It is only after he finishes that she moves her gaze elsewhere again and this time she only says, "I have some plans in mind, sir, that should prevent any … challenges of that nature, when she rises. It's something I've given a lot of thought, I assure you. But I love him, and Jhath hasn't and won't change that. I won't let it." Her voice remains respectful, but firm. She'll not let go of Max, not ever, not while she still draws breath and her heart beats.
Dragon> To Tavaith, Jhath withdraws a little, but remains curious and alert at once. Her hearth a rustling sound of flames of medium strength, neither angry nor sedate. Her incense continues to permeate the chamber of her mind.
W'red nods, "well love is a strong emotion most certainly as you know you love Jhath as well, it's just that non riders and riders don't make very good matches and not just for the rising of your green which you do know is inevitable, there are a number of other issues that will surface within the relationship." The Weyrlingmaster, may be talking from experience or he may be talking from seeing it over and over again just not working out, "when we fly Thread he will be left on the ground wondering if you will return, and if you return will you be in one piece, this type of stress placed on any relationship can have disastrous effects." A slight shrug of his broad shoulders, "however I cannot tell you who to love, or who not to I can only give you some advice, and ask that you keep it to yourself at least until the subject comes up in training and the the restrictions on you and your fellow weyrlings get totally lifted. Until then all I can ask is that you think long and hard about what you are involving yourself, Max and those around you in, voluntarily or not."
Dragon> To Jhath, Tavaith rumbles quietly, and relaxes leaving the subject where it is.
Ahnika doesn't look at the Weyrlingmaster as he speaks. Her eyes are front and forward, chin and jaw set. Her cheeks begin to flush though, but if it is over talk of mating flights or talk over her relationship with Max, or talk of cutting him loose, it's hard to say. She is doing a lot of blinking and hard swallowing, however, until he mentions Max by name and she stops and looks at him. "Max?" annnd now she slides her eyes right, "Who said anything about Max, sir?" And she shifts a bit more on the stool. Just … give it up, Ahni. She looks down at her hands next, "My love and I," she says, not admitting to it being Max, "we've both prepared ourselves for the challenges. We're ready." Really? Her expression tells a different story as W'red's seeds of doubt start to take root. "But I promise, we'll keep things discreet, sir, until restrictions are lifted."
The brownrider sighs and then smiles, "Max, the Beast Manager, he and a friend of mine had a chance meeting and another rider brought him greeting from you, a few words were exchanged enough to let me know, that Max -is- the love interest in your life other than Jhath, as I said before not much escapes me where it concerns the weyrlings." A nod given to the young woman, "Well my door is always open Ahnika, even after you have graduated, if you need to talk, and keep the discretion and you and me will have no quarrels over this, I do however think you should know, that I will be having a similar conversation with Max, although I have no authority over him as I do with you at this time, but it will be more of a man to man talk, over a glass or two of whiskey."
Frowning a little more at the end of what W'red has to say, Ahnika looks at the floor again and finally states softly, "Yes, sir." Her hands fidget in her lap again, wishing she had brought in those socks to darn while here. "Thank you, sir …" a little more hesitation and she asks, "So … I'm not in any trouble?" Just to be clear, "And I can still see him?" She still doesn't seem to want to put a name there, even if W'red has riddled it out through other means.
W'red chuckles at the fidgeting hands and the way the weyrling does not make any eye contact with him, "No trouble -yet-, keep to the restrictions and it will stay that way, you have to consider not only yourself, Jhath and Max in this, -if- and this is a big -if- you had to step over the line and your Jhath was able to handle the consequential troubling in her young mind, it is something she may not be able to keep it to herself and may start to share her thoughts with other dragonets, that way it will affect the whole of the weyrling barracks and that would be totally unacceptable, and you would find yourself confined to barracks indefinitely. Max would be banned from conversing with any weyrling, and banned from this area of the Weyr, so as you can see, it rests on your young shoulders, the responsibility to keep yourself under control." This last said with a grave tone to his deep voice. "If there is nothing else, then you can be dismissed, and thank you once again for reporting back to me, it shows your character on your part and this is partly why I leave the relationship between you and Max in your hands."
Ahnika keeps her expression carefully schooled sober and respectful and nods a little to everything he says, "Yes, sir." She slides off the stool and puts her feet on the ground, "I've been really careful so far," well mostly so far. There have been some instances of her pushing the envelope, only to find Jhath positively bored with the whole thing. "I'll continue to be careful. Thank you, sir." She swallows and then salutes him with his dismissal of her. She turns to go and will continue out in a rather sedate, preoccupied manner unless stopped.
W'red pushes back his chair and gets to his feet as Ahnika, gets near the door, he gives a return salute to the weyrling, "you do that and we'll have no quarrels, you can tell Max if he wants to visit here when you have free time he may as long as it stays within the limits, here especially you and he will get away with very little." A smile is given to the young woman as he follows her out of the office, he is hungry and off to find something to eat at the living caverns, who knows he may even bump into Max while there.
Closing Credits Theme Music: Joss Stone - "Young At Heart"


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I live in the South. Around here winter means rain. Lots and lots of rain. And, even though we don't have extremely cold weather here, cold rain is no fun. So winter means that my kids are often stuck in the house. And after board games and reading aloud and chores and too much screen time, they're ready for something else to keep them busy. This boredom sometimes results in new, creative ideas.
One year, after we had watched many, many episodes of the cooking show Chopped, my kids came up with a unique crafting/game activity. They titled it Snipped.
Introducing Snipped: A Simple, Bad-Weather Crafting Activity
Snipped is a simple game. And your kids can play with whatever crafty materials you have around the house. You do have to plan for a little bit of a mess. Snipped works best if you just step back and let your kids get creative.
To play Snipped, choose one child to be the Crafter. The other kids- we'll call them the Preparers- need a small cardboard box that can be closed up. A shoebox size is good. It's best if it's a box you can't see through. And, if you don't have a box sitting around, a paper grocery bag that can be stapled together at the top will work. (If you're like me and have a personal relationship with the Amazon delivery man, you'll be prepared with boxes for sure!)
Preparing for the Craft Activity
The Preparers are going to fill the box or bag with a random assortment of craft supplies. Depending on the age- and common sense- of your Preparers, you may need to help at this point. However, it's best to let the kids do most of the preparing. Encourage them to put in craft supplies and recyclables that can actually be used together. (The game won't be very much fun if all the Crafter has are some pipe cleaners and pom poms.)
After the box/bag is filled with items, have your Crafter get ready. The Crafter should have access to basic craft resources like glue, tape, and scissors. These shouldn't count as materials or be a part of the box.
When your Crafter is ready and has a good place to work, you need to set a timer. You'll probably have to be the one to determine how long the Crafter should have to work. The older the kid, the more capable, and the less likely she is to get bored.
Your Crafter will have the amount of time on your timer to create something using the materials in the box. He must use at least a small amount of EVERY material in the craft project. He can't get any extra materials. But he can use the basic craft resources mentioned above.
In our family with four kids, all four would have a turn as Crafter. And then the kids would decide amongst themselves whose project was the most creative. Sometimes I would try to be an impartial judge by waiting until all four were completed and then looking at each to give my opinion.
Playing Snipped can take a short time or a long time. One of the beauties of this simple game is that you can adapt it to the ages of your kids as well as make it take more or less time as you like.
I'm going to insert a little PSA here, Mama. Your kids can have waaaay more fun crafting and will enjoy it for longer if they have the freedom to access the craft supplies and to make a mess. Obviously if you have younger kids, there will be supplies you need to keep out of reach. And kids should definitely be taught to clean up their messes. But if they feel as if you're standing over their shoulders ready to throw that trash away before it even hits the floor and gasping over the use of glitter and feathers, they'll feel less creative and be less willing to try this game.
Next time the weather isn't cooperating and your crew has been stuck inside an indecently long time, try Snipped. Your kids will thank you. And, if you're willing to walk into the other room and not hover, you might even get a moment to take a deep breath and pour yourself a cup of coffee. As a bonus, if you really must think about the educational aspect of crafting, know that it's an awesome way for kids to learn through an everyday activity.
Are you looking for more bad weather activities to save your sanity? There are some great recommendations from other homeschool mamas here:
Are you looking for more bad weather activities to save your sanity? There are some great recommendations from other homeschool mamas here:
Indoor Activities for Kids of All Ages from Valerie Fowler Writes
Winter Sensory Activities That Will Warm Your Little One from Homeschooling in Progress
Indoor Fun That Never Gets Old- Learn & Play with Cranium Games from Curiosity Encouraged
Magic Gravity Escape: a Surprising Game for Kids from Kid Minds