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Welcome to the newly updated School Matters newsletter! This preview of the new site uses content from the May 2017 edtion of School Matters, and will display correctly on every screen size. Thank you for checking out this preview - we very much appreciate it!
The Communications Department
As everyone knows, we are in a severe drought. Although we have seen rain lately, it hasn't been enough to replace all the water lost over the last six months of drought, so the Southwest Florida Water Management District is enforcing new water restrictions. To help employees who wish to take action to conserve water, we are sharing these conservation tips.
Domestic water use accounts for an average 24% of the water use in most schools.
An average of 6% of the water used in schools is used in the kitchen areas.
Click here for the 2017 Summer Hours memo that includes dates and other important information about working extended hours, summer dress, and the week of July 4. If you are not impacted by summer hours, please disregard.
Florida residents can prepare for hurricane season by purchasing qualifying sales tax exempt disaster preparedness supplies. The 2017 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 2 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 4. Click here for the full list of qualifying items.
Saint Leo University is offering free, mental health first aid courses in June and July. The courses are designed to help those who are around someone experiencing panic attacks, suicidal behaviors, acute psychosis, or reaction to trauma. Youth Mental First Aid is scheduled for Monday, June 5, in Kirk Hall, and covers covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and eating disorders. Adult Mental First Aid is scheduled for Monday, July 17, in the Student Community Center Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardroom C and covers anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. Both sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be held at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52, in St. Leo. Free parking is available in surface lots and in the campus garage. Click here to register for Youth Mental First Aid, and here to register for Adult Mental First Aid. There is a minimum of 15 registered participants necessary for the class to be held.
The University of West Florida is hosting a summer continuing education online Autism Awareness course. The non-credit course may be completed in five weeks, beginning June 6. This course is certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to provide 16 CEUs towards the Certified Autism Specialist or Autism Certificate programs. There is an Autism certification discount available for qualifying students. Participants will read chapters in Dr. Temple Grandin's book, The Autistic Brain: Thinking Beyond the Spectrum, take five weekly quizzes, and participate in class discussions. After completing the final quiz, a Certificate of Completion will be mailed to qualifying students. Click here to register for the UWF Autism Awareness course, or call 850-473-7468. Class tuition is $119. If you have questions, or require more information, contact Dr. Carlene Thornton at 850-934-5827.
Teaching Students with Disabilities Renewal Course
Florida Southern College (FSC) offers "Teaching Students with Disabilities" renewal course. Florida professional certificate holders can satisfy this certification requirement by taking EDU 2210 – Foundations of Special Education online. Please click here to view the schedule.
Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Information Sessions
The following are upcoming progam information sessions:
Click here to register and learn more. If you have questions, please contact Kelly Curtis.
The @PascoLiteracy Team has recently introduced #PascoLearns Twitter chats. These chats are online discussions covering topics followed by the specific hashtag: #PascoLearns. These conversations represent a community for Pasco educators to engage and learn with each other. All Pasco educators are invited to participate. These topics are designed to fuel interest and discussion for site-based and district-based personnel. The first topic for the #PascoLearns chat is "Transformation Begins with Reflection: How Was Your Year?" This Twitter chat began on May 22, and will end on Friday, June 2. There are no study requirements for any of these chats; instead, participants should take the time to connect and share within this chat forum. Additional topics are Growth Mindset, Visual Tools for Transforming Knowledge, Every Child a Super Reader, Teach and Lead for Excellence, Who's Doing the Work Mindsets and Moves, Reflecting of Goals and Growth, Writing for Understanding, Opening a World of Possible, Teaching to Exceed the LAFS, Racial Equity in Schools, and The Power of Positive Leadership.
Future Twitter chats will be scheduled for Mondays at 7 p.m., in an hour-long, moderated, question-and-answer format. There will be giveaways, which include Pasco swag, high-quality professional learning materials, and more. The most valuable resource educators have is each other. Growth is limited to our own perspectives without collaboration. The #PascoLearns collaboration was created to more tightly align goals and more positively impact teachers and students. For more information, please contact any member of the Pasco Literacy Team via Twitter @PascoLiteracy, or email Rachel Hatten, Cassie Hernandez, Courtney Lough, Erin Senior, Evette Striblen, Danielle Varcardipone, or Emily White. Each topic will utilize the above graphic.
For more support with engaging in a Twitter chat, explore the following links: 5 Tips on How to Join the Conversation and Twitter for Educators. Accountability is a foundational key to being successful when making and celebrating your goals. As we reflect, feel free to tag someone who can help support your action steps towards this success.
Congratulations to our many elementary, middle, and high school students who have just graduated. This ceremony is a culmination of hard work and dedication.
Wesley Chapel Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind team outperformed 55 other teams to win the Division 1 World Championship for their solution to the Catch Us if You Can problem! All four Pasco County Schools Odyssey of the Mind teams competing in the World Finals at Michigan State University this past weekend finished in the top 25 in the world in their problems and divisions. The team from Seven Springs Middle School placed sixth in Division 2 of To Be Continued: A Superhero Cliffhanger. Mittye P. Locke Elementary School's team placed 23rd in the same category and division as Wesley Chapel. Dayspring Academy placed 14th in Catch Us if You Can, Division 2. Click here for more information on these outstanding students.
Pasco County Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department will once again provide the summer feeding program to all children under age 18 at various sites across the county from Monday, June 5 until Friday, August 4. Meals will be served free of charge at 42 school locations and 45 additional locations around the county to anyone under the age of 18. Click here to find serving locations. Families without internet can find the nearest location by calling 813-794-2480. Click here to view the Summer Lunch Bus schedule.
Rap River Run
The Rap River Run 10 Year Celebration is on Saturday, June 10, at Sims Park. Here is the event schedule:
Click here to register and here for more information.
Tampa Bay Rays Pasco Spirit Day
The Tampa Bay Rays are celebrating Pasco County Schools on Sunday, June 11, at 1:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field, in St. Petersburg. The deadline to order tickets is Thursday, June 1, and the top-selling elementary school receives a visit to their school from Raymond and the Rays baseball team during the 2017 calendar year. Click here for more information, and here for ticket information.
Back to School Bash
The Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition's Back to School Bash is Friday, July 28, from 10 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. in the WellCare/StayWell Office. The WellCare/StayWell Office is located at 5113 US Highway 19, in New Port Richey. There will be free school supplies, family fun, and community resources. Limited quanities are available; RSVP by calling 727-834-2301. Click here to learn more.
Special Olympics Craft Show
Special Olympics Florida - Pasco County is hosting a Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival and is looking for participants. It will be held on Saturday, December 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 14744 Nottingham Trail, in Hudson. Click here to learn more.
There are three summer learning opportunities on the horizon:
Click here for more information.
Make lots of memories that will last forever and sign up to volunteer. Here are the upcoming orientation dates and locations:
Click here for more information, or contact Deb Kristol-Irwin, Director of Partnership Development, at 813-997-6881.
Dr. Monica Ilse, Mrs. Loretta Richey called to praise Pasco Elementary School's staff. Her son's grandmother passed away and she was afraid to tell him about her passing alone (dad was out of town). The staff at PES assembled a small group and supported her when telling her son. Mrs. Richey can't say enough about how much she appreciates the way Mrs. Gocsik handled the situation, and even took over when mom broke down. Mr. Kent, Ms. Carmin and the rest of the staff handled the situation with "complete love and support."
Superintendent Browning, My son has attended prekindergarten classes in Pasco County since he was 2 1/2 years old. He started at Longleaf Elementary School and currently attends a prekindergarten class at Mittye P. Locke Elementary School. He will be starting kindergarten in the fall of 2017. He is truly an early intervention/pre-k success story due to the dedicated teachers and speech-language pathologists he has had along the way. The persistent efforts of Ms. Janice Whittaker and Ms. Alma Loaiza have helped my son make tremendous progress in the area of communication. Ms. Mari Miyashiro's caring manner early on helped him establish a love of school. Ms. Heather Goldstein saw past the difficulties he was having and recognized his need to be challenged...Ms. Kristi LePage has employed unique strategies to help my son continue to advance in his social, communication, and academic skills. The support and encouragement of Ms. Pam Ramsay have helped my son build up confidence and a sense of pride in himself. All of these devoted educators have played a very important part in helping him develop and maintain the many skills he will need to be successful in kindergarten and beyond. -Amy, parent
Andy Dunn and Anna Marquez, I just wanted to thank you again for all you did to support us at TEDxPascoCountySchools. The videos look great and I'm already receiving emails from parents who are so appreciative to have the link to their student's speech. Thanks for your dedication, commitment, and effort—we couldn't do it without you! -Rachel Hatten, Senior Instructional Specialist, Office for Teaching and Learning
Superintendent Browning, I am writing to tell you about a special teacher's assistant Maria Garcia. Maria is a wonderful teacher's aide and has helped my grandson tremendously. He has been through alot and is a sensitive child. He lost his mother when he turned six and has been struggling dealing with his loss and school. Maria, who I met at West Pasco Baseball League offered to help my grandson by tutoring him in the mornings. His teachers, Miss. Romero and Miss Ennis, are both wonderful as well. So, with the extra tutoring from Maria and the after school reading...he passed the FSA and will be promoted to 4th grade...If not for the dedication of these three teachers, but especially Maria, I do not think he would have passed. So I want you to know that Maria is an asset to the school district and especially Cotee River...She is truly an awesome caring and loving person. -Donna Bryan, grandparent


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|Criticism, interpretation, etc
|Document Type:
|All Authors / Contributors:
Crystal Parikh; Daniel Y Kim
|9781107095175 1107095174 9781107479142 1107479142
|OCLC Number:
|xxiv, 242 pages ; 24 cm.
|Chronology of major works and events, 1763-2014 / Crystal Parikh --
Part I. Formations of Asian America : immigration, empire, law. Asian American literature within and beyond the immigrant narrative / Min Hyoung Song ; America's empire and the Asia-Pacific : constructing Hawai'i and the Philippines / Denise Cruz and Erin Suzuki ; Adjudicating Asian America / Kandice Chuh and Karen Shimakawa. Part II. Asian American writing and the legacy of war. Writing the internment / Greg Robinson ; The literature of the Korean War and Vietnam War / Daniel Y. Kim and Viet Thanh Nguyen ; "The war on terror" : post-9/11 south Asian and Arab American literature / Rajini Srikanth. Part III. The extravagant of genre. Asian American drama / Josephine Lee ; Asian American poetry / Josephine Park ; Model minority narratives and the Asian American family / Erin Ninh ; The writing of translation / Christopher Lee ; Popular genres and new media / Betsy Huang ; Toward a definition of diaspora literature / Hyungji Park. Part IV. Identities and postidentities. Feminisms and queer interventions into Asian America / Helena Grice and Crystal Parikh ; Comparative race studies and interracialisms / Joseph Keith ; Rethinking embodiment and hybridity : mixed-race, adoptee, and disabled subjectivities / Cathy J. Schlund-Vials and Cynthia Wu.
|Series Title:
|Cambridge companions to literature.
|edited by Crystal Parikh, New York University ; Daniel Y. Kim, Brown University.
This Companion explores the variety of historical periods, literary genres and cultural movements affecting the development of Asian American literature. Written by a host of leading scholars in the field, this book provides insight into the representative movements, regional settings, archival resources and critical reception that define Asian American literature. Read more...
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- American literature -- Asian American authors -- History and criticism.
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|It's March... I suppose now I have to get out of this snowbank and get on with 2018.
via AFP / Malay Mail Online
Here's a random factoid about me: I don't like celebrating the New Year on January 1st. It's basically the dead of winter in January, it's still dark all day, and -- if you live as far north as I do -- the outdoors look like the ninth circle of Hell. It's for this reason that I prefer to celebrate New Year on the spring equinox when warm, bright days finally outpace the cold, dark nights. I can hear you now: "You're a Satanist, aren't you a creature of the night?" Well, yeah -- I'm a Satanist -- but I'm still human and if I had to choose between being comfortably warm or uncomfortably cold, the choice is clear. By the time of spring equinox, winter is more or less finished in northern Ontario, and just as growing things awaken around me and start reaching up from the soil and up toward the light of Lucifer, so too do I feel inspired to chase the light toward the best beast I can be.
This year, though, the search for my best beast is feeling delayed. Some of you know that I resigned my member in the Church of Satan this past October, and while it's been liberating to not have to look over my shoulder for the self-appointed minders of the black pope to ensure sufficiently orthodox commitment to the one, true Satanism, it's also been disorienting because it's thrown my entire understanding of Satanism into chaos.
I enjoy a lot of what Dr. LaVey wrote -- and a lot of what Magus Gilmore wrote, too -- and the Satanic paradigm offered by the Church of Satan continues to work very well for me. The earthy, unrestrained liberty in the canon literature is delicious. I eat that shit all day. The 9 Satanic statements echo wisdom to my ears, the 9 Satanic sins have proven useful lessons, and while the 11 Satanic rules of the earth have a way of being contradictory, I still think they're worthwhile.
But I've also come to appreciate the Miltonic/Romantic philosophy (if not aesthetics) of the Satanic Temple. The 7 tenets being the only original literature produced by the Satanic Temple is often held up as a criticism that they haven't done anything worthwhile -- and it's a criticism I've made in the past, too -- but the beauty of a narrowly defined set of guiding tenets is that it opens the door for broader investigation into other literature without including the ideological chains that would otherwise push members and supporters of the organization into defending, apologizing for, or dogmatically citing a piece of canon literature which can never be changed in response to an ever stronger understanding of a changing world.
So here I am, almost at the start of my preferred New Year and finding it difficult to pick a purposeful direction because I feel torn between what I used to believe and what I presently know. When it comes to Satanism, I think it's wrong to say that a house divided against itself cannot stand -- the marketplace of ideas is vast and non-exclusive -- but when it comes to me myself I think it's a decent analogy for at least this time and place in my life.
March might not be a good time for commencing any grand voyages. Right now, it's looking a lot like a good time to watch the growth of both the figurative and the literal light. What shadows have been hiding in the darkness of winter? What corpses got buried in the snowfall and are only now being revealed by the melt? Those shadows and the bodies to which they belong may be my friends, but they might also be my enemies. March is feeling like a good time to watch and wait.


text: Matt.K 270 Report post Posted June 7, 2016 For my brother: Everything works nicely, the only thing on the vx is the cage mic on the left is loose but the rubber band does the trick. the view finder is taped on because the attachment mechanism broke the mk1 has a small scratch near the middle and only shohs in footage if it's hit by direct light and some scratches on the casing but i got both lens caps Canon bag included. 2 batts 2 chargers 2 more batteries for vx2000, and 3 sony premiums as well $950 obo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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The IPCC, You, and Me
Earlier this month the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released the first part of its considerable and comprehensive report on global warming with the rest to be released quarterly throughout 2007. The IPCC's voluminous report, the fourth so far, is full of "robust findings and key uncertainties" and emphasizes the concepts of mitigation and adaptation as being essential in dealing with the problems associated with global warming. Basically we have to mitigate the damage we are doing and adapt to the damage already done. The IPCC also recognizes human beings as the leading cause of and solution to global warming, and seemingly eliminates any debate as to whether it is actually occurring.
The IPCC, a United Nations backed group of over 2,500 experts from around the globe, has looked at the issue of climate change from nearly every angle and with as many considerations as possible as to its impacts on every conceivable strata of society. With their seeming to be a lot of emphasis on cost-benefit, co-benefits, spillover effects and the equity issues between the developing and the developed worlds; money is obviously the biggest issue as it is in nearly everything. The poor and underdeveloped will feel the effects first and ultimately be affected the most in any kind of globally warmed future, "those already marginalized in the economy were likely to suffer the greatest impact," the report said. It also pointed out how the right investments, made in the right way could have positive and significant results and offset many of the potential disasters. With the proper allocation of resources in infrastructures, stronger efforts at poverty reduction, and more technological transfer and advancement in the developing world, those of us in the developed world could go a long way towards counteracting the various issues leading to uncontrolled CO2 emissions and pollution in general.
And if maintaining the global status quo and wanting everyone to live in a future world much like it is today isn't enough incentive for the leaders of the developed nations maybe the bottom line is. It's been theorized global warming and the disruptions it will likely cause could drop the world's GDP 20% or more, that's not just recession or depression that's outright economic disaster. So what can we do? A fundamental change in thinking about the world and our place in it would be a good start. The impact of just living a normal everyday American existence is such a burden on the environment it is staggering and most of us don't even own a chemical factory or paper mill. An oversized and wasteful house, lawn, and car are enough. There are ways to have your house and heat it too without leaving a Paul Bunyan sized carbon footprint everywhere you go.
Sustainable development as a concept has had a "rapid and complex evolution" since it was introduced in the early 1970s. Especially so in the past decade as it has become abundantly clear, to most, we cannot maintain the current course and pace of human development. Suburban expansion is slowly paving over valuable farm land and other areas of unique biodiversity that once gone, are gone forever. The San Joaquin Valley is home to some of the most fertile, productive farm land anywhere in the world and is effectively the grocery store to the entire nation. Yet hundreds of acres of this irreplaceable land are lost permanently each day to the blitzkrieg of suburban sprawl. There are ways to keep growing without devouring all that surrounds, to integrate neighborhoods with farmlands and green space cohesively and ultimately create a more pleasant world for all the flora and fauna involved including ourselves.
Individually we can have some impact but for any substantial change to occur it will take the power, influence, and wealth of the superpowers of this world. Governments need to lead way and as the most powerful, richest, and advanced country on Earth it's up to the U.S. to do its part. We have a moral responsibility to use our geopolitical clout and cultural influence to steer the world towards a safer more stable future. Europe is in many ways already on the right path. Our leaders need to implement the regulations necessary to give big business the incentive to go green in this country. And they shouldn't need much convincing because going green ultimately means frugality across the board which is better for everyone's bottom line. Sustainability equals self sufficiency and that is always economically advantageous.
The Bush administration is supposed to be overly concerned about national security, so much so we are waging war to maintain that security. Yet the biggest potential danger facing this country is a world completely destabilized by environmental disasters unseen in human history. With economies ruined, refugees and disease everywhere, and resources scarcer then ever, a future decimated by climate change is much scarier to me then any terrorist attack. But what is our President's policy on the environment? Apparently it's every man for him self and that includes Mother Earth. They have rolled back over 30 years worth of environmental policy change that was too slow in coming in the first place. And with over 400 measures directly assaulting the environment and the laws protecting it so far and the appointment of officials to seemingly contradictory positions (over 100 representatives from polluting industries oversee the administration's various environmental policies) they don't seem to be stopping anytime soon. For a bunch that's supposed to be making us safer they don't seem to have the best interests of our future generations in mind, only those of the large corporations paying to get them elected.
One hand washes the other in politics but that won't be nearly as easy in coming years as fresh clean water becomes a scarcer and scarcer commodity. A crisis is looming and it has nothing to do with terrorism or Iraq. Other then the fact this "war on terror" is causing us throw hundreds of billions into a quagmire of corruption and ineptitude. It's a shame because that money could be so valuable if properly allocated elsewhere. Bush did at least admit recently the world was under threat from global warming but words are meaningless, action is the only thing that will save us now. The IPCC report is frightening and it is not a group known for hyperbole, their 2001 report's worst-case scenario numbers turned out to be remarkably accurate, so this isn't easily dismissed science. Hopefully the wake up call is heard and a new dawn rises before it's too late because no one want to have to answer to their grandchildren about why we left them the world we did.


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"Well, that didn't go good."
Ammon McNeely has just mangled his ankle — a compound fracture too graphic to show here — after a failed BASE jump off a cliff face high above the Colorado River in the US state of Utah.
But as he sits on a rock ledge, a tourniquet tied around his bloody wound, McNeely videotapes himself talking about his misfortune with an almost serene calm.
"I probably lost my leg," he says with a sigh and little grimace.
Footage of his tempered reaction to such a horrific event has gone viral since it was posted online two days ago.
Fellow BASE jumper and friend Steph Davis said she was not surprised by McNeely's calm demeanour.
"Ammon is a really tough guy so that was my first thought (after watching the video)," she told local news network KSL-TV.
Footage taken from afar shows McNeely spiralling into a sandstone wall after his chute failed to fully deploy during a jump off a cliff in Moab area last Friday.
An emergency rescue crew was later able to remove McNeely from the ledge where he landed and get him to a medical helicopter.
In a recent Facebook post, McNeely said that doctors were able to save his foot but he still faces a severe risk of infection.
Source: Fox
Author: Erin Tennant, Approving editor: Jack Hawke
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2018


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From the majestic snow-capped peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park to the dynamic cultural environment of Denver, the Mile High City, Colorado has endless options to delight outdoor enthusiasts and urban dwellers alike. With world-class ski resorts for winter activities, miles of hiking and biking trails for summer fun, plus Denver's award-winning dining and seven professionals sports teams, residents enjoy a multitude of opportunities for leisure and recreation in naturally breathtaking surroundings.
20145 East Fair Lane, Centennial, CO 80016
Denver Metro
A wonderful combination of distinctive architecture and an incredible open floor plan creates a superb 3,341 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom home with luxurious master suite and 3 bedrooms on second floor for those who want to be near children's rooms. Additional highlights include a large kitchen, spacious great room, 5-piece master bathroom, main floor flex room, huge laundry room, owner's entry, full unfinished basement, outdoor patio and 3-car garage.


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We are not surprised to see the University of Tampa leading the AVCA Division II polls.
were the 2013 Sunshine State Conference Champions and with the way they are dominating this year, 2014 will not be any different. When you have Jessica Wagner blocking shots at will, Kahley Patrick setting strong assists, and Berkley Whaley raining shots on opponents with power and precision, it's hard to win a set against them.
hosted by Lakeland's Florida Southern College this Thursday – Saturday.


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Couldn't pass up a chance to put this up today instead of waiting until tomorrow. Eric Metcalf, Pepper Johnson, Tommy Vardell, and Michael Jackson are riding their way to the Super Bowl in 1994 in this caricature tee. Yeah, they didn't just make caricature tees of Bernie and Byner and Newsome. No, these boys obviously showed enough promise to merit their own design. And hell, to me, anything bearing the image of Tommy Vardell is worth whatever price people are asking for it. In this case, . TOMMY FREAKING VARDELL, people!
Or maybe you're more in the market for a VHS tape of Jim Brown in "Slaughter." If that's the case, here you go. Don't want you to feel left out.
Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.


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I would appreciate if the floor would swallow me up now. Thank you. Please and thank you.
I listened to a Ted talk today about the power of vulnerability, the talk was delivered by a qualitive researcher that looks at the human condition and ways to help us all improve what we do each day…. She ended her talk on the foremost important things she had discovered…
Firstly the idea of allowing our selves to be vulnerable, allowing our selves to be open to life and the pleasures and risks being vulnerable allows.
Secondly of loving with all that we are and practising gratitude, most importantly having love and gratitude for our own self, of loving and accepting all that we are, right now.
And the last, and the one I felt most profound was the concept of; I am enough. I am enough, as I am today. The concept that you and I are worthy…
It seems so simple and so very obvious, but based on her research its not as common as one would hope, many are conditioned to feel: I am not enough… until you have that house, complete this work, loose some weight, earn this amount of money, tighten those abs… You are not enough.
So many of us have this negative underpinning image of our own self. The main premise of our marketing industry is to create a feeling that you are not enough until you have this thing, or until you have consumed something more. Then you will be enough. Until the next fad or necessary upgrade…
She finished her talk with one slide that just read, I am enough…
Our internal sense of worth permeates into everything we do, everything. My self esteem has had its fair share of tribulation, a perpetually cheating husband can fuck up a girls sense of worth quite devastatingly. But the shame of it all was that I had become so completely compressed that my own internal voice became my loudest perpetuator of such negative beliefs. I was then and can sometimes still be my own worst enemy.
I am enough… Somewhere in all the noise, that still feels like a lie.
Such nonsense, such stupid notions that I think I have dealt with and overcome. It is the reason I seek out strong women. It is the reason I seek out voices and opinions that break down negative social conditioning and attempt to destroy ideas of some kind of unattainable perfection. It is the reason I love conversations of body and self that can be confronting, conversations that examine our expectations and notions of ideal. Because in all of that I am trying to get a hold of my own negative self beliefs, because I want to see past those things and feel comfortable in my own skin. Because I don't want my children to live in a society where that kind of negativity is placed on them, because I don't want that negativity to become their internal belief structure, like it has been for me.
I am enough is not about what every one else thinks of you, it is about what you think of you. Or indeed what I think of me. I am honestly the most comfortable in my own skin than I have ever been in my life, it is lovely getting older, I would not want to return to my 18 year old self. Except to maybe tell her to get in her white Camira, with her camera and Silverchair tape and just drive and drive and explore like she wanted to. My 18 year old self, believed she could, she dreamed big and grand…. Somewhere along the way she was compressed and became dark in a way that did not feed her soul, that did not feed her sense of self. I write and read and seek out strong women because somewhere in this noisy head is that girl, I love her and I want to nourish that sense of being.
But just every now and again she falls out of focus and I am struck with a debilitating sense of unworthiness, I am not enough, consuming and black. Come on now, haven't we got this shit sorted yet?? Then I get angry at my self, which of course just adds to the cycle.
Mostly I am just going along all cool and something unexpected will pull my feet out from under me and here I am again, in a cloud of I am not at all enough, and I want to go home to bed behind a locked door and not assault the world with my face.
I can be loud and dramatic, and if I love you I will give you all of my crazy self in that moment, but mostly I don't really like people en-mass, I think perhaps I am a bit of an introvert, I'm not sure. I would much rather be at home with a few people I adore having an in-depth conversation about life and love than out with a big group dancing the night away. I would rather smile and wave and hide behind B and his beard than fake social conversation, fake is so very tedious. I could be home playing with some pixels or lost in words.
Being in a spot light is not exactly a comfortable place for me, needless to say being on a stage in front of a mass of eyes is like my worst nightmare. I like it here, behind the computer, with my own head, free to think and write and let it pour from my fingers however it may. Or behind a camera, I love being there, constructing something that has been itching in my head to get out, just free to be. But I can fake it like the best of us, and I do my best to overcome my need to just be at home all the time. Fake it till you become it. I am practicing, having said that I would rather cut my legs off than be on a stage for any reason.
And through some nightmarish set of circumstances, on a stage was indeed where I found my self one recent Friday night. Unwittingly plucked from the crowd. Help!!!! I want to die, I am not made for a stage. At all. Ok toughen up princess, there is always a risk with this kind of event that this could happen, just get up there and stop being a baby, it is all just in good fun… Except that is was a competition of sorts and we had to dance and get audience approval and applause and my self and the poor girl next to me went strait to high school memories of being picked on and wanted the floor to swallow us whole. Ok think fast before my turn to dance and be judged, a fine tall fellow standing next to me, shall we dance? I beg of you, save me from a fate of standing alone on a stage with no idea what to do? What a wonderful fine gentleman, except I didn't expect the dip, it could have otherwise been a glamorous dip if it wasn't me he had in his arms, I awkwardly dipped back terrified I would cripple him with my weight, and with my most unflattering body part protruding to the crowd I begged for something to quite literally kill me on the spot, a bolt of lightning or a falling piano, anything!! Just make me disintegrate into a puff of ash. Please. I beg of you.
I stood awkwardly back in line and faked my smile like my life depended on it, waiting while they insisted the crowd clap the loudest for the best performer… OMG seriously, I want to be dead.
Thank fuck it was all over and I was allowed to slink off the stage and go back to my seat and once again hide behind B and his camera. Except then I stupidly asked B to see the pictures. Bad, bad idea. All I saw was my unbearable form, chicken neck and protruding middle and why the heck did I not wear black stockings!!?? OMG, that is what the poor audience was just subjected to. OMG, now I would really like the floor to absorb me. Even now looking at them just makes me feel ill. Why can't I just be like all the others…. But then the issue is really why cant how I am just be ok?
I just sat there awaiting the end of the show, lost in my own head and sense of not enough, dying to flee and not speak to another soul. I don't want to subject any other poor soul to my social inadequacies and inability to just be enough. Ok, disconnect, fake it all, just smile, chat, say good buys, thankfully the kids were home with my mum so we had to go home any way…
I just sat in the car and cried on the way home, got home and curled up in our bed, wishing the world and my head were different than they are.
The issue is this, not that I was asked to be on the stage, not at all, but my consuming sense that I am not enough. The stage had previously been graced with beautiful, finely dressed women taking their courage and a chance to be the best in their field. I admired their courage and their arses.
Here's the thing, its not about any of them, or any one clapping or not, it is just about me. About finding a way to dissolve such negativity. Often I find the best way to overcome something I am afraid of is to just throw my self in, head first. If I am doing something out there, crazy or bold it is often because I am terrified of it, because I want to dissolve the fear and move past it so it doesn't control me. I want to feel free and comfortable in my own skin, just as it is, not tethered to some notion of reality that is not me, and therefore feeling I am not enough.
Given I have no stage worthy skills throwing my self in that deep end is not going to alleviate the issues, and really this is not about fear of being on stage, it is about a small voice inside that says you are not enough, you are not worthy to be here. And this juncture is exactly where I find my self… aware of it all but not at all sure how on earth to go about resolving it, I've read all the books and put up all the quotes, practiced all the positive affirmations and I think its all good, because mostly it is, but just every now and again it all comes back and drowns me… and I wish I was something other than I am.
And while the TED talk was indeed awesome, and triggered a wave of thought, it did not explain how to feel you are worthy. It just identified that these notions are important, but not how to get to a place where you feel them.
Something I find so very often, is that what logic my head knows does not align with what my heart feels. There is a cavernous disconnection between the two. I know in my head that I am ok, that I am worthy, that such negative notions are nonsense. But I don't always feel that. Which is nonsense I know.
But here again is where I find myself. What am I not learning, what am I not getting?? I am out of sync, what my head knows to be truth does not align with what my heart feels.
So often it gets in the way of me just being, I get in my own way. All the time. In so many different facets of life my confidence and sense of self worth sabotage my path. My neurosis is not my superpower. At all.
Sometimes I think you just have to keep going, Keep jumping, keep pushing when I am scared, keep fighting when I want to run from confrontation, keep practicing, keep challenging society and my own internal dialogue, keep seeking out beautiful strong voices that cry out with strength and inspire, keep going and believe 'that in time small incremental changes will make a significant difference.'….. and I think they do.
I was speaking to a beautiful soul I admire about it all and he said to me, but think what it was like a few years ago? I know I still feel challenged by those things but it is easier, it is much better than it was, it is all worth it. And he was right. It is all not perfect, but all the little things along the way have bought me here, a place I much prefer than 5 or 10 years ago. My Grandma would always say that, when I would end up at her door in tears because my ex-husband had just screamed at me until I was terrified and I just wanted to quit, and not go to work tomorrow and just let him have the kids…
You just have to keep going she would say,
It will all come out in the wash.
And ever so slowly it is,
All of it.
One word at a time, one image at a time, one belief at a time, one social notion at a time.
Worthy. I am as you are.
event photography, post production- b.
burlesque idol event- audience participation, holding the 'L'- Aj


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H.E. Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade and Industry at the UAE Ministry of Economy, discussed ways to further develop economic and trade relations between the UAE and Costa Rica with H.E. John Fonseca, Costa Rica's Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade, during the latter's visit at the Ministry's headquarters in Dubai,
The meeting reviewed promising trade and investment opportunities in sectors of mutual interest. It also addressed ways to develop cooperation and exchange experiences to raise economic relations to more diverse and advanced levels.
Participants included H.E. Francisco J. Chacon Hernandez, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UAE, and Ministry of Economy officials Hind Al Youha, Director for Investment Department, and Majed Al Mazrouei from the Trade Promotion Department.
Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen existing economic and trade partnership frameworks and take advantage of commonalities uniting the two countries, especially their vision of developing a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and investment in the fields of education, scientific research, and health care. They also acknowledged a shared desire to adopt open trade policies, develop infrastructure serving international trade routes, and benefitting from strategic geographies connected to many promising markets.
H.E. Al Saleh stated that the UAE and Costa Rica enjoy a unique bilateral relationship based on respect and mutual understanding, pointing out that, despite the growth of economic and trade cooperation between their two countries, the current level is still below the potentials and capabilities enjoyed by both countries. He added that their bilateral foreign trade volume reached USD 23 million in 2016.
He also noted that over the past years the UAE has succeeded in transforming itself into a diversified economy which has become less dependent on oil. This, he explained, was made possible through policies that have opened up the country to the world; the development of an attractive environment for foreign investments; the establishment of strong foreign trade relations with various continents; and the development and management of infrastructure and logistics services adhering to international standards. H.E. reviewed the most important determinants of UAE Vision 2021 and the National Innovation Strategy along with efforts to increase quality investments as well as enhance and empower entrepreneurs, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The Undersecretary pointed out that the State of Costa Rica is one of the countries that the UAE wishes to establish successful mechanisms with for the development of economic and trade relations. He commended Costa Rica's competitive and flexible economy which he said is highly capable of growth and which is driven by several development visions complementing those of the UAE. This, he said, provides several cooperative opportunities particularly in the fields of innovation, transport, logistics services, and tourism.
H.E. Al Saleh further stated that enhancing cooperation in the field of air transport is of great importance and should be part of discussions with Costa Rica due to its impact on elevating communication and partnerships between the business communities of both sides.
For his part, H.E. Fonseca said that his country considers the UAE a role model in several fields and an important destination for enhancing cooperation and partnership. He pointed out that his country shares many ambitious development principles and objectives with the UAE, stating that Costa Rica is also focused on diversifying its economy, developing potentials for innovation and education, and enhancing human development.
H.E. Fonseca added that his country has achieved remarkable progress in the education and healthcare sectors, and has also succeeded in enhancing its foreign trade in goods and services with a particular focus on information technology, scientific, and research services.
The Deputy Minister reviewed several promising development projects Costa Rica plans to implement in the fields of infrastructure, transport, port development and logistics services in support of its vision of becoming a regional trade hub. He also shared the progress achieved by his country in terms of clean and renewable energy which represents 99 per cent of the total domestic energy produced.


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I have finally decided to start my blogging days. I guess for about a year I have been pondering on whether or not to start, and I feel now is a good time in my life.
This is a place for me to share my thoughts, opinions, ideas, recipes and anything else that I choose and to meet new people in which to share this journey with me. Bear with me as I learn the ropes of posting and the ins and outs of the blogging "world".
I am a stay at home Mom of two beautiful girls, ages 9 years and 4 years old. I have a loving husband, who is a wonderful provider for me and my family and we recently celebrated our 16 year wedding anniversary. As I post I will devote more time for stories and details about my life, for what a journey it has already been! We have three dogs, a cat and some fish added into the mix of our family. All rescued animals....they are a big part of our lives and our home.
Looking forward to many more posts, but being my first one I will end for now, tomorrow is another day, and I usually have lots to say! ;-)


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About Bi-Lingua
Bi-Lingua is a language training and translation consultancy, established since 1985.
I would describe us as 'a small organisation with big capabilities'. We have been providing language training to internationally-known companies since back in the last century – keeping our clients in the face of competition from much bigger providers, We don't advertise (except here on this website) but rely mainly on repeat business.
Language training is our main business, and although based in Hampshire we are perfectly capable of running courses elsewhere – we are currently operating in London and Bristol as well as here in Hampshire.
We differ from competitors in that (apart from one or two people who will answer your phone enquiry in the first instance) we are all language specialists (teachers or translators). We have no accountants or salesmen, so more of your money finds its way to the people who do the actual work, enabling us to afford the best. And their work is managed by someone who is himself an experienced language teacher and translator.
An important aspect of our service is our philosophy that 'everyone who consults Bi-Lingua should benefit in some way – even if they buy nothing'. This could mean:
- Advising your HR department on planning your language training strategy. In fact we regard ourselves as "the HR specialist's friend", advising you free of charge and then providing language training that will be a success and enhance your reputation within your company
- If you offer us a translation assignment which for one reason or another is beyond our capability, we will see to it that you know where to turn.
- If the source document which you want translated contains mistakes of English, we will advise you, free of charge, before it goes to the translator (or rather, before it confuses the translator!)
- If you bring us a document in a foreign language which you can't understand, we will tell you what's in it, is allowing you to decide whether you need it all translated;
- Prospective job applicants who don't have the necessary qualifications or experience will be advised where to go to get them. We have even advised some less experienced translators to put their prices up in order to be taken seriously!
- If you need an interpreter but have never used one before, we will talk you through what is involved, before you buy.
We are able to do these things because we have in-depth experience of the languages market gained from 30 years in business.
Chris Harris


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The American Revolutionary War
Exactly how the American Flag happened
The history of the United States is vast and intricate, yet can be broken down into milestones and periods that separated, combined, as well as altered the United States into the country it is now. The American flag really did not look like it does now. Besides that, it went through a lot of adjustments as well as modifications.
The American Revolutionary War
Enter the American Revolution. Sometimes referred to as the American War of Independence, or the Revolutionary War, it was a conflict which lasted from 1775-1783 and permitted the original 13 colonies to continue to be independent from Great Britain. Beginning in Great Britain in the late 1790s, the Industrial Revolution eventually made its path to the United States and changed the emphasis of the nation's economic situation and also the method it produces products.
For greater than 10 years prior to the episode of the revolution in 1775, tensions had actually been building in between colonists and the British authorities. These tensions arose from expanding stress between locals of Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and also the colonial government (which represented the British crown). Attempts by the British government to increase revenue by collecting tax from the colonies (especially the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Tariffs of 1767 as well as the Tea Act of 1773) consulted with heated protest amongst numerous colonists, who disliked their absence of depiction in Parliament and required the same legal rights as other British people. Colonial resistance resulted in physical violence in 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists, eliminating five people in what was known as the Boston Massacre. After December 1773, when a band of Bostonians impersonated Mohawk Indians boarded British ships and disposed 342 containers of tea right into Boston Harbor, an annoyed Parliament passed a collection of procedures (called the Intolerable, or Coercive Acts) made to reassert royal authority in Massachusetts.
George Washington was made its commander in chief. Congress hoped they could require the British to negotiate however George III declined to negotiate. Instead, in August 1775 he stated that all the American colonies were in a state of disobedience.
By the fall of 1781, the American forces had actually managed to compel the opponent to retreat to Virginia's Yorktown peninsula, near where the York River clears right into Chesapeake Bay. Stating disease, the British general sent his deputy, Charles O'Hara, to surrender; after O'Hara approached Rochambeau to surrender his sword (the Frenchman deferred to Washington), Washington provided the nod to his very own replacement, Benjamin Lincoln, that accepted it. After French aid assisted the Continental Army require the British abandonment at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, the Americans had successfully won their freedom, though combatting would not officially finish up until 1783.
The motion for American independence efficiently won at Yorktown, modern historians did not see that as the definitive success. British and American mediators in Paris signed initial peace terms in Paris late that November, and also on September 3, 1783, Great Britain officially identified the freedom of the United States in the Treaty of Paris.
Exactly how the American Flag became
The American flag was created to represent the brand-new union of the thirteen original states: it would have thirteen stripes, alternating red as well as white, and also thirteen stars, white on a blue area. Among the very first flags had the stars set up in a circle, based on the idea that colonies were equal. The thirteen stripes, laid out side by side, represented the battle for independence; red stood for valor, white signified purity and also blue stood for commitment.
In 1818, after a few style modifications, the United States Congress made a decision to preserve the flag's initial thirteen stripes as well as include brand-new stars to reflect each brand-new state that got in the union.
While there is no doubt that the actual Betsy Ross deserved interest in her very own right, it is the legend of Betsy stitching the first stars and stripes that has made her a memorable historical figure. The Betsy Ross story was offered spotlight in 1870 by her grand son, William Canby, in a speech he made to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Canby and also other members of Betsy's family members authorized vouched testimonies stating that they listened to the story of the production of the very first flag from Betsy's very own mouth.
According to the dental background, in 1776, 3 men – George Washington, Robert Morris, and also George Ross, visited Betsy Ross in her furniture shop. On a paper Washington showed, was a drawing of a flag with thirteen red and also white stripes and thirteen 6-pointed stars.
Washington asked if Betsy can make a flag from the style. Betsy reacted: "I do not know, however I will try." This line was used in the sworn declarations of most of Betsy's family members, recommending that it is a straight quote from Betsy. As the tale goes, Betsy suggested changing the stars to 5 points instead of 6. She showed them how to do it with just one snip of her scissors. They all accepted to transform the layout to have stars with five points.
Nonetheless, some chroniclers believe that it was Francis Hopkisnon who brought to life the concept of the Stars and Stripes. Francis Hopkinson was a popular patriot, an attorney, a Congressman from New Jersey, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, poet, musician, and distinguished civil servant.
He was selected to the Continental Navy Board on November 6,1776. It was while working on the Continental Navy Board that he turned his attention to making the flag of the United States. Using stars because style is thought to have been the outcome of an experience in the battle directly pertaining to his propriety.
A book in Hopkinson's collection at his residence in Bordentown was taken by a Hessian soldier in December 1776, a dark year of the war. The soldier, one I. Ewald, composed on the within cover that he had actually seen the writer near Philadelphia and also that he, Ewald, had taken the book from a fine nation seat near Philadelphia. The soldier had actually created above as well as listed below Hopkinson's bookplate, which had 3 6 pointed stars and also his household adage, "Semper Paratus", or "Always Ready".
In a letter to the Board of Admiralty in 1780 Hopkinson asserted that he had actually designed "the flag of the United States of America" as well as numerous ornaments, devices, and checks showing up on bills of exchange, ship papers, the seals of the boards of Admiralty as well as Treasury, and also the Great Seal of the United States. Hopkinson had obtained absolutely nothing for this work, as well as currently he submitted a bill as well as asked "whether a Quarter Cask of the public wine" would certainly not be a sensible as well as proper reward for his labors.
Nevertheless, nobody can be so certain that produced the American flag. The American flag is the spiritual symbol of the country. It signifies the peoples' birthright, their heritage of freedom bought with blood as well as grief. The title deed of freedom, which is the nation's to appreciate as well as hold in trust for posterity. Everlasting caution is the cost of liberty. As you see the flag silhouetted against the serene skies of the country, you are reminded that the American flag stands for exactly what you are – no more, no much less.
Top American Flags around Hawaii state
As quoted from the Star Spangled Banner:
O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
ZIP codes in Kula we serve: 96790


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Lakeside Soccer - Poly Dri-Fit Hoodie
ALL SALES FINAL. ***Items will ship at the end of the fundraising campaign to a representative of Lakeside Soccer for distribution. Items can be expected to be ready by mid-September.***
Poly dri-fit hoodie with 2-color Lakeside Soccer imprint. Please note this logo does NOT contain state championship text.


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I'm now officially out of Queen Anne and back in Ballard, the place I dare call a Foodie Paradise. We've got an excellent Sunday Farmer's Market, the Ballard Market, and delicious restaurants galore to fit almost any palate and budget. I look forward to re-frequenting some old haunts like Thaiku (my most favorite bar design ever) and Snoose Junction Pizza while checking out some of new ones.
I did try Ocho last week and was pleasantly surprised how some elbow grease and grand imagination could convert Matt's Hot Dogs into such a wonderful hideaway from the world. Tapas and wine galore, I already feel nostalgic for the pan con chocolate which combined chocolate, toast, almonds, sea salt and truffle oil. Believe it or not, it was amazing. Hmmm, maybe I'll stop by there after my walk through the Market this afternoon.


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Do you want your work to matter? Do you want to use your operations skills to make a difference, not just a living? Do you want to improve millions of lives, including your own?
Living Goods works to reinvent how we improve the lives of the under-served. We think big, but operate lean and nimble. We train community health workers to bring health services and products life-saving to people's doorsteps. Services like prenatal assessments and well-baby visits. Products like medicines, fortified foods, and modern contraceptives.
We also transform community health through mobile phones.We train community health workers to assess the health of mothers and children with mobile phone apps and to treat common illnesses like pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea. We also create predictive algorithms to make the best use of their time.And we test cool new tools like paperless referrals to clinics and biosensors to monitor infant and child growth.
At Living Goods, you will have the chance to apply your ideas and creativity every day. If you work well in a dynamic collaborative culture, set high standards, and meet challenges with determination and a sense of humor, you'll thrive at Living Goods.
Living Goods has a team of 180 employees in Uganda and will grow to 340 in the next four years. This year we will serve 6 million Ugandans. In four years we'll serve 15 million. We're growing because we've honed a model that works and we are driven by our mission: to ensure that every mother and child has basic healthcare in their community.
Your Charge
Living Goods' work at the community level could not happen without a great field operations team. A team with a steadfast commitment to key performance indicators, quality services, reliable last mile distribution of essential medicines and products, compliance, accountability and excellence in implementing new initiatives. And like every great team, our field operations team in Uganda needs a great leader.
That's why we've created a Deputy Director for Field Operations role in Uganda. We're looking for someone who can lead and grow the Field Operations Team. Help Living Goods Regional Field Managers hone their knowledge and manage field staff. Find solutions to improve the impact of Living Goods interventions and help ensure that branch supply chain and accounting policies are followed.
Your background
Living Goods is an equal opportunity employer and will consider every qualified applicant for employment. Living Goods does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Our current job openings are displayed on our website, where you can search for open positions and apply directly. Living Goods does not offer any positions without an interview and never asks candidates for money. If you are asked for money, we strongly recommend that you do not respond and do not send money or personal information.


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Archive for Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wildcat signs with Whitecaps
Local connections through his coach Alan Koch have landed Baker University senior Marty Johnston in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Koch, Baker's men's soccer coach, played for Simon Frazier University, which is located in Vancouver, has believed Johnston could play professional soccer since he took over the Wildcats last season.
"Pretty much every time he stepped on the field, he showed that he was capable of playing at the next level," Koch said. "I contacted the Whitecaps and had no problem recommending him."
Koch was correct. Johnston signed a one-year contract to play professionally for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the United Soccer Leagues. The announcement was made Monday afternoon at a small press conference at Baker's Collins House.
"I would like to thank everyone for coming," Johnston said at the press conference. "I really appreciate it. I am just happy that I've gotten to experience all of these things at Baker. It's been great, not only as a soccer player but as an individual here. That's what Baker is all about."
He was excited to sign the contract, because he wasn't sure of his status with the team before it was offered.
"I was thrilled," Johnston said of signing the contract. "I was pretty nervous because I wasn't sure where I stood. It feels great to get that off my shoulders."
Johnston acknowledged that his coach started the process that led to his announcement Monday.
"Coach Koch has connections and he thought I was able to play at that level," Johnston said. "So I went up to Vancouver in February for some training sessions. I came back then they invited me back to their training camp. So during the past week, I was up there playing three preseason games with them. I scored a couple goals did pretty well, so they offered me a contract."
Koch said Johnston's signing is a little extra special for him, because some of his former college teammates play for the Whitecaps.
"It's extra special for me because I played for Simon Frazier University and he will get to play with a couple of the guys that I played with in college," Koch said. "They are some of the older guys and he'll be one of the younger guys. Hopefully he can learn a lot from them and hopefully they won't share too many of my college stories."
Several family members joined Johnston at the press conference. His father, Stan Johnston, was thrilled to see what his son has done with his life since coming to Baker in 2003.
"Marty has worked very hard to get to this day," S. Johnston said. "Just him having this opportunity is a big credit to coach Koch and his connections with the Whitecaps. It's pretty amazing.
"I am very proud and our whole family is very proud," S. Johnston said. "You always think it's possible but it's such a long shot to become a professional athlete. I am just so pleased Marty was able to come to Baker from Blue Valley North and play for four years, have a great career and graduate on time. It's really a testament to him."
Johnston, a forward from Leawood and a Blue Valley North graduate, ranks fourth all time in goals scored at Baker. He scored 22 goals as a sophomore.
During his career, Johnston received numerous honors for the Wildcats. He was named first-team All-Heart of America Conference, all-region and received All-American honorable mention.
"He has been a remarkable contributor to the Baker soccer team on and off the field," said Theresa Yetmar, Baker assistant athletic director. "He finished his career with 53 goals and 20 assists, while maintaining a 3.2 grade point average."
Koch took over the Baker program in 2006 and completed his first season as the Wildcats' head coach in the fall. Although he only coached M. Johnston for one year, Koch could tell he had the talent to play at the next level.
"I am very, very proud," Koch said. "Of course it's always a big achievement for any player to go play professionally. To make the jump from college to pro is fantastic. I knew he could do it, but you never know. He went out there and showed them that he could take care of business at that level."
M. Johnston said he will remember the rivalry games that Baker had against Lindenwood University and William Jewell College.
"All of the Lindenwood games were memorable," Johnston said. "They were always close, hard fought battles. But I will definitely remember the William Jewell games. We were so excited to play them, because of the rivalry and competition."
Johnston will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in research and communication.
"I've been talking to some professors and I am going to try and accelerate some work," Johnston said.
Although he will graduate from Baker, Johnston doesn't believe he will be able to attend his commencement ceremony in May.
"I doubt it because my schedule will be pretty hectic," Johnston said of returning for commencement. "It probably won't work out for coming back. If there was any other reason, it would be upsetting."
The Whitecaps regular season begins April 21 as they hope to defend their 2006 USL championship.
"They are all really good guys and the coach has been in the league for about five years," M. Johnston said. "He knows what he is doing and he is a really good coach. There is a lot of experience on the team, so I'll be able to learn a lot from them."
M. Johnston will be moving to Vancouver Friday. His father said he is hoping to watch his son practice before he returns home. He is ready for the season to begin, as he plans on viewing the games over the Internet.
"I am driving him up this weekend," S. Johnston said. "I will probably get to see one of the practice games before I go back. Luckily every game is on the Internet, so I've already bought the Internet package. I will watch as many games as I can. I know some of his siblings are already planning trips up this summer."
M. Johnston is ready to begin his new life outside of Baker.
"I love the Pacific Northwest," Johnston said. "It's a great area and the summers up there are great. I am excited about moving up there."
Commenting has been disabled for this item.


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This late but never too late submission for Orangeness Day by photographer Gdnarch is the perfect image to remind or perhaps inform you about an upcoming concert in support of the Masai for Africa campaign.
Tannis Slimmon, Jude Vadala and Katherine Wheatley will be performing this Friday Feb.9th at the Eden Mills Community Hall.
7pm doors open. 8 pm show
Tickets $22 available at Wild Rose Clothing 23A Macdonell St. in downtown Guelph.
Or phone: 519 763 2233
Sue Richards
PS. Blog Guelph is trying out a 'Voluntary Subscription' experiment. Find out the details by clicking right here.
Tags: Blog Guelph,guelph news, winter, guelph eventsGuelph, Sue Richards, Art Jam, Guelph BlogGuelph Ontario, flickrGuelph Photos, photography, photoblog, City of Guelph, Canadian Blog.


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Thank goodness there is an England. The art of social skewering is so much more finely honed over there, as demonstrated by a new three-part sequence of the PBS series "Masterpiece Theatre."
Indeed, the subtle satire of "Titmuss Regained," premiering at 9 p.m. tomorrow on Maryland Public Television, has relevance to this side of the pond, too.
David Threlfall returns as the commoner-become-politician Leslie Titmuss of "Paradise Postponed," a series that ran on "Masterpiece Theatre" five years ago. In that story (like this one by John Mortimer, who also wrote "Rumpole of the Bailey"), the youth of poor means surprisingly inherited a fortune and joined the Conservative Party, seeking to escape his social class.


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Address:8520 Northwest Blvd
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Country:United States
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Short Description:
Homestead Indianapolis Northwest is located in Indianapolis, close to SportZone. Regional points of interest also include Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
Recreational amenities include an indoor pool and a fitness facility. Wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Guest parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include laundry facilities.
At the 2.0 star property, accommodations include kitchens with microwaves, refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, and cookware/dishes/utensils. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries. In addition to free local calls, guestrooms offer multi line phones with voice mail. Televisions have cable channels. Air conditioned rooms also include desks, irons/ironing boards, and clock radios. Guests may request a turndown service and hair dryers.
Notifications and Fees:
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check in, or check out.
- Pets: US$ 25 per day, maximum US$ 150 per stay
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.


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Clerk to the Governors, Wimbledon
Closing date:
Contract type: Part Time
Contract term: Permanent
Headteachers: Mrs Marianne Macdona
Clerk to Governors Post
"St Mary's provides an outstanding education for all its pupils" OFSTED
St Mary's is an outstanding two form entry Catholic primary school in the centre of Wimbledon. We are looking for a Clerk to the Governing Body. This is a largely home based position but would involve attending regular daytime and evening meetings.
Job Status: Clerk to Governors
Responsible to: The Chair of Governors and the Head Teacher
Pay: £16 per hour
The successful candidate will be:
• An excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing;
• Able to work independently, using their own initiative;
• Able to fully understand and work within confidentiality;
• Someone with drive, enthusiasm and flexibility;
• Someone with excellent organisational skills. We offer:
• Supportive and welcoming colleagues across the school
• A well-established Governing Body committed to maintaining the school
• Ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing and continuing professional development, including appropriate training where necessary
• A wonderfully strong community where home, school and parish work hand in hand to live out the school mission statement 'to be the best that we can be'.
Closing date: Monday 4th June at 9am
Interviews: TBC
We are committed to safeguarding children and these posts are subject to an enhanced CRB check and satisfactory references.
Please email Mrs Rhule on email@example.com with any queries or to arrange a visit to the school
Contact St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Thanks for your interest in this role.
Simply fill in the form below to ask any questions, request a call, or schedule a school visit.
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You're a game changer, you push against the system and strive for change. You're searching for distinctive style.
You know that the way that you look makes a first impression and you're looking to make that impression fast, and make it last.
That's why I've designed works of Art that you can wear, everyday, everywhere.
Want to know more?
For as long as I can remember I loved making things, teaching, and playing with yarn. As a small child I was influenced by my mom, and her mother ( my grandmother). My mom passed on the teaching gene, while my grandmother and I shared a love for knitting, embroidery and sewing.
Fast forward a few years and it was time for college. I attended Messiah College and studied Art Education with a concentration in Mixed Media studies. ( I also have my masters in Creativity Studies) When I began I was in love with ceramics, however, after touching a loom for the first time, my interest began to stray to textiles.
From 2006-2007 my life was full of change. I did my student teaching, got married, graduated, found a teaching job, and my husband and I bought our house. Life seemed like it was moving 100 mph and there was no time for making art of my own. I was too busy creating projects for my high school students.
By 2009 I was ready to get my hands back into making for my own pleasure. I found a loom, and turned one of the bedrooms in our home into a studio space, and off I went. Well not really. It had been awhile since I'd woven, so I attempted to follow instructions in book to get me started, but nothing was working, and I was getting frustrated.
My husband was beginning to wonder why we bought a loom ( I wasn't using it), and frankly, so was I. But I'm not one to give up, so I did a little research, and found that the book that I was following was on recall for missing pages. Well this explained why nothing was working.
Most people would likely simply pick up another book, but I was fed up and decided to follow my heart and my personality and give up directions all together, and thus Amber Kane scarves were born. I stopped following directions and started listening to the materials, threw out the rules, and embraced the process, and I must say some pretty amazing scarves started coming out of the studio.
It then reached a point that I had way more scarves than I needed, and people were asking if I sold them. It seemed like a good idea, so I started selling online, and doing craft shows. ( If you're thinking about doing shows, you can find my checklist here: http://amberkane.com/free-resources/)
My Experience:
I've enjoyed creating since I was a small child. My grandmother taught me a lot about knitting, embroidery, and sewing.
I received my degree in Art Education from Messiah College where I concentrated in Mixed Media studies. My junior year of college I switched my focus from pottery to weaving. Once I laid my hands on the loom, I knew that I never wanted to stop.
I also have my Masters of Arts from Union Institute and University of Vermont, where I focused on creativity studies... and learned A LOT, about how the creative mind works.


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A Sunday ritual called the Rainier Pop-Up Kitchen attracts 150 or more people, many of them homeless, who line up for a hearty helping of kindness dished up by their neighbors on a Seattle sidewalk.
"It's just a place for people to come and see their friends, to see us, who are now their friends, and welcome them, and say, 'We're here for you, and we care about you,'" said Lucas Hedrick, one of dozens of volunteers who plan, cook, and serve the Sunday meal beneath Interstate 90 where it crosses over Rainier Avenue South.
A nearby hillside used to be filled with tents. Hedrick drove past it all the time and finally, one chilly night back in March, he couldn't ignore it any longer. So he grabbed blankets and a sack of burgers and started serving.
Hedrick later posted about it on a community discussion board.
"I am sharing this to remind you to not forget that homeless people are people too," he wrote. "Just act, do anything, smile, hand someone a meal."
People started asking how they could help. A few weeks later, a group of neighbors, inspired by Hedrick's post, formed a Facebook group and started gathering weekly to plan Sunday's menu and decide who will cook what.
No non-profit funds or organizes the group. It's just a group of people who go to the grocery store and cook in their home kitchens.
The Rainier Avenue encampment is now gone. The city cleared it out months ago. But the pop-up kitchen keeps coming back. And so does a hungry crowd.
"They knew that we were still here," Hedrick said.
People come from all over Seattle, from shelters, camps, and sidewalks, because they know they'll get a hot meal and a smile.
"I see them now as friends and family," said Benny Kofa, one of 135 served on a recent Sunday.
Some people who drive past might think this effort attracts more homeless people to the block. To them, Hedrick says open your eyes.
"The homeless people are everywhere. They're in every neighborhood, every area, so there's no way that we're attracting more people here. They're already here, you just don't see them all the time, and when we feed them you see them," he said.
How long will they keep doing this? No one has an answer. They just see what's in front of them: A lot of people who who've found a familiar routine, who come hungry, and now have a seat at the table.
"I pray every day to see them on a Sunday, every given Sunday that they show up, it shows me the true love of God," Kofa said.
More info on how to donate here.


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One Shot
When Kyle Matthews, an elite Sniper from the World Defense Force, is trapped in enemy territory - his skills are put to the test as he attempts to survive against a whole armada of Cerulean soldiers, Hell bent on wiping all humans from existence. But when a beautiful Cerulean woman is shot and left for dead by her own kind, Kyle must chose between his own life and the life of one of the very beings he is out to kill.
Actor: Nichelle Aiden, Jacque Gray, Scott Hanks, Paul D. Hunt, Matthew Reese, Kevin Sorbo, Jaci Twiss
Director: John Lyde
Country: USA
Duration: 91
Release: 2014
IMDb: 3.6
Quality: HD


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Write to: Letters to the editor, Writing Magazine, Warners Group Publications plc, 5th Floor, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JD; email: email@example.com. (Include your name and address when emailing letters. Ensure all letters, a maximum of 250 words, are exclusive to Writing Magazine. Letters may be edited.)
When referring to previous articles/letters, please state month of publication and page number.
I have written a novella inspired by my autistic neighbour. He's 53 and was befriended by drug dealers, robbed, beaten up, all sorts.
I sent it for an appraisal. The opening remarks were complimentary but there was one element highlighted which would benefit from a change: to get rid of the 53-year-old man and make him a woman.
Not a hard task as you could imagine. Bring up the script, go into Find, enter Freddy and Replace with Sally (some 227 times).


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Search the Archive
Search the National Gallery Archive containing records of the Gallery's activities from its foundation in 1824 to the present day. Find out more about the National Gallery Archive.
Record NG6/5/1168
Up to parent record NG6/5 No child record
|Archive reference number
Letter to Mrs Robertson
|15 May 1879
Enclosing the card of Mrs Roberts, who regularly gives lessons in the Gallery
|Record type
Your list will only be saved temporarily. Inactivity of more than an hour could result in the loss of your list. If you would like to keep a record of your list, we suggest you email it to yourself.
Your list of records will be sent to us if you request an appointment, and a summary will be included in your appointment email notification.
© 2018 The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN


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A new survey from Warner Bros. suggests that the publisher is considering a sequel to Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor.
A bunch of questions sent out to current and former players of the game asks them about their experiences, and what they would like to see changed or added. The survey also asks about their views of expansion packs, character portrayals, storyline and content. Finally the survey asks opinions about a potential sequel to Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor.
It's not surprising to know that Warner Bros. is looking towards a second installment. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor was received warmly by everyone and awarded with a number of accolades last year. It's Nemesis System brought something new to the table, an element that added substantial replay value. For all we know, a team is already working on a sequel.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is currently awaiting the release of its final DLC pack titled The Bright Lord, which pits the players against the Dark Lord Sauron in an epic final battle.
If you have played the game already, what would you want to see in a sequel? Would you want Warner Bros. to take out more pages from Tolkien's books?


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If Chase Kalisz was remotely nervous for the first Olympic swim of his life, he did not show it.
The 22-year-old from Bel Air shaved more than a second off his personal best time in the 400-meter individual medley, winning his afternoon preliminary heat and earning the top seed for Saturday night's final.
"I didn't expect to go anywhere near that," he said. "I was very shocked after I turned around, which I guess is a good thing."
He posted a better time, 4 minutes, 8.12 seconds, than Daiya Seto or Kosuke Hagino, the two Japanese swimmers expected to be his toughest competition for medals.
Kalisz and Seto staged an exciting duel in the final preliminary heat, with Seto taking a substantial lead on the butterfly and backstroke legs only for Kalisz to catch him on the breaststroke leg, the American swimmer's specialty. They battled side by side on the closing freestyle leg, with Kalisz touching the wall just ahead.
But Kalisz seemed confident he hadn't expended too much energy by going so fast in a preliminary.
"I feel like I'm in a good place moving forward," he said.
His mentor and training partner, Michael Phelps, advised him to "treat it like a normal swim meet."
But this wasn't normal for Kalisz. It was better. And he knows he'll have to do it again if he wants to beat Hagino and Seto for gold.


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Reason #324569087.25 why I love this man:
Is that he'll help me dismantle flowers so I can make tutus.
Without. Complaint.
I found a supplier of bulk petals, but I still dismantle many different styles myself - so that the skirts are chock full of special tidbits making them unique. It takes HOURS to take all the freaking petals apart. (even with his help). But, we like doing it sitting on our butts in front of the TV.
Reason #4092872.999 why I love this child:
Is that she can make me laugh - even after I squeeze too hard on an old bottle of paint, explode the top off of it, and douse the entire room in blue paint. Um, yes, this did concern me greatly. But, her reaction to my stress had me in fits of giggles. You can see half a bottle of paint on the sheet of paper, splattered across her shirt, forehead, & arm. What you can't see is that it flicked little droplets all the way up into the carpet, my freshly painted walls, the backs of chairs in the great room, etc.
Additionally, my child enjoys creativity as much as I do. She insisted on another "Junk-a-doodle" today, so clearly enjoyed the experience yesterday. It's dismal out again, so I took her up on it. This gave me the opportunity to try a new idea out for the place where big and little art meet. She declares the topic. She paints the fabric. I'll take the fabric and arrange it into a scene, using my sewing machine to finish it. It's less child-interactive than our approach yesterday - but, I just want to see what will happen with it.
A happy long weekend to you all. I'm certainly looking forward to it. Mainly because it will include a lot of time with the two sillies I've shown above...
Labels: Nonsense, The Place where big and little art meet...


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Career Pathways
Our academies form part of a highly supportive network with a wealth of experts and mentors to help develop and guide you throughout your career.
No matter what stage you are at or what job you do, we will support and develop your skills. Our bespoke learning and development programmes are second to none, and are designed to help you build a long and rewarding career with the Harris Federation and make the biggest possible difference to the children we teach.
The Harris Federation Teaching School works with primary and secondary schools around London, including our own, to deliver training and development. From ITE and our outstanding NQT programme at the start of your career to specially designed senior leadership development, you will benefit from training that is well organised, clearly structured and regularly cited by Ofsted and others in the education sector as outstanding.
With our focus on London and the surrounding areas, you will have the opportunity to progress within a close regional network of Harris academies, with regular opportunities for promotion available across the Federation.
Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs)
All NQTs follow the highly successful Harris Federation NQT programme, training alongside other NQTs from across the Federation. This enables aspiring teachers to support and learn from each other, in the true collaborative spirit of Harris.
To discuss the support and mentoring we can provide as part of our first class NQT Programme, please contact our Central Recruitment Team on email@example.com or call 020 8253 7777.
We can help to arrange academy visits, tours and informal conversations with our principals to ensure you secure the best possible job as a new qualified teacher with the Harris Federation.
Aspiring Middle Leaders
The NPQML is a qualification that provides national recognition of your leadership development and professional achievement as a middle leader.
This programme is carefully designed to develop the leadership potential of aspiring middle leaders from all schools and phases. The programme supports participants to identify personal areas for development, understand the typical responsibilities and challenges for middle leaders supporting them to develop techniques to lead others and drive school improvement effectively.
Who is the programme for?
This programme is for teachers aspiring to take up middle leadership positions and newly appointed middle leaders. At middle leader level it is expected that participants will have responsibility for leading a team, key stage / subject. Suitable for curriculum leaders, heads of department and pastoral leaders.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Aspiring Senior Leaders
Our NPQSL is a dynamic development programme for experienced middle leaders potentially one year away from senior leadership and newly appointed senior leaders with whole school responsibilities.
This programme is designed to support participants to improve existing knowledge, skills and experience and develop capacity to work efficiently across an organisation.
Facilitator's role-model outstanding practice and use coaching techniques to support participants to further develop their leadership experience. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own areas of strength and areas for improvement and identify ways they can improve their leadership through various activities whilst on the course.
Who is the programme for?
This programme is designed for leaders with cross-school responsibilities including experienced middle leaders, deputy headteachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs), advanced skills teachers (ASTs) and other senior staff looking for further professional development.
Click here for more information or to apply.
Aspiring Principals
Our NPQH programme is the first-choice qualification for anyone aspiring to become a Headteacher or Principal.
The Aspiring Leaders approach prepares you to lead a school confidently and effectively, whilst offering a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best school leaders. You will learn from evidence-based practices used in other schools to achieve rapid transformation.
Our leaders have a wealth of knowledge and are highly experienced in improving outcomes for pupils and students. Coaching and mentoring opportunities are a key feature of all National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).
Who is the programme for?
Newly appointed Headteachers or highly motivated and experienced senior leaders ready to become a Principal within 12–18 months.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Aspiring Executive Principals
The National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) is a new national qualification for anyone aspiring lead more than one school.
The Aspiring Leaders approach uses the Harris Federation Multi Academy Trust (MAT) as a case study for successful leadership across a group of schools. The programme draws on the leadership expertise of Harris executive leaders and directors from other successful MATs from across the country, providing an exciting opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced and successful MAT leaders in the UK.
This is a practical, hands-on programme that is led by the Harris Federation CEO, Sir Daniel Moynihan and Executive Principals, each with outstanding track-records of leading multiple schools successfully. Leaders will share their experiences of executive leadership explaining the key challenges involved in leading multiple schools. They will show case different approaches to maximising resources and maintaining collaboration between schools to ensure that all schools improve student outcomes effectively under one executive leader.
Who is the programme for?
Aspiring executive leaders and recently appointed executive leaders.


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I have been waiting to pick up a few of the Christmas products from Lush for the longest time. My nearest Lush store is in a town I don't visit too often, so I've had to wait quite a while to cause some damage on my bank card. But I was in London yesterday for a little bit of festive tourism and popped into the Oxford Street, flagship store.
This is the first time I've walked in and not known specifically what I wanted to pick up. I've read so many reviews about all the festive products and honestly want to try all of them. I didn't know where to start.
I picked up 'YogNog' first, what smells like a ball of pure cinnamon and caramel. If you mixed a gingerbread cookie and a caramel chocolate bar in a blender, this bath bomb is exactly what it would smell like! It was described as something perfect to warm you up on a cold evening, I'm doing a lot of long shifts at work, all simultaneously and I couldn't resist the idea of this one evening to relax my muscles!
Next up was 'Stardust', I didn't even look at the description before plopping this in my basket. Maybe it's because it looks similar to the Butterball and Dragons Egg, both favourites of mine. Maybe because starts a cool. Who knows! But it's got pure, fair trade vanilla in it and I do love myself a bit of vanilla.
'Snow Angel' was next in line. I've never tried a bath melt before and to be honest, I didn't even realise it was one when I picked it up. I saw the angel shape and the gold glitter and made my decision there. It's great for moisturising with the cocoa butter which will be great as the days start to get even colder, particularly for my dry skin!
'Peeping Santa' was the last to make it into my basket, I wanted something really Christmassy, something which I couldn't just get away with as a winter warmer. George actually picked this one out and it's kind of the cutest thing ever. It's a bubble bar cocoa butter and olibanum oil for moisturising and relaxing.
I try and limit it to picking up 4 at a time, so I can indulge in one a week! However for my birthday, I was lucky enough to receive 'Cinders' which smelt incredible. It's got cinnamon, almonds and popping candy in it which are Christmas in a nutshell. The only problem was the colour it turned my bath water kind of resembled pee, which wasn't particularly relaxing as you can image!
I'd really like to pick up a couple more 'So White' before they finish for the season because I loved that one, so relaxing. But 'Golden Wonder' bath bomb and 'Snow Melt' look really fun and festive too. Do you have any Lush products on your Christmas list? Or wishlist in general?
Love always,


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Let me tell you a little story about the path that led to my starting up an Old School D&D Campaign. While having far too much time on my hands courtesy of the United States Government, I stumbled onto the indie RPG scene online. Amongst other things, I discovered Vincent Baker's games and blog, and started reading and being inspired by both. One post that didn't particularly register at the time, but has since stuck with me was I <3 the OSR, and especially comment number 8. by Vincent (from whence comes this post's title). Well, about a year later, I don't even remember how or why, but I stumbled onto Grognardia and started reading all of the posts of the Dwimmermount Campaign. This is what really fired me up to actually get a D&D game together over Google+ and led to Fellhold (as I've discussed in pretty much all of the posts this last month). Now the game is underway, and yesterday I read a few posts by game designer Luke Crane (of Burning Wheel fame) regarding his experiences running Moldvay (Red Box) D&D while hewing strictly to the rules: Moldvay D&D Retrospective, A Tale of Two Maps, Let's Talk about Luke's D&D Explorations. It was reading these posts that made an idea that's been floating around in my head as I've prepped Fellhold really click.
If you didn't check out the link to Mr. Baker's blog, he basically said that there is no book, no blog post, no single text that you can point to and say "if you read this, you'll 'get' the OSR". You have to put in the work. That work is following blogs, participating in discussions, wading through different retroclones in different versions, and most importantly *playing the games*. Sure, things like the Quick Primer for Old School Gaming provide an excellent introduction, but in the end, to grok it in fullness, you have to immerse yourself in it. Just like any subculture/philosophy, really.
Of course, all people everywhere want shortcuts to mastering things, that's human nature. But what has been valuable to me in exploring the Old School Renaissance has been that it is a wonderful antidote to the ubiquity of instant gratification. By way of example, after tearing through all of the Dwimmermount posts on Grognardia, I decided I was going to treat the archives like a "campaign" and read all of them. In many of the Dwimmermount posts, Mr. Maliszewski talks about the value of a long term campaign rather than jumping from interesting game to interesting game every few weeks. In particular he points out that part of a campaign is that some sessions are ho-hum but carry things along, and some drag a little bit, but these are necessary for the sessions that really pop to do so. You build up investment and commitment, and that's what makes the great stuff extra great.
Sure enough, reading through the rest of the Grognardia archives (and this took me a solid month or two of spending most of my reading time reading blog posts), there were a lot of posts that I wasn't particularly interested in (like an extended review of Gamma World) but I read them. I read every single post, even when I got into it and was like "I don't really care about this post". In the end, this had two chief benefits: for one, I discovered things I would have skipped otherwise. I thought I was well versed enough in Pulp Fantasy and wasn't looking for reviews on fiction, but I discovered numerous new authors and stories (more than I've had a chance to check out yet). Secondly, when I did finally slog my way onto the front page, I had a sense of accomplishment. Sure, that's a silly feeling to have for reading through the archives of a blog about a hobby I enjoy, but I feel like I am a moderate expert on this one small thing.
So, to bring this back to play, where it matters, Mr. Crane and Mr. Maliszewski both point out that what makes the rules of pre-AD&D D&D so great is that when you put in the time, a lot of the stuff that seems extraneous or stupid begins to make sense. When I was a kid learning D&D (AD&D 2nd Edition in my case), stuff like exact time keeping and movement rates and encumbrance seemed oh so horribly unnecessary. Ridiculous, even. Reading those posts about Mr. Crane's Moldvay games showed me exactly why they make for a good game. And I know this now, but I don't really get it in my gut yet, because my players haven't been at it that long. But even the prep I've done on my own has taught me a lot and been immensely satisfying. Watching the players figure out the puzzle door to get into Dwimmermount and not resorting to an intelligence check or the like, just having faith that they'd figure something out was crazy satisfying.
So, if you're interested in this OSR thing, but you don't know much about it, I say dive in. Hell, if you're interested in any large and diverse area of interest, dive in and do the work. It's worth it.