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Well, we're almost at the finishing line ... Mixtikl is now in Beta, and we can't be more than a week from the full release. Thank goodness!
Mixtikl is easily the most complicated piece of software I have ever created! The last time I checked, there was more than half-a-million lines of code in there ... and then there are all Tim's skins and the Tiklpaks and the documentation we've had to create... this has certainly been a labour of love!
Keep an eye on the Mixtikl site for the draft user guide and lots more information! The user guide is ever expanding, and hopefully makes for an interesting read...
I'm looking forward to porting to Symbian Series 60 during my Christmas holidays (yeah, I really know how to enjoy myself!). I've already completed most of the iPhone port, in case we ever decide to release on that platform...
Thursday, 4 December 2008
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quote: Originally posted by rifestitchI think you will have to call ahead and ask your airline and/or airport security. I have heard that you can take a couple with you, and others ahve said, no, you can't. I think it depends on the day and the current threat level.
quote: Originally posted by maryjanemanolosHey everyone! I was wondering if anyone knows tha policies about traveling on aircraft with a gajillion needles like we use to park, etc. Will it set off the alarm and bring the FBI down on my head (j/k...sort of...)
Adelaide IIMay Morris

subset: commoncrawl


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Cortlandt Waterfront Park
- Cortlandt Waterfront Park
Cortlandt Waterfront Park is located at the end of Broadway on Riverview Avenue in Verplanck. The restoration and construction of this waterfront recreational facility began in the early part of 1990, when public access of the Steamboat Dock and Hudson River was threatened. A small group of local citizens formed the Verplanck Waterfront Preservation Committee (VWPC) and worked closely with the Town of Cortlandt and Scenic Hudson to preserve and protect Steamboat Dock.
Over the last 27 years the Town of Cortlandt has invested millions of dollars in grants from New York State and from the Town budget to expand this park from the approximately 1.0 acre Steamboat Dock to almost 30 acres close to the intersection of Kings Ferry Road and Riverview Avenue. Verplanck is the only area between New York City and Albany where railroad tracks do not encumber pedestrian access.
As of 2017 the park offers:
- A riverfront pedestrian trail connecting to sidewalks on Broadway/Riverview Av.
- A public boat launch
- Fishing pier, for both fishing and crabbing,
- Overlook that including a yardarm, inlaid fish design and benches
- Veterans Memorial
- Aviation themed playground named in honor of Jim Martin
- Horseshoe pits
- A great lawn where outdoor movie nights and live music events are held
- A dance floor
- Crewing (rowing) through the Cortlandt Community Rowing Association
- A place where people can touch the River
- Birding Opportunities – Eagles, Red Tailed Hawks, Blue Heron etc.
- Parking
As the Town continues its forward planning for this park we are expecting to add the following soon:
- Outdoor Amphitheatre
- Waterfront Restaurant
- Environmental Education Center
- More nature trails and pedestrian connections.


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Monday, May 31, 2010
Help me change my domain name
Send me any ideas you might have on what I can put after redcat. Maybe it's as simple as redcatlife.com? Or is that too vague? It should represent me as completely as possible without actually using my name. Here are a few things to consider. I am an anthropologist. I am an avid traveler. I am trying to work as a freelance writer (yes, I am finally pursuing this while I have the time over the summer). I like to write about a wide range of things but I am realizing that apart from travel writing, I particularly enjoy writing about food, nature (including animals of course), science, education, people I encounter, and all the intersections that may occur. I also continue to be a musician now and then. Perhaps most importantly, I have a sense of humor.
Maybe you know me better than I know myself. Throw me some ideas. Let's see what happens.
6 comments:
- CateTV said...
Hello Pam!
Hope you're having an awesome day....Have no clue how I came upon your post early this morning but here I am.....
I've come up with a few names for folks/clients over time after listening to them for awhile....Here's my quick suggestion for you.....
If I think of any others....I'll let you know :)
Best of luck....
Cate Colgan
- June 1, 2010 at 10:13 AM
- Pammer said...
Thanks Cate. I like it!
- June 1, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Hi Pam,
Hope you are enjoying a beautiful summer day. Weather here is fabulous!
Best wishes~
- June 1, 2010 at 2:28 PM
- Kim said...
To be totally on the nose:
or how about slightly introspective, RedCatRamblins
or esoteric, RedCatEvolves
or RedCatRoaminChat?, RedCatRockinOut?
I could go on and on for days.
- June 1, 2010 at 2:50 PM
- Pammer said...
Kim, you crack me up. Thanks. These are awesome.
- June 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM
- Matera the Mad said...
- June 6, 2010 at 1:10 PM


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Recently I had the pleasure of hanging out with the guys from Aerosmith. Turns out they are big street art fans and really into art as a whole. Joe Perry wanted to go bombing so we went out one night and hit some Aerosmith pieces. He was so into it we went about five nights in a row. They invited me to a private show at the Whiskey with Slash playing with them. It was awesome! I painted a canvas for Joe which he used as a backdrop for their press conference. The overall experience was one of my funnest graffiti experiences ever. The band also made a some clothes designed around the pieces. Below are a few shots of the week. Some of the good ones were not allowed for legal reasons…..turns out the TMZ segment captured the attention of some over zealous officials….GOODTIMES!!!!!!
Canvas I did that was used at the press conference. We tried to open up the show with me finishing painting on stage but the fire marshal shut us down…..
First piece that got Joe hooked first night…..
Next piece Joe said lets go big!….
few more of many, can't show some…..


text:
Sunday, June 15, 2008
3 comments:
- jennschultz said...
Looks like you guys had a great time! I kids are beautiful, as usual. Glad you got some relaxing time in too!LOL!
- June 16, 2008 at 6:42 AM
- Kristin said...
I didn't know that you were going to Silver Creek? Did you love it? It spoils you into NEVER wanting to go anywhere else!!!
It looks like you had a nice time...hope you did!!
Thanks again for taking the kids overnight. I really appreciate it!!
- June 16, 2008 at 5:20 PM
- Jodi said...
I've been wondering about your weekend...did you LOVE Silver Creek? Do you wonder how you ever survived "regular" camping?? City campin' is where it's at!!!
- June 17, 2008 at 9:51 AM
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Shop till you drop in China
December 17 2007 by Ellen Roseman
Maybe we're not typical tourists, but my husband and I wanted to go to China to see the the historical sights. Shopping was not our main motivation, though we do like bargains.
Our tour guides kept dropping us off at government-owned stores and giving us unlimited time to buy. They made commissions on our purchases (as they admitted when asked), so they were in no hurry to leave.
On the same day we climbed the Great Wall of China, feeling very tired, our bus stopped at three handicraft stores. We were treated to demonstrations of how they made jade, silk carpets and cloisonne (enamel with wires separating the colours). After that ordeal, we were all complaining, even the avid shoppers.
So, I was happy to read this news item, which ran in the Toronto Star on Dec. 7.
Shop-till-you-drop tour ends with police batons
MACAU– Riot police were called in to calm down 120 Chinese tourists on a windswept beach, who'd had enough of an itinerary they said was too packed with shopping.
About two dozen police with batons and riot shields faced off with the tourists from China's Hubei province for nearly five hours Tuesday night in Macau, home of the only legal casinos available to gambling-mad Chinese.
The tourists – among the 22 million annual visitors to the former Portuguese-run enclave – protested that their tour guides had taken them to too many shops and pressured them into buying things.
Besides the air, this is something else to clean up before the 2008 Summer Olympics.


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Shaawano niindigo. Makwa nindoodem. Gaawaabiganikaag indoonjibaa, idash Cayuga ishkoniganing indaa. Miigwech mawidishiyeg!
The menu at left has links to my academic activities, artistic work, political commentary, and Ojibwemowin resources.
My book, music, and film reviews are written from the perspective of an Indigenous scholar, and may include commentary on how I use the materials for teaching.
Ninga-kagwejitoon ji ojibwemoyaanomaa. Niin sa bangi eta go ninita-ojibwem.
I will try using Ojibwe here. I only know how to speak Ojibwe a little bit. My teachers have been Delores Wakefield, Collins OakGrove, Tony Treuer, Pebaamibines Dennis Jones, Gwayakogaabow Rick Gresczyk, Naawigiizis Jim Clark, Tobasonakwut Peter Kelly, Naabekwaa Adrian Liberty, David Bissonette, Waawaakeyaash Keller Paap, Nancy Jones, Larry "Amik" Smallwood, and Ojibwemowin Zagaswe'iding in Minneapolis.
On "Indian" Stereotype
While talking about stereotype has become rather boring, stereotypes themselves have not gone out of fashion, nor have they lost much of their ability to stand in for real people and real issues. Stereotypes fill films and literature, and allow their audience to quickly follow plots and conflicts without much explanation of character motivation or social context. They also fill academic work and journalism for the same reason. Whether through cultural appropriation, or misrepresentation in literature or journalism, the results are the same: stereotypes help us all consume ideas, and often that includes consuming the labor, lives, and lands of Indigenous peoples.
I received my PhD in Anthropology in 2012 from the University of Iowa. I did my undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota. I have taught at Bowdoin College in Maine, the University of Victoria in British Columbia, The Evergreen State College in Washington, the University of Washington, and Cornell University in New York.
Please note, nothing on this site should be construed as representative of any of my current or past institutional affiliations.
My research areas are: Indigenous language revitalization, language and identity, American cultural studies, language ideologies, American Indian sovereignty, critical theory, Native American studies, and coloniality.
I am also known for applying Indigenous critical theory to zombie films and literature.


text: 'Luxury labels' and 'ethical fashion' are two phrases that don't often find harmony in the same sentence , so when we caught wind of Hermès taking a stab at sustainability we had to applaud their efforts. The fashion powerhouse recently launched a new collection dubbed "Petit h", a series of "unidentified poetic objects" formed from defective inventory and factory-floor leftovers. With inspired ideas and adept hands, the company's artisans are creating everything from jewelry hangers from teapot spouts, dumbbells from crystal wear, and intricate necklaces from their leather scraps.


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by Diane Norek Harrison
SOUTH AMBOY-This is from 1921 material: For many years the town of South Amboy comprised of two school districts, each containing one school building, in the township of Sayreville, viz., Park School and Raritan School. One of the original buildings (in 1921) is still in use, however, very much enlarged and modified.
In 1880 the town of South Amboy became a borough and in 1908 the borough was incorporated into the city of South Amboy, and recently School No. 1 (in 1921) has been remodeled into a fine high school building, with all the modern facilities and containing a junior and senior high school department. At this date the teaching force included thirty or more teachers, exclusive of the vocational evening school teachers. The school enrollment has reached about nine hundred. This is exclusive of pupils attending large Parochial schools.
The names of those who were in school supervisory positions in this municipality were: James Corkey, Miss Kate McCoy, Miss Mary Thomas, R.M. Fitch, and City Superintendent O.O. Barr, who had been in charge of the city schools for the past six years (in 1921.)
If you have your own memories of the past in Middlesex or Union counties, email me at firstname.lastname@example.com or send copies of your past material to me c/o CMD Media, 1139 East Jersey St., Suite 503, Elizabeth NJ, 07201
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How do we find the perfect balance, harmony and simplicity in our complex life?"We have done every possible thing we could do in our capacity, utilized all sources of intelligence to find help. The only answer we find is that we have to go BACK. We have to go back to the basics. We have to go back to our Roots. We have to go back to ourselves. I believe that this is the only way to find the real solution. It has nothing to do with West or East. It has to do with human beings. No matter who we are, where we are from and what we do, we have to choose a path back Home. We have to choose the path back to ourselves. Nothing has the greatest power to heal, but self!"
I am Indu Arora, student for lifetime. I would like to share with you the Yogic and Ayurvedic wisdom which brings simplicity to our complex lives. I am here to share with you that the answer to every query and conflict lies within us. Living in harmony with our inner nature and the Nature as such is the key to health. Health is not an objective but a holistic approach where body and mind are integrated with the inner Self. I have been sharing simple, effective, practical, grounded ways of living life through Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Meditation and Ayurveda since 1999 and I am going to do that for the rest of my life.
I teach at a global platform as I feel that the world is my playground, there are no boundaries for me, the only limitation is our mind and our belief system. I challenge it every day, every moment. I live free from any possible boxes. I believe that love and truth are the two most ancient travelers in the universe, one may experience them by going inside, and these lessons are not found in books. Vasudha-eva Kutumbakam!
Yoga is not a study of Sutras; it is the study of Self. No matter how many books you have read or how many trainings you have done, finally anything makes real sense when teachings become experience. I am here to share that there are no shortcuts. Go within. Nothing has the greatest power to heal but Self!


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The story of the Montclair and Greenwood Lake Railroad began when the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad was completed to Bloomfield in December 1855 and to West Bloomfield (this is the southern portion of present day Montclair) in 1856. Commuters living in what would eventually become the northern section of Montclair and the town of Upper Montclair, eyed the line and suggested that it be extended to them. But the Newark and Bloomfield was in no position to offer anyone expanded service. Its entire passenger business, consisting of one coach and one locomotive, earned the handsome sum of $300 in the first six months of operation.
At the same time, the partners of Cooper & Hewitt were experiencing their own transportation problems. They had purchased the ironworks and mines in Ringwood but did not have a satisfactory route to bring iron out of the Ramapo Mountains. They planned a railroad from Ringwood to Pompton (this is present day Pompton Lakes) where ore or pig iron could be transferred to canal boats.
Although this railroad was not built, the Morris Canal's Pompton Feeder Canal was upgraded. After a long wagon trip south from Ringwood, ore and pig iron were transferred to canal boats for transport to Cooper-Hewitt's Trenton Ironworks.
Still without a railroad in 1868, West Bloomfield broke away from Bloomfield, incorporated itself as the town of Montclair, and started its own railroad. The Montclair Railroad reached south and eastward to a connection with the Erie and shared trackage to Jersey City. Despite their close proximity in the town of Montclair, the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad and the Montclair Railroad were not physically connected until more than a century later when both lines were united under the ownership of New Jersey Transit.
Construction contracts were signed with the New York, Oswego and Midland Railroad. As part of the agreement they also leased the Montclair Railroad so that they would operate the completed line.
It soon was obvious that the Montclair Railroad was not a strictly a local line constructed to give the town of Montclair its own railroad. It was part of a grand scheme to have a line from Jersey City, through Montclair, to the eastern shore of Greenwood Lake, from thence into the heart of New York State and finally to the lake port of Oswego, New York.
It was good plan on paper with only two problems. First, while the lake could easily be reached from the south via the Wanaque River, a prohibitively expensive tunnel would be required to reach it from the north.
Second, funding was insufficient to build the Montclair Railroad.
Fortunately, acquiring Cornelius Wortendyke's New Jersey Western Railroad would solve both problems. The New York, Oswego and Midland Railroad bought it, renamed it the New Jersey Midland Railroad, and used it to reach Oswego. The final route ran into western New Jersey and avoided the need for both the tunnel and the Montclair Railroad.
Although still owned by New York Oswego and Midland, the Montclair Railroad was now no longer part of its grand schemes and so was built directly northwards in the Wanaque River valley to the rich iron mines of Ringwood and the popular excursion destination of Greenwood Lake.
The Panic of 1873 sent the railroad into bankruptcy. What was the Montclair Railroad went in an 1875 Sheriff's sale to Abram S. Hewitt and Marcus L. Ward. The line was renamed the Montclair and Greenwood Lake Railroad. Until 1878 it would be in receivership, undergo an humiliating series of reorganizations, have its steamboats on Greenwood Lake seized by the Orange County Sheriff, close a branch line, endure accusations of missing funds, and finally emerge firmly in the control of Hewitt.
The Hewitt era lasted from 1878 to 1898. During the summer of 1878 the railroad was undergoing another of its periodic reorganization. Hewitt arranged that a number of bondholders would sell their securities to the Erie. This guaranteed that the Erie would control the Montclair and Greenwood Lake whatever the outcome of the reorganization.
While Hewitt was in control of the railroad, in 1882 the first steps to an eventual merger were made. The Montclair and Greenwood Lake began using Erie's engine facilities as well as its Hudson River terminal although the line did not officially became part of the Erie until Hewitt sold it in 1898. Hewitt had bought the railroad to keep iron ore flowing south from the Ringwood Mines. By the mid-1890's the nearby iron furnaces had ceased operations and unrefined ore for the more distant furnaces could not be transported with reasonable freight rates.
Shortly after the sale however, rising iron prices soon allowed the mines to reopen and they were not closed again until 1931. Over the next thirty years, several unsuccessful attempts were made restart iron mining in Ringwood until the mines were closed permanently in 1961.
The railroad had two suburban branch lines, one to the Oranges and Llewellyn Park, the other to Cedar Grove and Essex Fells.
The Caldwell Branch was built between 1890 and 1892. The New York Suburban Land Company teamed up with the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell to charter and finance the Caldwell Railroad. The railroad's purpose was to promote development in Caldwell and Essex Fells. It was taken over by the Montclair and Greenwood Lake in 1893, and in turn the NY&GL was taken over by the Erie in 1898. In 1904 the Morristown and Erie established a connection at Essex Fells. Trains could run all the way from Morristown to Jersey City. There was also once a branch (actually more of a long siding) off the Caldwell Branch to the site of the dam for construction of the Cedar Grove Reservoir, long since removed, but still visible. Connecting passenger service to the Morristown and Erie RR in Essex Fells stopped in 1928, and commuter traffic stopped in 1966, but freight service lasted until 1976 with the establishment of Conrail.
The Orange Branch ran from West Orange station (Llewellyn) to the Forrest Hill station on the "main line" of the NY&GL. Constructed in1868, it saw it's last commuter train in 1955. The Orange Branch was home to some very large and well-known industries. Some of the more notable ones were General Electric, Westinghouse, General Motors, Canada Dry, Tiffany & Co., and Thomas A. Edison. Today, the remaining trackage is operated by New Jersey Transit as an extension of the Newark Subway, and sees occasional local switching to the Hartz plant by Norfolk Southern.
After being sold to the Erie, the railroad became the railroad's Greenwood Lake Branch, and at least on the northern end, its story is one of gradually shrinking trackage and reduced service. Greenwood Lake became accessible by car, and the last train to the lake ran in 1935. After the 1920's, the iron mines went through cycles of abandonment and rebuilding. This reduced the importance of the Ringwood Branch and the construction of the Wanaque Reservoir insured no other industries would arise to take the place of the iron mines.
There was however for many years a reliable and busy commuter traffic between Jersey City, the branch lines, Montclair, and Midvale. The runs north of Mountain View were losing money in the early to mid 1950πs and permission to abandon this service was sought.
Years later with the creation of the Erie Lackawanna in 1960, the Greenwood Lake Branch became the eastern part of the Boonton Line at the crossing of the old Lackawanna line in Mountain View, when through service on the Boonton Line was abandoned through Paterson.
With a yard to handle the commuter traffic, Wanaque/Midvale became the northern terminus until 1966, when service was terminated by the Erie Lackawanna. In 1982, Conrail operated the last freight trains north of Mountain View.
Today the Susquehanna operates some trackage near Riverdale and there are hopes that the Mountain View-Riverdale section will be reopened by New Jersey Transit. New Jersey Transit has completed a connection in 2003 between the ex-Lackawanna Montclair Branch and the NY&GL in Montclair, so that electrified trains can run from Great Notch all the way to Penn Station, New York. East of Montclair however, the commuter line has been closed and all Hoboken bound trains travel via Newark.
1868 to 1875 THE MONTCLAIR RAILROAD
1868 - Montclair founded. Fund raising for railroad begins.
1869 - "Midland Sharpers" deprive Caldwell of its own railroad
1868 - 1869 Work begins on Caldwell tunnel.
September 1870 - Railroad mortgaged to Abram S. Hewitt and Marcus L.
January 1872 - First passenger train from Midvale to Mountain View.
January 1872 - Work begins on the Hudson Connecting Railroad
November 1872 - Service established between Jersey City, Montclair, and
March 1873 - Watching station opened, this was one of the oldest on the railroad.
July 1873 - Through service established between Oswego and New York City via the New Jersey Midland, not the Montclair.
July 1874 - Disruption of service on the Hudson Connecting.
1875 to 1878 THE MONTCLAIR & GREENWOOD LAKE RAILROAD
September 1875 - In the first of two foreclosure sales, Hewitt and Ward buy the railroad of $200,000. Cyrus Field assumes presidency.
July 1876 - Track completed all the way to Greenwood Lake. Watchung Railroad (later the Orange Branch opens)
August 1877 - Service temporarily halted on Orange Branch. Collusion with the Lackawanna suspected.
Fall 1877 - Garrett Hobart appointed receiver.
1878 to 1898 THE NEW YORK & GREENWOOD LAKE RAILROAD
Fall 1878 - Hewitt was instrumental in arranging that in the railroad's second bankruptcy sale, the Erie would acquire a controlling interest.
1879 - Capital improvements started. These would eventually include re-laying track with steel rails, replacing thousands of ties, and rebuilding bridges.
1883- High point of vacation traffic, especially to Greenwood Lake, 51% of revenues come from passenger traffic
1885 - First time the railroad earns a profit.
1889 - George Inness's painting, Short Cut to Watchung Station earns a medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
1890 - 1892 Caldwell Branch constructed.
May 1897 - Double track completed to Little Falls.
1898 - Hewitt sells remaining interest in the railroad to the Erie.
1998 to 1976 THE GREENWOOD LAKE BRANCH
1904 - Caldwell Branch reaches the Morristown & Erie at Essex Fells
1912 - Dinkie Line narrow gauge tramway to the Ringwood mines closed.
Standard gauge tracks to the mines are laid.
1914 - All stations on the line photographed. These pictures eventually reprinted the book, The Next Station Will Be...
1928 - Joint passenger service with the Morristown & Erie discontinued.
1931 - Peters Mine closed, end of ore traffic.
April 1935 - ICC authorizes abandonment of track north of Erskine.
1955 - Passenger service discontinued on the Orange Branch.
October 1956 - Rush hour commuter trains begin using the Lackawanna's Jersey City terminal.
1966 - Midvale passenger yard closed. All commuter traffic is now confined to the south of Mountain View. Passenger traffic on the Caldwell branches discontinued.
March 1957 - Commuter trains consolidated at Lackawanna's Hoboken terminal.
1982 - End of freight traffic north of Mountain View.
1976 to Present NEW JERSEY TRANSIT AND THE MONTCLAIR CONNECTION.
1989 - Feasibility studies initiated for linking the Boonton Line and
Montclair Branch.
September 2002 - Electrified service from Great Notch to Manhattan opened.
October 2002 - Swing bridge over the Hackensack abandoned in the open
2002 to 2004 - East Coast Greenway Coalition proposes using the roadbed between Secaucus and Kearny as a hiking trail. Another trail proposed to run parallel to the tracks between Mountain View and Riverdale.
For information about the Erie Railroad's ownership of the line, maps, timetables and photographs:
For information about the stations:
For information about Wanaque and the railroad:
For questions or further assistance with the railroad please write to:
email@example.com, or
Kevin Olsen
1 Shady Terrace
Wayne, NJ, 07470


text:
Friday, August 19, 2011
The African Experience:
This intercultural exercise took place each afternoon until Chirongo returned home at dusk...walking 2 kilometers along a red dirt road back to his humble homestead. I knew I would see Chirongo again each morning. After all, we were now friends.
Our group - consisting of 13 selfless volunteers - arrived to the rural village of Egu on August 7th, nestled just a few short hours outside of Mombasa in the peaceful African bush of Kenya. Once again, I had joined another service expedition with CHOICE Humanitarian. Our intention was not to "save" the village of Egu...or "rescue" the villagers living therein. Instead, we traveled across the Atlantic to support the villagers in their own progress toward self-sustainable development.
The residents of Egu had determined that an 8-room dispensary (or rural health clinic) was their next greatest need (second to potable water). As a result, we were asked to work with them hand-in-hand throughout the week, all while broadening our global perspectives in the process. In a brief period of just one week, we worked together to clear the land, measure and stake the perimeters, and dig the entire foundation 2.5 feet deep...all without the help of industrial equipment or heavy machinery. Yes, this is what we refer to as authentic manual labor!
Our daily routine was simple. We awoke to a breakfast of passion fruit and mango...and we dined in the evenings with plates full of chapattis and pilau. We worked hard in the mornings...but we slowed down in the afternoons...eventually finding ourselves on the sidelines watching the native men and women chop through dirt without breaking a sweat. The day was not complete without at least one visit to the pit latrine - an experience one must live to understand. Of course, a late night shower was always rewarding for those that dared to bathe naked behind a curtain of dried corn stalks and beneath a pitcher of warm water...all while underneath the gleaming stars of the African sky. Then, it was off to bed on the cement floor of the schoolhouse for some intermittent sleep thanks to the squealing bats overhead. Ahhh...the mornings couldn't come soon enough with its fresh passion fruit and mango.
Although important, the project itself simply served as a catalyst for the deeper intercultural exchange which took place during the week. For some, the most significant experiences occurred away from the project site...during a soccer game, an English lesson, or a cultural celebration of song and dance.
Such was the case for me as I ventured one afternoon outside of camp with the loyal companionship of Chirongo, a local 12-year old boy void of anguish for his surroundings, and instead, full of happiness and curiosity for life. Here is a description of our tour at dusk...off the beaten path in the rural outskirts of Egu:
The sun began to set in the distance, amidst a motionless horizon of native sisel plants and acacia trees. Chirongo and his friends were more than excited to lead me in the direction of the descending sun, along winding trails that curled past towering termite hills and desiccated crops, both of which populated the arid landscape. We encountered multiple homesteads where giggling children and smiling parents gathered outside their modest huts just before we passed...eager to greet us with a warm wave and welcoming "Jambo!"
We arrived to the village watering hole and watched as various women gathered water for their families...often walking great distances of 10 kilometers or more. Adorned in native fabrics of brilliant color, these women approached the subtle ledge, climbed down the rock's surface, and stretched their arms into the water to fill their weathered buckets. In a matter of minutes, the women were back on the trail again...returning home with full buckets of vital water now balanced upon their heads. It is not uncommon for one woman to perform this time-consuming task 3 to 4 times each day.
As a humble observer, I could not help but respect and appreciate the work ethic of these village women and mothers...all of whom performed their maternal duties with a smile. A fellow volunteer and I turned around, still a bit contemplative, just in time to witness the sun disappear behind the massive boulders in the foreground. This brief trek was well worth our time.
After taking a few quick snapshots, I turned around in the other direction to see little Chirongo waiting for me back on the trail. There were no other villagers in sight. He alone was going to lead us back to camp. I couldn't help but smile as I descended the rocks and returned to his side. I held his hand, as he requested, and began walking back...spotting an occasional howler monkey along the way.
Chirongo was still barefoot and unconcerned over the occasional cactus or potential snake. I decided to join him. I kicked off my sandals to feel the fine dust beneath my feet, tickling my instep and leaving a soft powder of red in between my toes. I took a couple more snapshots of our contrasting feet in the dirt. What an experience this had become.
I assumed Chirongo spoke just broken English since our interaction was largely limited to laughter and smiles. When attempting to ask him questions, I often got confused looks in return, accompanied with a perplexing comeback in Swahili. Yet, as the night concluded, Chirongo looked at me and said, "I hope you return one day...with your wife."
I'd love to, Chirongo. I'd love to.
I could go on and on, reflecting for hours over the infinite highlights of this expedition. On a cultural level, I was relieved to see such a high sense of tolerance and civility in the village. After all, both Christians and Muslims lived together in Egu...playing, studying, and working in harmony. Being the month of Ramadan, Muslim families returned home at dusk to break their fast over iftar meals. Yet, there was no division. There was no contention. There was no judgment from either side. It was simply...refreshing.
I soon left the village of Egu and returned to Mombasa for a final night along Nyali Beach. The next morning, as I sat in the white sands of the coastline and stared into the Indian Ocean, I pondered one simple truth that is reassured with each expedition: Those born into greater privilege are also endowed with greater responsibilities to improve the world and help those with greater needs...and that alone should be all that matters.
For a similar life-changing experience, please contact me at CHOICE Humanitarian (801-474-1937) or visit our website: www.choicehumanitarian.org.
5 comments:
- The Highland Hill's said...
you are greatly blessed for the love and service you provide so many!! keep up the great work!
- August 25, 2011 at 8:14 PM
- satomblablabla said...
welcome back, bwana! sounds like a life-changing experience... you and dave should chat some time:)
p.s. i love the soccer pic... my favorite!
- August 26, 2011 at 11:53 PM
- DotteeO said...
Oh my, your photos are both inspiring and breathtaking! I especially loved seeing the vibrant colors of nature in the textiles worn by the women.
- August 27, 2011 at 1:06 AM
- Lindsey said...
What FANTASTIC pictures!! Representative of a beautiful experience. You are so talented.
- August 31, 2011 at 8:32 AM
- Malte Zeeck said...
Hello there!
My name is Malte Zeeck, and I am with InterNations.org. I really enjoyed reading your fantastic blog! I think expats in Argentina and around the world could really gain some great insights [and have a few good laughs] on this page. The quality of the blog in general is very convincing, which is why I would love to feature you and your writing on the Recommended Blog on Argentina section on InterNations.org
Not only do we feature and link to your blog prominently; we also would like to hear from you directly in our questionnaire! We have also designed a link badge for your blog.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact me via email: email@example.com
Malte Zeeck
- April 3, 2012 at 2:01 AM


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Watch Amy Schumer and Lacy Marie Meyer train a group of men in tricky female emotional combat.
Amy Schumer's set is a blast! Watch The Collective (Theatre & Film Production company) kill it in all 4 seasons!!
INSIDE AMY SCHUMER -- Season 3 & 4 -- Recurring Role
The Collective is an NYC based Theatre & Film Production Company Amy Schumer Co-Founded. Lacy is a Permanent Ensemble Member of The Collective.
Beaufort International Film Festival, South Carolina
WilliFest International Film Festival, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Hoboken International Film Festival, Middletown, New York
Fly Film Festival, Oklahoma
BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE OF AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM, North East Film Festival
BEST ENSEMBLE, Bare Bones International Film Festival
"The movie stuck to my ribs and touched
my soul and broke my heart and will help
families everywhere scorched by the fire
breathing dragons of addiction... I want
to watch it again with my kids."
— Denis Hamill, New York Daily News
"A terrific film. Made with penetrating
attention. A tense, and trouble-filled
story of a young woman's runaway
addiction in rural America."
— Bob Glaudini, Screenwriter/Playwright
OUTSTANDING BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE of an ACTRESS
STORYLINE: When the worlds of addiction, denial, deceit and dementia all suddenly collide one night, the collateral damage from teenage drug use is laid bare. Once an honors student, Jackie Holman is newly addicted to prescription pills. Her father Joe is out of work and in denial about Jackie's addiction. Her mother Ellie, pregnant and working double shifts to keep the family afloat, is also burdened with Jackie's senile grandfather and unaware of her daughter's drug use. A fast moving chain of events unfolds as Jackie, desperate to get her next fix, lies in order to get the money she needs from her father. While she parties and waits for her payday, Joe and Ellie race to save her in a clash that brings out cop cars handcuffs and heartache while testing the family resolve. Grounded in the economic decline and teenage aimlessness that afflicts small town America, SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP is raw, emotional and uncomfortably real.
SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP: Drug addiction's collateral damage is starkly revealed when a former honor student, newly addicted to prescription pills, triggers a chain of events that devastates her friends and threatens to tear her family apart.
SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP is a seven-teen time award winning indie feature film Produced by Beth O'Neil/Malindi Fickle and Directed by Malindi Fickle. Such an honor to have worked this outstanding crew and amazing talent all around!
SECOND CHANCE, Award Winning Feature Film by 2x4 Productions, set in Brooklyn, NY.
SECOND CHANCE - A Feature Film Starring Greg Prosser and Lacy Marie Meyer - Directed by Carlos Cardona.
JOKERS POLTERGEIST is a thriller/horror feature film from JFA Productions, Produced by Kenneth Del Vecchio and Directed by Chris Lind.
Lacy co-starred with Eric Roberts and Martin Kove. This film will be released in the fall of 2016.
MIDORI - A Micro-Short Film by Jared Szafman featuring Lacy Marie Meyer and Swann Gruen.
A short film by Michael Marabella (RUBBER BANDS MEDIA) is inspired by a cassette tape diary from the 1970s that considers the different ways our memory can be interpreted.
A SHORT FILM Directed by: Daniel Bello, James Berry, Michael Marabella, Brenden Steere
I am deeply honored to be a PERMANENT ENSEMBLE MEMBER of THE COLLECTIVE as of January 2015.
The Collective unites professional artists who share a responsibility to create work in the contemporary American Theatre that is emotionally truthful, socially relevant, and defiantly accessible.
The company was established in the tradition of the Group Theatre out of a belief that the current conditions of commercialized theatre necessitate collective action.
Commitment to a permanent ensemble distinguishes The Collective. Through a shared vocabulary, uniform technique, and continual practice, the group pursues a common purpose: to establish a theatre that is uncompromising, relevant, and inclusive.
The Collective began in 2007, when several recent graduates of the William Esper Studio came together to continue to create and produce work that built on their recent training and the strengths and talents of their colleagues. The parting advice to many of the graduates was to 'create your own work' as a way of taking control over one's career. The Collective exists to provide a network and a place where these individuals can showcase their talents.
Eugène Ionesco's classic absurdist comedy "The Lesson" was The Collective's first stage production, and was presented at Center Stage, NY in the Fall of 2007. The response from audiences and colleagues was incredibly positive, and interest in The Collective increased ten-fold. The immediate question became: 'What are you doing next?'
Maura O'Brien of Off Off Online noted in her review of the production: "The Lesson is the Collective's first production... It's exciting to think about how the group will apply such fierce energy to other works."
The Collective continues to actively pursue and develop new work.


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Don't miss out, folks. The very awesome exhibit in the art gallery ends tomorrow, Sunday. Hours for Sunday are 1-5pm (and it's free as always). Check it out!
It has been said, "The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been buried by the answers." . . . In this exhibition, LIES, the students seem to have pulled out all of the stops. Norms give way to surprises, often baiting us with wit, mischeif and humor — expanding our horizons along with their own.
Click to view more images from the gallery!
"One third of the world's population lives in countries where there is no freedom of the press."
"Inspired by avian internal organs, Giblet Pillows both seduce with their luxurious velvet and playful graphic forms, and repel through their implication of the butcher's block or the user's own fleshy construction."
I think this was my favorite image. It feels like a play off of The Scream, but more haunting because of its ambiguity.
A fun "wave" machine was also on display:


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Two Hongkongers, a man and a woman, could be jailed in the mainland for the rest of their lives after customs officers at Shenzhen's Futian port found them trying to transport replica guns, Apple Daily reports.
Customs officers stopped the duo around 9 p.m. on April 1 after an X-ray machine revealed that the objects in the bags they were carrying looked suspicious.
Inspectors found four boxes of iPad Air tablet computers in each bag, which, when opened, contained eight replica guns.
The duo appeared shocked when the fake guns were revealed.
They said they had been given several hundred Hong Kong dollars as compensation for bringing the boxes to a certain client in the mainland.
The two were arrested, and the case was transferred to the anti-smuggling department.
Under Chinese law, those found trying to transport fake guns through the border could be charged with smuggling weapons and face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
Two years ago a mainland man was jailed for life after he was caught smuggling air guns from Taiwan.
– Contact us at [email protected]


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Dr. Shawn's Corner
Dr. Shawn's Corner
Former Pro wrestler, lifelong fitness enthusiast, motivational speaker, and now Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Shawn Stipich is a man driven to be the best he can at whatever endeavor he pursues. Dr. Shawn Stipich, formerly known as the television wrestling character "Shawn Stasiak" that performed for WWE and WCW, is perhaps best known in the pro wrestling world for his outstanding physical condition that is the result of years of dedication to clean healthy eating, chiropractic, and intense weight and cardio training.
Physical fitness, in fact, has been the focal point of Dr. Shawn's life long before he ever stepped into a pro wrestling ring. He began competing in amateur wrestling in high school and was a three-time Provincial champion and runner-up at the Canadian National Wrestling Championships. In college, he competed at the division 1 level for Boise State as was a two-time Pac 10 runner up and competed in the NCAA tournament. Dr. Shawn also attained his BA degree in communications while attending Boise State.
Dr. Shawn is one of a select few second generation wrestlers of a world champion in pro wrestling today. His father, Stan "The Man" Stasiak, was a dreaded villain in the world of wrestling throughout the 60's and 70's, knocking out opponents with his famous heart punch finisher. In 1973, Stan became the 5th WWWF world champion. Young Shawn often traveled to the matches with his burly father, hanging out in the locker rooms with the likes of Roddy Piper, Andre The Giant, and other stars of the era. It was here that the initial desire to become a pro wrestling star himself was born, a goal Shawn achieved in 1999 when he burst onto the national scene in the WWE as "Meat".
Recruited after he sent a video of himself as the self invented Halloween character "Phobia" (a take-off of a young Sting) to WWE after college, Shawn underwent a grueling one-year training program at the WWE's Stamford headquarters to prepare for his new career. Here he trained alongside the likes of internationally-acclaimed wrestlers Edge, Kurt Angle, and Christian Cage.
During the course of his WWE career, Shawn faced many of the biggest names in professional wrestling, including The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Rikishi, Billy Gunn, Road Dog and Kane. In WCW he was a two-time world tag team champion with Chuck Palumbo, managed by Stacey Keibler for a time, and battled such stars as Kevin Nash, Sting, Bill Goldberg, Ric Flair, and Curt Hennig.
In 2002, Shawn left the pro wrestling world to attend school once again to achieve another life long dream of becoming a chiropractor. And today, he is a Doctor of Chiropractic as part of the Advanced Comprehensive Medical team by serving the surrounding Plano/Allen/Frisco and Dallas communities.
Dr. Shawn has closed the chapter of his professional wrestling career, and he will always have a special place in his heart for the world of professional wrestling. Today, however, Dr. Shawn has even more of a passion to help as many people as he can in a positive light both physically and spiritually.
Entertaining thousands of fans in arenas and millions of viewers on TV is one thing to Dr. Shawn; but improving the quality of lives for as many people as he can means all so much more. He strongly believes that this is his true calling in his life.
Apart from the rigorous studying and dedication Dr. Shawn put towards becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic, as well as experiencing years of personal involvement and accomplishments at such high athletic levels in high school, college, and as a professional athlete/entertainer, Dr. Shawn has quickly developed a vast experience knowledge, experience and clinical application when dealing with various patient health and wellness issues.
Being such an advocate of the healthy and fitness lifestyle compelled him to earn his personal training certification from the Cooper institute in Dallas, Texas. This training, combined with years of personal experience as well as with his other credentials, have enabled Dr. Shawn to go a "step up and beyond" with his patients in order to maximize their quality of their lives.
Dr. Shawn focuses on implementing nutrition and fitness guidelines for his patients to follow in addition to chiropractic care treatment. With all the years of education, training, personal experience, and passion allows him to offer a full, all-around service in the best way possible when addressing the quality of life of his patients.
Dr. Shawn has also recently taken an interest when dealing with chronic pain patients. These are folks who have been suffering from long standing pain throughout the spine and various joints of the body including extremities that have had little or no success with standard conservative forms of medicine and practice.
He received his certification in Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) from the Academy of Physical and Manual Medicine in New York back in 2007. This allows Dr. Shawn to take part in a service that has had great results for many years and gives that particular patient hope and a fair chance to live a life free of pain and discomfort and to live a quality life of health and wellness.
Dr. Shawn recently starred in a documentary film about his life, "Shawn Stasiak Determined". The 2007 DVD release follows his life journey from growing up the son of a famous pro wrestler to becoming a pro wrestler himself and the transition to becoming a doctor of chiropractic, as well as showcases his intense work out training sessions in the gym that built his world class physique. The documentary's release became a springboard for Shawn's latest endeavor as a motivational speaker, where his messages focus on inspiring people of all ages to maximize their health and overall life potential through positive thinking, clean healthy eating, chiropractic, and exercise.
For more information on how to become a patient feel free to call or e-mail him either through any of the contact information posted at the top of the page or from the information below.


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A Playground For All
Indiana's first boundless playground opened in Fort Wayne recently, and everything from the play equipment to the ground itself has been designed to allow children both with disabilities and without to play together in an inclusive setting.
The playground, called "Taylor's Dream," began as an idea from a little girl named Taylor Reuille.
When 11-year-old Taylor realized that there were many kids with disabilities who couldn't play at playgrounds in her community, she and her mother, Casey Booher, researched and found that a
boundless playground could offer play opportunities for all children, including those with physical, sensory, developmental and cognitive disabilities.
"We've got to do this, Mom," Casey Booher recalls her daughter saying. "We have to."
After years of fund-raising and hard work, the playground is now a reality, and features an accessible surface called Playground Grass.
Playground Grass by ForeverLawn is an artificial grass surfacing system designed for beauty, safety and accessibility in playground environments. The system offers a soft, grass-like surface, combined with a padded sub-surface that provides an ASTM safety rating to fall heights of 12 feet.
The texture and appearance of the grass contributes to the tactile and visual sensory perception of the children, and the even, stable surface provided by Playground Grass is ADA accessible, allowing wheelchairs, braces and other assistive equipment to access the facility easily and safely.
When used to connect barrier-free play elements like those found at Taylor's Dream, Playground Grass contributes to a truly boundless play experience.
Fifty-year-old Sherry Woodman had the opportunity to play on a playground for the first time in her life at the grand opening of Taylor's Dream.
"I'm a disabled parent, and I couldn't come when they were little and play with them anywhere on a playground because I couldn't get through with the mulch. You know, mulch is really hard for wheelchair tires and stuff," Woodman said.
"And so not only are kids going to be able to come here and play that have disabilities, but parents with disabilities are going to be able to come here and feel like normal parents and be able to just enjoy their kids," she said. "I didn't leave here till I'd been on every part of the playground; I wanted to do it all."
The playground took four years to build. Taylor and her family personally raised $10,000 through community and school fund-raising, and the city of Fort Wayne provided $250,000 toward the playground fund.
But when Taylor discovered that the playground would cost over a million dollars to build, she "thought it would be virtually impossible," she said.
However, with the help of the community, the city and donations from other sources, they were able to raise the money. A large part of the funds to build the park came from a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Challenge, a competition that the park won thanks to a huge effort by Taylor's family and the community of Fort Wayne.
In addition to the accessible artificial turf surfacing, the park features playground equipment and areas designed to encourage children of all abilities to play together. There are three play areas, with a splash play zone in the middle, and each is designed with different ages and abilities in mind.
The park, which was certified by Boundless Playgrounds, a non-profit developer of inclusive playgrounds, offers several different ways to play on wheelchairs.
Some examples of this are a large rocking ship with places to sit and places for wheelchairs to park, and also an area with separate paths for kids in wheelchairs to race those on foot.
According to Sarah Nichter of Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation, her department couldn't be more pleased with the ForeverLawn surface.
"The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department is in the business of creating and maintaining playgrounds. We have some fabulous facilities, but the ForeverLawn set our Boundless Playground apart from all the others. Not only is it beautiful, setting off our brightly colored equipment, but it also gives children and adults with disabilities the chance to play with their peers. I believe this type of surfacing will become a standard for many playgrounds in the future," Nichter said.
Adrianne Lyon, director of children's services at Turnstone Center for Children and Adults With Disabilities, said allowing all kids to play together will provide a sense of inclusiveness for children with disabilities, and will get other children used to interacting with them.
"It sort of levels the playing ground for everybody," Lyon said. "We all get to play together."
Now that Taylor is 15, some have suggested that she may be too old to play on the playground that she dreamed up. Taylor responded, "It's never too late to be on a playground for the first time. I'll still be playing here at 90 years old."
For more information about Playground Grass, go to www.foreverlawn.com .


text: Raina had to move from London to India when her parents get divorced. Leaving the troubled memories of the childhood behind she tries to mingle with her new friends and as the time passes she pulls up her life together but is not able to forgive her parents for ruining her childhood dream. Learning to compromise she moves ahead as destiny unfolds her path and starts working post her high school, graduating along side and meets Viaan. She falls for him and he makes her happy and secure but their families are not in the opinion of them being together.Certain situations prove Raina that all men are the same as her own father when it comes to Fidelity.. Is it a misunderstanding or family pressure that makes them go different ways find out in this modern romance and see what happens when they come across each other after 3 years.. Explore the romance, emotions & drama when their paths cross again ..


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There is perhaps no better wardrobe investment for Winter 2008, than a super stylish pair of eco chic boots. Shoes and accessories should carry over from year-to-year, so it really pays to do your homework when selecting covet-able footwear that will keep you looking fab for more than just one season. We have picked out a few of this season's cutest vegan and ethical fashion finds so that you can easily 'boot up' in sustainable style while also keeping the wintry slush at bay.
Bourgeois Boheme's 'Love Goddess Collection' is one of the hottest new lines available on the ethical fashion scene. Alicia Lai, founder and Managing Director of Bourgeois Boheme was recently announced as one of the 'Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year' during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008. Her Venus Brown Riding Boot has been spotted on celebrities like outspoken vegan, Natalie Portman, and understandably so, as this patent, leather-free boot is sleek enough to wear around all day on a film set and then out on the town after hours. Totally classic in its riding boot cut, the Venus has a 1.5 inch heel which translates to no-fuss comfort and smart wearability.
We think that Bourgeois Boheme's Isis 3.5 inch ankle boot (pictured at top) is pretty sustainably sassy as well, and the 80's retro attitude is perfect for green urban chic dressing. Pair it with bamboo leggings or patterned knit tights, and you have super cute look for your latest vintage ensemble.
Terra Plana Lyn Boot (style: dark brown) – $365 Kaightshop
One of our favorite Lower East Side eco boutiques, Kaight Shop, is currently featuring Terra Plana's Lyn boot with a cozy shearling lining for maximum warmth. Gorgeously crafted out of vegetable tanned leathers with beautiful stitch details, the Lyn boot is fabulously durable while also walking-the-enviro-walk with its recycled rubber soles. Slip them on with a sexy pair of Del Forte Denim jeans or an upcycled mini-skirt, and you will be prepped for even the most treacherous winter outings.
Recycled Tyre and Hemp Boots – £85.00 Guardian Ecostore
In addition to boots with groovy recycled soles, there are these rather adorable Recycled Tyre and Hemp Boots from the Guardian Ecostore. Resourcefully made using old car tires typically headed for the landfill, they also feature super-durable hemp uppers with a row of three side buttons for fastening. Available with a 'green' or a 'cappuccino' trim, these fun boots also come in a 100% recycled cardboard box.
TOM's Shoes Wrap Boot – $118 (pictured here in red & black, also comes in rust, chocolate & olive)
Love them or hate them, you are bound to have an opinion on the much-talked about TOM's Shoes Wrap Boots for Autumn/Winter 2008. Some folks think that this is the sexiest design ever, while others would rather do their own 'customized bandaging', thank you very much. Totally vegan friendly with an elastic wrap extending from the ankle, Velcro closure, 100% cotton canvas upper, and EVA outsole with textured bottom. The real catch with Tom's shoes is their social responsibility mission of giving a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you purchase. Seems apropos for boots that totally wrap you up in the spirit of doing good.


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Asking the right questions is important when you call a new healthcare professional for information, you have the right to receive clear and complete answers. Before you make any decisions, ask questions and get the information you need.
Locate a health professional today that provides services including Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Chiropractic, Dentistry, Homeopathy, Massage Therapy, Nutrition, Osteopathy, and Physical Therapy.
[ARTICLE] Speedy Eating, Less Frequent Eating and Highr Body Mass Index
Filed Under: Nutrition | Published: Apr 2, 2012 | Author: Gurze Books
Speedy Eating, Less Frequent Eating,
|Version 1.0.2 (Morpheus-517) -- 30.November.2009


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Financial and Actuarial Mathematics
The FAM-library is assigned to the Research Unit Financial and Actuarial Mathematics (FAM, E105-1&5) and is one of the libraries of the Department of Statistics and Mathematical Methods in Economics (E105) and a branch of the Main Library of the TU Wien.
In 1998, when FAM was founded, the staff members ordered books for their research as well as for teaching. In the meantime, we are proud of having more than 2350 books and we try to keep our library up to date.
Not only students and researchers from TU Wien, but also from other universities come to us for borrowing books. Furthermore, actuaries and other people from the private sector quite often find literature for their work in the FAM-library.
Locating books
For locating books, we refer to
Within CatalogPlus FAM-library is the collection "FAM: Financial and actuarial mathematics" of the departmental library "E105 Institute of Statistics and Mathematical Methods in Economics". A list of books can be found here.
Borrowing books
If you want to borrow certain books from FAM-library, please write an e-mail or call us (see contact details below), so we can check the availability of the books. You can also just visit the library and search for books yourself.
Opening hours
We do not have fixed opening hours - the library is mainly open Monday to Friday from 13:30 to 17:30, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. To be on the safe side, we ask to contact us before you come to the library. We can also make appointments outside the given time above.
(top of page)
(print version)
© by Financial and Actuarial Mathematics, TU Vienna, 2002-2019
Last modification: 2017-01-05 Imprint / Impressum — Privacy policy of TU Wien / Datenschutzerklärung der TU Wien


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by Gege Sugue
Uhm, not quite. I do not have enough geek in me to thematically and visually interpret a topic that mentions big terms like particle accelerators, high energy regimes, quark-gluon plasma, cosmic microwave background radiation, the homogenous and isotropic filling of the universe with an incredibly high energy density and huge temperatures and pressures. Uhm, yeah, whatever.
And really, I dare not compare the evolution of our club to cosmic evolution. Even though B&T TMC and its members have evolved tremendously through the years. But still.
They're celebrated, not just in Korea, but also in Japan and Taiwan. They were also declared the Best Worldwide Act at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards. Their album also charted in USA's Billboard 200. Wow. Supernovae they're not. Their fame does not seem to be waning. Just last year, they were listed as second on Forbes Korea's Top 10 celebrities of 2014.
But then again, all this has nothing to do with B&T and tonight's meeting. Except we've just slightly expanded our knowledge of world music; we're artistic and well-rounded people, after all. All we really have in common with the band is that we were born in the early part of this century. B&T officially started as a Toastmasters club in 2005, and Big Bang
debuted in 2006.
What's left is the CBS sitcom hit featuring Sheldon, Penny, and a bunch of geeks whose academic brilliance far outweighs their social skills. On its 8th season, the show continues to entertain audiences, satisfy critics, and reap awards. Thanks to its endearing cast of characters, most of whom are bound by their love of science yet each one stands out as a unique personality, with a different background, contributing something special to the group.
It wouldn't be a stretch to say that our club enjoys a similar kind of diversity. Some of us are brilliant, some are weird, some are funny, and some are all of the above. Some characters in the show and in our club are endearing; some, annoying. Some have great people skills; some, socially awkward. Some are geeks; some want to be geeks. Different people with different talents and specialties, quirks and idiosyncrasies. And it is this mix that makes the club tick. Each member brings in something different—unique passions, different skill sets, alternate perspectives--allowing us to excel in different ways. And this diversity is also what makes it fun and interesting to be a Toastie.
But tonight is not about the show. The Big Bang partly refers to how we start 2015 with our first meeting celebrating our evolution, our 9-year progression. Tonight will be an extension of our Christmas party as we award some special people in the club.
It has been a big bang year for B&T. Midway through the term, we have already achieved 6 out of 10 points, elevating us to Distinguished Club Status. We've consistently maintained charter strength membership; currently we have 34 active members. Galactic!
Accelerated particles from B&T have also orbited outside the club to show off their luminosity—High energy toasties Dondi de Joya and Sheila dela Cruz shone bright in the area and division speech contests, newbies with cosmic talents Howie Cruz and Fran Jose blazed through the Rookie contest, Gege Sugue and District Trainer Jeeves de Veyra shared important matters in district training events, and Area 16 Governor Joko Magalong has achieved (Almost) President's Distinguished Area status. Stellar!
The Big Bang that scientists believe to have signaled the birth of the universe has not quite ended yet. The universe continues to evolve. The term is not yet over. Much work needs to be done. And our club will continue to move on to greater heights, from achievement to achievement.
But really, every B&T meeting is a big bang—a collision of fun and learning!


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I headed to London with Viv and the girls last weekend for my last girlie break before baby arrives. We had dinner at The Ivy, Viv and I met with Elite Model Agency to work on some exciting plans we have with them for our own model agency and we attended the annual Pia Michi Fashion Show at the Millenium Hotel in Mayfair.
I was hesitant to go initially but everyone made the trip so easy - from my fantastic friends always making sure I was comfy and not too tired to great airport staff, even being offered cushions in The Ivy. We all wore dresses from The Dress Bar in Cork so it was fun to represent the store in the UK with some of the most glam people at the Pia Michi show. I met Michelle Heaton who was telling me that she had just had her second baby and she looked phenomenal. I also met Nicola McLean who had so much practical and fun advice about birth and parenting, I loved hearing her stories about her two beautiful boys and her husband was every inch the proud Dad!
My usual 5am girlie nights out have changed to Cinderellaesque midnight events with pregnancy but I feel so grateful to be enjoying a great pregnancy that allows me to go to so many events, work alot and travel. Here are some images from our trip for my baby album xo
Green ball gown from The Dress Bar
All of us after the ball in our Dress Bar dresses
Off to dinner at The Ivy with Kate & Sabby from The Real Girls
My dress for dinner at The Ivy was from AX Paris
Sabby, Kate, Myra and Sandra looking beautiful dressed by The Dress Bar
Talking babies with Nicola McLean
Sabby with Lizzie Cundy
Sabby with Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten
Talking CBB with Casey Batchelor
Vivienne talking Pia Michi with Taz
All hair: Sabby from Kopper Hair / All Makeup: Kate Noonan


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Still in National Payroll Week, there is a lot happening in South Africa that affects Payroll Administrators. Cathie Webb and I talked about the issues around Retirement Reform.
Both the Payroll Author's Group (PAG) and South African Payroll Association (SAPA) have held information sessions on the topic, and Cathie has found that not everyone is aware that the 1st March 2015 heralds a change in the way in which our retirement funds are dealt with
- · by our employers while we are working,
- · by government (department of finance) once we retire.
These changes were announced in 2013.
While the impact may not be great on all employers, it is worth determining the impact, if any, on your staff.
If there is an impact, a process of change management should be undertaken.
So what are the changes? Simply put, they include:
- · Revised contribution incentives for retirement savings (up to 27½% of remuneration or taxable income – whichever is the greater, or up to a maximum of R350 000);
- · Valuation of defined benefits contributions (the employer contribution becomes a fringe benefit, according to a legislated formula, and which will be calculated by fund actuaries, for each component of the fund);
- · Alignment of Provident fund annuities, post retirement (i.e. from 1st March contributions to Provident funds are tax-deductible like Pension fund contributions, and post retirement the Provident payments become taxable);
- · Exemption of non-deductible retirement contributions;
- · Retirement fund benefit payouts (Provident fund members will be required to annuitise upon retirement for funds accumulated after 1st March 2015);
- · Retirement lump sum taxables (changes to the tax rates applicable to pre-retirement and on retirement lump sum withdrawals);
- · Personal insurance (life and disability premiums no longer tax deductible, and become tax free on pay out);
- · Cross-border retirement savings (laws regarding contributions to local and foreign funds still to be reviewed), and;
- · Tax preferred savings accounts (a paper was open for comment until end June. The idea is to promote savings, and to allow specified contributions, presumably with tax incentives).
What should we do now?
Cathie has recommended the following steps:
- Ensure that your Fund administrators are clear on the changes, and that they discuss these with your management, and Fund Committee;
- If on a Provident fund, calculate the difference in take home pay that your staff will enjoy from 1st March 2015
- Arrange for an information session for staff;
- Recommend that the additional take home pay be invested for retirement – after all, they are used to not having this amount monthly, and every cent invested early reaps the benefits of compound growth.
She has expressed concern that difficult economic times might encourage people to take the additional money instead of saving and has calculated for us what that monthly R100 could be if it was left in the fund for 10 or 20 years.
She has assumed a conservative interest rate of 5%, which adds up to nearly R16 000 over 10 years, and in 20 years takes it to over R40 000, with investment input of R12 000 and R24 000.
As with all financial decisions, it needs to be looked at in terms of other investments, and with the input of good advice.
As with all financial decisions, it needs to be looked at in terms of other investments, and with the input of good advice.
Cathie believes that it is worth investing the value for a time when our salary is no longer a renewable resource.
Once again, thanks to Cathie for her invaluable input.
National Payroll Week - 30th June to 4th July, 2014
Links, References and Notes
Payroll Qualification
Business Connexion:Accsys
email: email@example.com or email@example.com: @TerylSchroenn or
Business Connexion:Accsys
email: email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com
Thank you for reading Teryl@Work. Should you wish to use any of the material, please acknowledge this blog as the source


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I think a lot of times diabetes makes other stresses in my life that much more intense. Sometimes the everyday things like school and extra activities and obligations seem so much more overwhelming in my head because I carry around this weight of trying to keep my kid alive everyday. I don't know why it's taken me this long to realize this, but it has.
When I have something completely unrelated to diabetes occur, it kind of throws me off balance a bit. I guess because I get so in my groove of being my daughters pancreas...checking blood sugars, bolusing insulin, changing sites...that when something from the outside hops on board, it causes a little panic. It's like carrying around a pile of bricks..perched precariously upon my shoulders...and a feather floats down landing ever so gently on the pile...causing me to prance around from one foot to the next...teetering on the brink of failure...the pile of bricks wobbling and shifting. I feel like if I were to even exhale...the whole pile would just come crashing to the ground around me.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like I walk around in a constant state of panic. However, I do feel that weight...and when outside things occur...it sometimes seems to become a juggling act of sorts. I guess I need to work on removing my diabetes glasses more often...and try to see these outside everyday stresses for what they really are...the easy stuff...the "normal" stuff.
I need to realize that I can't do it all. I'm only one person. I'm not superwoman. I'm just a girl who happens to have a daughter with a bum pancreas. If my house is a mess and I don't get my kid to bed until 10pm on a school night one day, it's not the end of the world. If there is no money to buy myself a new pair of winter boots because the ones I currently have are useless and completely not waterproof, it's ok...I won't perish. If I am not sure how I'm going to make it through the day after having only a few hours sleep the night before, it's all good...I won't die...the world will not end. If I have to pull the car over and treat my own low blood sugar on the way to picking my kid up from school for lunch...causing me to be a little late...it's ok...she will be fine...I will be fine.
As long as my kid is fed and healthy and has decent blood sugars, that's all that matters. There is no such thing as perfection. I can only do the best that I can with the tools that I have.
You are not perfect, Amy. You will never achieve perfection as a pancreas....because you know what?....you're NOT a pancreas. Do your best. Sometimes your best will not be good enough...and that's ok. Sometimes your best will be enough...and that's ok too.
So, bring on the bricks...bring on the feathers...it's all a matter of perspective. It's all about how you carry them...and today, I'm going to try to carry them with style....epic style...like John Travolta strutting down the sidewalk on Saturday Night Fever kind of style.


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Hi all,
It's a lovely Spring day here in Perth and I am enjoying some alone time in my scrap room, none of this going out and enjoying the sunshine for me!
Earlier in the year I posted a layout on the Hip Kit Members Facebook page and received some lovely comments but the one that made me get all excited was left by Missy Whidden. I really enjoy her videos and admire her pages/talent thus loved having her comment on my work. So I took a screenshot so I could remember it and today I finally got around to scrapping it.
I copied some of the "Smitten" layout's composition in today's layout which I titled "Yay!". Plus I stencilled the hearts with Distress Inks and coloured the wood veneer with some Dazzlers from Shimmerz. Paper and embellishments are from Crate Paper's Hello Love range.
Well that's it for today, I'm just deciding more scrapping or housework? I think we all know which one will win!
take care,


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Who else is excited that mules are back in style?! Today I am partnering with Nordstrom to share share some super cute ones I just bought, plus I'm rounding up other cute mules you will love to wear now and into spring!
Shop the Post:
Mules are just the easiest shoe in the world, don't you think? And perfect for {mostly} mild winters like we have in Dallas. I've been eyeing mules all fall. And debated getting some flat ones or some with heels? What to do!
Being tall, I wear flats more, but these Sam Edelmans just caught my eye. I loved the fact that I can wear with with boot cut jeans (also something that made a comeback last year-yay!), skinny jeans, I have even have a post coming up where I pair them with a cute dress for a date night out!
These suede mules come in four colors but I just loved the black.
Nordstrom has so many cute mules right now. I went through their site and rounded up some of my favorites. The flat ones with tassels are really calling my name.
Did you browse my sporty slip-on sneaker post from Monday? I've got you all fixed up in the shoe department this week! Hope you found something you love. Let me know if you do!
And, as always, thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. It is such a treat and so much fun for me to put these posts together for y'all! As always, all outfits are styled by me and all opinions are my own.
Photos: Beckley & Co.
Shop the Post:
Black Mules // Sweater // Jeans // Bag (similar here)


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The first, most overarching trend for B2B mobile marketing in 2016 is that mobile's role in the workplace will continue to grow.
The History of Online Advertising [INFOGRAPHIC]
This infograph by PointRoll illustrates the history of online advertising.
Interest In Activities You Can Do Using Mobile Wallets, March 2015 [CHART]
Roughly 4 in 10 smartphone users say they currently use or would consider using their smartphone to find or redeem coupons.
Mobile Users' In-Store Activities, February 2015 [CHART]
40% of mobile phone users surveyed across 23 countries claim to regularly compare prices while in-store.
How People Plan To Use Smart Phones For Holiday Shopping, October 2014 [CHART]
Only 14% of US smartphone owners said they planned to make a purchase on such devices this holiday season.
Top 13 Ways Mobile Moms Shop For Over-The-Counter Medications, July 2014 [CHART]
Nearly two-thirds of mobile moms have researched over-the-counter medications online via smartphone.
Online Grocery Shopping Activities By Age, February 2014 [CHART]
Internet users 45 and younger are more likely to partake in digital grocery shopping activities than older adults.
GLB Interaction With Ads, June 2014 [TABLE]
88% of US lesbian and bisexual female internet users said they used Facebook for personal communications, and 79% of gay and bisexual males reported the same.
Weekly Retail-Related Mobile Activities Of Online Buyers, March 2014 [CHART]
One-quarter of respondents said they researched products on their mobile devices prior to visiting a store weekly.
The Mobile Consumer [INFOGRAPHIC]
This infographic from vouchercloud illustrates the many facets of the mobile consumer.
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10th February 2012
This release of APSIM is a maintenance release with many defects fixed and some new functionality added.
A new Manager module has been developed that allows users to write C# or VB.NET as a scripting language. This module is released along with the existing Manager module. Samples of the script can be found in the standard toolbox. Documentation can be found here
The APSIM User Interface now has a Factorial button that allows the user to quickly specify multiple variations on a base simulation. For example a sowing x variety experiment could be easily configured using this system.
Several Windows 7 installation issues have been resolved, particularly on computers where the user isn't an "administrator" of their computer.
Several defects have been repaired relating to foreign locales (date and number formats), in particular the French locale.
The default crop CO2 response has changed. If a simulation defines CO2 to a non-standard value (ie. other than 350ppm), crops for which a CO2 response is not defined will throw an error. NB Wheat, Oats and Barley are the only APSIM crop modules that are responsive to CO2.
The APSIM Initiative is an unincorporated joint venture between:
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO);
University of Queensland (UQ);
State of Queensland through its Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF);
AgResearch Limited.(AgResearch); and
University of Southern Queensland (USQ)


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Serene Furnishings
An old and trusted partner at FW Homestores, Serene Furnishings has come to be recognised as one of the Britain's leading bed and bedroom furniture suppliers. Distributing nationwide from their West Midlands headquarters, Serene offer an unrivalled choice of bedsteads, headboards, sofa beds, daybeds and bunk beds, in an ever growing choice of styles, sizes and finishes.
Serene's creative team continues to inspire with elegant shapes in both traditional and contemporary styles. Beauty and function are combined in equal measures, to produce a design-led collection of bedsteads and headboards that captures the imagination, in a broad choice of colour, style and finish. Serene's unwavering commitment to quality has enabled FW Homestores to offer a fashionable, well put together range of beds and bedroom furniture.
Whatever the design, whatever the price point, Serene Furnishings has something to suit every home and budget, through a series of bed and bedroom furniture collections where quality craftsmanship is never compromised. That's why at FW Homestores we are proud to offer Serene!


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With his wounded friend carted in their trusty wheelbarrow, Peter and the others load up firearms from a gun shop, preparing to destroy every zombie inside the shopping floors. They have to lock the entrances from the inside and activate the burglar alarms if possible. This would be to dangerous to do on foot so Fran suggests that the new display car be hotwired. Roger, trying to remain in good spirits, is up to the task, though unable to walk. Meanwhile Peter and Stephen pick off every zombie in sight. The plan works without injuries and upon their return to their hideout Peter devises a fake wall to hide the entrance to the storage room stairwell. And the next day, it�s cleanup time: every rotting corpse is picked up, piled on carts and placed in one of the cafeteria cold lockers.
Relieving the stress and boredom during the next few weeks, the group enjoy gourmet food, leisure time in the arcade, Fran goes skating and clothes shopping. Steve and Peter visit the bank and remove cash stacks as Peter says "you never know�" Later that evening, the zombies shaking the entrance doors outside remind them they are not alone in this paradise. As they stand in their fur coats, Peter recalls something his Grandfather (a priest in Trinidad) told him once. "When there�s no room in Hell the Dead will walk the Earth."
Up in the storage room turned plush apartment, Roger dies slowly from the mysterious infection, violently thrashing in bed. "I�m gonna try not to come back�" Roger tells Peter, staying close by his side. That night, Stephen watches the latest broadcast of the coldly rational Dr. Roush studio discussion. "Why don�t we drop bombs in all big cities?" he asks the commentator, as the stunned audience listen. Roger has fallen asleep, hidden under the sheets. Peter drinks vodka, pistol in hand ready for Roger�s awakening. Finally he does, the sheets fall down to reveal his pruny, mummifying face. Peter is still there to put him out of his misery before he can fully rise.
Roger�s final resting place is a mall garden where Peter buries him. At a restaurant, Steve presents his fiancee with a choice of wedding rings, over a dinner (prepared by Peter). Fran declines the choices � telling a dejected Stephen "it wouldn�t be real." Their lives go on with such activities as target practice at posed mannequins on the ice of the skating rink and a poker game with the bank�s stolen cash.
Fran takes her final flying lessons, attracting
the attention of two motorcycle raiders checking them out through binoculars.
Later that night they attempt to communicate with them via radio but when its
met by silence, they decide to pay a visit. Stephen and Peter rush to the roof
and realize they are outnumbered by the motorcycle gang. Peter observes
"That�s a professional army�looks like they�ve been surviving on the
road all through this thing." Hurrying into the mall floors to roll down as
many store gates as possible, the raiders outside move the trucks from the
entrances, and fully armed, they destroy the mall entrance doors � storming
the lower floor and bringing in the mobs of living dead with them. Annoyed by
the undead pests, the looters steal wallets and jewelry from them and throw pies
from the bakery into their faces.
During the raid, Steve hides, but is unable to
resist the urge to take a potshot at a raider. Peter tells Steve via walk-talkie
"Now we�ve got a war!" Peter takes some shots of his own in defense
as he runs back to the crawlspace. When Steve runs back to the elevator shaft to
escape, he is followed by two raiders and shot while climbing up. Peter picks
off a few of the bikers as they try to flee. The ravenous zombies close in on
the stranded bikers and proceed to rip their abdomens open and bite chunks out
of their necks. One bandit insists on checking his blood pressure gets his arm
ripped off.
Still stranded in the elevator, Stephen tries to climb, bleeding profusely. When the doors open again, a group of zombies enter and savagely attack his leg. Returning back to the storage room through the air ducts, Peter hears his Steve�s cries from the elevator. When he gets back Fran can see in his facial expression that something has happened to her fiancee.
The dead reclaim their kingdom and a few hours
later, Stephen returns. Emerging from the elevator as a grotesquely contorted
walking corpse, he joins the dead army, instinctively walking back to the
corridor with the fake wall � as if unaware he is undead. Accompanying him is
a gathering parade of zombies, their numbers aiding in the caving in of the
rather flimsy fake wall. Stephen enters his former hideout and slams the door
behind him. Waiting for him with his trusty M-16, Peter blows Fran�s fiance�s
brains out right in front of her. Peter encourages Fran to take the chopper and
leave him behind. "I don�t want to go" he tells her as the door
opens again. The living dead made it up the stairwell and are now in the same
Fran gets her duffle bag and climbs the ladder to the roof. Peter puts a gun to his temple. When the zombies get near he decides to not commit suicide after all, and shoot one last zombie. He fights his way to the roof and catches hold of the chopper Fran is piloting. And they fly off into the dawn.


text: Born in Boston Massachusetts, Robert played high school baseball and football for Tantasqua Regional High school, and was a four year varsity starter for his high school were he pitched and played left field. After high school Robert got accepted to American International University where he made the roster for the baseball program they had there as a pitcher. Robert only played in the fall league due to his desire to join the military. In 2009, Robert Starmer joined the United States Marine Corps and put his baseball career on hold, Robert has always wanted to get back into playing baseball, but felt like he need to serve his country first, now that Robert is in a good place he now wants to get back into the game.


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Several times this week on the drive home from school I've thought about how first grade is like a roller coaster. There are so many highs and lows in any given day that it can be dizzying at times.
It is the most fun I've ever had at school and it is terrifying at the same time. I don't know if I'm doing it right and in the end I'm responsible for teaching these little kiddos how to read. Everybody put your hands up and scream!!!
It is the most fun I've ever had at school and it is terrifying at the same time. I don't know if I'm doing it right and in the end I'm responsible for teaching these little kiddos how to read. Everybody put your hands up and scream!!!
My sweet little first graders ride an emotional roller coaster.
I love first grade. You are an awesome teacher. I want to stay in first grade forever.
I need to be home. I want to go home. Is it time for snack?
This is so much fun. Is it almost time to go home? Glue is so fun!
And it goes on and on. This has been my first experience with all these fluctuating emotions. I've just been soaking it all in and trying to help my firsties along the way!
I ride an emotional roller coaster.
I think I can do this, I've got this covered.
I get up to teach and I realize that, even though I'm teaching number sense, I really didn't think this one through all the way and the lesson is a flop. Great. Need to rethink this one. Then I hear, "Mrs. Slemp, you're an awesome teacher." Maybe I can do this!
Then there are those students who make bad choices. There are tears and hurt feelings. I hate that part.
On the other hand, some make great choices that make me so proud of them!
One day I am a focused planning machine.
The next day my desk looks like this. Just like it did last Friday after school
And I can't put together two coherent thoughts and I'm checking my email, looking on pinterest for ideas, and browsing TPT, all while juggling my teacher's edition in my lap and a sweet tea in my hand. This is my way of coping when I don't know what to do....do it all! haha
This new experience has essentially put back in the place of a brand new teacher. Even though I've been at this for going on 9 years now, I'm in a new world now.
That's scary at times, but mostly exciting. I love that I'm in a profession where change, a drastic change, is possible.
I am thankful that I am getting a chance to ride the first grade roller coaster with 21 awesome little people! I know I'm going to learn just as much as they are this year.


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A most FABulous way to Mainstream Being Green
Image courtesy of FAB/ Starpoint
In today's world, it just does not make sense to try and do everything for yourself, whether as a person or a business. Being an entrepreneur, I at first thought it a sign of deficiency if I and my company couldn't do everything ourselves. We prided ourselves on seat of our pants figuring out how to do X, bringing everything together in the nick of time. While exciting and satisfying, I've come to realize it's terribly inefficient, and that in order to make the kind of progress we want to make as a company, and need to make as a planet in making a more sustainable world, it's time to collaborate with other companies that do what we need to do, better. A recent example is FAB. FAB may not be a name you're familiar with, but it's a safe bet you, or more likely your children, own something made by them.FAB has licenses for a huge variety of today's biggest pop culture brands: Disney, Marvel, Sanrio (think Hello Kitty), Cartoon Network, and more. Both their licensing and ability to make quality products in high volume is impressive.
You might think, reading all those brands, they're "the other," and why would we work with them? The answer is simple: We're great at getting post consumer "waste" via our public facing, product/category focused Brigades and they're extremely skilled and making quality product at low prices, an ideal sweet spot we seek to hit with everything we make. They'll be making messenger bags, backpacks, stationary, school supplies and home decor accessories for us, all out of what would otherwise now be sitting in a landfill somewhere.
This partnership has many ramifications: FAB gets the additional credibility of working with a green company such as ours, and we get to focus on what we're best at: branding, connecting with the public to change their idea of waste, plus come up with previously unthought of product ideas, or affordably executed variations on more pricey, boutique niche saddled upcycling products.
What does this all lead to?
When products get made out of brands that people are familiar with, i.e. the ones FAB licenses, this makes the mainstream public more comfortable and likely to buy a product that has the ecological benefits such as ours. This putting a familiar face on what for some would seem to have no connection to their lives, may or may not lead to a broader interest in living sustainably. It doesn't really matter, in the end. If we as green companies can make products that people like, purely for their own interest and use, and not because they're "green," we all win.
Readers, what do you see as other ways to marry mainstream and green in effective ways? Should we be doing this? Is it enough? How do you see moving us all forward in a greener direction, effectively? I'd really like to know.
More on Mainstream being Green:
Wal-Mart's Eco-efforts - Mainstream Green or Pipe Dream? : TreeHugger
Green Eating Goes Mainstream: Bordeaux Quay Up and Running
Green Homes going Mainstream
Yet Another Mainstream Development where Solar is Standard


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Sean Mosher-Smith's Notes on Design for ADC
This week, the Art Directors Club features F+J photo-illustrator Sean Mosher-Smith. On their blog, read Mosher-Smith's own thoughts on his process and how a career in the music industry has led him to design music packaging for the artists Burlap to Cashmere, Stone Sour, and Tori Amos, among others. Whether... read more


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HeadAmp HA-1 HeadAmp onboard
The RICHTER HA-1 onboard headphone amplifier was designed for the use inside a bass or guitar. It provides low noise, smooth, full and precise signal reproduction without loosing any details on sound even in deep bass frequency band. The audio performance was tested with a Sennheiser DT770, 80 Ohm headphone.
The HA-1 is turned on by plugging the headphone into the 3,5mm output jack. Turning on the HA-1, a recent onboard electronic will be switched on too, provided by the switched ground (GND) of the headphone amplifier. You will get the active sound from your instrument via headphone.
- Low noise amplifier design with precise and smooth sound reproduction
- High impedance input for direct amplification in passive instruments
- 0.1% precision metal film resistors in the signal path with a resultant noise factor of up to 10 times lower than standard thick film resistors
- Low tolerance film capacitors in the signal path featuring the lowest distortion and superior linearity
- Cermet trimming potentiometer for gain adjust
- Screw input terminals with marking for signal-input (red) and GND (black)
- The switched ground terminal GND provides to switch on an recent on-board preamp or EQ
- Completely shielded and encapsulated - no shielding inside the instrument required
After manufacture each unit undergoes a throughout test and inspection. This ensures each unit passes strictly quality standards.
Technical Data:
- Input Impedance: 1M?
- Headphone Output Inpedance: >= 32 Ohm, - recommended 80 Ohm
- Frequency Range: 10 Hz to 30 kHz, -3dB
- Supply Voltage: 9V to 18V
- Current Consumption: 3,6 mA
- Gain: 1 to 5 via trim pot.
- Weight: 15 g
- Dimensions: L 20 x W 20 x H 24 mm
- Reverse Polarity Protection
- Input screw terminals
Question: Where Can I Buy a Richter HA-1 Onboard Headphone Amplifier?
Answer: You can buy this from Best Bass Gear by Calling 877-839-3531 or Emailing us at email@example.com or chatting with our Bass Techs


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Header (compact)
Bethan Laura Wood
Bethan Laura Wood obtained a MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art, under the tuition of Jurgen Bey and Martino Gamper. Since graduating in 2009, Bethan has built a multidisciplinary practice characterized by material investigation, artisan collaboration, and a passion for colour and detail.
Bethan enjoys exploring the relationships we make with objects in our everyday lives, and questions how they can become cultural conduits. She is interested in critical approaches to achieving sustainability in a mass consumption, production-driven context.
Bethan has undertaken multiple residency programmes, from London's Design Museum to W Hotel in Mexico City, and regularly works with artisans from the regions of Venice and Vicenza in Italy.
Bethan has been commissioned by a variety of international partners to create works and installations, including Nilufar Gallery, Abet Laminati, Kvadrat, Bitossi Ceramiche, Tory Burch, Tolix and Hermés. Her work has been exhibited in institutions such as V&A Museum of Childhood, Swiss Institute New York, Daelim Museum and MOT, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo.
Bethan regularly gives lectures and heads workshops; she currently teaches on the MA in Luxury at ECAL, Switzerland.
In 2016 she was awarded the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award, one of four medals that are given as the British Land Celebration of Design.
- Workshop 28–31 JULY (slot 2)
- Lecture 29 JULY (slot 2)
MADE Labs is a project of MADE Program — www.madeprogram.it
Please, for any enquiry contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
or call us at +39 (0)931 21 908
or find us on social media: Facebook, Instagram dell'Accademia & Instagram di Made LABS
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If you haven't bothered to calculate the dollar value of the interest that you pay on your student loans each year, you should do so sooner rather than later. Chances are good that your outstanding student loans are costing you several hundred dollars per year in interest charges alone. When you factor in your principal repayments, it's likely that you're shelling out many thousands of dollars to pay for the education that you received years ago.
Fortunately, the federal government offers some relief for folks who struggle with crushing student debt obligations. As long as you've graduated from college or graduate school and continue to make timely payments on your loans, you're eligible to deduct the interest that you pay on your student loans from your total taxable income. This deduction is worth up to $2,400.
Since the prevailing interest rate on federally-backed student loans hovers between 5 and 9 percent, it's likely that you'll be able to deduct the interest payments on loans with a combined value of up to $40,000. Since the average college student graduates with about $20,000 in outstanding loans, this should provide a significant boost to your bottom line and may cover the entirety of your interest-bearing obligations.
You can't write off interest on student loans above this $2,400 threshold. More importantly, you can't write off the principal payments that you make on your student loans. If your total monthly student loan payments total $1,000 and carry an average interest rate of 6 percent, you can only write off $60 of your monthly payment each month. Over the course of the entire tax year, this write-off would add up to $720 on a total payment of $12,000.
If your total gross income for the year was $50,000 before the write-off, you would need to report just $49,280 to the IRS after taking your deduction. Assuming that your effective tax rate is 25 percent, this would save you $180 for the year. While that seems like a far cry from the $12,000 in total student loan repayments that you made over the course of the year, $180 is a significant amount of money. If you're in the "25 percent" tax bracket, you stand to save a maximum of $600 using the student loan interest deduction. If you're in the "39.6 percent" tax bracket, you'll save up to $950.40.