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For the second year in a row, I live Tweeted and Visualized the Internet Strategy Forum Summit at the Governor Hotel in Portland, OR.
My goal was to track Twitter volume, speaker quotes, and general buzz around the event of every attending Twitterer in the audience. I had to formalize the data and take samples during many parts of the day to get a solid visual.
Instead of digging through pages of Twitter data with the search term #ISF09, the method here allows the audience as well as speakers to see how their speech ranked in comparison others at the conference. This way, one can see exactly the topics that hit the audience the hardest.
I used a Java Applet called StreamGraphs to visually track the Internet Strategy Forum Summit. The app was built by Jeff Clark. You can follow him @JeffClark on Twitter.
Standardizing the Data
StreamGraphs has some limitations. It only shows the last 1,000 tweets and thus it must be queried in real-time, during an event, to get usable results. The first thing to do was to standardize the hashtag. Some Twitter users were Tweeting with @summit, #isfsummit09, or #isf09. For the best data to be presented, users had to Tweet using one hashtag. I did a Twitter search for everyone following @summit OR #isfsummit09 OR #isf09 OR the Governor Hotel and began following them. Then I @'d them, welcoming them to the Internet Strategy Forum Summit and added an #isf09 hashtag to the end of each Tweet. I watched for people questioning as to which hashtag to use and informed them that #isf09 was shorter and better.
By 10:47, I had regular data and was able to begin tracking the Internet Strategy Forum Summit. Katherine Durham's Tweets were not able to be recorded into the graph, but Shelia Tolle and the speakers after her were picked up. This was due to a limitation of the StreamGraph Java Applet (StreamGraph only shows the last 1,000 Tweets). So alas, we missed Durham's excellent words: "Flat is the new up".
And the second sample was taken from 10:08 to 2:37. The second sample did a better job at gathering the overall sentiment and buzz of the conference. It is evident from the image that Jeremiah Owyang was the speaker that captured the audience's attention the most.
What Was Shown:
The interesting part about visualizing data in this way is that it shows that there is an inherent difference between what a speaker says and what they audience values. The conversations bursts worked just like sine waves as audience began to engage with the material of each new speaker. As memorable quotes were released into the audience, a lot of tweeting and retweeting coverage occured, melding some of the terms into like-groups. The graph shows that people tweeted about the speaker during the middle of the speech as opposed to at the beginning or end of the speech.
The First Burst: Shelia Tolle
Vice President of Marketing, Intuit Small Business Group. TOPIC: Combining eCommerce and Community: It's a New Normal…and, There's
No Going Back
The three words most associated with Shelia's speech were online, Twitter, and Social.
BenZee: Fastest growing group on Twitter and facebook is people over 40.
CommunityMGR: Fastest growing group on Social Networks (ie: Facebook) are over the age of 45! Social Equillibrium from young to older. #ISF09
CommunityMGR: Channels like Twitter allow companies to help customers WHERE THEY ARE. Personalize with indiv photos, NOT logos as avatars. #Intuit #ISF09
TMMPDX: Intuit helping customers where they are – Twitter. @intuit draws the ire from professional haters online – Sheila Tolle. #isf09 #isfsummit09
cyndibrigham: Help customers where they are. This is the work I focus on through online syndication. Go to where the people shop and research #isf09
tmmBosley: turn bullhorn around, be part of the community, live your higher purpose, create amazing, embrace chaos! #isf09 Sheila Tolle
The Second Burst: Lisa Welchman
Here we can see the major takeaways from @lwelchman's speech on change.
Top tweets: "orgs need to handle change internally. All communications need to change, and people don't want to grasp impact, says @tom_bennett and @tmmBosley.
@smdempsey: @CommunityMGR Game has changed, but the internet was just the impetus. Time to rethink the model; biz as usual is not sustainable.
@blocheads: Effecting change is hard. I've asked clients to agree to a "We promise to do whatever you say clause, but no takers yet.
@tmmBosley: What to do? Systematic change: Figure out guiding principles in your organization (like Intel has done right @bryanrhoads?
Key Point: Chief Content Officer
At 11:11, @lwelchman brought up the idea of the Chief Content Officer, or the Chief Web Officer.
rahelab: Time has come for a Chief Content Office, Chief Web Officer, ect as these areas have become critical to web ops.
close2open: "Why can't there be a Chief Content officer?
tmmSabrina: Lisa from @welchman Start a management REVOLUTION! Chief Content Officer, Chief Web Officer, ect. Amen Sister!
But I was told later that it was not about hiring a Chief Content Officer, but about becoming one.
Retweets of this comment appeared again at 11:49.
10:40: We all have a 'wierd background' – I'm a philosophy major w/Phorics minor and did did vocal opera. what does that make me? a Web person.
Caseorganic: RT @jeffreybunch: @lwelchman inspiring the oppressed web masses at #isf09!
imeldak: The CIO should be responsible for driving content, web and technology revolutions in the C Suite
@lwelchman was an excellent speaker.
The Third Burst: Jeremiah Owyang
The audience took away major points from Jeremiah Owyang's speech, including ideas related to the web, context, users, eras and years, pages, and community. The social theme resonated most with the audience, as well as being a major theme of the conference.
The idea of eras was a new and interesting take on the standard ideas of business the and social web. One of the main takeaways concerned the fact that a company could actually have a 5 year media plan instead of a year to year thing. He outlined the social eras to come so that businesses might plan instead of being left behind.
CommunityMGR: 5 eras of social web: Relationships, Functionality, Colonization, Context & Commerce.
Webtom_bennett: Allow users to surf the web within your experience (put your wrapper on it).
msdouglass: Social web colonization is coming to your business. Will you be France? Belgium? Ivory Coast? USA? Offline lessons abound.
jdenizac: People will surf in social contexts, even if your site is not social. eg, digg bar.
tom_bennett: Social Context – contextualized experience based on universal IDs is coming.
agray: Registration pages are going away – the way you collect leads online with change.
@thisKat: @agray More details! Live Tweet this! So many marketers are slaves to the registration page.
NathanJWagner: Registration pages will change…lead gen and CRM reporting will change…SM sites will get more traffic than corp sites.
Caseorganic: Registration Pages Going Away. May be able to measure by # of fans, engagement you have instead of signups.
Tom_bennett: Agencies will appear that represent communities, not brands.
tom_bennett: Functionality – shatter your corporate website and let it spread within the community.
CommunityMGR: Social Networks will become next generation CRM Systems. Ad agencies may flip to representing the Community.
caseorganic: Social networks becoming operating systems – can put apps on top like Scrabulous and interact with users where they are.
Rahelab: Social functionality: more like operating systems. Apps on top of platforms-Facebook, LinkedIn apps. "Go where users are." Not mature yet.
BenZee: On the web: technologies evolve, users adopt then companies adapt.
Johan's speech about Intel Corp's Keynote spurred a lot of Tweets about Intel, and thus the Intel name is associated with it. Most of the Tweeting was done towards the first of part of Johan's speech, as well as the discusion of a very nice Intel ad about the co-founder of the USB. Towards the end of the speech, and the subsequent panel, the electronics in the room ran out of batteries, making it impossible to cover the event via Twitter. I was told that iPhones and Blackberries were also running out of power. Although some battery life may have been restored during lunch, the life quickly ran out. I saw many audience members turn towards pen and paper to take notes for the rest of the conference.
There are many graphs like this available online. Most are made by students at colleges, and a lot have to do with graphically displaying content volumes. I found this analytics visualizer to be exceptionally powerful because of its ability to track word volume over time.
The applications for this type of visual presentation of information are vast. During the ISF after party, I determined that these graphs would be an invaluable tool for examining PR statistics over time. If I sat down and pulled apart the code with someone, it would be fun to develop this graphing system into an extremely granular tool for online reputation management.
Data Dimensions:
My research depends on attending conferences because my current focus is on visualizing data with 4 main dimensions.
1. Time
2. Volume
3. Keyword
4. Event/Person
In this way, data becomes more like an audio file, and even closely resembles it. It is a friendlier way of viewing trends, and is more accurate (because of the added dimension of volume) than
Tool Limitations:
Currently, the tool I am using is Java based. It does not yet allow the user to set periods of time, and does not have the server capabilities to store server data. It is a brilliant data analytics tool, and if it were to allow a greater amount of granularity (in terms of keywords), as well as time range, it would prove to be an invaluable tool for tracking Public Relations. Currently, it is possible to do this, it just takes a longer amount of time to do so.
I approached Jeff Clark, the tool's developer, about collaborating with him to create a more robust version that would incorporate a larger time frame, clickable data formats (I have a paper prototype of all of this), and a zoom feature. He declined, so the tool will stay where it is. If he releases a new version, I will be the first to use it.
There are so many great potentialities with a tool like this, because being able to visualize data over time with an extra dimension of volume is really exciting. Please let me know if you'd like to work on an open source version of it with me.
Now What?
Systems are optimal when the amount of time and space it takes to get pieces of relevant data from one person to another continues to decrease. Those designs/processes that exemplify this paradigm will be successful in the future economy. Systems like these that track the most important data points will be an important part of your complete data breakfast.
Amber Case is a cyborg anthropologist, internet marketer, and speaker from Portland, Oregon. You can contact her at caseorganic at gmail.com, or on Twitter at @caseorganic.
Many thanks to Steve Gehlen for running the Internet Strategy Forum Summit and inviting me back to the conference to visualize the data streams.


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- Extensive number of restrictive openings, table recreations, and video pokers
- Gotten from the well-known Bodog brand
- US players acknowledged day in and day out backing through the current visit, email contact shape, and sans toll US telephone
- Secured with 128-piece SSL encryption
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Bovada Casino highlights restrictive recreations that additionally included on their sister gambling club, Bodog. Some have gotten from Real Time Gaming programming, yet an expanding number of the amusements are unique. Their library of video spaces gloats more than 20 titles, with the most popular diversions including Reel Blood, Witches and Wizard, and Cleopatra's Gold. Be that as it may, those searching for a great style amusement are constrained to a much littler assortment.
The individuals who appreciate table amusements have a bounty to do at Bovada Casino. They at available offer four distinctive blackjack amusements, two variations of roulette, and additionally craps, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let Them Ride, Baccarat, Three Card Rummy, and others. Every diversion utilized first class illustrations and played with for all intents and purposes any size of the wager.
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Since its initiation, Bovada Casino has kept up the same level of client backing that made the Bodog mark so fruitful. Players with an issue might contact the bolster division day in and day out through the online live talk highlight. With only a hidden snap, you can contact a delegate in a matter of seconds. Bovada Casino additionally acknowledges request through an online contact structure, where players will get a reaction using email inside of a couple of hours by and large. On the off chance that you'd want to talk via telephone, Bovada might likewise become to using a sans toll US phone number.
Security and Fairness:
The Internet can be an unsafe spot, so Bovada Casino has established a few conventions to make their players totally secure. Most importantly, the transmission of any individual or sensitive information is shielded with 128-piece SSL encryption, which keeps anybody from getting to your data. Bovada Casino's protection strategy likewise ensures that they will never offer or give out your data to any outsiders.
Authentic arbitrariness ought to be something that every online clubhouse offers. Regardless, these are the same amusements that have confirmed at the Bodog site, and we have most likely they are reasonable.

subset: commoncrawl


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After a really nice, windy day at the beach in Roscoff, you will be happy to come back to this comfortable and secure home in the evening.
This property has been listed with Holidaybank for 7 years
Use the zoom controls to view the map in more detail. You can also drag the map by clicking and moving your mouse at the same time.
Contact Holidaybank | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use | About Us
| Modern Slavery Statement
Holidaybank is a trading name of Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales. Company Registration Number 00965389.
VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77
Pors Mocaër in Finistère. Enjoy holidays in Brittany


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The Laird Of Contullich's Lament
There is uncertainty about the inspiration for this The Laird Of Contullich's Lament. However, the weight of opinion suggests that it is a MacCrimmon composition, in the lifetime of Padruig Mor MacCrimmon.
If such is the case, the tune probably laments the death of a grandson of Sir Ruaridh Mor MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan. Ruaridh Mor's third son was Sir Norman MacLeod of Bernera. It was Sir Norman's eldest son John who was known as the Laird of Contullich, an estate in Rossshire. In his time, John MacLeod was well known as a patron of piping.
Exit The Laird Of Contullich's Lament and return to the Lament Piobaireachd Stories
| Privacy Policy | Disclaimer Statement | Contact Bill |
Bills Contact Number: +64 9 534 8553 Skype: royal.scot
Free bagpipe lessons for popular bagpipe tunes.
> Copyright© 2004- All Rights Reserved


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For months, stock market bears have predicted the stock market's demise of varying degrees. Some predict a market crash followed by a recession and all but suggest investors hoard gold under their mattress. Others predict a much needed market correction that will skim a little off the top and be a buying opportunity to make up for previously missed opportunities.
As the saying goes, a broken clock is right twice a day. What this means is, inevitably, a market crash, or more preferably a market correction, will happen. When that does, expect these bears to get wall-to-wall coverage on all your favorite economic news and investing shows espousing the brilliance of their fortuitousness. Like us, we're sure you religiously watch financial news shows.
If one reads between the lines of most investment talking heads, though, one can see they're playing a game of stock market chicken. In the investing world, this is called "timing the market". That is, they use any number of indicators they've come to trust to try and calculate the precise time they should sell in order to generate the most financial gains and mitigates most financial loss.
When the market does crash or correct, these same experts will then talk about their calculations to try and determine the precise time to get back into the stock market. The problem is that most professional market timers aren't good at timing the market. Therefore, it's not a great strategy for use "lay folk" to adopt.
Trading Pros Can't Time the Stock Market
In 2013, Mark Hulbert of Barron's studied the success of 100 market timing newsletters and websites from the market top of October 2007 to the market bottom of March 2009. None of the market timers called either the market top or the market bottom. Even with giving timers a full month leeway to notice the change in market direction or a 25 percentage change in stock market direction, only 15 market timers showed signs of a significant reduction in equity exposure after the market top of October 2007. Of those 15 market timers, only six showed a significant increase in equity exposure at the bottom of the market in March 2009 even by April 2009.
Read also: 3 Steps to Achieving Your Financial Goals
If 94 percent of stock trading professionals with their legions of followers and high tech computer trading systems fail to reasonably time the market, even in slow motion, what are the chances of those of us with a desk job or who work on the floor succeeding with timing the market? Nil.
Don't Time the Market, Just Get in the Market
We're in luck. We don't have to time the market to succeed with investing. We just need to get into the market in order to succeed with investing.
Studies suggest that in any 20 year period a person who invests their money as soon as they have money underperforms the mythical market timing rock star by only 6 percent over that 20 year period. For all their time spent researching stocks and stock performance and money spent on market timing technology, these mythical figures only outperform investors who simply invest their money upon receipt by single digits over 20 years. A simple cost-benefit analysis shows the reward isn't worth it.
In fact, those who invest their money immediately upon receipt actually outperform those who exercise one of the money magic tricks of investing, dollar cost averaging. Of course, because most of us don't receive enough one-off checks, but rather biweekly or bimonthly checks, throughout life to benefit from immediate investing, dollar cost averaging is the solid investment plan.
Don't Wait. Invest Immediately
Our advice to you is to invest now, don't wait. Open an account today and start investing whether you have a large amount of cash now to invest or will have a small amount of cash every couple of weeks to invest. If you wait for either stock market bears or stock market bulls to be right, you'll likely always be late to the game.
If you don't have an account in which to invest or the thought of starting investing scares you, follow these "10 Steps to Simple Investing". Get started today. To wait for the perfect time, guarantees missed opportunities.


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ILIADA Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Oregano and Herbs - 250ml
A fully aromatic dressing for your meals. Enjoy the taste of fresh Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the flavour of Greek oregano and black pepper.
Use it with your salads, as a dip or on meat and fish for extraordinary taste and aroma.


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Dani Darling
Friday, June 8 @ 5pm
The O&W Acoustic Stage
Top of the Park opens with a gorgeous set of experimental jazz and soul with a lofi approach from Ann Arbor's Dani Darling. An upbeat, radiant singer/songwriter and self proclaimed "music nerd," she grew up in a trio of musically gifted triplets exploring opera, singing in church, and harmonizing over covers together. After a turn with a reggae band, she's now solo singing original songs that marry her love of poetry and music, aiming to transport listeners with mystical imagery and arrive at "when you get lost in a song, and a moment just becomes so meaningful." This is a versatile stylist. Hear influences of opera, Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, and Erykah Badu. Look for her songs on Soundcloud and her solo project SoulGalaxyGirl out this fall. A highlight for sure will be her sisters joining her for part of the set.
T w i c e – L i t t l e D r a g o n.(Come see me perform this and some originals Friday at the #MOCAD with #TheBlackOpera @8pm!)
Posted by Dani Darling on Sunday, October 22, 2017


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The 29 Voyages of Gallifrey One
Updated by Toby on 18 November 2017
16 February 2018 - 18 February 2018Convention
Marriott, LAX, CA
Gallifrey One is the world's largest and longest-running annual Doctor Who fan convention, every February (on Presidents' Day Weekend) at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel. Our next convention, The 29 Voyages of Gallifrey One — the 29th annual North American Doctor Who Celebration — will take place February 16-18, 2018… and it is currently sold out (tickets went on sale in early April and sold out within 24 hours!)
Organised by: Gallifrey One
Guests include:


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In-house software
ROTS R-package implements the reproducibility-optimized test statistic (ROTS) for ranking genes or proteins in terms of differential expression in two-group comparisons.
DCeN R-package implements the Dynamically Co-expressed Neighborhoods (DCeN) for ranking genes in genome-wide time-resolved gene expression profiling studies.
PECA allows improved differential expression analysis for Affymetrix microarrays and proteomics studies and is based on Probe/peptide-level Expression Change Averages.
PASI Pathway Analysis for Sample-level Information
Phosphonormalizer uses the overlap between enriched and non-enriched datasets to compensate for the bias introduced in global phosphorylation after applying median normalization.
SimPhospho Proteomics software for simulation of spectra of phosphopeptides
CETEG R package implements the CEll Type Extractor for Gene expression (CETEG) for detecting the cell type specific expression profiles from bulk gene expression data.


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Growing up in the Indian city of Chennai, "poverty is something that you see all around," says Srinivas Venugopal, an assistant professor of marketing in the Grossman School of Business.
He began thinking about social entrepreneurship, or using business for social change, and now immerses himself in communities around the world to study the transformative affect running a business can have on a person's life.
About Faculty Feature:
What makes our faculty members tick? In this video series, get up close and personal with our professors. Hear them talk about their passions, their paths to UVM and why they love what they study, from the mysteries of Lake Champlain's sculpin to the stories of homeless children in Pakistan.


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Lake Cypress Springs, TX - Lake Bob Sandlin, TX
Copyright - All rights reserved.


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$14.99 $9.99
"Chiropractic is health insurance. Premiums small. Dividends LARGE." – Dr. BJ Palmer
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I did manage to rid myself of about fifteen 15 kilo or thirty plus 30+ pounds, most of which has stayed off ever since, but about a third, five kilo found their way back about a year ago. When that unwanted weight had reached three kilo, I went to war, but lost the battle and gained another two kilo. But about six months ago, after the pool closed, I tried a few different tricks, about some of which I have blogged.
|Over 12,000 steps is pretty rare for me.
12,000 is now very common.
The second thing I did to lose weight was to change my breakfast. For years I had been eating a large vegetable omelet, but not that long ago I felt terrible sugar/fruit cravings as soon as I finished it. I took that as a hint. Maybe I need to eat fruit for breakfast, since the omelets and vegetables weren't satisfying my hunger.
Now, for the past few months, I have fruit, fresh ginger and goat yogurt for breakfast. I must admit that there are days when I crave cashews afterwards, so I eat a few. It's clear that I need more protein early in the day in addition to the sugar/fructose.
Another thing I've noticed, and I do weigh myself almost daily on the same scale, is that the fewer restaurant or catered meals I eat, the lower my weight is. It goes up a bit when I've eaten out. And it's lowest when all the food I've eaten has been my own home cooking.
My weight seems to have stabilized close to where it was post-big diet, bli eyin haraa, let's not tempt the "evil eye." I do have days when I eat things I "shouldn't," but there are diet mavins who actually say that once a week or two it is good to go off the restrictions. It stimulates the metabolism to work harder and burn calories more quickly. Also, it makes the "diet" easier to live with, and that is a major trick/technique. If you adopt a diet you find impossible to live with, you won't be able to stick to it very long.
And how is your diet going?


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Surprises of the Recession
Sales of pricey beans, peppers are doing surprisingly well during the downturn.
It's too early to tell precisely how the recession will change things in the long run.
But so far, there have certainly been some surprises. Time magazine has rounded up some of the ways that the recession has changed things for the better, which led us to talk about some of our own recession shockers. On our list so far:
Gambling has stayed flat. Typically, casinos rake it in during downturns. Numbers for 2008 aren't out yet, but are expected to stay show little growth. Bad sign: Vegas is hurting like crazy.
People aren't buying more booze. Typically in recessions, people head for the bottle. This year, though, tax revenues from alcohol are expected to drop 5%….


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People think of Australia when they hear talk of growing eucalyptus trees. It is the food of the koala bear and lives through the dramatic fires that sweep that country's landscape. People have cultivated the fragrant tree in southern temperate areas that reach across the continent where frost is not a problem. Growers have found that propagating the trees can be a challenge, even when using cuttings.
Cut down the eucalyptus tree that you wish to clone. This might seem drastic, but it has proven to be a very successful way of getting the cuttings to grow.
Cut the sprouts off where they intersect the tree once they have a couple of leaves. You will use the coppice sprouts that spring up around the trunk for the cuttings.
Dip the end of the cutting into a powdered rooting hormone designed for use with trees. Place it directly into a container filled with rooting medium consisting of vermiculite, pine bark, and perlite. The mixture needs to be able to retain water without hindering drainage. Nurseries use long thin containers or tubes.
Move the containers with the cuttings into a closed and warm (75 degrees Fahrenheit) environment where they can get plenty of humidity, such as in a misted greenhouse, a tented plastic covering, or a larger plastic container with a lid to hold in moisture. Keep them in a shaded spot for 45 days. You can expect about a 75 percent success rate if your circumstances are near perfect.
Move the cuttings out to an area where they can get partial sunlight. Remove any covering that have been over them and keep them in the partial light for another 10 to 15 days. This will help acclimate them to the light and speed up the growing process.
Move the cuttings to full sunlight. They will remain here for the next month when they should be ready for planting into their permanent home.


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In the past few weeks, I actually had a chance to get out and "find some peace" behind the lens. With summer ending, and the leaves beginning to change (not to mention racing the daylight hours, do we really need it to be pitch black outside at 5pm?) I revisited a few places and found another one which proved to be quite humbling.
My Mom had mentioned to me recently about a "Shoe Fence" located in Cornell, IL. It was inspired by a similar fence seen in New Zealand by the property owners. I drove out there one Sunday afternoon, found it and saw the shoes, boots, sandals and other footwear hanging on the length of it. It is the "Friendship Shoe Fence" according to the sign which also reads, "You May Take Or Leave Shoes". Another sign reads, "So Many Shoes, So Little Time".
Some of the footwear is brand new, some used and worn, but all left for the purpose of helping others in need. While it made for interesting subject matter, I also found it to be quite humbling. I was not sure where the property owners lived, in hopes of interviewing them, so I searched a bit online, and found this information:
The Friendship Shoe Fence
"Near Cornell, Illinois, a long span of fencing runs along a rural road. Unlike most such fences, this one sports a wide array of shoes. Men's, women's, and children's shoes are all tied to the fence with their laces, wedged into the space between the wires by their heels, or laid out on blankets near a gravel lot at one end of the run. The fence is the result of one Gail Donze's desire to help her neighbors out coupled with inspiration from a trip she took to New Zealand to visit a pen pal, where she saw one such fence and was inspired to create her own."
—Christopher Allen
Here's some links to more press about The Friendship Shoe Fence:
It proved to me that kindness still indeed exists, and during this time of the year when we routinely look to give thanks, and seek out our own form of gratitude, it seemed appropriate to include some of what I saw here in the photos below.
I also (for your carpal tunnel induced scrolling pleasure) am including some photos of some my other stops along the way.
I was due to blog last week (and I appreciate Bob Gordon for filling in with a wonderful Halloween post) but I asked Marty if I could for this weekend instead. Reason being, today is my Mom's 84th Birthday.
As I do at various times of the years on significant dates, I will traditionally post photos of "A Father's Hands", the series I did a few years ago. It literally "came to be" on one of Marty's earlier blogs on a Valentine's Day when Marty asked if he could use a photo he'd seen of my Mom and Dad holding hands. I know we get new readers here all the time, and I have received many messages saying how these photos had touched them in some way. Lasting personal friendships have been made as the direct result of these photos. For those unfamiliar with the history behind them, I will include the story as follows:
My Father was diagnosed with Central Nervous System Lymphoma in December of 2006, and most of the following year was spent going through surgeries for his brain tumors and various forms of Chemo treatments. There were good days and bad, but never once did he complain. He kept his sense of humor intact, as well as his love for others around him. By late December of 2007, various complications caused him to be rushed to the hospital, and that night in late December, I was sitting in the ICU watching my Mom hold his hand, and candidly snapped a photo of them with my cellphone.
The very first photo I took of them holding hands in the hospital.
My Dad and I on my Birthday a week before his passing.
We truly did not think he was going to make it, and I wanted to capture that moment of love between he and my Mom. He pulled through, thanks to the attentive care and decisions made by the Doctors on duty that night. I spent the next night alone with him in the dark talking to him, not knowing if he could hear me, but he indeed heard my life stories. I kept looking at that photo and not knowing what the next days or months would bring, decided to start a photo journal of his hands and those holding them. It helped give me strength during that time as well.
Here is a link to the entire series of photos: "A Father's Hands."
Throughout that following year (2008) he continued to fight the battle, and once again, there were good days and bad days, all without complaint, but during that time we all continued to make memories together. I kept taking photos using only my cellphone as it was with me at all times. During that time, my Dad and Mom taught me so much, and proved to me that true love does indeed exist. His last words to my Mom were, "Goodnight My Dear", the same thing he told her every night for 57 years.
He truly made a difference in my life, with his caring, giving, sense of humor, and putting others before himself always.
Keeping that quick wit and dry sense of humor (which I personally try to keep alive) was with him until the end. During my time alone with him while saying our last goodbyes, I said to him "It's going to be OK." My Dad whispered back, "Convince Me". I was at a loss for words, which is indeed rare. There was nothing I could say, and finally just laughed, he saw that, and chuckled softly as well and squeezed my had a bit tighter.
Sadly, he lost the battle on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 11:05 am CST, at home where he wanted to be, in his own bed, with my Mom by his side. After his last breath, I looked at my Mom and said "You know there is one more photo to take", she looked at me and said "Absolutely".
That final photo.
We all sat in that room and started sharing stories, almost in a "Big Fish" manner and even shared a few laughs as well. Dad would have wanted it that way. At his funeral, my Mom, who always was one to put a few things in with loved ones to take with them on their journey, included (among other things) a TV remote control, as our own personal joke. She later said, she had not seen a TV commercial in many years, as Dad would always flip through the channels when one came on. That too brought some laughter during that time of sorrow to the crowd that came to pay their respects.
A few days later, my Mom said she had something she was wanting to show me, but had waited to do so. It was a photo of their hands taken on the day of their wedding. Those hands held on to each other for an entire lifetime.
Mom and Dad on their Wedding Day.
Today is for you Mom. Happy Birthday! Thank you for being the Mother you are, the Grandmother you are, for your love, your support and inspiration, for all you have continued to teach me, and for keeping Dad's laughter and love alive in our hearts. I love you.
Related posts: Nevermore, The Great One Revisited and "Refill Madness".
Don't forget to check out, the "Secret Weapon," "Boris'" radio show on Woody Radio where "Boris" plays some great tunes, some of which you've probably never heard. Listen to it right here: "Secret Weapon" on Woody Radio.


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This blog was developed as a resource for teachers and educators looking for multi-cultural books to share with children. I have compiled and cited various reviews of the books listed in this blog, and have added web resources and other tools that will help teachers use the books for instructional purposes. These are all books I have read personally or have previewed a hands on copy of.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Seven Chinese Brothers
The Seven Chinese Brothers
Written by: Margaret Mahy
Illustrated by: Mou-Sien Tseng
Elementary Grades
"In colorful language well suited to a story of ingenuity and valor, Mahy presents the Chinese folktale about brothers with amazing powers. Although the broad outline is the same as The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop, illustrated by Kurt Wiese (first published in 1938), Mahy's stirring retelling is very different from and just as good as the earlier effort. She has elaborated on the story, spicing it with more action and adding ironic humor. Replete with striking character portraits, the Tsengs' dramatic watercolors evoke the Orient and provide authentic, historical details."
Publisher's Weekly Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 9:20 AM 1 comment:
Labels: china, elementary, folktale
Written by: Yin
Illustrated by: Chris Soentpiet
Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades
"When the western line of the transcontinental railroad joined the eastern line at Promontory Point, UT, in 1869, the engraving commemorating the event left out an important group of workers-the Chinese. Derisively called "coolies" by their white overseers, these refugees from Southern China came to California desperate for any work that would help them feed their starving families back home. This picture book, cast as a story told by a modern Chinese grandmother, transforms the familiar ethnic slur into a badge of honor."
School Library Journal Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 9:07 AM No comments:
Good Morning China
Good Morning China
Written and Illustrated by: Hu Yong Yi
Elementary Grades
"Enhanced with a foldout and animated illustrations, a day-in-the-life of a community in China is captured in this beautiful presentation of its people, places, and special happenings. Pictures and easy-to-read text portray the activities and routines of Chinese people on a typical morning in the park, with a fold-out page showing everyone in the park."
Publisher's Review - Roaring Book Press
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 9:04 AM No comments:
Labels: china, elementary
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China
Written by: Ai-Ling Louie
Illustrated by: Ed Young
Elementary Grades
"Yeh-Shen," a Chinese version of Cinderella tale contains many familiar details - a poor over-worked girl, a wicked stepmother and stepsister, a magical helper, a king in search of a wife, and a lost shoe. But while Cinderella is simply handed gifts from her fairy godmother, Yeh-Shen earns her wishes through kindness to a magic fish. This one change makes a big difference in the ethical tone of the book. It also makes the reader feel much more sympathetic toward Yeh-Shen, who seems to deserve every bit of good fortune she gets.
The illustrations greatly add to the book's charm. Ed Young's style is striking and unique. There's a misty, ethereal quality to his art that makes everything look as if it were taking place in a dream - which is just perfect for the book."
Amazon.com Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 8:56 AM No comments:
Labels: china, cinderella story, elementary
China's Bravest Girl: The Legend of Hua Mu Lan
China's Bravest Girl: The Legend of Hua Mu Lan
Written by: Charlie Chin
Illustrated by: Tomie Arai
Elementary Grades
"A simple rhyming text keeps the pace brisk in this adaptation of a fifth-century Chinese legend about a young woman who goes to war to save her family's honor. Hua Mu Lan's father has no eldest son, and so the faithful daughter decides "For love of her elderly father / she will dress in warrior's clothes, / walking and talking like a man, / so no one ever knows." Hua Mu Lan's "courage wins the day," and a "hundred battles," earning her the rank of general and the Emperor's highest esteem. Arai's jewel-toned paintings accurately portray the life of the period, and margins depicting a Chinese screen contain an inset of text in Chinese."
Publisher's Weekly Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 8:51 AM No comments:
Labels: china, elementary
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Yummi and Halmoni's Trip
Yummi and Halmoni's Trip
Written by: Sook Nyul Choi
Illustrated by: Karen Dugan
Elementary Grades
"Yunmi's grandmother went to New York City to take care of her while her parents worked, and charmed Yunmi's classmates during a class trip. Now Halmoni is taking the girl back to Korea for a memorial celebration of her late husband's birthday, and it is Yunmi's turn to feel like an outsider. Halmoni, who was so isolated and lonely in New York, is greeted by a large and loving family. Even her cat and dog welcome her back. Yunmi's cousins act as tour guides to the sights of Seoul, and the girl helps prepare Korean dumplings for the picnic at Grandfather's grave. At the memorial, worries overwhelm her. Halmoni seems so happy here that she may not want to return to New York. Not surprisingly, the woman reassures her American granddaughter, "We're lucky because we both have two families." This gentle, predictable story is more an introduction to Korean customs than a plot-driven narrative. Realistic illustrations of Yunmi's family, framed with borders suggesting Korean fabric design, add greatly to the book's appeal. Dugan's carefully composed paintings, glowing with color, convey the warm affection between granddaughter and grandmother."
School Library Journal Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:34 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, korea
So Far from the Sea
So Far from the Sea
Written by: Eve Bunting
Illustrated by: Chris Soentpiet
Elementary Grades
"This picture-book account of a fictional family reveals, with gentle dignity, a sad chapter in American history. Laura Iwasaki and her Japanese-American family will soon move from California to Boston, so they are making one last visit to Laura's grandfather's grave, which lies near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, so far from the sea he loved. Before World War II, he was a fisherman. Then, along with Laura's father, her grandmother, and 10,000 other Japanese Americans, he was sent to the Manzanar War Relocation Center. There he died, and his grave is marked with only a ring of stones. The family leaves silk flowers, but Laura leaves her own special memento."
School Library Journal Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:29 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, japan
Jin Woo
Jin Woo
Written by: Eve Bunting
Illustrated by: Chris Soentpiet
Elementary Grades
Jin Woo tells the story of David, a young adoptee whose family is preparing to adopt a second child: a Korean baby boy named Jin Woo.
Like many children expecting a new child into the family, David has some concerns. But his parents assure him that the love they share with the new baby will not diminish the love they have for him. And David bonds with his new brother, ensuring the unity of the newly enlarged family.
This is a good story with educational value. The author brings up some interesting aspects of cross-cultural/international adoption. The easy-to-read text is well complemented by Soentpiet's colorful, realistic illustrations. I recommend "Jin Woo" for both home and classroom."
Amazon.com Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:25 PM No comments:
Labels: adoption, elementary, korea
Favorite Children's Stories from China and Tibet
Favorite Children's Stores from China and Tibet
Written by: Lotta Carswell Hume and Koon-Chiu Lo
Elementary Grades
"Here is a world where humans and animals switch places, a captivating world where magic can be both good and evil. This is the world of Favorite Children's stories from China and Tibet. These unique stories are fresh and charming, filled with humorous insights into Chinese life and culture, including the power and influence of the moon and the importance of festivals. Some tales, such as "Chinese Cinderella," touch on themes we already know, while all of them sparkle with wit and fantasy."
Amazon.com Reviews
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:22 PM No comments:
Labels: china, elementary, tibet
Korean Children's Favorite Stories
Korean Children's Favorite Stories
Written by: Kim So-Un and Jeong Kyoung-Sim
Elementary Grades
"This collection of 13 Korean folktales was originally published in 1955 as The Story Bag. Kyoung-Sim's new watercolor illustrations, filled with animals, demons, and resourceful folk, make this edition much more attractive, and the short, straightforward retellings are well suited for independent reading as well as for reading aloud. The handsome anthology will enrich multicultural studies and expand folklore collections."
Booklist Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:58 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, folktale, korea
My Name is Yoon
My Name is Yoon
Written by: Helen Recorvits
Illustrated by: Gabi Swiatkowska
Elementary Grades
"With subtle grace, this moving story depicts a Korean girl's difficult adjustment to her new life in America. Yoon, or "Shining Wisdom," decides that her name looks much happier written in Korean than in English ("I did not like YOON. Lines. Circles. Each standing alone"). Still, she struggles to please her parents by learning an unfamiliar language while surrounded by strangers. Although her teacher encourages her to practice writing "Yoon," the child substitutes other words for her name, words that better express her inner fears and hopes. Calling herself "CAT," she dreams of hiding in a corner and cuddling with her mother. As "BIRD," she imagines herself flying back to Korea. Finally, she pretends she is "CUPCAKE," an identity that would allow her to gain the acceptance of her classmates. In the end, she comes to accept both her English name and her new American self, recognizing that however it is written, she is still Yoon."
School Library Journal Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:49 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, korea
As Long As the Rivers Flow: The Stories of Nine Native Americans
As Long As the Rivers Flow: The Stories of Nine Native Americans
Written by: Paula Gunn Allen and Patricia Clark Smith
Junior High and High School Grades
"Allen and Smith profile nine individuals of Native American or Native American/white backgrounds from the 17th century to the present. Most were raised in American Indian communities, but several were members of families that distanced themselves from Native American culture. Geronimo, Will Rogers, Maria Tallchief, Wilma Mankiller, Michael Naranjo, and Louise Erdrich are among the figures included. The authors believe that identification as Native Americans has enriched the lives of their subjects and enabled most to succeed, in spite of the fact that many had to overcome prejudice to do so. A wide variety of experience is contained in this narrative, and the biographical sketches fill in gaps in American history. Writing from a Native American perspective, the authors express pride and passion in their heritage. Their commitment and fluent prose will involve readers of all backgrounds. A black-and-white photo or drawing of each subject is included."
School Library Journal Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:39 PM No comments:
Labels: biography, high school, junior high, native american
Where the Buffaloes Begin
Where the Buffaloes Begin
Written by: Olaff Baker
Illustrated by: Stephen Gammell
Elementary Grades
"Originally published in 1915, this story retells a Blackfoot Indian tale. Curious about Nawa, the wise man's story about the origins of the sacred buffaloes from the center of a lake, fearless young Little Wolf sneaks away in the middle of the night to keep watch over the lake. The text conveys visceral, sensory experiences: "Little Wolf felt the blood run along his body. He clutched at the prairie grass, crushing it in his hot hands." The story unfolds slowly with a few wordless spreads scattered throughout. The story is divided into sections adorned with illustrations of artifacts, such as moccasins, hats, and weapons. The action of the story is conveyed in soft and misty pencil sketches, capturing the dreamlike mood of the story.
According to the author bio, Baker is an English author who spent "a great deal of time" with the Blackfoot Indians. The style of the illustrations is reminiscent of anthropological or archaeological drawings. A note at the conclusion of the story offering contextual details about the Blackfoot and the artifacts presented in the story would be a welcome addition, as well as acknowledgment of the fact that this is no longer the way of life for Native Americans."
Amazon.com Review
Caldecott Honor Book, 1986
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:31 PM No comments:
When Clay Sings
When Clay Sings
Written by: Byrd Baylor
Illustrated by: Tom Bahti
Elementary Grades
"Pieces of broken pots are scattered over the desert hillsides of the Southwest. The Indians there treat them with respect -- "Every piece of clay is a piece of someone's life," they say. And the children try to imagine those lives that took place in the desert they think of as their own.
Clay has its own small voice, and sings. Its song has lasted for thousands of years. And Byrd Baylor's prose-poem as simple and powerful as the clay pots, sings too."
Publisher's Review - Simon and Schuster
Caldecott Honor Book, 1973
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:25 PM No comments:
The Girl Who Loved Horses
The Girl Who Loved Horses
Written and Illustrated by: Paul Goble
Elementary Grades
"For most people, being swept away in a horse stampede during a raging thunderstorm would be a terrifying disaster. For the young Native American girl in Paul Goble's 1979 Caldecott-winning masterpiece, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, it is a blessing. Although she loves her people, this girl has a much deeper, almost sacred connection to her equine friends. The storm gives her the opportunity to fulfill her dream--to live in a beautiful land among the wild horses she loves.
With brilliant, stylized illustrations and simple text, Paul Goble tells the story of a young woman who follows her heart, and the family that respects and accepts her uniqueness. Considering how difficult it is for some communities to allow friendships to grow between people of different cultures, this village's support for the girl's companions of choice is admirable. Goble's bold paintings reflect this noble open-mindedness. The young horse fanatic of the house will joyfully add this book to his or her collection. Children are passionate people; they will relate."
Amazon.com Review
Caldecott Award, 1978
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:18 PM No comments:
The Desert Is Theirs
The Desert Is Theirs
Written by: Byrd Baylor
Illustrated by: Peter Parnall
Elementary Grades
"You may think of the desert as a harsh, dry place where no one would ever want to live -- but think again. The Desert People know, and so do the animals. Both love the land and, "share the feeling of being brothers in the desert, of being desert creatures together." Byrd Baylor's spare, poetic text and Peter Parnall's striking illustrations lime the sky, stone and sand of the desert in this haunting book"
Publishers Review - Aladdin Books
Caldecott Honor Book, 1988
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:12 PM No comments:
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students
The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students
Written by: Suzanne Jurmain
Junior High and High School Grades
"Jurmain has plucked an almost forgotten incident from history and has shaped a compelling, highly readable book around it. In 1831, Prudence Crandall opened a school for young white ladies. When asked by an African American teenager if she might join the class, Crandall, whose sympathies were with the abolitionists, agreed. So begins a jolting episode in which Crandall turned her school into one for girls of color, and is both tormented and sued by the citizenry of Canterbury, Connecticut, who wanted no part of African Americans in their town. Writing with a sense of drama that propels readers forward (and quoting the language of the day, which includes the word nigger), Jurmain makes painfully clear what Crandall and her students faced, while showing their courage as they stood up to those who tried to deter them. Printed on thick, snowy stock and including a number of sepia-toned and color photographs as well as historical engravings, the book's look will draw in readers. Children will be especially pleased by the appended material, which includes an epilogue that tells what became of the principals, as well as source notes for the many quotes."
American Library Association Review
Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Award, 2006
Orbis Pictus Award, 2006
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:22 PM No comments:
Labels: african-american, blue ribbon award, high school, historical fiction, junior high, nonfiction, orbis pictus award
Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl
Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl
Written by: Tonya Bolden
Junior High and High School Grades
"Born free in a nation stained by slavery, where free blacks had few rights and rare respect, here was a girl determined to rise, to amount to something." In this captivating biography, Bolden introduces Maritcha Reymond Lyon, born in the mid-1800s into a family of free blacks in Manhattan. Lyon found fame as a teenager in Providence, Rhode Island, when she sued the state to gain admission to the all-white high school--the only high school in town. Bolden's succinct text focuses on Lyon's growing-up, and the attractive spreads feature well-chosen archival photographs and engravings that offer a fascinating glimpse of Lyon's world of "New York City's striving class of blacks." Lyon had a distinguished family, and Bolden shows how its members inspired her to succeed against formidable odds, even when she felt that "the iron had entered my soul." Bolden supplements quotes from Lyon's accounts with extensive research and enthralling detail, and the result is both an inspirational portrait of an individual and a piercing history about blacks in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries--subjects rarely covered in books for youth. An author's note describes Lyon's adult achievements and lends insight into Bolden's research. Notes and a selected bibliography conclude this powerful volume."
Booklist Review
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2006
Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award, 2006
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:15 PM No comments:
Labels: african-american, blue ribbon award, coretta scott king award, high school, junior high, nonfiction
Africa is Not a Country
Africa is Not a Country
Written by: Margie Burns Knight
Illustrated by: Anne Sibley O'Brien
Elementary Grades
"The authors narrate the experiences of children at play, at school, and at home, and use realistic illustrations to explore the cultural, environmental, ethnic, and social diversity of the 53 countries that make up the African continent. They explain that in Rwanda, refugee children (many of whom have been orphaned) are making pictures of war, while in Kenya, two children race to school, dreaming of one day becoming professional runners. From vast deserts with camels in the North to lush agricultural lands in Central and Southern Africa, the widely varied terrains are described as well. At the back a small note on each country fills in facts about geography, currency, population, etc."
Booklist Review
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:09 PM No comments:
Labels: -africa, elementary
A Wreath for Emmett Till
A Wreath for Emmett Till
Written by: Marilyn Nelson
Illustrated by: Philippe Lardy
Junior High and High School Grades
"A Wreath for Emmett Till is a sophisticated and thought-provoking poem written by Connecticut's poet laureate and award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson. This book combines emotion, history, and social commentary to bring the life and death of Emmett Louis Till back to our nation's consciousness. Emmett Till was a fourteen-year-old African American boy murdered in 1955 in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at or speaking to a white woman. Though two men were tried for the crime, they were acquitted; no one has been convicted for Emmett's murder. In 2004 the U.S. Justice Department reopened the case based on new evidence brought to light by two documentary films.
With beautiful language that turns chilling at times, Nelson asks readers to face the atrocity of lynching and its role in our nation's history. Her poem calls readers to bear witness and speak out against such hatred and violence. A Wreath for Emmett Till invites readers to explore its layers for meaning, symbolism, and connections between past, present, and future. This powerful work lends itself to group discussion, individual study, teaching extensions and activities, and further research."
Publisher's Review: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2006
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:40 AM No comments:
Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades
Written by: Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by: Christopher Myers
"Walter Dean Myers's songlike poem relates the story of a group of people who settled in New York City, hoping to improve their lots in life, only to discover that racism could still keep them from achieving success. Well-known Harlem landmarks, such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater, are mentioned, as are famous African Americans, like Langston Hughes and Joe Louis. The pain of discrimination is made abundantly clear through Myers's forceful, often bitter words. The pride and determination of the people of Harlem are also demonstrated, as is their at times overwhelming despair. The bold collage and ink drawings complement the text well."
School Library Journal Review
Caldecott Honor Book, 1997
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:34 AM No comments:
Labels: african-american, caldecott, elementary, junior high, poetry
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales
Edited by: Nelson Mandela
Elementary Grades
"Mandela states in the foreword, "It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller will never die in Africa-.," and he has chosen 32 traditional tales for this handsome oversized volume. While nearly half the selections have their origins in South Africa, the rest represent some of the continent's most cherished tales and come from Botswana, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other sub-Saharan countries as well as a single selection from Morocco.
Each story is introduced with a short provenance or source note, and a frontispiece map matches each tale with its geographical area. Told by a variety of storytellers and folklorists, or gleaned from previously published sources, the tellings vary from literary to contemporary. The book also provides a showcase for 18 illustrators, mostly from South Africa, who contributed one full-page illustration per story. This is a rich collection that would provide depth and breadth to any classroom study alongside the many single-tale picture-book editions readily found on library shelves."
School Library Journal Review
Aesop Accolades Award, 2003
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:27 AM No comments:
Labels: elementary, folktale, nelson mandela, south africa, sub-saharan africa
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys
Written by: Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Illustrated by: Earl B. Lewis
Elementary Grades
"The youngest and the only girl in a family with five boys, Virgie works hard to convince everyone she is old enough, strong enough, and smart enough to attend the school set up by the Quakers for recently freed blacks in Jonesborough, TN. By the end of summer, she has convinced her family that she can make the seven-mile walk to board at school each week and willingly handle the job of "learning to be free." The story is a superb tribute to the author's great aunt, the inspiration for this book. Howard crystallizes each of the family members, setting the protagonist snugly in the midst of annoying but loving brothers and wise parents. A note provides more information about the school and family in this story."
School Library Journal Review
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2001
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:23 AM No comments:
Written and Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Elementary Grades
"A young boy provides a particularly inviting, personally guided tour of his uptown home, New York City's Harlem. The Metro-North railroad, chicken and waffles, shopping on 125th Street, the Apollo Theater, jazz, and summer basketball games at the playground are all part of his neighborhood's charm. As in Hope Lynne Price's These Hands (Hyperion, 1999), Collier's evocative watercolor-and-collage illustrations create a unique sense of mood and place. Bold color choices for text as well as background pages complement engagingly detailed pictures of city life."
School Library Journal Review
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner, 2001
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:18 AM No comments:
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan
Brothers in Hope
Written by: Mary Williams
Illustrated by: Gregory Christie
Elementary Grades
"Through the fictionalized first-person account of one boy, Garang, this moving picture book tells the big story of children at war. Driven from his village home by the soldiers, Garang treks with other boys nearly 1,000 miles across the border, first to Ethiopia, and later to Kenya. He finds shelter in refugee camps, but many other refugees die along the way. Williams tells the story directly, without sensationalism or cover-up, and Christie's powerful acrylic paintings show the long lines moving across desert, forest, and savannah, as well as the special bond between Garang and a younger boy he adopts and the aid worker who helps him reach America. Williams' notes fill in facts. For teens interested in the subject, suggest the adult book They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky, by Alephonsion Deng (2005)"
American Library Association Review
Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration, 2006
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 8:45 PM No comments:
Labels: coretta scott king award, elementary, sudan
Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book
Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book
Written by: Muriel Feelings
Illustrated by: Tom Feelings
Elementary Grades
"This book gives introduction not only to the letters of the alphabet, but also to another language and culture. Each of the twenty-four letters (there are no q or x sounds in Swahili) is represented by a Swahili word, a clear phonetic pronunciation guide, and an explanation of how the word fits into African life. Gorgeous pencil and ink illustrations help give young African-Americans a glimpse of their heritage. A map of Africa showing the countries where Swahili is spoken is also included."
Publisher's Review - Penguin Books
Caldecott Honor Medal, 1993
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 8:35 PM No comments:
Labels: alphabet book, caldecott, elementary, swahili
A Negro League Scrapbook
A Negro League Scrapbook
Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford
Elementary and Junior High Grades
"An engaging overview, richly augmented by archival photographs. Weatherford's text covers a great deal of ground, with a summation of the history of the Negro Leagues and sections on the pitchers, hitters, utility men, various teams, and so forth. Each topic is briefly covered on a spread of text with black-and-white photos and full-color realia designed to look like a scrapbook. Topics are introduced with a few lines of verse. Beginning with a thoughtful foreword by Buck O'Neil, the book is especially successful in conveying the significance of the Negro Leagues to the black community, and in detailing the realities of segregation."
School Library Journal Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 8:31 PM No comments:
Labels: african-american, elementary, junior high
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson
Elementary and Junior High Grades
"This lyrical text describes Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her North to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of slavery. This is a moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad--a woman who would take 19 subsequent trips back South without being caught."
Scholastic Book Reviews
Caldecott Honor Award, 2006
Coretta Scott King Honor Book for Illustration, 2006
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 12:32 PM No comments:
Labels: african-american, caldecott, coretta scott king award, elementary, harriet tubman, junior high
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
Elementary and Junior High Grades
Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by: Jerome LaGarrique
"Set in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960, this picture book tells a story of desegregation from the viewpoint of one little girl. Growing up in the South, Connie understands that there are places where she and other African Americans can and cannot eat, drink, swim, and use the bathroom. But after Dr. King visits the local college chapel to preach and her older siblings become active in the NAACP, she also knows that her people are working for change.
When her brother's friends sit down at a dime-store lunch counter that refuses them service, their act of peaceful protest starts a wave of similar demonstrations that brings better times to their community and throughout the South. An author's note gives background information about the events in Greensboro that year. Simple and straightforward, the first-person narrative relates events within the context of one close-knit family. Though rather dark, the well-composed, painterly illustrations show up well from a distance. A handsome book for classroom reading, even for middle-grade students."
Booklist Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 12:23 PM No comments:
Remember: The Journey to School Integration
Remember: The Journey to School Integration
Written by: Toni Morrison
Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades
"This unusual blend of archival photographs, historical background, and fictional narrative brings to life the experiences and emotions of the African-American students who made the tumultuous journey to school integration. Dramatic, mostly full-page, black-and-white photographs make up the bulk of the book. An introduction sets the scene, and factual pages, consisting of several sentences, are scattered throughout. They explain the significance of the events, the trauma of racial conflict, the courage and determination of African Americans and their supporters, and the importance of remembering and understanding. With poignant simplicity and insight, Morrison imagines the thoughts and feelings of some of the people in the pictures. The wrenching, inspiring autobiographical school integration memoirs of first-grader Ruby Bridges (Through My Eyes [Scholastic, 1999]) and Little Rock Nine high school junior Melba Pettillo Beals (Warriors Don't Cry [Washington Square, 1995]) offer greater immediacy and convey a powerful message for future generations about the need for understanding, self-awareness, and self-respect."
School Library Journal Review
Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2005
Beautiful Blackbird
Beautiful Blackbird
Written and Illustrated by: Ashley Bryan
Elementary Grades
"In Beautiful Blackbird, Bryan has adapted a folktale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia. His rhythmic and often-repeated "black is beautiful, uh-huh" message of self-acceptance and tolerance emphasizes that beauty comes from within.
"Bryan's vividly colored, silhouetted birds using simply-cut paper collage combines with the rhythm of the lively text to offer a satisfying read aloud," Jeter said. "'Beautiful Blackbird' incorporates all the colors of the rainbow, adding to the message that there is room for all of us to fly together."
American Library Association Review
Coretta Scott King Award Book for Illustration, 2004
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Labels: coretta scott king award, elementary, folktale, zambia
Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela
Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela
Written by: Yona Zeldis McDonough
Illustrated by: Malcah Zeldis
Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades
"This easy-to-read but engaging biography introduces the life and deeds of one of the 20th century's most important leaders. Born the son of a Thembu chief, Mandela spent 27 years in a South African prison before becoming the "first elected black leader" of that nation. McDonough focuses more on Mandela's early years and the development of his political beliefs than on his later life and briefer role as president. He is presented as a resolute student and family man who was determined to fight apartheid. Facts are stated simply, and the drama of his life comes through without sentimentality or rancor.
Zeldis's brightly colored folk-art illustrations reflect her subject's life and struggle with candid simplicity. When the illustrator depicts Mandela reclining in the cramped quarters of an unusually tiny jail cell, she clearly portrays both his physical discomfort and the greater injustice of his imprisonment. A hand-drawn map of South Africa appears on the endpapers. A worthwhile addition for all collections in need of accessible introductory biographies."
School Library Journal Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:50 AM No comments:
Labels: biography, elementary, nelson mandela, south africa
Martin's Big Words
Martin's Big Words
Written by: Doreen Rappoport
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Elementary Grades
"A brief biography of Dr. Martin Luther King uses memorable words from his speeches to highlight important moments in his life. Large type and arresting collages draw the reader's attention to Dr. King's powerful statements. Bryan Collier grabs the reader's emotional attention with collages made from watercolor, torn paper, and photographic images. each illustration powerfully and passionately interprets the big words spoken by Dr. King. Beginning with the strong, striking cover portrait and stained glass end papers, he conveys a reverential feeling in his art, which causes the reader to pause and think about the meaning of Dr. King's important words."
American Library Association Review
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2002
Orbis Pictus Award Winner for Outstanding Nonfiction, 2002
Caldecott Honor Book, 2002
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 11:43 AM No comments:
Labels: african-american, caldecott, coretta scott king award, elementary, mlk, nonfiction, orbis pictus award
Friday, January 16, 2009
Moon Rope/Un Lazo a la Luna
Moon Rope/Un Lazo a la Luna
Written and Illustrated by: Lois Ehlert
Translated by: Amy Prince
Elementary Grades - Bilingual
"In this imaginative take on an ancient Peruvian tale, Fox persuades Mole to climb with him on a grass rope he has braided and--with the birds' help--hitched to the moon. Fox trains his sight upward and is not seen again except by the birds, who claim they can spy him in the moon still. Mole, nervously looking downward, falls; the birds carry him back to earth amid the jeers of the other animals, and to this day he prefers his solitary tunnel. Simple though it is, this retelling emphasizes its timelessness as a story: on one hand there is the insatiable desire to transcend earthly bounds; on the other, the fear of the unknown. Ehlert's characteristic, highly stylized cut-paper figures, in deep, vibrant colors that are used to set off the evanescent silver of the fox, rope and moon, capture the myth's magic and dexterously suggest its pre-Columbian origins. The book's bilingual text provides valuable material for the ever-growing audience for multicultural children's books."
Publishers Weekly Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:34 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, folktale, latino, peru, spanish bilingual
The Bossy Gallito
The Bossy Gallito
Written by: Lucia M. Gonzalez
Illustrated by: Lulu Delacre
Elementary Grades - Bilinigual
"This hearty Cuban folktale brings a multicultural touch to storytelling. Set in Miami's Little Havana, this book tells the tale of a bossy rooster on his way to his uncle's wedding. Using both Spanish and English text, this book is ideal for bilingual classrooms and offers a simple introduction to the joy of learning another language. Included is a glossary, and author and illustrator notes regarding the background of the story which can prompt discussions about different countries and their traditions of storytelling, and can lead to a larger discussion about how the world's diverse cultural heritage (food, language, dress) makes living in it more interesting. The big, bold color illustrations add even more humor to this endearing tale."
Scholastic Book Reviews
Pura Belpre Honor Book, 1996
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:29 PM No comments:
Labels: cuba, elementary, folktale, latino, pura belpre
Calling the Doves
Calling the Doves
Written by: Juan Felipe Herrera
Illustrated by: Elly Simmons
Elementary Grades - Bilingual
"Calling the Doves is poet Juan Felipe Herrera's story of his migrant farmworker childhood. In delightful and lyrical language, he recreates the joy of eating breakfast under the open sky, listening to Mexican songs in the little trailer house his father built, and celebrating with other families at a fiesta in the mountains. He remembers his mother singing songs and reciting poetry, and his father telling stories and calling the doves. For Juan Felipe, the farmworker road was also the beginning of his personal road to becoming a writer."
Children's Book Press
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 4:23 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, latino, mexican-american, spanish bilingual
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tomas and the Library Lady
Tomas and the Library Lady
Written by: Pat Mora
Illustrated by: Raul Colon
Elementary Grades - Available in English and Spanish
"Tomás and the Library Lady is the story of a Mexican American boy named Tomás during one summer in Iowa and the impact that a kind librarian and a multitude of books had on his life.
The story is even more affecting when we realize it is a fictionalized account of one summer in the life of a real person. An afterword reveals that the story is based on the childhood experiences of Tomás Rivera, a migrant worker whose desire to learn led him to a career as a writer and educator. He died in 1984, while serving as the chancellor of the University of California at Riverside."
Children's Picture Book Review
Texas Bluebonnet Master List Title, 1999-2000
Web Resources:
Dona Flor
Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Woman with a Great Big Heart
Written by: Pat Mora
Illustrated by: Raul Colon
"A charming tall tale set in the American Southwest. Doña Flor, a giant, is a benevolent presence in her pueblo. While at first kids teased the young and large Flor, she quickly became an asset to them, whisking them off to school when they were running late or making tortillas big enough to be used as rafts on the river. The action starts when a puma is heard howling in the vicinity; the villagers are terrified and even Doña Flor can't find it. The animals know where the gato is so she follows their advice and the situation is delightfully resolved."
School Library Journal
This book is a great read aloud story to use with students who will pick up on the Spanish phrases intertwined in the story.
Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2006
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 3:54 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, folktale, latino, pura belpre
The Upside Down Boy
The Upside Down Boy
Written by: Juan Felipe Herrera
Illustrated by: Elizabeth Gomez
Elementary Grades - Available in English and Spanish
"Juanito is bewildered by his new school, and he misses the warmth of country life. Everything he does feels upside down. He eats lunch when it's recess; he goes out to play when it's time for lunch; and his tongue feels like a rock when he tries to speak English. But a sensitive teacher and loving family help him to find his voice and make a place for himself in this new world through poetry, art, and music.
Juan Felipe Herrera's playful language and the colorful, magical art of Elizabeth Gómez capture the universal experience of children entering a new school feeling like strangers in a world that seems upside down—at first."
Children's Book Press
Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List, 2001-2002
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 3:44 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, latino, mexican-american
Poetry by Francisco X. Alarcon
Poet Francisco X. Alarcon has a collection of bilingual poetry books celebrating the seasons. His books incorporate vignettes and stories told from the perspective of his Mexican-American upbringing.
Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems - Pura Belpre Honor Book, 1998
From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems - Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2000
Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems - Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2002
Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 3:09 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, mexican-american, poetry, pura belpre, spanish bilingual
My Name is Gabito
My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez/Me llamo Gabito: la vida de Gabriel García Márquez
Written by :Monica Brown
Illustrated by: Raúl Colón
Elementary Grades
"This luminous picture book describes the Colombian author's childhood and influences. Brown does a wonderful job of articulating García Márquez's complex literary style (called magical realism) in a way youngsters can grasp. Even better, she shows how his imagination was nurtured and encouraged from a very early age by the things around him."
School Library Journal
Pura Belpre Award for illustration, 2008
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:46 PM No comments:
Labels: columbia, elementary, latino, pura belpre
Frida: Viva la Vida! and Cesar Si, Se Puede!
Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life!
Written and illustrated by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Upper Elementary/Junior High Grades
"Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life! uses lyrical free-verse poems which comprise the heart of a well rounded biographical work for older children. The poems, written in impassioned first-person voice, follow the arc of Frida Kahlo's life from birth to death. The opening birth poem and the closing death poem set a tone of self-determination firmly placing her in history, in her family and in her country."
Publisher Review
Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2008
Web Resources:
Cesar Si, Se Puede
Written by: Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Illustrated by: David Diaz
Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades
"The life and times of César Chávez are vividly re-created in this collection of poems. Where most biographies stick to the facts of what a person did, this one also touches on the man's character and values. Children will learn about Chávez, but, more importantly, they will learn the important lessons he taught, and they will be able to apply them to their own lives. The lyrical language describes events and paints evocative pictures to which children will relate. A glossary and translation of the Spanish words used, a concise well-written biographical essay, and famous Chávez quotes are appended."
School Library Journal Review
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:43 PM No comments:
Labels: biography, elementary, junior high, latino, mexico, poetry, pura belpre
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Retold by Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrated by Michael Austin
Elementary Grades
"Martina is 21 days old and ready to give her leg in marriage. With the help of her Abuela's shocking advice, she interviews a cast of unlikely suitors to find her true love. Deedy's lively and humorous retelling of this classic Latino folktale sparkles with wit as well as aspects of the Cuban culture."
Publishers Description
Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2008
Texas Bluebonnet Nominee, 2009-2010
Web Resources:
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 2:39 PM No comments:
Labels: cuba, elementary, folktale, latino, pura belpre, texas bluebonnet book
Monday, January 12, 2009
Snapshots From the Wedding
Snapshots From the Wedding
Written by: Gary Soto
Illustrated by: Stephanie Garcia
Elementary 1-6
"There's nothing like a wedding, and this book about a wedding is not quite like any other. Soto takes readers to a Mexican American nuptial, and young Maya, the flower girl, is the lens through which the action is seen. The language at times is quite sophisticated. Children who have been involved in a family wedding will easily draw comparisons to this story. A glossary provides readers with definitions of words in Spanish used throughout the text. The three dimensional shadow box illustrations add a unique element to this book"
Booklist Review
Pura Belpre Honor Book for Illustration, 1996
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 3:07 PM No comments:
Labels: elementary, latino, mexican-american, pura belpre
In My Family
In My Family
Written and Illustrated by: Carmen Lomas Garza
Available in English and Spanish - Elementary
Taken from the introduction of In My Family: "When I was growing up, a lot of us were punished for speaking Spanish. We were punished for being who we were, and we were made to feel ashamed of our culture. That was very wrong. My art is a way of healing these wounds."
This is a very touching auto-biographical story told in pictures of how the author dealt with cultural issues related to growing up in a Mexican-American community in Texas. If you loved her first book, Family Pictures, you'll love sharing more of the stories and images that remain so vividly in Carmen's memory, and that have influenced so much of her art.
Winner of the Pura Belpre Honor Book, 1997
Texas Bluebonnett Master List, 1997-1998
Family Pictures
Family Pictures
Written and Illustrated by: Carmen Lomas Garza
Available in English and Spanish - Elementary
"Family Pictures" is the story of Carmen Lomas Garza's girlhood in Kingsville, Texas: celebrating birthdays, making tamales, finding a hammerhead shark on the beach, picking cactus, going to a fair in Mexico, and confiding to her sister her dreams of becoming an artist. These day-to-day experiences are told through fourteen vignettes of art and a descriptive narrative, each focusing on a different aspect of the traditional Mexican American culture she experienced.
Posted by Jennie's Book Reviews at 8:46 AM No comments:
Labels: elementary, latino, mexican-american, pura belpre
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Consulting material: To consult archives and manuscripts, a full and unrestricted Bodleian reader's card (Group A) is required. You should apply for your card at the Admissions Office.
Pre-ordering: Before your visit you may order up to ten items by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com. Please be advised that some collection material is held offsite; we advise pre-ordering at least two working days before your visit to ensure material is available on your arrival.
Labuan, in northern Borneo, was ceded to Great Britain by the Sultan of Brunei in 1846. The British used the island initially as a naval base from which to counteract the activities of pirates from Brunei, and as a strategic refuelling station for steamships. However, as its lack of economic and strategic importance became evident, it passed through a number of different administrations. Initially ceded to James Brooke, British Rajah of Sarawak, it was handed over to the British North Borneo Chartered Co. in 1890, the Government of the Straits Settlements in 1907, and became part of the Colony of North Borneo after World War One. The Japanese occupied it from 1942 to 1945, re-naming it Maida Island after the Chief Commander of their forces in Borneo (General Maida was later killed in an air crash while travelling to Labuan from Bintulu). It was liberated from 10th June 1945 by Australian forces under General McArthur, returned to British rule, and became part of independent Malaysia in 1963.
Although rich in deposits of oil and petroleum, Labuan's only industry for much of the 19th century was coal mining. From 1847 to 1911 a number of British companies extracted coal from Tanjong Kubong at the north tip of the island. One of the later companies, New Central Borneo, constructed a railway line to transport the coal to Victoria Port. However, the mines were eventually closed after a series of accidents.
Documents relating to the lease of coal mines and 'petroleum springs' in Labuan Island, North Borneo, consisting of
The papers were deposited in the library by the Foreign Office in 1996.Access Conditions
Bodleian reader's ticket required.Reproduction Restrictions
No reproduction or publication of personal papers without permission. Contact the library in the first instance.
The library holds a card index of all manuscript collections in its reading room.
Coal mines and mining | Labuan
Central Borneo Co. Ltd.
Labuan Coalfields Co. Ltd.
Labuan Exploration Co. Ltd.
Labuan | History


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Uganda has a good anti corruption framework which is demonstrated by institutional coordination arrangement, legal reforms, political developments and constitutional provisions. A zero tolerance stance to corruption with a call for prompt and decisive action against any incidences of corruption at all levels has been adopted in the National Anti Corruption Strategy (NACS).
The National Strategy is an action plan designed to make a significant impact on building the quality of accountability and reducing the levels of corruption in Uganda. Its focus is on building a culture where integrity is valued and corruption is rejected.
This strategic framework is implemented by a range of agencies under the anti corruption Inter Agency Forum (IAF), led by the Inspectorate of Government (IG), and coordinated by the Directorate for Ethics and Integrity (DEI).
Membership of the IAF comprises the following institutions:
Directorate for Ethics and Integrity (DEI)
This is the policy arm in the fight against corruption in Uganda charged with the main functions of coordination of national efforts against corruption and mainstreaming ethics and integrity in public service. Details are available at www.dei.go.ug
Inspectorate of Government (IG)
The Inspectorate of Government is an independent institution charged with the responsibility of eliminating corruption and abuse of office, promoting good governance and enforcing the leadership code of conduct. It reports to Parliament and has the function of promoting and ensuring strict adherence to the rule of law and principles of natural justice in administration. It is also the national Ombudsman of Uganda. Details are available at www.ig.go.ug
Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
The Directorate handles and prosecutes all criminal cases in the country, delegate such powers where necessary, having regard to public interest, administration of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process. Details are available at www.dpp.go.ug
Office of the Auditor General (OAG)
The OAG is headed by the Auditor General of Uganda. The Auditor General is an independent authority appointed under article 163 on the Constitution of Uganda and the National Audit Act 2008, and provides an independent oversight of Government operations through financial and other management audits. Details are available at www.oag.go.ug
Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA)
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), is the regulatory body for public procurement and disposal in Uganda. It sets standards and regulations for procurements in the public office. Details are available at www.ppda.go.ug
Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID)
The CID is a Directorate of the Uganda Police force which is a full – time institution of the Government of Uganda. With a new established anti – corruption Department, the CID supports the anti – corruption efforts in the investigation of cases of corruption and abuse of office.Details are available at www.upf.go.ug
A new anti – corruption Court has been established and is handling corruption cases expeditiously Details are available at www.judicature.go.ug
Other agencies that formed the Inter Agency Forum are:
- Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Inspectorate of Courts
- Local Government Finance Commission
- Uganda Revenue Authority
- Criminal Investigations Directorate
- Public Service Commission
- Ministry of Public Service
- Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
- Ministry of Public Service
- Ministry of Local Government
- Education Service Commission
- Health Service Commission
- Judicial Services Commission


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The Texas State Department of Theatre and Dance will kick off its Mainstage season Oct. 6 with A View from the Bridge.
The University Star sat down with Nick Ortiz, theater senior, who plays Eddie Carbone in the production. Ortiz discussed how he got into acting and what audiences can expect from the show.
The production, which is directed by Melissa Utley, runs from Oct. 6-11 at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre.


text: moonbeam 119 Report post Posted February 8, 2014 Name: Shorad Kyen Yuy, Family: Mother Mayrea Father Dezidur, Older Brother Tyoh, Younger Sister Hanalay, Wife Joola Toka (maiden name: Telahay) (married name: Yuy,) Justin Yuy Oldest Son, Youngest Daughter Azara Joola Yuy Sister in-law Mitsuki Grandchildren Rena, Drake, Shiki Coyanno distant cousin Birthday: June 5 Birthstone: Aquamarine Blood Type: O Astrological Sign: Gemini (elements Air and Fire) Least Favorite: Colour: none Favorite Colours: Green and Orange Favorite Food: likes all food with one exception Least Favorite Food: Blueberries Likes: Dragons, Stargazing and flying Dislikes: Hates the people he knew who caused the car accident. Favorite Classes: Marshall arts Least Favorite Class: French Favorite Stone: Azer Stone Life Pursuit: To explore a little bit of everything. Vibration: Intense mental energy Personality: Shorad finds he always on the move and thirsty for knowledge as well new experiences. He is curious and sometimes even mischievous when he wants to be. He also is a talented writer he prefers to do that over talking most times. He also has a special interest in foreign languages but has a hard time picking up on French. Shorad loves the adventure game playing involved in out-thinking other people. He is tough and rarely shows emotions but when he does show his emotions people can definitely tell. When you have been around him for several days or so he starts to open up a little but not that it unless it involves family other people find him to be very mysterious and that keeps to himself. At times when Shorad would keep to himself Azara would find these times a difficult because she would worry about father and wonder how she could help him. Shorad's secret desire is to be the ahead of a crowd. Powers: Shadow Force Forums up to stage three, barriers, freeze people, can heal himself, he can fade out to go places, he can talk to people in their minds, he can sense other energy levels, he can sense other life forms, he can hear People's thoughts, he can send pain shooting through people's bodies without touching them, he can instantly kill people without being around them and his eyes go black when angry, etc Background: Shorad was born on Shadow Con he would not put up with fighting when younger he learned through the years that some things just have to be fought for like a peaceful future that is one of the many reasons why he was appointed to be one of Shadow Con's height is steamed General's of the royal court when Shorad was 14 his brother Tyoh and sister Hanalay were killed in front of him. When he was 19 going on 20 Shorad fled Shadow Con. Present Day: Shorad told Azara while still at their house in the Shadow Con Forest that he could sense Justin's energy and he had survived the car crash. Shorad and Azara went to meet up with their family. They met at the family reunion on Shadow Con in the summer Shorad met Mitsuki, and Shiki for the first time and he learns what really happened to Justin. He has not yet met his oldest it to grandchildren Rena and Drake but would like to one day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites