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May 07, 2015
Models Own Vintage Pink
One brand of nail polish that seems to be building up in my collection is Models Own. Lately I've been pretty impressed by the constant new collections. During their last sale, I decided to stock up on some shades missing in my collection and promptly added Models Own's Vintage Pink into my basket. Here's what I think of it.
Vintage Pink is a muted pink with a sort of brown undertone to it. It has a glossy finish which makes it easy to apply and it doesn't take too long to completely set. It's one of those shades that's great when you want a little colour on your nails but you don't want anything too eye-catching. It's very work/school appropriate without having to wear a full on nude shade.
I found that I needed two coats for this to be completely opaque but it is possible with just the one coat if you're in a rush. As with most Models Own shades, the polish was really long lasting with around 4-5 days wear before any signs of chipping.
If bold shades aren't your thing and you want something a little more simple, this is definitely one to add to your collection.
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As part of our cultural narrative, many comic books personify genius through their fantastic characters. Presented here are the ten comic book geniuses that rise to the top of today's sequential lore.
William Moulton Marston invented both the lie detector and Wonder Woman. Learn where both originated at Stuff of Genius.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fly agaric
Amanita cafeteria, commonly called fly agaric or less often smurf's mushroom, is a fungus that sprouts from the forest floor. The nickname Smurf's mushroom comes from the little blue creatures that carve out homes in the bulbous base of Fly Agaric mushrooms. These charming but foul-tempered little creatures are just one of the many organisms who benefit from this fungus.
The Fly Agaric is the original white-spotted red toadstool, and it is one of the most aromatic sweet and delicious mushrooms available on the world market. The culinary trade treasures this fungus because it is so easy to cook with, and it makes meat that is about to turn rotten taste great again. As Betty Crocker says, "Now that's a money-saver!". Amalita cafeteria is also famed for its flour-like properties: after it has been dried and powdered it forms a fine white starchy flour which can be used in baking or in cosmetics. This flour had a religious significance in Eskimo culture and possibly ancient Indiana and Scandinavia. Since medieval times it has been used in cookies or as for making gravy for hungry soldiers whose turkey was too dry...and therefore needed a little gravy. It is said by Scandinavians to be so good it's addictive, whether served in food or drink. But there is also mystery to this fungi. Nobody remembers what it tastes like.
Due to the size, odor and color of Fly Agarics** they are easy to spot. They have a fat stem, about 5cm-12cm(2"-6")) tall,the cap is bigger around than the stem and it usually measures from 5cm-20cm (2"-8") occasionally people report mushrooms of even greater size. Even though there are dozens of differently colored Fly Agarics, ranging across the spectrum in color from deep red, (pictured below) to orange & pale yellow with age, Though some closely related mushrooms which look very similar to the Fly Agaric are actually heavily poisonous and is the most common reason for death due to fungi consumption.Most people think of Fly Agarics as a powerful psychotropic entheogen*.
- ENTHEOGEN "God Inside Us"- substance containing potential or ability for spiritual or shamanic purposes.
- Fly Agaric is also known as Amanita Muscaria, Fly Amanita, and is suspected to be the ancient ritual drug Soma(unproven).
Common Recipes[edit]
Fly Agaric Cookies
Dessert recipe
- Fresh Fly Agaric mushrooms
- Confection sugar
- Sugar- You can't go wrong with the amount it's personal preference.
- 12 oz. jar maple syrup
Chop the mushrooms into little pieces after removing all dirt by washing with cold water for as short of an amount of time as possible. Toss them into the oven at low temp till crispy and completely dried (not blackened if you can help it[taste issue]) while those are toasting mix the sugar and syrup into a bowl and stir, take the scorched mushrooms and mix those into the bowl, stirring until cooled to room temperature, form into cookie shapes and dust top with powdered sugar
Urine Sample
mixed drink
- 1 can of Red Bull (or Redrum)
- 4 oz. of tequila
- Urine of a recent agaric user. (the ibotenic acid [after making you nauseous]that doesn't metabolize into muscimol** passes straight through you and is found unchanged in the urine of a recent user).
- Muscimol is the psychotropic substance obtained from heated, dried, or metabolized Ibotenic Acid.
Easy. Mix together and chug.
Other Uses for Fly Agaric[edit]
Riverfolk of the Cincinnati area feed the mushrooms to their pet dogs; when the dogs urinate the river folk collect the urine and drink it. They claim it gives them wings. Using this idea an Austrian beverage company has made a popular energy drink "Red Bull". Part of the drink's success may be due to the chemical nitrous oxide or Nos, which is found in dog urine after ingesting the mushrooms.Some cultures have even fermented the urine, making a type of brew called green tea also there is evidence that Adolph Hitler drank a substance called vitamultin, which is similar to Red Bull. For the last few thousand years people have claimed it helps them get in touch with the Holy Spirit.
The Lappish people of northern Finnmark and Lappland traditionally used Fly Agaric mushroom as a hallucinigenic, often shamans using it to enter the 'spirit world'. However it was also used by others in times of celebration. Most people, however could not afford to get the mushrooms as they were too busy working, only the rich. After the rich would eat these mushrooms, they would walk outside and pee into buckets and the less well off would drink their pee, which contained the active content of those mushrooms.
Getting high on the pee was actually more pleasant than eating the mushrooms because the liquid state is easier for the body to metabolize than solid mushroom flesh.
Active Chemical[edit]
The active chemical in Fly Agaric is Ibotenic Acid a substance that is slightly poisonous, causing nausea and headaches, if prepared correctly this chemical can be changed into Muscimol the desired chemical for a perfect trip. Your body also naturally changes some of the Ibotenic Acid into Muscimol but you should always try to change as much Ibotenic into Muscimol as you can before eating them.
"Just like the tilt-a-whirl at my county fair!"


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2010 Luxury & Style News Archive (105)
Sarment Appoints Yacht Services Director
Sarment, the ultimate fine wine advisory service, has appointed Clément Pelletier as Director of Sarment Yachts, the company's specialised wine management service tailored to the requirements and...
New Spanish Superyacht Marina Prepares to Open
Situated on the golden shores of the Costa del Sol, set against the stunning backdrop of Gibraltar, the new Alcaidesa Marina is preparing to welcome luxury yachts and high-net-worth-individuals.
The Icon A5 Personal Aircraft Project Revisited
Since news first broke of this revolutionary personal aircraft, we have been eagerly awaiting the commercial launch of the Icon A5. After completing her 100th test flight this year, we take a look at...
U-Boat Worx – The Leading Personal Submersible
For any superyacht owner or charter guest with a sense of exploration, the U-Boat Worx submarine is the ideal superyacht toy; offering unspoilt views of the deep from a leading state-of-the-art sub.
The Kawasaki Ultra 260X High Speed Superyacht Toy
The Kawasaki Ultra 260X is another in a long line of successfully high octane personal watercrafts. This impressivley fast Jet Ski can produce a top speed of around 68mph and easily tops the market...
The Seabreacher: A Wave-Breaking Watercraft
The Seabreacher X Watercraft is a superyacht toy from beneath the waves; allowing you to drive, dive and leap out of the water at some seriously impressive speeds.
Audemars Piguet team up with Michael Schumacher
Against the iconic backdrop of Dusseldorf's former Meilenwerk railway station - surrounded by classic cars - Audemars Piguet CEO Philipe Merk officially welcomed Michael Schumacher into the Swiss...
The Blue Sensation Timepiece from Greib & Benzinger
Based on the historic Patek Phillipe for Tiffany movement, Greib & Benzinger have presented a unique horological master piece; The Blue Sensation.
Largest Luxury Ice Hotel Welcomes First Guests
Located in Swedish Lapland, the world's largest luxury Ice Hotel Jukkasjarvi has now opened its doors to guests a month early, offering a truly alternative Christmas break.
Audemars Piguet: The Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli...
Successively associated with the greatest in Formula 1 racing, Audemars Piguet has now released the new limited edition Royal Oak Offshore series, with a signature from Jarno Trulli.
Hermes and Yamaha Introduce the New Luxury V-Max...
One of the world's leading luxury brands, Hermès, has joined forces with Yamaha to create the stylish, aggressive and high-octane V-Max superbike; a true one of a kind.
Sarment Launch Fine Wine Services For Yacht Owners
During the 2010 Monaco Yacht Show, the leading fine wine advisory service, Sarment, launched a specialised high-end service dedicated to owners of superyachts and yacht manufacturers.
Roy Lichtenstein's "Ohhh... Alright..." Up...
The painting created by Roy Lichtenstein in 1964 titled 'Ohhh… Alright…" has been listed for sale at Christie's Auction House in London and is expected to reach an astonishing £25 million.
The Enhanced Bentley Continental Supersports from...
The Continental Supersports, the most powerful car Bentley has ever produced, has now been fully modified and enhanced by prestigious tuning house, Anderson Germany.
VistaJet Founder Discusses Setting A New Precedent in...
Thomas Flohr, Owner, Founder and Chairman of the leading luxury aviation service VistaJet spoke to us about setting a new standard in the luxury industry.
BMW Provides 2010 MYS with BMW 7 Series Hybrid Courtesy...
BMW have proudly presented one of the most supreme and luxurious renditions of hybrid technology ever seen so far in an automobile, introducing the BMW Active Hybrid 7 Series.
Quincy Jones Visits Audemars Piguet
World famous artist and composer Quincy Jones was recently welcomed into the Manufacturing arm of Audemars Piguet to salute their remarkable work and mark a strong, charitable relationship.
The Mercedes-Benz Inspired Superboat Now Available
The Cigarette Powerboat inspired by the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar is now available for an impressive €900,000, giving the opportunity to own the ultimate superyacht toy.
Luxury in Precious Metals
It's the little things that add to the pleasure of life. From golden mobile phones to bespoke jewellery, here are some charming adornments and gadgetry that make every day life a little less ordinary.
Top London Penthouse Sells for £140 Million
A Penthouse in one of London's top locations has sold for an astounding £140 million, breaking records and putting a lot of attention on London's Golden Postcodes.


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Angelina's Story: Living at Home Thanks to Private Care & Respite Services
Despite suffering from chronic illness and undergoing dialysis treatment for twelve years, Angelina M. remained living in the warmth of her own home. Coping with the responsibilities of ensuring adequate care for their elderly mother, her children found welcome assistance through our Respite Care and Private Pay programs. For over five years, Angelina received several personal care visits a week from VNA certified home health aide, Consuelo Jimenez.
When circumstances changed, her family turned to the familiar faces of the VNA to provide hospice care. Our hospice team – including Consuelo, Jennifer Cuff, RN, and social worker Mary Lou Daley – was honored to provide comfort and support to Angelina and her family during her final days. While Consuelo's main focus during the years of respite care was assisting with daily activities, she enjoyed spending time getting to know Angelina and better understand her needs. "Angelina was a special, caring lady who always worried about others. Her life was filled with a lot of love, especially with her children and grandchildren," she reminisced. We were touched to receive this lovely note from Angelina's son:
"On behalf of my entire family I want to express my most sincere appreciation for the care and services your organization provided to my mother. The assistance the VNA hospice team provided was a blessing for Mom and all of us. In particular, we would like to thank Mom's nurse, Jennifer and care giver Consuelo, whose personal and tender care will never be forgotten. I don't know what we would have done without them. I may add, Consuelo had been caring for Mom for many years prior to her hospice duties through the VNA Respite Care Program, and helped us care for Mom all those years with kindness and compassion as well as the highest professional care. We will always keep you all in our prayers and forever be grateful." Michael M.


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Written by Darien Campo and Burke De Boer.
Directed by Darien Campo.
Todd Norton's day starts out on a bad note when he wakes up in an alley having been mugged the night before. Though his fresh concussion prevents Todd (Burke De Boer) from remembering who cold-cocked him, he is not deterred — and now armed with a list of every person he's ever pissed off, Todd blows his way through the Pacific Northwest University campus in a desperate search to identify the perpetrator.
Release: 2017
Genre: Mystery/Comedy/College
Duration: 134 minutes
Buy it now - $7


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Purchasing Tickets
Tickets and festival passes will be available at the box office at the Big Picture Theater, or call 802-496-8994.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are $10 per screening or purchase 6 film screenings for $50.*
Special Event screenings are $12.
Festival Passes
MOUNTAINTOP PASSES are $100 and give you full access to all the films.
All screenings are first come, first serve. We are unable to reserve seats.
*Non-special event tickets are transferable and can be used for future movie screenings at the Big Picture Theater.


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PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
Don't miss the top 15 Asian landmarks in TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice listings.
The world's largest travel website, TripAdvisor, has announced its Travellers' Choice Attractions awards that are based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews of attractions, featured its site in various categories.
Today, we bring you the top 15 landmarks in Asia that you must visit. We begin with:
15. The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Site of a former mass grave of the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime, Choeung Ek is today a major tourist destination in Cambodia. It is the site where the Khmer Rouge regime is said to have executed over a million people between 1975 and 1979.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, the mass graves containing thousands of bodies were discovered here.
Today it is a memorial that is marked by a Buddhist stupa which as acrylic glass sides and filled with 5,000 human skulls. The present Cambodian government encourages tourists visiting the site and has entered into a 30-year agreement with JC Royal Co, a private Cambodian-Japanese corporation to maintain the site.
Image: The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Photographs: Tim Gray/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
14. Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), Beijing, China
The UNESCO World Heritage site sprawling over 2.9 sq km in Beijing was once a former imperial palace. Three quarters of the expanse is water and is equally known for its natural beauty as it is for its majestic halls and pavilions. The Kunming Lake which covers over 2.2 sq km of the area is a human-made structure and the soil that was excavated was used to construct the Longevity Hill.
UNESCO described the palace as 'a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value'.
Image: Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), Beijing, China
Photographs: Kallgan/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
13. Bagan Temples, Myanmar
Located on the banks of Rive Ayeyarwady, Bagan has the largest concentration of Buddhist structures in the world. Many of these structures date back to the 11th and the 12th centuries and as a cluster, they attract almost as many visitors as Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
Rent a bicycle and keep a good deal of time aside to go around the site and locate a vantage point for a 360-degree view over the plain and hundreds of pagodas and watch the sun set over River Ayeyarwady.
Image: Bagan Temples, Myanmar
Photographs: Corto Maltese/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
12. Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), Bangkok, Thailand
Located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace, Thailand's most valued temple features the magnificent Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.
According to legend, the origins of this statue lie in India though record suggest that it was found in 15th century Cambodia before being moved to Laos in the following century. After this the statue is said to have remained in Vientiane for 215 years before landing in Thailand in the 18th century.
It has been prophesised that the stature would bring 'prosperity and pre-eminence to each country in which it resides'. Therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Buddha is revered in Thailand and considered the country's protector.
Image: Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), Bangkok, Thailand
Photographs: Syph Mastorna/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
11. Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), Bangkok, Thailand
Considered to be the most famous and photographed temple in Bangkok, which features a soaring 70-meter-high spire decorated with tiny pieces of coloured glass and Chinese porcelain, Wat Arun, named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn and is one of the most well-known landmarks in Bangkok. The temple itself gets its name because of the radiance with which the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple.
Wat Arun features at number 11 of the top landmarks in Asia.
Image: Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), Bangkok, Thailand
Photographs: Globe-trotter/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
10. The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok's famous palace complex was built in 1782 and features several magnificent buildings including Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the beautiful Emerald Buddha that features at number 12 on this list.
The palace is one of Bangkok's most popular tourist attractions and a former resident of the King. Even though, the King no longer lives, here a part of the complex is off-limits to tourists as it is used for royal residences.
It would be a good idea to visit the palace on a weekday as several parts of it are closed for ceremonies over the weekend.
Constructed by King Rama I, the palace integrates many architectural styles and is worh the steep fee that you must pay to access it. Know also that there is a dress code with women being required to cover their upper arms and legs down to the thighs and men being required to wear long trousers and at the very least a t-shirt.
Image: Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand as seen from the River Chao Phraya
Photographs: Sodacan/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
9. Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India
The largest of all forts in Rajasthan, Mehrangarh was founded in 1458 around which the city of Jodhpur grew. In the 500-odd years that it has stood atop the 150m high hill with 360 degree views from its three-km long ramparts around its edges, the fort has never once been captured. The fort recently hosted the 50th birthday celebrations of supermodel Naomi Campbell's boyfriend and found a place in celluloid history courtesy Christopher Nolan who shot parts of The Dark Knight Rises here.
Image: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India
Photographs: Knowledge Seeker/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
8. Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), Bangkok, Thailand
Said to be the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, Wat Pho is believed to have been named after a monastery in India where Buddha had lived. The largest and oldest monasteries in Bangkok covering an area of 80,000 square metres, it is also home to more than a thousand Buddha images besides of course the 160 ft-long image of Buddha.
Image: Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), Bangkok, Thailand
Photographs: Gerold Kogler/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
7. Amber Fort and Palace, Jaipur, India
Located on the outskirts of Jaipur, the Amber Fort (pronounced Amer) is one of the principal attractions of tourists travelling to the capital city of Rajasthan. Constructed by Raja Man Singh I the fort blends the Hindu as well as the Rajput elements of art sand architecture.
Perhaps the most fascinating element of the fort remains its four-level layout plan that consists of the Diwan-e-Khas or the Hall of Private Audience, the Diwan-e-Aam or the Hall of Public Audience, the Sheesh Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors among others. Each year the fort reports an average of 5000 visitors every day and received 1.4 million visitors in 2007.
Parts of the site date back to the 1700s, and the spacious zenana (palace for women) includes a rather simple but remarkable air conditioning facility.
The Zenana has a gorgeous view of the rugged surroundings. Try standing on the balcony to admire the view.
The fort being so vast is facilitated with elephant tours around on the grounds. If you're visiting Jaipur, you certainly should not miss Amber fort which is on the way to New Delhi. The fort and palace complex is vibrant with stories of various kings -- how they lived and what all they made within this complex.
In the evening there is also a sound-and-light show which covers the history from 1070 to the present day and is a must-see.
Image: Amber Fort and Palace, Jaipur, India
Photographs: Skmalladi/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
6. Golden Temple, Amritsar, India
The Golden Temple and Amritsar are synonymous with each other. And why not, the gurudwara that is covered in gold shines like a jewel against the Amritsar skyline. As our contributor Harnoor Channi-Tiwary noted, the temple almost always shows a new side each time you visit it at any hour of the day.
It isn't surprising then that the Golden Temple receives visitors from all religions and faiths, 'in part perhaps because there is something strangely serene about this place' Tiwary writes here. 'Strange because serenity is not something you expect in a place thronged by millions of people every day. Yet, as you sit on the banks of the sarovar (lake), the ripples in the water, the chant of the granthi and the sight of Golden Temple's reflection all mesmerise you'.
Image: Golden Temple, Amritsar, India
Photographs: Vinish K Saini/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
5. Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
Yangoon's biggest tourist attraction is this immense Buddhist shrine built approximately 2500 years ago. Located to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, the pagoda is a prominent landmark in the city's skyline and also the one of the most sacred places for Buddhists of Myanmar.
It is believed that the Shwedagon Pagoda has stood for over 2600 years and is counted amongst the oldest pagodas of Myanmar.
Image: Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
Photographs: Dr Sithu Win/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
4. Great Wall at Mutianyu, Beijing
Lying 70km to the northeast of Beijing, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall of China. This section of the Wall is fully restored and there are hand rails to help you up on the very steep parts. Needless to say, the views it offers are spectacular and there are several day tours and transit bus services to this section of the Wall.
Image: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Beijing
Photographs: Nicolas Perrault III/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
3. Bayon Temple, Cambodia
Constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century, the Bayon Temple served as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. The temple, located at Angkor Thom, stands at the very centre of the king's capital and was improved upon and modified by later kings depending upon their religious beliefs.
However, the most striking features of Bayon are the many huge and serene-looking stone faces, seen pictured above.
Image: Bayon Temple, Cambodia
Photographs: Hans Stieglitz/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
2. Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Inarguably India's most recognisable monument to the world, the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Regarded as the finest example of Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahal is essentially an integrated complex of structures that took 21 years and thousands of artisans and craftsmen to complete. The Taj Mahal also appears on the new listing of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Image: Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Photographs: Ankit Mehra/Wikimedia Creative Commons
PICS: Top 15 landmarks in Asia
1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
It may come as a surprise that the largest Hindu temple complex in the world does not exist in India but rather in Cambodia. Angkor Wat continues to remain a prominent religious centre and one that has become synonymous with Cambodia by also appearing on its national flag. TripAdvisor describes Angkor Wat as being unrivalled in its beauty and state of preservation.
Constructed by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and hold a position of great importance in Khmer architecture.
The Angkor Archaeological Park of which Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple are a part was named as one of UNESCO's World Heritage site in 1992.
Earlier this month Cambodia joined hands with Australia to better preserve the complex by launching the Angkor Sunset Finder (angkorsunsets.com) that offers alternatives to the usual (and overcrowded) spots from where you can view stunning sunsets.
Image: Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Photographs: Bjorn Christian Torrissen/Wikimedia Creative Commons


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Angela was chauffeured to our place by way of a federal probation officer. Hmm—what did that fact signify? Some would think that she was "from away"—another ex con, freeloader, coming to the "nanny state" because of all our rich and easy benefits. Many would cringe and feel trepidation. And don't miss the federal probation part—she was a convicted bank robber. Now ask yourself—would you want to rent an apartment to a convicted felon, one who had done federal time? Would you think of befriending her? Lucky for us who work in a homeless shelter, we've had enough experiences with people to know that the advertising labels, good and bad, are frequently wrong.
Angela was born in the County—Aroostook County, to those truly from away. Her home town remains one of those places that has you feeling you've traveled back in time. With fewer than 500 residents and more than 35 miles from the nearest "city," available work is mostly physical (woods and farms), there are no streetlights and only one stop sign, and Drake's Hardware is where the different groups hang—old men early mornings, high school kids late afternoons—so it's a place where everyone knows which couple just broke up, whose aunt was just diagnosed with cancer, and where the Higgins family may have lost their cat. So while Angela came our way more from Manhattan than Northern Maine, and arrived with the categorizing and damning baggage of having done federal time, she was more a wounded country girl than a human detonator.
That is not to say that Angela didn't have her own history of having done unto others. But the average person, if given access to her complete story, the one with the angry father and submissive mother, the one with that night of too much alcohol and Jimmy Dion's rough hands and mouth, and the one having an accurate description of Angela's intelligence and good heart and her need to get away and find some place with more and different people—the average person would not have found her to be contemptible in any way.
Angela was young and bright and just needing to get away when she left Maine and took up residence with three other women in a two-bedroom apartment in the least desirable part of Manhattan. After a couple of years of temp work and waiting tables, she managed to secure a decent position with a good firm in the import export business. And within another two years, during which the company's leaders occasionally watched her in action and followed up by reading her evaluations, Angela was promoted to Chief Training Officer, responsible for seeing that all those in the company's front lines communicated professionally and productively. She could now afford a decent apartment, a wider range of suitable clothing, and at least some of the activities that NYC offers. What she and thousands of others did not realize was they were about to be given a front row seat to the smoke and fire, chaos and loss that was "Nine Eleven."
Angela found herself walking around late that morning, surrounded by sirens and dust and ash and fear and misery. She had to help. She had to do something. Over the course of the next few days she couldn't go to work and she couldn't stay inside the apartment—she had to keep walking the streets. She started seeing notes and photographs attached to everything, all over the place. "Call this number if you know anything about my son, Sam" (with a photograph—almost every announcement had at least one photograph). "Help me find my daughter—please!" Has anyone seen this man, my father?" Angela took action and started giving her money away to anyone who seemed to be hurt, lonely or bewildered. When her purse was empty she returned to the little stash in the cookie jar and took that to the streets. When that was gone and surrounding her was a staggering amount of pain that needed healing, her sore and tired feet took her to the nearest place she could get more for helping—a bank. She to this day cannot clearly recall what she said to the teller, but this was just a few days after we were attacked in a way never before experienced, and all nerves and systems were on highest alert. And so Angela went to jail. And in jail, Angela got traumatized some more. And finally she was allowed to come back to Maine.
I do not know how to predict what Angela's quality of life will be. Some have judged her for what she did—indeed, our system judged her harshly and saw that she was seriously punished. I do not know how I would have fared if I had been in her shoes. There is little doubt that she suffered.
About a month after she found her own housing she came by to pay us a visit—dressed to the nines in professional, chic Manhattan workday clothing. She approached the counter, enjoying the jaw drop looks on our faces, and said, "I just wanted to give you a glimpse of what was."
Angela has lived quietly, safely, appropriately and charitably in this region for almost a decade.


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SWC Leaders Honored in the Annual MSPmentor 250
Managed Services Provider (MSP) List Honors the World's Top Executives, Entrepreneurs and Experts
Chicagoland IT consulting firm, SWC Technology Partners, announced today that their managed services practice leaders were named to Nine Lives Media's sixth annual MSPmentor 250 list – Bob Knott, President; Susie Cummings, Vice President of Managed Services and Infrastructure Solutions; and Aaron Bianchetta, Network Operations Center Manager. The global list identifies the world's leading managed services provider (MSP) executives, entrepreneurs, experts, coaches and community leaders.
Bob Knott, President
Bob Knott is President of SWC Technology Partners, a technology solutions provider supporting the business-related IT needs of midmarket organizations in Chicago and surrounding areas. Since joining the company as COO in 2002 when it was a struggling application developer and then leading a management buyout in 2005, he has rebuilt SWC practically from the ground up – diversifying its solution portfolio, tripling the customer base and workforce, and turning it into one of the best-known companies of its kind in greater Chicago. Knott's strategy has focused on coupling SWC's legacy application development business with new service lines that help optimize customers' day-to-day operations – from remote monitoring of customer networks (managed services) to solutions that drive information sharing, better business decisions, data center efficiencies and more. The managed services concept – one of the earliest additions to the SWC portfolio and vital to generate recurring revenues – was still relatively unknown among prospective customers, Knott and his team were faced with overcoming resistance to handing network monitoring responsibilities over to a third party, while also building a monitoring platform and associated business processes from scratch. Today SWC's managed services practice accounts for nearly 25% of SWC's revenue and has been ranked as one of the top 100 MSPs in the world.
Susie Cummings, Vice President, Managed Services and Infrastructure Solutions
Susie Cummings serves as Vice President of Managed Services and Infrastructure Solutions at SWC Technology Partners. Reporting directly to the CEO, Susie oversees sales, operations and financial management of business segments that account for 32% of the company's annual revenues – including a Managed Services practice that she built from the ground up. The practice's initial remote network monitoring service has gradually expanded to include remote help desk, virtual DBA, SharePoint managed services, security managed services, on-site staffing at customer locations and most recently virtual CIO services – all driven by Cummings' recognition that mid-market organizations need expert IT coverage that is not affordable on an in-house basis. Today SWC's Managed Services practice accounts for more than 25% of SWC's revenue and is a cornerstone of SWC's business, a substantial contributor to company profits and one of the largest managed service provider operations in the world as ranked by the MSPmentor the last four years. SWC's Managed Services practice has experience a nearly 70% growth rate over the last three years.
Aaron Bianchetta, Network Operations Center (NOC) Manager
Aaron Bianchetta is the Network Operations Manager at SWC Technology Partners. He currently leads and manages SWC's Network Operations Center (NOC) team and has contributed to a more than 30% growth of the company's Managed Services practice this year. Part of this growth can be attributed to Aaron's leadership skills and dedication to continual process improvement through the IT Service Management model and the addition of SWC's Enhanced Managed Services offering, which includes application specific services such as Microsoft Exchange, Lync, SharePoint and SQL – all with 24×7 support. Aaron has also worked diligently to grow SWC's NOC team and get internal staff certified in ITIL to ensure the best possible delivery of these services to customers. His emphasis on continual process improvement, implementation of best practices and focus on customer service has resulted in a team that exceeds SLAs and KPIs and has also greatly contributed to SWC's appearance on the MSPmentor lists in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
"We are honored to be part of the prestigious MSPmentor 250 list," said Bob Knott, President of SWC. "SWC's managed services practice continues to be an integral part of our revenue growth and we are proud of the team's focus on the expansion and refinement of this top service area for our customers."
"The sixth-annual MSPmentor 250 expands our tradition of recognizing the world's top MSP experts," said Amy Katz, CEO of Nine Lives Media. "If you're seeking to launch or build a managed services business practice, the MSPmentor 250 is the ultimate Rolodex to get you started."
The MSPmentor 250 report is based on a global survey of MSPmentor site readers conducted at the end of 2014. The MSPmentor editorial staff, also weighed in with nominations, based on the team's daily coverage of the managed services market. The resulting MSPmentor 250 represents MSP experts across business, technology, sales, marketing, community development, coaching and more.
View the full 2014 MSPmentor 250 online.
About SWC Technology Partners
SWC Technology Partners is an award-winning provider of IT solutions to midsize organizations. For more than 30 years, SWC has excelled at delivering technology solutions that optimize productivity, strengthen customer relationships, enhance data sharing and drive profitability.
SWC specializes in the technology solutions that match the needs of midmarket organizations including managed services; infrastructure solutions such as Unified Communications, Microsoft System Center, virtualization and network security; software solutions including Microsoft SharePoint, business intelligence, CRM and custom development; and digital marketing services including website design, digital creative, Search Engine Optimization, social media and videography.
Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, SWC has been honored to receive numerous awards including being recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as one of the Best Places to Work in 2012, 2013 and 2014, one of Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and making the Inc. 500|5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
To learn more, email or call 630.572.0240.
About Nine Lives Media
Nine Lives Media, a division of Penton, defines emerging IT media markets and disrupts established IT media markets. The company's IT channel-centric online communities include MSPmentor, The VAR Guy and Talkin' Cloud.


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AST 1199 – The Blood Terminator Bead awakened, Seven-Seven Divine Nebula Formation succeeded
After Qing Shui came out, he quickly got together with the group. The girl had also woke up. In fact, many people didn't asleep. Now, they were all together, in the span of a few breaths time, they had already been surrounded.
These people didn't seem young. Their movements were very fast and in order. They seemed to have extremely good coordination with each other. Even though it was now nighttime and the area was a bit dark, their vision wasn't affected.
These old men all wore scarlet flame gowns. There was a raging scarlet flame sewn on top of their shirts. Qing Shui paid particular attention to the old man in the middle since the color of his scarlet flame gown was the darkest.
Furthermore, the aura emitted around his body was also the strongest. It was concealed well yet powerful, even with Qing Shui's current ability, he felt that he was insignificant in front of him. This made him feel burdened in his heart. This old man definitely held a very powerful position in Scarlet Flame Sect.
"Haha, I never thought that I would run into the Yan Clan's beloved sons and daughters. More importantly, there are two princesses as well. Almost all the people Young Sect Lord mentioned are here. Back then, he was so in love with the Eldest Princess, yet… This is good. I am going to kill off all the men and bring back the ladies!" The old man said calmly without any fluctuation in his heart.
Yan Yangchi and the others instantly activated their Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation. They might seem really calm but deep down, they were actually very worried. They weren't worried about themselves but the women around them. Those were their sisters and their fiances.
"You guys took over Rong City by force and killed the innocent. Are you not afraid that the Great Yu Dynasty will eliminate you?" Yan Yangchi screamed out loudly.
"Haha, Great Yu Dynasty, do you really think that the Great Yu Dynasty can do anything to us? Even if they can, will they do it? There are many benefits with us being in the middle of the Great Yu Dynasty and Great Virtue Dynasty. Furthermore, if Great Yu Dynasty really wanted to eliminate us, I think it will only result in an immediate change of ruler," the old man chuckled.
Actually, everyone was aware of that. It would just end with both sides suffering heavy casualties. This was why the Scarlet Flame Sect could survive within the Scarlet Flame Region. Furthermore, despite how crazy they were, they would not break out in all out war. In a way this also showed how powerful Scarlet Flame Sect was.
Move! Scarlet Flame Formation!
The old man shouted. Soon after, a faint layer of hot air spread into the surroundings, slowly getting hotter and hotter. Qing Shui shielded the girl, but noticed there was no change in her expression.
Qing Shui got nervous. But now, he had to fight, hence he shouted, "Set up formation!"
Qing Shui looked on as the crowd charged towards them from all sides. The old man from before on the other hand, didn't make any moves. He should be the leader of this crowd. Qing Shui didn't dare to fight him. He was not confident that he would win because the old man was too powerful.
Primordial Flame Dragon Whip!
Nine Palace Steps, Earth Rowing King!
Nine Continents Mountain!
All of these happened as swift as electric sparks. Not only were the attacks sudden, they were also incomparably fast and nimble. They immediately murdered two of the considerably powerful warriors there.
Undeniably, Qing Shui was really lucky. Under the effect of Big Dipper Sword, the Primordial Flame Dragon Whip just managed to activate the ability to double the attack in time. It immediately whipping one and crushing another to death.
Tidal Cloud Wave Seal!
Monstrous Wave!
In a short while, the surroundings were swallowed in huge waves. Qing Shui quickly told the others, "Don't move, set up your formation and defend yourselves."
This time, everyone felt completely unfamiliar with Qing Shui as they were totally unable to feel just how strong Qing Shui was.
The old man also squinted his eyes and looked at Qing Shui as his eyes sparkled. The people in the surroundings got caught up in the huge wave as well. Qing Shui took the chance and continuously thrust out his Big Dipper Sword.
Quite a few golden swords rushed towards them.
Emperor's Qi!
Currently, Qing Shui couldn't care less about anything going on. He wanted to seize the opportunity to attack, hoping that he would still be able to bring them and escape if he was really out of options.
Scarlet Flame Soaring Sky!
As the old man lifted up both his hands, an enormous scarlet flame wave covered both the sky and earth, immediately dispersing Qing Shui's Tidal Cloud Wave Seal.
"Set up your formation and charge in! Everyone, be careful!"
Qing Shui's hand trembled. Demon Binding Rope! He managed to bind one of them.
Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines!
The Nine Continents Mountain blocked one of the opponents whereas the Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines managed to bind another. They were instantly killed. To Yan Yangchi and the others, these old men might be really powerful but to Qing Shui, they were people whom he could still face relatively easily.
But they had the Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation, hence the Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines was still more reliable.
At this moment, the old man made his move.
Scarlet Flame Wave!
A violent scarlet hot wave charged towards Qing Shi and the group like surging magma.
Qing Shui extended his hand and pushed away the others. He operated the Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation all the way to its maximum. As he thrust out his sword, a huge water wall formed in front of him.
Area Dominance!
A white light spread out into the surroundings.
Nine Waves Great Golden Buddha Palm, Seventh Wave!
Qing Shui spotted one of the old men who wanted to perform a sneak attack on the others. He immediately swung his Big Dipper Sword.
The Nine Continents Mountain smashed down with a loud bang!
Sometimes, things were just this simple. It was unlikely for the mountain to crush the old man. But right now, the thing in front of him was a piece of bloody mist which was extremely fragile.
Without noticing, Qing Shui had already killed four of them. Each of them were strong warriors. This massacre was caused by some sudden changes which took place amidst the battle adding on to the fact that their strength was also reduced by twenty percent.
Qing Shui's enormous water wall got crushed by the surging scarlet flame wave. It continued making its way towards Qing Shui.
Ancient Secret Art of Yin Yang!
Qing Shui didn't dare to delay. He operated the ancient secret art once again. Since the start, the technique he cultivated had always been Primordial Flame. He also mixed in the spirit energy attacks which could reduce the opponent's strength by seventy percent, Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation and Area Dominance.
Area Dominance was able to calm his nerves.
Qing Shui controlled his mind to block with the Nine Continents Mountain. As soon as he managed to block the surging Scarlet Flame Waves, they were deflected to the sides. To one's surprise, two of the old man's comrades paid little attention to the surroundings and as a result, one of them got swallowed by it while the other one lost half of his body. Because they had just witnessed Qing Shui getting swallowed by the surging wave a moment ago, they didn't manage to react in time.
The first thing which the girls as well as Yan Yangchi and the crowd saw was Qing Shui getting swallowed up. After that, their view was blocked by the Nine Continents Mountain.
The little girl also saw Qing Shui get swallowed. Suddenly, a solidified baleful aura emerged from her jet-black cold eyes. Following that, black qi could be seen coming out of her body. Soon after, a black aura shot out and went straight up into the night sky.
A sharp shouting noise pierced through the night sky. The girls and Yan Yangchi were all also in shock. They couldn't accept the fact that Qing Shui was swallowed by the wave. But due to this scream, they saw an even more bizarre scene.
The little girl dashed out like a demon. On her body, she carried along a very powerful aura capable of devouring a person.
Although Qing Shui was being swallowed up by the surging fiery wave at this moment, he happened to notice that the forty ninth star had been coincidentally arranged. It was moving towards the correct position. Furthermore, it was moving at a very fast speed.
Actually, Qing Shui didn't notice that the surging fiery wave was disappearing rapidly. The old man was in shock as he witnessed this occurrence.
Right at this moment, the girl appeared with intense killing intention. At this moment, the jade pendant which Qing Shui put around her neck was no longer able to resist the vicious and baleful aura within her body.
If Qing Shui had seen it, he would recognise that her Blood Terminator Bead has been awakened.
The girl charged towards the old man, her body was covered in black aura. Her speed was fast like lightning and in a flash, she was already near the old man. She extended her hand to grab the old man.
The dark vicious Qi was like a black snake and carried a gloomy and cold aura.
The old man's face turned serious, raising a hand and struck out.. A stream of red gas clashed against the black gas.
The girl's body got blown backwards. However, she seemed like she was totally fine. She turned around and shot out a similar black qi towards an old man on the left side a few steps away from her.
This old man tried to quickly deal with her. It might be because he was also shocked at the little girl's baleful aura which caused his heart to immediately get pierced through by it.
The Yan Clan and the others were unable to believe what they were witnessing.
As the old man from before made his move, a scarlet flame about two meters long resembling the fire dragon wave appeared. As a result, the air in the surroundings was also ignited. It even resembled red lightning.
When Qing Shui's stars were arranged into place, a powerful spirit energy burst out. He immediately rushed out of the wave and saw the old man charging towards the girl.
This was bad, it's been awakened!
Qing Shui moved, Nine Palace Step, Yin Yang Reversal!
Qing Shui immediately switched places with the girl. He didn't switch place with the old man because he was scared that it wouldn't work as he wasn't as strong as the old man.
Divinity Protection!
Qing Shui took a hit. The Divinity Protection disappeared just as he was about to dodge!
Qing Shui felt a sensation as if his bones were broken apart. A boiling hot sensation went along his throat and spurted out.
His mighty spirit energy prevented him from fainting. He happened to land beside the girl. At this moment, the girl once again attempted to charge towards the old man.
Qing Shui immediately extended his hand and stopped her.
"Listen to me! Don't go there!"
This was something which Qing Shui did instinctively. He knew that she was currently awakening the Blood Terminator Bead. It would be very easy for her to lose her mind and lose her original character.
Qing Shui took out a few Gold Needles and quickly injected them into his own body.
A gold needle pierced into his acupoint. It was so stimulating that it caused him to throw out a mouthful of blood.
He extended his hand and took a few more gold needles. He swiftly inserted them into the girl's solar plexus, Tianzhu, Fengchi and Tianling Acupoints!
The girl looked at Qing Shui and calmed herself down. It was just that her eyes were shining with a terrifying fierce light. It seemed like she was suppressing it. At the same time, the vicious Qi within her body was also spreading out little by little as it surged vigorously within the meridians in her body.
"Little brat, let me see how many times you can help them block my attacks!"
The old man quickly charged towards Yan Jinyu and the Seventh Princess. Qing Shui similarly made his move. At the same time, he used his Spiritual Sense to control the Nine Continents Mountain and block the path of the old man.
The old man took out an additional scarlet flame stick in his hand and within a short while, broke the Nine Continents Mountain.
Qing Shui was rushing over because of Yan Jinyu.
This was something he did subconsciously. Regardless of whether it was the Yan Clan or any other people, since he had already became sworn brother and sworn sister with Yan Jinyu, he would treat her as his own, blood-related sister.
He felt that he was a bit foolish. If he was to escape by himself, he would be able to make it. This was because he had the Sacred Jade Divine Stone in his hand. The problem was that he couldn't convince himself deep down. If he really did so, he wouldn't find peace in his heart. It would feel as if he was getting torn apart.
The Big Dipper Sword barely managed to block it.
His body's hidden potential had already been triggered by the gold needles inserted into his acupoints. Furthermore, his Nine Yang Golden Body was at its large success stage. He actually didn't hear any bone crushing noises, but his organs had already suffered great damage.
"Qing Shui, go, I know you can escape, go!"
Yan Jinyu was screaming anxiously. Tears could be seen dripping down her face.
The Seventh Princess's expression on the other hand, seemed really calm. It was just that at the time when she heard Yan Jinyu's words, she was startled. He could actually escape, but he chose not to.
Qing Shui still had one Sacred Jade Divine Stone Ring in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal which was meant for Di Chen. He still had a small piece of Sacred Jade Divine Stone. At most, he could forge another two or three more of them. But now, he only had one in his hand. It was useless. He still needed a bit of time to use Nine Continents Steps. Even though it was short, it couldn't be interrupted. However, he was truly out of chances.
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If some "unexpected" degree of money needed to be printed which seemed as though "too much", that is only because in aggregate, more obligations existed which in turn needed to be honored. Just the same, central bankers have not been clear with the public that populations are routinely getting shorted, in a historical time frame when few are willing to accept the actual expenditures that everyone is creating. Like Marcus Nunes I am concerned that the decision to finally go ahead with the (long awaited) interest rate rise, is not going to end well.
For me, these circumstance also indicate that too few policy makers are convinced of time value as representative of economic outcomes. In order to imagine monetary policy as loose since the devastating losses of the Great Recession, one also needs conviction that personal participation in the economy can simply be replaced by other resource capacity. I don't think this is possible, without causing real problems for both economic stability and continued growth.
It's also difficult to understand how some believe that today's interest rate increase, is "the way to rising wages and higher consumer spending power", when the Fed's move could remove much needed resource capacity from the marketplace. Economic freedom - and long term monetary stability - are both at stake. Why do policy makers continue to scrap the hard won monetary policy lessons of the Great Depression? How long will it take policy makers to discover that a successful economy is not likely, when ever fewer individuals are expected to participate in the outcome!
Throughout the twentieth century, knowledge use contributed to wealth creation, because it was broadly applied for overall institutional capacity. Today, knowledge use potential is being sidelined, as productivity mostly takes place on asymmetric compensatory terms. When time value can't be matched with the time value and intention of others, knowledge use eventually becomes a minor component of other resource capacity. Small wonder that the broader purpose of education is now being questioned.
Without a specially designated marketplace for time value, economic freedom could eventually be lost as many forms of labor are gradually replaced by technology. Few have stopped to consider how in these circumstance, societies might revert to cultural atrocities which seemed as though abandoned. For me, economic time value is the most important measure of economic freedom. But first: product as an idea or concept, needs to once again embrace the potential value, of time.
In a post entitled "Measuring and Markets", Diane Coyle notes:
For instance, part of the debate about productivity is about what it measures, but also partly about what it defines.What is productivity when products play a minority role in economic activity?A primary mistake has been the discounting of product "purpose" in the marketplace, as somehow less important than it once was. Only stop to consider what has occurred. When it seems as though there is no purpose for product, people forget how to maneuver relationships in productive ways. In particular, interaction with resources and the consequential exchange of product, gave individuals the chance to learn how to negotiate and reciprocate with one another. This in turn, gave greater meaning and freedom to their personal relationships. Policy makers are mistaken to think that the bulk of human exchange can somehow be handed over to technology and government, all the while expecting individuals to remember how exactly they came to be civil and respectful to one another in the first place.
Rather, it is skills capacity and the ability to meaningfully relate through exchange, which makes freedom possible in group context. Before anyone can remain responsible, they often need more options than just finding work through others who are still able to arbitrage gains. When people lose too many means of direct interaction on economic terms, they become dependent on others in ways which is helpful for no one.
As traditional manufacture makes it possible for many forms of product to take place without human assistance, there is plenty of room for knowledge based services product. Time value needs better definition, as a valid component of economic measure. Productivity gains could come into sharp focus, when populations gain the chance to mold knowledge sets in relation to one another at local levels.
When personal and economic options are lost in the marketplace, something happens which is difficult to convey through historical stories alone. In other words, it's not always easy to decipher how people end up in unfortunate circumstance, either at individual or group levels. All too often, societies aren't able to avoid the recurrence of negative events, just because those earlier events appear culturally "impossible" or at least undesirable. Even though root causes need to be deciphered on multiple levels, sometimes there are conflicting incentives which prevent this from occurring.
Likewise, the economic base of historical troubles is often not evident. Granted, policy makers do not have sufficient reason to stress the importance of economic sustainability, because it can be too tempting to bottle up production potential for limited gains. Too often, it is assumed that specific institutions and groups will remain benevolent with the resulting wealth, hence distribute the largess fairly. At this point it would not matter how benevolent any leader wants to be, because too much marketplace potential has been short circuited.
One can only hope the new phase of monetary tightening on the part of the FOMC will be temporary. In the years ahead, time value needs to be restored in the marketplace, as a completely valid form of service. Through such means, the earlier growth trajectory which existed prior to the Great Recession, could eventually be restored.


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One of our favourite stories from fall was Kazuo Iwamura's: Hooray for Fall!, and I had placed the winter book, "Hooray for Snow!" on our book display for later reading. This connection led to the idea that we could also make a winter book just like we had made a fall book. Here is what we saw at school this week. We hope you are enjoying winter where you are too!
Thursday, 10 January 2013
We Can See Snow!
One of our favourite stories from fall was Kazuo Iwamura's: Hooray for Fall!, and I had placed the winter book, "Hooray for Snow!" on our book display for later reading. This connection led to the idea that we could also make a winter book just like we had made a fall book. Here is what we saw at school this week. We hope you are enjoying winter where you are too!
13 comments:
I love your winter I can see book! I got new snowshoes for Christmas and I spent a lot of time on new trails looking at things in the snow. I like your book. I hope it snows next wee so we can write a winter story too. Right now we are writing a story explaining snow for a class in Hawaii. They think we are lucky because we have snow in Ontario. What do you think?ReplyDelete
Mrs. HarrisonReplies
Thank you!Delete
I spent much of my winter holiday with my kids, on skates or on the sled hill. Snow shoes would be fun!
I agree with that class in Hawaii. I think we ARE lucky to have snow, and all of the seasons that we have in Ontario. I also think students in Hawaii are lucky, because they can visit a volcano or see tropical birds that we only see in a zoo. I think we're all lucky to live on this beautiful planet!
My class is eagerly awaiting new snow to fall, now that most of it has melted. Here's hoping it comes soon.
What a great book! I would love to know how you made it, thanks!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you! We took a lot of pictures this week, including many pictures to compare to our earlier book (my first post here). Then we looked at them on the big screen, and I wrote down "noticings" and connections. I took all that, put the photos into "comic life", and used a wintery template. We also make Voicethread books often in my class, which is my favourite way to have my students tell stories, but the comic life format allows us to print the book as well so we can add it to our class library.Delete
I hope this means you'll add a story sometime too!
It's so lovely, Laurel, thanks for the info! I will look into purchasing Comic Life right away! Did you use your computer or an iPad? My students and I LOVE voicethread too! Here are ours (I teach French): http://voicethread.com/#u1024819ReplyDelete
An idea for you: have you considered putting your published Comic Life into a Flipsnack interactive book? It's really easy to do! Here's one I made: http://share.snacktools.com/5CE9A8AD75E/f705f16ce39fac5420af719aa60q38178
You just need to upload the pdf and voila!Replies
That's a really neat interactive book! I had never heard of that before!Delete
Flipstack? Neat! Thank you for the idea. I just browsed the site but after reports I intend to really explore (and explore your links as well!). Maybe I'll even re-upload this post because it looks a bit silly in the long format I have here. Joanne B. and Mrs. Harrison here actually just inspired me to try using something new, though, so before you run out and buy comic life you may want to check out pic collage. I haven't yet but intend to soon. We currently have several Voicethread books growing in both classes, too.Delete
Thank you for sharing your "We Can See Snow" book!ReplyDelete
We gathered our photos last week, and I documented our students' thoughts around why they wanted to include each. Fortunately we made it out before all of the signs of Winter melted away with the rain...
I will be posting it soon!
I am looking forward to sharing your book with them on Monday!
Joanne Babalis
We'll be sharing our finished version with our reading buddies next week, and I'm sure my classes will be happy to see your winter book when it posts. Another connection made!ReplyDelete
I recommend the K. Iwamura books, too, especially if it does snow again. Then you can bring out "Hooray for Spring" in March or April and see what connections and comparisons your students make.
This week's poem will be bittersweet: Five Little Snowmen Fat (who all melt away in the sun until they are five little puddles). I miss the snow forts already. I am looking forward to seeing what your class saw in your school yard when it was all white!
Laurel Fynes
We like your book.ReplyDelete
Your book is pretty.
We liked the shapes in the snow.
Thank you for doing the book for us.
We like your book.
We like snow.
Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Coombes K class
I was so inspired by your book, I made one in French called "L'hiver": http://share.snacktools.com/5CE9A8AD75E/fdpfwi9cReplyDelete
(made with ComicLife then uploaded on Flipsnack)
Oui, ca c'est chouette!ReplyDelete
Hi Laurel,ReplyDelete
Thanks for your inspiration to join this site! My students liked reading your Winter book and we're in the process of making our own book. Fingers crossed technology is my friend and we can post it this week! I for one loved seeing my old school and my 'butterflies' at work!
Take Care