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Arsenal won the league by 25 points, losing only twice, and last night defeated Liverpool 4-1 in the First leg of the FA Cup final. It was a masterful performance, from what I hear, and though it was broadcast on Setanta in England the match wasn't available here in the states so, I didn't get a chance to watch. You'll have to be satisfied with Gunnerblog's description above.
Of course, I'm talking about the future and the present all at the same time: I'm talking about the Arsenal Youth team. You've seen some of them already, young Jack Wilshere was electrifying in the Carling Cup wins against Sheffield United and Wigan, on the backs of those performances a few folks asked why he wasn't being brought in to the first team when we were missing some creativity during the depths of darkest winter.
And after putting Liverpool's youth to the sword with a 4-1 win young Jack Wilshere agreed with those fans saying
I think any of us can break into the first team because we are all that good. We've all got talent and we know we can push into the first team.
I, for one, can't wait to see them play in next year's Carling Cup. Hell, we might even see some in league play, if they as good as young Wilshere thinks they are.
As the youth team were running Liverpool off the pitch Arsene Wenger gave what I thought was his most defensive pre-match presser of the season.
The truth is that Wenger is kind of a complicated guy and you're probably seeing a lot of weird quotes this morning, like "Wenger tells board to Shut-Up" but reading the interviews in the press and watching them on Arsenal TV are two different things. I highly recommend the latter, you get a sense of the man, and how sometimes he says things with a glint in his eye and you just know he's being cheeky. Of course, the press then de-contextualize it and plaster headlines like the one above (actual headline) but the truth is more complicated than just a one-liner.
This press conference was pretty much dominated by the question of transfers. How much do we have, why doesn't he spend it, will we have to sell to buy, who is he targeting, and many other questions. The boss responded to the 'how much' question with my favorite quote of the night
If I tell you I have £250million, every player I call will cost three times more. When I am manager of a club I do with what I have available and you have never heard me complain about the money that was available. But as well I do not accept people to think that I am stupid enough to have £100million at my disposal and put it in the bank because I am scared to spend it.
He said £100m!! That's like, like, the magic number!
On it's face, this is one of those statements that confuse a lot of supporters. It looks like he's saying that Arsenal don't have £100m when the financial statements that the club released last season clearly show that they do. This is one of those statements that make Arsenal supporters shake their head and ask if Wenger has lost the plot? Doesn't he read the financial statements?
Of course he does! Please note that if you parse the statement he says "at my disposal" which, not to put too fine a point on it is exactly what I've been saying since I found out they have the money: they are reserving that cash for an emergency. What if they can't make 4th place next year due to Swine Plague ravaging the team at a critical juncture? What if newly re-promoted Birmingham and Martin Taylor break 4 player's legs this year?
What if the housing market takes a turn for the worse, the banks call in their loan on the Highbury development, the economy goes further south, fans stop showing up to matches, people don't buy that stupid blue kit, and injuries prevent us from taking 4th place?
It would be nice to have £130m (my estimate of this year's year end financials) in the bank if that happened, in fact, it would be crucial for a self sustaining club like Arsenal to have a large amount of cash around just in case something like that happened. The only other option is to go to scum like Usmanov with our hat in our hand.
No one wants that.
So, I think Wenger's being coy, watch the video, you'll see what I mean. There's money to spend, he just doesn't want to say how much or it will adversely effect the cost of transfer targets and I feel like he cheekily threw out the £100m figure to get the ire of people not paying close attention.
I, for one, hope he gets cracking on spending what he's got, Fulham's already offered Hangeland more Brede to stay and we don't want to let one of the few players out there who has the experience and size to truly help this team slip through our fingers.
That's about it for today, tomorrow's match is on Setanta at like noon or something and some of us are going down to Doyle's to watch it after the morning kickaround. Before I go, I want to remind you all that you have just two more days to vote for the Gooner of the Year so get over there and get stuck in you lot!
Until tomorrow!


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Bending Low to Build Up: Speaking Life Into My Kids
Thinking about my daughter speaking building up words to her sister, my heart swells, and I'm challenged toward habitual grace.
She bent low toward the sobs of her sister, a beautiful posture of grace.
"Do you need love?" A question to the two year old whose face was pressed angrily into the floor.
With patience fragile, I only wanted the fussing to end. But gentle big sister's words drew me around the corner toward grace poured out. Little legs stopped flailing and a piggy-tailed head lifted toward a reaching-down sister. Then big sis held little sis and spoke life.
"We love you. You aren't a fussy girl. You are my sweet girl."
This undeserved, soul-tending kindness was a gift to my drained mothering self. It was a glimpse into the eternal impact of changes I'm striving for. Long term pay-off played out. The feisty, tender, but passionate big sis, who has melted down and erupted out so many times before, was now dishing out the very response that I'm finally learning to give to her. Grace upon grace.
In different seasons over the years, red faced and temper flaring, that six-year-old big sister has screamed with all she could muster. Her eyes showing anxiety and exhaustion, and her words peppered with "no" and "you never." There have been stormy, yelling moments, and more times than I care to recount, words have flown from my mouth that I instantly wanted to retrieve. Yes, she was only two, three, four, and five, but we share matching mother/daughter tempers. She'd melt down, and I'd hold it together a couple times, for a couple days. But then she'd fuss right over the top of my patience limit.
I've got a thing about well-behaved kids. For years as a teacher, before children entered our world, I found it easy to gain control of behavior. By September, classes walked down hallways in lines, shared baskets of pencils with ease, and whispered during quiet concentration times.
But now there are four little, multi-temperament people in my house. And oh, how I tried the teacher-turned-mommy-discipline techniques: time out, counting to ten, early bedtime, spanking, ignoring, yelling. Some have value, but mostly I've found they only stir up or temporarily diffuse.
At some point, after heaving around an oversized load of guilt, I realized I'd been tearing down rather than building up. Managing moments rather than heart tending. Then, God gently nudged me toward grace, for myself and little people with their dander up. Especially them.
"The moment when you are most repelled by a child's behavior, that is your warning light to draw the very closest to that child." – Ann Voskamp
These tiny humans are living in a turned upside down world, and I long to be a refuge. I desire to lavish grace, and then once more again. Even when I'm offended, overextended, or over it. Even when they are difficult, deserving, or discombobulated. I want to stop allowing harmful things to escape from my lips, even in messy moments.
"Let all things be done for building up." (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Discipline probably falls under "all things," so I need to do some bending low to build up.
When my child is raging, there is an unspoken need aching to get out: fear, self-doubt, anxiety, or weariness. I want to parent for the long-term rather than the moment. Intention versus reaction. So, now, I'm attempting to do the opposite of what I want to do during those hard moments. I'm stepping toward instead of away from.
First comes breaking in with some love and silliness: "Do you need a hug?" "I can hug those mean words right out of ya' if you need me to." "How about some tickle therapy?"
When the fussing slows just a bit, speaking in: "You ARE kind." "You are NOT mean." "You ARE loving and patient." "THIS is NOT who you are." "I believe in you."
Finally, digging in for her to consider: "Is THIS who you want to be?" "Do you like to yell at your family?" "Do you want our family to be kind to one another?" "Do you think I should let you yell?" "Are you treating us like you want to be treated?" "Are you feeling tired/jealous/mad?"
Usually, at some point, tears flow, arms fall limp, and a head sways "no." Grace wins. Is she off the hook? Sometimes, but not always. Always, she needs to ask for forgiveness, and be reminded that we are told that, "When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need — words that will help others become stronger" (Ephesians 4:29).
I never imagined I'd mess up this much as a parent. I've strained under my expectations, clung to an obsession with behavioral order, and uttered harmful words. Admittedly, I've got my own temper that needs softening, and I let mommy grumpiness linger like an unwanted guest. Now I'm at the end of myself. With unclenched fists, I am becoming aware of a full of grace God bending low to build me up, even when my dander is up. Especially then.
Thinking about my daughter speaking building up words to her sister, my heart swells, and I'm challenged toward habitual grace. We are a dinged up, flawed bunch, but still I want to see more anger melted by tickle therapy, tantrums stopped by hugs, and tears dried by building up words. During tension steeped moments, I want to scoop up grace for myself, and then bend low to pour it back out over my children. I can only pray that grace wins more today than yesterday.
When Doing Justly, Loving Mercy, and Walking Humbly Stand at Odds
If your compassion far exceeds your capacity, here's one way you can be sure to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
One of my life verses is Micah 6:8, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
It is one of my favorite verses because my heart has been so moved by the love Jesus has for me and the sacrifice He made for me that I am grateful to have a way to express my gratitude through acts of justice and mercy while walking humbly with God.
I have found at times, however, the call to do justice and love mercy come in conflict with the call to walk humbly with God. For me, one of the ways to walk humbly with God is to recognize my limitations. I have to put skin to the fact that I am not God which means saying, "no" to ministry requests. It means going to sleep when I could be spending time advocating for the harrowed and helpless in the world. It means limited seats at my table, limited funds in my bank account, and limited energy in my body cannot be ignored but respected and adhered to.
This is hard for me at times, especially when I scroll my Facebook feed and see friends who are caring for their really sick children, spouse, or other family member all while millions of refugees flee war torn countries and babies are slaughtered by the hundreds each day in our country through the abortion industry.
As I scroll, I receive texts about one family member's surgery gone wrong and another family member announcing a new baby is on the way. I have in mind my neighbor who has inpatient surgery scheduled this week and another neighbor who is trying to hold down a full-time job, care for twins all while battling profound "morning" sickness.
Folks at church are fighting for their lives in physical and spiritual ways, and strangers who pass me on the road are clearly battling something as demonstrated by their impatient honking because I won't take a right turn on red. I want to meet the needs of all; I want to do justice and love mercy, but I'm daily confronted by the fact that I am so limited.
What am I to do when doing justly and/or loving mercy seem to come in conflict with walking humbly with my God?
God keeps bringing me to this answer: prayer.
God invites us to cast our cares before Him because He cares for us.
God tells us to be anxious for nothing BUT WITH PRAYER present our requests before Him.
God commands us to pray without ceasing.
And, when I walk humbly with God, I see the immense kindness in His command.
He gives us a way to do justly, love mercy WHILE walking humbly with Him.
It is by praying without ceasing.
I cannot take a meal or give money to every sick person or family I know. I cannot extend kindness to all my neighbors all at the same time they're in need nor conjure up sustainable solutions for the refugee crisis and contact all the necessary world powers to make it happen.
I cannot heal all, but I know the Healer.
I cannot provide for all the needs, but I know the Provider.
I cannot rescue everyone in need, but I know the Rescuer.
I cannot comfort all the broken, but I know the Comforter.
I cannot speak peace over every situation, but I know the Prince of Peace.
I cannot be all to all, but I can go to the Great I Am through prayer, lay all the people, problems and pleas for help before the Omniscient and Omnipresent God of all Creation.
I can do this through prayer.
Recently, via an Instagram contest of all things, I came upon A–Z prayer cards designed by blogger/author/speaker, Amelia Rhodes. It is a simple concept packed with a powerful prayer punch. It has served me personally in this tension of wanting to do far more than I practically can do. It provides prayer prompts starting with each letter of the alphabet along with a scripture that coincides with the prayer focus. It ranges from Adoption to a creative "Zero Prejudice" for the letter "Z."
The cards are well thought out, color printed on sturdy cardstock with blank lines for the user to write in the names of people and/or organizations that are personal to them.
If, like me, your compassion far exceeds your capacity, pick up a set of these prayer cards and unload your burdens onto a God whose competence matches His kindness, both boundless.
Facing Our Fears in Motherhood
Do you have fears tied to motherhood? If so, here's encouragement for you.
"Are you scared?"
I was taken aback by his question. Scared? Of what?
"Of anything," he answered.
I had just shared my due date with a new class of trainees.
"He has three boys," another new hire volunteered. So fear is to be expected, I reasoned. I'm just about to face the most frightening experience in my life.
Of course I was scared.
I was scared…
- I'll lose my temper.
- I'll whine about sleepless nights.
- I'll breastfeed too often or not often enough.
- I'll leave piles of unfolded onesies in the middle of the nursery floor because I'm too tired (or lazy?) to fold teeny-tiny baby clothes for the upteenth time.
- I'll go with disposable diapers when the better choice would be cloth.
- I'll work too many long hours at the office and miss precious moments with her.
- I'll sign her up for too many activities and push her to become Miss Achieve-It-All.
- I'll pass on to her my ugly pride, self-righteousness, and perfectionism like a dreadful contagious disease.
- I'll miss countless little joys in life while pursuing worthless dreams.
In short… I was afraid I was going to fail miserably as a parent.
And now, holding my second-born daughter in my arms, thinking back on that brief exchange just a few years ago, I realize those fears were well-founded. I've failed many times. I've lost my temper. I've raised my voice. I've worked too much and played too little. I've seen my own sinfulness reflected in my daughter.
Yes, I've failed, but over and above it all, God's grace has covered my parenting imperfections and made me run to the cross day after day. The writer of Proverbs puts it this way:
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
Proverbs 14:26
When it comes to fears, we have two choices: Will we fear the unknown or will we fear the Lord? Will we allow the uncertain to grip us in its clutch or will we turn to God's Truth to set us free?
Scared? Oh yeah. There was so much to be scared of that day. And even now, if I'm completely honest, there are still fears nibbling at the edges of my consciousness. Fear that we won't outgrow the temper tantrums. Fear that the two girls won't get along. Fear that I'll mess them up and cause them interminable hours on a psychologist's couch.
I'm sure you have fears, too.
But rather than allow those fears to consume and paralyze us, we can take them to the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty over our parenting, pleading His grace over our mistakes, and entrusting His provision over their futures. He is not only able to handle it all — He is far more capable to be trusted with it all.
If I say one thing to that frightened 9-month-pregnant me standing in that room years ago, I would say this: Don't let fear rob today's joy with tomorrow's unknowns. Each day has enough worries of its own (Matthew 6:34).
Instead, let us keep seeking God, running to Him as our secure fortress and resting in the knowledge that He will care for us and our children one day at a time.
What are you scared of today? Name your fears and bring them to the Lord, allowing Him to replace them with His peace that passes all understanding.
He Gives Shade To The Weary
If anxiety is a struggle for you right now, remember that He gives shade to the weary.
Do you ever have those moments of fear because you don't know what lies ahead? When do those thoughts tend to happen to you?
For me, most of those thoughts happen when I lay my head down to sleep at night. The vulnerability comes forth every time. That's what happened the other night to me. I shut my eyes and immediately anxiety welled up inside me.
What if we don't succeed in this new venture? What if we have to move? What if we can't pay our bills?
I laid there with the covers drawn tight over my head (I still think that I am safer if the covers are over my head), praying scripture over my anxious heart. Assuring myself that God sees me and that He cares.
In the morning, I turned to Isaiah 41, specifically verses 10-20.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, NASB)
Yesterday, the "what if's" piled up as I anxiously looked about me. My daughter needs tutoring, however at this point in life, tutoring feels like a luxury we can't afford. So I listed some items online to sell hoping to make just enough to cover the tutoring. I'm buying groceries on a Visa reward card. I'm holding my breath until the next paycheck comes. But what did God speak over me: Do not fear. Do not look anxiously about you.
"For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.' Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you," declares the Lord, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41:13-14 NASB)
Why shouldn't I be anxious? Because God will hold me up. God will help me. When I first read the word "worm" as a description, I took it as a slam against Israel. Like, gesh, God. What animal does He relate me to? But through further study, He calls them a worm because worms are helpless. They are viewed as insignificant, despised and weak. God will help me — seemingly insignificant, helpless me — because He is my Redeemer. He is my go'el — my next of kin. The Redeemer is the one who provides for all my needs. Rent. Car payment. Credit card bill. Gas. Food. Clothes. Debt. God will redeem.
"Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges; You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them, And will make the hills like chaff. You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, And the storm will scatter them; But you will rejoice in the Lord, You will glory in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41:15-16 NASB).
God is transforming me from a helpless one to a powerful one. The description of that type of threshing sledge is like a modern day earth mover. Powerful. Strong. Immovable.
"The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, And their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself, As the God of Israel I will not forsake them." (Isaiah 41:17, NASB)
He will come to our rescue. God, Himself, will answer you and me. Can you hear how personal that sounds? Have you ever pleaded with someone important whether your boss, public figure, or even a parent, and they responded to the need themselves? You expected for them to send their assistant, but instead they — the most important one — responded to you.
"I will open rivers on the bare heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water And the dry land fountains of water. I will put the cedar in the wilderness, The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert Together with the box tree and the cypress." (Isaiah 41:18-19, NASB)
This passage describes the wilderness-like times in life. You are barren. You are thirsty. You are hot. You are in need. God will provide what you need. God will quench your thirst. He will provide shade when you are weary. During those times, God can provide in creative, innovative ways. He can provide something out of nothing. Doesn't that give you great hope? Even when you can't answer how He will do it, He is creative enough to figure it out even when the odds are stacked against you.
"That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the Lord has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it." (Isaiah 41:20 NASB).
God will do all of this so that His glory will be put on display. People — including yourself — will see that He is powerful.
So you can see how after a night of wrestling with fear and anxiety, reading this was like shade and water for my soul. God is a god who sees. And God is a god who acts on your behalf.
What do you need His help with today? What are you fearful about today? What keeps you awake at night? Where do you need some shade?
Become An Insider!
Welcome to Ungrind!
Hi, I'm Ashleigh Slater, founder and editor of Ungrind. Here at Ungrind, it's our goal to churn out biblically-based encouragement for women. We strive to be honest and transparent about our struggles in a way that inspires hope, faith, and perseverance.
As you read, we hope you consider us friends, the kind you feel comfortable sitting across the table with at the local coffee shop. You can read more about me HERE and our team of writers HERE.
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When Doing Justly, Loving Mercy, and Walking Humbly Stand at Odds
If your compassion far exceeds your capacity, here's one way you can be sure to do justly, love mercy, and...
Facing Our Fears in Motherhood
Do you have fears tied to motherhood? If so, here's encouragement for you.
He Gives Shade To The Weary
If anxiety is a struggle for you right now, remember that He gives shade to the weary.
Dangerously Vulnerable
I want to live a more uncomfortable, dangerously vulnerable life — even if it means a few "blood-sucking worms" (or...
The Mom Trap
Are you so concerned with being a great mom, that you've fallen into this trap?
When One Suffers . . .
Just as a physical pain grows and is gradually felt throughout the body, it is the same when one suffers...
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Mortality rates higher for stroke victims at Victoria hospitals
Apr 05 2012
Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals continue to have above average 30-day mortality rates for patients who have suffered strokes, but are doing slightly better with regard to readmissions to hospital following hip replacements, according to a new study released today.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information's acute-care hospital reporting project today released a study that compares large, medium, small and teaching hospitals.
The study includes 95 per cent of all hospitals in Canada and uses a series of 21 clinical indicators and nine financial indicators "that allow hospitals to compare their performance against those of their peers."
Kira Leeb, director, health system performance, at the Canadian Institute for Health Information, said the study includes Canada's small hospitals, which make up 60 per cent of hospitals in the country.
"The fact that this study is so comprehensive across Canada is most exciting for us," Leeb said. Such data weren't available and couldn't be collated and analyzed a decade ago. Moreover, the Canadian health-care system didn't seem ready for a conversation on such a comparison for best practices, Leeb said.
In B.C. there are good news stories and areas in which the province should be paying attention, Leeb said.
"From a provincial perspective, nursing-sensitive adverse events (pneumonia, urinary tract infections, falls and pressure ulcers) is higher than the national average for both medical and surgical patients, Caesarean section rates are also higher; overall readmission is higher from a national perspective; and obstetrical readmission is higher," Leeb said.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority maintains comparing hospitals offering different services to different demographics isn't helpful and the study is more useful in allowing the health authority to chart "its performance over time."
Generally the study shows Canada-wide hospitals saw fewer deaths after major surgery, heart attack and stroke; fewer readmissions after heart attack, stroke, and hip and knee surgery; and fewer cases of in-hospital hip fracture in 2010 than in 2007.
On Vancouver Island, the contentious C-section rate has been falling since 2007.
The C-section rate — which excludes moms who delivered pre-term infants or who gave birth to multiple children — at Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals, has fallen to 28.5 per 100 live births from a high of 30 in 2007-08. However, there were slightly more C-sections in 2010-11 over 2009-10, which hit an overall low of 27.86, according to the study.
"So it's gone up slightly since 2009-10," said Leeb.
The Canadian average is 26.94 per 100 live births.
For large community hospitals: Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals — which are lumped together as one in this study — continue to under-perform (under the 50th percentile) with regard to the 30-day mortality rate after strokes, but are doing slightly better than 2009-2010 with regard to the number of people readmitted 90 days after a hip replacement, according to the study.
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is doing worse in certain categories than last year — still under-performing with regard to readmission rates after acute myocardial infarctions, and readmission rates after both hip and knee replacements but has improved slightly with regard to the five-day mortality rate following major surgery.
In terms of success, Victoria General and Royal Jubilee are above average in the area of readmission rates following acute myocardial infarctions and knee replacements.
Overall, the study shows that performance in Canada's hospitals is moving in the right direction for many of the measures in the report, but there are substantial variations, according to CIHI.
The study can be found at www.cihi.ca after noon today.


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GOJO 8 Ounce Pump Bottle PURELL Instant Hand Sanitizer With Aloe (12 Per Case)
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Product Description
One of Norman Rockwell's most popular works, paired with rhyming verse that's perfect for reading aloud or sharing with a grown-up. Readers young and old are walked through the vignettes of Rockwell's May 24, 1952
cover from start to finish. At the back of the book is a short biography of Rockwell, as well as a note by Chuck Marsh, who, as a young boy more than sixty-five years ago, posed for the unforgettable series of pictures.
Hardcover, 60 pages. Recommended for ages 4-8.
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The largest psychology school in Donaldson, by student population, is Ancilla College. In 2010, Ancilla College graduated approximately 7 students from its psychology program.
A total of 7 students graduated with credentials in psychology from psychology schools in Donaldson in 2010. In 2009 tuition at psychology schools in Donaldson was $12,680 per year, on average.
In addition to tuition costs, plan on spending an average of $1,310 for psychology related books and supplies each year.
If you decide to work as a psychology professional in Donaldson, your job prospects are good. In 2010, of the 1,570 psychology professionals in Indiana, 60 were working in the greater Donaldson area. The government projects that the number of psychology professionals in Donaldson will increase by 15% by the year 2018. This projected change is faster than the projected nationwide trend for psychology professionals.
The average salary you can expect to earn as a psychology professional in Donaldson is $53,010 per year. This is lower than the state-wide average salary for psychology professionals.
9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson, Indiana 46513-0001
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Process for the Pragmatic
How the sausage is made (and by sausage we mean brilliant brand transformations).
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Research. Strategize. Create. Rinse. Repeat.
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Analytics Dashboard
It all starts with objective information gathering. Who is your current audience and how does that differ from your target audience? What do they really think about your brand and the experience they get when interacting with your company? How does that experience make them feel and how is that experience different from the many competitors in your space? Asking the right questions enable us to gather the right insights. Insights that will fuel a stronger position in the market.
Once we've gathered the right insights from your customers, your team and your competition, we set out to establish a strategic position that is authentic, relevant and differentiated in the market. Mind you, this is no academic exercise, we get to the point and encapsulate your brand position in a brief, digestible form that will actually get read a second time. That positioning strategy is the foundation for everything from what voice the brand should take to the channels and frequency of our messaging.
This is where the rubber meets the road and great brands come to life. Crafting the right stories and making the right promises are only part of the equation. What's critical is living up to those promises through each and every customer interaction. In our Activation phase, we launch the materials needed to properly tell your story, stand out from the crowd and engage your audience. From web design to sales materials to integrated campaign launch, we've got you covered.
Lead Gen/Nurturing
Crafting a great brand story is one thing, driving repeatable revenue is another. During our Lead Generation and Nurturing phase, we execute upon our well-informed strategies to ensure the proper mix of media and frequency to drive more leads and convert more customers. Relentlessly measuring and optimizing every aspect of our campaigns ensure that every dollar invested in marketing is yielding a positive return.
You know you want some.
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With the Rangers' surprising season in the books, let's take a look at the season on a position-by-position basis.
2015 first basemen
The guy:Mitch Moreland
The reinforcement:Mike Napoli
Mitch Moreland finally stayed healthy for an entire season and finally showed what he's capable of in a full, healthy season. The first baseman was third on the team among regulars in batting average (.278), tied for first in homers (23) and second in RBIs (85). And while Prince Fielder was voted by the local writers as the team's MVP for the 2015 season, Moreland had a really strong case for it when you throw in his defense, which was gold glove caliber.
He did struggle, at times, against left-handed pitching, and that was a big reason why the Rangers went and got an old friend in Mike Napoli in early August, trading for him from Boston, and Napoli made himself at home, playing much better for Texas than he did with the Red Sox.
Napoli only played in 35 regular-season games with Texas, but he hit .295 with a lofty .396 on-base percentage, five home runs and 10 RBIs, while playing primarily against left-handed pitchers. In an odd twist, he actually played more games for Texas in left field than he did at first base, even though that was a largely failed experiment from a defensive standpoint.
The Rangers would love to have Napoli back in 2016 and have Moreland in his final year of arbitration, but there is talk he could be a key piece in a big winter trade.
Whatever the case for next season, the position performed admirably in 2015 with a season grade of A.


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At Smoke-N-Buns we believe in quality and we will never sacrifice quality for anything. We pride ourselves on our delicious 100% Angus Beef burgers that will leave your mouth watering. Our signature 'Smash Burger' is the pinnacle of our burger menu and you must give it a try when you visit our Kalamzoo, MI Sprinkle location.
From our wings and burgers to our delicious BBQ, everything we use is fresh. When you taste one of our heavenly entrees you'll know the difference. We slow roast our barbeque every day, smoking the meat until it is perfectly caramelized. Our motto at Smoke-N-Buns is "Smoke-N-Hot, Always Fresh" and we live, breathe, and cook by this mantra. Is your mouth watering yet? Stop by and we'll happily serve you any of the following:
• 100% Angus Burgers
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• Appetizers: Jalapeno Chips, Mac & Cheese, Chili Cheese Fries & More!
You're never going to walk in to Smoke-N-Buns and see us pull a pre-made anything off of a shelf. We have too much respect for food and for you to do that. If we won't eat it, we won't serve it, and our standards are very high! All meals at our Kalamazoo, MI location will prepare your meals to order. That's our promise to you.
3530 South Sprinkle Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Call Us
Phone: 269-383-4431
Mon: 9:00AM-4:00PM
Tue: 9:00AM-4:00PM
Wed: 9:00AM-4:00PM
Thu: 9:00AM-4:00PM
Fri: 9:00AM-4:00PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed


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When Kohli's Indian Restaurant first opened in the Bay, it immediately became the talk of the town for locals and visitors. Excited customers queued in anticipation of the authentic flavours, tastes, smells and sounds of this high quality restaurant.
Specialising in North Indian cuisine, Kohli's has built on the initial excitement, to become the finest Indian restaurant on the South Coast, and the recipient of several awards to add to its good reputation.
To enter Kohli's is to enter a tastefully decorated, welcoming, and minimalist presentation of modern Indian-inspired décor. Beautiful earthy photos of famous timeless kamasutra statues are on the walls, and here and there are screens and other fine touches to remind us that we are enjoying a small slice of India.
Sensual aromas of glorious spice mixes fill your head, and in the background is the most beautiful music…. you never want to leave!
And then the food!… Specialising in Tandoori and Curry, Kohli's kitchen also provides options for kids, and of course has a mouth-watering selection of vegetarian delights, with Dal variations, Malai Kofta to name a few. Just reading the menu of selections from the curry kitchen is an adventure, it's so delectable…. all heats and blends are made, and many possibilities for lamb, fish, chicken and others are expertly cooked for both the delicate and adventurous palate. Just thinking about the garnishes stimulates the taste buds.
As well as restaurant dining, Kohli's offers banquet, special lunches and take away boxes, together with special dinner packs. They cater for all, from intimate diners, to larger groups. Reward your taste buds!
Kohli's Indian Restaurant
SHOP 2/11 Beach Road, Batemans Bay NSW 2536
Managers: Gagan and Babs
W: www.kohlis.com.au
Facebook: Kohli's Indian Restaurant
Lunch Tue – Fri 12 – 2.30pm
Dinner open 7 nights – 5 to 10 pm
BYO and Takeaway services


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Cuba's digital destination
Behind the curtain of Ballet Revolución
Roclan González Chavez: "I am Roclan, a Cuban from Cuba."
Perhaps that is all you need to know. Actually it would be a gross understatement to one of Cuba's most brilliant choreographers. We catch up with him as the show is being rehearsed on the 9th floor of the Teatro Nacional. Dancers of different ages and backgrounds form a group that is as eclectic as the show itself. Music from various countries played live by a band of Cuban musicians and international guest vocalists, neoclassical ballet, contemporary dance, folklore, acrobatics, popular dance and large amounts of excitement are combined in Ballet Revolución which has been on tour around different countries for the past year.
While the company's regisseur, Marina Villanueva, teaches a ballet class, choreographer Roclan González tells us that this is a commercial show aimed at "showcasing the talent of Cuban dancers."
From Roclan we learn that he is used to working at night and sleeping by day, and hates being woken up before 11 o'clock; that he studied at the National School of Art, specializing in folklore; and that he later spent one more year studying to be a musical comedian in the School of Variety Theatre.
"I did some singing, some acting, and made a fool of myself in some performances, even as a presenter on TV. But what I really like to do is choreograph. I think if I was born again I would like to be a choreographer."
Roclan, a candid man who has a way with words, tells us that in 1998 he joined the Cuban Television Ballet as dancer and choreographer. This experience allowed him to work with many TV directors as well as producers of big shows. This includes two important names in Cuban show biz: Santiago Alfonso and Tomás Morales, who is the current director of the famous Tropicana Cabaret. During his television phase, he met Cristy Domínguez, dancer, choreographer and director of the TV Ballet. He mentions Cristy's name over and over again with great love and respect: "She is one of the few people I've seen really help young dancers, and she does this from deep inside, from the heart. She is mother, friend, teacher, choreographer, director, artist. She is all this and much more."
Roclan is well known in Cuba as a choreographer, especially for his involvement in many musical TV shows, music festivals such as Cubadisco, the Lucas video awards, plus music videos and concerts.
Outside Cuba, Roclan's distinctive choreographies, with Jon Lee as his international promoter and producer, are well known, having toured successfully with shows like "Lady Salsa" and "Kings of Salsa." The latter, which toured 35 cities in the United States, used music that had been especially composed for Roclan by young Cuban musicians, something Roclan is extremely proud of.
A staunch defender of the African roots in Cuban culture, his choreographies delve into folklore and popular dances. "Musicals and popular shows sell better than classical ballet or contemporary dance, and if you want to see contemporary dance, you go to the Netherlands or Germany; they have so many companies and use the latest techniques in dance. But they don't have what we have," he declares. This is why he confesses to being a supporter of commercial musicals as well as a respectful admirer of folklore and variety show dancers. In his opinion, it is equally difficult to do 12 perfect pirouettes and knowing and mastering all our popular dances.
This does not mean, however, that the young choreographer disregards the refined techniques from classical ballet or contemporary dance. For Ballet Revolución, he looked for dancers who mastered these techniques, so much so that the show begins with a classic scene and a ballerina on her pointe shoes. Training includes ballet lessons for every member of the company regardless of their background and previous training. For some of the dancers, the experience has been hard on them. Idania Lavilla, with a long career in the National Ballet of Cuba, told us that she has shed many tears learning to dance guaguancó and rumba after so many years of classical ballet.
Teacher and regisseur Marina Villanueva, who is trained in classical ballet, is a retired dancer who admits to being in love with the Revolución project, both for Roclan's discipline and determination, and the dancers' dedication. "I don't know what these boys and girls have," she says, "but wherever we go, they pull audiences out of their seats, even in European countries where people are more restrained. They're hard-working and dedicated artists."
During the rehearsal that follows the class, we witness how the dancers learn each other's roles thus giving practical effect to their work philosophy: "No one is indispensable. Everyone must be ready to take the place of another in a time of trouble." When there are eight shows a week, accidents can happen, but first and foremost, the show must go on.
Last October 20, as part of the celebrations for the Day of Cuban Culture, the company danced several excerpts from different shows produced by Roclan along with a gala by the Cuban Television Ballet. The show, "Live for dance," produced by Roclan and Cristy Domínguez, was a resounding success. "The audience was practically made up of young people, and that was absolutely lovely, so cool," says Roclan. "It was really moving. I loved the whole thing, especially the end when a guajiro came on stage waving a Cuban flag and Ballet Revolución was surrounded by this energy that the Television Ballet had already created. This special moment gave the youth in the theater a new way of interpreting the word revolution; of understanding revolution with a certain touch of evolution," remarks the choreographer, moved by the response of the audience.
The regisseur gives us a few more minutes to talk with the dancers, but she's pressing us to finish so that they can continue with the rehearsal. "I need to go over this from top to bottom," she explains. One dancer tells us that during intermissions, everybody anxiously waits for Marina to give them a "grade" and they know from the look in her face if she's satisfied or not with the performance. Another dancer says that Roclan always has more steps than needed when he's staging a choreography, and his problem isn't what he's going to need but what he has to take out.
Before we leave Roclan and his band of merry dancers, we ask him how he would describe himself. His answer couldn't be any other: "I am Roclan, a Cuban from Cuba."
Roclan Gonzalez Chavez
Roclan is one of the most original and inventive choreographers working in Cuba today. He studied at the prestigious Cuban National Art school in Havana, graduating in 1996 with distinction in both contemporary and folkloric dance and was the only person in his year to be awarded a post graduate scholarship to study Choreography. Since then, he has worked with most of Cuba's best known music and dance groups, including Omar Portuanda, Company Segundo, salsa big band Los Van Van and the world renowned, Tropicana Cabaret. He is the main Choreographer for Cuban Television Ballet, which perform regularly on TV and state events. For the last 5 years he has choreographed the national Cuban music awards, Cuba disco and many music videos for top Cuban bands.
His recent international tours include choreographing the hit shows Lady Salsa, and The Kings of Salsa. Which have toured internationally for the last 7 years in Europe, Uk, Asia, Australia and USA to great critical acclaim. He has also worked extensively all over Latin America and studied many styles from this region from Brazilian Samba, Contemporary ballet to Argentinean Tango. Roclan has an unrivalled understanding of the folkloric roots of salsa and Cuban dance, which he blends with breathtaking contemporary moves, producing a unique dance fusion. He is regarded as one of the most talented and versatile young choreographers to come out of Cuba in the last decade.
December 2012


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Historically learning, scientific analyzing the issue of the position of the local representative authorities in our national statehood is of great importance. Because for realizing the gist of these or those historical events, foremost, it can be observed how they happened in particular condition of this or that historical step, what steps have been passed and what configured and significant changes happened in its development. Without this kind of approaching, today, especially in the years of independence forming the local representative authorities which are the ingredient of our national statehood and understanding the point of the political reforms regarding to developing their activity, evaluating them fairly are difficult.
One more methodological situation should be mentioned regarding this matter. That is the existence and development of the representative authorities of the government in Uzbekistan is completely tied with the historical evolution of existence and development of our parliament.
It is known to us, in the local government system, especially, representative authorities being the historical view of the democratic principles which came into being in our country; it has formally and significantly changed for thousand years and has a particular experience.
According to the evidence of the historical facts, in the past there were great states, their political institutions and systems in the area of present Uzbekistan. It is necessary to note many examples concerning the history of our country. Having a long past and wealthy history our country's political independence has been firmly established, now in order to put the past way, all its trends and developing steps into effect, we should restudy the different spheres of our history analyzing fairly in detail.
Particularly, representative authorities occupy the leading part in the local government authorities of all developed countries. Because of being elected by direct, general, equal and hidden way of voting, a representative authority has a right to act for the sake of public and make decisions from its name. According to the evidence of the historical facts, from the ancient times in Uzbekistan all the important decisions, questions, whether concerning the internal life of the country or the external policy; they were accepted directly with the agreement of public and its representatives' congress. Because it is known from the world practice, in any country's government system, if the people's wish were not taken into consideration that kind of system had faced to decline.
As a well-known historian I. Jabborov mentioned, from the ancient times, special persons, the leaders of mahalla that is the most respectful people of the mahalla led the society. From time to time he was elected and a patkor among the men and a kayvoniy or a representative among the women was appointed as a helper of him. Naturally at that time the population of mahalla was classified into different classification on the base of the principles of the feudal system of that time.
However, no matter who he was, the old men's opinion was the final and important in the social meetings. Ancient tribal and community relationships were positively kept by the new era.
Academic E. Rtveladze, a lawyer A. Saidov and E. Abdullayev noted the same idea. "In the primitive society governing is interpreted with the existence of social government institutions. One of them was the general meeting of the tribe and the important problems were discussed and solved in it"- they emphasized.
This kind of idea is explained in our holy book Kuran. Specifically, in it, that is as it is indicated in the verse 38, "Their (faithful men's) work is done by mutual deliberating".
So, as it is obvious, the question whether it belongs to the whole country or the region, of course, it was solved on the basis of deliberation and by the agreement of the representatives. Relating this participation of the public in the work of state and society was provided by its representatives or leaders' of mahalla and it has become tradition from the ancient time.
In one of the important source in studying the history of our country, Zardushts' holy book "Avesto" much valuable information about the political system of the society is indicated. As it is known from "Avesto", the socio-political system at that time consisted of hierarchical steps which depend on each other, that is, a state, a king (kavi), a leader of society (vis), a military chief (dahyu sastar), a supreme court (zaratushtroema), the leaders' council (varzanapati). The position of the leaders' council in the political system of the society was very high.
So, from the century II BC to the century III AD in the ancient Fergana (Parkana) state the importance of the leaders' council in the state life as very high too. The head of the state was Van, in governing the state he acted depending on his two deputies and the court of law of the state works administering. Because the leaders' council which acted under his rule had the right to solve the war ad peace problems and even the fate of the king, it was a democratic authority whose reputation was very strong in the state.
The doctor of history, Professor Sh. Mahmudbekov also notes the idea close to it. Accordingly he said: "In the ancient Fergana (Parkana) state leaders' council solved the important problems such as declaring wars, making agreements, appointing ministers and taxes, mobilizing for the social works." Particularly at the time of Chinese attacking at Fergana the leaders' council stood on the side of making mutual agreement and achieved it. The ruler Muguy who was found guilty for the events relating to the Chinese conquest, was executed by the decision of the leaders' council. In the course of this, "The leaders' council worked in the ancient state Davan being permanent sometimes solved the fate of the kings and ambassadors. For instance, during the negotiations a Chinese ambassador angrily knocked the golden horse sculpture over. The leaders found it offence for them selves and he as executed".
In the century II BC in the state of Qang including Sugdiana, Horezm, lower and middle stream of the Sirdarya the areas of present Uzbekistan, Karakalpakistan, and Southern Kazakhstan there was leaders' council advising in the Khan's presence. It can be seen that in the ancient Qang state the elected King's authority was depended on the leaders' council and meanwhile it was limited by the council. Electing a new ruler and the King's decision which was bequeathed for his son or close relative to sit on the throne was officially confirmed by the leaders' council. Such tradition was particularly observed in the next steps of our history.
In the time of Sakhibkiran Amir Temur too a great attention was drawn to the position and role of the advising authority in the life of state and society. As it was indicated in the book "Temur Tuzuklari" a great attention was given to deliberating, consulting and expertise in maintaining the state.
In the book it was said: "The nine parts of the state works are congress, course of action and counseling, the rest one part is a sword". According to the well-known historian academic B. Ahmedov, for the consulting and congress held in the presence of Amir Temur we can indicate the kurultoy and state congress. Kurultoy was the council of supreme feudal layer in the time of Temur and time by time the important issues of state life were discussed in it.
According to the historical sources, kurultoys were held in Balh, Karshi, Karabag and Samarkand. Such ceremony peculiar to the East was even called Nation's Meeting. Having been victorious over Temur's enemies, one of such kurultoys was held in Balh on April 8, 1369, and the noblemen of Cigatoy Ulus, the armed mils of temur the amirs who were enemy to hium before and later passed to his service participated in it. The well-known Hungarian historian H. Vamberi wrote about it like that: In the Kurultoy held in Balh according to the ancient Turkish tradition Temur was seated on a white felt, raised high, after a short prayer he was declared as the Amir of Movaraunnahr.
Amir Temur worked on the issues of the state importance consulting with the special;ists on a definite sphere. For instance, in 1403 scientists and specialists were invited to the meeting of the council in Baylakon and they suggested their recommendations about building social buildings and constructions and public services.
So, one can be agree with the following conclusion of a lawyer A. Dadasheva: "From the historical point of view the formation of modern local government authorities date back to the time of Sakhibkiran Amir Temur."
So, today in deepening the democratic progress occurring in our state, interpreting the political ideas about modernizing the country, talking about the ancient traditions peculiar to the national statehood, we find it useful naturally addressing to the past and ancient traditions.


text: Under the direction of a District Manager, the Field Case Manager for the Program is responsible for managing all aspects of the program for assigned physicians in a given geographical area or hospital. The individual will work directly with the physicians and or the office staff to provide proactive and seamless services with respect to the program by accessing the ongoing needs of each MD/office such that the service levels provide a clear differentiating factor between this Program and other patients' support programs. The resulting objective of this superior and proactive service will be to increase the patient program enrollment and improved patient outcomes. Knowledge in regional government payer policies, private payer policies and procedures is required. Regular travel to various HCP offices is a primary responsibility of the role. The FCM typically oversees large accounts inclusive of University settings and may cover rural and tertiary health centers as needed


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We've hit the middle of the week, and the countdown continues. That's right, only 2 more days until I'm wheels up for Phoenix! (You don't count today and I fly out Saturday, so it's really just 2, see? See?!) Yeah, I'm a little excited.
I say that even though I can't complain about the recent weather. It's been as good as you could ask for in March over the last few days. And it doesn't look like that's going to change while I'm gone. That being said, I'll swap this weather for 80's and baseball any day of the week and twice on Sunday. So there you go.
I'm sure some of you have been scratching your head wondering, "DFTU? On a Wednesday?!" Yes, the DFTU is earlier than usual this week, but for good reason. As I've been mentioning, Friday begins The Sports Take's 2009 MLB Preview. I've been hard at work prepping for the column that started it all nearly a year ago ("hard at work" here having the meaning of watching copious amounts of MLB Network), and I'm hoping it shows.
But that's Friday. Today we have to talk Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament (by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin), and the Wild clinging to their playoff hopes. You know how we roll. DFTU-style! Let's do this...
"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments."
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), German philosopher
Boston Red Sox (whom I hate) fans, I'm looking at you!
(Yes, I'm read for the season to begin!)
«Read More...»
Okay... you haven't had to wait as long this time. But you've still craved it. You're still happy it's here. That's right. It's everybody's favorite segment: Dan's Favorite Teams Update!
Minnesota Wild: The Wild are 33-29-8, giving them 74 points. That places them in a tie for the 8th seed in the Western Conference with the Dallas Stars. Unfortunately for the Wild, the Stars currently hold the tie-breaker between the two teams, so should they tie for that 8th seed, Dallas is in and the Wild are out. On the more positive side, both teams are a single point behind Nashville for the 7th seed, so there's still a chance both could get in without knocking the other out.
It's been a rough go for the Wild of late. And I hate to say that because at this time of the year, rough patches generally knock a team out of playoff contention. Fortunately for the Wild, going 1-1-3 in their last five games hasn't knocked them out of contention, because the teams around them are doing just as poorly. Conversely, Wild fans have to regret a missed opportunity, since if the Wild had gone even 3-2 over those games, they'd be in much better shape.
One positive trend that's emerged lately is the Wild's ability to come back. I hearken back to the San Jose game on March 5th, where the Wild were in the midst of a horrible road trip and by the early second period were down 3-0 to the Sharks. They proceeded to score the next 4 goals and win the game. Since then, they've still fallen behind teams early, but have managed to claw their way back and grab a point or two where they've had no business earning any.
So while it's clear that this team operates best with a lead, it's nice to see that they have the ability to right the ship, and come back in an individual game. That will certainly serve them well if they manage to make the playoffs.
Up next for the Wild is a trip to New Jersey to face los Diablos on Friday night.
As a fan, I'm focused far more on Sunday afternoon when the Wild host Edmonton. The Oilers are only a point behind the Wild/Stars for that 8th spot, so Edmonton is still very much in the playoff conversation. That makes Sunday's game extra-critical (is that a term?) for the Wild. Not only do they desperately need those two points, they need them in regulation. Allowing Edmonton to get a point for a regulation tie (or worse, two points in OT or a flat-out loss), would put the Wild in a situation where they'd need to climb over two teams to get into the playoffs. And the more teams that are between you and a playoff spot, regardless of the point differential, the more difficult it is to make the post-season.
After that critical game on Sunday, the Wild head back east for a pair in the Big Apple as they face the Rangers and the Islanders back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wisconsin Badgers: The Badgers are the 12th seed in the East Regional and take on the 5th seed Florida State Seminoles Friday night at 9pm in Boise, Idaho.
I can't be any more succinct than that. I spent Selection Sunday at my brother's house. And while he kvetched about the Gophers getting into the Tournament, I gave new meaning to the term "flop-sweat" as I waited to hear if the Badgers had made it in for the 11th year in a row.
(Actually, the sweat was probably as much due to the "Jedi training" my nephew asked of me as the show was going on, but my trepidation involving the Badgers was certainly involved.)
Let's dial back the clock to last week. The Badgers faced the Buckeyes in the 4/5 game in the Big Ten tournament. The winner of that game was assumed to have punched their ticket to the Big Dance, while the loser was firmly on "the bubble". In classic 2009 Badger hoops fashion, Wisconsin took a lead late in the second half, and failed to close the game out. Ohio State not only punched their ticket with that win, but greatly improved their seed by beating Michigan State the next day.
Fast-forward to Sunday and as it turned out, the Badgers were one of the last 4 teams to be seeded in the tournament. The 13-16 seeds are essentially reserved for the small-conference schools that win their conference tournaments to gain entry into the Tournament. So if you're in one of the power conferences, a 12 seed is about as low as you can earn. Hence my earlier "hair of their chinny-chin-chin" comment.
I also mentioned last week that if the Badgers got matched up against a team with one primary scorer they could shut down, they'd have a shot to win a game or two. But if they got matched up against an athletic team with several scoring options, they'd be in trouble.
Enter: the Florida State Seminoles.
I've gone back and forth a couple of times about what the Badgers chances are in this game. My first reaction was: Florida State... ACC... pretty athletic... oh God, the Badgers are going to get worked!
Then I looked at FSU's stats. The 'Noles finished the year 25-9 and 10-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Those are solid 5-seed numbers.
But when you break down their scoring, maybe they fall into my former category. Guard Toney Douglas leads the club with 21.3 points per game. No doubt he's dangerous. But the Seminoles don't have any other player that averages double-digits in points. They have 4 others who average near 8 points per game. But that's a severe drop-off after Douglas. And the team as a whole averaged only 68.6 points per game, last in the ACC.
So what does that mean for Bucky? Well, if they can double-team Douglas and take him out of his game, they've got a shot. Look at their game against Kansas State last year. Michael Beasley was one of the top players in the nation. But Kansas State's team was basically Beasley and 4 other guys. The Badgers were able to play Beasley physically and not let him get the easy shots he was used to and the Badgers ended up winning the game.
This gave me a tremendous amount of confidence headed into their next game against Davidson. If K-State was Beasley and 4 other guys, Davidson was Stephen Curry and 4 warm bodies... they hoped. But Curry was not to be stopped and single-handedly beat the Badgers with his deadly 3-point shooting.
Douglas is a good 3-point shooter, averaging 38.4% from beyond the arc, but he's not a Curry-like player that will kill you from out there.
I guess I'm saying that I believe the Badgers have a shot. Ask me for a pick? I'll go with FSU. But it's not unthinkable that Bucky could pull the upset. In fact, had Wisconsin not closed the season blowing several leads, I'd be quite tempted to pick the upset outright. But I can't ignore Wisconsin's history this year. And their inability to close teams out could very well prove costly in this game.
Should the Badgers manage to squeak by FSU, then on Sunday they'd play the winner of the Xavier/Portland State tilt. I'm not even going to begin to try and break that down, as it would be completely putting my thumb in the eye of the Tournament gods. As it is, I have to spend all my sports prayers trying to figure a way for Bucky to get by the Seminoles! So tune in Friday night and cheer "On, Wisconsin!"
Oh yeah, that team from Minnesota got in the Dance too. They're the 10 seed in the East Region and will face the Texas Longhorns at 6pm tomorrow night. The two teams are fairly evenly matched, but Texas' strength is their inside game, and that might be where Minnesota is most inexperienced. But if there's one thing I've learned this year, it's to never underestimate Tubby Smith. So it won't surprise me a bit if the Gophs make it to the second round.
That's all for today folks. Remember the 2009 MLB Preview begins on Friday! Make sure to come back then to find out how the NL East breaks down! Until then, thanks for reading!
5 comments:
"Jealousy is all the fun you think they had."ReplyDelete
Imagine your attitutde if Minnesota fans had gotten to enjoy ANY major championships in the last decade. Or hadn't watched MN castoffs do it. Funny how things work out. I am happy to say I was born in New England. But saddened that I still devote time, money and tolerance to Minnesota sports.
So whom exactly am I jealous of? Red Sox (whom I hate) fans?!ReplyDelete
God bless them that they got to enjoy a couple of championships after all those years of futility.
Sure, it'd be nice to have their resources, but as we've learned repeatedly, money doesn't equal championships.
What annoys me is that they try to play both sides of the street. Their near-constant inferiority complex re: the Yankees clashes horribly with the fact that they're one of the wealthiest franchises in baseball.
All I ask is for them to be intellectually honest about who and what they are. And they can't seem to do that.
You are asking baseball players and fans to be intellectually honest? This isn't chess. It's baseball. Ask them not to cry, that might be doable.ReplyDelete
I'm asking ownership and a fan-base to be intellectually honest.ReplyDelete
I don't think that's too much to ask.
You expect billionaires who in many cases were handed a franchise by their father or worked over our economic system for their own benefit, and fans - do I even have to say anything - to be intelligent about professional sports?ReplyDelete
You'll notice the Twins have gotten better in the last few years as their list of talented players, and their salaries, have grown. Mauer, Morneau, Nathan, Hunter.. keeping talent around means deciding whether or not to open your wallet.
Liriano is being paid $400,000 this year and should make a run at the Cy Young. When the Twins deem his talents too expensive you can watch him succeed on a team willing to fork over some change.


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Education Reform: What I want my children to learn | Opensource.com
Education Reform: What I want my children to learn
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"The knowledge and information that my children are getting through the formal education system--is it good enough for them to face the rapid advancements in science and technology?"
"Are my kids getting ready to face the rapid changes in social structure?"
"Are my children developing a solid foundation to be successful in a globalized world?"
As parents of two under-teen children, my wife and I often go over these questions. Our discussions move around the education system, type of schools, curriculum, etc. The fact that we often go through these discussions shows that we have yet to get satisfactory answers.
We realized that we are trying to find the answer in wrong place. School or curriculum systems' mandates do not include getting children ready for the new world. We have nothing against the education system–it is doing its job. We have nothing against the schools–they are teaching the curriculum that is prescribed by the board of education.
However, we all agree that it is not good enough. Challenges are of a different kind.
When I look at their curriculum and books and compare with the advancements in every field, the gap is yawning. What our children are learning in school will be outdated by the time they go to college. Our children are going to find so much of a gap in what they know and what they are expected to know when they go out in real life that it is going to baffle them. Until 10-15 years back, the transition from education system to real life was quite smooth.
The challenges are not going to be only in education, they are going to be in social life as well. The contours of social circles have already changed. When we grew up, we and our parents had an idea of the social structure we would be entering in, and we were groomed accordingly. With the virtual societies and online social networking, we do not know how the societies are going to be shaped by the Internet world.
Also in professional fields, our children will be working in a globalized environment. They will need different skills to excel in such environments.
To help our children prepare to handle such situations, we need to help them acquire skills. Following is my list:
Ability to learn how to learn
Today's learning process has a structure that is made up of classroom learning and books, and there is an assessment process at the end of it. Most often the learning is guided by the assessment process. As the information and knowledge are changing so rapidly, kids would have to look at many sources of information beyond books and classroom. There might not be a formal assessment process in place.
Usually our mind processes new information based on what it has learned--it tries to find the context with the available information. In the coming days, the new information that children will be coming across will be far away from the context of what they have learned. Very often the information will be contradicting what the mind already knows. This information will not fit in the mind's frame of reference.
In such cases I would like my children to develop the ability to understand new sources, process such information, and learn from it. I would like my children to go through the skills development system that would help them face entirely new scenarios and face them confidently.
While the education and school systems teach students to be competitive, it's not going to be the only trait that will see them through in the coming age. I would like children to learn how to collaborate and become stronger. Personal growth and learning are going to happen more through collaboration and understanding of communities than being just a competitive person.
Working in virtual teams
Our children learn how to deal with their friends and people around them on a daily basis. But in the new world we increasingly find ourselves working with people whom we don't meet in person. We deal with problems by working with the team members through electronic and digital communications. Very often our decisions are based on our knowledge of our friend or colleague's background. That is not going to be the case in the virtual world, where children will have to deal with people and their unfamiliar cultures. I would like my children to learn the skill of dealing with virtual teams.
Leadership through influence
Today children are learning leadership skills that are oriented towards a command-and-control approach. In the new world it is influence that will matter to become a leader. Also in the coming times, while working in different communities a person's role will keep changing. The real leadership will come through influence and not through titles. I would like my children to understand the importance of being team player, influencer, and a leader.
The conventional education system cannot instill these skills due to paucity of time and often due to lack of quantification criteria. But we all know that these skills are important, and in coming times these will be the skills for basic survival. I strongly believe that we as parents will have to come forward and create communities to help our children learn these skills along with their regular education. If you know any such community which is trying to do so, please share here.


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British Geological Survey launches online tool which screens initial suitability of any site in England and Wales for a large ground source heat pump
The British Geological Survey in collaboration with the Environment Agency has launched a free tool to assess the ground suitability to install large (>100 kilowatts) ground source heat pumps (GSHP). Users can identify favourable locations for an open-loop GSHP scheme by identifying their locations on the map. The maps provide information such as presence of an aquifer beneath the site or the size of licensed groundwater abstractions in the vicinity. More than 10 national datasets which influence the feasibility of large open-loop GSHP schemes have been incorporated into the web-based GIS tool.
The screening tool does not provide definitive answers, and designers will still have to obtain more detailed, site-specific information to prove the hydrogeological and economic viability of a scheme at a specific site.
John Findlay, Director of Carbon Zero Consulting, said 'This new tool will be useful for identifying viable open loop locations at an early project stage. More generally the tool shows that favourable conditions for the installation and running of open-loop systems exist in large parts of the country'.
Further information, and the tool itself, is available here.
Should RIBA have an annual sustainability award?
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Names of God
The All-Powerful One Creator
The Lord is There, The Lord My Companion
The Lord, My Great Lord
The God Most High
"I AM", The One Who IS, The Self-Existent One
The Lord Is My Shepherd
The Lord Who Sanctifies
The Lord Our Righteousness
The God Who Sees Me
The Lord is My Banner
The All Sufficient One, The God of the Mountains, God Almighty
The Lord Will Provide
The Lord Who Heals
The Lord is Peace
The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of Armies
The Eternal God, The Everlasting God
The Strong One
God, the God of Israel
God With Us, "I AM"
YAH or JAH
"I AM", The One Who Is, The Self-Existent One
"I AM", The One Who Is, The Self-Existent One
Today I have something I want to share with you, that I believe God layed on my heart to share.
I was reading my Bible and the verse, Revelation 2:4, was about our love for God. Later I decided to read the newspaper and the Bible verse for the day, Mark 12:30, was also about our love for God.
Then later I was reading an e-mail from Arcamax Billy Graham and it was about the exact same verse!...Mark 12:30. I don't believe that's a coincidence!
Rev 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
God wants us to repent! He wants to be the first love of your life! You have to love Him more than you love your mother or father or wife or children! Luke 14:26 I do believe God wants us to love our parents etc., but that we should love Him more!
Repent! Turn to God, confess your sins, join a church, be baptised and study your bible, get to know the word of God!! So that you can know when you are dealing with false preachers, but most of all, remember, God talks to us through His Word the Bible. When we repent, we must regret our sins with our whole heart, come to the realization of how big a sinner we really are, that we don't deserve to go to heaven. But thank God for Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who was the only worthy, Holy Lamb to be offered for our sins. No animal sacrifice or blood could do that anymore, God wanted a Holy sacrifice and that sacrifice was Jesus, Son of God, God himself became human flesh to die for our sins. He conquered death by rising from the grave after 3 days, so that those who accept Him and believe that He rose from the dead after 3 days, can have everlasting life! Thank you God for loving us so much!
Make the right choice, your life on this earth won't last forever and it goes by as quickly as a breath in the wind.
Please pray this sinner's prayer and mean it with all your heart. No one and I mean no one, knows your heart, but God alone.
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of you. My greatest purpose in life is to follow your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
God bless you.
Psalm 55:1,2,22 (NLT)1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! 2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. 22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Ask God to help you, turn your troubles over to God and trust Him to help you. Don't try to tell God what to do, how to do it, let His will be done, allow God to take care of your problem, because God always knows what's best for his children.
1 Peter 1:3-7 (New Living Translation)
3 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4 For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
We have to go through trials, so that our faith can be tested and can grow. When we're in trouble, we should turn to God. We should know God in all circumstances, be it good or bad and give Him praise always. Never go through anything without God.


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Brighton, Dunedin
Sector: Recreational Fishing
South-East Marine Protection Forum Member – appointed 13 December 2016
Community Development and Funding Advisor, Department of Internal Affairs
Lifetime recreational fisher, diver, and white baiter. Steve was born and breed on the coast.
Steve has worked for the Department of Internal Affairs for the past 26 years as an advisor for not-for-profit organisations. He provides advice and support on operational systems and community funding predominantly in the South Island.
Steve is secretary to the Green Island Fishing Club and is currently the Chairman of the Dunedin Community Salmon Trust.


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If you are a fast food buff, we suggest you indulge in an exciting eating experience at Dhaba Mitran Da. Try some lip smacking dishes in an amboence thats relaxing and rejuvenating. You can also pick stuff from our in-house bakery. It offers a truck load of fast food, bakery and confectionary delicacies.
Thus you get 40 star treatment at affordable rates. The service counter ,made in a shape of trucks front products Indian , Continental and South Indian fare in a jiffy. You can also go in for a casual sup of tea, coffee, cold shakes and drinks along with biscuits, cakes and pastries from 11 am to 11 pm. A choice of burgers and pizzas to smack on .If you prefer a full meal, begin with a soup and go on to have butter chicken or dal tadke wali with rotis or rice. Alternatively, have a pick of kathikababs, dosas uthapams and noodles along with salads and end the party with a sweet cake downed with a cuppa that cheers.
Tickle your tast buds with some exciting and tantalizingly creative cuisines invented by our master chefs. Palate tingling delicacies and simply sumptuous food will have you asking for more. To add magic, we have a well stocked bar serving heady cocktails & zingy macktails.
Your social functions like wedding ceremonies, Birthday parties, theme parties,cocktails,seminars, conferences and anniversaries, can select from our wide range of banqueting venues; designed so as to elevate any occasion into celebration.Centrally Air-conditioned hall having exclusive modern décor for marriages , receptions, conferences, cultural shows and seminars.
Very well decorated centrally air conditioned hall to cater upto 250 persons for conferences and parties.
The banquet hall on the ground floor give you that resident feeling of endless comfort is the final touch of perfection.
A tastefully designed centrally air conditioned hall, ideally suited for workshops, board meeting and kitty parties. Accomodation upto 40 people.
Just 6 Kms from Chandigarh Airport and a convenient 3 Kms from Railway Station, Hotel KC Crossroad is located in the heart of Panchkula, just accross the main Bus Terminal. A 4 Star Deluxe Hotel, it is a mere 10 minute refreshing drive from Chandigarh. Gliding through to the hotel, you would come accross a scintillating view of a host of gardens which adorn the open spaces of Panchkula. The sweet, inviting fragrance of exotic flowers would refresh your soul.
KC Crossroad promises to cater to the needs of a vast range of clientele - from a corporate honcho , a disco loving youngster and a party hopping house wife. While most of the facilities are up for the grabs, a few are likely to get operational in a couple of months. Be it a marriage party , a social gathering ,a small get together , or if you want to do it with a style-a poolside party , a terrace lawn bash, a sound proof discotheque; We have it all .
KC BUKHARA(kabab factory) - Serves you mouth watering delicacies of royal Kababs and special Mughlai and Indian Curry preparations.
SZECHWAN - Serves you favorites from the orient and the exotic far east Live preparations.
KC EXPRESS - A popular fast food with Multi Cuisines, Bakery and confectionary Products .
ROOM SERVICE - 24 hours non-stop courteous service
KITTY JUNNCTION - Aesthetically designed and cosy ideal with for 20-25 pax
DOWN TOWN 1 - Most Spacious with a capacity for 400 pax.
DOWN TOWN 2 - Spacious with a capacity for 200 pax
DOWN TOWN 3 - The banquet hall with a capacity of 100 pax
CONFERENCE ROOM - Especially made for Board meeting/in house conferences.
FIT NET - A complete health club with swimminG pool(opening shortly)
SWIMMING POOL - At the roof top (opening shortly)
POOL LINK - Lawn at the rooftop
DANCE n FROLIC - The discotheque (opening shortly)


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OCEANSIDE — A friendly group of avid readers participated in Speed Book Sharing at Mission Branch Library on Feb. 14."It's a way to connect people who love reading," said Franklin Escobedo, principal librarian of young adult services. "It's like a book club, but not so restrictive. We're serving Shirley Temple drinks with snacks to make it more of an event."
After introductions and light refreshments, adult participants paired up with a fellow reader to talk about their favorite book for three minutes.
Then they listened to their partner share information on a favorite read.
Readers Jaizsha Ross and Dionna Davis paired up to share books. Ross talked about "Super Sad True Love Story," by Gary Shteyngart.
"It's about this old fat guy (Lenny Abramov)," Ross said. "He sells services to have an excellent life. It takes place in the future. Looks are everything.
Eunice (Park) thinks he's old and gross, but is fascinated with him."
After both partners shared, readers were matched with new partners. At the end of the night participants voted on which shared book they would most like to read.
"It's a light, quick way of talking about books," Kim Mitchell, library assistant in charge of programming, said. "You have a brief moment to sell a book."
A Speed Book Sharing event also took place in August to celebrate Book Lovers Day on Aug. 9.
"We had seen it at another library," Escobedo said. "It's a way of getting people who like books to talk about books."
Mission Branch Library is the smaller of the two Oceanside Public Libraries, but still accounts for half of the book circulation. Escobedo said there are a lot of avid readers who use the Mission Branch Library. Many of those readers check out books and take them home to read he added.
The event gives library users an opportunity to interact and talk about what they read.
"It's a great way to make friends and a great way to meet other people," Escobedo said.
The next Speed Book Sharing is planned for National Library Week, which begins April 8.


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With just two weeks to go, the city and bicycle enthusiasts are still hoping for dozens of bicycle rack designs.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy teamed up earlier this year for the bike rack design competition that brings street art and utility together to give cyclists more places (and better looking places) to park their rides.
Organizers originally told NBC10 back in June that they hoped to receive hundreds of entries -- with two week left they would now be happy with dozens.
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
"We have received only a handful so far," Philadelphia OCCE Public Art Director Margot Berg told NBC10.
Berg and organizers are still hopeful that by Sept. 4 when the contest wraps up that they will have around 100 entries to sort through.
"We're optimistic that we will get some more designs in closer to the deadline," said Bicycle Coalition spokesman Nicholas Mirra.
Mirra said that the Coalition has turned to social media and posting boards to get more people interested in the the project since it's geared not just towards cyclists but also artists at large.
"We're doing our best on our end to drum up awareness about the contest with local artists."
Berg said that she has answered many questions from potential artists and that she believes that it being summer and people normally doing things at the last minute have played roles in only five to 10 entries so far.
Berg and Mirra agree that they expect many more entries before the deadline.
Designs must be received by Sept. 4. There are a bunch of requirements for designs so be sure to read the fine print of the "call for entries."
The contest is geared towards delivering some of 1,500 new bike racks planned for the next five years in the city, according to organizers.
A small committee consisting of reps from the city, Bike Coalition and private companies will make the final decision on which designs are chosen. And, the first of the artistic bike racks will be fabricated and start popping up starting next spring.
Berg said anywhere from a handful to dozens of different designs could come to fruition depending on how much private funding is secured.
The racks cost anywhere from $5,000 for a small rack (parks two bikes) up to $15,000 for a large rack (about six bikes).
Back in May, the Coalition announced that a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of its Knight Arts Challenge would be used to fund the artistic bike racks. Private donors will take care of matching contributions with zero of the program's cost coming from the city, said Berg.
The need for these racks is because, according to the Bicycle Coalition, the city has more bike commuters per capita than any other Top 10 largest cities in the United States. Basically, Philly has more bikers than places to put bikes – hence why you see bikes tied up to gates, fences, traffic signs, street meters, etc. from Center City to South Philly to Mt. Airy.
Some of the planned downtown locations for the artistic bike racks include (appropriately) outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Perelman Building, near Boat House Row, at City Hall and at Penn Center Plaza.
No idea is too outlandish for consideration as long as it matches size and material requirements. "You are amazed with what people with creative minds come up with, " Berg said.
Mirra echoed the excitement to see what people come up with.
"I'd love to (see) what people have in mind."
Even if a design isn't chosen it could still be displayed as part of a City Hall art exhibit that is also being discussed, said Berg.
This is the first time the city and bike enthusiasts have teamed up for this type of design competition. Mirra said the Coalition will meet after the designs are picked in the fall to "figure out what worked and what didn't work."


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S: Zoey Marie Wong The Preschool Years Volume Rwo
BC: Always Dream Big
FC: The Preschool Years
1: Of all the Stories ever written, the Greatest Story is Our Story. | 4 Years Old | 5 Years Old | Sweet Baby Girl, this is a snapshot into another year of your life. This year, you started your second year of preschool,had many school parties, traveled to Disney, went ice skating for the first time, and had lots of summer fun. The one thing that you were most excited about was becoming a Big Sister. Seeing you grow into this new role was simply amazing. From the very first night, we knew that you were going to totally rock the whole sibling thing. You eased into the transition with such grace, as if you waited your whole little life to be a sister, his big sister. | The pages of this book capture the happiness and joy you bring to our lives and others every day. These are the moments that will forever be imprinted in our hearts. | We are so incredibly blessed to be your parents. You bring us more - more happiness, more joy, more laughter - then we ever imagined. You brighten our day,each and every day, just by being you. Baby Girl, always know that you are so very loved, unconditionally, forever and ever. Love Always, Mommy & Daddy
2: Cut the Cake! | Happy Birthday Baby Girl! In celebration of your Birthday we had a party at Fantasy Island Amusement Park with all of your friends and a party at home to celebrate with out of town family. You had so much fun at both parties.
3: Party Time! | Guess who is 4 ?!?!
8: Zoey Marie Preschool Oxycocus Elementary
9: Little Miss Independent | This year you headed off to school so calm and confident. No tears - well except MaMa's because she was so proud.
16: Oxycocus Preschool Halloween Party
17: Mama loved being a room parent for your preschool class. It was so much fun to celebrate with your friends. | Oxycocus Preschool Halloween Party
18: Disney November 2011
20: Wherever you travel be sure to bring your own sunshine.
22: Holiday Memories Warm Even The Coldest Of Days
23: A Season of Love and Laughter | Preschool | Celebrations
26: Believe in the Magic of Christmas
30: First Time Ice Skating | Your feet can learn the steps, but only your heart can skate them
32: Cousins are friends that will love you forever.
37: Inch by Inch, Row by Row, Gonna make this Garden, GROW GROW GROW!!!
38: Spring is Here | Popcorn Park Zoo
40: Big Sister | The Baby Brother that you carried in your heart for so long was finally coming home.
41: After almost 13 months of waiting it was finally time for you to be a big sister and you could not be any prouder. During the wait, you always thought of your brother before thinking of yourself. You would always make me buy something for when brother would be home when we were out and you wanted to help prepare his room. You understood how amazing and hard and happy and all the emotions in between and always had brothers best interest at heart. | Baby Brothers make the Best of Friends
42: Ten tiny fingers that always want to play, that never stop exploring that wonder of today. Ten tiny fingers, that from the very start, will reach out for Big Sister and always hold her heart. | Sister & Brother Together Forever
47: hanging out
48: My Cousin, My Friend
50: B | Having fun at brothers Baptism
52: The World Without Art is just Eh!!!
54: Preschool | "Oh, The Places You Will Go" ..... | -Dr. Suess
55: Oxycocus Preschool class of 2012 | -Dr. Suess
56: Fantasy Island Long Beach Island
57: Let's have some fun! | Fantasy Island Long Beach Island
60: Boardwalk Fun Ocean City, NJ
62: Sesame Place
63: Langhorne, PA
68: Happy | Birthday | 5th | Five years ago, I was blessed with the gift of you, and every single day since you have brightened my world more than I ever could have imagined. You amaze me more and more with each year that passes and just when I think that I could not be prouder to be your mom you say or do something that fills my heart even more. Baby girl, God has given you so many wonderful gifts and I have no doubt that you will use them to change the world one day. Your strength and strong will is nothing short of amazing, instead of giving up in difficult situations, you overcome them. You are noticed in every room you walk into, and have already touched so many lives, especially mine. Today, on your Fifth Birthday, I want you to know that as long as you continue to always have the kindness in your heart like you have had this past year, you will always do amazing things. Remember, you do not have to be the best as long as you always try your best, and no matter what I will always be your biggest fan. | Love, | Mom | xoxo
70: Year in Review | Favorite Shows: Favorite Toys: Favorite Foods: Favorite Books: Activities: | Max & Ruby, Mickey Mouse Playhouse, LaLaLoopsy | Art Table, Loving Family Doll House, Ipad, Ipod, Computer, Zingo, Talking Bell Interactive Doll, Roller Skates | Chocolate, Grits, Pizza, Cheeseburgers, Dumplings, Rice, Ice Cream, Pumpkin Pretzels | Max & Ruby, The Giving Tree, BaaBaa Bedtime, Love You For Always | Summer Art Program
71: Clothing & Style: Teachers: Pets: Favorite Subjects: Watch Me Learn: Accomplishments: Other: | Dresses and Ruffles, Matilda Jane, Sparkles You had to have Twinkle Toes Sneakers and Knee Socks. | Ms. Nicole Cattelona Ms. Melissa & Ms. Joanne | Gertie the Guinea Pig (you made it clear you don't want any other pets) | Art, Art, Art!!!! Computers | This year you really started to embrace going to school. You were excited to take the bus and see all of your friends. | Becoming a Big Sister , Graduating Preschool | First (and hopefully last) Stitches Poor Baby Girl!!! You were running, fell, and hit your head on the corner of the coffee table. Ouch!!!