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Early in 1999, my daughter, my dad, and I started collecting the new series of quarters that featured the states on the reverse. Five new quarters would be introduced each year, and all fifty states would have their own quarters by the end of 2008. Emily was eight and enjoyed starting a new hobby. Dad died later in 1999, but she and I continued our collections in two coin-holding books.
2008 seemed a long way off, but now that year has passed! All fifty states have been minted. Our two collections are almost complete, but we both need Utah quarters from the Denver mint. We both kept looking for Utah Ds in change, but those quarters eluded us. Coins from the Denver mint seemed scarce in northeast Ohio. But we figured those coins would eventually travel to us via change at a store or a vending machine.
The thought of coins "traveling" among cash registers and pockets made me think of the scene in No Country for Old Men, where the killer Anton Chigurh tells the gas station proprietor: "You know what date is on this coin? …1958. It's been traveling twenty-two years to get here. And now it's here. And it's either heads or tails. And you have to say. Call it."
That's a dark movie to introduce within my family memories, but "randomness" is both an interesting and scary thing. Don't we all worry about the safety of our family members because of random events: the drunk who happened to be driving in the same area as your loved one, or the psycho with a gun? I once had a comparatively minor traffic accident: if I hadn't stopped at a particular store, I could've avoided hitting a van that went through a red light, I would've already been down the road.
But randomness can be "serendipity," too. Emily went to camp one summer at Lakeside, OH, became friends some kids from western Pennsylvania, and eventually investigated colleges in that area; she loves the one in which she's enrolled. We meet people we love, and find new opportunities, through small encounters.
Ten years ago I took karate lessons, but we moved to another city before I progressed very far. When we moved, the instructor told me to contact her brother, who happened to work at the same university to which we were going. When we first got together for coffee, the brother brought along his pastor, whom he thought I'd enjoy meeting. A few years later, I met the pastor again when my daughter was in the same community choir with his daughter. This past year, when my wife accepted her new position, the pastor introduced me to his friend, the president of a school in the same city as my wife's new position. Soon I had a new teaching job before I'd made a single contact of my own.
I could name numerous examples of that sort from my life. Someone once said that it's not "a small world," as the Disney song goes. If we're active in our lives and open to other people, we're bound to encounter persons who connect us to other people and places. God certainly uses these encounters to work for good (Rom. 8:28).
God introduces many experiences into the flow of our lives, not only good people but also surprises and small serendipities. You're in the midst of some problem, perhaps a problem that you've dealt with for a while, and then at the perfect moment, a friend calls … or an unexpected event happens … or you get some good news. I remember when a life-changing opportunity opened up for me at a very painful moment when I wasn't sure what to do next. Somtimes God guides us, sometimes God simply reassures us about the loving divine presence.
The term "providence" comes from the Latin Deus providebit, a translation of the phrase in Genesis 22:14, YHWH jireh, "The Lord will provide." In that story, faithful Abraham is willing to sacrifice his promised son to God, but God provides a ram instead. Needless to say, providence is one of the beautiful doctrines of Scripture. We long to be guided and used by God. We long to know that God has been at work whether we knew or not (Hos. 11:3). But our lives run aground sometimes; difficulties come to even the most devoted Christians, while mean people seem to avoid trouble. Bad things happen to us, or to those we love, which make us question God's love and care. As we seek to walk with God—to seek God's Lordship and companionship—we face challenges.
We also never know exactly how God cares for us amid our life's events. Maybe that fellow who ran the red light would've caused a worse accident up the road if I (and another driver who had worse car damage than I) hadn't "met" in that intersection. (But if so, why do bad accidents happen every day to other people?)
One of the most haunting stories in this regard is that of the evil King Ahab. Elijah prophesied about his death (1 Kings 21:20f). A little later, Ahab dies in battle … but the arrow wasn't even aimed at him. An Aramean soldier simply shot an arrow at no one in particular, and the arrow struck Ahab in a vulnerable place between his armor (1 Kings 22:34).
In a more positive story, Paul and Timothy served in Lystra and Iconium, and then planned to go preach in Asia but were forbidden to do so there, as well a Bithynia. Eventually they arrived at Troas, where Paul received a vision to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). What was the Spirit up to? The text only says they were guided.
Similarly with us. By opening ourselves to the Spirit's guidance we can may find ourselves led—and comforted—in amazing ways, through meaningful opportunities, with people who care.
The last few years I've been doing a midlife exploration of the Bible. Here is a list of narratives I found concerning God's provision. The Bible does not spell out details of how God works, the Bible is clear that God does work! These stories arise from different narratives and sources within the Bible.
· Hagar has given up hope after her water has run out and leaves Ishmael to die. But the angel of God comes to her and gives her divine assurance. At that point, she realizes she has been close to water all along, and God remains with them (Gen. 21:15-21).
· Jacob is about to face his brother after many years, and he is greatly afraid. He prays to God for deliverance (Gen. 32:9-12). His prayer is touchingly answered when he meets his brother and unexpectedly is embraced lovingly by Esau (Gen. 33:1-11). Not only that, but Jacob experiences his unanticipated time of testing as he wrestles with … who? A man? God? An angel? (Gen. 32:22-32).
· Joseph experiences the betrayal of his brothers, the betrayal by Potiphar, yet another betrayal by the chief baker, and years of imprisonment before he interpreted Pharaoh's dream and became a ruler in Egypt (Gen. 37, 39-41).
· Tamar schemes and presents herself as a prostitute in order to finally become pregnant—by her father-in-law Judah. One of her offspring, Perez, is ancestor of Jesus (Gen. 38).
· David slays Goliath with what seems an extremely ineffective weapon (1 Sam. 17:4ff).
· Saul, on the other hand, has excellent means to slay David but is prevented from doing so (1 Sam. 19:10).
· Solomon becomes king of Israel, amid the scheming of his mother and even of the prophet Nathan (1 Kings 1-2).
· As I stated above: Elijah prophesies concerning Ahab's death (1 Kings 21:20f), but Ahab dies in what seems like a very freak accident (1 Kings 22:34).
· Elisha's servant Gehazi cheats Naaman of money. Although not present at the time, Elisha knew and cursed Gehazi and his descendents with leprosy (2 Kings 5:19b-27).
· Ahithophel gave better advice to Absalom, to pursue David. But God led Absalom to also seek the advice of Hushai, who advised Absalom not to be hasty. Absalom followed Hushai's advice, which sounded better but contributed to his (Absalom's) downfall (2 Sam. 17:1-23).
· In that same story, a woman hid Ahimaaz and Jonathan, and then lied to Absalom, which allowed David to escape safely (2 Samuel 17:15-22).
· Esther, a Jewish woman in the Persian king's harem, becomes queen of Persia and, with her guardian Mordecai, is able to save her people from massacre.
· The Assyrian king Sennacherib taunts the people of God and blasphemes God. God's angel struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (Isa. 36-37; 2 Kings 18:13-19:37).
· Jeremiah is cast into a cistern to die. He is saved only because an Ethiopian eunuch, Ebed-melech, heard about it, and the king happened to be at a place where Ebed-melech could speak to him (Jer. 38:1-13).
· The thief on the cross has not believed in Jesus and scarcely has what we'd call faith. But with the barest amount of belief he reaches out to fellow "criminal" Jesus with a word of compassion and regret. The man gets more grace than he would've dreamed (Luke 23:39-43).
· You could argue that the two fellows walked to Emmaus had less faith than the penitent thief. The thief knew Jesus would come into his kingdom, whereas the two fellows thought the promised kingdom was no more, now that Jesus was gone. They too, get "extra grace" (Luke 24:13-35).
· The Ethiopian eunuch studies Scripture by himself, when Philip encounters him and helps the man discover Jesus. The Spirit had merely instructed Philip to go to Gaza, and after meeting with the eunuch, Philip doesn't even proceed to Gaza but is sent elsewhere (Acts 8:26-40).
· Peter is able to evangelize the centurion Cornelius thanks to the Holy Spirit's "cross-referencing" of visions (Acts 10).
· Peter is imprisoned, and his friends pray fervently for him. Subsequently an angel releases Peter from prison, but when he returns to his friends' house, they don't believe (Acts 12:6-17).
· As stated above: Paul and Timothy had success in Lystra and Iconium, and then as they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, "having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia," they tried to go into Bithynia. But the Holy Spirit forbade that, too. So they went to Troas, where Paul had a vision to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10).
· Paul and Silas are released from prison because of an earthquake, which also led to the conversion of the jailer and his household (Acts 16: 25-34).
· Paul glorified God when God raised Eutychus from the dead; but Eutychus had died because he drifted off during Paul's long sermon and fell from window (Acts 20:7-13).
· Paul wanted to go to Rome and preach; he would've been released by King Agrippa but Paul had appealed to the emperor (Acts 26:30-32); so Paul was sent a prisoner to Rome, but when he arrived, the Roman officials had received no charges against him (Acts 28:21). See the whole dramatic story: Acts 21:17-28:30.
These stories require prayerful interpretation on our part, for some are violent, untoward, and strange. Others are closer to our own experiences of serendipity. Does the Bible spell out God's role in these events? Not always! In some, God is scarcely mentioned, if at all. But the Bible witnesses to or implies a mysterious but real and strong guidance amid the very human course of things.
The Bible also gives us confidence in God's ability to use us. The Bible is filled with characters God used. We should never raise ourselves to the stature of Moses, David, Gideon, Nehemiah, Mary, Peter, Stephen, Paul, and others. Remember that these people had specific roles in the history of God's salvation, greater than our comparatively small place in God's scheme. But, as we seek a deeper relationship with God in Christ, their stories give us confidence in God's ability to use different people in astonishing ways. Although I strongly dislike that expression "One person plus God is a majority"—the saying sounds too much like "God is on my side, therefore I'm right, and you (and everyone else) are wrong"—the expression points to the deep truth of God's power to accomplish his will. God may accomplish great things in our lives, but he may use us for great things in other people's lives; or God may use times of trouble and failure in order to bring about important things down the way. God's providential signs and wonders happen within a context beyond our comprehension (Eph. 3:20). As we look to Christ and his Spirit, we open ourselves to God's love, care, and guidance.
Earlier, I said that my dad, daughter Emily, and I started collecting the "state" quarters as they began to be minted (5 a year for 10 years) in 1999. Dad died later that year but E. and I continued to collect them. Last year, quarters for all 50 states were minted. The only one we couldn't yet find in change was "Utah" from the Denver mint. Did we ever find some? I did! I finally found one in change on July 21, 2009, which was Dad's birthday…


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If there is one thing I love to do more than anything. I mean one thing I think about doing all the time and is probably my favorite hobby. It would be karaoke. I just can't get enough of it. I have to go out almost five times a week and sing karaoke at a bar. It is quite expensive to sing karaoke at a bar because you usually have to buy drinks and stuff like that. And it takes forever just to sing a song. I have to wait at least 45 minutes to just sing one song and it is a big waste of time. I've decided that it would be more cost-effective to just buy a karaoke machine and sing at home. Maybe even start my own business, but karaoke machines cost a lot of money. At least the professional karaoke machines do. I need to find a way to get the money to buy one they can cost thousands of dollars to get the equipment and purchase all the songs that go with it. I don't have that kind of money and need a fast cash money solution.
My friend told me there are car title loans available in Dallas now. They sure did help me out. Just so you know there are no credit check loans, and I got a call back right away! Here is the link: dallas-cartitleloans.com. Also remember this, a call sets you up with the closest location to your house! This is great for me since I am always on the go and it's a hassle driving all over. They said I can pick my money up in as quick as 30 minutes!

subset: commoncrawl


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Earlier this year, thieves struck the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor.
They made off with more than $20,000 in copper and brass components from three trolley cars built at the turn of last century.
All three require extensive repairs to the ceilings, windows and exteriors before they can be returned to operation at the museum.
To help pay for the repairs, the museum is hosting a beer and wine tasting.
On May 11, the grounds will be open up from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the first of what they hope will be an annual event.
The museum is partnering with Joe's Fine Wines & Spirits to offer a large selection of beers and wines to taste.
There will also be live entertainment featuring a band, a vocalist and a ukulele group. Plus, people can take part in raffles and ride a trolley car all night long.
Tickets cost $25, with all the money raised going directly to the restoration of the damaged cars.


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This study analyzes the amount of material deposited in Swedish municipal solid waste landfills, how much is extractable and recyclable, and what the resource and climate implications are if landfill mining coupled with resource recovery were to be implemented in Sweden. The analysis is based on two scenarios with different conventional separation technologies, one scenario using a mobile separation plant and the other using a more advanced stationary separation plant. Further, the approach uses Monte Carlo simulation to address the uncertainties attached to each of the different processes in the scenarios. Results show that Swedens several thousand municipal landfills contain more than 350 million tonnes (t) of material. If landfill mining combined with resource recovery is implemented using a contemporary stationary separation plant, it would be possible to extract about 7 million t of ferrous metals and 2 million t of nonferrous metals, enough to meet the demand of Swedish industry for ferrous and nonferrous metals for three and eight years, respectively. This study further shows that landfill mining could potentially lead to the equivalent of a one-time reduction of about 50 million t of greenhouse gas emissions (carbon-dioxide equivalents), corresponding to 75% of Swedens annual emissions.
Landfill mining is a relatively unproven, still uncertain concept for extracting resources from landfills. Previous studies in the field have mainly focused on solving local environmental problems related to leaching and other landfill management issues, or characterizing the material composition of various landfills. Few, however, have used a systematic approach when evaluating the environmental and economic potential of landfill mining, and fewer still have quantified this potential. Furthermore, discussions regarding the technical, legal, and organizational conditions of landfill mining are largely lacking. This lack of knowledge and experience creates uncertainties that make most landfill mining initiatives high-risk investments and consequently hinders the development of knowledge in the field. The purpose of this thesis is therefore to present the development and application of a systems analysis approach for evaluating the economic and environmental potential of landfill mining designed to handle the uncertainties surrounding this concept.
The approach aims to incorporate all relevant processes related to landfill mining, and to combine LCA methodology with Monte Carlo simulation to incorporate the inherent uncertainties into the result. The approach is based on one or more scenarios, the results of which can be compared with each other, as well as with a reference scenario. The scenarios are constructed using five different aspects that have been identified in previous studies as being relevant for the environmental and economic potential: landfill characteristics, organizational setup, policies and legislation, market conditions, and technology. These scenarios can be set up on a variety of levels, from identifying the impact of strategic policies regarding landfill mining to evaluating small landfill mining projects. The environmental analysis uses LCA and produces results on a global and regional scope, while the economic analysis is done from a project owner's perspective using direct revenues and costs. Results from the approach can be used not only to see the net result for each scenario, but also to recognize which processes contribute the most to the result, and how important these are relative to other processes.
Results from the environmental potential show the resource potential and climate implications of mining all, or parts of, the Swedish municipal solid waste landfills. The metal content in these landfills corresponds to about three years of ferrous and up to eight years of non-ferrous scrap usage in Sweden. Additionally, the amount of combustible material is enough to cover the Swedish demand for more than five years. If all the landfills in the study were to be remediated and mined of resources, over 50 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions can be avoided, comparable to Swedish annual emissions. The positive result can mainly be attributed to the avoided emissions, created by the material and energy recycling processes.
The economic potential has been analyzed from a landfill owner's perspective by including direct costs and revenues in the evaluation. The thesis shows that by integrating material recovery into an already planned remediation project, the economic result can improve under certain circumstances. Two of the most important factors, in addition to the material composition of the landfill, were found to be the landfill tax and ownership of, and access to, a combined heat and power plant.
In summary, the thesis shows that there are many potential benefits from recovering resources from landfills, although they are dependent on a variety of factors. Three types of key factors contributing to the environmental and economic potential of landfill mining have been found: site-specific factors, project factors, and external factors. By using the systems analysis approach presented in this thesis, the absolute and relative impact of these factors, regarding both environmental and economic impact for a specific landfill mining project, can be identified.


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For more information about this unit, visit The Bubbly Blond.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Shoe Tying Club Craft
I just found this and thought it went well with the Pete the Cat shoe tying club. Instead of using it as a "stepping into first grade" writing activity, you could have students make the craft and do some writing when they make the shoe tying club. Of course, it is super cute no matter how you want to use it!!
Posted by Mrs. Larremore at 2:56 PM
Labels: classroom management, Pete the Cat, tying shoes
7 comments:
- FirstGradeBlueSkies (Jennifer) said...
Very cute! When I taught K, we would add shoes to a caterpillar when they could tie their shoes! =)
First Grade Blue Skies
- July 10, 2012 at 3:08 PM
- Mrs. Larremore said...
Cute idea Jennifer! Thanks for sharing it!!
- July 10, 2012 at 3:12 PM
- Mrs. Tolbert said...
I love this! Thank you for sharing. :)
Daisy Days for Learning
- July 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM
- ms. rachel said...
these are cute.. thanks for sharing! :)
♥ rachel
Teaching Melodies
- July 10, 2012 at 5:51 PM
- Lisa R. said...
Yes!! This is so adorable to go with the Pete activity! Thanks April!!
Learning Is Something to Treasure
- July 10, 2012 at 5:57 PM
- Mrs. Cupcake said...
The shoe tying club is a great idea!!
A Cupcake for the Teacher
- July 10, 2012 at 10:30 PM
- Alisha said...
Thanks for sharing! I saw someone else post a similar idea under a pinterest post of it. I will update the unit with sheets to go along with Pete and tying shoes:) Never thought about that!
- July 11, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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We believe in simple solutions; yet the software development process can be a complex one. To us, the optimization of your web presence is a guiding principle.
No matter how difficult the objective, nor how complicated the underlying work, what is presented to the user must be simple, intuitive and effective. In order to develop and deploy Web business applications and services that meet these requirements, we must understand our clients and their objectives, and we must have a process to guarantee these objectives are reflected in our work.
How We Operate:
1. Project Assessment
2. Project Planning and Milestones
3. Rapid Prototyping
4. Agile Build Cycles
5. Final Product Delivery
We begin all of our projects with an intensive project assessment where we evaluate your needs, timelines, and your budget. After learning your requirements, we put together a specific timeline of milestones that we work towards.
The next step is the rapid prototyping phase where we start to develop the "bones" of your application, service or tool. As the process moves along, we will continue to develop and refine the product through agile build cycles in accordance with the project plan.
Throughout these cycles, we identify and promptly address any issues that might throw the project off schedule to make sure we devote the right resources and take the right steps to keep your project on track. You'll get detailed communications from us on a weekly cadence with regards to the status of your projects and any concerns that might need to be addressed.
Getting to your final product deliverable is our main goal and staying within your timeline and budget are our priorities.


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The Erie Triangle is a roughly 300-square-mile tract of American land that was the subject of several competing colonial-era claims and which was eventually acquired by the U.S. federal government and sold to Pennsylvania so that the state would have access to a freshwater port on Lake Erie. The Erie Triangle land makes up a large portion of present-day Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Most of northwestern Pennsylvania came under American control following the 1784 Treaty of Fort Stanwix with the Iroquois Confederacy. The following year, a boundary dispute between New York and Pennsylvania erupted. Following a surveying effort by Andrew Ellicott representing the Pennsylvanians and James Clinton and Simeon DeWitt representing the New Yorkers, the western edge of New York was set at 20 miles (32 km) east of Pennsylvania's Presque Isle, a small peninsula off the coast of Erie, Pennsylvania. However, this left an unclaimed area, which came to be known as the Triangle Lands.
The Triangle Lands problematically fell under neither New York's nor Pennsylvania's charter, while both Connecticut and Massachusetts also spoke up with claims derived from their original colonial "sea to shining sea" grants.
Of these four competing claimants (Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts), only Pennsylvania was landlocked, except for a very tiny strip of coastline. Following some pressure from the new federal government, all four states surrendered their claims to that entity, which then, in 1792, turned around and sold final rights to the 202,187 acres (818.22 km²) of land to Pennsylvania for $151,640.25 (75 ¢/acre). The Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy released the land to Pennsylvania in January 1789 for payments of $2,000 from Pennsylvania and $1,200 from the federal government. The Seneca Nation separately settled land claims against Pennsylvania in February 1791 for the sum of $800.[1] This was accomplished without the approval of the federal government and in violation of the Contract Clause[2] of the United States Constitution which reserved the right to make treaties to the federal government.[3] With this access to the Great Lakes, Pennsylvania was persuaded to accept the western boundary established by the Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory following passage of the Northwest Ordinance, in 1787.
The Erie Triangle is often described as a "tab" or "chimney" attached to the Keystone State. The water off the coast of the Erie Triangle is known as the Graveyard of Lake Erie because of the large number of shipwrecks that occurred in the area's stormy waters in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was also the site of a preliminary battle between forces that participated in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The battle itself took place in the Lake Erie Islands, at the western end of the lake, off the coast of Ohio.
YouTube Encyclopedic
1/3Views:6043 518462
✪ The Erie Triangle
✪ American History: "How Our Country Grew" 1950 Progressive Pictures
✪ Timeline of the American Revolution
See also
- Explore PA History
- Smith, Helene; George Swetnam. A Guidebook to Historic Western Pennsylvania, 2d. ed., Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1991, pp.256–271.
- Bilharz, Joy Ann. The Allegany Senecas and Kinzua Dam: Forced Relocation Through Two Generations, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1998.
- Bates, Samuel P. History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1884.


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Let Property Commercial
Our insurance cover is for owners of commercial premises, (factories, shops, offices, warehouses, etc.) This is similar to residential let property insurance but usually on a larger or more complex scale.
Cover can be arranged for:
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Enquire & we'll call you back
Use the enquiry form on this page and we'll call you back at your convenience during office hours (be sure to leave a number we can contact you on).
If you prefer to phone, during office hours you can call us on 0161 480 0170 to get answers directly from one of our specialists.


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This 5k run/1 mile walk will take place on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, 2012, at the Wrightsville Beach Loop. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the race to follow one hour later. Be sure to stick around for the prize ceremony at 9:15 and enjoy more food and fun!
The cost to participate is $25 for the 5k runner advance registration ($30 the day of) and $15 for the 1 mile walker advance registration (same price the day of). Children under 10 are admitted free to this event, but if they want to be timed, they will have to register as an adult and pay the regular fee.
Over the years, the Turkey Trot has become an eagerly anticipated way to celebrate the holidays and give thanks to the local community. If you've never participated in a Turkey Trot event before, why not check it out this year? You may just find your next holiday family tradition!
If you're interested in preregistering, please visit: Wrightsville Beach Turkey Trot 2012.


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Installing custom recovery on your Android phone is always a good choice as it removes many limitations present in stock recovery that comes pre-installed with your phone. The two most common custom recoveries are CWM recovery and TeamWin Recovery Project (or simply TWRP). TWRP recovery has a better UI than the …Read More »
Complete Guide to install MIUI 8 Recovery or Fastboot ROM
Xiaomi has rolled out their most awaited update – MIUI 8 Global Stable ROM. The Beta version was already made available last month. Many of you may be afraid to install the update manually, but fear no more I will be sharing the best tips that will make flashing the …Read More »
How to fix Samsung galaxy stuck at Samsung logo
Quick fix to Samsung Galaxy stuck at Samsung Logo Somehow done something wrong with your Samsung galaxy device ? If your Samsung Galaxy device stuck at Samsung logo, then there must be different reasons for that. It mainly occurs due to flashing some unofficial ROM or files. It can also …Read More »
How to install CWM recovery without PC
Hey, guys, I am back again with another tutorial on "How to install CWM recovery without PC". You can also check my other tutorial to install CWM recovery on any android phone (with ODIN) that was the tutorial for a non-rooted android device. Now in this tutorial, I'm gonna tell you how …Read More »
How To Install CWM Recovery On Any Android Device
CWM (ClockWorkMode) recovery is a very famous custom recovery mode for android phones, developed by Koushik "Koush" Dutta. It is a replacement for stock recovery mode which is usually the basic recovery mode for android phones that comes with very basic features. In this post I'm going to tell you …Read More »


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One man's experience of American soccer's years of bust and boom.
As a teenager, Agovino (The Bookmaker: A Memoir of Money, Luck, and Family from the Utopian Outskirts of New York City, 2008) fell in love with the beautiful game. Born and bred in the Bronx, where the typical American team sports of baseball, football, basketball and hockey reigned, the author nonetheless found himself captivated by a game that most Americans disdained when they acknowledged it at all. By 1982, when Agovino attended his first real soccer match, an all-star game at Giants Stadium featuring some of the world's elite players, the luster of the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos was fading and the United States men's national team had not made the World Cup since 1950 (and would not do so until 1990). Agovino played for his high school team, went on to New York University, where he covered the varsity team for the school paper, and upon graduation, found a series of jobs in journalism and as a freelance writer covering soccer as much as he was able. Agovino's passion rings clear throughout this well-written book, but it is difficult to discern his intended audience. His personal journey through the sport is idiosyncratic, and the book is neither a history nor a traditional memoir—though it is closer to the latter than the former. Newcomers to the sport may find themselves a bit lost, and while the author purports to hate a common breed of exclusive and elitist American soccer fans, he betrays his own version of off-putting elitism and condescension. Nonetheless, those readers who buy in will see the growth of soccer in the United States in a deeply felt, personal journey.
Soccer has taken its place in the American sporting constellation in no small part due to fans and writers like Agovino.


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Lloyds Banking Group is to shed almost 1,400 jobs as part of chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio's plan to cut costs.
The state-backed bank is axeing 1,080 roles across the UK, more than half of which are involved in SME lending.
In addition, Lloyds said it was transferring 310 staff to a new employer as part of an outsourcing agreement.
In total, the bank has now cut 11,760 roles since the 2011 strategic review, when Mr Horta-Osorio said some 15,000 jobs would be cut.
By far the largest number of jobs to be cut in this latest round come from the bank's SME arm, with more than 600 staff who provide face-to-face support to small and medium sized businesses set to go.
The bank will instead increase telephone-based and digital services to those customers.
Lloyds Trade Union, the largest independent trade union within the bank, estimated more than half Lloyds' SME customers - 120,000 out of 230,000 - would now lose direct contact with a business banker.
Other cuts will come from within the bank's wealth management function, as it looks to focus on wealthier customers, and cuts from head office and its community bank's regional structure.
In addition, the transfer of the bank's internal post department will see 310 staff transfer to third party provider Communisis.
Steve Tatlow, assistant general secretary of LTU, commented: "With the Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, only recently calling for banks to provide better support to their business customers and the return of work to the UK, it is high time the Government used its significant stake in the Lloyds Banking Group to put an end to this onslaught on staff numbers."
He estimates that some 40,000 staff have lost their jobs since the merger of HBoS and Lloyds at the height of the financial crisis.
In a statement, a Lloyds spokesman said: "The Group's policy is always to use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible to retain their expertise and knowledge within the Group. Where it is necessary for employees to leave the company, it will look to achieve this by offering voluntary redundancy."
"Compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort. In fact, since the Strategic Review in 2011 around only a third of role reductions have led to people leaving the Group through redundancy," he continued.


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Affiliated to: Chaudhary Charan Singh University
The college offers the following undergraduate course:
Post Graduate:
The college imparts the post graduate courses as follows: MDS (Master of Dental Surgery)
- Community Dentistry
- Conservative Dentistry
- Oral Medicine
- Oral Pathology
- Orthodontics
- Paedodontics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Candidates, who have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination in science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) with minimum 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board / College, are eligible to apply. Relaxation of 10% is available for candidates belonging to SC/ST category. However, they must appear in UPCATD (Uttar Pradesh Common Admission Test-Dental), conducted by Association of Private Medical & Dental Colleges of U.P.
Post Graduate:
Those, who have pursued BDS degree course from a recognized University / College, are eligible to apply. In addition, one must appear in UPCATD (Uttar Pradesh Common Admission Test-Dental).
- Separate Hostel for Girls and Boys
- Auditorium
- Computer Lab
- Extra-curricular Activities
- Internet Connectivity
- Library
- Laboratories
- General Hospital
- Cafeteria
- Sports


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Urge Your Senators & Representatives to Oppose President Trump's Pending Refugee Announcement
Various media outlets are reporting that President Trump will issue an executive order that would slash refugee admissions by more than half, grind all resettlement to a halt, indefinitely ban Syrian refugees, and prioritize religious minorities over all other refugees. These proposed changes fly in the face of our best values of freedom, fairness, and compassion. With more than 65 million forcibly displaced in the world--the worst in our global history--it is more important than ever to urge our elected leaders to weigh in TODAY to oppose such an announcement.
Barring refugees from certain countries and narrowly preferencing religious minorities is tantamount to a Muslim ban. The proposed pause would force refugees who already went through the rigorous screening process and who were set to arrive in the United States soon to instead wait months and even years to go through fingerprinting, interviews, health screenings, and multiple security checks all over again, all while their lives are in danger. It would also keep in danger Iraqis and Afghans who served the U.S. military and now face persecution.
These announcements would be gut-wrenching for our community members who are waiting to be reunited with family members, and for refugees overseas with no other options for safety than to be resettled in the U.S. Resettlement is the hardest way to come to the United States. Refugees undergo biographic and biometric checks, medical screenings, forensic document testing, and in-person interviews. It is critical that Members of Congress hear their constituents decry these announcements and weigh in directly with President Trump to urge him to immediately abandon these plans. We must urgently show our elected officials that we believe in a country that stands up to fear and stands for freedom and being a beacon of hope for the persecuted.
(202) 224-3121*
*Please call this line 3 times to be connected with your 1 Representative and 2 Senators
Sample Script: "I'm your constituent from [City, State], and I support refugee resettlement in the U.S. I am strongly opposed to the announcement expected from President Trump that would slash refugee admissions, grind all resettlement to a halt, stop resettling refugees from certain countries, and preference religious minorities. This discriminatory announcement flies in the face of core American values and this country's founding principles. It does not reflect the welcome for refugees I see in my community every day. Please urge President Trump to abandon this plan and do everything in your power to stop this announcement."
One of the best ways to make your voice heard is by commenting on a post on the White House Facebook page: Facebook.com/WhiteHouse or submit an electronic message at whitehouse.gov/contact.
Tweet @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse, @POTUS and @ your Senators/Representatives: "[email protected][HANDLE], my community stands w/refugees! Support resettlement for ALL refugees! #RefugeesWelcome"


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Page 94
on February 25, 2013 at 8:30 am
Chapter: Volume 1 - Chapter 3
Location: The Desert
Oh my god! There we go.
We are currently 95 pages into the story, and exactly three whole chapters. Seven chapters (roughly) to go, so we're almost a third of the way through the tale. I'm having a lot of fun with this, I hope you are too!
Chapter Four will debut next Monday, the 4th of March. Between now and then I hope to get a couple of updates in, even if it's just bits of art to look at!
Cheers guys!


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For as long as most of us care to remember, there's been a healthy alliance between the tri-party relationship of client, agency and vendor.
The client was the ultimate holder of the purse.
Media vendors worked in every way possible to trump the competition and sell a disproportionate portion of their media wares either with or without the agency's support. Media agencies played gatekeeper, working always in the best interests of the client to ensure the client's marketing needs are delivered via the most relevant, effective and cost effective means.
But, the world has changed and the typical purchase pathway for paid media channels is no longer the dominant priority for any media agency. In fact, it's been that way for a while. However, the future of media agencies has not been so clear to many until perhaps the last 12-18 months or so.
On a number of recent visits to the West Coast, I've been both impressed and humbled at the energy, enthusiasm and innovation that exists in companies, large and small, working across the communications environment in that part of the world. It's interesting to see the likes of Google , Facebook and Apple hiring top marketing and sales talent. Talent that is both comfortable and capable brokering sizable direct deals with clients, some deals spanning three years and many tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
So, where does all of this leave the poor old media agency? Can the big super tanker like media power houses course correct fast enough to understand the speed of change in the industry and also to stay at the heart of the future of media?
From GRPs to addressable media, to likes, loves, tweets, mookies and good old fashioned store data, the media world has never been more complex and yet more simple.
The efforts of our friends in Silicon Valley, Seattle and beyond have worked wonders in putting our industry at the forefront of consumers' lives in general.


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BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - This bracelet is more than just an accessory for Rachel Frederick.
"It's very wonder-woman like," Frederick says.
There's a computer chip hidden underneath the cuff bracelet that is touch-activated. Rachel is able to send alerts to family or friends using her secret crime-fighting tool.
"You press your cuff and an alert goes out to the people you designate as your first responders in our app and they get your location in case of emergency."
These wearable security devices have functions specifically designed to keep you safe.
What may look like a hair clip contains sensors that automatically detect physical assault and sends for help.
"Anything that's your normal routine won't set off the alarm. But anything associated with the violent crimes will."
The smart clip also collects data that can help in criminal investigations by activating your phone's G-P-S, camera, and microphone.
There's no charge to operate the products, but you do need a smart phone and a signal for them to work.
C-Net Senior Editor Brian Tong says wearable security is so new that the jury's still out on it's potential success.
"How much technology people are willing to wear and actually purchase has still yet to figure itself out,"
Of course there's still no substitute for common sense when it comes to safety.
"As a user you can't depend on technology to keep you safe. It sometimes comes down to a low-tech solution. You have to be aware of your surroundings and make eye contact"
As for Rachel, she says she's happy to own something that's both fashionable and functional.
"It looks great, and it gives me a sense of security."
The cuff jewelry costs anywhere from $35 to $110 and the smartchip lasts for a year. The hair clip is $50 to $75 with an optional $5 a month monitoring fee.
Copyright 2014 WAFB. All rights reserved.


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Blue Christmas
Blue Christmas from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.
This a cappella track is on Crowe's just-released "Souling (Bonus Tracks Edition)" – an album which expands upon a cherished release of last Christmas. To "Souling" Crowe's added one more traditional carol plus characteristically distinct colourings of secular songs popularized by Elvis, Eartha Kitt, Louis & Ella, Nat King Cole and Stevie Wonder among others:
Labels: a cappella, Allison Crowe, Blue Christmas, British Columbia, Canada, Christmas, Corner Brook, Elvis Presley, music, Nanaimo, Newfoundland, song, Souling, Tidings, winter


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This morning the day started overcast with a breeze and a forecast of rain. Whilst we always knew it was going to get cold after nearly 20 years in Australia our bodies did object.
Once we head off on Waiouru we're committed to being constant cruisers (CC's). By definition we must keep moving around the network moving at least once every 14 days and not immediately returning to the previous mooring. The latter group are known as "bridge hoppers" or "continuous moorers" and are breaching their license conditions.
All of this made me reflect on our plans for our first winter on Waiouru. Fortunately this is likely to be next winter so we have a year to prepare. One think I've noticed is, during winter constant cruisers appear to fall into three categories.
- Those that take temporary shelter in a marina;
- Those who pay for a BW towpath winter mooring; and
- Those who just keep going.
I can understand the advantages of spending the winter in a marina where you obtain relatively easy access to facilities and services (a mooring shore-power, water, sewage disposal, etc). The constant cruiser obviously just struggles on. But what are the advantages of purchasing a British Waterways (BW) towpath winter mooring?
Looking on the BW website I found the following information
50% of the visitor mooring site will be allocated to winter moorings so that those boaters who prefer to cruise throughout the winter are still able to stop temporarily to use facilities. For this reason the winter mooring section of the mooring site will be at the end of the mooring site furthest from the available facilities to ensure visiting boats are able to make use of them when needed. If there are no signs indicating where the winter mooring space is on the site we would ask that you moor as far from the facilities as possible. It is advisable to have mooring pins with you as bollards or rings may not be available.
An interesting phrase "we would ask that you…..". Obviously it's not obligatory otherwise it would read "you must…..". Or is this someone's attempt to not offend the reader by being autocratic and in the process unwittingly diluting the requirement.
So the winter mooring will consist of no more than 50% of the designated visitor mooring area at the location and will be at the furthest extremes of the mooring to allow those boaters cruising to temporarily stop and use the facilities.
I've looked at the BW website to get an idea of the cost of a winter mooring in an area I'm reasonably familiar with. The location only has water and the monthly cost of mooring Waiouru would be £148. That is rather expensive water!
My assumption is a continuous cruiser who is prepared to pay for a winter mooring would also want relatively easy access to, water, pumpout/elsan, rubbish, access to transport or shops and perhaps shore-power. Otherwise… why bother?
Then I recalled a recent towpath conversation with a boater who cruised during the summer and in the winter he took his mobile home to Spain and Portugal. He obviously needs to moor his boat during winter. Moreover, he wouldn't require any facilities. Perhaps the BW winter moorings are used by this category of boater?
Finally, I asked myself "How often do BW check their winter moorings?" Do they "move on" boaters who are squatting on the facilities and what do they do about boats on the moorings without a winter mooring licence and are unoccupied…… pull them from the water… tow them away? I suspect not!
I suppose these questions will be answered during our first winter as CC's.


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Briefing for incoming ministers
The Government has released the Ministry's briefings to the incoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Trade and Export Growth and Minister for Climate Change.
Each briefing provides a portfolio overview, briefing on major portfolio issues and information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In considering the material to be proactively released, we have taken into account the Principle of Availability set out in section 5 of the Official Information Act 1982.
We have also considered the reasons for withholding set out in the Act. As a result of those considerations, some information has been withheld in line with the provisions of the Act. Where material has been withheld it has been noted in the document.
Briefing for incoming Minister of Foreign Affairs [PDF, 8.1 MB]
Briefing for incoming Minister for Trade and Export Growth [PDF, 7.4 MB]
Briefing for incoming Minister for Climate Change (International) [PDF, 6.4 MB]


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Area: Service Learning
Matt FreemanStephanie Sanders-Badt
Juana Alicia Montoya
Katie Koelle
Research Question:
How does this project help you feel a sense of empowerment and what activist skills did you acquire that you can apply beyond this semester?
Student response on student empowerment:
- Increased student awareness of their capacity to work towards positive social change;
- Increased ability to take knowledge and skills learned in the classroom into the world;
- Increased overall self-confidence and awareness, especially around personal, community, or social issues.
Activist and organizing skills acquired during projects:
- Improved work with others (classmates, community members, etc.);
- Practiced planning and implementing projects;
- Understood the difficulty of gathering resources;
- Synthesized ideas as a part of planning project.
- Instructors would like to build a more diverse and inter-disciplinary team of faculty who use service learning into their classes;
- Acquire faculty release time for future development;
- Host a staff development flex day in spring 2011.
Project Report:


text: 18 Years Worth of Days The average retirement lasts for 18 years. Are you prepared to fill that many days? Share | Related Content Social Security: By the Numbers Here are five facts about Social Security that might surprise you. Caring for Aging Parents As our nation ages, many Americans are turning their attention to caring for aging parents. Retirement Plan Distributions There are a number of ways to withdraw money from a qualified retirement plan.


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How to Find Lost Objects
We've all done it, laid something down and couldn't find it a few minutes later. Where do those things go? I've laid things down and have never found them.
There's an online book written by Professor Solomon that outlines twelve Principles that will help you find these items, and it gives tips on how to keep from losing them again. The book is online so you won't be able to lose it! Here's just a sample of what you'll find:
Principle Ten: The Eureka Zone
The majority of lost objects are right where you figure-once you take a moment to stop and figure. Others, however, are in the immediate vicinity of that place. They have undergone a displacement-a shift in location that, although minor, has served to render them invisible.
Some examples:
A pencil has rolled beneath a typewriter.
A tool has been shoved to the rear of a drawer.
A book on a shelf has gotten lodged behind other books.
A folder has been misfiled, several folders away from where it belongs.
Objects are apt to wander. I have found, though, that they tend to travel no more than eighteen inches from their original location. To the circle described by this eighteen-inch radius I have given a name. I call it the Eureka Zone. With the aid of a ruler, determine the Eureka Zone of your lost object. Then explore it. Meticulously.
Click this link to read this online book and find those lost items.


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Under the COMAH Regulations, modifications to notified facilities, processes or inventories require an assessment to determine whether there could be significant consequences for major accident hazards. COMAH documentation, including the Safety Report, may have to be amended before modification and sent to the Health & Safety Authority well in advance. The HSA has produced a detailed guidance document to explain and guide operators through the process. The guidance sets out the criteria the HSA uses in deciding to allow a modification to proceed (or not) or in referring it to a planning authority. This presentation will give an overview of the guidance to assist in determining what should be done when considering a 'significant modification'.
Pat Conneely, Head of COMAH, Chemical Production & Storage Unit Pat Conneely heads up the COMAH, Chemical Production & Storage Unit of the Health & Safety Authority. He has been an inspector with the Authority since 1997, having previously occupied research and production roles within the Pharma-chem industry. Pat steered the implementation of the COMAH Regulations 2015, the Guidance on Safety Report Assessment and the inspection approach under Seveso III. He was one of the authors of the HSA's Policy & Approach to Land-use Planning document and the recent Guidance on Significant Modifications.
Admission is free and all are welcome. Advance booking is required however and should be made using the link provided.
Click here to reserve a place at this event.
Guidance on Significant Modifications under the COMAH Regulations (pdf)
Attendance at this event should be recorded as it can be counted as part of your overall CPD hours for the year.
Recording your CPD is really easy - visit My CPD to start recording your 2019 CPD hours.
Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. For more information on cookies please view our privacy policy.


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MamaP posted something about these 14 year old girls who were making fun of people with Tourette's Syndrome (Aug 15th post titled Tic'd off) and it made me furious. I went to YouTube to try to find it - but to no avail. I was ready to rag on these girls - and I was hoping that somehow their parents can be told of their cruel acts. Maybe not finding the particular video was a good thing because I was planning on embedding it here to "humiliate" them. But if I do that, then I would be going down to their level, and that I don't want to do. Granting that these girls did not intend to be cruel, that they were just having fun, - they need to be taught that "having fun" at the expense of someone else's humiliation is unkind.
Since I did not find that particular video, I decided to make a simple post addressed to us parents to remind us to teach our kids kindness and compassion - especially to those with disabilities. If you are doing it already - great. If you have tweens and teenagers, they need reminders every now and then because this age is notorious for making fun of others.
I googled Tourette Syndrome and I have chosen this particular article to share with you. That's where I got the picture above.


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Quality and equality
Parents and members of the wider community are encouraged to become involved in the decision making process at Woree State High School.
We invite participation through the following group/s:
For further information regarding involvement in the Woree State High School P&C please read the information contained under the P&C tab.
© The State of Queensland (Department of Education) 2019


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By Jodi Picoult
470 pp. Ballantine Books. $28.99.
In a very earnest author's note at the end of her latest novel, "Small Great Things," Jodi Picoult says that she has long wanted to write about American racism. Picoult is savvy enough to make her position as "white and class-privileged" known from the start. She details the rigorous research she did, the people she talked to, including women of color and skinheads. Of the former, she said: "I hoped to invite these women into a process, and in return they gave me a gift: They shared their experiences of what it really feels like to be black." There is also a lot of introspection about her presumed audience (white people) and her own racism. She ends the note acknowledging that talking about racism is difficult but that "we who are white need to have this discussion among ourselves. Because then, even more of us will overhear and — I hope — the conversation will spread."
Picoult certainly seems to have the best of intentions. The question is whether good intentions translate into a good novel. "Small Great Things" is, in most ways, a classic Jodi Picoult novel — tackling contemporary social issues, creating interesting, relatable characters and presenting a gripping courtroom drama.
Ruth Jefferson, a black woman with a teenage son, has been a labor and delivery nurse for more than 20 years when the white supremacists Turk and Brittany Bauer come to her maternity ward for the delivery of Brittany's first child, a boy named Davis. Turk demands that Ruth have no interaction with the baby — but when the ward is short-handed, Ruth finds herself alone with Davis just as he stops breathing. In that moment, Ruth has to decide whether she should heed her humanity and her oath as a nurse or follow the orders she has received to stay away from the Bauer baby. In the end, Ruth does both, but cannot prevent serious consequences. The parents, as you might expect, need someone to blame. In short order, Ruth's nursing license is suspended. She is charged with felony crimes, and her fate lies in the hands of the public defender Kennedy McQuarrie, a white woman.
Picoult knows how to tell an interesting story, and the novel moves briskly. This is a writer who understands her characters inside and out. She knows her story equally well. In terms of research, Picoult has put in the work — even too much work at times, as if she is saying, "Look at everything I know about everything I'm writing here." Still, this preparation and eagerness to please don't really detract. I'd rather read a writer who knows too much about the story she is telling than a writer who knows not enough.
"Small Great Things" particularly shines when Picoult writes from Turk Bauer's point of view. She makes this man with loathsome ideologies flawed but human. He is a white supremacist, but he is also a husband and father. We see his anger and impotence, and as the story unfolds, we see how he learned to hate, how he met and fell in love with Brittany, how avenging his son becomes his singular motivation. At times, Turk's story feels like a history of the modern white supremacy movement, but given the current political climate it is quite prescient and worthwhile.
Then there is Kennedy, Ruth's public defender, married to a surgeon who (of course) seems to be the perfect man. They have one child, a daughter who is (of course) adorable and precocious. Kennedy is harried, but (of course) a loving and well-loved wife and mother. By the end of the novel, she becomes a proxy for well-meaning white folk who don't realize the extent of their racism until they are forced to confront it. Kennedy's evolution quickly becomes too contrived and convenient. There is even a moment in her closing arguments during which Kennedy says: "When I started working on this case, ladies and gentlemen, I didn't see myself as a racist. Now I realize I am." Girl, I guess.
When it comes to race itself, the novel stumbles. Its least believable character is Ruth. Her blackness is clinical, overarticulated. I certainly appreciate the research Picoult did and the conversations she had, but research does not necessarily translate to authenticity. Ruth and her sister, Adisa, were raised in Harlem by a single mother who works as a maid for a wealthy white family. Ruth is light-skinned and Adisa darker. (Nee Rachel, Adisa had an awakening in her 20s and changed her name to get in touch with her African roots.) Now Adisa is the militant one while Ruth is more open to integration. The more we see of Ruth and her family, the more their characterization feels like black-people bingo — as if Picoult is working through a checklist of issues in an attempt to say everything about race in one book. Colorism, professional discrimination, segregation, the challenges of black ambition, microaggressions, the welfare system, negotiating predominantly white spaces, the boundaries of authentic blackness and, of course, race and the justice system: Bingo! There are references to Trayvon Martin's killing and the tennis player James Blake's mistaken arrest (though Blake, inexplicably, becomes "Malik Thaddon"). There is a stand-in for Al Sharpton, one Wallace Mercy: "His wild white hair stands on end, like he's been electrocuted. His fist is raised in solidarity with whatever apparent injustice he's currently championing." Bingo!
It all starts to feel excessive and desperately didactic. This rises, I suspect, out of Picoult's keen awareness that she is writing mostly for a white audience, which needs a more nuanced understanding of the black experience. And therein lies the true challenge of writing across difference, or of writing a political novel — if the politics overcomes the prose, then it becomes something other than a novel.
During Ruth's trial, it's clear that the courtroom is where Picoult feels most comfortable. We are treated to pages and pages of legal discovery and testimony. At times, it starts to feel like reading court transcripts — but to be fair, they are very interesting court transcripts. Turk and Brittany Bauer show up, and Brittany, racked with grief, makes the occasional outburst from the gallery. Ruth's son starts to struggle with his mother's precarious position and the revelations of the trial. There are more legal maneuvers. And then there is the ending, with a twist that is so unexpected and so over-the-top that it undermines what is, on the whole, a compelling and well-intended novel. Truly, the twist still has me shaking my head because I understand the why of it while recognizing that Picoult has crossed a bridge too far. From there, the ending is breathlessly rushed, with revelations, resolutions and epiphanies.
It is, in the end, the author's note that leaves me feeling generous toward "Small Great Things" despite its shortcomings. Picoult wanted to write about race in contemporary America, and she does. The novel is messy, but so is our racial climate. I give Picoult a lot of credit for trying, and for supporting her attempt with rigorous research, good intentions and an awareness of her fallibility. Picoult's flawed novel will most likely be well received by her intended audience. I trust that the next time she writes about race — and I do hope there is a next time — she'll write about it in ways that will also be compelling for the rest of us.


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I tried to be as realistic as possible with this one, though I drew inspiration from a couple different cannons, and I had to make some sacrifices in the name of poly count.
I am not entirely satisfied with the poly count on this one. Most of it comes from the cannon itself and the eye hooks and rings attached to the carriage.


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Posted: Nov 16, 2012
NEW LONDON, N.H. – November 15, 2012 - The New England Women's Volleyball Association announced today New England's top 35 Division III senior volleyball players invited to compete in the 2012 NEWVA Senior Classic, Sunday, Dec. 2, at Babson College.
The annual event features the area's top seniors competing in various skills competitions leading up to the afternoon's all-star match.
In addition to the Senior Classic invitees, 7 seniors have earned 2012 NEWVA Honorable Mention recognizing their New England collegiate volleyball careers. All players were selected by a vote of all participating member head coaches following the nomination process.
The full list of honorees represents 24 different institutions from NCAA Division III volleyball programs across New England and nine different conferences.


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Metropol Hotel, Family Room For 4 is the same as Metropol Hotel USD 49.02 per night Jalan Pudu, Bukit Bintang, No. 136, Kuala Lumpur 50100, Malaysia Jalan Pudu, Bukit Bintang, No. 136, Kuala Lumpur 50100, Malaysia
The ZEN Comfort Guarantee
- Free Fast WiFi
- Cool AC
- Hot Shower
- Spotless Bed
- 24/7 Care
- Low rates
- 24h Front Desk
- Cable TV
- Elevator
- Flat Screen TV
- Fridge
- Hair Dryer
- Hotel Restaurant
- Ironing Facilities
- Kettle
- Study Desk
- Telephone In Room
- Room Size: 44m2
This hotel has been audited within the last 3 weeks
Located in Kuala Lumpur, known as "the sixth most visited city in the world". Metropol Hotel is perfect for business & leisure travelers.The hotel offers a hotel restaurant, an ironing facility, and an elevator service for its guests.The kindness and efficiency of the hotel staff makes staying at this premises even more attractive.
There is no shortage of things to do or food to try within the vicinity of Metropol Hotel. Within short distance from the property are attractions and restaurants travelers can enjoy.
Delhi O Delhi (1 m)
Jalan Alor Night Food Court (210 m)
Berjaya Times Square (700 m)
KLCC Park (5.2 km)
Petaling Street Market (1.1 km)
Business & Facilities
99 Speedmart (260 m)
AM Bank (400 m)
CIMB Bank Bukid Bintang (450 m)
Shell (1.8 km)
Watsons @Times Square (700 m)
Metropol Hotel is close to major transportation hubs. It is a 49-minute drive to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and 8 -minute drive to Hang Tuah LRT Station.
Comfortable stay is guaranteed with quality rooms & great service at affordable prices.
ZEN ROOMS: travel more, pay less!
- One child under 12 years can stay for free using existing beds.
- Extra bed can be provided at RM 30/night. Subject to availability at the time of check in.
- A tourist tax of RM 10 per room per night is applied to all foreign guests. This tax is not included in the room rate and must be paid upon check-in. Guests with a valid Malaysian Identity Card or valid permanent residents MY PR Card are exempted.
-Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.


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Fruit and vegetables are part of a balanced diet and can help us stay healthy. That's why it's so important that we get enough of them.
Five reasons to eat five portions of fruit and veg
- Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium.
- They're an excellent source of dietary fibre, which helps maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
- They can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
- Fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.
- Fruit and vegetables taste delicious and there's so much variety to choose from.
Fruit and vegetables are also usually low in fat and calories (provided you don't fry them or roast them in lots of oil). That's why eating them can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy.
To get the most benefit out of your 5 A DAY, your five portions should include a variety of fruit and vegetables. This is because different fruits and vegetables contain different combinations of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your 5 A DAY. They can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or pure juices.
Visit http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/Why5ADAY.aspx for some tips and hints.
Dowload a 5-a-day wallchart.


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A Yoga Book to Travel in Search of Wisdom: Dance of the Wind
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Fire, water, wind, earth and spirit are the five elements that have inspired Marin Vayu's work as spiritual instructor, lecturer, and most recently, as an author. He is a Croatian adventure guide and nature lover whose travels in Asia and Africa helped him to write a yoga book on his favorite element: Dance of the Wind.
It is the story of Ivan, a young man who travels to India in search of wisdom. There, with the aid of an unusual spiritual master, he doesn't only discover the knowledge hidden in the world of the wind, but he also immerses himself in the philosophy of yoga and he even finds love. The story of Ivan has a lot of the author's personal experiences, just with a few twists. "The book and Ivan are a reflection of my life, but it is not an exact account. I have taken artistic liberty to change some details regarding the timing, some locations, and the characters" explains Marin.
For Marin, writing the book was an originally short-term project that ended up in a five-year journey due to all the new travels that kept enriching his life. "I had a fairly good idea from the start about how the book was going to begin and end. I expected the book to be completed in a short period of time. However, my life experiences continued to influence the story as I worked out the middle sections. These learnings changed my life and I believe they can change the lives of others as well. I felt it was my duty to share them by writing a yoga novel to inspire others" describes Marin when asked about the process of his first novel.
A Rare Windy Combination
With an interesting background that includes drumming classes, 17 years of windsurfing and 15 years in the world of yoga, Marin has found a fascinating combination between these three activities. "All three are individual practices, and as such, complement each other thanks to their commonalities. I believe that everything you do can be meditative if you are aware, but there are some activities that facilitate meditation. Windsurfing, for example, has a direct connection with nature. There is no noise pollution, only the sounds and powers of nature. It is not a competition with others, but rather a personal journey. The same can be said of yoga and drumming. In yoga you meditate with yourself while with windsurfing you meditate with yourself and nature. In drumming you can reach a state of meditation with yourself and within the group. So each practice supplements the others to achieve greater mindfulness" he says.
When you think about it, considering all his background, it's not surprising that his first book is based on the wind. And while he is planning to write four more novels dedicated to each of the other elements (indeed he's already working on the earth one), there is no doubt that wind has a very special place in his heart. "Wind has taught me the most. Wind is my strongest element, my teacher, and my guru. Wind is the one who taught me about all of the other elements. Wind is the element which carries knowledge" affirms Marin Vayu.
Living the Five Elements
And aside from writing, windsurfing, drumming and doing yoga, he also runs a retreat center in Rovinj, Croatia with his partner Natali. It's the Five Elements Guesthouse, where all the visitors can learn firsthand from the wisdom of the elements. "In our guesthouse we have created a five-day program where each day is themed after a specific element. The participants partake in different activities to connect with nature and the elements. For example, students connect with wind and water through windsurfing and kayaking, or they connect with earth through hiking secret caves. We also offer daily yoga, meditation and lectures. Through different meditation techniques the participants will discover the elements in themselves. We work together to find which element is the dominant one and which is the weakest in every student. Afterward, we work together on balancing the elements in ourselves."
If you'd like to read Dance of the Wind and embark on a journey of self-discovery, you can order it online. Or browse through the Five Elements Guesthouse page if you're interested in attending one of his retreats!
Looking for more yoga holidays? Go to BookYogaRetreats.com and search among the most comprehensive compilation of yoga retreats and yoga teacher trainings on the web!


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Baby born weighing just 14 ounces, at 22 weeks
An American couple have pleaded with doctors to save their little baby boy who weighs just 14 ounces.
Little Decklen James Maize was born on Tuesday by emergency C-section due to an umbilical prolapse.
He was just 22 weeks and one day old.
The infant measures around 10 inches long.
Last year, Decklen's parents Carrie and James went through the hearbreak of their baby daughter Serenity being born at 22-weeks. Sadly, Serenity died.
Online Editors