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Sunday, 30 March 2008
DVD: Becoming Jane
Becoming Jane attempts to tell the story of Jane Austen, and as we liked the recent Pride and Prejudice film and as Jo likes Austen in general, it was but natural that we would eventually rent Becoming Jane. This is probably what went through the minds of the people who made Becoming Jane, which may explain why the end result of their fruit of labor is a genuinely bad film: with a guaranteed audience, there is no need to make an effort.
Anne Hathaway (again?) plays Austen. She grows up in this not that well to do family (albeit still a family that employs others to clean after it) somewhere in the middle of nowhere England, and she grows to be a talented self thinker who won't accept what tradition has in store for her as a woman. That includes not accepting a marriage proposal by a very rich young man, who doesn't seem too bad other than not being as poetic as Austen. Instead, Austen falls for this coolish (or is it stupidish?) dude who doesn't have much money too and who depends on his rather nasty uncle for an allowance. The conflict that ensues is between marrying for love or marrying for material comfort, and you can pretty much guess which corner Austen stands in.
In case the plot sounds a lot like Pride and Prejudice, it is of no coincidence: the film makes it seem as if Austen's real life events were her source of inspiration for P&P. Thing is, we know better: we know that Becoming Jane came to be because of the popularity of P&P. It's not only the timing of the films' releases that indicates that, it's also the way Becoming Jane is made.
It's made in a really bad way. The plot is thin and so stupidly predictable and the characters are as thinly developed as the typical slogans the script makes them utter. The scripts itself feels like it was written by today's standards and just transferred into an older sounding English.
Not that the acting is much better: there is no shred of originality or talent. That is probably the result of the poor direction work, which not only manages to create a truly boring film in Becoming Jane but also manages to attract lots of attention to itself through rather jerky camera movement and fast editing that simply does not become an Austen story.
Worst scene: A depressed Jane looks at the moving camera in several postures as the edits flow while being depressed because of a predictable misunderstanding with her lover. Simply badly done; it's like The Bold and the Beautiful was made into a feature film.
Picture quality: The picture looks like it took a ride in a tumble dryer before being put on the DVD. All the color and essence has been drained away, making it feel as if the DVD was prepared out of a theatrical copy rather than an original master.
Sound quality: Basic failure at the most basic level - dialog. It's hard to make what the actors say, speech is often out of sync with the lips, and with subtitles not available on the DVD watching Becoming Jane is even more annoying.
Overall: When the poor technical quality of the DVD is combined to the poor film, the result is very poor indeed. 1 out of 5 stars.
3 comments:
- Uri said...
I take it that was Jo's view as well?
I haven't seen the movie, but I had the impression it was about more than P&P (just like Shakespeare in Love had more than Romeo and Juliette). So being familiar with Austen might help.
And why do you always look for the worst possible explanation? You make it sound like they wanted to do a P&P remake but the rights cost too much so they made it seem like a movie about Austen.
Maybe the writers and director are Austen super-fans and have been trying to get this produced for years?
- 1/4/08 12:35 am
- Moshe Reuveni said...
I really couldn't care less about others' expectations from the film. I also actively try to avoid having any expectations out of any film, although that's very impossible.
The point I was trying to make is that while the film pretends to give you an account of the events that transpired to make Austen write P&P, it actually is a retelling of P&P - but a bad one at that. In short, it's the crap sequel that Austen never wrote.
To make it very clear: This is not Shakespeare in Love; SiL was a good film that told a proper story and was well made.
As for Jo's opinion, it is best if she adds them here directly. My impression is that she didn't enjoy Becoming Jane, too. To me it was quite the ordeal, a rare case of wanting to stop watching a film half way through. For the record, and the record is very much here for all to see, I really liked the recent Pride & Prejudice and I liked most of the other Austen based films I got to see (say, Emma).
- 1/4/08 6:19 pm
- Moshe Reuveni said...
Now that I got to watch film version of all of Austen's work, it became clear to me that Becoming Jane is a mishmash of them all. It does, however, focus more on Austen's better pieces: Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.
- 12/7/10 10:59 pm


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Monday, February 16, 2009
We Jam Econo
I grew up being very uninterested in jazz. I didn't hate it, but it did absolutely nothing for me, even into my teen years when I was becoming a bit more musically inclined. In 1997 or so, my tastes changed—first, from noisy guitar-rock and post-punk of the Dischord Records variety to post-Viennese classical music of the Twentieth Century. Then, I became interested in the music of Coltrane, Coleman, Dolphy, Ayler, Taylor, Archie Shepp, Bill Dixon et al. I didn't grow up around that end of the jazz spectrum, so this was fairly unprecedented, though luckily I had a few friends who could at least provide me with some points of auditory reference.
I think what attracted me to this music was the fact that it had the rhythmic velocity and laidbare/immediate emotionality of the rock I was listening to, and the complexity, dissonance and counterpoint of musique contemporaine. I quickly sold my small collection of punk and indie-rock records – well, most of them anyway – and bought anything I could find from the Sixties catalogs of ESP-Disk', Impulse, and Blue Note, setting off a journey that I'm still following and making sense of today. However, I didn't give up on indie-rock completely and still kept a pulse on what I felt were the more interesting artists in that diverse field, new and not-so-new.
But there must be something beyond structure and emotionalism that attracts indie seekers like myself to the jazz milieu. I was listening earlier this evening to Pipedream, an album by English trumpeter Marc Charig from 1977, recorded exactly a week after my birth. It's pretty avant-garde even by improvised standards, joining Charig with masses of sound from an organ or, alternately, plucked zither and bells, from the fingers of pianist Keith Tippett and occasional vocal peals courtesy of Ann Winter. Though acoustic, one might place the music in between the poles of ultra-spare electric Miles and post-Cageian classical work. The threesome recorded this LP in a church owned (or rented) by their friend, Neville Whitehead, a bassist. They set up and paid for the recording themselves and maybe got some grant money out of the Arts Council of Great Britain. It was released on another friend's label, Ogun, run by bassist Harry Miller and his wife Hazel. Ogun got fairly decent distribution in the US through a few channels, about what you'd expect from Revolver today or Dutch East in the 1980s (distributors of Homestead, New Alliance, etc.). Though Harry Miller is deceased, Ogun is still active.
Now on deck is a current release from saxophonist Joe McPhee with his trio, Trio X: Live in Vilnius. It's a small-edition LP, released in about 500 copies by an upstart Lithuanian label called No Business. No Business mostly puts out live and studio recordings made in their home base, of jazz musicians who are far from household names. Mats Gustafsson, a Swedish reedman who has released two records on No Business, recently appeared in Austin with The Thing, his trio with Norwegians Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass). They played at Ruby's Barbecue for the restaurant's twentieth anniversary, high-octane energy music that occasionally includes covers of tunes from artists as diverse as South African trumpeter Mongezi Feza and Providence, Rhode Island punk band Lightning Bolt.
The Thing are lucky to have grants from their respective countries to tour the US, and their performances bring an audience that seems far from that which you'd expect from jazz musicians. Most of their fans are young to middle age and forty-something Gustafsson has plugs in his earlobes, sporting close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair, black jeans and a black t-shirt. When asked what they were doing after the gig, the response was that they hoped to catch a local "house show."
I was recently interviewing drummer Ravish Momin for All About Jazz. Momin is a New York-based percussionist whose work has explored "traditional" free jazz as well as Indian, East Asian and North African forms, and I spoke to him about his busy touring schedule. "We got a grant from the Asian Arts Agency of Bristol, UK and from the English Arts Council as well, and we did about six or eight gigs in England. Then we did Jazz Ao Centro, in Portugal – Pedro [Costa, of Clean Feed Records] brought us over there. Then we did a Canadian tour where we did the IronWorks in Vancouver and went through Alberta. Finally, we did a Midwest tour in October, and a tour in China that we came back from a couple of weeks ago. We actually made money on all of it, too…
"a lot of our work is in Europe, and they're inherently open. They'll have Fennesz another night and yet here in the States, it's actually getting worse. There are some new venues opening up in New York doing good things, but a lot of stuff is closed to us. I don't put a lot of energy into playing in New York because it's so much work whereas in Europe, the audience is already there and excited to see you play. You don't have to hustle so much. It makes you feel that people care about improvised music."
But Momin explained to me that he has had to pay a publicist out of pocket to get his CDs reviewed and has set up each and every tour himself by emailing promoters and other musicians constantly. And for those who assume that promoters in the US (or even in Europe) are with bottomless wallets let it be known that the improvising musician is not unused to staying on a futon or sleeping on a floor in an unfamiliar city, either.
Another interviewee, saxophonist/flutist Carlos Ward, once spoke to me in 2004 (also for an interview in All About Jazz) of the time he spent with drummer Sunny Murray's Acoustical Swing Unit, leading up to a gig at the Both/And Club in San Francisco in 1967: "Sunny says 'yeah, I got us a gig in San Francisco and we're gonna travel by car and take this music out there.' The club owner apparently saw Sunny in New York and told him to call him if he was ever in town. Sunny took it to mean 'oh, I can go to San Francisco and he'll give me a gig,' which means he didn't have a gig. We're on the road in this car, all five of us, and we stopped at one of these pancake houses one morning. We had a little storage closet on top of the car, and I had the key. Me and Alan [Silva, bassist] were washing up and nobody else wanted to – they wanted to eat. Sunny says 'we already ate,' I was just getting to the table and wanted to eat. Sunny says 'gimme the key, we're gonna leave you. We have to get to San Francisco 'cause they're waiting for us!'
"I ate something and I wasn't gonna give up that key. Next thing you know, we move from inside to outside arguing, and I was amazed that nobody was trying to look out for me… this is the time of universal brotherhood, and there's some strange shit going on! Everybody in the pancake house was getting angry, and so they called the sheriff to get us into the car and move on! Here I am in the car having to talk Sunny out of stranding me, and so I said 'damn, how come nobody's trying to tell him how wrong he is? Pharoah [Sanders, tenor saxophonist] says, 'well, you're not doing any good!' Finally I talked him out of it, though." It's a road story probably not unfamiliar to do-it-yourself bands ready to strangle one another after weeks on the road eating crappy diner food. Ward also related that, when playing Toronto, there wasn't a hotel waiting for them, but rather mattresses on a cold loft floor.
I've often thought of jazz being comparable to "indie rock" and a reformation of these ideas recently followed from listening to and reviewing new music by guitarist Mary Halvorson's trio (Dragon's Head, Firehouse12, 2008). The bassist, Jon Hebert, played with late Blue Note pianist Andrew Hill and the drummer, Ches Smith, with Xiu Xiu. Halvorson, meanwhile, was a student of composer Anthony Braxton. The aesthetic is somewhere between Don Caballero and Storm&Stress and a Terje Rypdal power trio, and I'll say it as elsewhere – it's the best "indie rock" record I've heard in some time. I'll be reviewing cellist-composer-improviser Peggy Lee's new disc on Drip Audio, New Code, soon, and suffice it to say that though ensemble interaction is paramount, the group's cover of Bob Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do" is shot through with the Balkan brass of Beirut and the expansive twang of Pinetop Seven. It's an honest cover that places her—and the group's—aesthetic in a zone reaching out from the avant-garde and into journeyman music that is daresay hummable. Along the lines of Nels Cline's Draw Breath (Cryptogramophone, 2007) and Marc Ribot, there are waiting in the wings at least a few more jazz-indie crossover artists.
But "indie-rock" has always meant "independent," even with respect to bands seemingly well-known or canonized. And independent is a term applicable to both aesthetics and business. The latter point Momin drives home: "People assume that they're going to get calls because of their merit and have tours, but by and large if you're not one of the chosen ones, you have to be out there selling yourself. I was talking to a curator of a Brooklyn-based venue, and he was telling me that a lot of the jazz guys won't even do any promo; they won't send emails, nothing. How do they expect anybody to know about it? To be self-fulfilling and self-actualizing, it has to work from the angle of the labels and the musicians who have to realize that they need to be self-sufficient. Records don't sell themselves and you have to get a publicist and an agent, or be your own." As the situation dictates, whether for Carlos Ward and Sunny Murray in 1967 or Ravish Momin and many others today, the Minutemen credo "We Jam Econo" poignantly holds true.
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My latest lesson was on Movement & Flow. Here's a peek...
I truly believe that my lessons will not only make you a better CAS card designer, but a better designer in general. These lessons touch on things like placement and balance, which can be translated into any design style.
Over the past 3 years my style has grown and evolved, I feel like I have so much more that I can offer StampNation members! Next month I will be making some changes that I think will really improve and expand upon what I have been teaching in the CAS Classroom. Members are going to LOVE it! I promise!!
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The recent Ebola casualties and those that are yet to come are rumoured to be in the millions.
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ZMapp received a 42 million dollar grant for health and human services.
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Trust your instincts. Follow your heart.
Learn how to keep yourself safe from a man-made disease by learning about it. Panic and worry wastes more lives than it saves. If its airborne, then we are all pretty much at the hands of our oppressors. However, with every biochemically engineered disease, humanity evolves to grow a natural immunity. Cases of children born with AIDS have proven that.
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If you concerned about infection or have any further questions and would like to get some personal advice, feel free to contact me.


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MonumentsView our current brochure
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This segment was done in 2010 on the Logo TV Network online. Ongina Ryan was on Season 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She hosted the show where she interviewed HIV positive gay men, including friend and activist Robert Breining. It was so fun I thought I would share it. I was able to e-mail one of the producers of Logo that was able to get this series for me. The reason why its legal to post this is because it was an limited online series that was later taken down. But I had such a great time at the shoot. My friend Damian was with me the whole way in support. After the shoot was over he gave me a tour of NY and it was great fun I loved it. On RuPaul's Drag race after the MAC Cosmetics Challenge which benefited in the fight against HIV/AIDS Ongina Ryan began to cry. She then admitted to being HIV positive for the last 2 years and that it meant so much to her when she won the MAC Cosmetics Challenge. This was on NATIONAL TELEVISION. When I saw that I thought to myself what a brave soul and when I was given the e-mail that I would be working with her I was so excited. I did NOT want this chance of meeting her to get away from me. She was beautiful and such a professional. She also commented on how nice my leather pants were lol ANYWAYS enjoy the segment.
Justin B. Terry-Smith has been involved in Gay and HIV Activism since 1999. He is an Air Force 9/11 Disabled Vet. Raised in Silver Spring, MD, he now lives in Severn, MD with his husband Phil. He writes an HIV/STI Advice Column for A&U Magazine, is a Contributing writer for thebody.com, a Life Coach and an Adjunct Professor. He has earned his Doctorate in Public Health with a concentration in Infectious Disease.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
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Gone Raw
A social recipe sharing website to help people find, compare, and enjoy raw (and vegan) food recipes from around the world. URL: Gone Raw.
Good Widgets
A site dedicated to custom photo widgets. Each new widget is driven by the ideas and suggestions of the user. URL: Good Widgets.
Keep track of places you've been to, tag places, edit them, describe and rate them, see where other people go and get recommendations. URL: WhereTo.
Combines an instant messaging system with shared, visual workspace. Use it as a collaboration environment, a meeting room, a personal web-based whiteboard, or something entirely new. URL: Thinkature.
An online web database and form generator solution. Create web forms, web databases and email forms for free and without coding knowledge. URL: FormLogix.
A new way of mapping the city of Toronto, combining millions of GPS-accurate photographs with traditional online map tools making it easy to find a location within Toronto, get directions to and from, and view pictures of it without ever leaving the comfort of your home or office. URL: VirtualCity.
Free online file conversion. URL: Zamzar.
A great way to keep track of your work out results, stay motivated and find new work partners. Google Maps is integrated and lets you easily find new work out partners and routes. URL: FunBeat.
Why Microformats
"Microformats are small HTML additions to your webpages, used to make your data readable by machines as well as humans. [This site offers a description] of their immediate benefit to you, and a high level view of both the essence and the applications of a Microformatted Web." URL: Why Microformats.
Coupon codes for online stores. URL: RetailMeNot.
A digital life aggregator that pulls together all of your online profiles (and the content you create all over the web). The site offers RSS feeds and HTML badges so you can distribute and display your content on your website, blog or MySpace page. URL: Profilactic.
A job referral exchange. Everyone must contribute a lead to gain access to the network. Sort of like the exchange system, it operates on a points system. URL: WhoToTalkTo.
WordPress MU
Run a network of blogs with a single install of WordPress. URL: WordPress MU.
An online RSS aggregator and reader featuring a community based approach to news and content delivery. URL: NEooWS.
Search engine that gives you topical lists to help expand your search. For example, a search for dogs returns a list of dog breeds, dog toys, etc. When you find a term you're interested in, click on it and that term will be put into the search box. The lists are created and edited by […]
"Built from reviews by hungry users like yourself." Contribute and you'll get daily recommendations and find new places to eat. eHub Interviews Menuism URL: Menuism.
Rent comparisons so you can see if you're paying too much rent based on your neighborhood and zip code. URL: Rentometer.
A mashup search tool that enable users to retrieve information from several sources in a single click. URL: FundooWeb.
Enables you to easily and casually make plans with your friends. eHub Interviews Planypus URL: Planypus.
The New Organizing Institute is a unique grassroots program that trains young, technology-enabled political organizers to work for progressive campaigns and organizations. URL: NOI.
Six Apart's new personal blogging service with advanced controls for privacy, hundreds of themes, and integration with popular services. Also see my post, Vox Launches. (Disclosure: Six Apart has been my client and I worked on Vox through my company, Ideacodes). URL: Vox.
A social podcast community with social features such as friends and content subscription. Podcasters have the opportunity to build their shows and earn money via ad deals. URL: Blubrry.
Connects people via their common hobbies. URL: Hobeez.
A community site to spread the awareness of the effect that carbon emissions have on our environment (global warning). Gives members an immediate way to make a difference with carbon emissions by calculating their emissions and purchasing renewable energy credits. Creates a community of socially-conscious users that interact and share their ideas of being green. […]
College Search 2.0
Browse and search over 1,500 colleges and universities. Then save, tag, sort, rank your schools and publish your list on your blog or MySpace/etc. Find out who is applying where and get suggestions for where to apply based on matching your list with others. URL: College Search 2.0.
A "groundbreaking online organizer that caters to today's lifestyle in a cohesive and intuitive way." Seamless offline access, share and collaborate, import and export from other apps, and more. Launching in October. URL: Scrybe.
A straight-forward image hosting solution that makes uploading and sharing images easy. Host and link images, run galleries and slideshows on your web page with freedom. URL: Thumbq.
A personalised digital magazine that matches quality content with the interests of the individual, delivering quality design and music articles within an immersive Flash magazine environment. Launching in October. URL: idio.
Allows everyone who reads a website or blog to learn about and engage with one another by showing your blog's readership and community. (NOTE: I've just signed added eHub and emilychang.com as communities yesterday. You can see who's reading on the right side bar of eHub. Signup for MyBlogLog and join both of my communities.) […]


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As someone wise once said, it is the *&^%$ little things that kill you. With airplanes… it isn't so much the big bills you get. It is the thousand here and there you didn't see coming and have a hard time measuring.
Entire ecosystems thrive off you and your plane.
A child will go to a better school because you paid a tad more for Jet-A than you should have. You are the unknowing philanthropist. Continue reading Overhaul and Hot Section


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Matthew was born in Brooklyn, but grew up in a small town in Westchester, NY, where the town sport was college acceptance. In school, he naturally gravitated towards the Humanities, preferring to read and write stories rather than solve complex math problems.
Regardless of the subject, Matthew is an avid learner, always continuing his education however he can, and it is that passion that led him to tutoring. There are few things as rewarding as helping a student find their way to enjoying a previously abhorrent subject (and scoring a better grade point certainly never hurts).
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When Matthew is not tutoring, he is writing, reading (Lord of the Rings and The Poetic Edda, because if you can pronounce the names it's not worth reading), playing board games, or going to comedy shows.


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10/14/2017 0 Comments
(Charlie) Chalk
Since I started teaching I always liked the idea of turning some of the bland and boring walls in my classroom into something more, well, interactive…
I'm not sure where I first saw the idea, maybe it was on Twitter, maybe in another classroom, maybe I dreamt it, but I decided that I wanted to turn one of my walls into a chalkboard, because who wouldn't like to combine the urge to commit petty vandalism with the act of learning?
Now, the last DIY experiment I undertook has left my poor, unfortunate mother with recurring nightmares, but this time (with a little help from the site team) I was able to turn this dream into a reality. They painted my wall black, I went over it in the chalkboard paint. It didn't take too long (maybe an hour), and the tin of paint was around £4/5.
The initial reactions were mixed, a group of Year 9 girls became excited at the idea that perhaps this new black wall was me expressing my inner emo (does that still exist?) and a burning desire for the dark arts, a few of them revelled in the idea of an RE teacher who might be in league with the devil.
Others, however, were perplexed as to why I would want to spend time and effort doing something like that when I wouldn't be able to keep a record in pupils books as to what they had done in that part of the lesson, one or two thought it was just the quirky new teacher with his zany new ideas, but most took to it with intrigue and a growing desire to get their hands on some chalk.
So why did I want to do it in the first place. Well classrooms can be pretty uninspiring rooms at times, four walls a door a white board and some windows. Sure, there are display boards and you can start to bring the room to life, but in a school there are a lot of rooms like that. I wanted my room to be different and I wanted the pupils to be able to interact with the room and to create an ever changing and ever growing collection of knowledge and ideas. Ideas, who for some pupils, never get seen or heard outside of the leaves of their books.
There are so many factors that lead to successful learning in a classroom, but I feel that pupils they need to be inspired by their setting, not just by the people and ideas in it. In a RE (or this year History and Geography as well) lesson, I want pupils to be able to express their ideas in different ways, orally or through writing, through art, through drama. The idea of having to write all ideas in their books doesn't inspire the pupils and it doesn't inspire me. Learning isn't just about being told ideas, it is about forming and developing your own. Yes, some of those do need to form a record within a pupils book, but sometimes we just want a short burst of ideas and the ability to build on what others have written, that's not always easy with exercise books.
The chalkboard wall acts as a great way for pupils to put their ideas into writing, then to take a step back, and look at the other ideas their peers have. They can then build on each others ideas and then return to their original thought and see how that idea has developed and progressed. You, and they, can see how ideas grow, right in front of their eyes.
Aside from that there is a sense of novelty and excitement, once pupils have had a taste of it then you often get requests for when they can write on the walls again. The sense of fulfilment when a pupil who hates the idea of writing in their exercise book is desperate to do some writing is one that would be foolish to ignore. It's a brilliant opportunity to tap into a pupil's enthusiasm in the hope that you will see them start to flourish. Having a chalkboard wall obviously is not the solution to our education problems and their are undoubtedly pupils who would prefer to not do it and to just get on with writing in their books and then there will be the pupils who struggle to engage regardless, but the positive shift in pupil perception definitely took me by surprise.
Now, if you follow me on Twitter, you will have undoubtedly heard me complain of anecdotal accounts, and all I've done is give you an anecdotal account. Those of you who follow me will also have seen me apologise for my hypocrisy when using anecdotal accounts of my own. I am fully aware of the limitations of what I have talked about here. The delicate balancing of motivation, engagement, delivery of content, acquisition of knowledge, behaviour management and a catalogue of other things in a classroom is a delicate journey, but the impact on myself in using the chalkboard wall and through conversations with my pupils, I feel like it is having a positive effect on the classroom with pupils seemingly buying into what we are trying to do in the classroom. Learning is a messy process, and making the room an interactive learning environment is a way of 'controlling' that messiness.
When talking about this in the past a few critics have said that this is an attempt at style over substance, but that ignores the task design that goes into what you are asking them to write about. If you just said 'Here's some chalk, go wild.' then likely it is pointless (though not always) but why would it be good practice if I asked them to mind-map ideas in their book, but is suddenly shocking if they are doing the same on the wall. If pupil engagement increases or they start discussing, explaining and defending their views to others, then that can only be a good thing. Like everything, I think it requires balance.
Now, I know not everyone works or teaches in a place where they would be allowed to paint their walls in chalkboard paint, but there are other things you can do.
Presumably (unless the budget cuts have somehow become even worse) you have tables in your classroom. A dry board marker allows you to write on and then easily wipe off if you want to write on those. Or, hopefully you have windows (if not then that feels like a pretty uninspiring place to learn) you can use chalk pens or a whiteboard marker on those - again it is easy to wipe off.
Sorry for the cheesy Charlie Chalk reference, it was the best I could do on the topic of chalk...
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Thinker. Teacher. Soldier. Spy.


text: This post is my first one of 2017, which is my seventh year of blogging. Man how time flies. I am as grateful as ever to all of you readers for continuing to come back, for your comments, and for your support. I am so happy to say that I have never considered stopping this blog, not even for a moment. So here's to many more years! I hope each and every one of you finds peace, health, and happiness this new year, and always.


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The baby monster needs your help in this new doctor game and you will have to try your best to make it feel better. They are your patients and any monster that will come through those doors will leave healthy and happy.rnUse the mouse to play as a nose doctor.
좋아하는 90%


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Tom Ford
Tom Ford, American fashion designer, born 1961 in Austin, Texas. He became famous for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of his namesake fashion label that offers high-end mens- and womenswear clothes, accessories and shoes. Ford is currently also the creative director of the French fashion house Louis Vuitton.
Tags: abc fashion, Fashion Dictionary, Fashion Glossary, Fashion Term, Fashion Terminology, Fashion Terms, Fashion Vocabulary, Fashion Word, Fashion Words, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, speak fashion, speakfashion, speaking fashion, Tom Ford


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Cagney Reviews
Latest Reviews for Cagney
Did you see this?
Tell us what you think!
My husband and I saw Cagney today 2/23/17. It was just outstanding. The talent of all the members. Please everyone go and see this play.
Written on February, 23rd 2017
a very pleasant surprise
We liked everything about the show. Every seat is a good seat in this small theater. The acting, dancing, singing, staging, lighting, direction; all were excellent. As a senior, I have been known to get a little sleepy at shows;not at this one. One of my best Broadway experiences.
Written on November, 10th 2016
Best musical and talent that I have seen in a long time. I have gone three times and patriotism fills the room
Written on October, 26th 2016


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By Automation Alley Staff | Automation Alley | 3/4/2015
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Kelly Kozlowski, Automation Alley's senior director, discusses how mentoring a local FIRST Robotics team of high school students has opened her eyes to the endless opportunities for young women in STEM fields.
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We sat down with Karol Friedman, Automation Alley's director of talent development, to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the local tech workforce today and what Automation Alley is doing to address them.
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Maryann Daddow, director of finance at Automation Alley, offers up some advice to new business owners.
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It has been my aim for Project Brains to eliminate the majority of the rules that we were used to on Europa. For the most part, things that we would have been banned in the Baronship of Cove have been either removed from the game, or the circumstances that required the banning of a particular game feature no longer exist. As a result, you are free to assume that if something is possible within Project Brains' game mechanics, it is allowed. However, we may have missed some things, so expect rules and mechanics to be tweaked as time goes on.
The remaining law of the land basically boils down to the following: be excellent to each other.
These rules apply to characters playing as the Defiled.


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Meet Maegan! She is a 1-2 year old boxer mix in search of her forever home. She is house broken, vaccinated, and can't help but run to greet you when you come home! Megan is a great family dog and gets along very well with other dogs. She is not great with cats or small children (even though she loves everyone, she might knock them over trying to give them kisses). She is happy, active, and will keep you and your family entertained day after day.
You can find Maegan at Tree Tops Animal Rescue here. Or you can go to the Mums and Mutts Facebook page for more information or to find out how to volunteer and donate.


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The Compaq Armada M700 was not used for a long period time and when I recently started it up I received a message "disk controller failure" I have purchased a CD from "Spotmau 2011 boot Suite" it did not work I also tried to install the original compaq system recovery CD's it still did not work after the armada has started it said" Non System disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready" I don't know what else to do I need expert help
A hardware issue. Either the cdrom drive or the hdd. I would assume the hdd as windows isnt loading up and i assume it boots from the cdrom correctly. If it does its the hdd.


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1 box of White Cake Mix ( I like Betty Crocker White Super Moist)
11/4 cup water
1/3 cup of oil
3 eggs
2 boxes of confectioners sugar
2 sticks of softened butter
2 tsp. vanilla
For cupcakes: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix, water, eggs & oil on low for 30 seconds, then medium for two minutes. Pour cupcake mix into cupcake liners until each is 2/3 full. Bake for 18-24 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting!
For frosting: Beat together softened butter, confectioners sugar and vanilla until creamy & smooth. I use a large pastry bag and large frosting tip seen below. Fill bag with frosting and frost away. To get the fancy high top. Start with frosting tip on outer edge of cupcake and frost in a counterclockwise motion all the way around cupcake several times working your way towards the center.
Top with fresh strawberries & blueberries!
Linking Up With These Lovelies!


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As a sign of our deep gratitude, all donors and supporters of the John Paul II Centre for Life, and their families, are remembered in prayer every Thursday at our weekly Mass.
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Partnering with Healthcare Practice Sales will be the first and most important step to selling your healthcare practice or clinic. Calling us today will give your practice the best chance to sell, so you can focus on your new future opportunities. Call our dedicated practice sales team for a no obligation discussion and advice.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions!


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Afterlife of Pitch (collab w/ Dwarfcraft)
Afterlife of Pitch is a collaboration between Fuzzrocious Pedals and Dwarfcraft Devices combining their Wizard of Pitch with new glitch mod (similar to a freeze or sample/hold of sorts) and our Afterlife Reverb with a hardwired oscillation footswitch.
The first five (5) units are handpainted by Shannon of Fuzzrocious; 45 will be screenprinted locally by JuxtaPrints.
$325 shipped in the US; $340 non-US.
When clicking "Add to cart" for this product, you will be redirected to Dwarfcraft's site to make your final purchase as we are selling these jointly.


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This privacy policy ("Policy") describes how Advisehub, Inc. ("AdviseHub", "we", "our" or "us") collects, uses and shares information when Users access and use the AdviseHub website, located at http://www.advisehub.com, ("Site") and and the products and servicesAdviseHub provides to Users (collectively, "Services").
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This Policy does not, in any way, affect the duties and responsibilities of Expert Users, to keep information confidential in compliance with all applicable laws and professional and ethical standards.
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Active Collection. We collect information from you in various ways when you interact with the Site and the Services. For example, we collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, such as when you register, sign-in, request information or complete a profile.
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How do we use and protect Consultation Communications?
For quality assurance purposes, and in order to deliver the AdviseHub services, AdviseHub will have access to Consultation Communications. However, AdviseHub takes commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the security and confidentiality of Consultation Communications.
AdviseHub personnel will not view or examine Consultation Communications exceptwhere necessary to address problems of a technical nature or to respond to any legal process or comply with the law.
AdviseHub will not knowingly share Consultation Communications with third parties exceptas described in this Policy, on the Site or via the Services. For example, we may share information as follows:
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Leadership in East Asia is closely shaped by the political system and ideological doctrine of the state. Some have conceptualized the role of morality (e.g. anti-corruption campaigns) in political leadership legitimacy as the dawn of the "sage kings." Strongmen are given authoritarian rule over the land in exchange for political legitimacy garnered through a clean and non-corrupt record (perception or otherwise).
Political succession is also handled gently in East Asia. It may be an outcome of factional compromises, as in the case of habatsu factional politics in Japan; or the pre-eminence of one leader over others, as in the case of the "core leadership" of Chinese President Xi Jinping; or the anti-nepotism, anti-corruption, and anti-cronyism politics of Confucianist South Korea. In the case of China's recently-concluded 19th Party Congress, international journalists even counted the number of times elite delegates looked at their watches and monitored the decibel levels of clapping. Every little detail in the major events of political succession are scrutinized. Many leadership transition events are also scripted with events carefully negotiated behind the scene before public announcements.
Loyalty is an element that is prevalent throughout all leadership transitions. This was especially apparent in Beijing's criteria for the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; the selection of candidates for Politburo membership, including the Standing Committee, in China; and the habatsu rallying around their leaders in Japanese politics. Leadership succession is carefully crafted in order not to damage the legacies of former leaders, ensure a smooth transition, and to maximize face-saving exit spaces for retiring leaders. Beijing also expects loyalty, patriotism and love of the motherland from its Hong Kong counterpart.
Related to loyalty is the idea of collectivism. Japan is emblematic of collective leadership held by factional habatsus. The interests of factions come before self. Therefore, the Prime Minister, as first amongst equals, helps to consolidate the interests of different factions within his own party to stay as leader of the party and to get the party's endorsement to be their candidate for the Prime Ministership. In China, while President Xi is the "core leader," he maintains non-confrontational relationships with his predecessors — former Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao — and incorporates some of their factional members in the Politburo while maintaining strong and unambiguous dominance over the political system as the core leader. Unlike China, Vietnam continues to maintain a collective leadership to a greater extent, sharing power between major factions.
Similarly, related to both elements of loyalty as well as collectivism, East Asian leadership maintains a reverence for senior former leaders. Japanese veteran party leaders are treated as genro or elders who are often consulted on important decisions by the Prime Minister. In China, former Presidents are still publicly respected with their political thoughts retained in manifestos and written into the annals of the Communist Party's official records. In South Korea, President Moon Jae-in was a protege of former President Roh Moo-hyun and remains true to the pacifist, liberal, and left-leaning causes of his senior.
The qualities listed above are gender-neutral. Japanese female politicians exhibit the same qualities as their male counterparts. Former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada for example was a strong right-leaning politician who shared the same ideas as her Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on foreign policy, the constitution, and domestic issues. On the other hand, former opposition leader Renho was consistent with her political constituency in liberal policies and ideas, and her opposition party was drawn into a pseudo-alliance with the Japanese Communist Party. In terms of leadership trends, we are quite likely to witness the rise of more women in East Asian politics. South Korea already had a former female Prime Minister and a female President, and at this point of writing, its first female Foreign Minister.
Carrie Lam's background as a working-class person resonated with the Hong Kong public, who are grappling with issues like expensive housing prices and the cost of living.
Another important criterion is identification with the working folk in East Asian societies. In China, President Xi tries to connect with the common folk through crafted images, for example, by eating dumpling buns at roadside stores and instituting his anti-corruption campaign to weed out corrupt elite party and government officials. In South Korea, President Moon came into power as a graft buster, putting the South Korean house into order by managing the dynastically-oriented chaebols and maintaining his rags-to-riches image of a working-class son of North Korean refugee immigrants.
Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also experienced the same kind of working-class childhood — having had no study desk in her childhood room but obtained entry into the prestigious Hong Kong University and then rose through the ranks to become an elite administrative officer in the Hong Kong Civil Service. Eventually, she became chief secretary to the Chief Executive and is now the leader of Hong Kong. Lam's background as a working-class person resonated with the public, who are grappling with issues like expensive housing prices and the cost of living.
Personal ties between charismatic and strong leaders have also emerged as a feature of major power relations in East Asia. The mass media (both domestic and international) often cover bilateral meetings between top East Asian leaders, or with their US counterparts, with exceptional attention and exposure time. They analyze every single diplomatic protocol detail, note how their leaders were treated in bilateral leadership summits, and feted in state dinners. Every little detail is noticed — how much US President Donald Trump fed the koi at Akasaka Palace, his facial expressions when watching Peking opera, and US First Lady Melania Trump's Gucci qipao outfit at the state dinner.
Regional leadership also seems to be predicated on championing free trade in the region. Beijing has instituted its Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Japan, Australia, and New Zealand are differentially trying to revive the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the US. South Korea is supportive of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership spearheaded by Beijing and the TPP initiative which was formerly spearheaded by the US Obama administration.
Regional leadership also appears to be predicated on avoidance of conflict and face-saving diplomatic gestures to defuse tensions. Beijing and Tokyo have been playing a cat and mouse game over the East China Sea with Chinese warships entering exclusive economic zones and then leaving when Japanese coastguards arrive before entering again. Both sides show incredible wisdom and self-restraint in avoiding conflict and mostly deploying their coast guards instead of naval assets. In recent times, this issue has remained quiet.
In the same way, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's policy towards China has defused tensions with Beijing and, using personal diplomacy and a charm offensive, both sides have become quite effective economic partners. South Korea defused tensions with Beijing when President Moon suspended the deployment of a second Terminal High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) System in favor of better relations with Beijing, and Beijing responded by standing down on boycotts against Korean supermarkets like Lotte as well as Korean popular culture (K-pop).
Finally, soft power is often the neglected aspect of power and leadership in East Asia. In this aspect, as the first country to modernize and Westernize, Japan has a long history of soft power through its popular culture. The anime, comics (manga) and games (ACG) industries form the basis of Japan's soft power. Japan's exports of its popular culture like J-pop and ACG products have influenced consumption, how regional societies view Japan, and also boosted the number of individuals picking up interest in learning about Japan and its language and culture.
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Frank W. Sherman appreciated a good sermon.
He wanted it Bible-based. He wanted it to hit home. He wanted the preachers who stepped into the pulpits of United Methodist churches to inspire their listeners.
And he was willing to put his money where their mouths were.
Rev. Gene Zimmerman, a retired pastor in the Florida Conference, remembers how the Institute of Preaching came to be.
To read a related story, click here.
"I was part of the original group" that founded the program, he said, noting that the institute began in the 1980s. Zimmerman was then preaching at Southside UMC in Sherman's hometown of Jacksonville.
"He said he'd heard enough poor preaching in his life that he wanted to help," Zimmerman recalled.
Sherman had had a successful career in banking. In 1984, he and his wife, Helen, who both died in 1997, established scholarships for United Methodist seminary students who go to Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.
"He stopped me one day and said he had an idea that a lot of laypersons would like to go to seminary," Zimmerman said. Sherman's original idea was to establish a seminary program in Jacksonville, but that didn't work out. Eventually, the Shermans decided to fund scholarships for students at Candler.
The Shermans also funded a continuing education program, Institute of Preaching, for practicing clergy in the Florida Conference. Originally it brought seminary professors and talented preachers together once a year with pastors interested in honing their preaching skills.
Today the institute, coordinated by Duke Divinity School in North Carolina, incorporates those same elements but adds a component of critiques from lay volunteers.
And the program started by the Shermans in Florida has since been exported to Cuba, the Bahamas and Haiti. Using grants from the Institute of Preaching Fund, experts from Candler have traveled to the islands to share tips on sermon preparation and delivery, along with theological education. The grants also help defray travel and lodging expenses for the local pastors who attend.
Both the Bahamas and Haiti have far fewer ordained clergy to tend the flocks than do typical U.S. conferences, said Zimmerman, who has led numerous mission trips to the Bahamas. Congregations rely largely on lay pastors to lead them in worship.
Frank Sherman's goal of "sharp, on target, biblical preaching" has continued through his financial legacy, Zimmerman said.
– Susan Green is the Florida Conference managing editor.


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Katie Holmes has worn her hair in a bun before, sure, but never one as quirky as the one she wore to a Miss Meadows film screening last night.
It's quite Nicole Richie of her.
No doubt there's some of her new favorite product (as she told me when she took me down a trip down hair memory lane) —the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Milk in use here to help keep her style looking sleek and smooth.
You into it?
Oh, and speaking of Katie Holmes, watch her play this cute game of word association with us:


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The two-room and three-room apartments feature a veranda with a covered patio next to the garden, which comes complete with a barbecue and benches; the one-room apartment has its own private external corner, equipped with a gazebo.
Alongside the basic features, all of the apartments have a microwave oven, a hairdryer, a kettle and air conditioning (only
in the living room, on request at the moment of the reservation, for a
supplementary charge of €7.00 per day).
Free Wi-Fi available in every apartment.
What advantages does a stay in our apartments offer?
Before booking, check which of these unmissable deals is right for you and will make your
Are you one of the many people who thought it was impossible to take your car with you on


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If you had a choice between using the stairs and taking the elevator to the topmost floor of a 100 storey building, which one would you choose? If you're like me, you would choose the elevator. Even so, you'll need to know how the elevator works if you're going to get there, right? The same principle applies to selling your house through an agent.
If you're going to have a stress-free experience, there are some things you need to do. This post will help explain them.
First off, if you thought that you'll just show up at a listing agent's office and Voila! your home is listed, you're wrong. Elizabeth Weintraub explains what you need to do before listing takes place:
How to Get Ready for an Agent to List Your Home
Regardless of the time of year you plan to sell your home, you need to get ready for your agent to list. Most listing agents prefer your home to be in tip-top condition, worthy of photographs.
The best time to schedule an agent to come over to list your home is right after your lawn has been mowed. If your gardener's day is Tuesday, do not ask your agent to take photos on a Monday. Schedule your agent instead for Wednesday.
Create Curb Appeal Before Listing Your Home
Clean up the landscaping. You might have projects that you've been meaning to get around to doing but simply have not had the time. Now you need to make the time. Here are bare basics you should do: Read more at The Balance…
You don't have to spend a fortune in making your home ready for sale, but there are basics that will ensure your home is sold at a fair price.
"Why should I list with an agent?" you ask. There are many benefits of doing so, as explained in the following post:
Our Take On 7 Reasons To Use A Real Estate Agent
Tip #1: List At The Right Place – Reasons To Use A Real Estate Agent
Realtors understand the market better and can typically list the house at the correct price. This gives home owners an advantage over listing the property themselves. Zillow and other methods of getting a home estimate online are rarely accurate. In Kansas City, a Zillow estimate is only correct 10% of the time. Realtors ensure better pricing. Read more at Easy agent Pro…
There's a lot you stand to gain from working with an agent to sell your home. Make use of the opportunity, and get the best you can from the experience.
If you need advice on how to do this, you'll be headed in the right direction if you follow the advice given by Julie Ryan Evans in the following post:
9 Things Real Estate Agents Wish You Knew About Selling Your Home
When it comes time to sell your house, having a great listing agent is one of the keys to making it happen. And yet, the agent can't do it all—your help is needed. Help your agent help you!
Ideally, you will have an open, honest relationship with your listing agent. But even then, there are some things your agent might be reluctant to tell you. Whether to spare your feelings or because he assumes you already know, here are some things your listing agent wishes you knew. Listen up and learn! Read more at Realtor…
Working with a real estate agent doesn't mean that you'll dump all the responsibility to another person. You'll still need to participate in the process.
You can still opt to sell your house fast in Miami Gardens, FL if you are in a situation that doesn't allow you to make any other plans. If this is your position, the company to work with is Sell Fast Fair Offer. We will buy your house for cash without the hassle of procedures and waiting time.
Once you call us, we will give you a cash offer within 24 hours. Thereafter, you're free to choose when to close, depending on what works for you. You do not have to worry about commissions or even seller's fees. We will take care of that for you as well.
Call us at (305) 590-8500, fill the contact form below or visit our website to learn more about what we do.


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Happy New Year everyone! We are grateful for all that has happened in this past year and look forward to a new year.
It was a little over four years ago when we stumbled upon a wonderful story by Jennie Bishop, "the Crayon Kingdom," in the midst of development of a new production for a New Year's event. The story is charming and thoughtful, and, at the time, just felt right.The decision was made to scrap our current developing production and to adapt, record and produce a Spanish puppet musical of the Crayon Kingdom (with only 6 weeks until show time)! Little did we know just how beautiful this production would turn out to be and now, years later, we are more than happy to recommend this book, whether for pleasure reading/learning or production material.The Crayon Kingdom tells the story of the trouble that ensues once Green feels underappreciated and decides to work only with other Greens instead of his colorful friends. Join the Crayons as they learn the necessity and beauty of working together to make a masterpiece.
The Crayon Kingdom is available from PurityWorks.
Listen to our Spanish adaptation on YouTube.


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Lumocolor® non-permanent pen 312
Non-permanent universal pen B
Product information
- Universal pen for use on almost all surfaces
- Suitable for overhead projection
- Can be wiped off film using a damp cloth
- Water-soluble ink
- Fast-drying
- PP barrel and cap guarantee long service life
- Airplane-safe - automatic pressure equalization prevents pen from leaking on board aircraft
- Stand-up STAEDTLER box
- Superb colour brilliancy
- Lightfast colour black
- Line width B - broad, approx. 1.0 - 2.5 mm
- Refillable with refill station 487 15
Article number
Line widths:
OHP - overhead projector
Universal pen for use on overhead film
Line width B
Locked tip
Even when subjected to extremely heavy writing pressure, the tip remains locked in place and cannot be pushed back into the barrel.
Easy to refill
With refill station
Chisel tip
Can be wet-wiped from many smooth surfaces
Universal pen / marker
For labelling and marking of just about every material
Automatic pressure equalization prevents pen from leaking on board aircraft
STAEDTLER box
The award -winning original serves as a practical storage box and clever pencil holder at the same time.
Made in Germany


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2018 Impact Factor journals by subject
Impact Factors from the Journal Citation Reports
Researchers consider a number of factors in deciding where to publish their research: journal reputation, readership and community, speed of publication, and of course Impact Factor. But did you know that there are several metrics that are used by researchers and librarians?
In fact, citations are only one measure of an article's impact. See how we share a whole range of information on usage, social media impact, publication speed and citations with the research community.
How Springer Nature helps you: 19 author services to know in 2019
We've gathered in one convenient place a menu of our main services for authors. From open access to research data support, learn all about how we help you. springernature.com/19for19
Consider publishing in a Springer journal, too! See how we add value to your manuscript


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Cart contains 0 items
Viper The Naturals Pool Cues
GLD designed these cues in an effort to capture the essences of nature. GLD has take Birdseye Maple, Cherrywood, Rosewood, and Zebrawood and added the attributes of wood to wood joints, Canadian maple pro tapered shaft, 13mm leather tips, synthetic leather wraps, inlay rings of exotic woods, and stainless steel butt caps. GLD has crowned them with a removable scuffer and a lifetime warranty. Here's hoping we haven't fooled Mother Nature.
Viper The Naturals ''Cherrywood'' Pool Cues
Product Num: 50-0601
Manufacturer: GLD Products
Product Numbers:
50-0601-18, 50-0601-19, 50-0601-20, 50-0601-21
Viper The Naturals ''Birdseye'' Pool Cue
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Viper The Naturals ''Zebrawood'' Pool Cue
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Hot on the heels of the ridiculous "Most Hated" poll – where the only people voting must have been very jealous and very odd-looking inferiority-complex ridden females – we also had the timely release of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) report yesterday.
This badly written and unfactual report contains many glaring errors & contradictions in respect of dates, facts & specifics. Coupled with the ongoing probation fiasco, this is just another shining example of sour grapes by the sneaky & vindictive state of Florda, as they try once again to get their pound of flesh from the already acquitted, innocent, gorgeous and Not Guilty Casey Anthony.
Click here for more in depth analysis of this hogwash report (and their probable motive) from CayleeAnthony.org
The DCF also says it officially closed its investigation on September 14th 2008 – but a new report was done, that being dated August 10th 2011. It's not too clear what prompted the strange generation of a new report as those sections of the DCF document are conveniently blocked out. Surprise surprise.
Hopefully all of this will come up shortly when Jose Baez appeals the bogus lying charges – not withstanding the whole Miranda Warning issue that's still very much in limbo.
Welcome to Florida, aka Sour Grapes Central. The state that never rests!


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Did you know:
That Emigration Canyon ALMOST became home to a "Summer Whitehouse" Presidential retreat? That an electric railroad ran the whole length of the canyon? That it was home to one of the largest breweries west of the Mississippi? That it was at least partly responsible for the demise of the Donner-Reed Party?
You can learn about all of this and more in a book by canyon residents Jeffrey Carlstrom and Cynthia Furse, The History of Emigration Canyon. The 2003 edition has sold out from the publisher, but they are working on a new, updated edition. If you don't want to wait for the update, you can still get a second-hand copy of the 2003 edition online – for about $70!
Check the links at left for history articles written by our local historians. And check back as we continue to develop this section of our website.


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Religion: Catholic priest
Name: O Padre
Other Names: The Priest
Classification: hero comic strip character clergy/religious leader
First Appearance: "Tristao" comic strip in Noticia Agora (newspaper, 2000)
NOTE: This is our current best assessment of the first appearance of this character, but this has been flagged in our database as uncertain.
Creators: Estevao Ribeiro, Amauri Ploteixa
Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes
Ally: Tristao (Ronald Barcelos)
Nation: Brazil
Gender: male
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/t/tristao.htm
- http://www.superhq.com.br


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The American people rejected the agenda of the open border globalists on Election Day.
But election results alone will not stop the flood of millions of illegal immigrants or render harmless the thousands of poorly vetted Islamist "refugees" imported under ex-President Obama.
That's why the American Security Coalition is leading the fight against the grave dangers that illegal immigration and open borders pose to our national sovereignty, culture, and values.
So please make your most generous contribution today.
With your support, our goal is to educate and mobilize the American public and pressure Congress to respect the will of the people and secure America's borders, halt illegal immigration, and defend our way of life.
Choose a Donation Amount Below:


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Mixing unit TMix S Standard
Complete mixing unit in stainless steel
The compact mixing unit TMix® S is appropriate for smaller facilities or when underfloor heating is installed in parts of a building.
The room temperature is controlled via an automatic thermostat with an external sensor installed in the room.
17 x 2 mm couplings for loop outputs and Cu15 clamp ring couplings on the primary side are included.
Supplied with an autoadapt circulation pump.
Capacity: 50-70 m2 (at 50 W/m2).
|Product ID
|1 loop
|2 loops
|3 loops


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Are you looking for a Parish Home?
If you are seeking a place to call your parish for a day, a weekend or a lifetime, St. Patrick welcomes you! Come celebrate mass with us!
Our diverse parish family offers an open door to anyone who is seeking to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you interested in becoming Catholic? St. Patrick Parish offers a welcoming program called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) for those who are interested in learning more about the church and for full participation in the Catholic Mass.
Are you seeking religious education for your children? We offer Faith Formation classes for kindergarten through eighth grade students, including First Communion Preparation and Confirmation Preparation. Our programs are different. We seek to help your child have a real encounter with Jesus Christ and will assist your family as you journey with Christ.
How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ? Our parish helps bring Christ to others through Alpha. Alpha is comprised of a series of sessions that include a good meal, a short video and a chance to share your impressions in a nonjudgemental environment. Read Ken's Alpha story or watch a short introductory video to see if Alpha is right for you. You can also register for the next Alpha session here.
Already have a relationship with Jesus? You can help build and strengthen that relationship by attending a Light of the World retreat. Offered annually, the LOTW weekend experience allows you to deepen your intimacy with the Lord and will provide an opportunity to grow in faith with others on the same journey.
Interested in the history of St. Patrick Parish? Tap to read about how this parish came to be.


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Reichert and Associates is a full service research firm with associates based in Vancouver, Kelowna and Ottawa. We work with non-profit organizations and government agencies, providing innovative approaches to research and evaluation. Our goal is to provide meaningful research and evaluations for organizations of all sizes. Core areas of specialization include:
- Surveys
- Organizational Reviews
- Performance Measurement
- Program Evaluation
- Data Storytelling
- Workshops
- Panels
We use participatory methods that allow for research and evaluation to be more of a process than an outcome. We strive to ensure that there is direct participation in the research by those who are the subject of the study. We also focus on the development of an organization's capacity to be involved in evaluation. For us, evaluation is not just about discovery, documentation and analysis, it is also about education, action and inclusion.


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Kansas City Star (Editorial): Roy Blunt deserves re-election to the U.S. Senate
October 30, 2016
Republican Sen. Roy Blunt has been a fixture in Missouri politics for more than 30 years. His experience and knowledge gained during his time as secretary of state, congressman and senator would be considered assets in most election years.
But it is his lengthy tenure in Washington — nearly 20 years — that could be Blunt's greatest vulnerability in a year when being an outsider has been valuable for challengers.
Democrat Jason Kander has hammered Blunt relentlessly for what allegedly has happened to Blunt after 20 years in Washington. Kander claims Blunt has lost touch with Missouri's values, has become too close to Washington insiders, and by working the system to his own advantage is far removed from the reform-minded southwest Missourian who earned praise from Democrats and Republicans for his work as secretary of state.
Kander is an energetic challenger. With his impressive military record, eight years ago he won a state representative seat in Kansas City and then, in what appeared to be a brash move at the time, he sought the office of secretary of state that he won four years ago. It was considered unrealistic two years ago when Kander decided to take on the veteran Blunt. But in a chaotic election year, Kander's lack of Washington experience has given him strong momentum.
Kander is in a hurry, and he will go places. But he has not demonstrated he deserves to go to Washington now instead of Blunt.
We have disagreed with Blunt on issues in the past, but each election should involve comparing the overall record of each candidate against the other. In this case, Blunt's accomplishments outweigh the challenger's promise.
Blunt knows how to get things done. And he does them for the benefit of the Missourians he represents.
Blunt's work was crucial in passage of the five-year highway bill that authorizes $305 billion for highways, mass transit, hazardous materials handling and passenger rail programs. Missouri gets $5.5 billion of that total, creating thousands of well-paying jobs.
Blunt crafted key sections of that bill that will pay for off-system bridges, which describes 52 percent of Missouri's spans. Other Blunt provisions would reform the permitting process for rail projects, encourage more competition in passenger rail service, and in a bill co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, provide for reliability of the electric power grid.
Blunt and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio co-sponsored the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act in 2013. The measure establishes a Network for Manufacturing Innovation and will assist Missouri manufacturing companies.
Blunt and Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, co-sponsored the Victims of Child Abuse Reauthorization Act in 2013. This law restores funding to provide a safe haven for child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. There are 22 Child Advocacy Centers in Missouri that will be helped by this initiative.
Blunt and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, co-sponsored the Excellence in Mental Health Act to expand access to community mental health services and strengthen the quality of care for those living with mental illness. The bill, supported by more than 50 mental health, veterans and law enforcement organizations, marks the most significant progress in the field in decades.
Blunt introduced the bipartisan Hire More Heroes Act, which eliminates federal red tape while encouraging companies to hire more American veterans. Blunt, who has received the Veterans of Foreign Wars lifetime achievement award, is a member of the bipartisan Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, which is committed to helping veterans find well-paying jobs as civilians.
Blunt and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, gained Senate passage of the Military Family Stability Act, which permits military families to move early or remain at their current duty station for up to six months while their spouse begins a new assignment.
Blunt gained a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health this fiscal year, the largest funding increase in more than 10 years. Blunt has proposed an additional $2 billion increase in the pending 2017 bill.
Blunt included provisions in the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act to authorize allocation of $3.5 billion of new markets tax credits for each year from 2015 through 2019. This program encourages private investment in low-income rural and urban areas and helped create nearly 18,000 Missouri jobs between 2003 and 2012.
Blunt joined Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Stabenow in introducing the Charitable Agricultural Research Act to encourage the creation of public-private partnerships to increase overall agricultural research funding and encourage innovation.
Blunt worked across the aisle, and with House members, to gain passage of the Water Resources Development Act that authorizes flood control and other water infrastructure projects across the country. That act will pour millions of dollars into Missouri for high-paying jobs as crucial infrastructure is built or refurbished.
This year, with his campaign looming and partisan sensitivities on high alert all over Capitol Hill, Blunt successfully negotiated federal authorization for a $1.1 billion expenditure to combat the Zika virus.
Blunt cosponsored the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to combat the opioid epidemic. He secured a 93 percent increase this year in the bipartisan funding bill for programs that increased resources for prescription drug overdose programs, medication-assisted treatment and treatment programs through 9,000 community health delivery sites nationwide.
For years, Blunt worked with prominent Democrats seeking to ensure that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency decided to build it new west headquarters in North St. Louis, instead of in Illinois. That decision kept thousands of jobs the agency supports in Missouri and promises to help revitalize that urban area.
Republicans generally don't win many votes in urban centers, but African-American ministers are cutting radio endorsements of Blunt in both Kansas City and St. Louis. In Kansas City, the Rev. John Modest Miles praises Blunt's assistance with funding for the $3.6 million Morningstar Youth and Family Life Center at 27th Street and Prospect Avenue. Miles also credits Blunt for working with city leaders in placing the Kansas City Police Department's new East Patrol Division and crime lab near Prospect Avenue and East 27th Street.
For the six years he has been in the Senate, Blunt has been in the Kansas City community working to bring in jobs and help attract funding for development, Miles says.
The Rev. Charles J. Brown in St. Louis praises Blunt for working across party lines to help keep the Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis. Brown says Blunt's work to increase funding for mental health and trying to keep utility bills down merit re-election.
Blunt is undeniably conservative. On such issues as opposing abortion, supporting gun rights, seeking lower taxes and opposing the Affordable Care Act, he has been in tune with the majority of Missourians over the last few years.
But at heart, Blunt is a problem-solver. And in a Washington where far too many things end up in partisan gridlock, Blunt has a record of finding workable solutions that can be embraced by people with different backgrounds and persuasions.
Contrary to the heated rhetoric of the campaign, he has not forgotten his roots. He has traveled to all 114 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis at least three times and many places multiple times since he first ran for this Senate seat. He has held more than 1,600 separate events in the state, and not just in an election year.
He listens to Missourians, and he translates their concerns into concrete solutions.
Three minor-party candidates are also on the ballot.
Read more here.


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• Karolina Kurkova is the face of the CLS coupe, a new Mercedes-Benz car. [Telegraph.co.uk]
• Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, designer Diane von Furstenberg and Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren were honored by the NYC & Company Foundation's Leadership Awards. [Stylelist]
• Charges have been dropped against model Heidi Mount's husband of three years, hairstylist Shawn Mount, who was arrested and questioned on suspicion of rape during London Fashion Week in September. [NY Post]
• Absolutely Fabulous actress Joanna Lumley has advice for princess-to-be Kate Middelton: "I hope that Kate gets a fleet of stylists so she's not attacked by the 'fashion assassins' that will be critiquing her every look." [NY Post]
• Reality star Kim Kardashian has collaborated with The Brissmor Company on a line of watches. [Coco Perez]
• Supermodel Linda Evangelista and billionaire Hard Rock founder Peter Morton have reportedly reconciled after a brief split. [NY Post]
• Designer Nanette Lepore will be among the honorees tonight at the Center for an Urban Future's 2010 Support the Future Gala. [WWD]
Photo: Getty Images


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Monday, August 9, 2010
Sci-Fi and Fantasty Film Competition
Entering the competition is easy:
1. Shoot your short film. It needs to be science fiction or fantasy in nature, ten minutes or less and not infringe upon any copyrights (Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, etc.). It needs to also conform to a PG-13 rating or safer--so no nudity, excessive profanity, etc.
2. Sign up for a Vimeo account (www.vimeo.com). Then upload your short film to Vimeo and request to add it to the official film competition channel (http://vimeo.com/channels/mcfc). There is a 'Shout Box' on the channel you can use to make your request to add your film to the channel (be sure to include the url to your short and to make your film 'public').
3. The week prior to the convention (dates for the convention are Nov. 5 and 6), winners will be announced.
It's that easy--and, again, it's completely free! If you have any issues uploading your film, getting it on the channel or simply have a question, contact us at email@example.com and we'll get right back to you. Now go shoot that film!
Posted by Rich Newman at 5:57 PM
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
June 2010 MFS Mixer, Brad Ellis
If you weren't able to make it out for the June 2010 Memphis Film Society mixer at Raffe's Deli and Beergarden, you don't know what you missed! Besides the usual assortment of great drink specials and fun mixing it up with others in the Memphis film community, you also missed out on a lot of good info from director Brad Ellis (Daylight Fades). But never fear! We recorded Brad's presentation and you can watch it here in all its two-part glory. Enjoy!
Posted by Rich Newman at 7:15 PM
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Eva Longoria looked stunning as she is featured on the cover page of Glam Belleza Latina magazine Spring 2015 issue.
The 'Desperate Housewives' starlet talking to the magazine revealed that she will avoid on-screen gigs so as to develop her business portfolio and activist interests. She said, "I've always been business-minded. I worked in corporate America before becoming an actress and knew that acting wasn't the end but a means to an end. It gave me the platform and the exposure I needed to do my philanthropic work. It also gave me the financial security to focus on my other businesses, start new businesses, and even help other people start businesses."
She further said that she will focus her foundation on the Latina community, "You can't ignore that Hispanics represent the fastest-growing demographic in this country. The future success of America is intricately tied to the future success of the Hispanic community. And it's the women of these communities—the mothers, sisters, daughters—who make the world go around. I decided to focus on giving them opportunities so that they're set up for success in life."
Eva Longoria Talks her Out to Glam Belleza Latina Magazine
Eva Longoria looked stunning as she is featured on the cover page of Glam Belleza Latina magazine Spring 2015 issue.


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This year for our son's 2nd birthday we are going to create a donut tower for his birthday "cake". I want to add some additional theme-related decorations, but I ended up getting a quote for some customized cookies from a local bakery, and it was going to be between $7-$10 per cookie, depending on the amount of detail.
I decided to make my own cake topper for Kai's 2nd birthday party. I used a glue gun, a glue stick, some twine, some cardboard from a cake box, some leftover burlap ribbon from Christmas, two skewers we have at home from our BBQ days, and I went to Walmart and picked up a sheet of black foam letter stickers for $2.
I cut out cardboard rectangular/flag shapes and then the burlap strips to match the cardboard. I glued the burlap on the cardboard using my glue stick. Then I stuck a foam letter on each of the shapes. I spelled out "kai is two".
Then I used hot glue and glued some twine to the top of the cardboard shapes. I also glued the ends of twine to the top of the two skewers and then kept going with the 2nd and 3rd tiers.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ends because I ended up wrapping some extra ribbon around the skewer where I hot glued the twine…but I tried my best.
Here's how it came out!
Thanks for reading! Happy crafting:)