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While homeschooling is recognized by the Ministry of Education (MOE), it is challenging, with some authorities still reluctant to offer necessary help to homeschoolers, parents of homeschoolers said yesterday.
"I chose to homeschool my kids instead of sending them to school because I wanted them to be healthy, to be free to think about their future, to care about the society they are living in — and it's in homeschooling that I see that hope," Yang Wen-li (楊文麗), a mother of two homeschooled children, told reporters outside a conference on education in Banciao City (板橋), Taipei County, yesterday.
Yang did not plan to homeschool her kids at first. The idea only came up two years ago when her elder son was in fifth grade and her younger in third grade. At the time, she was very disappointed in the country's education system, and decided to take her children away from it.
"We always tell kids to pay attention in school, but you would know how hard it is if you saw how boring the atmosphere is, how mechanical the teaching is in the classroom and how a third grader has to work until 10pm or 11pm on homework," Yang said.
"They're just making those kids hate school," Yang said.
Only two years after she switched her elder son to homeschooling, Yang said, her son not only takes the initiative to discuss social issues with her, but also pays attention to international affairs.
"The most important thing is that I know my kids are learning, and they are happy," she said.
Although the 883 registered homeschooling students may enjoy learning, they face challenges as they lack support from educational authorities when it comes to college — and high school — admission.
Since relevant laws on higher education allow only high school graduates or certified adults over 20 years of age to be admitted into universities, most homeschoolers are forced to discontinue homeschooling when they reach high school age.
"Ultimately, we would like the government to come up with an alternative system to allow qualified homeschoolers to gain college admission, but before that happens, homeschoolers face problems getting into high schools," Taiwan Homeschool Advocates chairman Tim Chen (陳怡光) said.
Chen said Taipei City is the only place where local education authorities allow homeschoolers whose grades meet admission standards into high schools.
He said that homeschoolers' grades can be either given by certified homeschooling teachers — usually parents — or by regular schools if they choose to participate in exams at local schools.
"Although the Ministry of Education says that homeschoolers have the right to go to high school, most local education authorities — except Taipei City — are not following the direction," Chen said.
"It doesn't make any sense because homeschooling is completely legal — and it's regulated and pre-approved," Chen said."If the government allows it, they should provide support and assistance; after all, education is part of the government's job and homeschooling is part of education."


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Kenny Dalglish could be set for a return to Liverpool, with the club's owners keen to bring him back in an ambassadorial role.
Just eight months after being sacked as manager, owners John Henry and Tom Werner are ready to backtrack and offer the Liverpool legend the same role he held at Anfield between 2009 and 2011, when he replaced Roy Hodgson at the helm.
When Dalglish departed Liverpool in May, he left the door open for a future return: 'I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time, and that offer remains the same.'
And it is believed the 61-year-old has already been contacted by the American duo about taking on the position of 'club ambassador', despite the parties not having spoken since Dalglish's dismissal, with current boss Brendan Rodgers thought to be open to the idea.

subset: commoncrawl


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Add a Personal Touch with a Two-Letter Monogram
Give any item a personalized touch with this two-letter monogramming embroidery service! From pillowcases, towels, totes, blankets, clothes, and more… I can monogram for you or for as a gift for someone else!
To fulfill your request, please contact me with the following information…
Please note that some finished products are not possible to monogram. Contact me with your item and design requests before making a purchase through my Etsy Shop.
Newsletter Sign-Up
Enter your email to receive information about specials and upcoming local market appearances.


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I completely enjoyed your seminar Thursday
Thanks so much for some truly useful insight and new tactics to deal with MY difficult people.
I am also now following you on twitter!Thanks,
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.


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About Us
Meet The Team
Phoenix first took flight back in 2007, when I launched the company with a good friend and fellow journalist. The principles on which we built our company were simple: take care of our clients during every step of the process and provide a professional yet personal service. It's this desire to look after both our case studies (the people with the stories) and our clients (the people buying the stories) that has seen us quickly grow into an established and respected agency. It's a reputation we work hard to uphold.
Kim is the founder and director of Phoenix Features. An award winning journalist who has written thousands of stories in her time. "It is my honour to write for you and I work very hard to get your stories heard".
Sue is our chief researcher, with an excellent eye for a story and a dedication to helping women find the platform they need to get their voice heard. If we come to you rather than you coming to us, it'll be because Sue found your story and wants to hear more.
Tammi is our latest recruit and researcher. Like Sue, Tammi is keen to hear about any stories involving triumph over tragedy, impressive feats, brave women and children and everything in between. If you think you have a story we might like, you can contact the research team through the Contact Us form.
Gareth, our in-house photographer and operator of the pictures desk, manages all photoshoots and photo-related queries. Continuously reliable, professional and creative. Gareth doesn't just work for us – he is also an award winning portrait photographer in his own right and we recommend him!
Sam is the newest Phoenix – our man about town who has an incredible address book – not only is he friends with lots of celebs but he knows thousands more mere mortals than the rest of us put together. Sam is in charge of organising case studies for our lifestyle features in glossy magazines and national newspapers and has a great rapport with our clients.


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Sound Beginnings (Ages 0-4)
Sound Beginnings is education through musical play for ages 0-4 with a parent. This toddler Let's Play Music course includes folk songs, nursery rhymes, finger plays, story books, preschool education, dancing, singing and games. This class delights children as they develop intelligence and confidence in a setting of music, playfulness and parental nurturing.
Registration NOW OPEN! – New classes begin January 7th, 2020
Class Location: Ms. Lily's Home Studio, North Orem (approx. 800 W 1400 N, Orem)
Class Frequency & Length: Once a week, 30 minute class time
Parent Required: Yes, every class
Registration Fee: $15 per family (per semester)
Materials Fee: $35 (includes student workbook, semester music and semester instrument), a student tote bag is also needed ($8.50) if family doesn't have one already from a previous Sound Beginnings class.
Tuition: $140 per semester ($35 payments x 4)
Sibling Discount: Yes – Family rate includes one younger sibling's attendance, $180 per semester ($45 payments x 4)
Current Semester OPEN for Registration: Black Spiders Semester (starts in January)
To secure your place in class, complete 2 simple steps:
- Pay the Registration Fee directly to teacher (instructions below).
- Go to the letsplaymusicsite.com website to enroll in a class and reserve your materials.
When selecting your class time, remember that parents attend every class. Class times will fill up quickly, so don't delay! Once classes begin, you will pay tuition directly to the teacher. You will receive an email several weeks before classes begin.
1. Registration Fee
The registration fee is $15 per family and goes directly to studio expenses. It covers items such as Instrument Day, prizes, supplies, registration and materials preparation. You may pay this fee directly to the studio owner, Lily Hight, through Venmo.
2. Enroll and Reserve Materials
Click the button below to be directed to my studio page on the Let's Play Music website. Once there, you will select the desired class time, log in and be prompted to enter my enrollment ID: 23120. You will then select the student you are enrolling or create a new student. Finally, you will reserve class materials.
Select a Complete Set for the first child and add individual items as needed for siblings.
All materials will be shipped to me and I will distribute them at our first class.
Class Tuition - due when classes start
- First child is $140 per semester or 4 monthly installments of $35
- Family tuition is $180 per semester, or 4 monthly installments of $45
You may pay by Venmo (@lily-hight) or Google Pay (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Registration Policy
- By paying your registration fee and enrolling online, you agree to the Registration Policy:
- Both the Registration Fee and Online Enrollment payment are needed to hold a spot for your child(ren) in class.
- Once materials are reserved, they can not be refunded. However, if there is a problem, contact me for any options.
- Information given during online enrollment will not be sold or shared.
- It is anticipated your child will remain with the same studio throughout the entire 15 week semester of Sound Beginnings.


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Why does the morning come so soon?
It seems like I just went to bed, weary from one day's battle, when the blast of my alarm trumpets the onslaught of a new one targeting my mindset. I can hear them chanting as they begin their march around in my head. These are the readiest of wrong thoughts whose only desire is to pierce my heart like flaming arrows reminding me of yesterday's failed attempts and tomorrow's fears. None of them seem to recognize the hope I had readied for today.
It's in these early morning moments when I wish I could curl back up in the safe womb of my covers and hide because the world outside seems ready to assault any chance that victory could have been mine today.
But that's when I hear the whisper. The words I memorized before. It begins to rise as I struggle for focus. I squeeze my eyes shut, I bite my lip, leaning in with all my soul, I listen for it… louder and louder, I let it take on it's own voice until it drowns out the doubt that kept me here.
It's time to get up!
It's time to take action! This is the day the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it. Yes! That's what I practiced. That's what I want. Set aside your feelings, Warrior! Step forward in faith. With this new perspective I begin to face the new day. With this new mindset, I choose be victorious. And so can you!
Is it always that easy? No, of course not. But it's better than always losing. Which is what I used to do. So let me share with you Warrior, what I've learned about starting your day with a right mindset. Because it's made all the difference for me in realizing how to win battles, not just in the world, but within. For me, this is so full of revelation that I want to cry out to all hearts held hostage to the hurts which used to constantly defeat me. Let me share with you how I have learned to find strength and lean in, even on the hardest of days.
We can choose our mindset
It's so critical that we understand that God has actually made available special mercies just for the purpose of pointing us in the proper direction as we get up and out of bed each new day! This is key so that we don't get defeated by wrong mindsets before we even have opportunity set our feet on the floor.
We should think like Warriors
But exactly how does the mind of a successful warrior work? How do they establish who they really are within? The best way to learn is to observe those who have gone before; those Warriors who have been to battle and come back victorious.
So for this lesson on mindset, the warrior we will observe is Jeremiah, because although he was a faithful prophet who was given mighty visions from God, he didn't start out so bold and brave. He too began as one with hidden moments under the covers, full of doubt and fear when God first spoke to him…
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb
Before you were born, I set you apart
and appointed you as My prophet to the nations"
Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
And look how Jeremiah replied to God,
"O Sovereign Lord, I can't speak for you! I'm too young!"
But God reassured him, saying,
"Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.
And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!"
Jeremiah 1:6-8
It starts with encouragement
It's so important for us to realize, any great Warrior who begins with a dream has to first go to war against doubt. Do really think that satan is going to let God speak a bold vision to someone and let them walk it out without some sort of opposition? Heck no!
The enemy of God has been dealing in doubt since the Garden of Eden and it remains one of his favorite weapons. That's why God continues to encourage us, as He did Jeremiah.
I can just imagine young Jeremiah cowering under his covers in the morning, struggling for a reason to get out of bed. That's why God gave him affirmations… so he could to repeat to himself what God said about him in order to face each new day; in order to faithfully go on the next difficult assignment with boldness. I imagine him chanting to himself…
God knew me before I was formed my mother's womb
Before I was born, God set me apart
and appointed me as His prophet to the nations
We would do well to say the same thing…
Because God knew us before we formed our mother's womb
Before we were born, God set us apart for a reason
Warrior, God desires that we too are encouraged by these words.
But there is so much more!
So let's fast forward with me to a time in Jeremiah's life when he was a full-fledged prophet. Now he is seeing visions and speaking words over Israel. But what's important to know is that Jeremiah had a pretty hard job. You see, Israel had turned away from God. They had begun to worship idols and did not listen to the warnings about their disobedience. So God allowed them to be taken over by an enemy nation of Babylon and the people were led away as captives to live in a foreign land. Jeremiah had warned them over and over, but the people wouldn't listen. So now he is homeless in an enemy nation to no fault of his own.
And this is his prayer to the Lord…
19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in Him."
Lamentations 3:19-24 ESV
The beauty of Jeremiah's prayer begins with the hardest part… our heart's wanderings. Even though Jeremiah's sin didn't cause his exile, he was not a perfect man, so he begins by humbly confessing. But yesterday's sin does not deny his hope. Because even in the worst of times, he has found something to be grateful for. Even in his sorrow, he still tells God that he believes there are promises to be kept for himelf and the people of Israel.
And here's the best part…
When Jeremiah says "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases… His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning…" he's not just talking about God's pity… his feeling of compassion or sadness for them. In the Hebrew language, mercies actually gives a word picture of a woman's womb.
Right here in the middle of Jeremiah's sorrowful prayer for being held captive in enemy territory, he is remembering God's promise. Right here in the middle of living in a wilderness that is the fault of someone else's sin, he's remembering being tucked under the covers as a young man when God told him there was a purpose for his life.
The beauty of Jeremiah's prayer weaves together a promise for us. Not only are we known and planned by God, formed in our mother's womb, set apart and appointed for a reason… but we have God's new mercies to claim every day.
So here's what it means…
Listen to the promise again!
Jeremiah said…
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases… that means it doesn't stop
His mercies never come to an end… we are seen by God as if we were in the womb
they are new every morning… so we are reborn each new morning
great is Your faithfulness… This reminds us that God is not a liar, so this must be true.
What this means is that when we are still tucked under those covers in the morning, when we are in the middle of those feelings of doubt and fear, God is seeing us just like we were still in our mother's womb. Each… and every, new day. So PLEASE take amoment to think this through with me! Don't let me lose you here. Because this will BLOW your mind… and your heart if you can fully grasp it! So let's break it down.
Before each of us was born…
- We did nothing to get into the womb
- We did nothing to sustain ourselves in the womb.
- God put you in the womb
- God protected you in the womb
- God nourished you in the womb
- God miraculously knit you together in the womb
- God create you as unique and separate in the womb
- God set you apart, different and distinct from all other humans in the womb
There in that womb… that is the place of mercy and compassion.
That is how God sees you each and every morning.
When you and I were in the womb…
- We had no opportunity to sin in the womb
- We were blameless in the womb
- You were seen by God with eyes of wonder and great potential
- Your whole future was before you in the womb
- You had NO past to regret in the womb
- You had NO shame in the womb
- You had NO fears from which you had to cower in the womb
- You had NO worry, doubt, or anxiety in the womb
THESE are the mercies and compassions of God… NEW.EACH.MORNING.
This is the promise which the prophet Jeremiah claimed over his life and all the people of Israel. Even in their wandering. Even in their disobedience to God. And now we can claim it over our lives, because it's a promise we can bring to God's remembrance.
Did you know that's how God sees you?
I know I didn't when I first heard it. It was almost too strange to accept. But it's true! So what do we do with this new understanding? Because if we hear something new, even find it as a revelation, but don't apply it to our lives, it's actually pretty worthless to us. So let's find a way to be true Warriors and put this new revelation into action. Let's begin by summarizing it into three basic points of understanding so we can wake up with a winning mindset!
- I should not wake up asking myself, "How do I FEEL today?"
This is when we put this verse to its best use, by not letting our feelings drive our day in the wrong direction.
Since God has new mercies and compassions for us, He sees us as reborn each new day, as in that womb. Remember, in the womb He sees no past, no regret, no shame, no worry, no doubt, no anxiety. So why should we allow room for those feelings to run our day? Instead, let's focus on the joy of realizing that God allows us to be the best version of ourselves possible that day.
2. I should not wake up wondering, "Am I in this battle alone?" or "Do I have to tackle today by myself?"
When we realize the truth of God's compassion, we understand that God is on our side and hope comes alive in us. Since God's mercies are 'as in the womb,' and we are seen as reborn each day, if we did nothing to PUT ourselves there, nor PLAN for our life there, nor PROVIDE or PROTECT ourselves there, then clearly God was with us the whole time… as He is now. God has a PURPOSE for our lives and He will not leave us in our new mercies, just as He did not leave us in the womb.
3. I should not wake up concerned, "What do others think of me?"
Consider this: When you see a pregnant woman, are there any thoughts you can think or any opinions you can have, that will in anyway, affect the growth, development, nourishment, plans or purpose of the child in her womb?
Absolutely not!
So why should we care, or place any value on the thoughts and opinions of others? If we now know that God's compassions toward us are new every morning, and if we are living by faith that we are reborn as in the womb each new day, then we should realize that others opinioins and thoughts toward us truly have no effect on the purpose and plan God has for us. The only opinion which should matter to us is God's and His thoughts of us are many and beautiful.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can't even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
You are still with me!
Psalm 139:16-18 NLT
So let me suggest this…
Take a 3×5 notecard.
Write out these verses in your own handwriting. This causes us to truly process the verses, it's words and intentions better than something printed or pulled up on our phone.
Put the notecard by your bedside. And when you wake tomorrow, before your feet ever touch the floor, read these verses OUT LOUD to yourself. Hear them spoken in your own voice. Let them sink into your heart and soul.
Thank God for His compassions. Thank God for His faithful mercies. Take them with you throughout the day, Warrior. Meditate on and BELIEVE them. Know that you are reborn each new day. Accept that you were planned, purposed, provided for, protected and prepared just as God intended.
You are a Warrior who has been called to live a victorious life. But there will still be days when you awaken with doubts and fears. Every Warrior does. But it's knowing the mercies of God that sets us free. It's taking on a new mindset; leaning into the fresh perspective which the Spirit of God gives when we are willing to listen. You now have permission to hit the snooze and stay in that womb of the covers for just a few more minutes to set your mind on the mercies and compassions which God has for you. This, surely is the way wakeup and win!
I would LOVE to hear how this has encouraged you, Warrior! Leave me a comment. Share a picture of your 3×5 card in the comments section. If you have a friend who could use some encouragment, share this with them. God's mercies are for all who will receive them… new each day! Let's spread the news! Let's be generous with His compassion!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like: Spiritual Warfare: 3 Signs You're Standing in the Middle of It, or Sharpen Your Sword Skills: Duel with the Spoken Word of God.


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Orion Father-Son Club
The goal is to have dads spend time with their sons while also meeting other dads who are interested in the formation of their children.
Age range: 1st – 5th grades
Our schedule for the night is as follows:
6:45 Arrive at Layton Study Center
7:00 A meditation is given by a Priest and a talk for the dads given by one of the fathers.
7:25 Time for Confession
8:10 Depart from Layton for the evening activity
9:10 Short talk on a virtue
9:15 Stop for Ice Cream
Some of the scheduled activities are:
- Sledding
- Going to the Gymnastics Barn
- Football
- Capture the flag
- Kickball
- Board Game night
For more information please contact:


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Color Washes – Working With Extreme Washes
Color washes can be some of the most stylised and loved looks a colorist can create but I find there is a very definite line on which projects they can be used on.
In this insight I'll start by showing you how I like to use them. Below is a music video shot by good friend and DOP Stephen Murphy he is the master of using color on set to create depth and the great blocky color washes I'm speaking of.
The video was heavily influenced by Drive so check it out before watching my insight to see what kind of looks I am speaking of!
The look is less evident in the outdoor tennis scenes and more in the internal shots later in the video.
Now that you know what kind of looks and feel I was aiming to achieve lets jump over to my video below so I can explain how I like to work with washes!
– Dan


text: I thought it would be interesting to have a thread where every day there is a new picture and people just edit the picture to their liking and you can do whatever you want to it. Anyone can post the picture of the day, just put the date above the picture and post it, just make sure there isn't already a picture posted for the day. I'll start us off with this Subaru WRX Sti, since cars are a hobby of mine. Oh ya one last thing. It doesn't have to be a picture that you took, but if it is, you can say, I took this or whatever. Thanks I hope this thread gets going, and keeps going for a while. Have fun!


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2017 CompuCom Insights Series
Where in the IT Stack Technology Leaders are Focusing
We asked leaders what components of the IT stack are causing them the most concern. Applications, end-user devices, and middleware emerged as the main focal areas, in both the retail and financial services sectors.
Consumerization trends in IT are driving much of the concern and focus around applications, which must utilize the best of consumer design and experience, and middleware, which must integrate applications to back-end systems. Additionally, employees demand similar consumer experiences in the workplace, driving increased complexity in delivery and management of end-user devices for technology leaders. Consumerization trends, which focus heavily on digital capabilities, analytics, and cloud delivery of services, are not muscles of traditional IT organizations.
Common Mistakes Made Across the Stack
IT leaders have worked across the stack to drive incremental improvements and integrate new technology trends into their IT systems. Because these changes involve new technologies and muscles not deeply ingrained in IT organizations, there have been stumbling blocks along the way. Here are six of the biggest mistakes we've heard technology leaders mention:
- Continuing to patch old databases, APIs and middleware: There is often a desire to keep old systems because of organizational history and to push out large capital expenditures. However, over time they become more unwieldy and increasingly complex to maintain and integrate with new digital capabilities. Instead of "biting the bullet" and making major upgrades in these systems, our respondents indicated that some have continued to patch them, with devastating results.
- Assuming existing IT teams can deliver on new technology: New technology forces in data science, artificial intelligence and cloud are growing in significance and require new talent best sourced externally. While many felt these capabilities could be built in house, our respondents indicated they were left building weaker systems and suffered productivity.
- Forgetting about the entire IT value chain: Our respondents are most excited about the latest and greatest applications, content, infrastructure hardware and software, but they have neglected to consider the downstream elements of last-mile connectivity, system integration and servicing. We found that they frequently identify breakdowns in devices with moving parts, such as printers, scanners and ATMS, and when their newest piece of hardware breaks, they are left scratching their heads about who is going to service their devices.
- Not aligning functions on common goals and outcomes (business and IT): Business and IT oftentimes have trouble aligning on strategies to meet the timing, economic and operational needs of both groups. Time, resources and money are wasted when IT solutions do not solve the needs of the business. Interviewees persistently discussed how imperative it is for organizations to put processes in place that ensure IT leaders are aligned and strategies are solving both IT and business pain points.
- Picking a technology partner that does not have good governance models: Selecting a partner that has developed repeatable, scalable processes around communication, ticket tracking, dev/ops and API/dev integration is critical for large scale projects. Many interviewees indicated major project delays and cost overruns caused by selecting small scale technology partners to drive large projects who weren't equipped to deal with the complexity and scale necessary to ensure best-in-class project management.
- Assuming that in-house IT systems are safer than off-premise cloud: Interviewees explained that many times they assumed their in-house systems are by default safer than off-premise cloud-based vendors. They explained that this can be risky and is not often the case — and many IT leaders have the cyberattack scars to prove it.
Implemented correctly, technology will continue to promise more value for businesses, placing increased pressure on IT leaders to provide faster, more reliable and more secure IT solutions. Working with an IT services provider can unburden your organization from having to address these pain points in isolation, and allows leaders to focus more time and energy on more strategic business concerns.
Key Takeaways
- IT leaders are being pressured to provide organization-wide solutions more quickly. They are generally giving the most attention to the stack components that they are most concerned with.
- Many IT leaders have made the mistake of not hiring the right people, not aligning IT leaders and not correctly prioritizing technology upgrades.
Our insights are based on our 2017 CIO survey, where we interviewed top CIOs and technology executives from the Fortune 500 in 12 market segments — spanning retail to financial services — as well as our deep expertise in deploying solutions for clients over the past 30 years.
Interesting insights
Interesting insights


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We (Sharon, my friend and one of my tour participants and I) headed off on the train to explore Romeo and Juliette territory to delve into the world of Shakespeare's famous couple. With so much violence and hatred going on across the globe, I wanted to see what a city based on love could show the world. I tried not to have an expectation of what it might be and just enjoy what showed up for me.
Well, why wouldn't we head here with the hordes of other tourists? You know I am not a huge fan of ticking things off the list but I needed to see Juliet's courtyard, home, and balcony and push everyone out of my way to get to where the real-life Cappello family once lived. I knew and understood before I went that attractions like this become crass because of the mass tourism; however I just needed to get to where the star-crossed lovers used to hang out and see it for myself.
Love letters are sent to Juliet, Verona Italy in the hope that they are answered by the one of many volunteers at www.julietclub.com I decided to write a one of my own, but mine was to thank them for keeping the beauty of love alive and well in our modern society. I made my poor husband watch the movie Letters to Juliet with me before my trip to Italy as a warm up event.
Balcone di Giulietta
Juliet's Balcony
Juliet's Bedroom
Balcone di Giulietta Courtyard
You can still send letters to Juliet today!
I really have to admire the ancient Romans….man did they get around! Once again Verona is an example of amazing Roman architecture and this city houses a wealth of Roman ruins. I was in awe of the magnificent columns and facades of these gorgeous old buildings in Verona. They knew how to design those Romans because they were into beauty in Architecture which I sadly think is a dying art. Bring back beauty in our modern cities I say! If I could go back in time to any era, I would have loved to hang out in those Roman baths in my toga while some gorgeous man was feeding me grapes…just saying!
On our bikes, we took in some of the following sights Piazza delle Erbe, Coso Porta Borsari, Castelvecchio Bridge, Torre dei Lamberti, the Arena di Verona and Teatro Romano de Sagunto. Ahh, Verona, I love you.
Arena di Verona
The Hills of Verona
I loved checking out the shop windows in the heart of Verona's shopping scene. I love the creativity of the displays and of course seeing the myriad of beautiful things on offer. Here of some of the lovely ones I photographed on this special day in the romantic city of Verona.
Piazza Bra Shopping District
Restaurants in Piazza Erbe
Would you visit Juliet's home if you went to Verona? Please leave your comments below.
Until next time love your home and those within it,


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This is an all-natural, effective and inexpensive DIY face mask for oily/combination, acne-prone skin. It might seem strange that avocado is used for oily skin, for avocado is well-known for being beneficial to dry skin due to its moisturising properties.
However, most oily skin is dehydrated beneath the surface, and delivering some moisture boost will actually help regulate the sebum production. Lemon juice has a mild astringent and antiseptic effect which helps clear troubled skin. Egg white has whitening and pore-tightening properties; at the same time, it also helps to set the mask.
Avocado Egg White Face Mask
- Properties: Hydrating and repairing; provides hydration while tightening pores and clearing troubled skin; reduces redness; whitening
- Suitable for: Oily, combination and/or acne-prone skin
- Frequency: Can be used weekly or whenever needed.
This is a nourishing, hydrating, pores-tightening and skin-clearing DIY face mask. Perfect for combination/oily and acne-prone skin.
* To cut a ripe avocado, use a knife to halve the avocado lengthwise around the seed. Use one hand to grab the top half of the avocado and your other hand to grab the lower part, then twist the avocado to separate. Stab the seed with tip of the knife to remove. Place avocado flesh on a chopping board and use the flat edge of your knife or back of a spoon to mash the avocado.


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Cheesecake hasn't historically been my thing. When I look at a dessert menu, I glance over the cheesecake, think hmm, that looks kinda tasty…then I see CHOCOLATE flourless cake! or creme brulee, or whatever, and forget about cheesecake. But, I've just been moving in the direction of souffles and panna cotta, cheesecakes and custards; fresh, light, and airy desserts with subtle flavor and a bit of delicacy. These desserts are so good and so easy to make at home and they are beautiful.
I gathered pounds and pound of lilikoi, or passion fruit, from my friend's place in Berkeley recently and have had so much fun with all the different uses. I've topped ice cream and yogurt, made passion fruit curd for tarts, made preserves, and eaten them fresh and whole. For this recipe I mixed the remaining preserves with the last bit of fresh lilikoi and spread it on the cheesecake when it was at room temperature. This dessert could be an easy addition to a holiday feast, and you can top it with powdered sugar, or candied orange, or a glaze, or whatever you have on hand. Also, this is a smaller portion that most cheesecakes recipes and is very easy to double.
Lilikoi Ricotta Cheesecake
Inspired by Martha Stewart & Others
Prep: 15 minutes Cook 45 minutes Serves: 5-8
Butter for pan greasing
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 pound smooth whole milk ricotta cheese
3 farm fresh eggs, separated
1/8 cup white whole wheat flour
Zest from 1 lemon
1/8 tsp salt
4 tbsp fresh lilikoi/passion fruit
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously butter a 9 inch pan, 1 1/2 inches deep.
2. Whisk together 3 tablespoons of sugar, the ricotta, egg yolks, flour and zest in a small bowl.
3. Beat the egg whites on low until frothy, and then beat on high while you gradually add the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks-about 3 or so minutes.
4. Fold half of the egg white mixture into the ricotta mixture, then fold in the rest using a rubber spatula until just combined.
5. Pour the mix into the pan, and bake until golden-about 40-45 minutes.
6. Allow the cheesecake to cool for about 10 minutes, then loosen the edges with a knife and place on your serving dish. Cool the cheesecake to room temperature, and spread the lilikoi on the top just before serving.


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Table of ContentsDefinition / general | Case reports | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) images | Differential diagnosis
Cite this page: Jain D. Angiosarcoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/lungtumorangiosarcoma.html. Accessed January 22nd, 2020.
Definition / general
- Presents as mass or diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, usually in adult men (Ann Diagn Pathol 2010;14:296)
- Almost all cases in lung represent metastatic disease
Case reports
- 83 year old man with epithelioid tumor of lungs (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:e7)
Gross description
- Diffusely hemorrhagic lungs with multiple dark red nodules
- Involves interlobar septa and bronchovascular bundles
- Grows along lymphatics or venous routes
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Primary angiosarcoma of lung shows (left to right): interanastomosing vascular spaces, tumor cells with atypia and hobnailing that dissect vascular spaces, solid sheets of epithelioid cells, primitive vessel formation
Differential diagnosis
- Metastatic angiosarcoma


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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: In a petition seeking revocation of SRO 320 of 1985 whereby land in entire Poonch city was transferred to Auqaf Islamia, State High Court has issued notices to State through Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Poonch and Administrator Auqaf Islamia Poonch.
In the petition filed by Satish Sasan, President of Sanatan Dharam Sabha Poonch, Advocate Sanjay Raina and a social worker Hardev Lal, all residents of Ward No.11 of Poonch through Advocate Ankur Sharma, it has been submitted that on August 31, 1985, SRO-320 was issued by Secretary to Government, Haj and Auqaf whereby land in entire Poonch city was transferred to Auqaf Islamia in blatant abuse of the powers conferred by Sub-Section 1 of Section 6 of J&K Wakafs Act, 1978.
It was further submitted that as a consequence to the passage of impugned SRO several entries were made in the revenue record in favour of Auqaf Islamia, which are illegal and unconstitutional.
"In blatant abuse of the powers conferred by Sub Section (1) of Section 6 of the J&K Wakafs Act, 1978, the respondents without preparing a report as required under Sub Section (3) of Section 4 of the Act and in an illegal and fraudulent manner published the list of Wakafs of eleven villages of tehsil Poonch", the counsel for the petitioners submitted before the High Court.
He informed the High Court that general public including the petitioners and surprisingly the State instrumentalities as well came to know about the impugned SRO only in March 2017 when the Administrator Auqaf Islamia slapped an eviction notice on the District Information Officer under Section 45 of the J&K Wakafs Act, 2001.
It was alleged in the eviction notice that the District Information Centre has been unauthorisedly raised on 03 Kanals and 08 Marlas of Wakaf Land comprised in Khasra No.1389.
"Similar notices have also been issued to the Principal Government Degree College Poonch, Governmental Institutions and various private individuals. In certain cases, demand for payment of rent has also been raised", the counsel for the petitioners submitted, adding "the petitioners are aggrieved especially by the fraudulent inclusion of lands and properties in the impugned SRO namely Government airfield ground, PWD road adjoining Eid Gah, ground of Government Degree College Poonch, Old Police Station, Deputy Commissioner's office and residence etc".
It was further submitted that the petitioners brought the issue to the notice of concerned authorities and even represented before the Chief Minister during a public darbar held on March 4, 2018 and even a follow up action was initiated but the respondents kept the same in abeyance for reasons best known to them.
"The State cannot involve itself in conferring illegal benefits on communal grounds as it is violative of the idea of secularism and also Right to Equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Moreover, the State cannot make an improper discrimination by conferring particular privileges upon a class of persons selected on religious grounds", the counsel for the petitioners said.
After hearing Advocate Ankur Sharma, Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur issued notices to State through Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Poonch and Administrator Auqaf Islamia Poonch for filing response within four weeks.
HC issues notice to Revenue Secy, Div Com, DC; seeks response within 4 weeks
Excelsior Correspondent


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Here you can download AGF vector logo absolutely free.
To view and edit the logo use Adobe Photohop, Adobe Illustator or Corel Draw.
Category: a
Type: .eps (Encapsulated PostScript format)
Filesize: 18.05 KB
Date Added: 12.07.2011, 18:16
Views: 914
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Below you can find logos, similar to the AGF.


text: The Icho Ryu group in Seattle has taken to calling ourselves the "Tuesday Night Bad Budo Club" or TNBBC for short. This is a riff off Sheryl Crow's "Tuesday Night Music Club" album since we do our main weekly class on Tuesday Nights. The Bad Budo idea comes from what most people on e-budo.com call the fakes, egotists, made up histories, and such.


text: This title came from a Billy Collins poem of the same title, that I came across while working on Silencio. I had to look the word up, and instantly knew I was going to have to find a place to use it. Aubade means a "morning love song", as opposed to an evening love song, a serenade. The music reminds me of some of the pieces I wrote for my first album, The Crossing.


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Missing photo ID#285217
It wasn't easy.
Of course, as we all know: extraordinary achievements are rarely easy.
Ill skip the sordid details that all expeditions have in common. Selecting our team, logistical preparations, and the long & challenging trip to Base Camp, are mere footnotes to our real adventure.
After an arduous journey, Heidi & I arrived at Base Camp late at night, found our bivy site, organized our gear and slept blissfully, with dreams of looming adventures.
Fortuitously, our base camp was located two-thirds of the way up the volcano, so we only had another 10,023 Ft. to climb.
The next morning, we visited a quaint island bazaar and stocked up on food for the expedition.
Missing photo ID#285218
Things got nasty our first afternoon in Base Camp!
It cooled way down, and the wind picked up! Clouds quickly covered the sun and the weather was going to get ugly. We retreated to our bivy site, and opened some wine (Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel) to raise our spirits.
Things were looking better by sunset.
Missing photo ID#285219
Missing photo ID#285219
We gave ourselves 6 days to acclimate to the hostile tropical conditions. There was little time for rest or reflection, as we maintained a hard-core pace of training for the tremendous challenges of our climb.
Missing photo ID#285220
Swimming, beach-walks, snorkeling, body-surfing, & Boogie-boarding: all helped prepare us for the lack of oxygen and unstable volcanic terrain we would soon need to deal with.
Missing photo ID#285222
Missing photo ID#285223
Missing photo ID#285224
Unfortunately, while I was experimenting with a variation of Big-Wave Boogie-Boarding that I named underwater sand-tumbling, I pulled a muscle in my back. I was forced to slow my training somewhat, and take medication on occasion.
We started concentrating on strength & balance exercises on the beaches, knowing we would encounter similar problems on volcanic ash at high altitude.
Missing photo ID#285226
Missing photo ID#285227
There was little discussion of what methods we would use to climb our mountain. Heidi & I are traditionalists, and we would succeed or fail on our climb in traditional style. We would not resort to a mode of ascent that would lower the worth of our achievement.
Suddenly it was the day to start our climb. Our gear was packed up, and the journey up the formidable volcano that had loomed over us, began.
The die was cast, and our fate was now to be decided. Would we succeed or fail?
We had to climb 10,023 ft. in only a few miles, but our training paid off.
We rapidly ascended the surprisingly good trail that switch-backed towards the far away and impossibly high summit.
Much More to follow!


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Homestead Road/Fairwood Valley
Elevation: 3418 ft.
Rt. 741/Homestead Road is a 3.5-mile road that joins SR 16 and Rt. 603/Fairwood Valley. The drive is scenic, with views of Fairwood Valley to the south and Brushy Mountain to the north. This site is actually a driving tour of Homestead Road, which has a number of convenient pull-offs for easy wildlife viewing. As Homestead Road winds through the valley, the road traverses a variety of habitats including open hillside meadows, shrubby grasslands, oak stands, eastern hardwood forest, and roadside hedgerows. Truly, this is a prime road to look for colorful and animated nesting birds in good numbers. In summer, visitors should look for sparrows, eastern towhee, house wren, blue-headed vireo, and chestnut-sided warbler. Barn and northern rough-winged swallows patrol the open fields in aerial display. Wild turkey, or perhaps ruffed grouse, might be seen with young following closely behind. Migrant songbirds should be plentiful in spring and fall. While overflowing with avian species, other wildlife abounds. White-tailed deer are numerous and might be seen by a quiet observer. Black bear, red fox, and coyote are also denizens of this area, but are a little bit more elusive. Rt. 603 through Fairwood Valley has several pull-off areas for wildlife viewing also. About 0.5 miles west of the intersection of Rt. 741/Homestead Road and SR 16, on Homestead Road, there is a pull-off on the right side of the road. Only 2 vehicles can park in this spot, but from here hikers may want to access the Comers Creek Falls Trail. This 0.5-mile trail leads to the small Comers Creek waterfall in an eastern woodland forest.
From Hale Lake, continue west on FR 57 for 0.6 miles to Rt. 672; turn right and travel 0.5 miles to Rt. 798. Turn right and follow Rt. 798 northwest for 2.9 miles to Rt. 612. Turn left on Rt. 612, heading west for 4.3 miles to Rt. 614, turn left again and continue west 3.3 miles to Rt. 695. Turn left on Rt. 695 and travel 0.7 miles to SR 16. Turn left on SR 16 and drive south 6.1 miles to Rt. 741/Homestead Road; this driving loop begins with the right turn onto Rt. 741 and continues for 3.6 miles to Rt. 603/Fairwood.


text:
Originally from Georgia, Will next be assisting Kimberly Faith Hickman on the world premier of "Mother of Rain."
Originally from Georgia, currently studying Theatre at Carnegie Mellon.
Originally from Chicago, graduated from St. Mary's College with degrees in Theatre and English Writing.
Bechdel Project's name comes from what is popularly known as the "The Bechdel Test" based on Alison Bechdel's comic strip "The Rule" in "Dykes to Watch Out For."
Ms. Bechdel is not personally involved in the organization in any way.


text:
In immigration law, sometimes it's not about you. Or me. It's about the kids. In the case of Cancellation of Removal, it really is.
I had immigation court this afternoon for a couple, a husband and wife, who have four kids who are all US citizens. They are both good, hard-working people who have lived in the United States for approximately 20 years. But it wasn't about them. It wasn't about them earning the right to stay in the United States.
I once heard a judge explain what "Cancellation of Removal" is, as he was granting it to one of my clients. He said it's not meant to "reward" someone for entering the United States illegally and trying to do immigration his or her own way, by breaking the immigration laws. Instead, "Cancellation of Removal" is a form of relief in immigration court that the law allows a judge to grant as an exercise of mercy on someone because of their family.
In the case today, my clients have four US citizen kids and three of them are what you might call special needs. The youngest one has a brain tumor. So, it's not about them earning their lawful permanent residence. It's about the United States allowing them to remain here to take care of their kids. It's not even about them working hard and contributing to the United States. It's about grace. They made a mistake by entering the United States illegally. Even though they entered the United States illegally, though, the judge can allow them stay because their children are US citizens and need to be here, the kids need their parents to stay and take care of them.
At the end of the hearing, the judge thanked me and the government attorney for a professional presentation. But I can take little credit for this one. My staff and I prepared the applications and the documentation. But the success of this case did not hinge on great lawyering or persuasive speaking, I don't think. I think it hinged on competence, and not dropping the ball. There's nothing wrong with that. But it wouldn't be right for me to pat myself on the back too much for simply helping my clients navigate the process correctly and presenting the overwhelming evidence in an organized fashion. I think I was just fortunate to have the opportunity help these people.


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Ginger at PARKROYAL on Beach Road has brought back its delectable crustacean buffet from now till 31 October 2018 for dinners daily, and lunch inclusive on weekends! The Wonders of Pincers buffet features signature favourites such as the Salted Egg Yolk Crab, Rock Salt Crab, Chilli Crab and the Black Pepper Crab. Also on the menu is the Pumpkin Lobster in Claypot, which was my favourite dish of the night for its rich sweetness and meaty lobster served whole.
On top of the special lineup, Ginger will also feature an expanded buffet selection featuring local delights as well as a barbecue live station, its regular oyster omelette live station, and bowls of bak kut teh to wash it all down. The Wonders of Pincers is a decent buffet for crab lovers seeking a good variety, and would definitely appeal to those who want to savour a good selection of Singaporean cuisine in a single sitting. The buffet is available at $68++ for adults, and $34++ for children.
Thank you PARKROYAL on Beach Road for the invitation.
More buffet pictures below to whet your appetite!
PARKROYAL on Beach Road
Singapore 199591
Reservations: 6505 5710
The Wonders of Pincers Buffet
Weekends only: $68++ per adult, $34++ per child
Daily: $68++ per adult, $34++ per child


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Is fashion a load of old rubbish?
Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden is to exhibit recycled paper dresses designed and created by Sunderland College Year 1 Fashion and Clothing BTEC Extended Diploma Level 3 students in a joint project with Groundwork North East and Cumbria.
Groundwork North East and Cumbria have led an innovative new project with students from Sunderland College culminating in an eye-catching exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.
Paper dresses were all the rage in the late sixties as the American "throw-away" society emerged. The Pop Art ideal of merging common culture with fine art was expressed in disposable clothing that was in high demand. Paper dresses, designed and created by Year 1 students on Sunderland College's Fashion and Clothing BTEC Extended Diploma Level 3 course and will be on display in Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens between Saturday 31 January – Sunday 8 March 2015.
The dresses were commissioned by Wendy Fail, Visitor and Education Centre Coordinator at Groundwork North East and Cumbria.
The project has been delivered under the wider remit of the new Visitor and Education Centre, located in Wrekenton. The centre is an integral part of South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership's ambitious plans to make full use of the rubbish collected by Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils rather than sending it to landfill. The waste partnership is working with SITA UK to help deliver these plans and SITA in turn work with Groundwork to assist in involving communities.
The centre is quickly becoming established as a centre of excellence, providing school children and the wider community across the partner council's the chance to find out more about recycling and sustainable waste management.
Wendy Fail, Visitor and Education Centre Coordinator at Groundwork North East and Cumbria, said: 'The dresses show that, despite the challenges, beautiful, elegant, functional outfits can be created from material that might otherwise have been thrown away. I've been really impressed by the quality and creativity of the students on this project."
Jan Miller, Lecturer in Art and Design at Sunderland College, added: 'The Paper Dress project, completed with the help of their tutor Helen Willey, has given the First Year Fashion students an exciting creative challenge as well as extending their knowledge and understanding of the importance of recycling in today's world."
After their run at Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden, the dresses will be on display at Hendon Library between 10 March – 7 April and Campground Visitor and Education Centre between 8 April-1 May, before being returned to Sunderland College for their End of Year Show.


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The ShayShay Show- Immaterial
The ShayShay Show- Immaterial
We are living in a material world, but we are IMMATERIAL GIRLS!
immaterial (adjective) ~~~ spiritual, rather than physical.
April's ShayShay Show lineup is for women only! "Womanhood" as a spiritual concept, not purely a physcial form. So we will welcome women of all bodies and minds, cis, trans and every girl in between!
– Aimee Rose
– Georgie Bee
New Talent Showcase…
– Eva Wonder
– Isobel Midnight
– Trevor del Drivel
– Bae Sharam
– Katy Jalili
Friday 21st April
Doors ar 6pm. Shows at 7:30pm.
£5 entry on the door
- Category :
- Date :
Apr . 21 . 2017


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Author: Christine Seifert
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: Sept. 1, 2011
paperback, 342 pages
Genre: YA
available @ Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary: "We wanted to know what makes a good kid good and a bad kid bad. Can you blame us for that? We found an astoundingly, marvelously simple answer: The brain isn't so much a complicated machine as it is a crystal ball. If you look into it, you will see everything you want to know."
Will the head cheerleader get pregnant?
Is the student council president a secret drug addict?
My thoughts:
The Predicteds by Christine Seifert is a fascinating and compelling novel. The premise of this book is very thought provoking. I was engrossed in the story-line. I kept reading to find out how the story was going to play out. I could see both sides of the argument over the predicteds. On one hand you want to keep the kids safe but on the other, there are so many issues that arise. I like how the author analyzes the different sides to this argument. This is an intriguing book that I would definitely recommend.
*This book contains violent situations and underage drinking.


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Build a Better Brunch Buffet
We asked a few of Wisconsin's culinary experts to share their recipes for making brunch more memorable.
Cheese, Apple & Walnut Scones
Jen Barney is a Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts graduate and a Food Network Baking Champion. Jen's creativity dazzles customers at her LaCrosse, Wisconsin-based shop, Meringue Bakery. Put her creativity to work for you with this irresistible sweet and savory take on scones.
Baked Eggs with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Heather Terhune earned her culinary chops at top restaurants in Washington D.C., Durham, N.C., San Francisco and Chicago before moving to Milwaukee where she serves as Executive Chef at Tre Rivali and The Outsider. Try her take on baked eggs featuring Roth Cheese's award-winning Grand Cru® Reserve.
Carr Valley Cheesy Potatoes
Sid Cook, a fourth-generation cheesemaker and a Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker, grew up in his parents' cheese factory – Carr Valley Cheese. Developed by Sid's mother, Merna, this recipe for cheesy potatoes is a family favorite guaranteed to bring comfort and satisfaction to any brunch table.
For more springtime recipes, check out the latest issue of Grate. Pair. Share.


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Bladder Cancer: Its Symptoms and Risks
The bladder is an expandable muscular organ found just behind the pelvic bone. It is responsible in collecting urine excreted by the kidneys before urination. When empty, this sac-like organ is about the size of a pear. As the ureters (the tubes connecting the bladder and the kidneys) drain the kidneys of urine, the bladder expands and its wall becomes thinner to accommodate the fluid. The bladder needs to be about a quarter full before a person feels the urge to urinate.
When cancer cells develop anywhere in the bladder, bladder cancer occurs. Individuals suffering from bladder cancer may experience one or more of these signs and symptoms:
- Frequent and painful urination
- Hematuria, or blood in urine
- Back and pelvic pain
Most cases of bladder cancer can be detected early with procedures such as cystoscopy, or the insertion of a narrow tube through the urethra to visually inspect any abnormality in the bladder and to obtain a cell sample. Imaging tests may also help detect and stage bladder cancer.
Assessing your risk of bladder cancer depends on many different factors. Environmental factors, such as exposure to chemicals and smoking may increase your risk of the disease. Similarly, a personal or family history of cancer, older age, being white and being a man may also increase your risk of the disease.
Apart from the risk factors above, certain medications have also been associated with bladder cancer. Actos, for instance, is an anti-diabetic drug linked to the development of this disease. According to www.williamskherkher.com its maker had failed to adequately warn consumers and healthcare professionals about the drug's risk of this type of cancer.
If you are at risk of bladder cancer and are experiencing any of the symptoms above, consulting with a doctor immediately may result in prompt diagnosis and successful treatment.


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Must have layering pieces!!
Posted: Feb 15 2017
Here are some of our favorite layer-friendly fashion essentials that'll complete just about any outfit. We call these our holy grails and staple pieces for any stylish wardrobe.
And don't forget, you're apart of our family now ♡
Use the code: WELCOME to help you get those pieces you've always wanted!


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Dual Adventures
On Dual Adventures you will: Drive a buggie, Cruise in a catamaran, Swim in a lagoon and Eat lunch on the beach.
Does that sounds agreeable to you?
Of course it does! Our Dual Adventures excursion combines several tours in ONE full-day, memorable experience. Now, read on so we can give you the details…
The Buggies
You'll have time to relax later. For now, rev that engine! Hop into one of our automatic buggies to explore the back roads of the immense Punta Cana Ecological Reserve. Get your buggie in high gear and kick up some dirt as you cruise these private, tropical grounds of open patches and skinny, rocky trails.
Our path leads us deep into the Reserve to the Indigenous Eyes Lagoons…
The Lagoons
The Taino Indians referred to lagoons or cenotes as "Ojos Indigenas" or "Indigenous Eyes". 12 lagoons are protected within the Ecological Reserve, each with a subterranean river source of pure water. We invite you to take a dip in these crystal clear, refreshing waters under the protective shade of the surrounding mangrove forest. The water is so transparent, it looks like the fish are floating in the air!
From the Reserve, we make our way to the exclusive Punta Cana Marina…
The Catamaran
Board our spacious dual-haul catamaran and let there be open bar! Enjoy beer, rum, mixers and munchies while we cruise the enviable coasts of the Punta Cana Club and Resort. We'll stop at an awe-inspiring sandbar with waist high turquoise waters; swim, take a selfie, and grab a drink from the floating bar. Welcome to Punta Cana!
We'll cruise the coast until we reach the shores of Playa Blanca…
The Food
It's now time for lunch at the Playa Blanca Restaurant, a casual luncheon on an idealistic Caribbean beach. Imagine white sands and shady palms with a glassy aquamarine sea as the backdrop. Enjoy a several course meal that highlights the area's variety of seafood dishes along with Dominican staples and even dessert!
Who doesn't want to Drive a buggie, Cruise in a catamaran, Swim in a lagoon and Eat lunch on the beach? Exactly… that's why space fills up quick.
So scroll down (just a bit more) and reserve your spot.
Join us at the Punta Cana Ecological Reserve and on the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea…
- Round trip transport
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Open bar: Rum, beer, juice, soda, water
Not Included
- Camera
- Swimming Atire
- Towel
- Walking Shoes
- Sunglasses
- Bug Spray
- Sunscreen
- Cash
Approximately 8 hours
Approx. Pick up Times: Morning (7am - 8am)
"Pickup times and locations vary depending on the hotel you are staying at. We will be contacting you shortly with the exact time and pickup location"
This tour operates
Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Pickup Location
"Pickup locations vary by hotel location
We'll be contacting you with the exact location"
Order Now
For groups of 10 or more, please contact us directly
Please view our Cancellation Policy


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The following are resources, in the form images and artwork, short contextualizing essays and reading guides, and links to useful sites, geared to my history theory and methods course The Many Lives of Others: Autobiography, Biography, and Life-Writing in Medieval and Early Modern Eurasia. For each week of the course I've provided a short contextual essay, where appropriate, as well as other sources that might prove useful in navigating the sources and ideas explored in each unit. While this page is geared towards the use of students taking the course, I've included the scans of the readings for any other readers interested in this fascinating material and the questions of life-writing and historical memory that the course explores.
Week 10 (March 28/29): Explorations in Art, Epigraphy, and Letters
This week we will be examining a broad range of sources somewhat different from those we have been used to considering. All of these sources have in common the importance of materiality and 'publicness' in their form and use: even poetry, the most 'bookish' of these things, historically existed as much in recitation and in epigraphic forms of public display. In addition to the theme of publicness, many of these sources were explicitly meant to memorialize a particular figure, so we will want to think about what kinds of audiences were intended and how they were meant to relate to the person and life being memorialized. More generally, we will want to think about how we should go about using sources such as art work, epigraphy, and other forms of material culture: what kinds of constraints do we encounter, what kinds of questions can we ask, what kinds of context and further information do we need, and how do we relate this sort of material to more 'traditional' textual evidence?
- Portraiture I: Qing Military Portraits
After concluding a long, successful, and extremely destructive campaign against the Dzungars and the Turkic-speaking Muslims of Eastern Turkestan (which would be renamed Xinjiang- 'New Domain'- in the aftermath), the Qinalong Emperor (reigned 1736–95) commissioned portraits of one hundred leaders and soldiers who made vital contributions to these campaigns, campaigns that stand as reminders of the extent to which the Qing Empire participated in early modern imperial expansionism on a scale not unlike its Western European peers.
These portraits were hung in the Hall of Imperial Brilliance in the Forbidden City, and hence were visible to tribute-payers and foreign emissaries visiting Beijing. Stylistically they are a testament to artistic and cultural Eurasian interconnectedness: the text panel is divided into Manchu (the ancestral language of the Qing) and Chinese, while the figures are rendered using a combination of contemporary Western European and traditional Chinese methods. This particular portrait presented above (Met. 1986.206) is of an imperial bodyguard, Zhanyibao, who fought in the Dzungar campaign; the poetry above him reads:
Barehanded he rode the giant whale,
Capturing Weinuo in battle.
The bandits' heads were strung together
The length of his long lance.
With both hands he held open the declaration of war
All the way to Balikun [in Sinjiang Province].
Without [even pausing] to comb his horse's mane,
He returned and reported to his commander.
In looking at this portrait, considering its context, and its textual component, we might ask: what was the purpose of this portrait? How was the viewer supposed to 'read' the portrait? What might the importance of 'realistic' portraiture, which was quite popular in the Qing period, say about cultural perceptions of self, person, and the like? How does this portrait resemble or diverge from that depicted below?
For Further Reading:
Ka Bo Tsang, Portraits of Meritorious Officials – Eight Examples from the First Set Commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor in Arts Asiatiques, 1992.
2. Portraiture II: Lavina Fontana, Portrait and Self-Portrait :
Lavina Fontana (1552-1614) was an early modern Italian artist who is perhaps best known for her series of self-portraits, among the earliest for a female artist. She also painted numerous portraits of other people, including one of her masterpieces, pictured above: Portrait of Bianca Degli Utili Maselli (click the image for higher resolution), which also features several of her children. Painted around 1604, the portrait, now in a private collection, provides a spectacular look at early modern Italian clothing styles, as well as attitudes towards children and self-presentation. How might we 'read' the differing ways the boys and girls are depicted, and the apparent differences signaled in the depictions of the different individual children?
Less spectacular visually perhaps but also of importance is the self-portrait, reproduced below, that Fontana produced in 1577 (now held at the Accademia nazionale di San Luca). She shows herself seated at a clavichord with another woman behind her holding sheet music. What kinds of messages might Fontana have been trying to send with this painting? How might a self-portrait intersect with the claims and style of textual autobiography? Why would an early modern artist have wanted to produce a self-portrait, and what did it mean for a female artist such as Fontana to produce one?
For Further Reading:
Babette Bohn, "Female self-portraiture in early modern Bologna" Renaissance Studies 18, no. 2 (2004): 239–86.
3. Letters: Examples from the Medieval Mediterranean, Early Medieval China, and Early Modern Korea:
This first letter, written around 1060, comes from a vast trove of Hebrew and Arabic documents discovered in the geniza, or storeroom, of a synagogue in the oldest part of Cairo, Egypt. Walled up for centuries, the numerous documents and texts and fragments that had been deposited and largely forgotten there were gradually revealed to scholars from the 19th century forward. There are numerous letters in the collection, which trace the lives of medieval Jews living and working across the Mediterranean world and beyond, letters which provide numerous insights in medieval life in the region. The letter translated below was sent by one Solomon ibn Moses of Sfax (in what is now Tunisia), to Nahray b. Nissim, a Jewish merchant from the North African city of Qayrawān, who combined far-ranging commercial activities with work as a scholar, a banker, and a leader of the far-flung Mediterranean Jewish community (the letter reproduced above was also addressed to Nahray). What does this letter reveal about the sender's emotional life? His concerns and fears? What sorts of 'strategies' does he employ to get Nahray's attention and aid?
I am writing to you, my dear master- may God prolong your life and make permanent your honored position and your high and noble rank- from Jerusalem, the blessed- may God let me and you and all Israel see its rebuilding and establishment- on the 20th of Tevet [January]. I am well and prosperous and full of gratitude to God who has let me reach this time and this illustrious view [of the Holy City]. I ask God the exalted to grant me and all Israel remission in his mercy, as it is written, 'Come back to me, and I shall com back to you.' [Malachi 3:7] God is much forgiving and merciful.
I have written to you several times before from Abu al-Bays and them from Ramle. I hope the letters have arrived, but I have not [received] an answer to any one of them. I hope that occupation with good things has kept you from answering. May you always be occupied thus, my lord, may God keep you, and in such a way that you are excused.
I arrived in Jerusalem safely and in good physical condition despite utmost exertion, as I was overtaken by snow on my way. The end was thus to the good, for he who hopes for the good will obtain it. God does not break his promise. I arrived safely on Thursday of last week in the middle of the month of Tevet….
Please buy on credit three bales of flax with the dinars you owe me and those to be received by M. Abū 'Imrān Mūsā, son of Abū al-'Ḥayy, may he rest in Eden, for twenty skins of oil. Take the balance from M. Abū 'Alī Ḥassūn, son of Yaḥyā, may he rest in Eden.
Thus there remains nothing for me to do except to trust in God, the exalted, and in you. My travel [to the Maghreb] depends solely on God and on you. So, please do not be remissed, for I cannot know how long I shall be forced to tarry on my way…
From Shelomo Dov Goitein, Letters of Medieval Jewish Traders. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1974), 159-160.
The second letter comes from early medieval China, and was written by Wang Xizhi (303-361), whose calligraphic letter writing style is presented above. It is a classic example of an exchange between two distant scholarly friends, and is strongly autobiographical in purpose, yet was also most likely intended for eventual public circulation. In time Wang's letters and calligraphy became canonical, as we can see in the above album presentation of one of his letters. What is Wang's emotional state in this letter? How might his presentation of himself and his feelings have been received by later readers and letter writers?
[Wang Xizhi to Zhou Fu:]
I reckon twenty-six years have passed since I said good-bye to you. Although we frequently exchange letters, they cannot dispel the longing for you that I have harbored for so long. Perusing your last two letters has only increased my sadness. Lately, it has been snowing heavily, and it is colder than it has ever been in fifty years. I hope everything is going well for you these days. I only hope to receive further news from you in the next summer or autumn. Of late, I have been missing you more than I can say. I have been taking cold-food powder for a long time, but I am still weak. However, on the whole and considering my age, I am fairly well. Do take the greatest care of yourself! Leaning over my letter, I feel nothing but disappointment and frustration.
From Antje Richter, Letters and Epistolary Culture in Early Medieval China, A China Program Book; China Program Book. (Seattle ; University of Washington Press, 2013), 129.
For Further Reading:
Hwisang Cho, "The Epistolary Brush- Letter Writing and Power in Choson Korea Journal of Asian Studies 75, no. 4 (2016): 1055–81
Antje Richter, ed., A History of Chinese Letters and Epistolary Culture, (Leiden: Brill, 2015).
James Daybell, The Material Letter in Early Modern England: Manuscript Letters and the Culture and Practices of Letter-Writing, 1512-1635 (Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; Palgrave Macmillan, 2012).
JaHyun Kim Haboush, ed., Epistolary Korea: Letters in the Communicative Space of the Chosôn, 1392-1910 (Columbia University Press, 2009).
S. D. Goitein, Portrait of a Medieval India Trader- Three Letters from the Cairo Geniza in Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 50, no. 3 (1987): 449–64.
4. Epigraphy: Buddhist Monks' Stelae in Medieval Korea
Finally, we consider a particularly involved form of epigraphy (inscription-writing): the large stūpas and stelae (see above) memorializing the lives of medieval Korean Buddhist monks. Below is a translation of a portion of a text memorializing one medieval Korean Buddhist master, Pojo Chinul (1158–1210), the founder of a distinct Korean school of Chan/Zen Buddhism. The passage given here, which was originally inscribed on a large stone stelae, describes his death and its immediate aftermath. As you read, consider how someone- most likely another monk or official capable of reading an inscription laden with classical Chinese- would have encountered this text in its original location, upon a stele similar to the ones pictured here, with the remains of the monk close by in a stūpa.
In the second month of spring in the second year of the Da'an era [1210], as a ritual for his deceased mother, he established a Dharma-feast lasting for several tens of days. At that time, he said to the assembly of monks, "I will not be dwelling in the world to talk about the Dharma for a long time. You should each be diligent and practice hard." Soon afterward, on the twentieth day of the third month, he showed signs of illness, and after a total of eight days, he died, as he had foreknown.
The evening before [his death], he went to the bath room and bathed. His attendant [monk] requested him for a verse and asked him questions, to which the master replied in a calm and composed fashion. At an advanced hour of the night, he then entered in his abbot quarters, where he continued the question and answer session as before. At dawn, he asked, "What day is today?" "It is the twenty-seventh day of the third month." The master, fully dressed in his Dharma robe and having washed his face and rinsed his mouth, said, "These eyes are not the eyes of the patriarch. This nose is not the nose of the patriarch. This mouth is not the mouth produced by one's mother. This tongue is not the tongue produced by one's mother." Having ordered the Dharma-drum hit and the assembly gathered, he grasped his walking staff with six rings [on top] and walked to the Hall of the Good Dharma where he offered blessings and incense, and ascended the [high] seat as he had customarily done for ordinary rites…
His words were clear and their meaning was detailed. His eloquence was unimpeded, as fully explained in the record of his death. At the very last moment there was a monk who asked, "In the past, Vimalakīrti showed signs of illness in Vaiśālī. Today, I wonder if Mokuja is ill here today on Chogye-san. Is this the same or different?" The master said, "You should study whether it is the same or different!" Thereupon he grasped his staff and threw it down several times, saying, "All things of every kind are all inside this!" Then he grasped his staff and sat cross-legged on the chair, motionless, and he calmly passed away.
His disciples performed offerings of incense and lamps for seven days, during which the expression of [the master's] face was as if he was [still] alive, his beard and hair gradually growing longer. After his cremation his remaining bone fragments were collected. These bone relics all emitted a five colored radiance. Thirty large śarīra grains and innumerable smaller ones were collected. His stūpa was erected on the northern slope of Suson-sa.
From Anthology of Stele Inscriptions of Eminent Korean Buddhist Monks, trans. by Patrick R. Uhlmann (Seoul: Compilation Committee of Korean Buddhist Thought, 2012), 373-375.
For Further Reading:
Sem Vermeersch, The Eminent Koryo Monk – Stele Inscriptions as Sources for the Lives and Careers of Koryo Monks Seoul Journal of Korean Studies 20, no. 2 (2007): 115–47.
Week 6 (March 5): Performing the Self: Further Varieties of Pre-Modern Autobiography
First off, make sure that you navigate to Zotero, download, and install a copy; we will discuss how to use Zotero and why in class this week.
1. Guibert Abbot of Nogent-sous-Coucy and Paul J. Archambault, A Monk's Confession: The Memoirs of Guibert of Nogent (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1996): "Circumstances surrounding my birth," "My early education," "Reflections on the education of children," "Difficult relations with my tutor"
Guibert of Nogent (c. 1055–1124) provides us with one of the best looks into the life of a Western European medieval person thanks to his Monodies, an extensive autobiographical text from which you'll be reading an excerpt. It is commonly described as the first Western European autobiography after St. Augustine of Hippo's Confessions, a work completed around the year 400 (the first page of a medieval copy of which is picture above). Guibert probably had the Confessions in mind, as in that work- which was well known from late antiquity forward, being, alongside City of God, one of Augustine's best-known and most important works- Augustine traces the arc of his life from childhood forward, with considerable attention to inner states and struggles. That said, Guibert is a singular person and writer, who, while little known in his own time, has long been an object of scholarly fascination due to his psychological complexity and depth of depiction.
As you read this excerpt, ask yourself why Guibert goes into such detail about his early life, and what his overall attitude towards himself as a person is. How does he construct his sense of adult self in relation to his childhood self (and his own birth)? What is his relationship with his mother like, and what role does memory of his mother play in his life do you think? What is Guibert's attitude towards his tutor? Compare Guibert's depiction of his childhood to Hakuin- what kinds of similarities and differences do you see?
2. Hakuin and Norman Waddell, Hakuin's Precious Mirror Cave: A Zen Miscellany (Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2009): "The Tale of My Childhood"
Zen Master Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768) was one of the great Zen teachers of Edo-period Japan, helping to revive the Renzai school of Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes the importance of sudden, spontaneous 'awakening' (kenshō) on the path to full enlightenment; extreme and seemingly random or erratic methods on the part of masters, along with the use of koans, paradoxical statements, questions, and the like used as tools for jarring one's self from conventional ways of seeing things and towards awakening and eventual enlightenment.
Hakuin, besides being a major Zen master, calligrapher, and artist, also wrote autobiographical accounts of his life, which he hoped would guide and spur on his students. He offers a quite intimate look into his emotional states as a child, a young man, and an accomplished master of Zen. We also get a good look at what everyday religion probably meant to ordinary people in Edo Japan. As you read this account of Hakuin's entry into monastic life, think about these aspects of everyday life, especially those that would not have seemed exceptional to Hakuin. How important was Buddhism to Hakuin's family? How did he conceptualize devotion and religious life? What do you think his purpose in relating these emotional states and struggles is? Can you make a connection between Hakuin's autobiographical writings and the examples of his visual art given here?
3. Devin Stewart (translator). The Humor of the Scholars: The Autobiography of Ni'mat Allāh al-Jazā'irī (d. 1112:1701) (d. 1112:1701). Iranian Studies 22, no. 4 (1989): 47–81.
Ni'matallāh al-Jazā'irī was a Shi'i scholar from what is now Iraq, who eventually pursued a career in the Safavid Empire (Iraq was part of the Ottoman realm and hence technically under Sunni domination). This text is an excerpt of his autobiography, which, as you can see, is especially interested in his educational formation, and also gives a surprisingly central place to humor. As you read, pay attention to the role of humor- how does Ni'matallāh use humor? What counts as 'funny' by his lights? How does he depict his childhood? His parents? What other markers of identity, belonging, conflict, and so forth, appear in this text?
Week 4 (February 14/15): Varieties of Self Life-Writing: Diary and Personal Chronicle:
1. Ferrazzi, Cecilia, and Anne Jacobson. Schutte. Autobiography of an Aspiring Saint. The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996; Margaret van Noort. Spiritual Writings of Sister Margaret of the Mother of God (1635-1643). Translated by Susan M. Smith. The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe. The Toronto Series, 39. Toronto, Ontario: Iter Academic Press, 2015.
These two women were roughly contemporaries, both composing- in a manner of speaking- autobiographies, both deeply religious and devout, both seen by some around them as living saints. Yet their lives- and their self-reported 'lives'- were in other ways quite different. Sister Margaret was born Margriet Van Noort in 1587. Before her death in 1646 she wrote a range of autobiographical pieces of literature, at the behest of her confessor at the convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Brussels in the Low Countries; while she was not herself canonized, her testimony aided in the canonization of another religious sister with whom Sister Margaret was close. Cecilia Ferrazzi, of Venice, delivered her autobiography under the scrutiny of the Inquisition, as your short excerpt makes clear, having taken up what was essentially a 'free-lance' career as a living saint. Therefore, one of the first questions that comes to mind for both of these texts is the degree to which we can call these texts 'autobiographies,' and how much it matters that both were written at the bequest- and indeed, in Cecilia's case, coercion- of others. How did the particular circumstances of these two otherwise very similar women shape their personal voice and their sense of self that the project to the reader/listener/transcriber?
In terms of their individual lives, think about how they describe their childhoods. What in their childhoods mattered to them for their sense of self and identity? How do they remember those years? Which family members or other people mattered to them? What kinds of physical and mental and emotional 'spaces' did they occupy? What were their 'inner lives' like? What role did the bodily and the physical play? What details of early modern life in Europe more broadly can we glean from these accounts?
2. Michitsuna no Haha, and Sonja Arntzen. The Kagerō Diary: A Woman's Autobiographical Text from Tenth-Century Japan. Ann Arbor: Center for Japanese Studies, University of Michigan, 1997.
The Kagerō Diary, written by a woman known to us only as Michitsuna no Haha, that is, Michitsuna's Mother, represents a different sort of autobiographic text, that of the diary or personal chronicle. It comes to us from towards the middle of the Heian Period (794 to 1185) in Japanese history, an age in which the Imperial Court remained important, even though the imperial family itself increasingly had little real power, most real political power being in the hands of the Fujiwara family, who controlled the imperial family through a strategy of marriage alliances. Michitsuna's Mother lived in the rarefied environment of the imperial court, and her diary reflects those social conditions. As such it comes from a social strata just below that of Babur (at least, that is, once Babur became emperor- it was a long and as you've seen difficult process!). Michitsuna's Mother's long and often very emotional diary represents one of the earliest example of Japanese diary literature, a genre that would become remarkably common and form part of the canon of classical Japanese literature. Like much early medieval Japanese literature, many of the authors of diaries were, at least at first, women- men wrote in classical Chinese, and for some time writing in Japanese was seen as suitable only for women.
Questions to ask yourself as you read this text: What was the relationship between the author and her husband like, and what might that relationship say about the status and lives of elite women in this period? What sense can you make of other personal relations based on her account? How does she depict her own self? Why the candor and the emphasis on emotion? Was Michitsuna's Mother a 'religious' person?
[For those of you who might be interested in pursuing this topic further, the diary genre continued to be used for centuries afterwards, by women and men. One easily accessible example- which I only recently discovered and hence is not on the course bibliography- comes from the thirteenth century, combining diary with travel narrative, and is titled Izayoi Nikki (Diary of the Waning Moon), by the nun Abutsu-ni (pictured below). It is available in English translation on JSTOR.]
- Paisius Velichkovsky. The Life of Paisij Velyčkovs'kyj. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by the Harvard University Press for the Ukrainian Research Institute of Harvard University, 1989.
Unlike the previous two writers, Paisius Velichkovsky (1722-1794) came from quite ordinary, rather 'middling' circumstances, being born in Poltava in what is now Ukraine into a priest's family. His life, however, would be quite remarkable, as he set off on a journey seeking spiritual instruction that would take him into the lands of the Ottoman Empire to the south, visiting and staying with many Orthodox Christian monastics before eventually settling down first at the Dragomirna Monastery in what is now Romania, then, after the area was seized by the Austrians from the Ottomans, at Neamţ Monastery, where he would spend the rest of his life. Paisius was heavily involved in the recovery of ancient Orthodox spirituality, devoting himself to finding volumes of the Church Fathers and of spiritual writers from late antiquity and the early middle ages, which he often translated from Greek into Slavonic, allowing them to be read by Slavic Orthodox Christians from the Balkans north. His efforts at reviving spiritual and intellectual life among Orthodox monastics and others would be most important in Russia, where his translation of the Philokalia, a compendium of Orthodox spiritual writings, would be published many times, and where his example would lead to the starets tradition, which emphasizes the role of spiritual elders (the starets) who led lives of both deep contemplation and of discipleship towards others. Elder Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov is a starets in the tradition of Paisius.
For our purposes, Paisius is most interesting because of the wonderful autobiography that he wrote, though it only covered part of his life and seems to have been left unfinished. In the excerpt given here, Paisius tells us his reasons for writing- what do you make of his reasons? What was his intended audience? What kind of image of himself does Paisius convey in the stories you read, and how does it differ from the image Babur or Michitsuna's Mother sought to project in their autobiographical texts? How would you describe Paisius' sense of self?
Week 3 (February 7/8): A Life of One's Own—Medieval and Early Modern Women's Lives:
1. Schaeffer, Kurtis R. Himalayan Hermitess- The Life of a Tibetan Buddhist Nun. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004..
Schaeffer's work is relatively self-explanatory, since I've included in your reading both part of Schaeffer's study of Orgyan Chokyi, the eponymous nun, as well as excerpts from Orgyan Chokyi's autobiography. For a little additional context, however, it might be interesting to examine the following two images, both of which can be thought of as 'biographies' of Tibetan male monastics. The first is of a lama, c. 1000; while the second is a 'lineage portrait' of an abbot from the 14th century. How do their depictions differ from the self-depiction Orgyan Chokyi gives? What is the significance of any sort of biographical or autobiographical portrait in a context such as Tibetan Buddhism?
2. Ziolkowski, Margaret and Avvakum Petrovich Protopope.Tale of Boiarynia Morozova A Seventeenth-Century Religious Life. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2000.
Feodosia Morozova's life was defined by the drama of 17th century Russia's greatest religious controversy, a controversy that resulted in a schism (a split in the church) and the emergence of the Old Believers. In brief, the Russian Orthodox, both clergy and laity, who would become the Old Believers staked out their position in opposition to liturgical and other types of church reforms that were pushed by both the patriarch (the head of the Russian Church) and by the czar. These changes to Russian religious life- some of which seem trivial at first glance but in fact ran deeply into social life and even bodily habits and actions- were the result of, among other things, visiting Greek Orthodox clergy who argued that many Russian practices diverged from genuine Orthodox practice, as represented by contemporary Greek usage. However, beyond concerns for liturgical order or connections with the wider Orthodox world, the Nikonian reforms, as they were known (after Patriarch Nikon, a major player in the reforms), were part of a broader effort to centralize power in Russian religious and political life. Resistance to the reforms, then, was also resistance to the expanding power of the czar and of the central church hierarchy. The Old Believers- who still exist in both Russia and North America, where many of them would emigrate to escape persecution, under czarist and then Soviet states- would define themselves in opposition to the reformed church and the centralizing state both, and in time would develop their own institutions, literature, and roster of saints, including Feodosia.
As you read this account, look for ways in which Feodosia practiced her sense of self, and how she formed her sense of identity- what other people were most important to her, and why? How did she display her resistance to the Nikonian reforms? How did the fact that she was a woman shape her responses and the various responses- negative and positive- to her? What do you think the purpose of this hagiographical account of her was?
3. 'Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, in Talbot, Alice-Mary Maffry. Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives in English Translation. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 1996.
St. Thomaïs' life, which transpired, probably, in the early 10th century, is of particular interest because she was married, an identity that made up an important, if often unpleasant, aspect of her practice and status as a saint, and set her apart from the majority of female Byzantine saints. Her vitae is also very much about her parents, making the entire text a wonderful source of insight into everyday Byzantine life and identity, as well as ideas about how ordinary people might become saints and otherwise practice holiness.
To whom are Thomaïs' parents compared? What sorts of things did they do to express their piety and devotion to God?
'The name "Thomaıs" was given to her, a child who was born in accord with a promise, who by nature was female, but by virtue and ascetic discipline much more male than men. ' What are we to make of these lines? How does this vitae both conform to stereotypes about women, as well as transform them or do interesting things with them? How would you describe the status and role of women according to this vitae? How does this vitae 'play' with, perhaps even subvert, categories and renderings of gender?
What ought marriage be like, according to this vitae? What, this vitae suggest, does it often look like in reality? To whom is Thomaïs compared? How does she express her holiness and devotion? What sorts of places does she visit, and when? How does her husband try to restrain her, and why?
Week 2 (February 5): On Reading Hagiography/An Introduction to Research Methods and Questions:
1. Campany, Robert Ford. Making Transcendents: Ascetics and Social Memory in Early Medieval China. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2009.
Questions: What sorts of questions did Campany have starting out? What about previous scholarship on Chinese 'transcendents' left him unsatisfied? Why does he think focusing on the role of others in shaping and defining the xian (transcendents) is so important?
What kinds of sources does he use for this study? How does he plan on using them according to this introduction? What kinds of questions does he think can be asked of these sources? What kinds of theoretical sources does he draw upon?
What kinds of issues do hagiographic sources raise? What are some possible readings and uses that Campany does not want to pursue? What is 'collective mentality'?
2. Sullivan, Denis., Alice-Mary Maffry. Talbot, and Stamatina Fatalas-Papadopoulos. McGrath. The Life of Saint Basil the Younger. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2014.
3. Aflākī, Shams al-Dīn Aḥmad, and John O'Kane. The Feats of the Knowers of God: Manāqeb Al-ʻārefīn. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2002.
Questions: Based on the understandings and ideas revealed in these hagiographies (lives of saints), what is that makes Basil a saint? What makes Rumi Mevlana a saint? What are the differences, the similarities? How do the two figures relate to their wider society? Why do people want to associate with the saint in these two accounts?
How should we as historians understand the presence of the miraculous in these stories? What do you make of these miracles and wonders? How do these biographies differ from modern approaches to biography, and would we even classify these texts as 'biographies' in the modern sense?
What can the lives of St. Basil and of Rumi tell us about the societies and places in which they lived?
Finally, what do you make of the dog Qeṭmīr? What makes him holy? Should we speak of animals as having 'biographies' (or hagiographies!) in a similar sense to humans?


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