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The Academy Awards was filled with a lot of predictability ultimately, but there were some interesting moments as well. For the music world itself, there was plenty to rejoice about. Jared Leto, who's been more associated as the front man of 30 Seconds To Mars as opposed to acting as of late, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for an exceptional role in Dallas Buyers Club. 20 Feet From Stardom (Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers), a brilliant documentary that focuses the attention on the background singers as opposed to the star, won deservingly for Best Documentary Feature. Darlene Love, one of the featured background vocalists gave praise to God, belting out a powerful rendition of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" onstage while accepting. And what about the victorious Documentary short, The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life, about a Holocaust survivor Alice Hertz Sommer, a pianist? Sommer passed away just a week before the telecast, making the victory for The Lady in Number 6 even more special.
Music was well recognized at the 86th Annual Academy Awards. All Original song nominees would have their chance to perform, with perhaps the most infectious being Pharrell Williams' no. 1 hit, "Happy". The performance itself was enough to brighten even the cloudiest day, especially to see children and actors alike feeling the good vibes. Idina Menzel would have her name butchered by John Travolta before performing "Let It Go" from Frozen, but a questionable performance of the ubiquitous children's favorite wouldn't undo the momentum or ultimate win in a tightly contested category. U2 would evoke some magic with "Ordinary Love" from Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom while Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend) would mysteriously and quietly perform "The Moon Song" from Her. The multiple times victorious Gravity (winner of seven), would also get some music swag, with Steven Price snagging Music – original score.
Other non-award related performances are worth noting. Bette Midler, who is 68, performed her classic 'ace in the hole', "The Wind Beneath My Wings" following the In Memoriam segment. Midler's performance couldn't be called technically perfect, but at her age and having never performed live at the Oscars, it was solid. P!nk surprising eschewed being suspended in air (surprisingly), to perform "Over The Rainbow", with Liza Minnelli in the audience. Don't call it a classic performance by Moore, but it worked.
Ultimately, this years Oscars not only recognized a Mexican Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity), or the first black Best Picture winner (Steve McQueen becomes the first black producer to win) for 12 Years A Slave, but it also recognized the music world too. Whether directly or indirectly, the academy has truly embraced music and shown the world its importance and relevance.


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Advanced Skills in Clinician-Patient Communication
A Non-Profit Program for All Healthcare Professionals
"Helped me realize I need to pursue the patient's agenda – not my own"
Participant Feedback on Advanced Skills in Clinician-Patient Communication
Effective communication between clinicians and patients builds a foundation of trust. That trust can lead to more accurate diagnoses, greater adherence, and improved patient outcomes.
Better communication may also lead to enhanced patient satisfaction and HCAHP scores.
"I came away with techniques to engage patients in their care plan"
This course is designed to help clinicians refine and enhance critical communication skills. The intensive 2.5 – day program provides education and opportunities to practice new skills with simulated patients.
Like all of our courses, this multi-day program is designed to fulfill licensing board or credentialing requirements for remedial education, but is also appropriate for those who simply wish to improve their skills.
"Course addressed my specific needs"
Registration is limited to 12 – 14 participants per session. The small group format facilitates personalized learning and individual coaching opportunities. Topics covered in this course include:
- "Difficult" clinician-patient relations
- Communication and computers in the exam room
- HCAHP Scores and application of communication skills
- Disclosing unanticipated medical outcomes
- Communication to enhance health outcomes
What You Need to Know
Where and when is the course offered?
This course is offered two times per year in Denver, CO. Please Click Here for a list of available sessions. A list of upcoming courses is at the bottom of this page.
How do I enroll in Advanced Skills in Clinician-Patient Communication?
Enrolling in this course is easy. Simply Click Here to access the registration page.
What do others say about Advanced Skills in Clinician-Patient Communication?
- "Very non-judgmental and supportive"
- "Excellent use of actors and role-playing"
- "I learned the importance of reflective listening"
- "It gave me an understanding of my triggers and the tools to manage them"
Who is eligible for Advanced Skills in Clinician-Patient Communication?
This course is suitable for any healthcare professionals or trainees who could benefit from learning how to enhance skills in clinician-patient communication.
What's the cost?
The cost for the course is $2,250.
What to expect after enrollment
- After your initial registration, you will receive an e-mail confirmation of enrollment within 48 – 72 hours
- You will also receive a separate e-mail with approximately 90 minutes of pre-seminar assignments
What about CME credit?
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of UCHealth Memorial Hospital and CPEP. UCHealth Memorial Hospital is accredited by the Colorado Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
UCHealth Memorial Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 19 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Special Thanks
Course development is funded through a grant from the COPIC Medical Foundation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Can You Keep a Secret?
January 25, 2013
Can you keep a secret? When you're in a conversation with someone in your church in your office, or chatting over coffee at Starbucks, or just passing by others after a church service, what's your policy on confidentiality? Do you have one?
Having recently completed a counseling degree, I've become familiar with "Informed Consent". You know, those papers that doctors and counselors have you sign that you barely look over. Part of the Informed Consent process is meant to explain to those with whom you work what you will and will not do when it comes to keeping secrets.
I recently came across a good blog by Tom Ascol, who pastors Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida. He writes about why and how he has started using an actual written document for people in his church to sign before they start a counseling conversation. You can see it and read it here.
Do you use a written document? I currently do not, though as an almost Board Certified Pastoral Counselor, I am considering using one. I do let people know at the start of our first session together what I will and won't do, what the counseling relationship looks like and what my stand on confidentiality is, but I don't have a written document as of yet.
How do you handle this?
What Bill Hybels Wants Every Pastor To Know
June 24, 2012
…. how he got into counseling. Yes, you read that right! Bill Hybels really wants you to know that he's in counseling, and he believes you should be too. I happen to agree with Bill.
Did you know they actually require counselors to be in therapy in order to become a counselor, because you can't give away what you don't have? Seems to make sense.
How much more important for pastors! We're dealing with people's eternity! And often the way we get there is helping them deal emotionally in healthy ways. Yet, most of us don't know how either, and need just as much help as our people do.
I encourage you to watch, listen, pray, discern. Enjoy!
What Got Us Here Won't Get Us There, Part 4
February 16, 2012
In an occasional series, we've been addressing the issue of insecurity in leadership. Perry Noble came out today with a great list of ways you can determine whether or not you are a leader who struggles with insecurity.
Quick disclaimers: We ALL struggle with insecurity when it comes right down to it. There is only ONE perfect person. His name was Jesus. "I know Jesus. And you are not Jesus." Don't mean to put you off with that, just speaking to myself and anyone else who wants to be honest. Check your Superman cape at the door please!
Perry's GREAT list is here.
What Got Us Here Won't Get Us There, Part 3
July 11, 2011
It's been a while since I've posted on this issue of insecurity in pastor and leaders. Recently, I read something that Mark Batterson (pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC) wrote about the topic:
He wrote:
I think influence and insecurity are opposites. Insecure leaders don't hire high competence people thereby limiting their influence. Their insecurity manifests itself by surrounding themselves with people that will prop up their ego instead of taking things to the next level. It's the Saul complex. David was his greatest asset, but Saul perceived him as his greatest threat. If you're insecure, assets are perceived as threats.
I think this is so true, or at least it's been my experience. Sometimes the largest barriers to moving to further levels in your leadership have to do with how much you're willing to release others to THEIR fullest potential, even if it outmeasures YOURS.
What Seminary Never Taught Us
February 18, 2011
If you are not a subscriber to "The Pastor's Weekly Briefing" delivered from the Focus On The Family Pastoral Ministries Department, I would encourage you to get signed up here.
Each edition features a letter from HB London, who heads the Department. This week, he wrote something I thought would be very poignant to consider for any Pastor who desires to be a "Pastor For Life". I include it here for your consideration and meditation.
Anything you would add or expand on? If so, please converse with a comment below.
What Seminary Never Taught Me
Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking in the chapel service at Dallas Theological Seminary. I had been there before. It is a fine institution. Their President, Dr. Mark Bailey, is a dedicated and competent leader. Later, I would be honored to meet at lunch with a group of students preparing for pastoral ministry.
One of the initiatives of our outreach to the clergy at Focus on the Family is a commitment to the future leaders of the church who are presently in preparation at Seminaries and Bible Colleges around the country. We have learned so much from these talented men and women. They will be facing challenges in their assignments that I did not face. I pray they are ready for those challenges and committed for the long haul. The truth is, many begin the pastoral ministry journey, but a lot of them never finish.
As I reflect on my visit to DTS, I could not help but think about all of the things that my Seminary training did not prepare me for. For instance:
- They did not teach me how to love. That came through experience.
- I did not really understand how complicated the lives of people really were. Some of them were too broken to mend.
- I was surprised at how judgmental and cruel Christian people could be. Graduate school did not warn me, or at least if they did I didn't listen.
- I probably needed more specific training in problem solving, and crisis management.
- In my day there was not much attention being given to financial management. Even though my first assignment was small, I was still a 23 year old CEO. Scary.
- I do not recall much attention being given to family matters. In fact, I remember some well-meaning leader saying to me, "You just go out and serve the church. God will take care of your family." It didn't happen that way.
- There is no way you can prepare for loneliness. But the importance of friendship with colleagues should have been reinforced.
- Another problem I would have to deal with, and had to learn on the fly, was that the church was God's church … not mine. I was an under-shepherd.
- I had to learn how to be myself and build on my own strength. Seminary had made me into a kind of cookie-cutter presenter.
- Pastoring was not for the faint of heart. Probably, if they had told me everything I would never have completed my training. I am so glad they didn't, and I am so glad I did. What advice would you give to the institution that invested in you?
We never stop learning, do we? Be blessed and be a blessing. —HBL
Stewarding The Easter "Anointing"
April 1, 2010
Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away." And Elisha replied, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor." "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah replied. "If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won't."
2 Kings 2:9-10
The heart cry of every Pastor, that God would give us at least as much, if not more, anointing than those who have gone before us.
Interesting that Elijah tells the young prophet that what he is asking for is hard. I think most of us ignore that part. I did! I still do!!
The "anointing" seems to be on others around me, and amazing things are happening through them. It doesn't look that hard from the outside.
Better yet, I think it not really ours to get the anointing. We ask and Jesus gives.
Some hard lessons of pastoral and public ministry have honed in me the belief that what is ours is to steward the anointing.
Some seem good at seeking and getting, but not so good at stewarding it once received. Think of any outwardly successful pastor who eventually flames out in one way, shape or form.
Earlier in Elijah's life, he learned the hard way too that what Elisha was asking for was not easy!
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
1 Kings 19:1-9
The lessons Elijah learned about stewarding the anointing were far more simple than we imagine, mostly. Check your own anointing stewardship against them in this way-too-busy-Easter season:
- What's your internal thought life like right now?
- How much sleep have you given yourself this week?
- How much time have you invested away from the church or your office?
- Do your spouse, kids, family, friends, know where you are and when and what you're doing other than "working" or "at the church"?
- What has your diet been like this week?
All just part of stewarding the anointing friends! What would you add?
Pastors And Pain
March 23, 2010
We are rapidly moving toward the celebration of Jesus' death, and Lent is on our minds for those who observe it. A time in which we make sacrifices to in some way thank God for and identify with the sacrifice Jesus made for us. A time to draw more and more close to Jesus.
For Pastors, it can be a challenge to experience seasons like this along with those we lead, especially if we tend to disconnect our personal life from our pastoral role. We all do it in one way or another, whether it's because of the mundane routine of ministry life to the over-exaggeration some place upon our role in their life, or numbness from too many painful relationship encounters we've endured in "the ministry". Our challenge lies in knowing why we do it, when we do it, and where its resulting costs need to be reversed in our own lives through the sacrifice of Jesus' life for US, for YOU, as a person.
Over at Crosswalk.com, Ron Walters has written a thought provoking article on how we manuever through the mine fields of life and ministry. Drink it deep!
Pastors and Pain
by Ron Walters
Vice President of Church Relations, Salem Communications
It may be the most cruel childhood disease of all. A real kid killer. Familial Dysautonomia attacks only one of 400,000 children, yet this genetic disorder does so in the most sinister way. It short-circuits the autonomic nervous system so its victims feel no pain. On the surface that would appear beneficial. No discomfort? No suffering? No crying? That's great. But that only proves the subtlety of this heartless killer.
Because an afflicted child feels no pain, there is no way to know if a bone is broken, an ear is infected, or a tooth is rotten. The eyes become dry and insensitive to foreign objects. Burns don't register. Cuts go unnoticed. For those who reach adolescence, 95% have spinal curvature, pneumonia, depression and constant hypothermia. All for the lack of pain.
Pain can be a good thing. It serves as nature's warning signal. An anatomical flashing yellow light. A human body with the complete absence of pain makes as much sense as giving a wristwatch to Venus De Milo. It's a nice thought but it serves no useful purpose.
Pastors are no strangers to pain. It's as familiar as a church bulletin, as common as a potluck. But I'm not talking about the pain of those you pray for in hospital rooms. There's plenty of that, to be sure. The pain I'm referring to is the Pastor's pain.
What pulpiteer hasn't felt intense pain from critiques of certain pew-sitting dragons? Name a pastor who hasn't hurt over unrepented sin, feuds, or heresy within the congregation. Who among us hasn't chaffed over unsigned letters. We vow we'll never read them. But we always do. We even memorize some of the lines.
Some pastors claim they've developed thick skin – but that's a crock. In most cases a pastor's skin is thinner, more sensitive than the average. That's why you're in this work. It was that tender heart that wanted to serve others. It was your soft soul that jumped when God came calling for volunteers. No, this is not an industry of thick skins. Hard work? You bet. High expectations? Yep. Larger than average egos? Probably. But thick skin? Not-a-one. The pain you feel is real and it serves an important purpose. God intended it to.
The New Testament's most common word for pain is Basanos, an Oriental word meaning a touchstone. A touchstone was a fine-textured velvety black variety of quartz. This very dense stone was used in ancient days to assay gold ore. It's still one of the most reliable methods. A strong-armed goldsmith would rub pure gold firmly against the flat touchstone leaving a golden colored steak. Then the suspect alloy would be struck repeatedly beside the golden mark. After rinsing away the broken debris, the two colors would be compared and the alloy would be determined to be authentic or fake. Being shattered against the touchstone was harsh but effective in finding true gold.
Some of us are, no doubt, going through that process now. Repeated blows on a touchstone tend to discourage even the best of pastors. The enduring pain may seem unfair and needless. But God's methods have always included pain. The cross and the grave served as Jesus' touchstone. His pain was undeserved and harsh, but it revealed pure gold. Paul's touchstone was a prison cell. The result? Gold. David's touchstone was a cave. Job's was an ash-heap. Daniel felt his in captivity. Abraham's was Mount Moriah. Joseph's was a pit. Each was a personal touchstone; each meant pain, but each produced gold.
Is it possible to pastor a church without experiencing pain? No. Is it possible to show your true worth without being pounded on a touchstone? Evidently not. Is it possible to turn that pain into gold?
What do you think?
Ron Walters
Vice President of Church Relations
REWORK … I Gotta Read It! You Do Too!
March 12, 2010
I haven't read this book yet, but after reading this post at TimSchraeder.com, I will be soon! Thanks for concisely boiling this down for us Tim!
10 Things That Drive Me Crazy About Working for a Church
I'm nearing the 10-year mark of being a church employee. That practically makes me a veteran. Ten years, four churches and millions of cups of Starbucks later [I'm convinced that's the drug of choice for church workers] I've had a first hand-look at how the church works [by work I mean how it functions day-to-day in the church office] and after reading REWORK I'm convinced we've got some things that drive me crazy that need to change.
Before I continue, let me say this: I love what I do. Every single day [except meeting days] I'm excited to be a part of the life of the Church. It's an immense privilege to be able to do what I do and I wouldn't trade it for anything… well, most of the time.
With that… here's 10 Things That Drive Me Crazy About Working for a Church
1. We are really good at burning people out.
For some reason we feel like working long hours against ridiculous timelines and neglecting our personal lives, health, or families is a good idea… as long as it's for God.
Not so much.
The average church employee stays at a church for about 2 years before they peace out.
"It doesn't pay to be a workaholic. Instead of getting more done and being on top of your game, you actually start a chain reaction that results in decreased productivity, poor morale, and lazy decisions. And don't forget the inevitable crash that'll hit you soon enough."
We all need to learn one simple word: NO. Even though something may be for a great cause, it's not worth losing your soul to make it happen.
2. We focus way too much on what we don't have.
One of the most common complaints I hear from church staff members has something to do with what they don't have.
In the Gospel account of the feeding of the 5,000 all they had to start with was 5 loves and 2 fish, but in the end, there was more than enough.
"Constraints are advantages in disguise. Limited resources force you to make do with what you've got. There's no room for waste. And that forces you to be creative."
Celebrate simplicity. Remember God can take nothing and make it into something.
3. We are afraid of change.
I guarantee we've all been a meeting where the phrase, "well we heard people say _____________ about _____________…."
Fill in the blanks… the music was too loud, they didn't like that message, they don't like this, they don't like that…
These conversations usually center on a sensitive topic in the church: change.
And how do we respond? We quickly turn down the volume, change our minds, or reverse a decision.
"Sometimes you need to go ahead with a decision you believe in, even if it's unpopular… remember negative reactions are almost always louder and more passionate than positive ones… so when people complain… let them know you're listening. Show them you're aware of what they're saying. But explain that you're going to let it go for awhile and see what happens."
Give change time and be more concerned with what the voice of God is saying to you and let that influence you more than the voices of other people.
4. We use "let me pray about it" as an excuse to get out of making decisions.
I absolutely believe it's important to pray about major decisions that impact the life of the Church – we shouldn't move unless we feel God leading us. But all too often we use the "let me pray about that" card to delay simple decisions.
"Whenever you can, swap "Let's [pray] about it" for "Let's decide on it." Commit to making decisions. You're as likely to make a great call today as you are tomorrow. Don't make things worse by overanalyzing and delaying before you even get going."
Pray about what's important but don't sweat the small stuff… just make the call and ask for forgiveness later if need be.
5. We LOVE meetings.
For some reason we love meetings. Planning meetings, prayer meetings, planning meetings for prayer meetings. I feel like we have entirely too many and lose valuable time we could be devoting to things that matter.
"Meetings are toxic. If it only takes seven minutes to meet a meeting's goal, then that's all the time you should spend. Don't stretch seven into thirty. Think about the time you're actually losing and ask yourself if it's really worth it."
What's one meeting you could condense or remove from your schedule? DO IT!
6. We try to do way too much.
Most churches are hyperactive and never sleep. We thrive on activity. The whole "less is more" thing hasn't sunk in yet.
What if we focused on doing a few things REALLY well l instead of doing a million things half-aced? << that's my PG version
"Cut your ambition in half. Lots of things get better as they get shorter. Getting to great starts by cutting out stuff that's merely good."
What are some good things you're doing that could be sacrificed for great things that will make a greater impact?
7. We try to be something we're not.
If I see one more 40somethings pastor dressed in Abercrombie so help me…
Ok, but for real… not just pastors but churches in general tend to have a problem of trying to be something they're not.
"Don't be afraid to show your flaws. Imperfections are real and people respond to real. There's a beauty to imperfection. So talk like you really talk. Reveal things that others are unwilling to discuss. Be upfront about your shortcomings. It's OK if it's not perfect. You might not seem professional, but you will seem a lot more genuine."
8. We spend too much time looking at other churches.
We spend way too much time looking at what other churches are doing, be it a church across the country or the church across town. It's great to watch and learn from others' successes, but if you look at other churches as you competition your focus is waaaay off.
"Focus on competitors too much and you will wind up diluting your own vision. Your chances of coming up with something fresh go way down when you keep feeding your brain other people's ideas. You become reactionary instead of visionary."
Your church has a unique and specific role it's meant to play in the life of your community. If your church ceased to exist, what would people miss? Whatever that is should be where you focus your time and energy.
9. We worry about people leaving.
We're quick to cater to the needs [or demands] of people who have been around for a while instead of focusing the needs of people who are new.
We should spend more time figuring out how to create a wider front door instead of focusing on how we can "close the back door"… even if that means losing people who give us a lot of money [there, I said it].
"Scaring away new [people] is worse than losing old [ones]. Make sure you make it easy for [new] people to get on board. That's where your continued growth potential lies. People and situations change. You can't be everything to everyone. [Churches] need to be true to a type of [person] than a specific [person] with changing needs."
10. We don't feel trusted.
For whatever reason churches tend thrive in a weird culture of mistrust. It's not or conducive to a positive working environment. Some churches have crazy rules, policies and procedures that create layers of red tape that, while probably well-intentioned, communicate a lack of trust.
"When you treat people like children, you get children's work. Yet that's exactly how a lot of companies treat their employees. When everything constantly needs approval, you create a culture of nonthinkers. You create a boss-versus-worker relationship that screams, 'I don't trust you.'"
This is one I don't have a quick answer to but know it's something I've experienced and something I hear about consistently from others who are in the trenches. BUT, I will say working in a church that has a trusting environment, I've never felt so empowered to do my job and that has fueled my productivity exponentially.
Final Thoughts…
Church work is tricky but I will say the blessings have far outweighed the frustrations.
The challenge of being on staff at a church lies in the fact that we don't have the option to leave our work at the end of the day. Our work is deeply connected to what we believe and to our faith community. It's easy to get passionate about what we do because we do is attached to something that's incredibly personal to us. We've got to learn the discipline of drawing boundaries.
While the Church has endured throughout the ages, each generation has had its unique challenges and opportunities. I believe the challenge and opportunity facing next generation leaders lies in how we manage and steward the resources we've been blessed with.
We've never been more resourced than we are today… which is why things like REWORK are important for us to latch on to. We don't need to change what we do [connecting people to Christ], we need to change how we work.
My prayer is that we can REWORK and do the work God has called us to do, not simply by applying business ideas, but by seeking God, being led by His Spirit and serving the Church with excellence and humility.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…" – Colossians 3:23
This post was inspired by reading REWORK by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson of 37signals. It's an important book that I think should be required reading for any next generation church leader.
What Does Tiger Woods' Apology Say To Pastors?
February 19, 2010
You've probably heard enough about Tiger Woods' sordid lifestyle. I have too. And I have no interest in exploiting any of it.
However, I have a lot of interest, for myself and any other Pastor, in learning from it. I have no interest in analyzing Tiger's actions or apology to the nth degree.
Regardless of what any of us think about Tiger's words or motives, there remain a number of analogous issues between the persona of a famous person and the persona of a Pastor. As Pastors, we are tempted to live two lives, one in public and another in private.
It's interesting that Tiger mentioned in his statement that he felt "entitled" to "enjoy the temptations around" him because he had worked so hard all his life.
Often, Pastors struggle with that same temptation. We work so hard and for so long that we can be tempted to feel that we are entitled to stretch the boundaries of our behavior, be it in the area of sexuality, financial indiscretions, or anything else.
What did you hear Tiger say that could be helpful for Pastors as well?
Creating a Culture of Balance
July 5, 2009
I recently read a great paper available from Leadership Network on how Pastors in their 20's and 30's are dealing with the stress and strain of ministry life. It was an excellent read and encouraging to hear that these guys are thinking much differently than I was trained. It gives me hope for the future of the Pastor and the future of the Church.
If you'd like your own copy to enjoy, click here.
I'd be very interested in your thoughts and comments if you end up reading it. Post them here below.


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Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America
At a densely footnoted 700 pages, Christopher Leonard's Kochland is no lightweight read, yet its subject--Koch Industries--more than warrants that level of scrutiny. While Charles and David Koch have attracted notice in recent years for their political activities, their sprawling empire remained practically invisible to the public for decades. Leonard shows how Koch specialized in complicated industries necessary to modern American life, all built around the backbone of Koch Oil.
Kochland is about more than the Kochs, even though Charles Koch's management philosophy receives plenty of attention. Leonard breaks down the story of Koch Industries into flashpoints. One lengthy section involves the vicious battle over the Pine Bend oil refinery in Minnesota, where Koch eventually broke the back of a powerful union. Another portrays Charles Koch's successful campaign to defeat Obama's ambitious cap-and-trade bill, and the role of the Koch political wing in directing the aims of the emergent Tea Party. Leonard shows each as a dramatic story that sheds light on Koch Industries' participation in major trends in the American economy: weakening labor, funneling profits to the ultra-wealthy and ignoring the threat of climate change.
Leonard's greatest achievement is in writing an accessible book about an institution designed to be inaccessible. This is necessarily a book awash in technical details and dozens and dozens of characters, yet Leonard grounds it all in human drama--Bill Koch's efforts to wrest control of the Koch Empire from his brother Charles, for example, are worthy of the television series Succession. Kochland is an epic, in-depth work. --Hank Stephenson, bookseller, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, N.C.


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Tennis Australia "shocked" by Maria Sharapova's failure in drug test
Tennis Australia on Tuesday expressed "surprise" that 2008 Australian Open champion and five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova failed a drug test during the 2016 Australian Open.
In a statement, Australia's highest tennis body acknowledged the drug test was failed at its tournament and said Sharapova was "ready" to face any consequences for her actions, reports Xinhua.
"We are surprised by today's news that Maria Sharapova tested positive to a banned substance during the Australian Open," the statement read.
"Throughout her career Maria has always impressed with her professionalism as a leader and role model in our sport. In her press conference Maria said she is prepared to face the consequences of what she describes as a 'huge mistake'."
The 28-year-old revealed on Tuesday that she had indeed failed a drug test at the Open; the Russian star explained the a drug she had been prescribed for a pre-existing condition for up to a decade, Meldonium, was added to a banned substance list on January 1, and she had "not known".
"For 10 years this medicine was not on the banned list, and I had been legally taking it," Sharapova said.
Sportswear company Nike has already terminated its long-running sponsorship of Sharapova, and said it was "saddened and surprised" by the news.
Tennis Australia also reiterated its commitment to stamping out performance-enhancing drugs within its sport.
"Tennis Australia is a long-time signatory to the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP) and as such supports the TADP processes and outcomes," the statement read.
The news has already sent shock waves through the Australian tennis community; tennis commentator Renae Stubbs tweeted that she was "shocked" by the news, while current Australian men's player Matthew Ebden was sceptical of Sharapova's reasoning.
"Doesn't look that innocent for Sharapova or whoever else took it, this Meldonium stuff but who knows?" he told social media website Twitter.
Leading sports commentators have revealed Sharapova is likely to face either a one or two-year ban in place of a possible four-year ban for the "mistake", which is still under review by world doping authorities.
Sharapova will be provisionally suspended from ITF competition from March 12.Published 08 Mar 2016, 17:52 IST


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Our congregation is made up of people from every community, and is truly a place of love and acceptance of all people. At St. Stephen's, we welcome everyone wherever they find themselves on their journey. We believe that all are called to be disciples of Christ and together we strive to build each other up for the glory of God.
— Reverend Sharon Patterson
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Sharon Patterson - September 23, 2018
To Be First You Must Be Last
From Series: "Sunday Sermons"
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This program gives residents the opportunity to honor an individual by donating a tree to be planted within a memorial grove in a City park.
The trees cost $100. A planting ceremony, to which donors are invited, is held during Arbor Week in April.
To donate a tree, fill out and submit the Memorial Tree application (PDF).
The Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee promotes the value of urban trees in Grants Pass.
This annual program gives 50 city residents the opportunity to purchase a tree from an annually selected list of trees for $50.00 and have it planted in their front yards by the Parks Department. All trees are at least 6 feet tall, and are planted in October and November.
This program is part of our City's goal to continue to be designated Tree City USA and improve our urban forest.
Tree Canopy Application (PDF)
This program assists property owners with dangerous situations involving trees in the right-of-way.
If you have a tree in the city right-of-way that has become hazardous, fill out the Tree Permit application before taking action. The City will inspect the tree free of cost.
If it determines that the tree is hazardous, the City will cover up to 50% of the total cost for the removal of the hazardous tree, stump grinding and replacement with an approved tree within the city right-of-way.
See the Hazardous Tree Program page for more details.
For more information, contact:
Parks & Property Management Superintendent
Email Wendy Giordano
101 NW A Street
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Ph: 541-450-6060
Urban Tree Advisory Committee
Tree Permit Application (PDF)
The Tree Permit application is required to remove, prune, and plant trees in the City right-of-way.
Memorial Tree Application (PDF)
Tree Canopy Program Application 2019 (PDF)
Apply by September 16th, 2019.


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We could tell you about how you can play as a breakfast-loving hobbit or a Legolas-like ranger in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. We could gush over the game's crisp graphics that makes World of Warcraft look like Diablo II. But even though immersing ourselves in a beautifully crafted world with Nazgûl and knights fills us with glee, that's not what grabbed our attention when we sat down with Jeff Anderson, President & CEO of developer, Turbine.
Sure, LOTR Online has "next-gen MMO" written all over it in terms of visuals and sheer size of the world. It also draws heavily from the much beloved well of Tolkien's lore and will be sure to please fans of the films and novels. But it's also the way that developer, Turbine is paying attention to the little details as the game's April launch draws nearer that threaten to make this the "one MMO to rule them all."


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Zynga's shares shot up as much as 20 percent in trading today, a day after Facebook revealed 12 percent of its revenue comes from the social gaming maker.
Facebook gets a huge chunk of its revenue from advertisements purchased by Zynga and from transaction fees on Zynga's virtual goods. Zynga's games also generate more pages where Facebook can place advertisements.
Zynga's shares are trading as high as they ever have right now. Zynga is up around 14% right now and is trading at around $12 — higher than its debut of $11 when it first went public.


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"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Yes…but do all the colors of these romance-steeped flowers convey the same message? If you give Granny green roses, does it mean you want to spank her? Let's find out:
RED: Traditionally red flowers, especially roses, represent intense love and desire so save these for your significant other.
PINK: These guys mean grace, gentility, and happiness…a good choice for Granny.
YELLOW: A symbol of joy, lightheartedness and friendship. If you have a special someone you'd like to keep in the friend-zone, any flower this color is a good choice.
WHITE: Where do you see white flowers? A wedding and that's good because these convey innocence, purity and humility…hopefully decking a wedding out with ten thousand of them still conveys humility.
ORANGE: ENERGY!!!!! Orange flowers act as a signal of passion, enthusiasm and warmth: a good choice for brightening up a work meeting.
PURPLE: Who wears purple? Royals. And Elton John. It's fitting that they represent dignity, pride and success. These are a good choice for any parades you might attend or any grads you need to surprise.
GREEN: There's fewer green flowers than you'd think and a lot of them end up as supporting players for the other popular colors but these actually do represent a pretty meaningful message: optimism, good-fortune, and resilience.
Good Luck on V-Day Wanderers!


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University of Michigan School of Dentistry researchers have recently released new software to improve the effectiveness of 3-dimensional images used to treat dental conditions. The software allows dentists and researchers to stack a series of scans obtained over a period of time to, according to Lucia Cevidanes, assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry and the project's principal investigator "… more accurately track both a disease and the effectiveness of its treatment."
The software is called SlicerCMF, which refers to its cranio-maxillofacial applications to analyze scans, or slices, of the mouth, jaws, face and head. It works with several imaging tools, including MRI, CT, ultrasound and nuclear medicine.
What This Research Means to You
This software enables dentists and researchers to both find and measure changes in the jaw and soft tissues of the mouth to track the progress of dental disease/treatment, jaw growth, tissue healing rate and other parameters to assure the most accurate information available. The ability to identify specific biomarkers in the scans can help our Manhattan dentists to understand changes over time as well as whether these changes are positive or negative. This then leads to better and more effective treatments.
"I think what we have done is exciting," Cevidanes said. "Our collaborative group is recognized nationally and internationally as being leaders in the field of registration, noting changes over time and quantifying them. At the same time, (the software allows) visualization of those changes with some very nice color maps or color-coded visualizations."
To your health & beauty,
Jeffrey Shapiro, DDS, PC and Glenn Chiarello, DDS
NYC Cosmetic Dentists


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Are you a communications professional with less than 10 years of experience? If so, come network with us on Thursday, May 15: it's Starbucks Evenings. This is an informal opportunity to meet other young professionals and enjoy Starbucks' new menu options, which includes beer, wine and appetizers. Light appetizers and the first drink is on us!
Sign up quick! (This event is limited to 28 attendees.)
Location: Starbucks at 200 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Cost: $10 for Members, $20 for Non-Members


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|Belvedere and 4 Ducks 29 May 2012
Well Cate has finally escaped from India and is now in Dubai where she says she has a suite at the Mövenpick hotel. I think having a suite means that she has a table and chairs as well as a bed.
But maybe not. Because she travels so much she often gets upgrades to pretty special rooms.
She says that the Mövenpick is not as nice as Raffles where we stayed – but she is there strictly on business this time so can't expect too much.
I have been spending some time in the basement trying to organise the shemozzle down there and throwing away a few things. I can't tell you what these are because Cate will immediately decide that she cannot live without them.
However, if I never tell you what they are I guarantee she will never miss them.
OK I will tell you a couple of things. There was an old rug and a couple of old pillows.
I noticed that the Reindeer Rug is still lurking down there. I wonder if we should give it another run upstairs. Probably not – Mrs Moneypenny may have a nervous collapse.
I just know it is busting to shed all over Vienna again.


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Jeremy Knutson
[email protected]
March '09 corn didn't waste time deciding which direction it wanted to go today, it opened $.14 1/4 higher and it was the low of the day session. Crude Oil and the Dow Jones had some influence on the corn this morning as they were both trading better on the day by the time corn opened. It looks to me as if we should try to test $3.36 3/4 which is 50% of last week's trade range and then from there we look to $3.44 1/4 and then $3.68 1/2.
If we close above $3.30 1/2 by a few cents tomorrow I think we could look for a quick test of $3.54 1/2 before the market finds any good selling. There is the resistance at $3.40 that I talked about early last week (it was support then) that we would still need to get through prior to making a solid run at $3.54. The U.S. Dollar Index was down today and continues to look like it is topping in this area therefore I am looking to make sure I have significant feed corn coverage in place through an option strategy because this market will keep moving higher one of these days!
Bottom line - I have said before I am not bearish at these levels although the market has dropped further than I expected. I still want to have good feed coverage in place for when the market gets going to the upside again. Today is only one day and we need to see good follow through before I am getting too excited about major upside in the market. I do not want to be caught in the dark without coverage though, we have been screaming as livestock producers over the past year for cheap feed prices so let's not let it pass us by! I look for better trade tonight and tomorrow and follow through on today's rally. I wouldn't be surprised to see a test of $3.40 tonight or tomorrow in the March '09 corn.
Jan '09 meal had strength for the same reason corn, it was because of higher Crude Oil futures and Dow Jones index. I feel we could see the market test $244.40 early and then rally toward the $249.70 high we had today. As I have said for awhile now (what turned out to be too early) I am not bearish at these levels and I would have call coverage in place for meal needs for a significant amount of time.
Bottom line - I look for a possible test of $244.40 tonight and then a test of $249.70 again either late tonight or tomorrow. The market will also take direction from the Dow Jones and Crude Oil but both of which had a solid close today. I expect higher follow through trade tomorrow in the Jan '09 meal contract.
Feb '09 hogs opened $.10 lower in the pit and had a high of $65.40 but the Globex contract had a high of $66.475 which put the market up over $2.25 in the early part of trade. The Globex contract didn't stay that high for very long and as stated the pit trade didn't get near that high so it must have been a market order and no liquidity that brought the market to those levels.
Cash hogs didn't do much of anything today as it was slightly lower and cutout was down $.69 for the day. I expect the market to make a run at $64.40 and if we can close above it tomorrow I think we will head toward our high of $67.15.
Bottom line - I am looking for steady to better trade tomorrow in the Feb '09 contract. The U.S. Dollar Index is down hard today and I am still of the opinion that the Dollar will continue its slide in the future. I look for a test of $63.92 early and if that fails to hold then test $63.00 but I don't think $63.00 is likely. I look for a test of $65.40 tomorrow more than a test of $63.00. Bottom line is better trade tomorrow.
USDA ESTIMATED PORK CARCASS CUTOUT Based on FOB Omaha carlot pork prices and industry yields. Calculations for a 200 lb Pork Carcass 53-54% lean, 0.65"-0.80" backfat at last rib ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Today's Primal Cutout Values Date Loads Carcass Loin Butt Pic Rib Ham Belly ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/08 71.1 61.08 70.46 69.30 39.32 86.75 57.31 74.19 Change : -0.69 -2.04 1.25 -1.05 unc -0.41 -0.51 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
National Direct Hog Price Comparison -------------------------------------------------------------------------- : National : Iowa : Western : Eastern : : Minnesota : Cornbelt : Cornbelt -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Base Price is the price from which no discounts are subtracted and no premiums are added. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BARROWS & GILTS : .06 lwr : .13 lwr : .02 lwr : .17 lwr Negotiated : : : : CARCASS BASIS : 45.50-56.00 : 50.00-56.00 : 47.00-56.00 : 45.50-56.00 185 lb Base Hog : wtd avg : wtd avg : wtd avg : wtd avg Plant Delivered : 54.24 : 54.09 : 54.17 : 54.33 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head Count : 21,400 : 9,052 : 11,635 : 9,078 ==========================================================================
Hurley & Associates believes positions are unique to each person's risk bearing ability; marketing strategy; and crop conditions, therefore we give no blanket recommendations. The risk of loss in trading commodities can be substantial, therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. NFA Rules require us to advise you that past performance is not indicative of future results, and there is no guarantee that your trading experience will be similar to the past performance.


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What's the difference between protecting kids from negative media and sheltering them from the real world? Siblings Cherian George and Mary Cherian have found the answer in What's Up, an award-winning newspaper for students that would make life easier for teachers.
Never has it been so difficult to introduce children to the world we live in. As teachers, we are painfully aware that training students for the future also means helping them understand what's going on in the present. And as stories on sex scandals, suicide bombers and recession flood the headlines, one can't help but wonder how much we can really achieve in the classroom.
So what is the "right way" for young students to learn about current events? A good answer or resource would be What's Up, an award-winning newspaper which aims to report news in ways that are appropriate for young people. Founded by siblings Cherian George and Mary Cherian, What's Up advocates the idea that children can learn about what's happening in the world and still feel hopeful and optimistic about life. They do so through thought-provoking articles that's interesting and compelling for young people.
Sounds too good to be true? SingTeach talks to Mary about the tricky task of helping children deal with current events and how What's Up can help teachers go about it.
Q: Aside from getting students to read, how can current events help students learn about language?
A: When students are engaged in reading about current affairs, they absorb the nuances of language used to tell the stories. This provides us with opportunities as educators.
First, when we introduce and explain concepts that the stories illustrate, students learn not only these concepts but also how to use language to describe them. Take, for instance, the concept of "soft power". We've written about how countries use soft power effectively. Students may pick up the term itself as well as words and phrases that are used with it. It's not just a matter of growing vocabulary – the words and phrases bring with them an understanding of an alternative type of power that applies both at the global and personal levels.
Second, as a matter of policy, we try to be diversity-sensitive and inclusive in our language throughout What's Up and our websites. For example, we alternate male and female pronouns where appropriate; we say "wheelchair users" rather than "wheelchair-bound", and so on. Using diversity-sensitive language can also raise the student's awareness about what it means to be inclusive as a person.
Third, we sometimes carry news stories about languages. Recent examples include information about an endangered language in Siberia and a dying language in Canada. We hope this deepens students' appreciation of their own languages: the value of keeping them alive and well.
Q: How do we maintain the balance between values-driven journalism and "sheltering" kids from the real world?
A: When we say we practise value-driven journalism, we mean that our selection of stories and how they are written are driven by values about what's appropriate for children to read and what they need to know. We won't include stories or pictures merely because they are juicy or titillating, even if they're splashed across grown-up media.
Neither are we blind to the negative influences in advertisements. There are adult newspapers that carry the occasional educational article promoting healthy lifestyles and positive body image – but then accept an endless stream of ads for dubious diets and slimming centres, regardless of how they may hurt impressionable youth.
In that sense, we are indeed sheltering students – but only from what would be abusive to expose them to. Fortunately, the path we tread is well lit. There's ample international research that suggests that children and young teens can be traumatised even by second-hand exposure to violence just by, for instance, what they see on a screen. To grow into confident, resilient adults, children need to feel safe and secure in this world.
Do we have to worry about over-protecting them? Not really. The reality is that children and teens should be sheltered far more from some of the harsher realities of adult life than they are these days. Primary school children are not yet emotionally equipped to deal with much of it and that leaves them feeling fearful about growing up.
We must add that we don't exclude stories that are potentially the stuff of nightmares. If it's important for children to know what happened or if the story presents a teachable moment, we work hard to write it up in a child-sensitive way. For instance, we reported the violence in Sudan, the Bombay rail and London underground bombings, the Iraq war, the Virginia Tech shootings and child abductions for slave labour in China. So, in fact, we probably have more serious, "real world" news than any other children's medium. We refuse to condescend to children by confining them to fantasy and entertainment, but neither will we sidestep our responsibility to give them something positive to believe in.
One reader recently said to us, "We're the generation that has been taught to be afraid of the world!" As professionals who care about children and teens, our challenge is to reduce that fear and help instil a sense of hopefulness and trust that there is more goodness than evil in human beings.
Q: What are some of the ways teachers can use What's Up in the classroom?
A: Many of our partner schools use the paper as a supplementary reader for English language lessons, with some teachers developing their own comprehension questions for What's Up stories that they assign for students to read. It's also used for whole-level reading programmes.
We also offer activity ideas on our website, www.newsforkids.com.sg. IDEAS is a free teacher resource where teachers can download ready-to-print files of written exercises, project guidelines and other handouts. Every month, there are English, social studies, science, maths, CME (Civics and Moral Education) and NE (National Education) activities linked to What's Up stories. At times, there are also art, drama, music and even PE activities.
Mother Tongue teachers who teach CME can use What's Up along with the CME activities at IDEAS. The IDEAS handouts are in English but are easy to translate. Every month, there is also a PowerPoint presentation that teachers can download and use in the classroom. Typically, it facilitates a whole-class discussion of a What's Up story.
What's Up is also a way to encourage students to write. Most often, it's for the Letters page. We deliberately set the hurdle low to let as many students as possible see their names in print. Those who have the interest and a flair for writing can contribute longer articles. Although What's Up is meant to be a newspaper for children and not by children, we've had some marvellous student contributors over the years. We should add that, in all these cases, they didn't need their teachers to intercede: the students took the initiative to approach us of their own accord.
Q: What advice can you give teachers who feel unprepared to answer children's questions on sensitive issues such as terrorism, racism and genocide?
A: As adults, how do we answer even our own questions about such horrors? Terrorism, racism, genocide and other human atrocities have been around for centuries but how do we explain our inability to stem their intrusion into the 21st century? Teachers who believe in giving honest answers should let students know that there are many questions that adults struggle with as well.
There are some assurances we can give students: that for all the bad news that they hear, the majority of countries enjoy peace and the vast majority of people are good to each other. There is also comfort in knowing that there are attempts at practising justice, ranging from war crime tribunals at the international level to zero tolerance policies against aggression at school.
One of the most pressing questions that students tend to have is how they can protect themselves. That's an opportunity to reiterate the importance of taking Total Defence strategies very seriously. As a nation, we've resolved to take care of each other. Having tangible tasks to do in preparation can actually reduce children's anxiety considerably.
Beyond that, teachers can enable themselves to answer even the most difficult questions by turning to each other and to experts: like-minded professional peers and mentors at school, NIE faculty with the relevant expertise, publications such as SingTeach and other valuable resources.
> Click here to learn more about What's Up.
> Download a full version of the interview here.


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Drunk Driving and the Inconvenience of License Suspension
Driving under the influence of alcohol can result into license suspensions. What determines driving under the influence and license suspension lengths depend on the jurisdiction. Typically, there is a legal blood alcohol content limit. Reaching or exceeding this limit means that you are already driving while intoxicated. The limit is usually at around 0.08% for adults and 0.04% for drivers below twenty-one years old.
In South Carolina, license suspension can reach up to six months for first time offenders. Those who commit the offense consecutively can have their licenses suspended for up to four years. On the worst cases, like when the offense is considered a felony, license suspension can even be permanent.
Lack of Mobility
If you got your license suspended, you don't have the right to drive, so you will need to think of other ways to get around. You can use other modes of transportation, such as trains, buses, and ridesharing services like Uber.
But this can also be inconvenient. Walking to stations can be physically demanding. Commuting puts you at risk of getting mugged. Falling in line, stopping on stations, and other delays can eat a significant amount of time.
Compromised Responsibility
Since taking public transport can be a hassle, you may arrive at your destination stressed. This can affect your level of productivity, especially in school or at the office.
Without the proper mobility that private cars can give you, it may also be a hassle to commit to your family and household responsibilities. If you don't have the privilege of driving, you will not be able to take your kids out conveniently or go grocery shopping with ease.
Compromised Relationships
Because of the possible inconveniences of other modes of transport, you may also be too tired when you arrive at home. You will have the tendency to choose resting over spending time with your loved ones. Worse, you may even be more irritable because of stress, creating more problems in the family. If you cannot accomplish your responsibilities, such as taking the kids to school or picking up dinner ingredients in the grocery store, family problems may even go into new heights.
What You Can Do
Getting arrested of drunk driving has other penalties, such as fines and jail times. When these penalties combine, they may redirect your entire life. According to the website of these Cayce DUI Lawyers, drunk driving charges can be defended. It is good to know that the law acknowledges that charges may result into undeserved consequences, especially because these consequences are life-changing.
The best thing to do is to avoid driving if you have even a pinch of alcohol in your system. Let someone else drive, or at least this time, try to tolerate the hassles of public transport.Read More »


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MINI vehicles are like no other on the market! They are fun to drive, reliable, compact, customizable and much more. You can also find the shape, size and colour that best defines you as a person. Indeed, great things come in small packages!
Well, there no need to remind you of how awesome driving a brand new MINI is. But did you know that driving a MINI Next is almost as good? Follow us as we explain what a MINI Next is and all its benefits!
MINI Next Certified
MINI Next cars are our quality certified pre-owned MINI cars. And really, they are the next best thing to buying a brand new MINI car. Our MINI Next cars are carefully inspected by our factory-trained mechanics who make sure they are of the highest quality. This inspection is a thorough mechanical inspection that examines all the major mechanical components of the car. Furthermore, all of our MINI Next vehicles are also verified with a CarProof vehicle history report to make sure we are getting the best vehicles for you. Once the most crucial components have been inspected and fixed, the car is then cleaned from the inside out and any parts that need replacement are replaced. And your MINI Next car is ready to go!
MINI Next Benefits
Because our MINI Next cars are almost new, they also come with a lot of benefits. If you buy a MINI Next certified car and do not like if for some reason, there is no need to worry, you can exchange it within 3 days or before 300 km. Because after all, our main goal is making sure our customers are happy and satisfied with their vehicles. When you purchase a MINI Next car, you are also eligible for our 24-hour roadside assistance service to give you peace of mind. And that's not all, you are also eligible to our MINI Protection Plan that covers you for up to 4 years (with unlimited km) in addition to the 4 year/80,000 km manufacturer's warranty. Our MINI Next vehicles are reliable and also affordable, we have a huge selection of these certified pre-owned vehicles at MINI Edmonton, we also have a special inventory under $20,0000. Come to MINI Edmonton to discover your MINI Next!!


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I need to tidy this place up.
My blog is crappy looking. My daughter routinely hands me drawings that are aesthetically more pleasing than my blog's layout and colors. She is five. I am considerably older than five, so this will not do.
Choosing another template has only served to mess things up further. What was looking great over there now looks cramped because I pushed it over here. Et cetera. This is not a place I want to come to and frolic.
Clicking on a random graphic artist's website and plunking down some cash makes me nervous. I suppose I could start with an Etsy person and go from there - trusted marketplace and all.
At any rate, stay tuned. A happier face is coming round these parts soon.


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The Story of My Professional Work History
Anyone has the right to make a cooking website but few have earned it. For all you upstart line cooks or bored housewives with some cooking skills move over cause I got something to say. You can call me Good Dad Bad Man but my name is Garinn Lukela Morton a 53 year old accomplished Chef doing a kitchen sentence of 40 years to life. My career in the restaurant industry began in February of 1976. The first real restaurant job was at a little establishment called Eddie's Galley Cafe located in Newport Beach, California. It would be my primary employment for the next 17 years. I can still remember my first day of work smelling and tasting some of the best cafe food anywhere. I was hooked more then that I was addicted at first bite. In 1980 at the age of 17 I started a part time job as a Broiler Cook at a small upscale dinner house called La Cave. It was my first experience working with a true Executive Chef, Bob Jones. Chef Jones broadened my understanding of the culinary arts for over a decade his training and style defined my thinking. I still use the techniques I learned at La Cave in developing my menus. The years I worked at the Galley and La Cave has strongly influenced much of the decision making throughout my career. I was 29 years old when my daughter Alex was born in November 1992 and my life was changing dramatically for obvious reasons. Time had come for me to transition from line employee to management after all the most beautiful child in the world had just been born and I was her Dad. It was in February of 1993 I was fortunate to be a member of the Cheesecake Factory's opening team at its new Fashion Island, Newport Beach location. Looking at the menu for the first time blew my mind. I really mean blown away wow! The menu was enormous unlike anything I had ever worked with to that point. The Cheesecake Factory had plans to go public on the success of there opening in Newport Beach so the pressure was on. Chef Bob Okura the Executive Chef for the entire company setup residence near the new location and soon became a great teacher. Chef Okura was there almost everyday that first year and I benefited from that exposure greatly. It was his vision that has had the biggest influence on my direction with menu development and product management for the past 20 plus years.
Eddie's Galley Cafe March 1976 to December 1992
Originally owned and operated by Eddie and Myrtle Flach the Galley Cafe has been in operation since the 1940's. Serving one of the best breakfasts in Orange County the restaurant was a popular destination for many a celebrity. I cooked for the likes of John Wayne, Rafer Johnson, Reggie Jackson and Stevie Nicks to name a few. With only seven tables and a small ten seat counter getting a seat on the weekends was always going to be an hour wait at the minimum. Regardless of your status or fame you were going to have to wait your turn like everyone else Myrtle made sure of that. Myrtle was there every morning at 6am to open and was there every night at 8:30pm to close. Her stamina was incredible and she worked hard well into her 70's. She was an incredible women one who has left a life long impression on me we were almost like family. That can happen being young and working with someone for 17 years. In 1982 a young new employee by the name of Kandi Wilks joined our Eddie's Galley Cafe team. She was 17 years old at the time and pushed into working by her parents to keep her out of trouble. Little did they know what trouble she would get into with me. That high school senior later became the mother of my two children. We even were married in 1991 on the grounds of the marina and cafe on a little grassy knoll known as Myrtle Park. I'm lucky to this day my mother in law remains a big fan of mine must be because of those Alpha Grandchildren.
La Cave June 1980 to March 1993
Originally owned and operated by William and Carol Boyer, La Cave has been in operation since the early 1960's. Attracting a who's who of the rich and connected in Newport Beach and Orange County. I was thrust on center stage at age 17. The cooking was all done on the dining room floor in full view of the customers. Known for its high quality steaks and seafood the restaurant is a throw back to another era. Located underground the thirteen tables and booths as well as the unique decor gave La Cave an old school Italian gangster or Frank Sinatra Rat Pack vibe. The Boyer's youngest son, Billy, was a high school classmate of mine. Over the more than a decade of work at the steakhouse I became close to Carol after the death of her husband Bill. There were many nights Carol and I would drink wine at the bar after closing and just talk about life. I really looked forward to those nights especially after the birth of my daughter. Carol was a special person who was never shy in lending a helping hand in my life when she could. Leaning from Chef Bob Jones and relating to Carol Boyer made me a better cook and person. La Cave has always held a special place in my dinning heart. It remains my go to place to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions.
Cheesecake Factory January 1993 to February 1995
My first interview for the Cheesecake Factory line cook position I was applying for was conducted by none other then Chef Bob Okura. Those of you which I suspect is almost everyone reading this have no idea who Chef Okura is but I did and it was literally a poop meet pants moment. This was before the advent of reality cooking shows and celebrity chefs. At the time the Cheesecake Factory was rewriting the restaurant business rules and at the center of that was Chef Bob Okura. A culinary creative legend sitting across from me and surprisingly it was the Chef who was really excited to talk to me. You see he wanted to join the Orange Empire Chefs Association and wanted to know if I could assist him. What? How could I be of assistance? Well it just so happened that Chef Bob Jones from La Cave was a prominent member of the Association at the time. What luck and the rest was history. Chef Okura joined the Chefs Association and I was a line cook at the new Fashion Island location as well as an early member of his menu development team. After two years of an opportunity to learn the restaurant business at a level I couldn't imagine before 1993 it was time for me to take a chance. I left the Cheesecake Factory in 1995 for an opportunity to manage a kitchen at the Sports Club Irvine. That decision would lead to my first Executive Chef position in August of the same year. It was a huge leap but one I was surprisingly well suited for.
President Casino Inc. June 1995 to December 1999
The President Casino Broadwater Resort was located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the beautiful coastal city of Biloxi. A thriving casino town in the 1990's to present. The President Casino was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina when it came ashore along the Gulf Coast with a 25 foot plus high storm surge. My journey from Southern California to Biloxi was a surprise opportunity I couldn't pass up. Originally hired as the Executive Sous Chef (Kitchen Manager) in June of 1995 I quickly was promoted to Executive Chef in August of 1995. Rising to the position of Food & Beverage Director in December of 1996. I often joke my five years with President Casino Inc. was the longest twenty years of my life. In reality the experience of running the food & beverage department of a floating casino operation, two hotel properties with a total of 450 rooms, a championship golf course and marina restaurant on a property located right on the white sandy coast was a right man at the right time moment. I found out quickly not only could I handle an operation of this size but that I was really good at it. Selected year after year as the Best Casino Buffet by the residence of Biloxi was one of many honors bestowed on me and my staff. The biggest joy of my time in Mississippi was the birth of my son and name sake. Garinn Lukela Morton II, known to his friends as Luke.
Boardwalk Cafe December 2001 to May 2005
Owned and operated by Bryan Leighton. My time at the Boardwalk showed I still had it. Located in the old downtown area of Santa Ana, California directly across from the Federal Court building the Boardwalk Cafe was in the heart of the newly revitalized Art District and one of several restaurants opening at night bringing live music and dinner to an area primarily open for business 9 to 5. Tasked with creating a night life vibe to a lunch cafe style restaurant was no easy goal but it was the goal. Drawing from my time on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and my many trips into the French Quarter of New Orleans we developed a Tuesday Night in the French Quarter feel to the eatery. A steak & seafood menu based on my La Cave experience and heavy on appetizers based on my Cheesecake Factory days we put together a cool little menu. A classic full bar featuring an old school martini selection was a nice touch. Adding Blues and Jazz live entertainment to the mix was a no brainer. The result was a great throw back Blues & Jazz Supper Club. Although relatively unknown for the first two years of its operation in 2004 the restaurant earned the title of Best Undiscovered Gem in Orange County selected by the OC Register. It was the high point of my time at the Boardwalk but soon another fantastic opportunity would be coming my way.
Larry Flint's Hustler Casino June 2005 to July 2011
Owned by Larry Flint the Hustler Casino was a dream come true. Not only is Hustler Casino my favorite poker casino in the center of the poker universe known as Los Angeles. But Mr. Flint has always been one of my heroes. Originally hired as Executive Sous Chef I was quickly promoted to Food & Beverage Operations Manager. By 2007 my position included the duel roles of Executive Chef and Front of the House Manager. Working directly with a true F&B talent, Ron Parker who is now a Vice President of the casino operation we were off to the races. Hands down the best casino operation in L.A. I credit Ron's talented management style along with my kitchen experience with developing and promoting an image Mr. Flynt could be proud of. I would love to tell you that my job consisted of hanging out with porn stars and rubbing elbows with the likes of Woody Harrelson but it was only a very small part. The real business of running an operation open 24 hours a day 365 days a year is a little more complex then that. Mr. and Mrs. Flynt expected the best so day in and day out our goal was clear. With a menu of over 150 items on it that would be revised three to four times a year the challenge was great and the bar always remained high. Working 10 to 16 hour days sometimes 30 or 40 days in a row was amazingly not that uncommon. So all you would be Chefs out there thinking its a glamorous position I got one thing to say to you. It was! I will always look back with appreciation for my time working at the Hustler Casino.
TK Burgers at The 29 Cafe July 2011 to August 2014
Owned and operated by Jim Kalatchin TK Burger's reputation in Orange County is well known. "TK" stands for "The Kind" beach slang meaning anything that is the best. Their two prime locations at the Huntington Beach Pier and Newport Beach Pier have been local favorites for decades. Seven restaurants on and around the So Cal coast and a thriving catering business TK's was booming. In 2011 they had their eyes on an eighth location in the heart of student housing at the University of Southern California across the street from Fraternity Row. They only needed a General Manager. Now this wasn't a chance job opportunity Jim Kalatchin and I were class mates at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach. Another long time friend Steve Palmer, TK General Manager at their Costa Mesa location (also a graduate of NHHS) recruited me to take the position. My six years at the Hustler Casino were awesome but something about working with friends in a youth oriented environment was definitely appealing. The restaurant's location made it's theme abundantly clear. We were a USC Trojan student bar and grill nothing else. Opening day was Saturday September 3, 2011 USC football team's home game day so we rocked it straight out of the gate. The cafe itself was built into a Victorian style two story home part of the historical University Park area of Los Angeles. It was fun all the time. A sports bar oriented cafe in the heart of USC. Fight On!
Good Dad Bad Man February 2016 to Present
Owned and operated by Garinn Lukela Morton and Associates. Good Dad Bad Man is a life time of food fusion and fun. Southern California Country Cooking with a strong Pacific Rim/Hawaiian influence. The roots of Good Dad Bad Man reach back to the 1970's. Where a bunch of teenagers spent their days at the beach and their nights playing Real Beer Pong and firing up the BBQ. We were the last of an old breed at a young age and we didn't know it. Our brothers from south of the border would soon be filling the ranks of kitchens throughout California. But none of that mattered the 1980's and 1990's my culinary foundation was being laid. School was in and I was learning every aspect of the restaurant business from the ground up. Along the way there were other opportunities that offered more security and income but I loved cooking. For me there was no turning back. I envy the youth of today not for their youth but their attitude. A real, "We can conquer the world" sense of the future. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by a youth movement in our family that makes it hard even for a semi old man to ignore the future is out there. Just grab it and don't let go. So with a little luck and decades of experience this site is dedicated to the idea that no good idea is old and no old idea is past its prime. Mahalo brothers we are going for a crazy ride into the future. Feeding your family Good Dad Bad Man style.


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Meet Girlzilla. The towering, colourful construct is a robot, fabricated by a group of enterprising youngsters in New York City as part of an effort to get more tech and tools into the hands of girls.
All the girls who helped build Girlzilla are members of the Lower East Side Girls Club, which was founded in 1996 as a place where girls from low-income families could learn entrepreneurial skills and more recently take part in activities that are grounded firmly in science, engineering and technology.
Girlzilla was one such activity which the girls (11 in all) spent the summer building for today's Howl! arts festival. And build they did, implementing all manner of serious tools, including pipe benders, metal cutters and a number of electronics - like the mounted video camera and projector that's designed to display images from the surrounding crowd. [NYT]


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|low graphics version | feedback | help
|You are in: Sport: Football: FA Cup
Saturday, 8 January, 2000, 17:26 GMT
Coventry slay giantkillers
Coventry 3-0 Burnley
Coventry's Youssef Chippo scored twice to dump Second Division Burnley out of the FA Cup.
It took the Morrocan just 11 minutes to put the Premiership side ahead as they made short work of getting into the fifth round.
Noel Whelan completed the demolition with a third goal on 74 minutes.
The match was barely underway when a deft one-two with Gary McAllister gave Chippo space enough to drill an outrageous 30-yard drive past keeper Paul Crichton.
The northerners never looked like repeating their giant killing exploits against Derby as Robbie Keane and Cedric Roussel went close in the opening minutes.
Burnley got into the game on 28 minutes when John Mullin fired in a shot from outside the area only to be denied by Magnus Hedman in the Coventry goal.
But the Midlanders were always dominant and their other Moroccan star, Hadji, went narrowly off target just before the interval.
Chippo troubled Crichton via another blistering 25-yard drive two minutes after the restart, then his compatriot drilled one against the post and Steve Davis had to step in to head a Roussel shot off the line.
The pressure was too much for Burnley, who conceded their second goal after a brief, but lively fightback.
On 70 minutes, Paul Telfer fed Chippo, who sent in a sharply angled, curling shot that beat the keeper at his far post, edging in at the top corner.
Whelan finished the rout minutes after he was brought on to replace Roussel, with a bullet of a drive from 12 yards.
Coventry: Hedman, Telfer, Williams, Breen, Froggatt, Chippo, Palmer, McAllister, Hadji, Roussel, Keane. Subs: Ogrizovic, Whelan, Normann, Eustace, Gustafsson.
Burnley: Crichton, West, Thomas, Davis, Armstrong, Mullin, Mellon, Cook, Little, Cooke, Payton. Subs: Johnrose, Jepson, Branch, Smith, Weller.
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)
Links to other FA Cup stories are at the foot of the page.
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Sheldon Braaten, Ph.D. AUTHOR
Susan Albrecht, Ed.D.
Lynn Wilder, Ed.D.
Kathi Wilhite, Ed.D.
Graduate credit toward EBD licensure and continuing education clock hours are available.
The workshop can be customized based on experience level, particular needs and available workshop time. For more information on developing a custom workshop, please contact us.
|Interest Area
|Expertise Level
|Age Level
Children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders present particularly complex management and discipline issues. Unfortunately, the current focus is often on how to suppress or manage the many diverse problems these youth present, while little attention is given to contributing factors, or to the developmentally insensitive manner in which they are treated in schools and elsewhere. This workshop will provide instruction on how to use the Behavioral Objective Sequence, a practical and critical tool for integrating functional assessment into a model for determining students' level of social development, and for preparing intervention plans that are effective and developmentally appropriate.
Participants will learn:
|Stage 1: Awareness
1-2 hour
|Stage 2: Application
|1/2-full day
|Stage 3: Independence
|1-2 days
|Please contact us
|May 3
|9:00 am - 4:00 pm
|BICA - Little Canada, MN
call (651) 484-5510
Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents © 2019 All Rights Reserved.


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Sport at the College
Presently, the College is quickly fostering a genuine House spirit amongst the student body. There are four Houses within the College: Burton, Browning, Hill and Roxburgh all named in honour of some of the significant individuals who helped to develop the College from its' humble beginnings.
The College sporting calendar is punctuated by the swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals, all major House competitions. The College is part of the South Coast Anglican Sporting Association and has consistently taken part in the team sports competitions including football, SASSA touch football, surfing and netball.
To further develop the College's participation in all of these events, a new sports program has been designed to fully prepare our representative teams whilst giving all students an opportunity to develop individual and team ties with their respective Houses. The sports program also provides opportunity to choose and select a wide range of leisure activities such as surfing, gymnastics and tennis to nurture the overall enjoyment of physical activity and fitness.
The College has already proven to be a terrific breeding ground for some of the top sportspeople within the Eurobodalla region and all indicators suggest that there are many individuals ready to write the next chapter in the school's youthful, but proud sporting history.


text: Throw a big party to present your star product. Close the event in the Expo, inviting your best clients to a very special evening. Invite your suppliers or foreign clients on a journey into the heart of Mexico. Make you Christmas dinner unique. How about organizing the big event aboard a vintage train? Everyone will love it. And how about a show in a striking forum followed by a cocktail reception or banquet? Dream about the event that will be the highlight of the season.


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Price on requeist
15 new apartments in La Clusaz for sale
La Clusaz, overlooking the village, complete renovation of an old apparthotel residency offering from one of the most beautiful view on the village and the mountains. 15 apartments between 53 m² and 133 m², all well oriented and delivered new. The property develpment is located at 50 m from the waterpark of La Clusaz, 200 m from the shops and the new balneotherapy and 450 m from the "Bossonnet" télémix for the departure of the slopes. Delivery from February 2018. Complete file on request.
Explore others Apartment For sale : LA CLUSAZ
Any question?


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PRECIOUS METAL. MotoRelic's Beautiful 'Ruby' RD400 Cafe Racer
Good memories are prompted by many things, they intoxicate all the senses and nothing in the motorcycle world brings all five alive like a rampaging 2-stroke screamer. But it all means so much more when the heightening of the senses transports you back in time and the nostalgia leaves you overwhelmed…
STROKE OF LUCK. Enginethusiast's Trophy Winning Yamaha RD400 Racer
We've all done it. Scrolling through eBay or the classifieds and coming across a bike that was a project, 98% complete. The price seems great and hey, how hard could it be to finish that last 2%? Well Anthony Scott, photographer extraordinaire and man behind Enginethusiast found out that the maths doesn't always add up. At the time he'd never had a 2-stroke and was looking for a new build to take on. So when a Yamaha RD400 came up for sale that had been treated to the beginnings of an "extensive restoration" in his home city of Portland, Oregon he snapped it up. Turns out extensive has a different meaning to some people, but the end result is a trophy winning tarmac and track warrior that Anthony calls a "Stroke of Luck."
'Sake' Yamaha RD400 – Lucky Custom
If motorcycles have earned the reputation as "widow-makers" then two motorcycles in particular can lay claim to being the most lethal assassins. Both are '70s Japanese bikes from the golden age of two-strokes; the Kawasaki H2 750 is the Ivan Drago-style killer that will get right in your face and club you to death. But it's the Yamaha RD400 that takes on the true Assassin's creed, dispatching of its kill in a millisecond without the prey ever having seen what was coming. In Argentina, the land of bike builder extraordinaire and founder of Lucky Custom, Lucas Layum, the RD400 has been known since its birth as "la Mata Hombre", quite literally "the Man Killer". But such is the allure of the RD and its intoxicating two-stroke engine, that men will risk death to ride them and when they look this good it's easy to see why.
'77 Yamaha RD400 – MotoRelic
The Seventies might have seen the introduction of the four-stroke Japanese superbikes but for a young lad looking to emulate his race day heroes it was a decade built on two-stroke smoke. The Kawasaki's had brutal power and beautiful lines, the Suzuki's offered a level of durability not known to most smokers but it was Yamaha's RD range that offered the most charisma. Forget your heated grips, traction control and smooth fuel injection when you jump aboard an RD400 and get it up to speed it's a white knuckle, eyes on stalks experience and that's before you've even pinned the throttle. So when Sean Skinner of MotoRelic in Hamilton, Virginia, was approached by a friend to do a custom rebuild on his 1977 Yamaha RD400 he jumped at the opportunity. The end result is a screaming Yammy that looks better than any factory offering and delivers all of that two-stroke insanity in one hell of a beautiful package.
Yamaha RD400 – Atlanta Motorcycle Works
The Father and Son relationship may just be the biggest reason many young men find their way into the world of motorcycling. For Jared Morris and his Dad Bob that relationship extended even further and they shared this Yamaha RD400 not just as a bike to ride but as a bike they would slowly build together. The RD could be heard screaming through the neighbourhood as Jared tested out the latest changes and modifications they'd made before ripping it back apart and making it that little bit better. When Bob fell ill Jared continued the build but with the pressures of life there just wasn't the time to give the RD the attention it deserved. When Bob, a former Flat Track Racer, sadly passed away, Jared thought of the best way he knew to honour his Dad.
Yamaha RD400 TZ – The Moto Conspiracy
It's hard to deny that Yamaha made some exceptional motorcycles in the '70s. Two of those machines are arguably 'ride before you die' bikes; namely the insane RD two-strokes and the now legendary TZ racers of 'King' Kenny Roberts. So when Dallas bike builder Isiah Booth of The Moto Conspiracy was commissioned to build a raffle bike for the Tenth Annual Dallas Rockers vs Mods gathering, he decided there was no better way to honour these two legends of the '70s than to combine them into one hell of a machine. To get it done he found a 1977 RD400 and teamed up with Jason Small of Small Time Moto to build a very special race themed machine, nicknamed the 'Giant Killer.'
'76 Yamaha RD400 – Ellaspede
Motorcyclists have a place in their heart forever enamoured with the first bike they loved. It could be an oily Chinese pit bike, a reliable Japanese commuter or a ratty chook* chaser used for chores around a back paddock. But that first bike, no matter how unreliable, common or dangerous, that bike stays with you. For Sheldon, it was the gloriously volatile RD400. Riding around on the back of his fathers' RD in the late 70's gave him an itch that could only be scratched years later with a little help from Brisbane-based workshop Ellaspede.
Yamaha RD400 – CHOPPRD
Written by Jason Cormier. Jason is a freelance writer and accomplished shade-tree mechanic based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is the editor of Odd-Bike.com, a selection of odd, exotic, unusual, and rare motorcycles from around the world.
In a modest garage a few miles east of San Francisco, there is a man who builds motorcycles. This might not sound particularly exceptional, as there are men building bikes in many garages in many cities, and some of them are exceptional enough to get profiled on sites like this. Julian Farnam is a different sort of builder though, and he has built a different sort of bike. He is a consummate tinkerer, a man who puts together unique machines of his own design in his spare time. It's not his day job, but he is damn good at what he does – producing some of the most interesting and thoughtfully designed custom bikes you'll come across anywhere. The bike we are featuring today is one of Julian's odd creations, a raked and chopped Yamaha RD400 that applies one of Julian's favourite concepts – alternative front suspensions. More remarkable is that the CHOPPRD, as Julian has christened it, was built in his spare time over a 30 day period for a total budget that could not exceed $1000 – that includes the donor bike and all the parts and modifications that go with it.
1976 Yamaha RD400 – Kickstart Garage
What is it about small bikes? Most bikers will get the bug sooner or later. But just think about it for a moment. In no other area of transportation do you see this phenomena. Cars? With the notable exception of the Mini, you don't see your average boy racer pining over something with less cylinders and a fraction of the go of their current buzz boxes. And how often do you think your average fighter pilot lays awake at night thinking about that bitchin' ultra-light he wants to trade down to? Not to blummin' likely. But things seem a little different with bikes. There's an undeniable "thing" with the more delicate members of the species. They are small, light, chuckable and they let us feel a little like our favourite racing heroes with levels of horsepower that won't punish those of us with more enthusiastic right hands. No need to tell this to Craig Marleau from Millville, California. He's already there, and to prove it he's banged out this stonking little two-stroke Yamaha to prove a point. Um, Craig? Point taken, my man. Point taken.
Icon Snakecharmer
When it comes to creativity, Icon are the leaders of the pack. Not only in their helmet and bike designs, but also in their press releases and photography. This is how Icon's talented Design Director Kurt Walter describes their latest project – the 'dirty cafe racer':
She wanted me dead, that was clear. I could come up with no other reasoning for why she conducted herself in such a hostile manner. With her carbon cans barking like a tortured lap dog the Snakecharmer was hellbound on delivering pain. And not the kind of pain that you just walk off. No, she wanted to deliver the kind of pain that burns for weeks. Where every shower is a constant reminder of your failures. The kind of pain that forces you to sleep on your stomach eschewing blanket or even sheet. The type of pain that your wife not only doesn't care about, but actively mocks. And who could blame her?


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Academic Affairs
Welcome to the Office of Academic Affairs
As a growing and dynamic institution, academics are at the heart of who we are and what we do. The Office of Academic Affairs is dedicated to carrying out the academic mission of the university by administering an outstanding array of undergraduate and graduate programs and fostering the success of our faculty and students.
The campus' rich academic portfolio includes 80 undergraduate degrees, 50 graduate and professional schools and over 20 online bachelor's and graduate degrees. The Office of Academic Affairs continues to support integrating community engagement initiatives into our rich academic curriculum in keeping with SHSU's motto 'The Measure of a Life is its Service.'
Program Spotlight
Academic Community Engagement (ACE)
ACE courses provide students with transformative learning experiences by applying course concepts in partnerships with the community. Learn More About ACE
ACE Gazettes highlight success stories from ACE courses in which students engaged in meaningful ways to make life better in their communities. This issue highlights efforts by Professor Jeffrey Wozniak, along with ACE facilitator David Yebra, guiding students in an Honors Seminar ACE course in creating an interactive hurricane awareness website on the KatSafe Emergency Response System.