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Pachios Hymn for the Resurrection - Incorrect.
May 2015
Hymns Discussion
Dear Mina,
Can you, or anyone else, check this hymn's lyrics with what is actually being sung?
Go to major feasts --> LA Deacons --> Pachoise.
Listen to what they sing. Their ending is not "Eko-wab, Eko-Wab, Eko-Wap,... Echoise ennie-eoun, Khristos Anesti Eknekron".
They continue without even saying Christ has risen in it.
I prefer the lyrics you've written. This is odd, because I think I have a recording of them where they actually follow the lyrics.
Thanks for updating the lyrics or asking our friends from LA Diocese to redo this recording.
May 2015
The ending in the recording is the actual correct one known as the praise of the angels. The text you refer to is originally an ending of one of the Asapasmos Adam for the Resurrection Feast. The verse was changed by Muallim Ibrahim Ayad and there is no other mainstream source in existence. You will also note that the Choir of Muallim Mikhail Girgis Al Batanouny on MESat recorded it with its original ending and not followed modern practice.
May 2015
Nothing to do with Muallem Ibrahim. Already doing what was common practice. The Kiahk Pachois also has ekowab so it isn't wrong to have something other than Glory to God... Albeir has his chorus record it both ways and says that they're both acceptable.
May 2015
edited May 2015
It was changed officially in the Cathedral liturgies by Muallim Ibrahim and he even spoke to Nahdet El Kanaes and requested that they changed it in the book as they use it in the Clerical college and this did not happen for a long time. I don't see how you can say it was "common practice" when it wasn't. If you look in Albeir's book he writes both but clearly states this is modern practice and this is the original write. Fr Athanasious El Muharraqi states in his research which he submitted to the modern HICS choir that the paralex traditionally always ended with the praise of the angels And that the verse was not just for the Nativity.
In regards to the paralex for Kiahk it is not written in either of the main Service books be that Nahdet El Kanaes or Muallim Farag and the oldest recording in existence is HICS which is a solo by Fr Mettias Nasr.
May 2015
What i mean by common practice is that:
1) M. Faheem and Dr. Youssef Mansour in the Cathedral used to do it before him in the liturgies with Pope Kyrillos.
2) Taking verses from different hymns and applying them elsewhere is common in everything in our ritual services.
May 2015
In regards to point 1 I would love to hear evidence as I have heard Resurrection liturgies of this period with the said Archdeacons and the last verse was never changed. I can also say that if this was truly what Archdeacon Fahim taught it would be a lot more common practice but it wasn't and isn't.
Point 2 that you make is a very genreal statement and not proof in itself.
May 2015
1) In the process of looking through the files i have. Your point, however, isn't necessarily true. Many things that M Faheem taught have not become common practice. A few examples include, theotokia kiahky, fai etafenf during priest funerals, and a bunch more. Again oral tradition and the handing down of the spirit of the hymns isn't something you can just document.
2) It is a general statement but it is proof that these things were never standard. There are tons of hymns and verses that are taken from each other. Praxis responses made from doxologies and vice versa. Aspazmoses taken from both of the latter. It is okay to have different practices from different areas.
May 2015
I fully appreciate the power of oral tradition, however I also know a lot of what Archdeacon Fahim taught via cantors of the Cathedral that learnt from him such as Satir Mikhail and Osama Fawzy. If he taught this then at least he would have practiced this in his own church.
I also agree with your point two to an extent but again relating this to the topic of the thread this generalisation in itself does not support the change of the last verse of the Resurrection paralex.
May 2015
I can't believe that its common information that you all seem to know which mo3allim ordered which changes to these hymns. That's just unbelievable.
Is there ANYTHING wrong if I just stick to the lyrics as displayed on this website:
i.e. end it with: Ekhristos Anesti Eknekron.
May 2015
Let's say for now the two endings exist although the HICS choir recorded the normal ending and the letter from Archdeacon Roushdy Wassef administrator of the clerical college states that their recordings are the official source of hymns for the coptic church.
In my view for unification of hymns to happen there will need to be a lot of prayer, willing subjectiveness and humbleness that what happens currently may not necessarily be what is right.
May 2015
Glad you mentioned his church to see what they do: Check this video out!
Completely different. Also i have a recording of muallem Faheem extending the ending of nictratia as well.
In regards to Archdeacon Roushdy, he has no authority to claim what the source of the church is for anything. On top of that all their discussion is about pronunciation not the hymns. HICS is not a standalone source because they have not recorded everything to begin with. Thats along with many other reasons.
May 2015
Any cantor that you speak to now will tell you that HICS is not a complete source, nor was it even always accurate.
In regards to Pachois for Kiahk, M Gad records that as well.
May 2015
edited May 2015
I know M.Gad has recorded the paralex for Kiahk but he is not the original source. When I spoke to him about 2 months ago and M.Reda as a 3 way conversation they both agreed that since forming the Choir of Muallim Mikhail they have changed a lot of hymns from the way they were originally taught to old sources that they had found and this is evident via the choir recordings.
This choir is the modern HICS choir so I'm not just referring to the old recordings of Dr Ragheb Moftah. Archdeacon Roushdy is the head administratior of the clerical college so he has every right to confirm the sources to be used. This is what he is employed to do so nothing go do with any of us.
May 2015
I have just watched the video and while very interesting and different it still does not back up your claim that Archdeacon Fahim changed the last verse. The old Cathedral has always been quite different from other churches in Cairo mainly because while Fahim was alive nothing he said was questioned. I believe this will change in due course as Cantors in Cairo are working hard on unification and Cantor Elia from the Cathedral has now joined the HICS choir since the Resurrection recordings and stands on the left of M.Gad.
May 2015
Drew we need to clarify and point out a few things.
1) Not everything thats recorded is accurate, not everything thats recorded is the only way, not everything that was recorded is exclusive.
2) the hymns can be anywhere from entire churchwide tradition to local church tradition. Different practices are acceptable within theologically correct parameters.
The point of me showing the video to you was to highlight that even the church which M. Faheem served in says it completely different than what we say. Since you claimed the cantors of that church are his disciples and you'd like to see the oral tradition, i put that video up. The idea that I'm trying to point out is that these differences are not dramatic and they are acceptable. M. Faheem was one of the most talented cantors of his time and he is a major source in the hymnology of the church. He was eloquent in Greek, was musically talented, played the lute, and studied under and with Cantor Mikhail, Dr. Youssef Mansour, and many other greats in the church. Drew, you are focused on only one school of thought and trying anything you can to say that the other school of thought is wrong. That doesn't make sense to me. This isn't a matter of questioning a person and making sure everyone stays on track. This becomes personal preference.
HICS is not completely accurate either. Just because they take from Mikhail and Farag doesn't make them 100 percent accurate. There are mistakes in both of their recordings. The idea is to take the common things from them all. It is to find the best sounding and musically acceptable groups of hazzat and use them. M. Tawfik spoke in several interviews about this. This isn't about being stingy. Its about being logical and viable.
Things can be said in more than one way. Things can be changed so long as they continue to make sense. The rites and hymns are there for our benefit not vice versa.
In regards to Archdeacon Roushdy: Archdeacon Roushdy does not know all the hymns of the church, is not a cantor, and is not a scholar in the hymns of the church. He was not handed anything down by any old cantors, nor did he study hymnology in the institutes of egypt. Since he is not a professional in the field he shouldn't have any right to claim sources, make decisions, or claim authority over anything. Writing up a paper and signing it doesn't make anything official. As a matter of fact, he signed the paper that the synod committee wrote and he's not even part of that committee. So please do not use him as a source when it comes to anything with hymnology. His sole purpose of the things he's doing is to shut down M. Ibrahim. Its evident and obvious.
May 2015
Ekhrestos anesty
, (and to some extent
There is no such a thing as borrowing verses from different hymns. The verses you are talking about are just verses that happen to be set to different tunes, because they have important spiritual and theological significance. We cannot say that "shara na Maria" is borrowed from Acts response, or seventh part of Sunday taodokeya, or vice versa. But the repetition of those verses in different times of the day, month, or year, serves as educating and strengthening some concepts which have to be deeply rooted in Coptic Orthodox Christians (also for saints, etc). However, the practice of tagging on a doxology verse onto for instance the Gospel response, particularly in feasts, is I believe an invention that the cathedral chorus started because of the large number of people who greet the pope during such events. Nothing more, nothing less. Other verses are original and genuine and not "borrowed". And by the way if we want to add a verse for a particular saint as an Acts response, we find their respective verse
(or a construct for)
in verses of cymbals, because they are both Adam - aspasmos watos in their respective doxology.
Oujai khan ebshois
June 2015
Musically speaking the Acts response is not really "Adam". Adam refers to both the day and the music. Adam hymns have 5 notes per line while Batos has 8+ notes per line. You will notice that the verses taken from the Adam Theotokia, like Shere ne Maria, require extra hazzats when it is said for the Acts respond (ex, extra hazzat for tichrompi, emevnouti). But traditional "Batos" texts found in Batos doxologies, fit much better in the Acts response, like St Mark's Shere nak o pimartyros. If you tried to use a traditional "Adam" text for St Mark, for example "Shere penwit Markos pievangelistis, pirefgor evol ente niidolon" for the Acts response, you will have to add hazzat to fit the tune to the text.
Regarding the Cymbals verses, I think it is meant to be Adam musically but the texts are predominately Batos. Thus there are many Cymbals verses that require us to cram lots of words and syllables into a line. Again, St Mark's verse, Shere nak o pimartyros, comes to mind. We cram/speed up the first line to fit all those words into the the tune (which I think is supposed to be Adam).
Regarding Gospel responses, you are right that it is a new convention. But all Gospel responses are musically "Batos". And there was a time when every liturgy had a different response (and multiple verses) for the Gospel responses as we see in "Tartyb al baea" So there is some precedence for multiple verses used in the Gospel response.
June 2015
Please don't misunderstand what I will say, but while I very much respect your deductions, they are not any thing more. Acts response is Adam. To fit the watos verses of the martyrs and St. Mark is wrong, but has become unfortunately common practice. The very same happened with verses of cymbals. It doesn't matter if you can fit more syllables, construct or cram in more hazzat, by definition those two are Adam.
Oujai khan ebshois
June 2015
Is there ANYTHING wrong if I stick the to the lyrics given in the text on the Media page for this hymn?? Would that be OK??
This is SO annoying that we don't just follow one Hymn book!! eh da!
June 2015
Zoxsasi, say whatever your church deacons say. It's really that simple.
June 2015
I'm the only deacon in my Church!!
June 2015
In my opinion, it is always best to say the lyrics the congregation has access too. If the hymn is not theologically wrong, or just plainly wrong, it's not wrong to say a hymn with outdated lyrics. In the long run, it can be your responsibility to move on to the newly agreed upon lyrics by also making sure the congregation has access to that update. God bless your service.
June 2015
Hi Share the Lord,
I was listening to the LA Deacons. I love their voices and was practicing Pachoise so I could sing it in Church. I am the Church's Moa3lim, deacon and subdeacon, and aghnostos. I am the everything and nothing at the same time.
So I come on Tasbeha.org to look at the lyrics and I find that people are telling me that these are outdated lyrics... Gosh! As if there's an expiry date on these hymns or something. This is all so new to me. I'm not used to this sort of behaviour.
If I did not sing Pachoise, I can tell you that the entire liturgy would pass as if it was a normal Sunday. You wouldn't know that you are in the Resurrection/Joyful period.
OK - back to business: tell me this: the updated lyrics - does anyone have them?? can you share them with me please?
June 2015
Its fine to say whichever. Say what you are more comfortable with.
June 2015
Thanks DG. I think the lyrics on this website are the easiest.
If I go freestyling, I'll mess up. Its best to keep it short and sweet.
Having said that, just for the record, can anyone share me the lyrics that the LA Deacons use?? I'd really appreciate that.
June 2015
The fifties are over... I hope you remember this for next year
June 2015
HAHA. This is where bilingualism gets interesting. I thought you meant the 1950's, not the 50 days of Pentecost. Or maybe you did mean the 1950's. In which case, I don't get your point.
June 2015
Well, I still like to sing these hymns outside of the Holy Fifties; therefore, can I still have the updated lyrics.
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text:
AES New York 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2:30 pm — 4:00 pm (Room 1E15/16)
Grammy SoundTable: What Would Ramone Do?
Co-moderators:BJ Ramone
Elliot Scheiner
Jim Boyer
Peter Chaikin, JBL Professional - Northridge, CA, USA
Jill Dell'Abate
Mark Ethier
Frank Filipetti, the living room - West Nyack, NY, USA; METAlliance
Jimmy Jam, Flyte Tyme Productions
Leslie Ann Jones, Skywalker Sound - San Rafael, CA, USA
Bob Ludwig, Gateway Mastering Studios, Inc. - Portland, ME, USA
Rob Mathes
Al Schmitt, Los Angeles, CA, USA
What Would Ramone Do?
This educational and inspirational career retrospective will delve into the music, creativity, and vision of legendary 14-time GRAMMY Award winning producer/engineer/technologist Phil Ramone. From Marilyn Monroe's performance/rendition of "Happy Birthday" for JFK, Getz/Gilberto's "Girl From Ipanema," Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are," Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," Frank Sinatra's Duets album, and live concerts in Italy with Luciano Pavarotti, to overseeing groundbreaking sound evolutions for the GRAMMY Awards Telecast, Phil Ramone's career spanned more than 50 years of artistic and technical innovation. For this retrospective, we'll go behind the scenes with colleagues, footage, and friends for an analysis of the wisdom and knowledge behind his achievements. This session is guaranteed to be insightful and thought-provoking.


text:
Alfredo Covaleda,
Bogota, Colombia
Stephen Guerin,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
James A. Trostle,
Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
From FastCompany:
Open Source Maps Are Helping the World Bank Save Lives in Haiti BY ANYA KAMENETZFri Feb 19, 2010
An aid worker from the European Commission holds a PDF printout from OpenStreetMaps.
The humanitarian relief effort underway in Haiti is proving the true potential of open source map building. Don't take my word for it, follow the Tweets and blogs of my friend Schuyler Erle. He's on the ground in Port-au-Prince along with Tom Buckley, a developer of mapmaking program GeoCommons Maker. The pair are advising the World Bank on the use of crowd-sourced mapping, primarily through the open-source programOpenStreetMap, in the relief and recovery effort in Haiti. They are also dealing with rain, illness, PowerBar meals, World Bank contacts snowbound back in DC, and bureaucratic alphabet soup.
"Since mid-January, we've seen a whole set of interlocking technical communities swung into gear to piece together geographic information to help relief efforts after the earthquake in Haiti: OpenStreetMap, Ushahidi, CrisisMappers, and so on," Erle writes. He's an open-source smart maps ninja–cofounder of OpenLayers, author of the books Mapping Hacksand Google Maps Hacks, and creator of a program that allowed for historians to make crowdsourced improvements to the New York Public Library's digital maps archive.
"The most amazing thing to me about this global response to the disaster is the degree to which volunteers have been able to make a significant impact on the relief situation while sitting at their own desks, thousands of miles away. OpenStreetMap, particularly, has been a model of distributed collaboration, with basically no one calling the shots, while a thousand people painstakingly build a map database of Haiti drawn from aerial and satellite imagery that's so detailed that the Ushahidi volunteers have to ask for a simpler version."
Erle says the humanitarian applications of Geographic Information Systems may truly comes of age as a result of this disaster. "OpenStreetMap really *has* become the gold standard for base map data in the relief and recovery effort in Haiti."
Photos by Schuyler Erle via Twitpic
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St. Louis ponders downtown streetcar system
Written by Douglas John BowenCitizen advocates in St. Louis are advancing a streetcar plan to connect the city's downtown with the Central West End as part of an economic development plan.
URS Corp. is doing a $200,000 streetcar feasibility study paid for by the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis. Preliminary cost estimates for the project, initially consisting of two lines, fall between $219 million and $270 million.
Partnership President Maggie Campbell told local media the project could be funded from federal sources (possibly New Starts money) and a property tax based on proximity to the project.
Campbell said the streetcar idea resulted in part from St. Louis University's decision to relocate its law school from midtown to downtown; discussion of operating shuttle buses to and from the new site evolved to include a streetcar alternative.
One proposed line would loop on a single track through the middle of downtown to Kiener Plaza. West of 14th Street, a two-track line would traverse Olive Street and Lindell Boulevard through Grand Center to Taylor Avenue and the Central West End MetroLink station.
A second line would run between MetroLink light rail transit service at Civic Center station and St. Louis Avenue along 14th Street and North Florissant Avenue.
As is common in many North American cities with an already established transit agency, Metro Transit-St. Louis so far has declined to comment on the streetcar, despite the potential synergies a streetcar might offer to the agency's Metrobus and MetroLink LRT operations.
St. Louis streetcar service lasted longer than in many U.S. cities, coming to an end in May 1966.


text:
OCEAN CITY – Tom Heiderman, owner of The Hobbit Restaurant, finally got the answer he was looking for this week, as he returned to the City Council for a third time, seeking permission for partial occupancy of his restaurant in the Rivendell building.
Heiderman approached the City Council last month in hopes of gaining permission to open the restaurant before the Rivendell project obtains its certificate of occupancy. Although Heiderman is aiming for an April 23 opening with Rivendell aiming for an April 18 grand opening, he maintained that, in the event that Rivendell does not receive its certificate of occupancy, he would like to still be able to open the restaurant.
The council remained hesitant to approve any aspect of the project that caused months of contention last year. In an effort to ensure that all aspects of the building and restaurant were on track, the council postponed a decision, requesting that Heiderman return on April 1 for an update.
Heiderman reported back to the council last week, but with screening for the air-conditioning units still not in place, the council remained reluctant to approve Heiderman's request. "I still have a problem with the screening, this is important to the Bay Princess people," said Council member Margaret Pillas, last week.
Screening of the units, located on the side of the restaurant, were a contentious issue for the neighboring Bay Princess residents. As a result, screening of the units was made a condition of approval for the project. The council postponed the decision, asking Heiderman to return once again this week.
"We're making a lot of progress right now," reported Heiderman this week.
Heiderman also reported that the screens, which had been on back order since January, had arrived and been installed.
Councilman Jim Hall noted that a letter from the Bay Princess Association had been received, giving its support to Heiderman's request for partial occupancy.
The council voted unanimously, with Councilwoman Nancy Howard absent, to approve the request for partial occupancy. The restaurant must also meet all life safety criteria and pass all inspections before opening.
"It's been a long road, congratulations on the restaurant," said Pillas.
"All of the various people that I've dealt with in this process, from the city, they've been wonderful," said Heiderman of town employees.


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Spending five days driving around Scotland's north coast, taking in beautiful sites and visiting magnificent places.
Here's a wonderful way to spend five days driving around Scotland's north coast. Need to hire a car for your trip? Thrifty Car Hire offers Prestige Car Hire to make your trip that little bit more comfortable, they will also drop it off for you at the airport.
Thrifty Car Hire, Airport Road, Inverness Airport, Inverness IV2 7JB
The Kitchen, 15 Huntly Street, Inverness, IV3 5PR
Hope you enjoyed the trip up to Inverness! Pick up your hire car and get ready to set off. It may be lunch time already so after your visit to Inverness Castle, take a stroll round across the bridge to The Kitchen Brasserie for a delicious lunch time menu.
The Potting Shed Café, Applecross Walled Garden, By Applecross House, Applecross, IV54 8ND
Time to hit the road, follow the NC500 out of Inverness and through the towns of Beauly and Muir of Ord before heading westbound. Enjoy the stunning scenery as you drive, spotting the islands of Skye and the Hebrides from the west coast. Be aware of the infamous Bealach Na Ba with its steep gradients and bends – worth it for the stunning scenery! Stop past the hidden gem; The Potting Shed Café if you are in need of some fresh air and a delicious pick-me-up.
The Torridon Hotel, Achnasheen, Wester Ross IV22 2EY
Get ready to unwind at your home for the evening; the luxurious, Torridon Estate. Dan & the team offer an unparalleled welcome in the grounds of the amazing retreat. Explore the grounds and book yourself in for dinner at the 3 AA Rosette '1887' restaurant followed by a nightcap in the Whisky Bar, which has over 350 whiskeys to choose from.
After a wonderful evening and a sumptuous breakfast, begin your day with the an activity with the Torridon team, whether it be archery, mountain-biking or clay pigeon shooting, you will, of course, have a great time.
Please note, activities must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Once you have had a bite to eat, it is time to get back onto the road. Following the North Coast 500, you will find yourself immersed in the amazing scenery. Big Sands beach in Gairloch is calling your name! Stop past for fresh air, a walk and, of course, an obligatory photograph!
The Pool House, Poolewe, Wester Ross IV22 2LD
A short drive away will bring you to Poolewe. Check in to your hotel for the evening; The Poolhouse. The elegant boutique hotel has an emphasis on design and you can find rooms inspired by the destinations of the HMS Naval Unit who were based in Poolewe during the Second World War. The hotel also has an accredited restaurant serving delicious local produce.
Sometimes after a delicious dinner, an evening walk is just what you need. Enjoy the fresh Highland air and take a stroll through the town of Poolewe, admiring the views of Loch Ewe.
Ewe Canoe, Peace Cottage, 2 Mellon Charles, Aultbea, Wester Ross, IV22 2J
Ceol Na Mara, Pier Rd, Gairloch, Ross-Shire IV21 2BQ
Rise and shine! Ewe Canoe is close by in Aultbea and offers kayaking adventures across the Loch Ewe, alternatively, take the short drive back to Gairloch to try one of the Glass Bottom Boat Wildlife Cruises.
Perfume Studio Café, Mellon Charles, Loch Ewe, IV22 2JL
The Perfume Studio Café in Aultbea is the perfect stop for a delicious light lunch and also boasts a gift shop featuring amazing local produce and locally crafted soaps and gifts.
Spend the afternoon driving through the amazing scenery of Gruinard Bay, Loch Broom, the An Teallach mountains and of course take a moment to explore the main town of Ullapool.
Tonight, we suggest The Albannach, the home of the North Highlands' only Michelin Star. Another boutique hotel situated in the lovely village of Lochinver, The Albannach's welcoming hosts Lesley & Craig will ensure you experience a stay you won't forget. Check in for dinner in the evening to sample some of the Michelin-starred produce available here.
We hope you slept well. Back on the road and just a short drive away is the picturesque Durness. Explore Smoo Caves, Britain's largest sea cave and admire the sights of Sango Sands and Balnakeil Bay. Why not also take a stroll along to see the John Lennon Memorial Garden? Did you know, John Lennon used to holiday here when he was young, so much so, that it is said that this location inspired many of his songs?
If you are fan of golf, don't miss an opportunity to get a few holes in on the Durness golf course, which overlooks a stunning seascape. (Please note, visitors to the course are asked to contact the secretary in advance to inform them of their arrival at email@example.com)
Mackays Rooms, Durine, Durness IV27 4PN
Why not try Mackays for a spot of lunch before you head off?
8 Craft Village, Balnakeil, Durness IV27 4PT
Before you leave remember to refuel and why not stop past the luxury chocolatier Cocoa Mountain and pick up some truffles for friends and family (or yourselves!).
Back on the North Coast 500 route now, passing through the amazing scenery of Ben Loyal, Ben Hope and Loch Eriboll. Be careful whilst driving as our friendly sheep and Highland Cows tend to like walking along the road too!
After a beautiful drive east-bound you will find yourself in John O'Groats! Take a picture of yourself with official signpost with the Orkney Islands in the background. You don't get much more north than this!
Ackergill Tower, Ackergill KW1 4RG
Heading south now, check yourself in to Ackergill Tower? Set in a stunning 3,000 acre private estate, overlooking Sinclairs Bay, you can enjoy another night of indulgence in this classic Castle.
Time to get back on to the road; remember to refuel before you leave!
Timespan, Helmsdale, Highland KW8 6JA
Follow the billowing road down the coastal edges of the east coast, soaking up the beautiful seascape as you go. Remember to take caution at Berriedale as there is a sharp hair-pin bend here on the edge! Have time? Why not pop in to the award-winning Timespan in Helmsdale to discover more about the heritage and culture of the area.
Dunrobin Castle, Golspie KW10 6SF
With so much history to discover along the east coast, it wouldn't quite be right without a stop to the stunning fairytale Dunrobin Castle just outside Golspie. The castle is the family seat of Clan Sutherland and boasts extravagant grounds featuring a awe-inspiring falconry and gardens.
Dornoch Castle Hotel, Castle Street, Dornoch, Sutherland IV25 3UD
After a busy morning stop by Dornoch Castle Hotel for a delicious lunch and warm hospitality. Dornoch is also home a mile-long stretch of beautiful sands – perhaps a walk in the sunshine is a perfect way to walk off a delicious lunch? Or a round of golf on the fabulous Royal Dornoch links?
Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Ross-Shire IV19 1PZ
On the route down, stop at the famous Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain to take a tour of the distillery and discover what goes in to the whisky to make it one of Scotland's finest.
Culloden House Hotel, Culloden, Inverness, Inverness-Shire IV2 7BZ
Jumping back on to the North Coast 500, follow the long stretch of road back down the east coast, taking in the stunning scenery. Check in to Culloden House Hotel and enjoy your last night of premium Highlands hospitality.


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With the election tomorrow, I thought I'd take a look at two recent polls of the Utah Senate primary between Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee, the top two vote getters in the GOP convention.
Sometimes polls can differ, but this is a huge difference. I'm looking at one poll Dan Jones & Associates conducted for Deseret News and KSL-TV, and another that Wenzel Strategies did for the Senate Conservatives Fund.
Each one shows a different leader.


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I had a lot of friends growing up so I enjoyed school from the social standpoint. I went to all the sporting events and if there was a party within 20 miles, I was there. Scholastically, I struggled with my grades, so I was about a "C" student. Out of embarrassment, I masked my inequity from my friends, so you would be hard pressed to find anyone in school that did not believe I was an "A" or "B" student.
As I sat in classrooms, I would try very hard to pay attention to what the teacher was saying because I knew we would be tested on it, but I struggled with retaining the information. I had the same challenges with reading text books in class or at home, because as I was reading, my brain kept drifting away, and I would have to re-read the same page two or three times in order to understand it. When it came time to take a test on the information that the teacher was talking about or a book that we were supposed to have read, I could not recall the answers easily. Retaining and regurgitating knowledge was not my strong suit and I could not figure out why most other people seemed to do it with ease when I could not.
Looking back at it, I was very frustrated with myself because I was not lazy in school; I actually did try. If I would have been able to declare myself as lazy, non-caring, apathetic or disinterested, it would have been easier to understand, but when you are trying as hard as you can and failing, it can be frustrating. In my senior year, I flunked my World Problems class which panicked me because it meant that I would not be able to graduate. I went to a Community College and took a night class in order to make up my credits so that I could graduate with my class. I don't think many people knew I had to do that because it was embarrassing that I almost did not graduate. My cumulative grade point upon graduation was 2.47 (out of a possible 4.0) which is certainly not a stellar grade point average.
The answers as to why I struggled in school came later in life when my son was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) twice, once in grade school and a second time in junior high. I watched him suffer in school like I had and I could see his self-worth waning even though I knew he was a brilliant kid. We sought help through the school system to no avail because they said they did not have any programs to help him. Then we looked at the medical world, but that too ended in frustration because after almost a year of trying different drugs, we could not find a medication that would work for him. It was very hard to see him suffer because I knew his pain and completely understood how he felt. His poor grades began to shape who he thought he was (his self image), which was not anywhere near the truth. The story in his head was that he was not smart enough, but the truth is, he was very creative and extremely bright. His perceptions about himself were formed by his grades and not real life, just like me.
In the journey to find solutions for my son, we learned that ADD is normally hereditary. I realized that I had been the carrier of this disorder, which explained my struggle in school as well (and the same struggles my father seems to have had before me). Without writing an entire book on this subject (which I could), the bottom line is that ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are not the kiss of death for anyone who has them. Those of us affected by either of them are misunderstood because the school system measures "smart" by a grade point, but thank goodness, the world outside of school measures us by our performance.
I mentioned earlier that I graduated with a 2.47 grade point average and my Inner Saboteur has been working to try to convince me that I am not good enough since I was a teenager. So what is the definition of "not good enough"? According to many school systems as of the writing of this book, a 2.47 GPA (grade point average) is a grade of "C" which could be labeled "average". However, if you are a student with less than a 2.5 GPA, my guess is that you don't consider yourself anywhere close to average. More than likely, you consider yourself inadequate or not good enough, like I did.
Why? When I was in school, you had to have a 3.00 GPA in order to make the honor role list and if you had anything less, your grades were "not good enough." Apply for a scholastic scholarship to continue your education and you will more than likely get a letter back that says your GPA is "not good enough." Try to get into a good four-year college with less than a 2.50 GPA and you will more than likely be told that is "not good enough." Try to apply for a good paying job in the business world and when they ask you what your GPA was in school and you tell them a 2.47, you will find out that it is "not good enough" to get the job.
Why am I making an issue of the school system and grades? Because it has been the measure of success for hundreds of years and it is inaccurate in my opinion. If you tried hard, like I did, and did not do well in school, it is not the kiss of death for your career or life. Your grades are not a measure of your self-worth, they are a measure of your heredity and your physical ability to retain and spit out information upon command in most cases. ADD is not who I am, it is what I have. No one should leave our school system wounded from the experience and convinced by their low grades that they are not worthy of a great future. I truly believe the GPA is a poor indicator of a person's abilities or talents and until we come up with a better system, we will continue to send emotionally damaged children into this world with a life sentence of "you're not good enough" (who simply become emotionally wounded adults).
People with ADD or ADHD may not be able to retain information well, but they are normally incredibly creative and imaginative. They are fabulous entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and people of creativity. They do incredibly well in the real world, especially when they are engaged and passionate about what they are doing. Some of the most ingenious and bright people I have encountered in the business world are ADD and ADHD and struggled in school, but not in life.


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Catholic College Sees Double Attendance for Atheism Course
Regis College, a Jesuit-run theology school at the University of Toronto, is surprising some people by offering a course on atheism. But the course is not what people might expect.
"This is an outreach class offered in the middle of the day. We have 125 students in attendance; normally we have half that number," said Dean Gordon Rixon of Regis College to The Christian Post on Wednesday. "There has been such an interest that we have decided to offer a one-day course on a Saturday."
The course was created as a response to Canada becoming more secular, Rixon shared. "This is not a course to villainize but to understand," said the dean of Regis College. "This is more of a reflecting course that allows us to form a Christian response to atheism."
The eight-week course at Regis examines disconnect between non-believers and people of faith, and was designed to stimulate dialogue and reflection.
Meanwhile in the United States, Steve Brown, a senior lecturer at Ohio State University, has also experimented with a lecture course mixing Christianity and atheism. Brown, who is Christian, taught the course with his good friend and fellow colleague Wesley Craig, who is an atheist. Brown wanted his students to have a fair look at the debate on the topic of divinity.
"We took surveys at the beginning, middle and end of the class to track what the students personally believed," said Brown. "What we discovered was that it was uncommon for people to change their views. Students who were unsure about their faith decided one way or another at the end of the course. However, nearly all of the students had an increase in respect for people who believed something different than them. That was the goal."
When asked if the students enjoyed the course, Brown had this to say: "The students loved the class. The first time we had the course, two years ago, we received extremely high student evaluations. Last year, we had perfect evaluations."
Hemant Mehta, who runs the popular blog "Friendly Atheist," would likely approve of Brown's course done in partnership with his atheist colleague, but he would probably be less approving of Regis' new atheism course because he believes that the courses should include discussion with atheists.
"In general, though, atheists tend to hear a lot of stereotypes about who we are and what we believe thrown around in the Christian world – in churches, popular books, etc. I've read a number of books written by Christian apologists and it's amazing how many mistakes they make when describing atheists. Those are problems that could have been fixed if only they had consulted with an atheist when they were writing! Yet, these ideas get perpetuated throughout churches, homes, and Christian schools."
Mehta offers that Christians and atheists must begin to understand one another without preconceived perceptions. The "Friendly Atheist" believes that it is vital for Christians to know what other people think and believe, especially those they're trying to reach out to.
"Atheists often criticize Christians for never truly challenging themselves. This could provide Christians with the opportunity to put their beliefs under the microscope and see if they still come out intact. I would add that not every course syllabus seems ideal, though. It's one thing to read a book written by a New Atheist and then have a discussion led by a Christian professor. It's another to have an atheist in the room willing to (politely) discuss and debate those same ideas."
Despite not having an atheist as a lecturer, the atheism course at the 200-student Regis College doesn't seem to be lacking interest. "The students love it! The buzz is quite extraordinary," exclaimed Dean Gordon Rixon.


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Most of us brand our skills when creating a resume.
We brand our skills because that's what we were taught to do.
Up until 2007, employers searched for skills because there was a shortage of skilled candidates from the 1940's until 2007 … So employers searched for skills.
Since employers searched for skills, we were taught to brand ourselves by our skills.
But today, there isn't a shortage of skills … there's a shortage of jobs. Combined with mass job competition and automated pre-screening, employers aren't searching for skills today.
In reality, employers never really did search for skills. Skills are merely a proxy for solutions to problems and employers don't want to publicly disclose problems to competitors, customers or shareholders. So instead of listing what they are really searching for, employers list skills in job descriptions, rather than problems.
When employers search for solutions and we brand ourselves by skills, we create an unnecessary mismatch. When we describe ourselves in ways that don't reflect an employer's real needs, we make it easy to be overlooked, even when you may truly be an exact match for the employer's needs.
Here's 3 ways we typically brand ourselves by skills:
- Creating First Impression Based On Title: When you create your reader's first impression based on your title, you're branding yourself as a commodity. If your first impression to your reader is that you're an accountant or a VP Sales, you brand yourself as being the same as other accountants and VP Sales. When there were skills shortages, this was ok … but during job shortages, there are many accountants and VP Sales applying for the same job. Hiring managers are looking for the superior candidate, so the average candidates lose.
- Focusing On Job Description: When you focus your reader's attention on job descriptions, you describe yourself on an average day. Since hiring managers are looking to hire the best candidate of the many that meet minimum requirements, describing yourself on an average day shows you at your average, rather than at your best – you undersell yourself.
- Focusing On Responsibilities: When you describe responsibilities, you also focus on the day to day functions of your job. For example, when you describe that you hired, managed and trained a staff of 12 employees, you describe yourself at your average, rather than at your best.
A more effective way to brand yourself in today's job market is to brand yourself by the value you've provided to past employers.
Branding yourself by value is more than just listing accomplishments. Accomplishments don't describe how important your contribution was to your employer – value does. Listing that you cut costs is an accomplishment, but it doesn't describe if you saved your employer $1 dollar (not so impressive) or $1 Billion dollars (much more impressive). Value shows that your accomplishment was important to the employer.
Here's 3 ways to brand yourself by value:
- Create First Impression Based On Subject Matter Expertise: When you include subject matter expertise in your resume title, you describe yourself as a superior candidate to the hiring manager – especially when you've done the upfront research necessary to list expertise that shows you've probably already solved similar problems matching the hiring manager's needs. When you first learn the hiring manager's priority issues, listing a subject matter expertise that solves these issues gives hiring managers the impression that you're a mind reader.
- Describing Your Best Days Instead Of Your Average Day: Hiring managers expect that you're presenting yourself at your best and comparing with other candidates who have presented themselves at their best. When you describe yourself on an average day, you're automatically underselling yourself. Your resume is a marketing document, not a timesheet or personal diary.
- Monetizing Value: Metrics mean different things to different employers. Metrics can be calculated differently, used differently and called by different names. Some metrics may be important to one employer but irrelevant to other employers. However, at the heart of every hiring manager's goals are increased revenue, decreased costs, increased profits. When you monetize your accomplishments, they become relevant to nearly every employer, regardless of metrics used to measure their business performance.
So now that you know how to brand yourself based on the value you've provided to past employers, why are you still focusing your readers on skills?


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Stealthy wealthy: How Harold Simmons' political giving has benefited his business empire
Photo by the Dallas Morning News |
(This is the first in an occasional series that will shine a light on little known but highly influential donors.)
Even under the post-Citizens United campaign finance rules that unleashed a new generation of mega-donors, Harold Simmons stands out as old political money.
The Dallas-based billionaire, dubbed the king of superfund sites after acquiring an environmentally-challenged company, has gotten plenty of attention for the $10 million he's given super PACs in the first four months of this year.
But a closer examination of the record shows that Simmons' 2012 donations are just the tip of the iceberg.
Since 1989, a Sunlight analysis has found, Simmons, his wife and daughters, his family trust and the companies he controls have poured at least $34.8 million into political orgranizations, campaigns and parties. Employees of Simmons companies have given $2.8 million more. Beneficiaries have included super PACs such as American Crossroads, and – before the Citizens United ruling made such convenient depositories for large donations possible – so-called 527 groups like Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth, famous for their attack ads against 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry.
MORE: Anatomy of a Simmons lobbying drive.
Simmons' giving goes back decades. A review of records from the Center for Responsive Politics, the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the Federal Election Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, the Texas Ethics Commission and other state election bodies reveals that he has a long history of writing large checks to politicians and political groups in a position to benefit himself and his businesses.Simmons has contributed amounts as small as $100 and as large as $5 million. He gave $3 million to the Swift Boat Vets and POWS for Truth, which ran ads attacking 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry's record in Vietnam, and more than $2.8 million to the American Issues Project, which ran ads in 2008 linking Barack Obama to '60s era radical Bill Ayers. He pumped $1.9 million into a Texas group, the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, that's made it harder for plaintiffs to sue big businesses. And he's among the top super PAC donors–Simmons, his company and his family trust have donated a total of $14 million to American Crossroads, $500,000 to Winning Our Future, which supports presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, $100,000 to Restore Our Future, which supports Mitt Romney, and $100,000 to the American Prosperity Fund, which supported the campaign of Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Overall, Simmons has contributed more than $1.2 million to Perry's campaigns.
Simmons has also used lobbyists, advertising campaigns and the courts to advance his interests, while contributing to groups seeking to limit access to the courts by other plaintiffs in Texas. Federal records show that his companies have lobbied the federal government on a host of issues, with firms representing them reporting some $6 million in fees since 1998. Over the years, according to lobbying records and media accounts, Simmons:
- Successfully battled against rules to discourage leveraged buyouts;
- Had a tax break — potentially worth as much as $80 million — inserted into a bill to avoid capital gains taxes on the sale of a beet sugar refinery he owned;
- Won approval from the state of Texas for a low-level nuclear waste dump in Andrews, Texas;
- Then won a $75 million county-guaranteed bond issue to finance expansion of that facility;
- Received an extension of a protectionist measure that benefits his U.S.-based titanium operations.
His business empire began modestly enough in 1961, when Simmons invested $5,000 of his own money and a $95,000 loan to purchase a Dallas drugstore. By 1973, he'd parlayed that into a string of pharmacies across Texas, which he sold to the Jack Eckerd Corp. for $50 million in stock. View it now here. A number of his deals led to legal problems–a federal grand jury indicted him in 1974 for allegedly looting and bankrupting an insurance firm he owned (he was acquitted) and in the 1980s, he ran afoul of pension regulations, when a judge ruled in 1985 that he had raided a union pension fund for workers of Keystone Consolidated to purchase stock in Amalgamated Sugar, a beet sugar refiner that Simmons bought in 1982.
Though a generous underwriter of political groups that back tort reform and other limits on lawsuits, Simmons has made use of the courts himself. One of his companies, Waste Control Specialists–which only won a permit to dispose of low level radioactive waste in 2009–sued the Energy Department in 1997, and again in 1999, for awarding a waste disposal contract to Envirocare, a Utah-based company that did have permits; both suits were dismissed. Simmons spent decades attempting to win approval to dispose of radioactive waste at a site in Andrews, Texas–first from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and then from the state of Texas. At the end of 2003, the state legislature approved a one-month window during which firms could apply for a permit; Simmons donated more than $185,000 to state lawmakers, politicians and parties that year. The project was controversial–three staffers of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality resigned in 2007 to protest the project, citing the danger of contaminating aquifers that run under the site by burying deadly waste there–but Simmons ultimately won approval.
William Lundquist, Waste Control Specialists' chief executive officer, describing the company's strategy for winning approval for the licenses, wrote that they enlisted the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center in its efforts. "University personnel, including a Nobel Prize winner, agreed to appear on camera to discuss the need for such a disposal site, without actually endorsing the WCS site specifically," he wrote. Simmons, his wife and daughter Lisa have given or pledged more than $100 million to the center, according to a 2010 news release.
In 2009, Waste Control Specialists persuaded the Andrews County commissioners to consider a $75 million bond issue to help the company finance construction of its facility there. In a referundum, the bond issue passed by a narrow, 3-vote margin, and survived a court challenge. The bonds were issued in November 2010.
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While Waste Control Specialists will actively seek deadly material–storing radioactive waste will earn it tens of millions of dollars a year–some of the companies Simmons acquired had such bad environmental records that he became known as the king of superfund sites. In 1985, backed by funds from Drexel Burnham Lambert, the high-flying 1980s leveraged buyout and junkbond specialists that collapsed in bankruptcy in 1990, Simmons launched a hostile takeover of National Lead Industries, a firm whose operations began in the 19th century and that had a string of polluted sites across the country, including smelting operations in Granite City, Ill., and a Pedrickton, N.J. facility that recovered lead from spent automobile batteries. Both sites, flagged in the 1980s as environmental hazards before Simmons had acquired the company, remain on the EPA's list of Superfund sites.
In the 1990s, NL Industries faced a different environmental challenge: municipalities and state attorneys general filed suit against the company, along Sherwin-Williams Co., DuPont Co. and other companies that sold lead-based paints prior to 1978, when the government banned their use. In 1999, Rhode Island became the first state to file suit, and in 2006 won its case against NL Industries and two other defendents. The companies appealed, and two years later Rhode Island's Supreme Court ruled in their favor, dismissing the suit and saving the defendants billions in costs to remove lead paint from homes and apartments.
In Texas, Simmons has contributed to limit the ability of plaintiffs to sue. Among the larger recipients of his largesse is the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, which in May 2011 celebrated Gov. Rick Perry's signing of a bill it lobbied for that contains provisions–including requiring plaintiffs in tort cases that lose to pay the fees of those they sued–long sought after by business interests. Simmons gave the group $1.9 million between 2000 and 2011. Perry has gotten more than $1.3 million in support from Simmons in his gubernatorial and presidential runs. Simmons also contributed $100,000 to the Yes on 12 campaign, a ballot referendum that allowed the Texas legislature to cap damage awards for pain and suffering in lawsuits against medical providers; Texas voters approved the ballot initiative in 2003.
Sometimes Simmons' prominent giving has worked against his business interests. In 1997, President Bill Clinton used the newly enacted–and short-lived–line item veto to eliminate a tax provision that, media accounts suggested, could have saved Simmons as much as $80 million in capital gains taxes on the transfer of Amalgamated Sugar, a beet sugar refinery, to a farmers' cooperative. Simmons complained at the time that he was unfairly singled out–most stories identified him as a big Republican donor–and insisted that he had already received his tax benefit.
Over the course of a prolific career of donating, Simmons had one run-in with the Federal Election Commission. In the wake of the collapse of Drexel Burnham Lambert and the criminal convictions for securities and tax law violation of junk bond king Michael Milken, Congress began considering measures to rein in the corporate raiders. At the time, Simmons had his sights set on Lockheed Corp., one of two companies that later merged to form Lockheed Martin, the huge defense contractor. Simmons didn't pull off the Lockheed deal, which fell apart in 1991. While he was still seeking to acquire the aerospace firm, he contributed $120,000 while his family members contributed $130,000 more to then-President George H.W. Bush and to key members of Congress who could stop legislation to regulate hostile takeover attempts, according to a 1990 report in the Los Angeles Times that analyzed FEC records. The Times story concluded that Simmons had exceeded the amount that individuals could legally contribute to federal candidates–then set at $25,000. Though the Federal Election Commission fined Simmons $19,800 in 1993 for exceeding the limits, Simmons ended up with the payoff: Congress did not pass legislation to rein in the raiders.
Through a spokesperson, Simmons declined to comment for this article.
Joshua Hatch contributed to this post.


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Chris Benchetler
Actor | Writer | DirectorOften copied but never replicated. Chris Benchetler's unmatched ability to scope terrain, slay lines and send huge airs make him a master of powder skiing.
Whether connecting countless pillow, buttering slashes on snow waves or sending big tricks off huge step downs, Chris's skiing is the envy of all skiers. A history in Park skiing and an addiction to shredding powder have shaped him into one of the most progressive backcountry skiers of all time. But it's not only his skiing what makes him stand out. He's one of the founding members of the legendary Nimbus Independent crew, who also changed the approach on movies for ever. With his widespread involvement in product design and technology projects - first and foremost his pro model skis – he's definitely one of the most influential skiers today.


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The Greens and independents are demanding the government re-legislate to toughen the mining tax after revelations that not a single cent will be collected in the tax's first three months, threatening to blow away the budget surplus.
In a major embarrassment for the federal government, the Greens and the independent Rob Oakeshott, who supported the tax, yesterday backed longstanding claims by the opposition and the industry that the government was hoodwinked by the miners when it hurriedly renegotiated the tax in 2010 in between dumping Kevin Rudd and calling the election.
Mining industry sources have told the Herald they cannot say how much, if any, minerals resources tax they will pay this financial year.
One said the lack of mining tax revenue this financial year would pale against the company-tax shortfall. He said the revised estimates for company tax contained in Monday's midyear budget update were overstated.
The revelation also plays into the hands of Mr Rudd, who took a veiled shot at the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, last week by expressing ''hope'' that the tax would make its forecast revenue and insinuating they had failed to stand up to the mining giants.
On Monday, as BHP Billiton, Xstrata and Rio Tinto informed the Tax Office they would pay no mining tax for the first quarter of this financial year, the midyear budget update downgraded the tax's forecast revenue from $13.4 billion over four years to $9.1 billion.
It downgraded the estimate for this financial year from $3 billion to $2 billion but the opposition said that estimate was fanciful and the midyear budget had been brought forward to avoid factoring in the bleaker picture.
The budgeted proceeds of the mining tax have already been spent on cost-of-living assistance for low- and middle-income earners, tax breaks for small business and compulsory superannuation increases.
''The surplus is gone,'' the shadow treasurer, Joe Hockey, said. ''I have never heard of a tax that doesn't raise a dollar.
''Even the most incompetent governments anywhere in the world would not introduce a tax that raises no money.''
Mr Swan said the first-quarter lack of revenue had been factored into the latest budget forecasts and should not be used to estimate the mining tax for the rest of the financial year.
He said it was a profits-based tax that made revenue when commodity prices and profits were high.
The tax applies to iron ore and coal. Coal prices were down and iron ore fell in recent months to its lowest price since the global financial crisis.
When the government renegotiated the tax, Treasury officials were excluded and the miners won concessions such as having all state royalties refunded and being able to deduct against their mining tax liability the market value of their current operations.
Mr Oakeshott, the Greens and others did not accept that low commodity prices alone were to blame and said the deductions needed to be pared back.
Mr Oakeshott said he suspected the government had been swindled, not just by the miners, but by the Resources and Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, who led the negotiations to revamp the tax.
If this was the case, ''we must have another look at it''.


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New study shows how B cells may generate antibodies after vaccination
Steve Reiner, MD, professor of Medicine, and Burton Barnett, a doctoral student in the Reiner lab at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have shown how immune cells, called B lymphocytes, are able to produce daughter cells that are not equal, a finding that might explain how lifelong antibodies are made after vaccination.
How do immune cells make daughter cells that are different form one another, rather than splitting into identical daughter cells? The team's paper, published this week online in Science, shows how one cell type can reliably produce cell diversity. Motile B cells that don't have life-long attachments with other cells, as say a layer of skin cells do, can receive cues from other immune cells, namely helper T cells, so that they attach to each other and influence the outcome of B-cell division. The researchers showed that a T cell forms a temporary attachment to a B cell, which induces the B cell to divide, resulting in daughter cells that are different on the level of the proteins they inherit. The pairing and dividing occurs in the lymphoid organs, such as the spleen, that respond to vaccination.
B cells circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream, and upon infection are recruited to fight the offending germ. During this fight, the recruited B cells must generate multiple types of daughter cells to be effective. One of these cells makes the antibodies that destroy the germ, and are what make vaccinations effective. The other type of cell improves the quality of the antibodies that can be made.
The Penn team found that B cells segregate a transcriptional protein called Bcl6, the protein receptor for interleukin-21, and another protein called atypical PKC to one side of the plane of division during cell replication, generating unequal inheritance of fate-altering molecules by daughter cells. These three proteins tell the B cell which type of daughter cell to become; and by making daughter cells with more or less of these proteins, B cells can give rise to cells that are antibody factories through division.
The team is interested in using this discovery to make better vaccines. They are also expecting that the ability of wandering immune cells to give birth to non-identical daughters may explain how our blood cells can also turn into cancers like leukemia.


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Charlotte Car Accident Attorney
As Nagle & Associates, P.A. deals only with auto accident cases, the firm is uniquely equipped with the tools, resources, and focused experience to handle car, truck and motorcycle accident cases and the many challenges they pose. From their office in Charlotte, as well as their six other office locations, the firm's North Carolina auto accident lawyers meet with injured victims and their families and set immediately to collecting all the facts and preparing their case. From the moment you reach out to Attorney Carl Nagle and his legal team, you can be sure that the firm will be hard at work creating strategies to hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies liable for any physical, emotional, and / or financial damages you suffered.
As a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, an achievement held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys, Attorney Nagle has proven that he has the capability to successfully handle even the most challenging accident cases. Additionally, he and the firm's Raleigh truck accident attorneys draw from decades of legal experience and a mastery of the many federal trucking laws and state traffic regulations to take on all types of auto accidents, including those that cause catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Skilled negotiations and proven trial attorneys, the firm's legal team has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for clients.
Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer
Our Charlotte auto accident attorneys provide aggressive representation for car accident victims. From minor rear-end accidents to serious and even fatal collisions, Nagle & Associates P.A. has what it takes to ensure that you get maximum financial compensation. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for insurance companies to offer claimants low-balled settlements because they don't want to lose money. If you were involved in an accident because of a negligent driver, trust a former claims adjuster to fight for what you deserve, such as compensation for medical expenses, damage to your vehicle and emotional pain and suffering. Contact charlotte car accident attorney.
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Accidents involving commercial vehicles and trucks happen frequently on I-40 in Charlotte. When serious truck accidents occur, traffic often comes to a halt in the downtown area and causes many rear-end collisions. Charlotte has enjoyed growth over recent years and new businesses and restaurants require deliveries to serve customers. Older roads and traffic routes in Charlotte were not designed to deal with heavy truck traffic. As there is also a shortage of truck drivers on a national scale, there are more inexperienced truck drivers on the road who are more likely to cause serious accidents. Injured? Our Charlotte truck accident lawyers can advocate for you!
Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcyclists do not have the safety of a vehicle protecting them from the open road. In the event of an accident, motorcyclists typically suffer very serious injuries. It can be difficult for other motorists to notice motorcycles due to the size disparity, making it easy for these vehicles to hide in a driver's blind spots. When drivers are careless and fail to check for motorcycles, serious accidents can ensue. If you were hit by another vehicle while riding your motorcycle, our team of Charlotte motorcycle accident attorneys can advocate for you so that you can recover the compensation you deserve.
Retain an Experienced Charlotte Car Accident Attorney at Nagle & Associates
As a former insurance defense lawyer, Attorney Carl Nagle has the benefit of being able to:
- Establish the best strategy for your case: With inside knowledge of how insurance companies generally defend truck accident cases, the firm can come up with the best strategy possible to secure generous compensation for your injuries and losses.
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It is important to remember that insurance companies fiercely defend against accident claims. The reason is simple: They have a lot more to lose in auto accident cases. This firm is led by a former insurance adjuster. As such, he knows the tactics that insurance companies often use to avoid making a full payment to those who file accident claims. Get tough representation by calling Nagle & Associates today for a free case evaluation.


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In the fall of 2001, Kathleen McClaskey created EdTech Associates after working almost two decades in the field of educational technology as a computer teacher, technology integration specialist and Director of Technology in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. "I knew I could have a greater impact in education and the use of tools if I stepped outside the walls of a single school district," says Kathleen. She established a vision about the use of technology in schools in 1985 that provided her a focus for her entire career. The vision, then and now, is that "Technology (computers in '85) is the great equalizer". Kathleen believes this vision has finally been realized as the technologies have advanced rapidly over the last decade. "I can say today that current technologies can remove every barrier to learning. The next step is for it to be realized in every school and every classroom." And this vision serves as the lasting foundation of EdTech Associates, which she discusses further in this exclusive interview.
Victor: What does the name "Edtech Associates" mean?
Kathleen: From the start, I wanted to be identified as a company that focused on educational technology (EdTech) and that there would be partnerships with higher education and many education-based companies (Associates).
Victor: What is it? What services does it offer? What are the benefits?
Kathleen: EdTech Associates is an education technology consulting company that offers services and resources to assist schools and school districts who want to create 21st Century teaching and learning environments.
We offer Keynote/Spotlight speaker services where I hope to inspire and ignite ideas with educators at all levels about how tools can be leveraged to reach and teach every learner. I want the audience to walk away thinking deeply about the importance that technology can play in removing barriers to learning and in empowering all learners in developing "independent 21st Century learning skills" to become college and career ready in a global market place.
For the last 9 years, we have been offering the "Tools for Learning"™ Professional Development Service in literacy, math and science. This training offers schools and school districts a hands-on workshop where teachers learn to use desktop software, online apps and Web 2.0 tools to support and engage all students in researched-based instructional strategies and discover tools that students use to remove barriers to learning and become independent learners for life.
From the beginning EdTech Associates has offered Assistive Technology Consulting and Training Services to help parents, individuals and schools select and use the available technologies designed to support students with learning disabilities, dyslexia, and language and learning difficulties.
In conjunction with my associates who are experts in the field of instruction design and evaluation, EdTech Associates offers Professional Development Design and Evaluation Services to school districts who want to create 21st Century schools where all students can achieve.
We have established a 21st Century Professional Development Model designed to improve instructional practice of teachers and the independent learning skills of students in preparation for college and career. This 21st Century Professional Development Model is guided by a Theory of Change conducted over Five Stages of Transformation from Planning for Change -> Initiating Change -> Confirming Change -> Sustaining Change -> Scaling Up.
This coming year, EdTech Associates will introduce a new service to the K-12 market. Built in Moodle™ will offer a range of services to support schools and schools districts who want to create universally-designed all digital 21st Century learning environments in Moodle.
Victor: How is it unique from other similar products/services? What companies do you see as in the same market?
Kathleen: EdTech Associates is a unique company as the focus is about helping schools understand how to create universally-designed learning environments in every classroom where all students can achieve. Trying to change the school culture where classroom teachers have lacked the training to teach all students has been a difficult one. Once a teacher learns how to choose and use the technologies for engaging and effective instruction, the learning environment becomes transformed where all students can learn.
I have met many colleagues with a similar philosophy and focus but have not met a company in the same market.
Victor: When was it developed? What is something interesting or relevant about its development history?
Kathleen: Many colleagues have asked me how I started my business since there are so few educational entrepreneurs. EdTech Associates was founded in the fall of 2001. It was the tragedy of 9/11 that actually initiated a more personal search of what I needed to do next. I realized that whatever I was to do there needed to be a purpose.
The two questions I asked myself were: Why are you here on this earth? How can you make a difference?
Earlier in this interview, I noted that I realized a vision of technology in the mid 80's where "Technology was the great equalizer". Keeping that in my mind, I was able to answer these questions that would provide focus and direction to my business. The focus of my business is to empower teachers with the tools and skills to teach all students and for all students to become skillful independent learners with the use of a personal learning toolkit so that they can have choices in post-secondary.
As many entrepreneurs know, there needs to be passion on a daily basis to get through the difficult times as you try to build a business from scratch. This passion came from my oldest son's educational experience that was difficult at best. He was a child that was never taught how to read for the sole reason that he was dyslexic and teachers did not know how to teach him. At the age of 16, he was placed in a private school for dyslexics where he did learn to read. However, he never learned to become an independent learner so that he could have choices in the post secondary.
So my passion for every student to gain "Independent learning skills" with the use of technology, came from this very personal experience.
Victor: What are some examples of it in action?
Kathleen: Currently, EdTech Associates is conducting the professional development in three ARRA Title II grants in NH with the goal of creating 21st century classrooms. In these projects, we are using Moodle to provide universal access to textbooks, curriculum materials, online resources, web links for independent practice of skills, visual glossaries, forums and assessments.
The content focus is different at each school and includes math, science and literacy. Some classrooms have a 1:1 learning environment where others have a 5:1 scenario. In a short time, instructional practices have changed and engagement in learning is evident.
During the last five years, EdTech Associates has been involved in some unique projects. The ACT (Autism, Communication and Technology) project was launched in the fall of 2006 where a new and effective model for instructing autistic students was developed. Interactive whiteboards, standard desktop software and interactive websites revolutionized how teachers engaged and taught autistic students in group instruction at Spaulding Youth Center in New Hampshire.
These technologies offered new opportunities for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other neurological impairments to demonstrate spontaneous social learning and increased on-task classroom behaviors. This project has evolved into sustainable and daily instructional practices that has forever changed the paradigm of a classroom for students with autism.
EdTech Associates was awarded three years of funding for the Science4All project from the New Hampshire Department of Education's Math and Science Partnership grant. The essential question in this project was "How to we teach and engage all students in science. The goals of the "Science4All" professional development project included:
1) to increase content knowledge and reading comprehension instruction in science for teachers; 2) to train and support science teacher leaders to implement and integrate technology into inquiry-based instruction; 3) to create student-centered, interdisciplinary, collaborative teaching practices using the UDL (Universal Design for Learning) principles.
Victor: What are your thoughts on education these days?
Kathleen: We are at a defining moment in education in the US where we can decide whether we will educate our children to become productive members of the 21st Century global economy or we will continue to use methods and materials that have proven not to support the learning of all children.
For those children that become identified under the IDEA law and land into the special education system, what do we do next? This system has been broken for decades where a codependent relationship exists between children and adults and where classroom teachers often have low expectation of children that carry a label of "disability".
A sea change needs to occur in education where all students are included in the learning environment and where all teachers are trained to teach all students. Creating digital learning environments with 1:1 devices for students with teachers that can engage students in content with deeper levels of questioning and understanding will bring be instrumental in this change.
Victor: What sort of formative experiences in your own education helped to inform your approach to creating EdTech Associates?
Kathleen: It is been a combination of my formative experiences in my graduate education and personal experiences with my own children that helped me in creating and growing EdTech Associates. In 1985 in my early years in a graduate program in computers in education, I envisioned that a computer could be the "great equalizer" for students with diverse learning needs. That vision became the framework in my teaching and in also the creation of EdTech Associates.
Victor: How does EdTech Associates address some of your concerns about education?
Kathleen: Being a long time proponent in making the curriculum accessible to every learner, I adopted and incorporated the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) model into my training and professional development design models. UDL is now a "key tenet" in the National Technology Plan as announce by Karen Cator, USDOE Educational Technology Director, at the ISTE 2010 conference.
The question that I often ask of teachers alike is "How will you teach every child, every day?" With the 1:1 21st Century classrooms projects I am involved in, we can now offer every student the ability not only to access the curriculum but also to achieve in the curriculum.
Victor: What is your outlook on the future of education?
Kathleen: I am a naturally optimistic person so I see that the future education will prepare our students for the 21st Century global economy. We will witness a dramatic change in education as we know it today; 1:1 devices, all digital textbooks, paperless schools, online learning and teachers trained to teach in all learning environments.
Preparing our administrators, teachers and students for this new world is the current task at hand. In looking towards the future, I am most concerned on how can create effective and sustainable models that can support academic achievement for the diverse needs of students everywhere; from the rural farm community to the inner city.
Victor: What else can you tell educators and other leaders in and around education about the value of EdTech Associates?
Kathleen: EdTech Associates is a company that is always looking at the "big picture" in education; generating ideas and dialogue about the innovative technologies that can be leveraged to reach and teach all students. EdTech Associates plans to help create the change we need in education.
Victor: What makes you say that?
Kathleen: I have the passion and determination to initiate and invigorate ideas into action.
Victor: Any future plans?
Kathleen: This year I am collaborating with a close colleague in the development of a new company that will focus on open source learning management systems (LMS) for higher education and K-12. We will look at providing cost effective services for schools to create a sustainable "foundation, framework and direction" to implement and employ a LMS in a standards-based blended learning environment.
Victor Rivero tells the story of 21st-century education transformation. He is the editor-in-chief of Edtech Digest, a magazine about education transformed through technology. He has written white papers, articles and features for schools, nonprofits and companies in the education marketplace. Write to: email@example.com


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Studio Cheha - Bulb Lamp
Studio Cheha - Bulb Lamp
Previously SFr. 65.00 Now SFr. 25.00
The Bulbing Collection
This visually surprising flat LED lamp is composed of an acrylic sheet which is laser engraved and covered with dozens of intricate incised lines that suggest dimensionality when inserted into the wooden birch wood base, LED light travels through the lines illuminating the design and creating a powerful optical illusion that challenges our comprehension of space. Mitigating the complexity of concept and construction with a minimalist, universally understood form, the BULBING Lamp adds artistry, interest, and the gentle glow of ambient light to any room.
Exercise your parietal lobe and save space with this truly unique design.
Packaged in a small and colorful gift box. The front of the box shows the included lamp design.
Design by Nir Josef Chehanowski
23 x 15 cm
Birch Plywood, acrylic glass, LED (50,000 hour lifespan)


text: Examining and exploring the various types of images and graphic elements will be the focus of this course. We will start with color theory to distinguish between CMYK, Pantone and RGB color options and their usages. Then we will review the various types of images used in both print and digital design projects. Finally we will look at logo designs to determine what makes for the best images and graphic elements for corporate branding and imaging.


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The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., announced it has awarded more than $440,000 in cooperative education grants to projects that will help students learn about the cooperative business model and what makes cooperatives unique.
"October is National Co-op Month to raise awareness about cooperatives. What better time to celebrate how the CHS Foundation has supported cooperative education projects for more than 20 years?" says Nanci Lilja, president, CHS Foundation.
In 2018, more than 20 grants were awarded to 15 organizations supporting next-generation-focused projects. There was a new emphasis on projects that reach the next generation of cooperative leaders using fresh, innovative concepts and incorporate new technology. As a result, the CHS Foundation partnered with the National Association of Agriculture Educators on a new initiative My Local Cooperative. The initiative puts agriculture teachers in the driver's seat, helping teach students about cooperatives through a series of testimonials, videos and virtual fieldtrips.
"Cooperatives were founded on the principles of education and training," Lilja says. "We are proud to demonstrate our commitment to the cooperative system by supporting projects that engage youth."
Productive, proven methods are also an essential piece of the education puzzle. The CHS Foundation supported cooperative camps in conjunction with National Farmers Union and seven state farmers unions. Additional cooperative education projects were supported with long-term partners such as the Association of Cooperative Educators, Cooperative Development Foundation, Cooperative Network and the Ralph K. Morris Foundation.
"Many kids haven't grown up as close to cooperatives as their dads or grandads," says Lilja. "The cooperative system has a rich history and a unique story to tell. The CHS Foundation will continue to support projects that demonstrate that value."
For more information about how the CHS Foundation develops a new generation of ag leaders for lifelong success, visit chsfoundation.org.


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Hey kids! If you've been wondering where I've been…nope, not on safari. Just INSTAGRAM. Yeah, like all-over-the-gram. Miss you guys though and miss this space.
So here's the deal. You've missed a lot. Like this H-A-I-R!
I don't know why, but I suddenly (well not so suddenly) got a blogging block and Instagram opened me up again. I've been sharing my life and myself over there. And I've found such an amazing community in the process.
I thought I'd catch the blog up a little bit and RE-POST some of the STUFF I've dumped over there. So bear with me if you've already read all this. Don't worry, I'll be back with lots of fresh and "original" shares soon, ha.
So without further ado. Let's get back into the blogging groove with a few FACTS about moi.
1. American girl. Korean, German, and Irish.
2. Met my husband at a bar on a Wednesday night. You never know when or where you're going to meet someone who will change your life forever. We ended up dancing until almost 2am. In our work clothes.
3. We married at City Hall. Just us. I was wearing jeans.
4. I cannot go to sleep (no matter how tired) without listening to a story. I'm five, I know.
5. I hate driving. I hate parking more. If I could have one luxury it would be a driver. I feel like I'd say "YES" to life more often.
6. My mother was sick a lot of my childhood so I was independent quite young. (In kindergarten I'd get myself up in the morning as well as my four-year-old brother, get us both dressed, make us breakfast, pack a lunch for school and wait for the school bus). Donno what happened. I am not that independent now. I drag my husband everywhere.
7. I had a nice childhood but I was lonely and rather sad and serious. I get younger, lighter, and happier as I age.
8. I love TED talks.
9. I have moved to both Sweden and Spain for love. Hej, hej! Tjena! Hola que tal?!
10. Then there was the time I took a job as a traveling nanny in Madrid. I found it by googling "how to learn Spanish and live abroad without any money." They needed someone who spoke English with some Swedish & Spanish. Life is random. You never know when your random interests/talents will be needed.
11. I love spicy. When we go to Europe for longer than two weeks I bring my own hot sauce.
12. I've NEVER dated an American guy. How is that even possible ?? Born and raised in the US and I like American men just fine. (shrug) Guess they were never quick enough? ;)
13. I get along with about anyone, open and genuine. I especially love people who are passionate. Doesn't even matter what you're passionate about. I feed off of passion.
14. I don't like talking on the phone. Email me or let's meet in person.
15. I'm missing a huge chunk of American pop culture. My parents were STRICT. Most of the films I saw were in black and white. I had crushes on Errol Flynn and Carey Grant. I didn't know who Madonna, Michael Jackson, Brad Pitt or Julia Roberts were until I was 13. For real.
16. I don't second guess myself too often in romance or motherhood. Not that it's EASY (no way), but I have good instincts for both. Sadly, I am incredibly & cripplingly hard on MYSELF, second guess almost everything I do, and am rarely happy with my work. Not humble, it's really a very gross character flaw and I'm working on it.
17. I have some serious anxiety issues. I have worked on this part of myself for about 17 years and although it's prevented me from finishing many many things, it's become a blessing because I am constantly searching, dreaming, trying, and hoping. I also appreciate how "normal" I am right now (comparitively).
18. When I was 17, I got into concert photography. I dared myself to do something scary. I'd write scrips and then SHAKING in the boots, I'd read my scripts to publicists and somehow I ended up on lists for press passes (literally there were times when it was just the newpaper photogs, the Rolling Stone photog, and ME in the photo pit). Still baffles me a little. It taught me that it's important to be UNCOMFORTABLE. Also to ask.
19. Being on Instagram and blogging are one of those uncomfortable dares. I'm naturally very private. I am so private and timid sometimes in my life that I NEED to put myself out there. So here I am. HELLO.
20. I still don't know what I'm going to be "when I grow up." But I'm getting there.
. . . . .
THANK YOU FRIENDS, for supporting me and being so sweet – through the good times, through the fun times, through the low times, and through the awkward times. As ALWAYS feel free to share some of YOUR random facts in the comments. I like me a good random fact!
**And please feel free to find me over on my second home: Instagram. My handle is: hennablossom