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Located as far as 100 kilometers south of Hanoi is Ninh Binh province, the south extreme of the Red River delta. Inside the province is the grandiose Tam Diep Mountain, connecting the North and the South. The province stretches from the Northwest mountainous area to the delta, thus being called a half mountain half plain area. In particular, Ninh Binh contains 3 main kinds of topography: limestone mountains with fascinating caves & grottoes, the delta raised by Red River Silt, and a coastline with the length of 18 kilometers, enlarging the province area by 100m2 per year.
Besides limestone caves and grottos, Ninh Binh is also popular for the first imperial capital of Vietnam, from 968 to 1010 under Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties, which has resulted in its cultural tourism potential. Also, Tam Coc-Bich Dong and Cuc Phuong national park within the province are desirable destinations for tourists.
Magna phasellus Tempor id torquent, curabitur dui cubilia In mauris ad enim. Habitasse erat leo.
|San Francisco International Airport
|Please arrive at least 2 hours before the flight.
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Potenti mattis ad mollis eleifend Phasellus adipiscing ullamcorper interdum faucibus orci litora ornare aliquam. Ligula feugiat scelerisque. Molestie. Facilisi hac.
Additional information
|Ninh Bình
Day 1: Departure
- Maecenas massa. Fermentum. Pretium vitae tempus sem enim enim.
- Tempus, leo, taciti augue aliquam hendrerit.
- Accumsan pharetra eros justo augue posuere felis elit cras montes fames.
- Vulputate dictumst egestas etiam dictum varius.
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6: Return
Tour Reviews
Nisi semper orci. Sollicitudin ultrices neque sapien suscipit felis netus nibh volutpat Nibh nec curabitur magna lacinia gravida phasellus dictumst cras hymenaeos integer morbi senectus eu, aliquam nascetur montes cursus.
The sightseeing and activities were better than we even thought! I still can't believe we did so much in such a short time, but we did not feel stressed. We really loved the tour and would do it all over again in a minute! Thanks.


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One of the biggest things that's changed in my life since my financial turnaround and subsequent career changes is that I'm constantly involved in a lot more self-evaluation than I used to be. I'm constantly looking at how I do things, looking for ways to improve the quality and value of how I spend my time and energy and money.
Something I've noticed quite a lot lately is how much of my life seems to move along with a particular rhythm. I don't necessarily mean that things are the same day-in and day-out, because they're not. What I mean is that I go through periods of heightened efficiency and mindfulness. I get ahead on my work. I write lots of posts. I find lots of quality time to spend with my family and for my other hobbies.
How do I fall out of these periods? Usually, it's a series of unexpected events that triggers a change. One of our kids is sick during the night. I go on a lengthy trip of some kind (more than a few days). Something breaks in our home and I have to repair it. There's a serious illness or death to someone close to me.
And, boom, the rhythm is interrupted. I feel tired and my mind is cloudy. I have a harder time working. I'm not as mindful of my spending and I make a few awful spending decisions. I get upset with myself – and with others – much easier than before. I'm less productive and less energetic – and it shows in every aspect of my life.
I have a lot of techniques for finding my rhythm again. Usually, it involves spending a couple of days resetting everything. I get my organizing system back in order. I go to bed early a few nights and don't set the alarm, allowing my body to wake up naturally when it's rested. I play with my kids a lot. I clean the house. I spend some time with my friends. I directly address any things that are causing ongoing stress, like a relationship that's not as strong as I'd like it to be.
And, gradually, I get back into the rhythm of things. My productivity and energy go back up. I begin to feel more fulfilled about everything in my life. My spending discipline is stronger than ever. I feel like I'm doing better work in every aspect of my life.
Over the past few weeks, I've had some conversations with a lot of people in my own life and several readers about this phenomenon – and I've found that most people feel the same way, although they don't articulate it as well. They have a "rhythm" in their life that they're sometimes in touch with and sometimes out of touch with. The amount of "rhythm" seems to vary from person to person quite a lot, though – some people seem to find it a bit of a rarity, while others seem to rarely find it.
I will say this much: one universal thing that everyone has said is that the times in their life when they've found their rhythm are much richer than times where they're off of their rhythm.
Obviously, I'd like to move in a direction where I'm in touch with my rhythm more than I used to be. I've found several techniques for doing this that really seem to work.
Know some sure signs that your rhythm is out of whack. For me, the biggest signs are that my office is messy, my GTD inbox has a buildup of stuff in it, my "article buffer" (articles I have written in advance) is low or depleted, and that I feel tired in the middle of the day. When I see two of these things, I usually take it as a sign that my rhythm is out of whack.
If you see any sign of falling out of your rhythm, stop and recharge as soon as you can. You might not be able to do it immediately, but you should do it as soon as you can. I find that when I force myself to do things when I'm out of sync, I make many more mistakes and am much slower about things than when I'm in a good rhythm. In other words, the time I spend keeping myself in sync pays great dividends over time.
If you don't feel that you've had your rhythm, or have severe difficulty reclaiming it, get a medical checkup. There are a lot of little things that can hold us back from feeling great and knocking it out of the park. Many of them are very simple – a vitamin deficiency or something like that. I have an underactive (bordering on inactive) thyroid and if I miss out on my daily thyroid medication, I can quickly get out of rhythm.
Certain routine activities help me maintain my rhythm. For me, a daily walk of about three miles, a daily 20 minute meditation session (where I try to empty my mind for a while in the quietest room in the house), and a daily gaming session help me keep in my rhythm. I try really hard to accomplish these things every day. A piano practice session seems to be creeping into the picture here, as well.
If you're out of rhythm, put off buying decisions. I find that, time and time again, my judgment when it comes to purchasing decisions is out of whack when I'm out of rhythm. If I put the decision off until I'm in a better frame of mind, not only do I end up making a better decision over the long haul, I usually have created some additional incentive to focus on what I need to do to get back in the swing of things.
Good luck!
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subset: commoncrawl


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If you were figuring Edmonton Rush owner Bruce Urban would be tossing out happy comments after his team came victorious out of a Saturday match-up with the Vancouver Stealth at the Langley Events Centre, you were mistaken.
It's easy to see Urban being upset for his family getting hassled, but chances are there were more effective ways of handling it than via social media.
Imagine what might have been stated if the Rush didn't respond from a 7-2 deficit to win 9-8 and remain the league's lone undefeated team at 4-0.
Only in lacrosse.


text: With 15 full-service branches peppered throughout Utah, Cache Valley Bank is now the 2nd largest regulated financial institution in the state. The bank was founded back in 1975 with a goal of serving regular citizens and small businesses in Utah. The bank has a mobile and internet banking website that allows customers to perform banking tasks from their computers and smartphones.


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(Host) States are facing tough decisions about where to invest their shrinking budgets. In most cases protecting open space is not at the top of the list.
But the downturn in the economy has also meant, in some places, a drop in land values.
As part of a collaboration with Northeast public radio stations Nancy Cohen from WNPR in Hartford reports that's creating new opportunities to preserve land and curb development.
(Cohen) Suzanne Rockett always imagined living close to nature. In 1996 she bought 108 acres on the side of a mountain in the Massachusetts Berkshires, bordering New York.
(Rockett) "Oh! It was my dream! I was in the middle of the woods and my plan was to build my house in the middle of the woods, which I did."
(Cohen) At first Rockett looked into selling part of the land for conservation, but that didn't pan out. She came up with a plan to build a small development of eight to 10 condominiums. And started by carving out a meadow.
(Rockett) "After I cleared this I put the two wells in. I put this pond in for the condominium unit with a waterfall. I had already done most everything to get it prepared for the beginning stages of building."
(Cohen) Rockett says this location has everything: a view of Jiminy Peak ski area, hiking on the Taconic Crest Trail and concerts at Tanglewood. But by 2006 she was running out of money, she couldn't find an investment partner, and the real estate market was starting to get shaky.
(Rockett) "It took a little time to start to crash here, but once it did it really did. So I had to let it go."
(Cohen) Eventually Rockett found a buyer. One that would help fulfill her first dream: to keep the land wild. The state of Massachusetts bought 80 acres from her last fall. She says the price was about a third of what she would have made from the condos.
Rockett worked with Keith Ross of LandVest, a real estate consulting company, to make the deal with the state. Ross says in the past two years he's had six other clients who own land in western Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire in similar predicaments.
(Ross) "In each case these are significant sized properties and when the economy is good they would have been sold for development."
(Cohen) Ross says some developers need to sell quickly.
(Ross) "For those land owners who haveto sell, who need the cash, they have dropped their asking prices pretty dramatically 30, 40, 50 percent in some places. That makes it possible for conservation buyers the ability to come in and acquire some of these pieces that they may have been priced out of previously."
(Cohen) A few states have been able to take advantage of the changing market. Massachusetts closed on about 10,000 acres of open space this year. Mary Griffin, commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game, says the state was able to buy land at a lower average price per acre.
(Griffin) "We've had a number of landowners that we have been pursuing for years that have prime wildlife habitat, prime ecological lands that are of utmost importance from the state's perspective that really never had an interest in talking to us who have approached us and been interested in selling their land."
(Cohen) Some conservation groups are also trying to get the best out of this economy. Chris LaPointe works in the Boston office of the Trust for Public Land. He says his group has negotiated deals with landowners that allow an entire year or even two for fund raising to buy a property. Something that's key in this economy
(LaPointe) "What that does is really allows us to have the opportunity to line up local, state and federal funding which can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to pull together."
(Cohen) But in other parts of the northeast the downturn in the economy isn't making land protection any easier. Lise Hanners is with the Connecticut Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, which typically buys large parcels that are biologically diverse. Her group isn't getting as many big donations as it used to. And there aren't as many landowners who are ready to sell.
(Hanners) "Most people are sitting and waiting, holding onto their property, hoping the market will return because they want to get the full value that they feel their land is worth."
(Cohen) Greg Ugalde, one of the biggest Connecticut-based land developers, says other big developers he knows are not only holding onto their land, they're buying more.
(Ugalde) "Builders now have to look ahead and say OK how many lots, when we turn from this economy, how many lots do I need in the future? And you're out there trying to hunt around and try to find those and obtain them."
(Cohen) "And maybe get a good deal?"
(Ugalde) "And hopefully get a reasonable deal. Right a good deal would be even better."
(Rockett) "Nala, Drop it, drop it"
(Coyen) Back in the Berkshires Suzanne Rockett and her German shephard Nala are walking up the hill from the former condo site. She says she would have preferred to hold onto the land. But having the state preserve it is almost as good
(Rockett) "If it had to happen it was really the best case scenario because the land will stay forever wild."
(Cohen) Now hunters and fishermen will always be able to visit this land along with the rest of the public.
For VPR News, I'm Nancy Cohen.
(Host) Northeast environmental coverage is part of NPR's Local News Initiative. The reporting is funded, in part, by grant from United Technologies.
Listen Wednesday during Morning Edition, some land conservation groups can't raise the money to protect some special parcels.


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Lightning's Girl
My Record Label
Band : Positive No
July 22, 2009
Things I Did This Summer : Bring It
I made a fabulous summer mix for Shmitten Kitten and you can stream it / download it
. Where else could you hear The Headcoatees and Etta James all on one mix?
There is just about an hour of music here; six decades of ladies who can dish out a little attitude and a few fellas tossed in who know that heavy hips and "the way we look when we say we don't care" are all reasons to love us.
My gift to you, 24 flavors of kitten with a whip you can shimmy and shake to.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The National Weather Service said a flash of light over South Dakota, labeled a UFO by some, was likely a meteor entering the atmosphere.
Tim Masters, a technician with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, said the flash of light reported in the sky over the area around Brandon and Hartford around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday was likely a meteor, The (Sioux Falls) Argus Leader reported Thursday.
"It wasn't a UFO. It was a meteor," he said. "It lit up the sky pretty bright."
"We just know that it's probably just a little rock that fell through the atmosphere and probably burned up when it fell down," Masters said.
Masters said the meteor appears to have been isolated and was not a part of a meteor shower.
Peter Davenport, director of the non-profit National UFO Reporting Center in Washington state, said he received calls about the lights Wednesday. He said the only way to be sure the object was a meteor would be to interview witnesses.
"There are many, many events that occur which, when we get into the fine detail ... it seems obviously it could have not been a meteor," Davenport said.


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Book a Retreat
We have a team who caters, leads, and creates the guidebook and puts together a resource bag for every retreatant. We can also find the cabin that is right for your small group of around 20.
Every retreat we lead has:
- silence as the primary exercise
- open space, open time, and to encounter contemplative practices
- teaching dialogues round the kataphatic & apophatic contemplative traditions
- group conversations to help reflect on the retreat process
- an emphasis on gathering around the table for family style meals
We price on a per/person basis so that we can consider resources, food, and other logistics. We can also quote additional factors like lodging and our own travel expenses when we get a bit more information from you. Get in touch with us via the form below, and we'll get things started.
We will start a conversation with you via email/text (whichever you prefer) to work out the initial details to see if we are a fit for your retreat plans.
Our Team
Daran Freund
Daran spent 5 years as the Community Pastor at The Next Level Church in Denver, CO. During his time in Denver he worked towards a Master In Biblical Studies from Golden Gate Seminary, Rocky Mountain Campus which he completed in 2013.
Upon moving back to OKC in 2005, Daran immersed himself into Convergence where he regularly introduces the community to Spiritual Practices. Daran has also played a active role in developing and leading Spiritual Retreats since 2009.
Daran is currently working on a "Certificate in Spiritual Direction" from HeartPaths Spirituality Center. Daran's greatest passion is introducing people to Contemplative Prayer and is a avid reader and practitioner of Contemplative Spirituality.
Scott has spent the last 12 years starting, pastoring, and leading Convergence Community located in the heart of Oklahoma City. He has a heart to bring people together to process life and faith with the freedom of questions, doubts, uncertainty and conversation. Scott was first introduced to the rich Christian heritage of the contemplative way through several authors. Upon starting Convergence, he and Daran have teamed together to create an environment where spiritual practices flourish at the heart of the community.
Scott has recently received a Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics from Portland Seminary (formerly George Fox Seminary) under the mentorship of Dr. Leonard Sweet. His writing and research have been focused on the deconstruction of faith, the mystery of God, and a community that remains near to those disoriented in their faith.


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Tuesday, August 5, 2014
The Dip in the Floor
We moved into this home almost a year ago now, and so far I've adjusted to the little quirks that come along with a 100 plus year old home. Sure, the floors slant a little, there's steps that took only once to remember their presence, but there's one place that caught my attention after a while. It didn't dawn on me until not too long ago as to why it was there...what caused that flaw.
And I think we need more of that particular flaw....
There's a dip in the floor.
It's located in front of the old fashioned gas stove.
It's one that came about from years of feet standing in front of that old stove. Those old boards have over the years slowly compacted as the weight of the woman of the house stood over it, creating countless meals in that one place. Oh how many hours the women before me must have stood there, stirring soups and stews, frying meats, cooking vegetables, using the canner to put up the season's surplus.
I can picture in my mind's eye women from eras past in their aprons, moving to and fro between the old stove and the old white sink, dashing about as they worked to prepare the family's meals. I can smell the fried chicken of Sunday dinner after church, with mashed potatoes and gravy and all the fixings. I can see the meatloaf fresh out of the old oven and sizzling hot, and a pan of gravy up on the burner staying warm and waiting. I can see a flat griddle in the early morning hours patiently frying pancakes for bleary eyed children. I can smell the coffee percolating on the back burner for the caffeine needs of cook and husband.
At first, upon moving in, I saw this dip as a small nuisance, mainly due to drying time and the puddle that sits an extra hour or two longer, especially in winter. As I've discovered a reason for that dip, I've come to appreciate it. I can handle the extra drying time.
Today in a lot of homes, there's no one there to stand at the stove and stir a pot of soup, to make a goulash, mash potatoes, stir some gravy. No one is home to pull a loaf of bread from the hot oven. The stove top becomes dusty, the floor gets no use. While life was harder back in the years past, with older ways of doing things, less to work with, and so on...one thing could be counted on--mom at home with a hot meal or a batch of cookies, or something freshly made. When at all possible she was home, tending to home and family, nourishing her husband and children with home cooked meals.
And slowly, one meal, one loaf of bread at a time, one cookie sheet at a time...creating a dip in the floor.
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10 comments:
I love this! I live in a manufactured home that we purchased brand new, but I like the idea of starting to create a dip that one day my granddaughters many stand in and reflect upon the way you are today. Thank you!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you for your kind words! I've lived in old farm houses most of my life due to being part of a farm family, so I took for granted all those dips and slants as a part of "normal" living. It was just a recent thing for me, after nearly 37 years, that there may be a reason why there's a low spot right in front of the stove...or the sink... This house we started renting last fall is a good 100 years old, and the old family that lived here had been here for decades, until the widow finally had to let the house go, and our landlord bought it. I'm glad to be in the house, dips and all. :)Delete
I have lived in a couple older houses that had dips and uneven floors and always felt the homes had a history that only the walls cold tell. Now I live in a newer home and at times miss the dips in the floors!ReplyDeleteReplies
Me too! Well...except the newer home thing...the newest I've ever lived in was a trailer manufactured in the 1980's... I love the history in these old houses, the stories they could tell, and do tell if you have chance to hit the attics or basements/cold cellars. One old farm house we lived in had the old blue mason jars full fo food, left from around the 1950's or 60's, and still sealed. :)Delete
LOVE the old houses.
What a nice way to look at a nuisance. :) There is a charm to the history of an old house and knowing of those who have lived there before... Thank you for posting this. :)ReplyDeleteReplies
You're very welcome! Thank you for stopping by!Delete
I love your descriptive writing. This is a lovely post. Thanks for sharing at somuchathome.blogspot.com!ReplyDelete
God bless,
Thank you very much! And thank you for stopping in. :) Have a great day!Delete
Lovely post! And so true... It breaks my heart to see all these fancy kitchens with the top of the line appliances and then hear the owner say "they don't really cook"... May we all make dips in our floors... Thanks for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week! Please join in again next Monday :)ReplyDelete
Thank you very much! Yes, I've seen pictures of fancy kitchens, but there's no fingerprints on the cabinets and doors, no "character marks" left behind by kids (or messy adult), and no impressions left behind from hours at the sink or stove. Those folks are missing out!ReplyDelete


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Beware! Whoever is cruel
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Said:
"Beware! Whoever is cruel and harsh to a non-Muslim minority, curtailing their rights, overburdening them, or stealing from them, I will complain [to God] about that person on the Day of Judgments
Source: Abu Dawud
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Roo Presents Mouse Detection and Hunting Techniques for the Advanced Afficionado of the Outdoors/
Please, please... do not let your dog attempt any of these maneuvers at home. If Roo is to be believed, they are liable to result in a deluge of mouses who want to play with a dog.
If you're on Facebook, how about a favor? Please go to the page and invite your facebook friends to like the page. Here's how. All you have to do is visit the page, then look for the three dots next to the Message button up at the top right. Click on Invite Friends, and follow the prompts. It only takes a few second, and it really helps. THANKS!


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I have a problem with the title of this post. Yes, I wrote it, but it needed to be short, snappy and clear to people who were looking for information. How I Facilitated my Five Children in Becoming Confident, Voracious Readers was simply too long and confusing. But here's why I think the second title would be far more suitable.
For some strange reason, we give all the praise to the teacher. I have been told a number of times how great a teacher I am. When my girls were young and reading in public people would come over and shower me with praise, while my seven year old reading chapter books was mostly ignored. Maybe they got a slightly patronising pat on the head, and asked whether they were enjoying their book in that 'special' voice reserved for kids (does that put your teeth on edge too?).
My opinion is different. I haven't even put in a hundredth of the effort my kids have. All I do is show them how to decode the language, step by step. They manage to remember it all, the varying letter sounds, the tricky and sometimes senseless digraphs, and apply it. It takes me less than half an hour a week. They will practice for hours and hours, over years, before they truly master it.
The child is the one who deserves recognition of her effort.
Anyway, rant over. But I think it serves to put your role into perspective – the learner is the most important part of your duo. You simply supply the tools, the time, and the guidance. And the fun!
Without further ado, here's how we helped five kids to become avid and competent readers.
Step 1 – Instil a love of reading
Don't start with the reading programs! Learning any skill needs motivation. Loving books provides that motivation for your child. Buy kids books as presents, take them to the library and encourage them to borrow whatever they like, provide quiet time for them to read (yes, just studying the pictures is great), and promote books as precious stores of enjoyment and knowledge.
And of course, read aloud. Reading aloud is the best thing you can do. If you can start young do so, but if they're older you can't start any earlier. Read anything that they want you to – kids of most ages still enjoy picture books. And sometimes you'll be bored – I have to read Rex his train and truck books ALL THE TIME. But because I do, his main motivation for doing reading lessons has been so he can read them himself. Kids don't want to wait around until you have the time.
Click here to download our list of our favourite books to read aloud
A personalised reading from you is always best, but feel free to supplement with audiobooks. They'll also help you become a better reader – quality audiobooks are read by people with style and flair, and you can adopt any techniques that you enjoy.
We also celebrate milestones. When mine were capable of reading an Enid Blyton book by themselves (I have a set of about 70 from when I was young, and they're treasured) I made them their own library bag in the fabrics of their choice. They were always so proud to take it to the library, with their card tucked in the pocket, and borrow their own books.
Step 2 – Use simple but effective resources WHEN YOUR CHILD IS READY
I know there's all those programs claiming to Teach your Baby to Read! etc, but they're not realistic. The National Curriculum isn't much better, drilling reading skills at a young age (is it any wonder so many kids end up in so-called remedial reading, with long-term feelings of being a dummy? They're not remedial, they're just not ready!)
Just as bad are programs that overcomplicate things. You've probably seen them – you need to buy a series of student books, plus teacher books, plus flashcards, plus special early readers, and do the computer program too. They're simply playing on insecurities. They harder and more mysterious they make learning to read seem, the more money you'll be happy to pay them to alleviate your anxiety. Sharks.
It's that perceived difficulty that make people send their kids to school just to learn to read. Seriously! I've met a handful of people who love the idea of homeschooling, but are not confident enough in their ability to teach to read to homeschool from the start. It's really not as difficult as schools and companies make it out to be!
Another rant over! Can you tell reading is a topic I'm extremely passionate about?
Here's what I used for my three girls and Forrest. They became independent readers (in our family that's reading those Enid Blyton books) at 5, 6, 6, and 7.
Stairway to Reading – this is a remedial reading program, but teaches all the skills needed from scratch. You get structured lessons and reading material and bingo games to match them. The best part is that it's FREE! A donation is encouraged, and when you see how wonderful this resource is you'll be happy to give one.
Click here to download Stairway to Reading
Stairway didn't provide quite enough practice for my kids. It's fair enough, it's a supplement, not a full program. Reading Reflex is also a remedial program, with plenty of stories. It has a great introduction section for the parent which I found reassuring – it's very confident about your ability to help your child.
We supplemented both with early readers borrowed from the library, lots of reading aloud (by them and me), and lots of snuggling up together. Physical contact makes hard work seem much more fun.
If you choose to use another program, make sure it gives your child instant results. Kids want to read, and they don't need to learn every single letter sound, digraph and phoneme before they do. Some programs don't provide reading material until lesson 30 or later – it's simply too long to wait. Stairway to Reading and Reading Reflex provide reading practice after the first 12 sounds.
Step 3 – Rinse and repeat for children with special needs, or those who need more practice
Again, you don't need fancy-pants programs, unless your child has a specific condition requiring them. Repetition is best. You may need to show your child something lots of times before it sinks in. They may not pick up patterns automatically, and may need a lot of extra help. Most importantly, don't have any expectations. When a child is running to their own schedule you need to accept that they may not read until much older than you want them to. It's perfectly OK. Stick to their ability, keep it fun, and stay patient. Easier said than done sometimes, I know!
Rex is now 10, and is not quite reading independently. He can read beginning phonics readers. While we use all of the resources listed above, here's the extras i've added in to give him more practice and repetition.
Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
This book is designed to teach your children from the start. It uses symbols and bolding with letters to show different sounds, which has been fantastic for a child who needs things pointed out to him.
These are the best phonics readers I have ever seen! If I knew about them when the girls were learning they would have used them too. They're simple but interesting, and the grading in them is gradual and logical. Their progression matches all the programs I'velisted.
Hopefully, this has encouraged you to let go of some of your stress around learning to read, and to give it a try. You really CAN do it, I promise!


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Rules FAQ:
- Kneeling a character with an Intrigue icon is a cost ("do X to do Y"), you can only pay costs with cards you control, so you cannot use Chataya's Brothel to kneel an opponent's character (see Costs).
King's Landing.
Marshaling Action: Kneel a character with an icon to gain 1 gold. (Limit twice per phase.)
Link: Decklists


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Be a Creator of Synchronicity
1. The state or fact of being synchronous or simultaneous; synchronism.
2. Coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related, conceived in Jungian theory as an explanatory principle on the same order as causality.
Synchronicity is a component of the Moment and the Moment is the Greatest Gift …that's why it's called the "Present"
You cannot experience synchronicity in the past of your life nor the future. Only in the NOW will you be able to experience this seeming magical potion that makes life run smoothly…without resistance and toil.
When your consciousness/awareness resides in the moment rather than dwelling in some past memory or stressing over some future "supposed" happening (you know…off in your thoughts somewhere creating a drama to play out in your life)…you become alive as you literally "plug in" to the energy of the moment where Universal power, Inspiration and Synchronicity spring from. Continue reading
Understanding Personal Power…Your Key to Manifesting
How we connect and use our own Personal Power is a topic that has been explored at length by ancient Wisdom seekers of Truth as well as modern day mystics alike throughout all ages and times. Personal Power is what we all silently seek but most have yet to discover.
Personal Power encompasses all aspects of our being…the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
We have the ability and strength as humans to go within ourselves and accomplish any desire we can imagine by using specific methods and following certain laws.
It is a birthright we were born with but few have consciously tapped into these latent powers. Continue reading
A Life of Limitations or A Life Of Magic…Your Choice
Whether we are conscious of it or not, every moment of everyday we choose which direction our minds and thoughts go and this dictates whether we are living a conditioned life…or an unconditioned life.
One grants freedom and the other slavery.
Let's examine the basic principles that apply to a conditioned life and compare them to one that is unconditioned.
Those entertaining a conditioned life live a life of limitations. They have constructed walls and borders that limit the expression of their lives. Continue reading
2013…The New YOU
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Another year comes to a close as 2012 silently slips away (well ok maybe not so silently!) and 2013 fills the void with promise of new beginnings and new opportunities.
It's an essence/energy that permeates the air and fills us with hope, offering a clean slate to work with and a new energy to mold and create with.
As the "ball" drops in Times Square millions worldwide will silently profess their New Year's resolutions. Their hopes…their dreams, their desires, subtly wrapped up as New Year's Resolutions. Continue reading
What A Child Taught Us All About Manifesting Our Dreams
It is one of my greatest pleasures to announce that our daughter Marina won the Meet & Greet contest to meet her pop star idol – Cody Simpson!
And she's asked me to make sure that I convey her appreciation and gratitude for everyone who rallied around her in an all out effort to make it happen!
But there's far more to this story though than a little lady winning a contest and that's what I'm going to reveal to you today in this blog post.
So take a few moments to fully absorb what a child taught us all about manifesting our dreams as you note and EMBRACE the sequence of events that I'm about to reveal and how they apply to your own dreams…
Why Setting Goals May Prevent You From Reaching Your Dreams
I read an anonymous quote the other day on Facebook that simply said, "You'll never achieve your dreams if they don't become goals." And while I understand the intent of this statement is to underscore the importance of setting tangible goals and remaining focused on attaining them, I couldn't disagree more with the quote itself.
In fact, I would put forth that embracing this quote will actually thwart you from successfully achieving your coveted end results.
The Importance of Goal Setting
An invitation arrived for the first time to a yearly event in your industry that you have wanted to attend for many years. It is the ideal venue to meet noted individuals you have longed to connect with. You would not think about setting out to attend the event without proper attire or knowing how to get there.
Yet, how many of us start our days or travel the highways of career, family, friendships, hobbies, personal, spiritual, financial, all areas of life without direction, focus or knowing how to get there or what we want?
Though we have heard about goal setting throughout our lives many have never been privy to it's principles, it is not taught in schools and some think it is only applicable in sales or start-ups. Goal setting creates an important visual, a map that we may easily navigate to achieve the successes of our dreams. It demands that we ask of ourselves exactly what we want to accomplish, how and when.


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APPALACHIAN ARTIST CRUSH is a series of interviews with artists from around the East Tennessee region, whose work I admire and who I want to share with the world.
Courtney is a printmaker carving imaginative images out of linoleum blocks. She does craft and art fairs throughout the Tri-Cities area, where her work can be seen and purchased in-person. Don't miss out on following her beautiful Instagram feed: @buffalo_street_print_co
Tell us about your creative beginnings. What was your earliest experience of artmaking, and what drew you in? Was creativity encouraged in your early years?
I really don't remember how I started, I just know that I started one day and haven't stopped. My whole family was incredibly encouraging though. My parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles all encouraged my artistic endeavors. My Papa made me my first easel. My aunt Kathy thought I'd work at Disney some day and dreamed that I'd be an animator. My dad and stepmom have pieces of art I thought were throw aways hanging in the house. I've been truly blessed to have the support and encouragement of my whole family.
I loved drawing animals and my uncle Grego would let me help him in his taxidermy shop as a young teen which taught me a lot about animal anatomy and showed me the importance of thinking about your subject as part of a whole.
What I always loved about art was that it was a little universe of your own creation and I would just find my self absorbed in it, no matter what was going on around me. The creation of little worlds is still something that absorbs me in my work as an adult. I like getting lost in them.
Tell us about your creative process--what makes it unique? How do you create your best work? What do you love most about your process?
Just like when I was a little girl my creative process still involves creating little worlds of my own. I create my best work when I'm trying to make a little world for myself and my subjects. About 10 years ago I took a class on American Folklore and I was fascinated by the thought of this magical American landscape that exists in familiar settings. So that's the world I've been trying to create in my work. It's recognizable in it's setting but the mood is magical.
I think I create my best work when I'm faithful to nature and interject just enough fantasy to keep it from being a textbook illustration. I like print making to capture this world because the extremes of light and dark already give it the mood of a fairy tale. I also love the fact that when you do printmaking you are carving and creating a solid artifact you can keep forever. I love the way the blocks look and feel more than even the prints.
What has been a habit or focus you've had that's integral to your art practice?
I draw all day everyday. I have a regular job outside of art and underneath my keyboard I keep scraps of paper so whenever I'm not typing I can doodle. It kills two birds with one stone really, I'm able to focus better at work when I'm doodling during conference calls and it keeps my creativity flowing. If I'm not working out something for a specific piece I'm just doodling animals or people. It's a lot like stream of conciousness writing. It just keeps me from getting rusty and every once in a while I get something I can use out of it. Also, it helps me remember what's going on on long conference calls. I can look down and say "oh yeah they were talking about entitlements when I was drawing fat little deer so Ineed to finish that spreadsheet." So I remember to do my day job and I get better at drawing fat little deer. It's a win win.
Tell me about a hurdle you've had to overcome in your artmaking or art career.
I think like a lot of creative types my biggest hurdle has been myself. It's easy to not think you are good enough or have anything valuable to share with the world. Allowing myself to be intimidated by what I thought art has to be has been a huge hurdle. I didn't really have a breakthrough until late last year when I met this amazing weaver in Abingdon. She told me, "Just do whatever the hell you want to do and you'll eventually get good at it and people will notice." I wish I had heard that 20 years ago although I don't think I was ready to believe it until just now. Being a very shy, private person also makes sharing art difficult. I have to really put myself out there and it can be very intimidating for me to talk to people about my process or have them even look at my work. When I was younger I never showed anyone my work because I didn't think it was any good or I was any good. I still get nervous about it.
What is your educational background, and how does it influence your creative work, if at all?
I was extremely fortunate to go to Oak Ridge City Schools which had an amazing art program at a time when education wasn't focused on test scores. I had art pretty much everyday from middle school on and was exposed to all kinds of media, points of view and methods to create art. That's where I first did printmaking and it stuck with me ever since. I didn't realize how lucky I was until I was an adult. I owe Ms. Nichols, Ms. Wakefield, Mr. Dodson and Mrs. Culbertson a great debt of gratitude for teaching me art during my tender middle school and high school years even though I'm sure at the time they were essentially casting pearls before swine because I'm sure I didn't listen or appreciate it. I still use what I learned at Oak Ridge Schools today.
What are you most excited about in your creative landscape in the moment?
As far as literal landscapes go I'm still deeply fascinated by Wakulla Springs, Florida. My friend Emily and I went on a road trip down there last fall and it was the most creatively inspiring experience of my life. Here was the magical, Southern landscape I had been trying to capture for years in my art and it was an actual place. It was like an artistic numinous experience. I'm also really looking forward to just working on my process and getting better at it. Now that I have a good source of inspiration I can focus more on the technical aspects of printmaking. Sometimes it's hard to focus on technique when you don't have subject matter that inspires you.
Share your favorite local hangout & or another hidden gem.
I personally really enjoy the Elizabethton pool between 8 and 9 feet. I like to hangout upside down there and look at the sky from under the water. I'm sure the life guards think I'm insane. It's also only $3 to get in and it's the coldest, clearest pool I've ever been to. It's never that busy and it's open until 5 and you can ride your bike to it from the Tweetsie trail. It's never to early to start thinking about summer.
Now that you know about Courtney, it's time to get more acquainted!
Instagram: @buffalo_street_print_co
Elsewhere: Courtney's work is available to see in person or for purchase at Dazzle Hair
Color Studio 807 E Jackson Blvd, Jonesborough, TN.


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Here, a wonderful new development for today; Nate Golon's film Briefcase will be used by Netflix in future promotions worldwide! Golan informed me several days ago Netflix has licensed his film short for retail, and online endorsements for VODs (videos on demand) in a two-year contract–with Golon maintaining full control over his project and the right to develop it as a full-length feature film.
Even greater news! Briefcase has also been accepted into the Hill Country Film Festival in Fredericksburg, Texas, which is sure to be the first of many appearances in festivals to come for the project. I personally wish to congratulate Nate on this exciting new endeavor in his professional career and hope that Briefcase continue to have a broad impact as a promotional tool. Briefcase made news on over 30 film blogs just in February of this year, and I can see word about his work will continue to sweep the internet. From this, perhaps he can receive additional funding assistance to expand the Briefcase project?
In the film, Carter (Golon) finds a lone briefcase at a gas station while servicing his tire in the dead of night. Curious, he walks over and opens it to discover something that he perhaps should not have. Instead of leaving the case–he visits with a couple who realizes that he shouldn't have the case either. Unfortunately, Carter soon realizes that no matter how hard you try to avoid it–you cannot escape your own mortality.
Nate Golon is an actor, an up-and-coming writer and producer. He has starred in multiple shorts and television series' and made for TV movies, including the hit show Workshop; the first independently produced comedy program to appear on Hulu. Golon co-wrote also co-produced for Workshop.
Source: Nate Golon


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Phone:727-478-1306 | A Total Solution is your one stop resource for Commercial Fire Alarms, Security Systems, Access Control Systems and more. At ATS our team is dedicated to providing Commercial buildings with all the s ...
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Catherine Fritsinger
Posted By: Karen Bergquist Uhr
Date: 2/8/2009 at 15:19:26
At the family residence, Harrisburg, Monday, Oct. 20th, Mrs. Catharine Fritsinger, aged 39 years, 11 months and 11 days. Obituary will appear hereafter.
Source: Newspaper unknown
Margaret Johnson Meek Scrapbook
Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen


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'Star Wars' Boba Fett Movie '100% Dead,' Says Head Of Lucasfilm
'Star Wars' Boba Fett Movie '100% Dead,' Says Head Of Lucasfilm
Sorry, Boba, looks like you'll remain in the sarlacc's belly for now.
There was never much info on a rumored "Star Wars" Boba Fett project outside of scattered reports, but according to Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, the project is no longer happening.
While speaking with Kennedy this week, journalist Erick Weber asked about the status of a one-off flick featuring everyone's favorite bounty hunter from a galaxy far, far away.
Kennedy reportedly confirmed that the "Boba Fett movie is 100% dead."
This may not come as much of a surprise given the failure of "Solo" at the box office earlier in the year. Since then, Disney, which owns Lucasfilm, has announced that it would slow down its previous goal of one "Star Wars" film a year.
Kennedy tells Weber that the focus right now will be producer Jon Favreau's live-action series "The Mandalorian," which will run on Disney's upcoming streaming service.
That series, which takes place between the events of 1983′s "Return of the Jedi" and 2015′s "The Force Awakens," will feature some high-profile names to direct each episode, including Bryce Dallas Howard and Taika Waititi.
Favreau released this first image from the show earlier this month.
Published at Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:24:41 +0000


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Leisure Centre
Over 100 lessons per week and nice junior actions , all set in 25 green acres by the river. Now we have two multi purpose sports halls which supply a range of sports activities and activities. Youth membership provides entry to Manurewa Pool and Leisure Centre only, from 5.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday and normal opening hours on weekends. Youth membership gives access to Otara Pool and Leisure Centre solely, from 5.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday and normal opening hours on weekends.
Accessible from the primary pool area, take pleasure in a soothing sauna and/or steam session at your leisure. The movie marks the screenwriting debut of J.Ok. Rowling, whose beloved Harry Potter books have been tailored into the top-grossing movie franchise of all time.
However, jousting tournaments, looking tournaments, and the earliest types of chess, checkers, and different video games developed during this time. Please be aware due to essential workers coaching Banbridge Leisure Centre will function diminished opening hours on Thursday 15 December 2016. For full details of the areas and actions available to rent please contact Newmarket Leisure Centre on 01638 782500.
Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Every part) stars within the central function of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander, beneath the course of David Yates, who helmed the final four Harry Potter blockbusters. Sports activities and youth actions provide leadership improvement for adults and kids. The parking system at Leisure World Colchester has been up to date to offer prospects a greater technique to validate their parking when visiting the centre.
The internal joyfulness of the one who is celebrating belongs to the very core of what we imply by leisure… Leisure is barely potential within the assumption that man will not be solely in harmony with himself … but additionally he's in agreement with the world and its meaning.


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Hey There!
It's been 10 months since I started this journey of wellness. When I started I was at my lowest. I had gained so much weight because I would eat for happiness. I couldn't wait to get home and fill up my snack plate and turn on a movie. I would eat until I couldn't move and then feel miserable for eating so much, go to sleep, wake up, go to work and repeat. It was like a scene from Ground Hog Day with Bill Murray.
I wanted to wake up and be done with the cycle of destruction. It had been going on for 4 years, but nothing seemed to stick. I was so miserable and it exuded out of me. I was sad, but could never cry, so instead I would be angry at everyone who loved me and that I loved. I didn't feel worthy.
It was a dark place to be in.
Today is brighter. I have been putting in the work that is required to love myself. I feel lighter in my soul and happier with life. I have lost 41 pounds and counting. The weight is so much more than fat lost; it is also pounds of regret, angry and sadness. A metamorphism to a better version of myself, the one I lost somewhere along this beautiful life.
People ask me how did I lose the weight and stay committed this time. What was different? My response is that it started with the birth of a new life, pure love and hope. I took a step forward and made the commitment to "Be Kind to Myself" and believed that the rest would follow.
And the rest did follow. I found and I am still finding love for myself, gratitude, growth and love for my body and life. I found peace and forgiveness for myself. I'm still a work in progress; I will always be a work in progress. I look forward to putting in the work, spreading kindness to others and being a better me for myself and this world.
Life is beautiful embrace it and experience it .
Live your best life in everything that you do.
I'm My Why
In July 2018 I joined WW for the last time. I have been up-and-down on the scale all my life ever since I can remember. My highest weight was 240 my lowest weight was 124. My self-love was 0.
This time I knew it was going to be different from day one. There was just this overall feeling of well-being. From the very beginning I knew that this had to be a journey that was not just one of weight loss. It had to be a journey of wellness, one where I was focusing on my health, fitness and spiritual and personal growth.
I knew that this time I had to work on my inner thoughts. I had to work on being kinder to myself and loving myself and practice self-care daily. I knew that if I did not work on of these three things, that I like to call the trifecta, I wouldn't crack the code of being healthy in mind, body and spirit for myself.
So, this January 2019 when WW posted its #7daysforeverybody on Instagram, I started to revisit my why. Initially I was going to name my children and my granddaughter as my why. But an overall feeling came over me; a feeling that moved me to say to myself; "You are your why."
And at that very moment I was scared, I felt vulnerable, and I wanted to just stop and avoid that feeling, because I don't usually put myself first. Every time I've lost weight or try to work on some type of wellness it was never for me. It was either for a spouse, partner or for appearances.
But at that moment I knew that I had evolved. I had finally found what wellness meant, it did not mean weight-loss. For me to be whole I need to make myself a priority, and love myself. This journey is for me. I know now that by choosing myself as my why everyone else in my life will benefit because I will be giving from a cup that' s overflowing instead of giving from a cup that is completely empty.
So yes, my why is
Alexandrea Reina
The Power of Re-directing Your Thoughts Hello Again!
Hello There!
Some of you may have already noticed that my blog disappeared last week. To keep it short, I was redesigning the template and my posts didn't save.
I was crushed for a quick moment. Then I took a deep breath in and exhaled. I started to immediately re-direct my thoughts. I started to ask myself what this situation is trying to teaching me. Instead of thinking and saying; why is this happening to me?
I have been putting in the miles to be more positive and being kind to myself. Usually something like this would lead me to giving up. This includes other things outside of writing and podcasting. A bump in the road use to de-rail me. I would over-eat and instead of just moving on, I would give up. I would miss a workout and just quit any future workouts.
Positive thinking and re-directing your thoughts is powerful. The more you do it the easier it becomes. When you ask yourself; what is the situation trying to teach me? Instead of why does this always happen to me, you're setting yourself up for success in whatever goals you're working towards to accomplish.
So, what did I learn from this frustrating bump in my lifestyle blogging?
I had wanted to change up a few things in my blog, but I was not making the moves to do it. I believe now that I lost the blog posts because the universe knew I needed a push. Over the past year I have grown a lot. I have gained a lot of confidence, focus and grace. But I was also staying comfortable. Now I have been pushed to step out and not color in the lines and be me in everything that I do.
I encourage you to practice this type of thinking.
Here are a few things to help you start and an example: (Remember practicing consistently will make it a regular thing.)
1. Stop and breathe. Pause and breathe and re gather your thoughts. Don't panic.
2. Ask - What is this trying to teach me?
3. Now that you asked the question, listen very carefully to what comes out of that question.
4. Mediate on it. However that looks for you. Everyone meditates differently.
5. Put what you have learned into action.
1. Over ate unhealthy foods at night- What can I learn from this? I have learned a few things that I can put into action, so if I want to snack at night I will do it healthier and smarter. Find other things to do besides late night snacking. Set myself up for success, by having low calories yummy snacks in the house. Grab a cup of tea or take a hot bath.
I hope this has given you the push and some ideas on how to re-direct your thinking to be more positive!
Be kind to yourself!
Alexandra Reina


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Available Positions
Every Ruby Falls team member plays a vital role in bringing the wonder and exceptional hospitality of Ruby Falls to each guest, every day. We are searching for diverse applicants who are equally devoted to delivering fantastic customer service and are inspired by the opportunity of being part of an iconic southern attraction.
While all positions require the ability to speak English fluently, we'd love to know if you speak an additional language. Just let us know on your application if you are bi-lingual.
We encourage applicants to apply for positions that are the best fit for their talents by following the "Apply Now" link at the bottom of this page.
Protect your personal information from fraudulent nationwide employment scams. All verified job opportunities at Ruby Falls are listed on this page. Candidates should apply by using the "Apply Now" link at the bottom of each job listing.
Admission Team Member
Type of Position: Full-Time Status: Non-Exempt Hours: Varies
Job Summary: Admissions Team Members are tasked with immediately greeting guests as they enter the Ruby Falls Ticketing Atrium and providing thorough information to guests as they purchase their tickets.
Admissions Team Members must maintain a cheerful, outgoing demeanor with guests as well as fellow team members.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Assist customers with purchasing tickets, refunds, questions, and/or complaints courteously and efficiently.
- Ensure daily operations of ticketing desk and other areas are running smoothly.
- Provide excellent customer service following the SHA standards.
- Check-In groups.
- Adhere to all cashiering procedures.
- Call and Load tours.
- Monitor tours in cave.
- Provide leadership and support to front line staff.
- Understand staff schedule, schedule needs and cover shifts as needed.
- Work as Tour Guide as needed.
- Drive the 15-passenger van as needed.
- Other duties as needed or assigned
Physical Requirements:
- Stand for an 8 hour shift
- Lift and carry up to 40 pounds
- Bend, reach, and stoop
Educational and Other Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Must be available to work weekends and holidays.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Background check required.
- Must have valid driver's licenses with acceptable MVR.
- Must be able to provide accurate change.
- Previous front desk or customer service experience helpful, but not required.
- Ability to read, interpret, and respond to necessary documents.
- Ability to speak effectively with customers.
- Ability to work with minimum amount of supervision.
Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to input and access data in computer, to perform assigned duties with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to understand guest inquires and provide accurate responses.
- Ability to satisfactorily communicate with guests, co-workers and management to their understanding.
- Ability to count, give correct change, keep cash bags and drawers organized.
- Ability to Multi-task in a fast pace environment.
- The ability to work with a team.
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance Policy
- Supplemental Insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Paid Time Off
Retail Team
Position Type: Non-management/Hourly
Schedule: Varies, must be available to work weekends and holidays
If you are the type of person who likes to chat with the person in line next to you at the coffee shop, organizes your closet by color and loves living in the Chattanooga area, this might be the perfect job for you!
Position Description
Members of the retail team deliver warm Ruby Falls hospitality by expertly assisting guests with purchases, locating merchandise, maintaining organization and cleanliness of designated areas (dusting shelves, vacuuming floors and cleaning restroom), and keeping inventory stocked as directed. In addition to welcoming guests to retail areas, team members answer a wide variety of guest questions about retail items, special events, Ruby Falls, and the Chattanooga area. The team follows company safety policies and business procedures.
The retail team maintains a friendly, professional manner, works with a computerized point of sale program (training provided) and gives accurate change for cash purchases. The ability to stand for an 8-hour shift, lift and carry up to 30 pounds, navigate stairs, and bend and stoop to restock displays is required.
The retail team works together to create a shopping environment that meets Ruby Falls hospitality expectations, ensuring that the 500,000+ guests who visit each year have an exceptional experience.
A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required if not currently enrolled in high school.
Food Service Team
Position Type: Non-management/Hourly
Schedule: Varies, must be available to work weekends and holidays
If you are the type of person who gets excited about what's on the Food Channel, thinks life is better when you have a snack close by and loves to meet new people, this position could be a great fit for you.
Position Description
The food service team delivers warm Ruby Falls hospitality by welcoming every guest, safely preparing menu items (both cooked and uncooked) according to the Tennessee Department of Health requirements, maintains cleanliness and organization of all refrigerators, freezers, and work area, delivers food orders, and keeps assigned area well stocked with supplies. Food Service team members perform cashier duties and are responsible for assisting customers with food purchases as well as answering guest questions about Ruby Falls and the Chattanooga area. Food Service team members follow safety policies and business procedures.
Members of the food service team maintain a friendly, professional manner. Must be able to work with a computerized point of sale program (training provided), have the ability to stand for an 8-hour shift, lift and carry up to 30 pounds, successfully navigate stairs, and bend or stoop to restock and clean refrigerators and freezers.
The food service team works together to meet Ruby Falls hospitality expectations, ensuring every one of our 500,000+ visitors each year have an exceptional experience.
A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required if not currently enrolled in high school.
Tour Guide Team
Position Type: Non-management/Hourly
Schedule: Varies, must be available to work weekends and holidays
You might be our next great tour guide if friends say you've never met a stranger, you jump at the chance to lead your buddies on new adventures, get excited about science or history and can't wait to share the latest scoop.
As Ruby Falls ambassadors, the tour guide team delivers warm, enthusiastic Ruby Falls hospitality by making every guest feel welcome, appreciated and infused with the wonder of Ruby Falls. Tour guide team members lead groups of guests through the cave, promoting a fun, relaxed, and wonder-inspiring atmosphere, operate the elevator following protocol, and assist in maintaining the cleanliness of the facility. Team members provide information to guests about Ruby Falls, special events, and the Chattanooga area; answering questions in a friendly, professional manner. The team adheres to established safety procedures and business policies.
Applicants for this position must be comfortable speaking and leading tour groups, including sizable school field trip groups and special interest groups. Must have the availability to deliver a friendly, conversational style presentation in a manner that is engaging for guests with a broad range of ages and cultural backgrounds. Tour guides need a clear, vibrant, speaking voice and the ability to interact warmly.
Each member of the tour guide team maintains positive working relationships with teammates, supports the team to reach common goals and completes other tasks as assigned. Tour guides work as a team to meet Ruby Falls hospitality and safety expectations with every guest interaction, ensuring guests have an exceptional experience.
Tour guide applicants must be able to walk up to five miles during an 8-hour shift over uneven surfaces, successfully navigate stairs and if necessary, be able to stoop in areas where cave height is somewhat reduced.
A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required if not currently enrolled in high school
Outside Services Team
Position Type: Non-management/Hourly
Schedule: Varies, must be available to work weekends and holidays
This is an ideal team for friendly folks who delight in showing off their dance moves in front of a crowd, volunteer to plan the route for the homecoming parade, always wave to neighbors and random people on the sidewalk, and love to collect intriguing trivia facts.
The outside services team, delivers friendly Ruby Falls hospitality by immediately greeting guests as they arrive on property, directs traffic efficiently, assists guests as they park and exit parking lots. Team members keep parking grounds clean, offer directional assistance and enthusiastically answer guest questions about Ruby Falls, available tours, ticket options, food services, and the Chattanooga area. The outside services team create a strong presence to deter unlawful activity in a professional manner and adhere to established safety procedures and business policies.
As a front-line Ruby Falls host, team members need to have a cheerful, outgoing manner and provide exceptional customer service by ensuring guests feel welcome, secure, appreciated and informed. Each member of the team maintains positive working relationships with their teammates, supports the team to reach common goals and completes other tasks as assigned.
Applicants for this position must be able to stand for an 8-hour shift, enjoy being outdoors in all but the most inclement weather and be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
We have part-time seasonal openings on the following teams:
Retail Team
Food Services Team
Tour Guide Team
Outside Services Team


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I Am Setsuna: How Long it Is
I Am Setsuna is the first game from Tokyo RPG Factory, a new studio created by Square Enix to develop JRPGs that are familiar to the classics that fans of the genre played during the heyday of the 90s and early 2000s. For Twinfinite, I Am Setsuna was a fantastic first entry for the new company. Saying in our review:
"Despite some minor hiccups, I Am Setsuna is still an incredibly enjoyable experience. Will I Am Setsuna change the JRPG landscape forever? Certainly not. But not everything needs to. Sometimes you just want that simple, yet so delicious, home cooking, and that's exactly what I Am Setsuna is. It's a simple JRPG executed with tremendous amounts of polish and reverence to fans of the traditional JRPG. There are airships, over world maps that you can walk on, and plenty of treasure boxes to open up. If that's the kind of stuff you've been craving, you're not going to be disappointed."
However, an important factor you might be wondering aside from the quality of the game itself, how long the game is? As with all JRPGs, it varies greatly depending on how effective you are at skipping battles, or how in-depth you want to go with unlocking everything the game has to offer. I Am Setsuna moves at a very quick pace. There are a couple of roadblock bosses that you might need to grind a bit for, but by and large, the game moves really quick. There's not a lot of filler or dead time. As we say in our review:
"Plot developments are never drawn out for too long artificially through long boring dungeons and mindless grinding. Everything moves quickly. You'll reach a new town/area, something will happen and then it's usually onto a short dungeon (ruin, cave etc.) to solve the problem and then it's onto the next part of the story."
So for most people the game will probably take about 20-30 hours to complete. It could be a little shorter if you really rush through everything, don't do much exploring, and are able to hang with the bosses with minimal grinding. If you do the opposite, then you might find yourself closer to the 30+ hour range. I Am Setsuna definitely isn't a massive 80-hour epic though so keep that in mind if that's what you were hoping for.


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On Heathen Haiku
*blows into the microphone* Is this thing on?
Let's start with a poem--which I posted to Ye Olde Facebook today as it is a toothsome thing, and then mulled further in comments, said pontification to be found beyond the clicky curtain below.
Concern (Haiku)
Dying for you, Hár,
Holds no fear; what scares me is
Living without you.*
All the best poetry, whether it's tongue-knotting dróttkvætt or bathroom-wall doggerel, attempts to snare the ineffable in a net of words—to grant to words more dimensions than the length, breadth, and depth that the concrete world suggests.
In haiku, you have seventeen syllables to express exactly one image. Traditionally it's supposed to be natural, not theological, and one's sufficiently keen audience is supposed to glean an appropriate tone from your specific word choices, calligraphy strokes, and so on...but not so in the modern English appropriation of same. However, what it does do, and do well, is encourage the use of sparse language to describe concepts that would otherwise take paragraphs and books and still be talking eight sides around a nonagon around whatever-it-is.
And that, that use of a scant number of word-strokes to indicate rather a bit more stuff, is a very Northern thing indeed.
In the trance class that we're currently running based on dpaxson's Trance-Portation, we have an exercise where we pass around postcards and demand that the class, as an articulation exercise, write something about them--a haiku, a short paragraph, and so on. I got rather good at this, and can still, given a sufficiently arresting image, deliver a haiku in nine minutes or less.
The next step that I suggest after haiku, if you'd like a few more chisel-strokes and a few fewer brush-strokes, is to do all that in what it pleases me to call "Anglo-Saxon Dog Verse": four lines, four beats per line, alliterate like mad especially on the stresses. Bonus points for avoiding Romantic vocabulary, but don't pull a Hollander and get hamstrung by it.
Poetry, done right, is like the Uffington Horse: it looks nothing like how a horse looks, but it looks everything like what a horse is.
So my wish to you all, on this Wednesday—
May you learn to hear the whispers in the stillness. May you learn to haul them, raw-reddened, from throat and keyboard and every other way when they /must/ be screamed into the world, for in such runes is the world remade.
-- Lorrie
* This poem at the top of the post is copyright © 2005-2012 Michaela Macha. It may be freely distributed, provided it remains unchanged, including the copyright notice and this License:
This work by Michaela Macha (www.odins-gift.com) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives License. (back)


text: Find us at West Coast Craft in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center on November 14-15th from 10-6pm. We're excited to be heading back to WCC for another epic show and to help solve all your holiday shopping wishes. Be a rock star and knock out your holiday list early this year!


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Patient Center Portal
Want to review your most recent exam findings? It's easy! After reading the instructions below, follow the link to log into the secure patient portal.
- First time users will need to register before logging in. Once clicking on the link, follow the instructions listed under "If you have not registered Click Here"
- Your initial password is 1234 and you will use your social security number on file with Ludwick Eye Center.
- Once you have completed registration, you will be able to login and view your records. Get started now by following the link below.
Are you having trouble logging in? We can help. Contact one of our offices at:
Chambersburg: (717) 262-9700
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Skater's Cabin in Juneau, Alaska is a fun place to stop on your way to (or from) West Glacier Trail. It has some of the best views of Mendenhall Glacier and (what looks like) a tiny Nugget Falls in the distance, which makes it a perfect photo opportunity spot.
There are also picnic tables, to stop and eat (make sure to discard trash, don't want to invite the bears) and the cabin is available to rent. One of my friends in Juneau got married here and I was asked to photograph the wedding, but sadly I already had tickets to fly home and visit my family for a few weeks so I missed out. What a gorgeous view for a wedding though!
The pictures below were taken last year after it was flooded, so the water isn't usually this high (see second pic)...
Go here for more places to visit and eat in Juneau, Alaska. Also, I'm offerring Fall Mini Sessions (the leaves and backdrop are extra gorgeous this time of year...proof here) in Juneau, if you live there or would like to travel and meet me there (tickets are so inexpensive right now!)...pretty please fill out a form here. Spaces are limited!


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Andrew believes in respecting the intelligence of customers and connecting with them emotionally.
He was previously head of strategy at Chiat/Day, Hal Riney & BSSP. He also had a very enjoyable time as Worldwide Head of Ideas at ZenithOptimedia, a title you couldn't make up.
Thanks to partners with brass (guts), Andrew has won every major strategic and creative advertising award, including Gold Effies, D&AD, One Show and Cannes Lions with three different clients.
He started Brass Ideas to bring clients the best talent to solve their challenges. And get back to an old fashioned model where clients were actually served, as opposed to deceived.
As self confessed geek, his deep technology experience includes Microsoft, Twitter, Atlassian, HP, Dell, Micron, Cisco, Sprint, Verizon, Audible.com, SmartRecruiters and Galvanize and other technology leaders. He's also worked on other passion projects such cars (MINI) wine (BV Vineyards) and golf (TaylorMade, Mizuno). He also likes shaking up financial services, having worked on the launch of iShares, Morgan Stanley Online and Silicon Valley Bank and would love to have a FinTech client (hint hint)
Married with two small kids, Andrew lives in San Francisco. He loves to ski, play golf, go hiking and occasionally, do stand-up comedy.


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As the resignation of Hosni Mubarak was announced to crowds in Tahrir Square early last year, artists such as Salman Abalshy, Mohamed Youssry and Hany Khaled could be forgiven a moment of disbelief. It is unlikely that these artists of the emerging creative youth movement in Cairo could ever have imagined the impact their work would have contributed in bringing these events about.
The courage and fearlessness of these revolutionary artists, giving expression to the oppressed and disenfranchised Egyptian population, emboldened an army of activists to rise and ultimately overthrow the Mubarak regime. At that time, with power passed to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), it seemed their efforts would bring a new era of liberty and expression to Egypt.
Today, more than a year after the fall of Mubarak and the rise of democratic progress in Egypt, in the midst of the first free voting in decades, this hope unfortunately is beginning to fade. Freedom and rights have not improved under the control of the SCAF. Even worse, the shadow of the repressive Muslim Brotherhood looms large over on-going elections as well as SCAF having now seized full control of country with no sign of relinquishing it overnight. The creative youth movement in Cairo will need every bit of guts and audacity to win these coming battles. Still, recent history shows it would not be wise to bet against them.
Even now, with Cairo on the surface having returned to its vibrant and colorful every day life and the people resuming their ordinary business, it is all too easy to identify those who stood up to the Mubarak regime – you just need to look for the wounds inflicted by weapons directed at those protesting. Mohamed Youssry was one such victim, shot in the eye with a rubber bullet by an army officer deliberately aiming high to do most harm.
Apart from a short medical trip to Paris, courtesy of an NGO, this injury has done nothing to persuade Mohamed to back down from his fight for a better Egypt. It may even have increased his passion. As a member of the "Revolution Artists Union", he continues to give a voice to the disaffected youth population in Cairo through his music. Mohamed, and fellow member Salman Abalshy, write lyrics vocalizing their experiences of the revolution, contempt for the SCAF and their hopes for the future.
Drawing inspiration from western Rap and Hip-Hop, Mohamed and Salman can often be found performing in Tahrir Square to a packed audience. Mixing the popularity of the Hip-Hop genre with powerful lyrics relating to the current difficulties in Egypt, they have enjoyed spiralling popularity propelling them to leaders in the underground music movement.
Talking to these artists on a recent trip to Cairo, it is clear that the commitment they have to galvanising opposition to those seeking to suppress remains un-dimmed. Even despite the frustration with the current SCAF regime and the hard-line Muslim criticism of their art. Hope of one day living in a free Egypt with even the possibility of recording and publishing their music continues to drive them and their supporters forward.
Tahrir square has once again become the head quarter of the free spirited youth standing up for their political vision of a modern Cairo and confronting those forces eager to subdue their efforts, with Mohammed and Salman and all the others side by side fuelling the protest of their peers with their very own creative voices.
Another artist bearing the marks of the vicious Mubarak regime and current struggle is Hany Khaled. A graphic designer turned graffiti artist, Hany was detained during the protests in the now notorious Egyptian Museum where he was tortured by the military for his defiance of the regime.
While Hany tends to work under the cover of darkness, his greatest act of bravery came in broad daylight. In Tahrir Square, Hany publicly defied the on-looking police and military by creating a work of graffiti finished with the words 'Down with Mubarak'. This courageous act was met with thunderous cheers by the surrounding crowd, praising his audacity and approving the message contained in the graffiti. It was also the act that led to his imprisonment.
Detention and torture have not broken Hany's spirit but only firmed his stand against any oppressive rule that continues to prevent freedom in Egypt. In conversation, it is clear Hany retains an astonishing degree of humility despite his position as one of the leading revolutionary graffiti artists in Cairo - paying tribute to his brother for inspiring his work while brushing off talk of his torture, "Others have suffered worse." Moreover, and maybe even more surprising, Hany, alike so many other young Egyptian revolutionaries, carries no hate towards neither former dictator Mubarak nor SCAF and other parties struggling to overpower freedom in Egypt. "I don't care about revenge; I am not threatened by an old man who is now bedridden. They (SCAF) know no better than to try seizing power like this, as long as we stand united we will win. Our way!"
One evening Hany invited me to witness him at work creating art in the streets of Cairo. Despite the risks of further imprisonment, Hany continues to target central busy locations that offer the widest audience to the message he is trying to bring. That evening the spot was a crowded street off Tahrir Square. We looked on as a sinister character took shape on the wall of a nearby building with the caption "We are watching you" – a reference to the continued oppression under the SCAF. Crowds passed by voicing their approval, sharing the same feeling of disillusionment with the current situation.
Mohamed, Salman and Hany are just three of many artists using their work to fight oppression in Egypt. Street art, initially expressing elation at the liberation of Egypt, now disappointment at the continued repression, has exploded following the example of Hany and others. Artists such as Ganzeer, El Teneen and Sad Panda have all stepped up to add numbers to the ongoing battle.
The ideals of the youth creative movement – of liberation, freedom and security – are a long way off fulfilment in an Egypt that only a year ago seemed to have such a bright future. The euphoria surrounding the ending of Mubarak and optimism for stability and freedom, has given way to crushing disappointment over the path chosen by the SCAF. The prospect of a future government led by the Muslim Brotherhood and the decline in liberty that would result further darkens the horizon.
There seems a long road ahead for these revolutionary artists to succeed in attaining these ideals that we in the west take for granted. Nevertheless with the commitment, talent and determination of Mohamed, Salman and Hany, along with an army of followers and activists, it would be foolish to count them out just yet. As the world once more watched Egypt continue to struggle for democratic leadership and open elections, Tahrir Square shows a true glimpse of the country's future and it still looks bright. They have done it once, they will do it again, it may just take them a little longer.
All content & images © 2013 J.Harry Edmiston


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Sonata Andaluz - The Coda Duo
Guitarists Christopher Jenkins and Brett Floyd released their debut recording Sonata Andaluz.
Featuring works from Bach, Granados, Schubert, Debussy, McPike
and Ralf Bauer-Mörkins.
The Coda Duo's CD also has the world premiere recording of Sonata Andaluz, which was composed for and dedicated to The Coda Duo, by composer Ralf Bauer-Mörkins.
Give Me Jesus - Brett Floyd
This single was recorded and released to help support a the 500 for Nathan project that Brett started to honor a friend's memory. Nathan lost his silent battle with depression in 2011. The www.500forNathan.com project's goal was to raise $5,000 to send 1,000 Bibles around the world in Nathan's memory. We raised over $5,700! Over 2 million people will be touched becasue of the 500 for Nathan Project.


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Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program - FAA Approved AT-CTI Schools
Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Program
The FAA Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program is designed to establish partnerships with higher educational institutions to broaden the employment opportunities in the aviation industry, including air traffic controllers. AT-CTI graduates are not guaranteed jobs as air traffic controllers, although the FAA considers AT-CTI graduates a valuable hiring source for air traffic control specialist (ATCS) positions.
Each school submits degrees to be part of the program. Currently the 36 institutions offer 15 different Associates, 37 Bachelors, and 3 Masters degree programs. ~ FAA
StuckMic has compiled the list of the 36 AT-CTI Schools approved by the FAA for our members to review. If you have attended one of the 36 approved schools listed, please take a few minutes to review that school and share your your experience.
Choose and Review Your AT-CTI School
CTI School Review Archives
StuckMic previously had a method of rating the AT-CTI Schools on 4 pieces of criteria which included:
To transfer over the previous ratings to the new system, which allows the user to rate the school based on a 5 star rating system used by hotels, restaurants and other large establishments, we first added up the ratings for each provider under the old system and then divided that by 4. (This is basic math averaging.) We then took that number and rounded it to the nearest .5 and that became the single digit number we used to start the new rating system.
The archived reviews display the previous ratings as well as the average rating based on the previous entries. The archived reviews are very relevant to the AT-CTI Schools listed and were the primary source of rating for almost 5 years.
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The best teacher that I never had Except my parents and my best friends, the only one person I would never forgot is one of my favorite teachers áV Mrs. Yu. She was my Junior High Schooláæs teacher; she always took a good care of me. At the first day of grade 7, she was reading everyoneáæs name on the paper, then she said: C.C., u had the same family name as me, I have to take care of you. And everyone laughed in the class, so do I.
I donáæt know how can I describe about her personality; the only thing I can say is she just like our class mother. She always said: you guys are just like my little boys and girls; I will always take care of you guys and protect you. As you know, our class was really noisy, but we were the #2 best class (on the homework, exams or cleaning the classroom.)
in all grade 7, 8 and 9 (sometimes we were #3 or 4. One grade had 33 classes) Sometimes, even other teacher complained to her that we are too noisy. Sometimes she looked sad because she wants us to do better on everything, not only homework or exams. I remember one day she walked into the class with her tears, all of us didnáæt know whatáæs the matter and why she crying. She said: Your geology teacher said you guys were way too noisy in the class! Why can you behave yourself? Why I am you guyáæs teacher? Why do I have to worry about you guys everyday? I am really tiredáK. Than the class was silence. After about 10 minutes we all stood up and very polite said: I am sorry Mrs. Yu, we promise we will change ourselves.


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Christine Vega
Originally from Staten Island, NY, Christine Vega is a producer, actress, director, inspirational speaker and model. She is a free spirit drawn to where inspiration manifests itself.
She has appeared on hit television shows such as Orange is the New Black, Vinyl, Shades of Blue, Law & Order: SVU, The Get Down, Madame Secretary, & more.
Her film credits include the award winning film Life is Too Short & The Rage of a Vixen.
Christine studied as a member of the 2016-2017 Barrow Group Apprenticeship Program.
She is currently enrolled in Level 3 Improv class for the 2017-2018 Magnet Theater Diversity Scholarship.


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Backpack Trend
Hi all!
The 2016 blizzard has finally stopped and while I'm still snowed in as I write this, I have the most stunning winter wonderland in my backyard to use for great images, so I must take advantage so I channeled my inner Dora the Explorer and off we went.
Today's casual luxe look was styled around my new Henri Bendel backpack. This beautiful bag is the No.7 Stingray Convertible backpack. What's awesome about it that you can choose to style it as a backpack or a cross-body tote which adds versatility to any wardrobe. This Henri Bendel bag gets its luxe feel from the gold straps and white texture and can elevate almost any look.
To complement this bigger bag, I wanted to wear slim-fitting clothes. This is all about counter-balancing the look. So I chose basic black leggings and a black turtleneck but added a blue blazer for some warmth.
Winter weather like this also calls for some faux fur. To keep my head and ears warm, I grabbed a white faux fur trapper hat. For my feet, my go-to snow boots are these casual, chic and comfortable Sorel boots with faux fur detail. For the hands, I chose these Forever 21 black and gray gloves.
How do you luxe up a look while keeping warm? Let me know in the comments below.
As always, thank you for reading!


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Thank you to our generous 2018 Auction Sponsors!
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Thank you for your support!
The 2018 Blakely PTO Auction was a tremendous success! We would like to thank the countless families and community members who donated, attended, sponsored, baked, volunteered, and generally came together to make this happen. Your generosity on all levels is much appreciated. From the PTO, staff, and students, we thank you!
Together we raised over $85,000! These funds will allow us to continue to fund school events, teacher grants, educational programs, field trip transportation, books, technology needs, emergency kits, after-school activities, classroom support tools, recess equipment, assemblies, and so much more.


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Polk Brothers Foundation Helps Teach the Teachers at Chicago Public Schools/
The Polk Brothers Foundation has already funded over fifteen education-based nonprofit organizations in Chicago this year, including the Academy for Urban School Leadership. Polk gave $100,000 to the Academy to support their Turnaround Coaching Program. By coaching the educators at Chicago's low-performing public schools, Polk expects to see positive results in the city's children. (See Polk Brothers Foundation: Chicago Area Grants).
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) aims to train teachers in Chicago's poverty-stricken and academically-challenged public schools. At this time, AUSL manages twenty-five schools and has successfully trained more than 500 residents from its Chicago Teacher Residency program. The residency is a one-year hands-on urban teacher training program that pairs public school teachers up with mentor teachers. Teachers who successfully complete the program automatically earn a Master's degree from National Louis University and commit to teaching in Chicago Public Schools for at least four more years. (See Fundraising for K-12 Education).
To be awarded a grant from Polk Brothers similar to the one that AUSL received, you'll need to demonstrate how your organization increases student achievement and strengthens the skills of Chicago Public Schools teachers and principals. Make sure that your tutoring programs document student attendance, staff retention, knowledge gains, and increases in positive social behaviors. Also make sure that your college prep programs involve the parents, use peer support groups, and improve critical thinking skills.
If your nonprofit works to improve adult literacy programs, keep Polk Brothers in mind as well. Your adult literacy programs should offer small group and classroom instruction in Adult Basic Education (ABE), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and General Equivalency Diploma (GED). You'll also need to include provisions for ongoing training of instructors and tutors, similar to the aforementioned teacher training programs.
In addition to large grants like this one, Polk also has small grants program with grants of up to $25,000 for organizations with annual expenses between $75,000 and $500,000. Polk won't consider your application if you've already submitted to them within the past year. It also won't fund more than 8% of your operating budget. To apply for an education grant with Polk Brothers, you'll need to submit a pre-application form, which the foundation will respond to within 30 days. There are no application deadlines, and applications are considered four times per year at quarterly board meetings.


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Community Outreach
(Volunteers are preparing 90 meals to be served to the areas homeless).
Moss Bluff UMC participates in many different ministries in the community.
- Backpack Blessings Ministry: Through out the school year the church helps provide food for families with school aged children who struggle to have a hot meal on the weekends. Over 60 families were served last year.
-Westlake Food Pantry: The church collects food items that are handed out at the Westlake UMC.
- Tour Lafitte: We help put together the race packs, prepare cookies and gumbo for the riders in this bicycle race that raises money for the Special Olympics.
Prepare meals for the homeless.


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Most products can be sent by courier or Australia Post. Please advise suburb and postcode for a quote. GST will be added to all freight prices.
Products can not be returned for refund or exchange. If a product is deemed faulty under the ACCC guidelines, a replacement will be issued.


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The Crown Week 14: Day 4
Read: 1 Sam 2:1-10
Through this series there have been echoes of Hannah's song, and so we end with the beginning in order to reflect on the entire story.
If you were to place the names of Samuel, David, and Saul in this song, where would their names be? How does this song help us interpret their stories?
Reflect on events such as the stealing of the ark, both the victories and defeats of Israel, and God's promise of an eternal king. How does this song interpret these events?
Read 2 Sam 22:14, 26-33, 47-51
The end of 2 Samuel 21-24 can be read as an epilogue of the whole story of Samuel. In chapter 24 we explored the realities of the good but flawed kingship of David, and we return to chapter 22 again to complete this overview of the book and be reassured of God's faithfulness in his promises.
What similarities do you see between Hannah's song and David's song?
Why might the last verse of David's song be so important, considering the history of Israel?
These songs at the beginning and the end of the book cause us to step back from the people and stories in this book to ask the question, what is God doing in all of this? We must remember that God works by raising up weak and unassuming people for his good purposes to prevail over what seemingly impossible circumstances.
Read Revelation 5:5-13
How does this picture describe Jesus?
Our joy and hope is in a King who was humbled by God, not because of his sin but because he was the one truly worthy to be the King of the world. Jesus the lamb who was slain is also the great lion of Judah. We have the great privilege to know and serve the perfect Messiah.
Reflect on how God has bought victory in Jesus, and the hope and joy of eternal security in his kingdom.
Offer thanksgiving and praise to our great God, using the songs of Hannah and David.