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By Andrew Burgon / firstname.lastname@example.com
Follow on facebook / twitter
June 16, 2015
Littleboutique: Fancy with a Capital 'F'
Littleboutique dazzle and delight with their exotic line-up of women's shoes. Rhinestone encrusted creations that shimmer and sparkle. Sequined stilettos with dainty metallic bow. Opulent sandals with glorious crystal shields.
Clicking on any of the Littleboutique links below will take you to the shoes page on Amazon (United States.)
Littleboutique Shoes
Which of these Littleboutique shoes did you like the most?


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subset: commoncrawl


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Chris Smalling; Heading for OT exit?
Chris Smalling's Manchester United careerhas been reported to be coming to an end after the solid combination of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones at the back in the past months, ever trusted Ivorian, Eric Bailly, and the imminent arrival of Victor Lindelof to the Theatre of Dreams. Smalling's place will be in jeopardy with the availability of the four aforementioned players for selection in the near future.
The 27-year-old performances this season has been on and off and a close source from Manchester United's training grounds, Carrington, suggests Mourinho does not fully trust Smalling's judgement and commitment after a shambolic display where Man United were walloped 4-0 at Stamford Bridge in late October and his refusal to put his body in the line and be available for selection at Swansea in early November.
Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Southampton and also Arsenal have been monitoring the situation and are ready to pounce should Mourinho allow him to leave sooner or later.
Smalling was one of the star performers last season for Man United playing fifty-five (55) times and scoring two (2) goals.


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Things I Love Thursday
+my classes! French, despite being at 8am every day (mon professeur est tres beau et de le Suède!), American Lit just reminds me of why exactly I attend university, the seemingly intellectual high ground of "literature" (spoken in a faux snobby British accent ala my animated professor), Personality is supposed to be one of the most challenging and interesting courses in the department, and my Creative Writing workshop is filled with fun people, good writers and insightful feedback.
+enthusiastic run-ins with old friends & classmates (even better if they happen to be in my class)
+museum day trips-PS1 has wonderful exhibits and the trip itself is an adventure, and even if only two floors of exhibits are open, a trip to the Guggenheim always makes me smile
+cardigan weather! (bare legs + light sweaters=♥), curled lashes and red lips (instant glamour for minimum effort!), cat hat, "twee" as a nickname, having friends with friends who are bartenders, brownstones, late nights & stomping in heels, Earl Grey and breakfast on too early mornings, art & characters so distinctively "east village," sharpie sketched portraits, cupcakes + macaroons, all you lovely folks who made it to the picnic (sorry I won't be late next time!), upcoming plans and aspirations.
Gosh, I love fall. Et vous, mon jolie lecteurs? What are you delighted about this darling season?
September 11, 2009 7:34 pm
– travailler pour un revue
– French (me too)! i'm starting 2nd level in January, it's still far far away, but I am [that] excited.
– my new domain http://rocketgirl.org
– your interview with "abby tries again"
Kalliste- a french reader :D permalinkSeptember 27, 2009 9:58 pm
Moi aussi, j'adore l'automne 🙂


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What is the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association?
We're the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the national association with a ninety-year history of helping pension professionals run better pension schemes. With the support of over 1,300 pension schemes and over 400 supporting businesses, we are the voice for pensions and lifetime savings in Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels.
Our purpose is simple: to help everyone to achieve a better income in retirement. We work to get more money into retirement savings, to get more value out of those savings and to build the confidence and understanding of savers.
What is Pension Solution?
Pension Solution is a membership category of the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association for small employers who are new to pensions. Pension Solution comprises a Step by Step Guide, an impartial guide to Pension Providers and useful resources. You will also receive email reminders about key dates and updates on what you need to know.
How long will I be a member for if I join Pension Solution?
Your membership will last for one year. By signing up to Pension Solution and giving your credit card details, you have signed a continuous mandate. Your credit card will be debited for your next year's membership at your one year anniversary membership. Automatic Enrolment is an ongoing process which needs to be kept under review. Pension Solution will give you regular email updates and will develop a portfolio of different products and services to support you as you move forward with your pension arrangement. You can cancel your continuous mandate by cancelling your Pension Solution membership by closing your account or by contacting us on 020 7610 1700.
Membership and Your Data
By joining Pension Solution, you are giving consent to receive the benefits of membership online. You can opt out of any of these services individually at a later date. We will use any personal information you give us to operate this website and enhance our services to you and to provide the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association services to you through this website.
We may also contact you by email, post or otherwise from time to time with the benefits of Pension Solution and information concerning additional materials, products or services of the Pensions and Lifetime and Savings Association, which may be of interest to you. You can opt-out of any of these services individually at a later date. Your details will not be passed to any third party partners except for the express purpose of providing any third party member benefits, which you can also opt-out of individually at a later date.
How do I close my account?
You can close your account and leave Pension Solution at any time by contacting us.
I'm already a member of the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, can I join Pension Solution?
Pension Solution is a membership category for small employers who are new to pensions. Membership is restricted to employers with fewer than 100 employees. Its benefits are designed to support automatic enrolment and keep employers up to date with their legal obligations and basic best practice.


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ManagePro builds into its project management features 3 important tools to help you leverage the 80/20 rule at work to deliver greater results with less effort. This means with ManagePro you have tremendous ability to impact what's critical to the success of any project or objective using the 80/20 rule.
In case you're unfamiliar with the 80/20 rule (Pareto principle), it is a rule of distribution postulated by Joseph Juran, as he reflected on the earlier work of Vilfredo Pareto. In it's barest form, it simply observes that for many things, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes, and if taken another level deeper, 2/3rds of the results come from just 4% of the actions or people. Or as Richard Koch, said, "Very few things matter at all, but those that do matter enormously."
Perhaps you've seen it represented as a graph showing the curving relationship between effort and resources at work and results. Or perhaps you've heard it expressed in one or more 80/20 ratios such as:
According to a 2013 survey by WorldatWork, the 80/20 method is used by about 12% of US corporations, which leaves a great opportunity to improve on your competitive advantage by applying the 80/20 to your work effort (and everything else). Let's look at the 3 tools ManagePro provides to help you with that.
1. ManagePro helps you identify and focus on what creates the most value by including an 80/20 column for the entire team/organization to be clear on what's critical to generating results.
2. Regardless of which tools you use to manage projects and tasks, regardless of its an enterprise project management tool, a spreadsheet or power point summaries, ManagePro provides the visibility, accountability and depth of status updates that helps you manage DIFFERENTLY the 4% of your activities that are going to generate 2/3rds of your tools.
Please note: Given the ambiguity involved, it can be difficult to clearly identify the 20% that generates the 80% return when it comes to cause and effect. It's even more of a challenge to identify the 4% that generates 2/3rds of your results, and the 4% is what you need to focus on to get really powerful results. Faced with varying levels of uncertainty, ManagePro again steps in to help you by tracking assumptions, risks and obstacles and the ongoing thread of next steps through its rigorous progress update tracking. But even more important, it helps you track and measure against results. Nothing beats transparency and measuring against results to improve your ability to successfully complete the 20% that going to generate 80% of your success.
3. We have verified in multiple organizations that an important 3rd key to successfully leveraging the 80/20 rule across a team or an organization, is to create a dashboard tracking each manager or team lead's ability to successfully complete their identified 4% due each week.
There's much more ManagePro can assist you with in generating better results with less stress, but if you don't have a copy of ManagePro, your next high value 4% activity should be to complete a demo with us. Our recommendation: don't leave this page without first signing up below to demo ManagePro, it's the 80/20 work smarter software. We'll see you in the demo.


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Hotels in Rothwell
Search for Rothwell Hotels
Collect 10 nights, get 1 reward night
And look out for Secret Prices on selected hotels
Best Rothwell Hotels
Rothwell overviewThere's plenty to explore, including local sights such as North Lakes Resort Golf Club and Redcliffe Botanic Gardens. Whatever you're into, Rothwell has something for you.
Where to stay in RothwellWhether you're planning to stay for a night or for the week, the area around Rothwell has accommodations to fit every need. Search for hotels in Rothwell with Hotels.com by checking our online maps. These display the areas and neighbourhoods around all Rothwell hotels so you can see how close you are from landmarks and attractions, and then refine your search within the larger area. The best Rothwell hotel deals are here with our lowest price guarantee.
How to get to RothwellFly in to Brisbane, QLD (BNE), 12.8 mi (20.5 km) from central Rothwell.
What to see around RothwellHere are some local highlights:
- • North Lakes Resort Golf Club
- • Redcliffe Botanic Gardens
- • Scarborough Marina
- • Redcliffe Showgrounds
- • Redcliffe Museum
When to visit RothwellWondering which time of year to travel or what clothes to pack? Here are seasonal trends to help you with your planning:
Seasonal temperatures
- January-March: 29°C day, 17°C night
- April-June: 27°C day, 10°C night
- July-September: 25°C day, 9°C night
- October-December: 29°C day, 14°C night
- January-March: 476 cm
- April-June: 231 cm
- July-September: 148 cm
- October-December: 280 cm


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Our liberties in America are in decline. We work and try to provide a decent life for our families, but in reality; the only people benefiting from our hard work and labor is the cultural, social, and political elitist. Some of the wealthiest individuals are the very ones that are able to write our laws, preside over our futures, and profit from our existence. They use the power and force of government to tax us, and use this tax money to support lifestyles that are unknown to us.
When you profit from others people labor, especially by use of force, it can be called nothing else but slavery. We do not have the freedom to "OPT OUT" of the current tax system. If you do, well you must pay the penalty of either fines or incarceration. Noncompliance is not an option.
We are all slaves in the field. Welcome to the plantation.


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thank you so much for taking interest in our shop ! we're a small studio store with a few different artists working to make new products and have fun ! currently based in san antonio, texas, but with artists around the united states, we've been in business since 2013 and have high hopes for the future ! we appreciate all your support & love and look to forward to constantly improving to be the best we can be ! (╯✧∇✧)╯
our team consists of:ANDIE SAY / BLEEPLY - OWNER & ARTIST
- instagram: bleeply
- twitter: officialbleeply
- tumblr / blog: bleeply
- instagram: peachcosmos
- twitter: peachcosmos
- tumblr: peachcosmos
- instagram: lizard_gal
- tumblr / blog: girlneko
- instagram: _xizeta_
- tumblr: rizes


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100wc39 Luis y
July 17th, 2013 by year5 and tagged 100WC39
One day a strange ship came to the earth. It didn't look like a human ship I wanted to do something but I wondered what I would do with it. I decided to go into the ship but I didn't know what the ship could do. Then I pressed a button and the ship door closed and the ship shot all the way to the Crab Nebula then the ship went though the nebula and then I appeared in alternate dimension where everything was the same accept the colour. I was shocked to see that there was a other dimension.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »


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Chanel Rose Insolent Nail Polish is one of Chanel's best pink nail polishes. It had been released years ago as part of Chanel's Fall 2010 Collection. I was surprised that my local Chanel counter still had it in stock since I believe that this was a Limited Edition. Because I hadn't bought it when it was newly released years ago, I was lucky that I was still able to buy it just recently.
Chanel describes Le Vernis:
☆ Classic and trend-defining shades in an exclusive formula that strengthens and moisturizes nails as it delivers high-shine colour.
☆ Applies evenly without streaking.
☆ All Chanel nail products are formaldehyde-free, toluene-free and DBP-free.
Chanel Rose Insolent Nail Polish
Chanel Rose Insolent nail polish is a warm, medium pink with a cream finish. It is bright, but not overly so. It has no shimmers, but has a beautiful shine. This is a shade that would work for all skin tones and undertones.
On my nails, Chanel Rose Insolent Nail Polish is a medium, bubblegum pink with a soft cream finish. Even without a top coat, it is already shiny. I didn't apply a top coat in the photos above and below so you can see its beautiful shine.
The consistency of Chanel Rose Insolent Nail Polish is not too thin nor too thick. It applies really well as the brush glides smoothly over my nails. However, I find that there is a bit of streaking when there is not enough polish on the brush. Must remember to have enough polish on the brush to avoid a streaky application. 🙂
With just 1 coat, Chanel Rose Insolent Nail Polish is already semi-opaque. But, I need to apply 2 to 3 coats to achieve a more opaque and even color. I love that I didn't experience any bubbles, not even one! Awesome! 😀
Chanel Rose Insolent Nail Polish dries quickly. It only takes just a few minutes to dry on my nails. Even without a top coat, it doesn't chip easily and lasts around 4 to 5 days on my nails. With a top coat, it lasts around 5 to 6 days on me before it chips around the edges. Wow, right?
I bought my Chanel Rose Insolent nail polish for Php1, 250 at Chanel in Rustans Makati. It is very gorgeous, but the shade is not really unique. I believe that this shade is quite dupable. There are probably cheaper nail polishes out there with a similar shade. But the texture and quality of Rose Insolent is still better since it's Chanel. 😉
I feel like this is a great color for Spring, and even more wonderful for Summer. Imagine lying around on the beach in a hot pink bikini and Chanel Rose Insolent nail polish on your nails. Just plain gorgeous!
What color is your favorite for Spring and Summer? Do you like bright pinks like Chanel Rose Insolent nail polish?


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Product or Service
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Any of your inquiry will be high appreciated & will come back to your ASAP.
Contact the company


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New commission to tackle mental health crisis in schools
A new initiative by SCHOOLS NorthEast, a regional network for schools, hopes to highlight what causes mental health problems in schools.
SCHOOLS NorthEast has set up a commission into mental health issues affecting young people across the region.
Jesmond head teacher and trustee of SCHOOLS NorthEast Bernard Trafford told JesmondLocal the new commission hopes to develop more effective ways of working with health professionals.
The average waiting time for children to receive help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) varies from 14 to 200 days.
The growing crisis in mental health problems among children has long been high on schools' agenda and is a budget priority.
The number of school-aged children accessing self-harming support services has risen dramatically in the north east according to data from the region's NHS mental health foundation trusts.
The documents also revealed 15 teenagers a week were admitted to hospital for self-harming in Tyne and Wear in 2014-2015.
The Mental Health Commission aims to find a fresh approach for treating child mental health problems in schools.
Director of SCHOOLS NorthEast Mike Parker said: "While the government has led several important pieces of work aimed at tackling growing problems in child mental health, this is the first time that schools have taken the lead in really getting to grips with the underlying causes and impact on pupils of mental ill-health at this scale."
SCHOOLS NorthEast is one-of-a-kind regional network "set up by schools, for schools".
Dame Sue Bailey, professor in mental health policy in the north west of England, said the strength of SCHOOLS North East is that "it represents such a large community of schools", who are "committed to the emotional wellbeing of their pupils".
Bernard Trafford spoke to JesmondLocal about the commission's plans: "We want to bring together and share best practice among all our member schools.
"And through the commission we hope to find out more about the causes and drivers of mental illnesses among children of school age."
Trafford believes that schools should instigate programmes that will improve resilience in students and not "wrap them in cotton-wool".
He said: "They will face difficulties and bad times: that's life! So, to quote the Charlie Waller Trust's Dick Moore, we must equip them to "bend in the wind, not snap in the hurricane".
To do so effectively, however, Trafford said that schools under pressure from government "to hit targets" should not weight on child mental wellbeing.
The headteacher told JesmondLocal what is being done in Royal Grammar School to improve mental health issues:"We can and do work extensively with students to encourage originality and experimentation, accepting the risk of failure.
"Our students are ambitious and aspirational, but we do try to stop them over-preparing and encourage them to be proportionate in the effort they put into a particular task.
"For example, don't spend five hours on a 30-minute homework in an attempt to make it perfect."
A solutions-focused report from SCHOOLS NorthEast is expected to be published in the near future to call government's attention to the cause.
The government has pledged £1.25 billion over the next five years to transform young people's mental health services.


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The first week of President Barack Obama's administration has been important in several respects, perhaps most notably because of the announcements that the Guantanamo Bay facility will close and that the United States, "without exception," will not torture. While these statements are vitally significant in their own right, they are, in my view, part of a broader theme that the new administration is putting forth — namely, that the United States will regain its position in the world and safeguard its security interests by demonstrating, through action and example, what the nation truly stands for.
This concept, put forth most eloquently by Joseph Nye, Jr., is called "soft power." It calls for a state to attract others to its causes not just by force or economic coercion, but through attraction. The Obama administration, including newly minted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has rebranded this foreign policy strategy, generally naming it "smart power." (Perhaps the term "soft power" sounds weak and overly accommodating.)
Here is a report by "Voice Of America" that takes a look at the Sikh Inaugural Ball (Publius covered it earlier here) as part of the Indian-American take on the Obama inauguration story. An interesting perspective following the recent discussion on the TLH post: Sikh or Indian?.
Yesterday, the newly inaugurated president said, "… the world has changed and we must change with it."
But just what has changed? In the euphoria of yesterday's ceremonies, some seemed to expect that from now on, the sun would always shine and no one would ever go hungry again. The inaugural ceremony itself provided ample examples of both what had and hadn't changed.
What had changed, at least for a few days in DC was that people were exuberant. Strangers became friends. Hugs, high-fives, and tears were shared with neighbors crowding the national mall, cafes, and homes throughout the city. People were generous. An older woman from California gave her flannel shirt to a younger woman who had been waiting beside her in the bitter cold since 6:30 in the morning.
But in some areas where organization was lacking, the chaos vividly showed that when people's expectations were unfulfilled, survival of the fittest remained the governing natural law. A Congressman reportedly tried to drive through people waiting in line and got stuck in the crowd when they surrounded his vehicle. At least 4 ambulances were seen transporting people injured by the crushing crowd. These scenes resembled a Delhi train station more than the Washington DC I'm used to.
So, what's changed?
In Richmond Hill, early Sunday morning, another Sikh youth became a victim of a hate crime. Jasmir Singh's hair and beard were pulled, and he was stabbed in the eye. He may lose his eyesight. [link]
This past weekend at the Toronto Sikh Retreat a workshop was offered on Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. I personally think it's great when we are given the opportunity to delve into the lives of our Gurus. We get to see Sikhi come alive through history. Our Gurus become real as we learn about Sikh principles through their life experiences. No longer are they just pictures on the walls or names to memorize, but perfect humans who overcame personal and communal challenges. Their strong convictions and stead-fast adherence to the values of humility, patience, justice, and equality during difficult times highlights the strength of Sikhi as a practical religion than just a "philosophy". I hope more conferences and retreats will take this approach.
During the retreat Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's life and bani was discussed by participants. As a young boy he was taught by Bhai Buddha Ji and Bhai Gurdas Ji. The former taught him archery and horsemanship, while the latter focused on ancient classics. Thus, Guruji was both a fighter and intellectual that had a deep appreciation for music along with the sword. The Mahima Prakash says: "Sri Tegh Bahadur was the summit of knowledge. He was a recluse at heart, a king in demour. His patience was unmatched, so was his generosity."
I was excited to come across information about the Jaipur Literature Festival which will be held January 21st through the 25th in Rajasthan (mainly excited because it will coincide with a trip I'm planning to take to the area!). The festival is directed by author and historian, William Dalrymple.
Entering its fourth year, the festival will be hosting some of the best-known national and international writers including Vikram Seth, Michael Ondaatje, Pico Iyer, Simon Schama, Colin Thubron, Patrick French, Tariq Ali, Tina Brown, Mohammed Hanif, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Coleman Barks, Pankaj Mishra, Chetan Bhagat, Ahmed Rashid, Charles Nicholl, Hari Kunzru, Michael Wood, Nandan Nilkeni, Paul Zacharia, Prasoon Joshi, Shashi Tharoor, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Tarun Tejpal, Wendy Doniger, U R Ananthamurthy, among many others.
While perusing through their list of authors, I was surprised by the small number of Sikh writers who will be in attendance leading me to ask which (if any) other Sikh authors were invited and whether Sikh authors were, in general, being recognized for their work. While we attempt to address these questions, I wanted to use this space to highlight a couple of Sikh authors who did show up on the list.
I. Introduction
My last post, which addressed the First Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference held by the non-profit group United Sikhs, generated significant discussion. In an attempt to re-focus and reinvigorate that discussion, I wish to first clarify what the post was not about — it was not intended to serve as an indictment of the United Sikhs' work overall, to criticize specific projects or initiatives other than the conference, or to compare their efforts to that of other Sikh organizations with greater financial resources. Some of the comments did touch on these subjects, though this was not my intention.
My sole interest was and remains the manner in which the United Sikhs decided, on its own, to describe the conference and the report to the public, including necessarily the Sikh members of it. I wrote that it was "the United Sikhs' characterizations of the conference and report" that I found problematic. Regrettably, the comments to my post — some made spiritedly by United Sikhs Director Mejindarpaul Kaur and others working for or affiliated with the United Sikhs — have done little to assuage my earlier concerns.
Are how I usually spend December 25th (unless, like this year, Gurpurab services fall on the same day). When I was younger, my family and I would spend the week of Christmas collecting items for donation, volunteering with the local soup kitchen, and generally reflecting on, and brainstorming, how we could help others during a sometimes lean time of year. I like to think this tradition has morphed as I've grown older (into a year-long commitment to service), but something about December always makes me feel more thoughtful.
My parents also went out of their way to explain that as Sikhs we did not celebrate Christmas, but they explained the significance of the Sikh religious holidays that tend to fall around this time of year. I didn't feel like I had to trade — presents were not really an expectation or feature of the season after I passed the age of 7. Instead we spent loooooong hours at the gurdwara for services.
We tend to complain a lot. Really, we do. We complain about the lack of activisim by Sikh youth. We complain about not being able to understand Gurbani or be able to do Kirtan. We complain about the disconnect between Sikh elders and Sikh youth. It's the status quo – to spend time dwelling on what's wrong in our community rather than celebrate what's actually going right.
However, in recent years we've been seeing an increased number of Sikh student or Sikh youth run events – which means it's becoming clear that the status quo is no longer okay. I think it is not only important, but necessary, for Sikh youth to take more of an active role in their community. So it was refreshing for me to hear about this student initiated event which is being planned in collaboration with the Sikh Student Associations across California. This Diwan Night, which is to be held on January 24th 2009 in Southern California, will bring together Sikh students from across California for a night of Rehraas, Kirtan, Sewa and Langar. It's important to support these types of initiatives and encourage Sikh youth to participate in coordinating these events. I hope this is one of many student initiated events which brings various organizations together in the hopes of actively involving youth in Sikhi.
The event is on January 24th, 2009 from 5-11pm at Walnut Gurdwara. If you would like to participate in Kirtan, call Gagan Kaur at 602 538 5507. For general information, call Rimmy Kaur at 818 309 7282.
To my surprise, I came across a news article with the headline, "Sikhs Agree on a Global Civil Rights Agenda." When did we do that??
It turns out that the United Sikhs — a non-profit organization that addresses various civil rights issues on behalf of Sikhs, especially and including the French ban on conspicuous articles of faith — issued a press release indicating that the group held the First Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference at which the First Global Sikh Civil Rights Report was presented and adopted.
At the outset, I should note that I respect the United Sikhs' work, most notably its humanitarian efforts. I also appreciate its interest in developing a set of broad Sikh civil rights issues and recommendations on how to tackle those very issues. The Report itself contains a wealth of information on the Sikh experience in many different countries, most of which are often overlooked in discussions of the Sikh diaspora. The breadth of the report is impressive; a lot of effort seems to have been put into its publication.
That said, the United Sikhs' characterizations of the conference and report are troublesome in at least several respects — its factually inaccurate, grossly misleading, and plainly self-serving.
For those of you in the California Central Valley, a small group of folks from the Tracy sangat will be giving out coats, blankets, and socks in Modesto, Stockton, and Tracy . If you're in the area and would like to donate or know families in need who could benefit from some extra help this season, please head on over to the Larch Community Center this Saturday at 10AM.
WHERE: Larch-Clover Community Center, 11157 W. Larch Road, Tracy, CA
INFO: Dottie Smith, 831-5920
For those of you that have never attended a retreat before, its not like the Sikh camps you went to as a kid. Its not Sikhi boot-camp, but a chance for you to explore you own spirituality and really examine how you're incorporating Sikhi into your life.
The Toronto Sikh Retreat has been held in various forms for almost a decade. Never formalized into a full organization, its always been a fluid mix of Sikh students and young professionals coming together to put them on.
What I love about the retreat is that the workshops and activities are all planned by the youth and EVERYTHING is meant to be interactive. Even the divaans are two-way. At no point does anyone lecture to you or claim to know the right answer. The facilitators are merely individuals who have taken the time to do their homework on a particular topic so that they can guide the workshops.
Best of all, the retreats are a blast. They're one of the funnest and most energizing weekends of the year for me. I look forward to them all year.
This year retreat promises to be amazing. The organizers have added an extra day to allow for lots of outdoor fun and more opportunities for informal discussion. The first workshop covers the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur and why his sacrifice is as relevant in today's age as it was over three hundred years ago. The other workshop is going to be on we can use our creativity to express our Sikhi and spirituality. Also, this year there's going to be an open mic night where attendees will be able to showcase their hidden "talents".
The location of the retreat is also worth seeing. Nestled next to a great big toboggan hill, the Ecology Retreat Centre has separate buildings for the divaan hall, dining/meeting hall and sleeping quarters. As a creature comfort myself, I can tell you the accommodations and bathrooms are just fine. * So it doesn't matter where you are on the path of Sikh, the retreat is a chance to recharge your spiritual batteries, push your own thinking and make a ton of new friends.
The Toronto Sikh Retreat runs from January 8th to 11th, 2009. It will be held at the Ecology Retreat Centre in Orangeville. For more registration and information visit the TSR website or the TSR blog.
As someone who is excited about the incoming administration, I have thought about ways in which I would like to participate in the presidential inaugural, when President-Elect Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. In particular, I thought about attending an inaugural ball — a politically-oriented prom of sorts. As a result, I reviewed this Washingtonian blog post, which contains a list of many of the inaugural balls taking place on or around the date of the inauguration, January 20, 2009.
To my surprise and delight, the list included a "Sikh Inaugural Ball." The ball is hosted by an organization I had never heard of: the Sikh Community Center. The web site for the ball states:
Here is your chance to make a statement and be seen and heard — in WASHINGTON! — when the entire world will have their eyes and ears on the most important event ever to take place! Don't you wish you were there?
On January 20th, 2009 the inauguration of America's 44th President is just such an occasion that you will not want to miss.
You'll also want to meet other like-minded people so you can make the connections you will need over the next 4 or 8 years!
The Sikh Community Center is proud to announce that the 1st EVER SIKH INAUGURAL BALL takes place just a few blocks from the White House – at Ascot, I-The Indian Experience Restaurant.
Whether or not to attend the inaugural festivities is an undoubtedly difficult decision — because of the exorbitantly high prices for rooms, parking issues, and the limits of public transportation, for example. But if you are considering making the trip to D.C., the Sikh Inaugural Ball is an option.
Please note: I make no representations about the quality of this event — as always, buyer beware!
A new contest + award is in place for Sikhs. Who will be the Chic Sikh of the Year for 2008?
The sponsor is Sikhchic, the online magazine which promotes Sikhs in the arts (and also invites articles on an array of subjects). The nomination process is completely transparent, which makes it interesting. Anyone can nominate by simply entering a nomination and the reasons for it as a comment. It then gets posted, so you can see all of the nominations here. So far, the illustrious nominees include: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Singh Twins, Fauja Singh, Amandeep Singh Madra, and I.J. Singh.
The award doesn't have to be awarded to a Sikh. It's unclear how much of a connection a nominee has to have to the Sikh community- whether they have to commit a Sikh-like deed or act to somehow promote/improve the Sikh community. It also doesn't have to be to a person- it can be to an institution. There are many organizations that have done some really interesting things in the past few years for the Sikh community, and I'm sure we'll be seeing some of them nominated.
Awards validate ideals- confirm that they mean something. It 's unclear so far what ideals this award will recognize since the parameters for nomination have been left purposefully vague. I guess we'll know more when an awardee is chosen.
I spent the past weekend surrounded by Sikh Art and Film at the annual Spinning Wheel Film Festival in Hollywood. I usually attend these events with high expectations, hoping to be inspired and moved and there are always one or two films that provide that sustenance. The films were creative, such as The Making of Liverpool – an artistic animation inspired by a painting by The Singh Twins which explores 800 years of Liverpool's history. The films were educational, such as Cultural Safari – directed by Sandeep Singh and produced by the Kaur Foundation – describing the basics of Sikhi for children of all ages [I have to say that this is one of the most impressive educational films I have come across]. The films were also daunting, such as Warrior Boyz – made by Baljit Sangra which touched upon the root causes of gang violence in the Punjabi community of Vancouver. A favorite of the crowd was Kuldip Powar's Unravelling – a poetic inter-generational dialogue between the film director and his grandfather about the experience of war all posed in Urdu poetry.
There were many other well-made films such as 35, Kabaddi Cops, and Right to Turban which rightfully deserve mention (and have been discussed or will be discussed in future posts), however what I appreciated most about the weekend was the final day of the festival – which was devoted to lectures on Sikh Art and History. Staff from the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail and other UK-based organizations presented the attendees with a glimpse into the historical legacy of the Sikhs. One of the lectures was titled the Epic of Saragarhi and discussed the 21 soldiers of the Sikh regiment who defended a remote post against an estimated 10,000 hostile tribesmen. Michael O'Keefe from the British Library discussed Sikh artifacts and paintings and detailed an image of Maharani Jindan Kaur's Gutka of the Sukhmani Sahib (see picture to the left). The day ended with a panel showcasing Sikhs in Theatre and Music, including traditional music and also hip-hop. Mandeep Sethi and Jagmeet Singh, rappers from LA, ended the festival with amazing performances showcasing their incredible talent of telling stories through hip-hop.
While the film festival brought together a plethora of Sikh art mediums – what it did seem to be missing was the representation of women and the voice of women in these films. The films were predominately made by men and the issues discussed were predominately issues affecting men. This brought several issues to mind – do young Sikh women not feel encouraged to enter the field of Film? Do the current male Sikh filmmakers not feel comfortable telling the story of Sikh women? It seems to be of vital importance that as we develop and promote Sikh films, we ensure that the stories we tell are representative of the entire Sikh panth and pay particular attention to the stories of Sikh women.
I will leave with this quote, mentioned by Harbinder Singh of the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, but also very pertinent to the theme of this weekend's film festival.
Until lions tell their own history,
History will always glorify the hunters.
– African Proverb
A movie you might be interested in, Slumdog Millionaire, is being released in major cities today and most other North American cities throughout the next few weeks. The plot might sound corny to the skeptical (it involves some romance), but if it's as well done as it seems to be from the trailer, it could be one of those poignant, moving films that only come along once every few years (in the genre of Born into Brothels). The trailer gives away a lot, so if you like to be surprised, don't watch all (or any) of it. (The skeptic in me is hoping it's not a touristy, voyeuristic ride into areas that most movie-goers will only go to through the movie…)
An interesting theme that came up in the making of the movie is product displacement. Apparently Mercedes and "a well known soft drinks company" objected to their products being shown in a slum and demanded that their logos be removed, which was done digitally, costing tens of thousands of pounds. Yet, the Benz folks were perfectly happy having their logo appear on a gangster's car when it was parked outside his mansion. So it's ok to engage in mass (probably violent) crime as long as you're wealthy. Mercedes will hang with you. But if you want to try to earn an honest living, and just can't make it out of poverty- sorry, no such luck. [Timesonline]
The car manufacturer and a well-known soft drinks company believed that their brands would be sullied if their products were shown in one of Bombay's shantytowns. [Timesonline]
Hey, Mercedes and fizzy drink company- you may have missed one of the points of the movie-you know, here's the human struggle and spirit, from the eyes of someone you didn't realize you had so much in common with??… Never mind. (I'm trying to not let their stupidity ruin the movie for me.)
More absurdity, synopsis and release dates below the fold.
Some ideas are just better communicated through modes other than writing. Theatre, through the unfolding of a story and through the body language of its actors, can sometimes convey meaning and ideas more effectively than just written words alone.
Some Sikh youth from Rockland, MD have decided to use theatre to engage non-Sikhs in learning about Sikhs- a wonderful idea.
Two plays are being planned for the fall expressing themes of diversity, mutual respect, interfaith and justice. They will both be staged on Saturday December 13, 2008 at the Wooten High School in Rockville, Maryland.
Where did this idea come from?
Last fall, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation had some of its kids take part in a play The Lorax, a musical adaptation from the famous Dr Seuss story book which was staged by kids from many different faiths. This play, adopted to create awareness about environment, was coordinated by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and was staged by the Children's Theater Company of New York.
After going through this experience, GGSF decided to form the Rockville Chapter of Children's Theater Company last May to explore the possibility of staging a play depicting the concepts of Guru Granth Sahib. Dedicated to "Building Character Onstage", the Children's Theatre Company (CTC) of New York develops in children and youth a keen sense of citizenship while introducing them to the incomparable magic of theatre through their full participation in the creation and performance of musicals and plays. [link]
Were you watching the Presidential debate last Friday? Did you catch flashes of a sardar in a blue turban? I assume that anyone who did was equally as surprised as I was (though happily so). Well, who is the mystery man? He's Arvinder Singh Kang, a twenty five year old who was the only Punjabi, and the only Sikh at the University of Mississipi when he came from Punjab to do a graduate degree.
I came to the U.S. in the fall of 2005, as a graduate student at the University of Mississippi. From a proud Sikh family, I was the first kid from my village and from my maternal and paternal lineage to come to America for studies.
I brought twenty-something Puggs (turbans). I knew Japji Sahib by heart and had been exposed to Sikh history more than I had been to comics. All through my undergrad years, I had taught my juniors how to wear a turban. There was no doubt, whatever the circumstances might be, I would always be a Turbanator!
While boarding a plane from London's Gatwick Airport, I sat beside a Sikh girl living in Houston who was born and raised in London. "…So it's going to be hard to keep a turban in university", she said in a lovely British accent.
"Much nee te kuch nee!" (What's a man without a mustache) I had quipped. [link]
You can read more from Arvinder at Sikhchic.
Heads-up friends, the season of the "Spinning Wheel Festival" is about to begin across North America this autumn. Celebrating Sikh films and art, the first stop will be in New York City on Saturday, October 04, 2008 at the Asia Society & Museum (p.s. that's next Saturday). Buy your tickets NOW! The wonderful Rabbi Shergill will be performing at the opening gala (yes I am really biased here … I heart Rabbi Shergill) and DJ Rekha will be literally "spinning" at the after party.
Films a the NYC festival will range from documentaries on Pahelwani (i.e. Panjabi wrestling) and Kabaddi-playing Canadian police officers to issues affecting the Sikh community from 1984 and post-9/11 hate crimes. There will also be short and feature films. For example, one on a young boy's struggle to keep his hair while his family fears the obstacles he will encounter and another on "… a young Sikh doctor struggling with the inequities of the American Health System and ultimately his own identity". The Holy Duels of Hola Mohalla is a film looking at the Khalsa Panth.
The films seem interesting both in content and presentation. The stories are grounded in the realities many of us encounter everyday. You can get a full listing of the films and their synopses here.
In the past, I have attended the "Spinning Wheel Festival" at one of its many North American stops and found it a great space for artists and art-enthusiasts to be exposed to Sikh creativity. I remember there being a panel discussion with the directors and the audience. We don't have too many of these creative opportunities in our community even though we spend plenty of time and space advertising foreign medical schools in Poland, China, and the Caribbean.
I have found that some films are really hit or miss at these festivals, but it's expected sense the focus is on cultivating and inspiring creativity; while, building a permanent Sikh film festival for years to come. Cash prizes are awarded to the "bests" in various categories. I have been told that the listing and quality of films varies across the different North American stops.
At the end of the day why not go, especially if it's close by. I personally think it's worth a visit as an act of supporting Sikh arts and learning about the various issues affecting our community. Sometimes we get too caught up in our own worlds and don't realize these issues are taking place or we are in amidst of them and they become normal parts of our lives leaving very little room for reflection or exposure to others' perceptions. Thus, it's an opportunity to get a fresh/new look at various issues.
Lastly, the arts, from painting and photography to films and music, are our community's soul! They help us speak in ways we can't always articulate. So go save your soul and attend a Sikh artistic event!
Okay, enough of the attempt at convincing … the other North American stops will be:
Are ya'll thinking of going? What have your experiences been at the various Spinning Wheel Festivals? Does anyone know of other North American stops?
p.p.s. The Toronto and Hollywood poster is really interesting isn't it … a conversation in of itself!
In light of the Indian government's response to this past weekend's bombings in Delhi, this video seems especially poignant (not to mention sweeet!).
[hat tip: chapati mystery]
Update: wow, I did an AWFUL job of summarizing SRI's first webinar. (Apologies to the good folks at SRI) Here's a better summary:
Sikh Theology – A Gurmat Framework: The first session comprised of introducing an approach to Sikhi and recognizing how Guru Nanak Sahib revolutionarily delivered a message of Oneness through illustrating a direct connection between ideas and practice. We engaged in understanding what 'Guru' means in the Sikh context and how we can begin to comprehend the Guru's wisdom, Gurmat. To develop this understanding, three facets of bani (scripture), tavarikh (history) and rahit (lifestyle) were introduced. The greatness of a religion is when harmonious balance between Ultimate reality and visible form is exemplified thru the aforesaid facets. We concluded with Puran Singh's rendering on the Guru's vision, "It sweetens you and your sweetness sweetens all life around. At your sight, the lamb and the tiger must drink at the same pool."
And some info on session 2:
Bani – The Message: In session two, we continued to build on our understanding of the Guru's message; We engaged in actively learning about the scriptural canon, the Guru Granth Sahib. In covering topics as the compilation, contributors, structure, language and content of Guru Granth Sahib, we tackled questions such as, "How do we know Guru Granth Sahib is the Guru?" and "What is the Sabad Guru?"; thus, facilitating and inspiring us to continue to build our personal relationship with Guru Granth Sahib.
And 3:
Tavarikh – The Revolution: Having concentrated on the written form of our Guru's message (Bani) last week, this week in session three, "Tavarikh – The Revolution", we will turn our focus on to how our Gurus exemplified The Message. We will walk through the lives of Guru Nanak Sahib through Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and try to understand them through a social, political, economic and spiritual framework. We will cover a range of issues, from touching on the ramifications of negating the need of a Divine intermediary, to the economic center created by the Guru Sahibs, to the activism of both social and political kind. In surveying the inspiring history of our Gurus, we hope to remind ourselves of how relevant, active and exemplary the revolution of Sikh? is.


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Have you thought lately about why you're homeschooling? Do you struggle with finding the time to "do it all" as a homeschooler? Could you use some rest and relaxation? If so, this post will help you to better focus and feel more encouraged whether you're a new homeschooler or a veteran of many years. Take a few moments for some "continuing education" of your own. And let me know what you think when you're finished reading!
P is for Purpose: When it comes to persevering as a homeschooler, knowing your purpose – or why you're homeschooling – is crucial. I published a post some time back titled "Got Goals?" In that post I described how, many years ago, I sat down and wrote out a list of long-term goals that I had for my children, along with ideas for how I might achieve those goals, at least in part through homeschooling.
Those goals could also be considered my "purpose" or my "mission statement" of homeschooling. They not only gave me direction, but I have also used them as a yardstick to determine whether I was on the right track.
If you've never written down your goals for your children, or your homeschooling "mission statement," I would strongly encourage you to do so. I believe that our Creator has built into us a need for a sense of purpose in life. As homeschoolers, other than honoring our Creator, we have no higher purpose than raising these children God has given us.
Moreover, understanding and quantifying our purpose as homeschoolers can serve to help us mightily when we face adversity in life, as we most surely will. We can maintain our commitment to homeschooling when we know why we are doing it.
So if you haven't already, I encourage you to take some quiet moments and reflect on your homeschooling purpose, and what your goals are for your children. You might use my "Got Goals?" post as a starting point. Either way, putting aside the time to state, in writing, what your purpose is for homeschooling your children will be something that will bear fruit, especially as you look back in years to come and see how much you have accomplished towards fulfilling that purpose!
Q is for Quality over Quantity: When I'm contacted by my readers for personalized help, the requests often fall into a couple of general categories. It would be difficult to say which question comes up the most often, but it is probably, "I'm overwhelmed! What do I do?!"
I'm also often asked about choosing curriculum, and I'm actually working on an e-book on that topic that I hope to have published soon…I'll let you know when it comes out!
In any case, when I get contacted by a reader who feels overwhelmed I will start by asking some questions such as: How many children do you have? What are their ages? How many are being homeschooled? What are your main concerns?
Invariably I find that these moms are simply trying to do too much.
For instance, if you're just starting out homeschooling and you have a 7-year old, a 5-year old, a 3-year old and a 1-year old, do you really need to be concerned about "homeschooling" the two little ones? I'd say no.
Additionally, you don't need to be trying to tackle six subjects a day with a 7-year old and a 5-year old.
I understand every state has different regulations concerning how many subjects you have to teach, as well as how many hours a day and how many days a year you are required to homeschool, but I would suggest that even if you, unfortunately, live in a state with tighter regs, there are ways to homeschool that satisfy the law without spending several hours a day poring over textbooks with your child.
Consider approaches such as unit studies and multi-level teaching. Talk to homeschooling veterans in your local support group to learn how to satisfy state law while still allowing you the flexibility to homeschool in a way that fits your family and your lifestyle.
As many of you know, I've been homeschooling for over two decades, and I have four children ranging in age from 29 to 11. I also have a "Type A" perfectionistic personality, but I learned a long time ago that if I didn't learn to become a more relaxed homeschooler, I was going to drive myself and my kids crazy.
In light of that, I made adjustments. For instance, I don't teach every subject every year. This year I'm skipping geography with my 11-year old. Last year we did hardly any science.
In other words: I choose quality over quantity. I'd rather enjoy delving deeply into a subject with my kids, than glossing over several – or driving myself crazy trying to do everything and doing not much of it well.
This is the message I try to convey to readers who are overwhelmed. Relax. Chill out.
Put the books away one day a week and start making fun field trips an integral part of your homeschool. Cut back on the number of subjects you're teaching.
Another approach would be to cycle through the subjects you're teaching. For instance, spend 12 weeks teaching science and then 12 weeks teaching history.
Where you can, begin to have your kids work independently, particularly as they start to hit those "middle school" years.
And by all means, if you're teaching the early grades, particularly kindergarten through third grade, focus on the fundamentals (reading, writing, and math) and let the rest of your curriculum revolve around fun projects that don't require a lot of time and energy on your part to accomplish.
When it comes to successful homeschooling, I believe quality trumps quantity every time!
R is for Restoration: Recently I actually wrote a note to myself that I need to do more things that are restorative to my soul.
As homeschool moms it's difficult to find time for activities that restore our souls, but it's important.
What do I mean when I talk about restorative activities? Here are some ideas:
- Spending time outdoors – Due to battling health issues, I've spent no time outdoors this summer, and I miss it. I miss the warmth of the sun on my skin. I miss breathing the fresh air. I miss gardening. There's a reason God put Adam and Eve in a garden – spending time enjoying and working in the natural world is extremely restorative.
- Reading for fun – I'm a reader, but most of the time I'm reading non-fiction, i.e. self-improvement or informational type of books. Normally in the summer I like to read a book or two just for fun. It may sound strange, but my favorite "reading for fun" books are crime thrillers. A few months ago a Twitter connection recommended Michael Connelly, a mystery writer whom I'd never heard of. I've got one of his books on my Amazon Wish List. I think it's about time I just buy the thing and enjoy some good fiction for a change.
- Treat yourself – Spend the time and money to go to a professional stylist and get your hair highlighted. It's amazing the boost making ourselves "pretty" can be. Or if mani-pedi's are more your thing, schedule one! Perhaps, like me, your aching body could use a massage. Doing something that restores your body will restore your soul as well. And to quote an old ad campaign, "You're worth it!"
What are some things you do to feel restored amidst the challenges of being a homeschooling parent? I'd love it if you'd share your tips!


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Two men are dead after their truck lost control on a gravel road and crashed into a log pile in East Kempt, N.S. on Sunday night.
Police said the men, 36 and 38 years old, had to be cut free, but they died Monday morning in hospital.
Both were from Yarmouth.
The Gray Road crash is under investigation.


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Advanced Pediatrics
100 East Street SE, Suite 301
Vienna, VA 22180
4 Years Old
Full of energy and questions, you will have few quiet moments with your 4 year old around. He will ask lots of questions of you as he strives to understand his world. At moments he will appear confident and in charge and at others he will waffle on the side of insecurity. As quickly as he will melt down at the slightest disappointment he will just as quickly move on to the next distraction that interests him.
This will make for an unpredictable year and unpredictable days. Much success comes from mastering successful routines and setting clear expectations.
Vaccinations for this visit
We recommend the following vaccines:
Recommended Tests
The following tests are only done based upon risk factors being present. Please take a few moments to help us determine whether these tests are warranted for your child:
Motor & Hand Skills
Hops, somersaults
Swings, climbs
May be able to skip
Copies triangle and other geometric patterns
Prints some letters
Uses fork, spoon, and (sometimes) a table knife
Dresses and undresses without assistance
Language & Cognitive
Recalls part of a story
Says name and address
Speaks sentences of more than five words
Uses future tense
Knows about things used every day in the home (money, food, appliances)
Correctly names at least four colors
Can count ten or more objects
Social & Emotional
More likely to agree to rules
Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by herself
Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative
Wants to be liked and to please his friends and perhaps has a best friend which could be of either sex
Able to distinguish fantasy from reality
Shows more independence — able to brush his teeth and get dressed by himself
Parenting Tips


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During the summer of 1969, a middle age man held his new born baby day in and day out knowing that he was leaving for Vietnam and understanding the very real possibility that he'd never see that baby grow up. He held that baby when she slept and cooed at her when she was awake. When she was six weeks old, he left for his tour of duty.
Thankfully, that father returned to his family safely. Even more wonderful than that, he was there to watch his five children grow up! That man has held my heart for the past 46 years! His love and devotion to his family have been a constant source of security in my life. I can honestly say, from my earliest memories, that I felt truly cherished. I have never once doubted that, no matter what happened, my daddy would take care of me.
There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. ~John Gregory Brown more »


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- Product Description
Covers 17 exercises. Requires: Exercise Mat, Stability Ball, X-Band. Workout duration 30 mins. Difficulty level 1.
Stott Pilates® exercise is the key to a feel-good pregnancy and helps you prepare your mind and body for motherhood. Learn exercises and tips from PJ O'Clair on how to support your changing body and build upper body strength using the versatile Stability Ball and Flex-Band* so you look and feel your fittest. Strengthen your back, upper body & arms. Reduce physical and emotional street. Feel in control of your body. Suitable for women in their second trimester.
- Key Information
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Weight 0 Warranty Specification N/A Brand STOTT PILATES® Installation Available No
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Delivery Options:
Standard FREE Delivery is available on all orders over £99.99
Standard Delivery – For any weighted item delivery will take between 2-3 working days from the item being purchased to being delivered. Orders weighing over 100kg will be palletised and delivered to the kerbside, please allow 2-3 working days for the service.
Next Day Delivery – Providing the purchase is made before midday your item will be with you on the next working day. With the calendar feature, which is visible during checkout, you may also choose which Saturday you would like your order to be delivered on.
Please note, oversized items and orders weighting over 100kg are not available on a Next Day service
Saturday – if you item weighs 2kg or below, you can have your item delivered on a Saturday. With the calendar feature, which is visible during checkout, you may also choose which Saturday you would like your order to be delivered on.
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Your new and unused item must be returned within the first 14 days of purchase. The item must be returned with intact packaging, appropriate labels and literature to receive a full refund.
Customised equipment, i.e items printed with your logo, can only be returned if there is a manufacturing quote. For more information on our returns procedure visit our FAQs.
- Fitness Professional


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"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966, and made famous by Marvin Gaye in a single released in October 1968 on Motown's Tamla label.
Originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1966, that version was rejected by Motown owner Berry Gordy, who told Whitfield and Strong to make it stronger. After recording the song with Marvin Gaye in 1967, which Gordy also rejected, Whitfield produced a version with Gladys Knight & the Pips, which Gordy agreed to release as a single in September 1967, and which went to number two in the Billboard chart. The Marvin Gaye version was placed on his 1968 album In the Groove, where it gained the attention of radio disc jockeys, and Gordy finally agreed to its release as a single in October 1968, when it went to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven weeks from December 1968 to January 1969 and became for a time the biggest hit single on the Motown label. The Gaye recording has since become acclaimed a soul classic, and in 2004, it was placed on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On the commemorative 50th Anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine in June 2008, Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine" was ranked 65th. It was also inducted to theGrammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value.
In addition to being released several times by Motown artists, the song has been covered by a range of musicians including Creedence Clearwater Revival, who made an eleven-minute interpretation for their 1970 album, Cosmo's Factory; and has been used twice in television commercials – each time using session musicians recreating the style of the Marvin Gaye version: the 1985 Levi's commercial, "Launderette", featuring male model Nick Kamen, and the 1986 California raisins promotion with Buddy Miles as the singer for the clay animation group The California Raisins.
By 1966, Barrett Strong, the singer on Motown Records' breakthrough hit, "Money (That's What I Want)", had the basics of a song he had started to write in Chicago, where the idea had come to him while walking down Michigan Avenue that people were always saying "I heard it through the grapevine". The phrase is associated with black slaves during the Civil War, who had their form of telegraph: the human grapevine. Producer Norman Whitfield worked with Strong on the song, adding lyrics to Strong's basic Ray Charles influenced gospel tune and the single chorus line of "I heard it through the grapevine". This was to be the first of a number of successful collaborations between Strong and Whitfield.
The lyrics tell the story in a first person narrative of the betrayal of the singer's romantic partner, how he heard about it indirectly via gossip from other people (through the "grapevine"), and the emotional pain and disbelief he is suffering.
Motown recordingsEdit
Producer Norman Whitfield recorded "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" with various Motown artists. The first known recording is with the Miracles on August 6, 1966, though there may also have been a recording with the Isley Brothers, or at least Whitfield intended to record it with them; however a track has not turned up – some Motown historians believe that a session may have been scheduled but cancelled. The Miracles' version was not released as a single due to Berry Gordy's veto during Motown's weekly quality control meetings; Gordy advised Whitfield and Strong to create a stronger single. The Miracles version later appeared on their 1968 Special Occasion album, with a slightly different take, possibly from the same session but unreleased, appearing on the 1998 compilation album, Motown Sings Motown Treasures. Marvin Gaye's version was recorded in spring 1967, and is the second known recording, though was also rejected by Gordy as a single, and would also later go onto an album, In the Groove. The third recording was in 1967 with Gladys Knight and the Pips in a new, faster arrangement. Gordy accepted the new arrangement and the Gladys Knight version was released as a single in September 1967, reaching number 2 in the charts. When Gaye's album with his version of Grapevine was released in August 1968 radio disc jockeys were playing the song, so Gordy had it released as a single in November when it went to number one.
In 1968 Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers recorded a version for their debut album based on Gladys' recent hit; however, after hearing the Marvin Gaye version, they felt they'd made the wrong choice. In 1969, Whitfield produced a version for the Temptations "psychedelic soul" album, Cloud Nine, in which he "brought compelling percussion to the fore, and relegated the piano well into the wings". In 1971, the Undisputed Truth became the final Motown act to record the song in its Marvin-styled version. The song was also covered by the Chi-Lites on their 1969 debut album Give It Away.


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... Even if it meant your own family would suffer a great loss losing you.
Most Helpful Guy
Same here, thanks!
... Even if it meant your own family would suffer a great loss losing you.
Fuck no
Same here, thanks!
Have an opinion?
I think I would just have to try and save the person
There's a difference between trying to save that person while there's a possibility to lose my life and literally giving my life to that person. For example, if a car is about to hit someone, I would try to push them away and I might lose my life for that.
I would never put myself in a position to risk my life for a stranger. My children and family are more important
If i had no family at all, then i'd risk my own life
Yes. If I could, I would. Its only right to at least try and save someone you know you could, not sit there and observe
I would, as my family is more valuable than a random stranger
So you'd observe?
I'd walk away
Life is precious so yeah
Not more precious than your own family.
Well the thing is being human comes first!
That is a silly response. Being a mother to my children is more important than a random strager
I would like to think I would risk it to helps someone in need but tbh I have no idea. I'm not gonna try sound big or tough by saying yes course I would but I won't outright say I wouldn't. If it came to the crunch I hope I would at least try to help someone that needs me but I can't say it would happen
I'd never risk my life for a random stranger. My children and family will always be my priority
It depends fully on the situation I believe, if there were a building on fire for example and a child was stuck there I think i would because the child deserves a chance to live their life at least a few years not let it be take if u get me? Or if it were me or a few people I think I might
I wouldn't save another person's child only to have my children grow up without me. My children come before anyone, regardless of the person's age
Not gonna lie but I'm so glad that there are a lot of people not like u in the world not gonna lie u got a selfish attitude, u wouldn't want someone saving ur children then? Damn wouldn't even save a child damn that's cold
Not if it meant they come before my own children.
Like I said thankfully there are a lot of people not like u and also y do u even bother posting this question all u do is argue with people how about u stop arguing and go spend time with these children that u on about
I'm. obviously upsetting you. I really don't care because you arevonly a random stranger on the internet. I'm so happy my husband is a man unlike you
Selfish? Almost any man would risk their life to save a child
To be honest it depends on their age, I know this sounds bad but I would deffinatly risk my own life to save someone younger than me but would not be as likely to risk my life to save someone older than me.
I understand that! It doesn't sound bad. Thank you!
Yes. Someone has to
911 had some real heroes who risked their lives
It isn't your duty to save a life like 911 heroes. It's your duty to be there for your family
No. But I wouldn't just stand there and watch someone suffer
I could if it was a choice between saving them or my children growing up without me. I'd never put anyone above my own family
What if you were the one that needed saving?
I wouldn't expect another person's family to be without their loved one just to save me. If i had no family at all, then i'd risk my own life.
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Based on what we currently having in the purchasable inventory (or are somewhat confirmed to have), what will be your SONY DSLR camera of choice by the end of the year? (If you are not buying a new camera, please disregard this poll or mark "I am keeping what I currently have.")
I have not considered the possible α500 series, due to the long-term projected nature of the announcement (probably late 2009/early 2010).


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Discussion in 'Photos and Videos' started by damoncooper, Mar 25, 2015.
Unique aerial views of Cape Cod in the spring. Shot in 4K Ultra-HD.
Very nice shots. I'm not ballsy enough to take my craft over water yet. BTW, I am your neighbor in Newport RI
Thanks. NIce to know you're nearby! RI has a LOT of great land/sea scapes for filming from the air for sure.
Footage starting at 2:54 (YouTube Version) - the color is so great there - For just a moment, it made me think of warm and sunny days near the ocean. Then I was brought back to the cold as the scene changes.
Yeah the Chatham "Bar" (sandbar) is gorgeous. I had absolutely NO idea there was an actual HOUSE there until I flew over it. The Chatham Bar is actually about 1.5km out to sea, but I figured I could make it I suspect it's been abandoned for years, but was a surprise to find. I doubt many locals even know it's there.
When I get a chance next time I'm going to "explore it" closer with the Inspire.
Damon amazing video! I'm from central Mass !! Frequent cape cod visitor. We have a rental in Harwich
Nice! Now we know there is a house on Chatham Bar . Time to explore it!
Send me a little link to your rental if you don't mind. We frequent the cape as well and often rent a house when we aren't at Chatham Bars Inn
It has year round tenant. Where in Mass are you located?
Waltham, but we love the Cape, New Hampshire mountains, Maine coast etc.