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Director4 needed a new button or icon design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 60 designs submitted by 17 freelance designers.
Sitka Summer Music Festival's "Local Lodgings Partner Program"
The Sitka Summer Music Festival (http://sitkamusicfestival.org/) has been bringing world-class classical musicians to Alaska since 1972. We are launching a new project to attract investment from local lodgings, such as Bed & Breakfasts, lodges, hotels and motels. We are inviting these businesses to become a "Lodgings Partner of the Sitka Summer Music Festival". Among other benefits, they will receive a window cling identifying them as a member of this program and featuring the program design.
There are 70 such lodgings businesses in Sitka, some are in high-traffic areas downtown, others are in more remote locations. Because of the diversity of locations, we are targeting guests of the lodgings as well as general visitors to town. There's a lot going on in the lobby of a lodging, therefore the design needs to be clean and easy to read/see. While some of these businesses already contribute to the Festival, many will be new supporters. We want to demonstrate to these businesses as well as their patrons that classical music is fun, appealing to a broad range of people, and that we bring people to town who spend money. Therefore, we don't want the design to be stuffy, and we want it to clearly indicate that this is a partnership between a classical music organization and a lodging.
I would like the window cling to say:
Stay with Us! (or integrate this into the icon) Design (insert cute program icon) Lodging Partner of the Sitka Summer Music Festival (tag line)
Ideas for execution -- We want a design that clearly indicates the partnership is between a classical organization and a lodging. We want the design and the text to be clear and easy to read. While we want this to be fun, we would like the font of the text to be more clean and classy - not bubble writing.
For the icon, I envision something along the lines of a cello reclining in a bed. But that's just a thought from an amateur - please be creative.
We would like two options - one with black background and one with clear background - for uses in addition to window cling.
The design needs to fit the specs: less than 20 MB in size - EPS, JPG, TIF, BMP, GIF, PNG file type. We would prefer JPG.
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the icon.


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Is pumpkin in season now? Fresh pumpkins are only selling at RM 1.29 per kg now at nearest hypermarket. Bought one whole pumpkin last week and this week too. Our little boy has started taking solid food, he loved mashed pumpkin with some milk and rice cereal. Made some frozen baby food, then cooked the rest for big boys and myself.
This is actually my mom's style braised pumpkin, but I added black fungus and butter for a change. The idea is from braised yam cooked black fungus, why not adding it in this dish too? Glad that I tried it, found another way to eat black fungus! Black fungus itself has little or no taste, but when eat together with creamy and buttery pumpkin it is simply... so good!
300g Pumpkin, peeled and chopped into chunks
10g Dried shrimp, soaked and drained (keep the water)
10g Black fungus, soaked and cleaned
1 tbsp Cooking oil
1-2 clove Garlic, chopped
1 bulb shallot, chopped
1 cup Water (water for soaking dried shrimp + water to make 1 cup)
1 tbsp butter
Salt to taste
Green for garnish
- Heat oil in wok, stir-fry dried shrimp until it is browned lightly.
- Stir in garlic, shallot and pumpkin. Cook for 1-2 minutes or pumpkin has caramelised on the edges.
- Add in black fungus and cook for further 1 minute.
- Add in water, bring to boil then add salt to taste.
- Turn the heat down, let it simmer with cover until all liquid is absorbed.
Add in butter, mix well. Ready to serve.
Cook's notes:
- Add water in batches if cooking less amount of pumpkin, too much water will ended up with pumpkin paste or puree.
- Add more black fungus if desired. I will definitely add more next time.
- Peel the pumpkin briefly if only adults are eating. Peel has more flavour and nutrients.

subset: commoncrawl


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It seems that if a protein performs a certain function in one organism, then that same protein should perform the same function in a variety of organisms.
No results found in Get Answers.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


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All The Tools You Need to Organize Your Closet
Perhaps the season for spring cleaning is over, but in our humble opinion, organizing your closet is always in style. While we've already gone over tips and tricks on how to sort the jumble of clothes in your wardrobe, today's How To will show you the exact tools you need to achieve an orderly closet! We went straight to Lili Pettit, the creator of Clutter Healing, for her favorite must-have items. From drawer dividers to maximize your dresser's potential to woven baskets ideal for displaying accessories, click through our slideshow to shop all of Pettit's practical essentials now.
"Hang tags are available at any office supply store. They're a great way to label bins or baskets that won't allow for a stick-on label."
Shop It:
Williams-Sonoma Cords & Tags Set ($20)
"Use a fashionable low basket for jewelry or sunglasses. My favorite stores are The Container Store, West Elm, Maison Midi, and a few vintage spots I keep secret!"
Shop It:
West Elm Traditional Tonga Basket ($39)
"A great basket can be used for anything from small clutch handbags to organizing exercise clothing per activity."
Shop It:
Crate & Barrel Woven Felt Bins ($30-$35)
"Step stools are imperative for utilizing every vertical square inch of a closet or pantry space."
Shop It:
Urban Home Petite Linen Stool ($79)
"I love these thin non-slip hangers from The Container Store. They're a huge space saver."
Shop It:
The Container Store Black Huggable Hangers ($10 for pack of 10)
"Drawer dividers are amazing for utilizing a drawer to its fullest potential. I often use them to separate athletic or dress socks, bras, panties, slips, and more."
Shop It:
The Container Store Dream Drawer Organizers ($16 each)
"I use a P-Touch label maker. Changing the width to 1/2-inch helps save label tape and allows for more words on the label if need be."
Shop It:
Brother P-Touch PT-90 Personal Label Maker ($30)
"I love the L.L.Bean canvas bags and bins from Serena & Lily for a play room, as they're small enough for kids to handle and can be washed if needed. Serena & Lily offers chic bins and baskets that aren't plastic, which I loathe."
Shop It:
L.L.Bean Open-Top Boat and Tote Bag ($21)
"When a client of mine needed additional hanging rods, instead of spending money on hiring a handyman and adding permanent rods, we used these add-on rods. They're great for kids' closets as well!"
Shop It:
Umbra Dublet Adjustable Closet Rod Expander ($20)
"Plastic dry-cleaning bags are terrible for keeping clothing stored in the short or long-term. Fabric cannot breathe in plastic. I love cotton garment bags especially for gowns or sequined, beaded items that might snag other clothing items."
Shop It:
The Container Store Natural Cotton Jacket & Coat Garment Bags ($18-$20)
"Waterfall skirt hangers are great for hanging lots of short skirts and dressy shorts in a smaller closet. I never waterfall more than four pieces and I never use them for pants."
Shop It:
The Container Store Chrome Add-On Skirt/Pant Hangers ($6 each)
"Clothes will always end up in the proper dresser or closet if they have these labels stuck inside. I see kid's clothes in the wrong kid's room so often. These labels make a huge difference! And they really do stay stuck on after washing and drying. I also recommend Name Bubbles Tag Clothing Labels ($22) which you can press and stick on."
Shop It:
One Eyed Bee Custom Clothing Labels ($24 for 100 labels)
"When a client works with a domestic staff to keep everything in place, once I have set up a system, these clothing rod dividers are the best!"
Shop It:
The Container Store Simple Division Closet Rod Organizers ($10 each)


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Josh Neuroth needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 257 designs submitted by 61 freelance designers.
We are a multi-generational, multi-campus, and multi-ethnic church under one name and brand. We're called "theChurch" and our individual campuses fall under this name as "theChurch on Strayer", "theChurch Online", or "theChurch on 53". Our messages are heard all over the world and played on many christian tv channels. Our (soon to be overhauled) website is http://www.wearethechurch.cc
Current Logo:
Everyone, especially those who don't currently attend church.
We're looking for a logo or logotype refresh that doesn't represent traditional church. Our logo must consist of at least two parts: "thechurch" (our overall brand) and the ability to look good with different phrases like "on strayer", "online campus", or "care team". To clarify, we're only looking for one overall logo design that can be easily used to plug in phrases like "on strayer". We don't mind having some color, but it must also look good in monotone.
We currently have a three part circular logo that represents body, soul, and spirit (in one). We would like to see this redesigned to be slightly thinner. Show us some options with and without this circular piece.
We don't want people to assume we call ourselves "THEE" church as if we were the only church out there. Therefore, in the past, we have spelled our name as "theChurch" with a lowercase "t". We're open to new ways of writing our name.
One of our biggest challenges is branding a generic phrase like "the church" into a unique brand and logo that represents our organization. We hope you can help with that.
We love new ideas and creativity. Show us something creative, simple, and unique that doesn't make the average person think of traditional church. We are looking for either refreshes of our current logo and/or completely new designs.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Computed Tomography uses specialized x-ray equipment to create sectional images of the human body. Each cross sectional image reveals complex information about body structures that are used for a variety of reasons (i.e., diagnostic, treatment planning, interventional or screening).
A Bachelor degree in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences in CT is available for students who have graduated from an accredited program in radiologic technology, nuclear medicine or radiation therapy. Students must also complete Kent Core courses and upper division electives toward degree requirements.
Application Deadline: June 15
Number of Students Accepted: Up to 12 students each year
For more information contact:
Jan Gibson, M. Ed, R.T. (R)
Kent State University at Salem
2491 State Route 45 South
Salem, OH 44460
Phone: 330-337-4223
Fax: 330-337-4255
E-mail: email@example.com
CT and MRI Application Packet 2018


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RBC.com | Français | | Contact Us
Skip Breadcrumb Links
About RBC > Community & Sustainability > News > After-School Friendship, Hoops and Dreams
Vancouver's V6A postal code has the highest child poverty rate in Canada. With RBC's ongoing support, Strathcona's after-school programs are helping children in this East downtown neighbourhood find friendship, hoops and dreams.
With first-time funding from RBC in 1999, Strathcona launched a basketball outreach program for girls. It started with five girls and has grown to 285 girls. Since 1999, 500 children have enjoyed the program.
Jennifer, who joined the program at age ten, is a shining example of the difference Strathcona can make. She's now teaching and coaching the neighbourhood children in more than just basketball. And, thanks to Strathcona and a scholarship, she'll be the first in her family to pursue post-secondary education.
"Who I am and where I am now is mainly because of my experiences at Strath," she says. "Here at Strath, it's about friendship, experiences and providing a place for inner city kids with hope. Guiding them to realize their dreams and finally living them!"
Home to many working poor and immigrant families, drugs, crime, and prostitution are the norm in this neighbourhood. Many parents work 15-hour days and few speak English. Children are left on their own much of the time. Young women living in the Downtown Eastside are often lured into the drug or sex trade. Basketball is one positive option that's offered year round through Strathcona.
"It's a safe place for kids to go after school," explains program director Ron Suzuki. "My dream is for every child in this program to go on to post-secondary education."
Through sports and other programs, kids gain a strong work ethic and are exposed to positive role models. Some days, over 425 children aged five to twelve attend the program which is run by leaders and volunteers. Most participants don't speak or read English and special needs kids are also integrated into the program. The fact that about 75% of program participants go on to post-secondary education is proof positive that it's working.
Strathcona also partners with 45 services and agencies including Aboriginal organizations to deliver programming and raise funds.
RBC believes that learning shouldn't have to end when the school bell rings. That's why we created the RBC After-School Grants Program which extends learning beyond the school day. To date, we have given more than $25 million in donations to organizations that provide children with a safe place to go after school, where they can develop knowledge, social skills and self-esteem.


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Kiihnl ran her record to 9-0. She has thrown four shutouts this season.
"It's amazing that we are sitting her saying that she threw a no-hitter, but that it wasn't her best," Ryman said. "She expects a lot out of herself.
"She goes after people and puts people on their heels right off of the bat. She has the ability to do that every time out. She is a special pitcher."
It was the first game for the Lady Bisons on their home field at Draper Diamond. The Friday afternoon game was also the first in the inaugural Lady Bisons Classic which continues through Sunday. Eastern Kentucky and Evansville round out the tournament field.
"There were some things that didn't necessarily go how we had planned them, but I thought we just kept fighting," Ryman said. "We got some clutch hits at crucial times in the games.
"It was a good start to the tournament. It was good to get the first home game out of the way. It was a great crowd and that means a lot to us."
The Lady Bisons pounded out 11 hits with Lauren Dortwegt, Courtney Billington, Mollie Mitchell and Mackenzie Tucker each getting two.
Tucker's bunt single to the catcher in the second inning drove home Mitchell with the first run of the game.
"Mac's hit early in the game was a huge boost to get us on the boards," Ryman said. "We had not had a lot of great at bats early in the game. To jump in and score with two outs in the second was good."
Billington, Mitchell and Christen Campbell each had a double. Kellie Sirus hit her fifth home run of the game, a two-RBI line drive over the right field fence in the sixth inning.
"I felt like we got into a better groove at the plate later in the game," Ryman said. "We were seeing the ball a little bit better. We were attacking the ball better.
"We have to understand that we can't let other people take the bat out of our hands. We have to go up to the plate and attack. The whole weekend we want to come out and play our game. We want to attack the ball at the plate. Defensively we want to do our thing and take care of business."
The Lady Bisons have won 11 games in a row and are 13-1 for the season. This was their ninth shutout of the season. Murray State fell to 1-7.
The Lady Bisons will play Eastern Kentucky, 0-9, at 2:30 Saturday. They will have a rematch with Murray State at 4:45.
written by Mark McGee, Senior Publisher/Director of Media Relations


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I regret to announce that after many weeks of working to help the Bolins open their dream restaurant, I was informed last Monday that my services would no longer be required. Needless to say, I was stunned, angered, and saddened by this news, and I wish that I would have had more time to prove myself. I am proud of what their team has accomplished, and I regret that I will no longer be part of it. I have nothing further to say publicly at this time.
11 thoughts on "Last Call at Cook and Brown"
Mega bummer. Was looking forward to checking out the place next time I was visiting in the Boston area.
You deserve, and will find, better. Best of luck to you and your family.
I'm usually found over at Jen's site, and man, it seems like it could have been handled better.
In any case, you deserve better. Wishing you a bit of luck, and a lot of happiness.
I am sure you will be on to bigger and better things! Much luck in your future endeavors.
The less said, the better, I think. Sour grapes don't read well. Learn and move on, and good luck.
All of us who are rooting for you and Jen are glad you said something about what happened, in my opinion what you did say was honest and perfectly brief. It is too bad, I was looking forward to checking the place out, now I am not as eager. Best of luck to you both.
Actually, I think you sound rather restrained. Elegant. Of course, I am thinking of how I might react in a similar situation – but then you just seem even more restrained and elegant. Their loss. In more ways than one.
I add my voice to the chorus – it seems like you put a lot of effort and commitment in and it's disappointing that the same was perhaps not leveled in your direction; I know, for my part, I was hoping to sidle up to the bar in May and introduce myself "from the internet" and try one of your amazing concoctions. You'll just have to let us know what great things you get up to next, and we'll doubtless be there!
Uh no! We were just about to go down there tomorrow night to have one of your great cocktails. Actually, we were going just for cocktails, not dinner. I'm sad. If you get a new bartending job let us know where, it sounded like you have a lot of drinks in your little black book, and I want to try them all!


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At Duke University, professors who teach MOOCs tend to go back and do a radical revision of their on-campus classes.
"That's true for at least half the faculty who developed MOOC classes," said Lynne M. O'Brien, Duke's associate vice provost for digital and online education initiatives. She said this was no surprise: MOOCs free professors from constraints required by for-credit classes, like length and format. "People are free to innovate in ways you can't do with a typical course," she said.
A case in point is the class on logic and critical reasoning taught by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong. Last fall, he co-taught one of the most popular classes ever, Think Again: How to Reason and Argue. The Coursera course was a sensation, drawing more than 170,000 students, more than 100,000 of whom participated and viewed the course lectures a total of 4 million times.
[ MOOCs are trying to reach the 99%. See Udacity CEO Says MOOC 'Magic Formula' Emerging. ]
Sinnott-Armstrong and his co-teacher, Ram Neta of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have spent their summers making radical changes not to their Coursera class, but to the similar courses they teach on their respective campuses.
The big shift: far fewer in-class lectures. Students will watch the lectures on Coursera beginning Monday. "Class will become a time for activities and also teamwork," said Sinnott-Armstrong. He's devised exercises to help on-campus students engage with the concepts in the class, including a college bowl-like competition, a murder mystery night and a scavenger hunt, all to help students develop a deeper understanding of the material presented in the lectures.
"You can have these fun activities in the classroom when you're not wasting the classroom time with the lectures," he said. Neta is also moving away from in-class lectures.
There are some changes coming to the Coursera version of their class, as well:
-- Neta is re-recording all his video lectures. For the first Coursera session, he taught them as he would in a live class, walking around and writing on a whiteboard. That created video quality issues. He's now using ScreenFlow, a video creation and distribution package, and recording them while seated, using animations to replace his whiteboard scribbling.
-- Sinnott-Armstrong has re-written the exercises to emphasize mastery learning, where students learn by repeating exercises until they've mastered the material.
-- The course will now use Coursera's keystroke "signature" technology, introduced in January, to verify student identities.
-- Students now have free access to Sinnott-Armstrong's textbook, Understanding Arguments. His publisher is one of several allowing Coursera to integrate digital versions of textbooks into its courses.
What it won't have is Google Hangouts. Think Again was part of a pilot project Google did with Coursera. But "Hangouts was not built for this purpose [student discussions in MOOCs]," said Ryan George, a course operations specialist at Coursera. "Technical changes need to be made to make it a viable tool." He said Google is working on those changes, but an updated version isn't ready yet.


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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
Part# GBC2271
2 Reviews
OPGI Price: $326.99
Part Type: (R) = Authentic reproduction of the original GM product
Years: 1961-1964
Sold As: EACH
Certain items which exceed standard size are exempt from free shipping promotions. These items are noted in your cart at checkout.
Any package that measures over 48" in length, and/or 30" in width or height, is subject to an additional handling surcharge of $15.95 per package. Unusually shaped packages such as cylinders or drums are also subject to this charge, as are unusual exterior packaging materials such as plastic or cloth.
Includes filler neck unless specified.
These fuel tanks are simply the finest the market has to offer at an incredible discount. If you have purchased one of the inexpensive knock-offs elsewhere, you've likely found that they fit poorly, have a tendency to leak and are spray painted silver gray to mask the inferior quality of the finished product. These cheaply made, mediocre tanks are generally a disappointment. Here at OPGI we will never compromise quality and always offer our customers the best there is.


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Protecting Against Volatility Spikes
By some accounts, futures traders and hedge fund managers are increasing their bets that stock market volatility will spike. At the same time, Silicon Valley financial adviser William Martin is working with technology executives and other affluent investors to keep their portfolios diversified. He still favors dividend-paying stock funds and remains cautious about Europe.


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In their first meet of 2014, the men's and women's swimming & diving teams had several standout performances against Trinity College. The Brandeis men fell, 138-106, while the women lost, 138-71, to a Bantam squad that has won its last five competitions.
Sophomore Brian Luk (Hong Kong/Northfield Mount Hermon) led the way for the men, winning all three of his individual events. Luk swept the sprint events in freestyle, outtouching second place by at least 1.5 seconds in every event. He won the 50-yard race with a time of 22.46 seconds, the 100 in 48.71, and the 200 in 149.06.
Junior Max Fabian (Keene, N.H./Oak Meadow) was a double winner for the Judges in the distance events. He got Brandeis off with a bang in the first individual event, taking the 1000 with a time of 10:08.46. He later claimed first in the 500, with his time of 5:03.33 more than 16 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Fabian also grabbed fourth in the 200 butterfly.
Rookie Edan Zitelny (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) was also a winner for the men, claiming the 200-yard backstroke in a race to the wall with Bantam rookie Doug Curtin. Zitelny had a pair of top-3 finishes as well, claiming third in the 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley.
Sophomore David Lazarovich had a pair of third-place results for the Judges in the 50-yard and 200-yard backstroke events
As they have been for much of the season, the Brandeis women's team was paced by rookie Joanna Murphy (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview). Murphy won the first two women's individual events on the afternoon, the 1000- and 200-yard freestyle. The rookie easily claimed the 1000, her time of 10:50.78 more than 22 seconds better than second place. She had a tougher go of things in the 200, besting Trinity rookie Ilkin Telli by just 0.15 seconds. Murphy also finished fourth in the 200 butterfly and had the best time in the 500 freestyle, though she swam the event as an exhibition.
Sophomore Fallon Bushee (Malden, Mass./Mystic Valley Regional Charter Sch.) had a pair of top-3 finishes. Bushee placed second in the 50-yard butterfly, finishing in 29.97 seconds. She also placed third in the 50-yard breaststroke with a season-best time of 35.32 seconds.
Sophomore Fay Laborio (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West) placed third in the 50-yard backstroke. Rookie Margot Farnet (Fayetteville, Ga./Our Lady of Mercy Catholic) was third in the 100-yard freestyle.
The Judges are off until February 1, when they will play host to Clark. The University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships began February 12 at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.


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First of all, I need to point out to all of you commenting on this post that you're not helping me out here. I'm trying, I really am trying to get away from the policy stuff and get away from the political stuff and get back to the clinical and humanistic side of medical blogging. And I put up a throwaway repost of something from the Huffington Post and you go and spark an interesting discussion in the comments. And I'm drawn in like the moth to the flame. You're killing me.
On the substance of the matter: In a fit of pique I called Aetna "fuckers," which creates a reasonable impression that I think Aetna was somehow behaving reproachably. Well, sort of, sort of not. My feeling is that Aetna is behaving perfectly appropriately within the system as it exists, but the for-profit insurance model itself should be abolished. In the current world, Aetna has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders to maximize their profits. It's not just a good idea; it's the law. Moreover, Aetna is traded on the NYSE, and like any other publicly traded company, if investors are concerned that profits are in jeopardy, the stock will plummet and stockholders will suffer. So the executive team at Aetna has a real and genuine mission to maximize profit, and to make a public show of how hard they are trying to maximize profits. It's their reason for being. They took a rational look at the market, made the profit/volume calculation, and decided they were better off selling fewer donuts at a higher profit per donut.*
Which is a fine thing to do if you're selling donuts, but Aetna is insuring lives. It's a little galling to see the profit/life calculation being made so brazenly. But in fairness, it should be pointed out that some or most of the 650,000 people who can no longer afford or no longer choose to pay Aetna's higher prices will not become uninsured or go on welfare. Some may wind up uninsured (especially in the horrific small business/individual market), but the larger number, especially in the large group market, will simply elect a different option, be it UnitedHealth or one of the Blues or whomever.
So why is this a problem, if it's mostly one insurer shuffling off customers onto its lower-margin competitors? Simply: Aetna is doing this in part as a form of cherry-picking, what insurance types call "adverse selection." They want to retain the lowest-cost, healthiest customers, and get rid of those who have medical conditions that cost money. One of the most efficient ways to do this is to raise overall costs. The individuals (and the smaller groups) who have expensive conditions are already paying more due to their higher loss ratios, so they are the most sensitive to cost -- and the first customers to leave in search of cheaper insurance. Devilish, isn't it? While this is a win for Aetna (and yes, *every* insurance company does this), it distorts the market when companies are successful at it. The result is segregated pools of sicker people with higher costs. This drives up the overall cost of insurance for those who need it the most and defeats one of the key purposes of insurance in the first place: risk-sharing.
The trickle-down consequence is that the number of the uninsured inevitably increases as all the companies engage in this practice of profit-maximization. Some of the 650,000 soon-to-be-former Aetna members will wind up uninsured. But as most move down the food chain of insurance companies, the costs increase there, and profit margins shrink, and these companies also increase the price of premiums. As a result, some enrollees at these plans will be priced out of insurance. It's not a one-to-one thing, but it's a certainty that this sort of activity contributes to the growth of the number of Americans without health insurance.
Another problem with this strategy is that it does represent a significant inefficiency in the health care market. Put bluntly, insurance company profits are expensive. The annual profits for the top five publicly-traded health insurance companies total somewhere in the $25 billion range. Yes, that's a small fraction of overall spending on health care, but it's also a full quarter of the $100 billion that the "huge" health reform bill will cost annually. As someone invested in public health, it's frustrating to see that sort of money parasitically siphoned off of a system that is already crumbling under its expense. (Note that I say parasitically not as a moral condemnation but in the strict sense of not adding value for the costs incurred.)
Would life be better if all insurance companies were not for profit? Good question. It's true that some of the most vicious, dirty players in the insurance game are not-for-profit insurers. Where markets are competitive, they behave like the for-profits. (This fact is in my opinion the strongest argument for the public option.) But as was pointed out, the not-for-profits do bear a sense of responsibilty for their communities and you seldom see a non-profit exit a market unless they have been driven bankrupt. Further, the surpluses generated by not-for-profits are generally much smaller than the profits generated by their public brethren, and they are reinvested in the business or returned to subscribers.
It wouldn't be a panacea to take the profit motive out of health insurance, not by a long shot. But it would be a good start.
And just for reference, I would generally agree that the provision of health care by physicians should also be not for profit. Which is not to say that the doctors should not be compensated -- but that the corporations should not be publicly owned and that the revenue generated by doctors should go to the doctors, not to shareholders. But that's another topic altogether.
*Side note: I grew up in Chicago, and at the Museum of Science & Industry there was a primitive computer economics game where you were the owner of a donut shop and had to figure out the optimal price for your donuts. It was fun but tough for a nine-year-old Shadowfax. Anybody else ever play that game? Says something about me that that I thought an economics computer game was "fun."


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Our Fitness Blog
5 Tips to Make Your Workout a Little Easier
It can be difficult to find a workout routine you can easily stick with. You can find a number of reasons to go to the gym, but you really only need one excuse to skip it. So, with all the temptations out there to keep you from the gym, how can you ensure that you will find a workout that you can stick with? Here we have gathered a few tips that you can use to help tackle a lot of the more common excuses many of us find to avoid the gym. So, take a look and see if you would benefit from trying a few of these tips in your daily routine.
Always have a packed and ready gym bag. One of the most common excuses to skip the gym is not having enough time, and it can take a while to pack your gym bag if you wait until the last second. However, if you already have a packed and ready gym bag, all you have to do is grab it and run out the door. This can save many of us some crucial time and allow us to fit in that otherwise impossible workout.
Pick a gym close to you. This can also help with the not enough time excuse. If you live near your gym or pass it on your daily commute, then you are more likely to find a way to squeeze in a quick workout, and it is a lot less likely that you can easily ignore the gym if you pass by it everyday. So, location can be a key factor in sticking to your fitness routine.
Workout on the way home. For many of us, a morning workout is just not happening. An alternative method is to go straight to the gym after work. The key to this method is, going straight there. Don't run any errands or go home because the likelihood of making it to the gym gets less and less likely the more distracted you get! Eat a healthy snack about 30 minutes before leaving work so that you aren't empty of energy and hit that workout hard. Then you can go home and know you've done what you needed to for yourself. Then, eat a healthy dinner, and you'll be a better spouse, parent or just a better person because of all your hard work!
Reward yourself. A simple reward can help keep you motivated. Reward yourself for achieving a preset goal or staying consistent with your workouts. You can find something you are looking forward to and reward yourself with it when you think you have reached a victory in your workouts. It can be as simple as two hours alone at the bookstore to a new pair of shoes, but avoid using "cheat" foods as a reward because this ends up making your work back at the gym that much harder!
Do not be afraid of new technology. Wearable technology is trending now more than ever! This new technology can give many of us that extra push we may need to stick to our workouts by helping us track our workouts and giving us some sort of accountability with an online community. It can also make you more aware of all the successes you have accomplished through your workouts making you more excited about going to your daily workouts. Many 9Round locations now have heart rate technology called MyZone that gives you immediate feedback during your workout. This is so crucial at that moment when you want to stop, but you look up at the screen and see that you need to keep pushing just a little bit more at that exact moment! Nothing is more motivating! If your 9Round has MyZone, you deserve to buy yourself one today! For more info on what MyZone is click here: http://www.9round.com/public/myzone.pdf
There are so many little extras that can help put you on the right track to working out consistently. All you need to do is find what works for you. If you do discover that it is becoming a little harder each day to get going with your workout, then maybe it is time to try a few of these tips and see what works for you.


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I want to thank Market Street Stamps again for such a wonderful time on their design team!
(and also thanks to everyone who left sweet comments on my last post-I'm hoping to find the right balance and still be able to do some craftin' and bloggin' next year. :) )


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Students are introduced to the carbon cycle through discussion, modeling and a game. Students then complete activities and investigations on Greenhouse gasses, photosynthesis, cellular respiration and ecosystem services (functions and values of... (View More) intact ecosystems to humans). The unit is one of four under the Chicago Botanic Garden curriculum entitled, "Climate Change in My Backyard." (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
Learners create art inspired by authentic NASA planetary image data while learning to recognize the geology on planetary surfaces, uniquely inspiring learner engagement. This presentation and accompanying activity use the elements of art - shape,... (View More) line, color, texture, value - to make sense of features in NASA images, honing observation skills and inspiring questions. It aligns with the NGSS cross-cutting concept of Patterns. Videos, images, and an interactive poster that breaks down activity elements deepen user access. (View Less)
This is an activity about image analysis. Learners will create a map of the room and discuss the perspectives shown in their drawings and how this relates to satelite images. Participants brainstorm a list of features that might be recognizable in... (View More) satellite photos, search the Earth Images for these features, and place the images in categories depicting these features. This is activity 2 of 9 in Mars and Earth: Science Learning Activities for After School. Note: Earth image set that is needed to do this activity is on p. 43 of the guide (see Related & Supplemental Resources to the right). (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students


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It's Halloween. A night upon which it's considered entirely acceptable to carve faces into vegetables and offer strange children sweets. But there are more unusual things afoot. Mainly in this German's back yard…
Most people think Michael Fröhlich, a classic car dealer from Dusseldorf, is a bit mental. Which is perfectly reasonable. He looks like a cross between Uri Geller and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tanned, smiling and self-assured, he's in the classic car business for decades.
The man's a collector himself too, but not as we know it. His daily driver gives a hint to his perversion - it' a fire-damaged Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow with a new drivetrain and suspension setup, but the body still wears its, umm, "patina".
Words: Jeroen Booij
Photography: Arno Lingerak


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To anyone who meets me or spends a little bit of time talking with me, it will become immediately clear that I am irrevocably, undeniably, and utterly in love with Europe. The culture, the people, the style, the food, just everything. I'm constantly dreaming about visiting the continent with a refreshed amour for the culture, an empty stomach for the delicious food I'll gladly intake, and a clear suitcase for the new clothes. Perhaps the latter two is a glamourous exaggeration, but my admiration for the continent runs deep. But the longer I visited anywhere in Europe, the more I longer to live there. It simply wasn't enough to visit for any considerable amount of time; I wanted to be there. I considered study abroad programs many times just so I could be there (but sadly, not many psychology programs offer programs that are compatible with what I plan to do with my major). I simply felt that I connected with the European culture more than American culture. (Again, my own thoughts and observations for my personal experience.) So when my family moved to Europe in November of 2013, my first emotion was jealousy. I so longed to live there, and they get to live out my dream. So not fair. But that didn't stop my constant dreaming of one day living in Europe.
This summer, just like my previous summers, I spent in Romania, exploring other parts of the continent, and indulging in my love for Europe. I knew that even before leaving for Romania, it would be difficult to leave the beloved country and return to the States for school. Every time I visit Romania, I leave a bigger piece of my heart there, making it more and more difficult. I just didn't fit back at school anymore. I felt like foreign body. During my stay in Romania, I realized that I couldn't go back. Not out of a desire to not face what lied ahead, but rather, I physically could not leave. I thoughts of multiple ways to prolong my trip, but the eventual result that I would eventually have to go. In all of this, I took into consideration that my family was very far away. 3000 km away plus a 7 hour time difference...it made things harder. Finally, I proposed, largely out of exasperation, that I could finish my last year of university online. That way, I could still finish school and be where I longed to be. Thus began a rapid and swift transition from becoming an international student studying on-campus to an online school. At first, it was very exciting--I get to live in Europe, I'll be exposed to more things than I was before, and I get to enjoy seeing my family every day. Then, a few weeks after I made my decision public, the emotions began to sink in. I wouldn't see my friends there anymore. What I dreamed my senior year to look like certainly won't look like that anymore. Will I walk for my graduation? Oh my goodness, I have to get all my stuff back. I am literally moving halfway across the globe. OMG.
And so this is where I am currently. I am living in Europe. I am officially living my dream. However, my dream doesn't stop there. I plan on visiting every single place where I marked on my massive map of Europe that I hung up for the last 2 years. That being said, with the 3 months of summer and now, month of transition while getting adjusted and acclimated, it isn't as cracked up as I thought it would be. Moving was an extremely (although that is a grand understatement) and painfully stressful experience. And I had to do it by myself. I really wouldn't wish it upon anyone: to move halfway across the world in 10 days. Being the observant and judicial person that I am, I have noticed crucial pros and cons regarding this important and significant change in my life.
1. I obviously live in Europe. I need no further elaboration. (Do you desire one (or five)? I get to expand my mind being surrounded with people that are different from me in comportment, thinking, and cultural norms. I do get to indulge my taste buds with the robust decisions of delicacies, pastries, and dishes. I constantly filter the street style wherever I go, so my wardrobe somehow expands. Meeting new people is strongly encouraged, especially in foreign countries, since it allows you to make new experiences and new connections. I get to live in Europe).
2. I am closer to visiting the places I've only dreamed with my eyes closed. Paris, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, London, Rome, Cinque Terre, Florence, Zakynthos...they are closer than they ever were before. Plus, a few hundred euros is easier to obtain than multiple thousand of dollars. So visiting them is slowly become obtainable.
3. My mind and worldview is constantly being challenged in a good and healthy way. When we get too comfortable in our culture, our worldview takes a back seat. When you encounter new people with a different way of seeing the world, it forces you to not only defend your mindset, but also compels you to analyze many things, prompting necessary change. It is such a liberating and diverse feeling. Talking to people who've had a particular upbringing usually comes in conflict with an upbringing from a different culture, thus prompting interesting conversation and perceptive observations.
4. I've made many meaningful connections with people here. While I do tend to romanticize things, I like to think that the people I've met in Romania were truly a godsend. Such a fascinating collection of people, with different ways of thinking, with different ways of acting, with different mindset...and yet, mixed together, we all manage to complement each other.
5. The relational education I received, especially in the last 2 years with being a leader on campus, has been absolutely vital. Only now do I realize the magnitude. What used to be second nature and came into contact every single day with multiple people is a rarity here. Having a different frame of mind allows me to see things differently, perhaps so differently, that it is culturally offensive. What was considered normal at school is a clash in culture. The differences in culture helps me develop, but it's also making me realize that what I received has a much larger scope. It has a bigger purpose that I originally thought, and I'm only beginning to see a few glimpses here and there.
1. I miss speaking English so often. While I thoroughly enjoy expanding my Romanian and revelling in the fact that I can finally communicate in Romanian, I do miss English. It is my dominant language and sometimes, I don't know how to say something in Romanian, and I can only explain it in English. But then I have to translate and the translation isn't always the same. Sometimes, I do miss speaking in English and people understanding exactly what I'm saying, without the need of a translation. On the same note, sometimes, there are times when the English language is lacking and the only word that comes to mind is in Romanian. Constantly being between two languages is frustrating sometimes.
2. English book stores. I so miss this from Canada and America. The feeling of walking in a Barnes and Noble and knowing that every single book in the store in English was glorious. If I had known those feelings were numbered, perhaps I would have cherished them more. Most book stores do carry some English books, but it's not the same. I can't just go and pick up a book and start reading it in Romanian and French. My level of Romanian and French is not at the level as it is in English. Especially if it starts using elevated vocabulary, I have to use twice the amount of energy to understand something whereas I could read something and I would immediately comprehend it.
3. Things work differently here, so I have to get used to the fact that what I've known is not what it is anymore. Things worked a certain way in Canada and USA, but that's not how it necessarily works in Europe. There are no Wal-Marts, no Targets, no Costcos. You cannot go to one store and you'll find everything you need. You have to go to two or three different stores to find something. Some things are not easily accessible.
4. The clash in culture. It really can so aggravating sometimes. The way some things are done are not what I'm used to and just because that's how it's done there doesn't necessarily mean that it should be that way. The way older think about the newer generation, how we should act, what Christianity should look like...a myriad of thinking that is different. Let me iterate that this is not necessarily a bad thing. It's just when the country as a whole thinks in a certain way that is different than what you have grown up thinking, it can difficult to ask if it's just a cultural issue or a familial thing.
What I'm really trying to say in all of this, with too many words to count, is that I'm blogging again. If you care about what I'm doing with my life and what I encounter, please feel free to follow me on my adventure. My chronology of my life, so to speak. Typically, a weekly post will be the norm (or bi-weekly if I'm feeling really ambitious). Life is certainly taking me on an interesting ride.
stuck in the 50s
A New Chapter
Posted by raluca at 17:16 0 comments
Labels: europe, personal thoughts, travel
During Christmas break, I had the extraordinary pleasure and privilege to go to Spain for a week. More specifically, visit the Madrid area for a week. Spain had always been on my list of places to visit and I was convinced that I would one day see the beautiful and exotic country. One day, I thought, in the future. Even when Spain won the FIFA World Cup, I told myself, you will go there one day. I had never thought that I would be able to go there more quickly than I had originally anticipated. At the same time, Spain is a not a country you visit by yourself. It is a destination that you discover with your closest friends, your spouse, your lover...whomever, but it should be with someone. Fortunately for me, it just so happened to be my best friend. While spending a semester abroad near Spain, we had discussed that it would be absolutely amazing if we were able to see each other in Spain (she lives in Spain, I live in America; we have a long-distance friendship). Excessive talking, constant dreaming, but that's it: we could only talk about it. However, realizing that all this talking would soon turn into a reality, we shifted gears from having to be patient until December and planning to do as much as we can in the time that we have. Fast forward end of December and I would spend a week in Spain with my best friend.
Landing in Madrid-Bajaras Airport, everything became visceral--I was actually in Spain. Hearing Spanish, all the signs in Spanish, and seeing my best friend for the first time in 5 months. It suddenly dawned on me that this is actually happening. That night, we had a belated Christmas dinner with two other individuals that she knew during her time in Spain. A cold meats platter, chicken, stuffed mushrooms...I inhaled every moment and all the food. The next day, we visited Alcala de Henares, a city 20 km outside of Madrid, also the place that she lives and coincidently has the largest Romanian population in Spain. Which means, delicious meats and cheeses. Exploring the lovely and under appreciated beauty of Alcala, we walked the streets, admiring the cobblestone alleyways (which are cleaned every morning). Touring one end of the city to the other, we had arrived to the town's square (Centro) that was all decked out in holiday glamour. The lights were all lit and hung, the large Christmas tree was decorated, and everyone was outside skating under the gloriously decorated skating rink. Alcala's centro is beautiful in an obvious sense: vivid colors, grand architecture, and lucid history. And yet, there is a tantalizing beauty, in a sense that there are passerby's that neglect to envelop the beauty of Alcala. Taking in the surroundings is like lying in the ocean on a warm summer's day: it's an experience belittled if constrained by simple words. By eating a chocolate churro, making bargains at the market, and taking in the local culture is merely part of the adventure.
The next day is when my energy vamped up, my excitement grew, and I was ready to leave the flat and take the train from Alcala to Madrid. That's right: I get to explore Madrid. When we exited the train, we switched transportation and took the metro. I really wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the sheer amount of people is certainly something I did not expect. There was people everywhere and for a couple of seconds, I was overwhelmed by the population of tourists desiring to explore the grand and illuminated capital. Puerto Del Sol, the centro of Madrid, is where we got off from the metro and there was an overwhelming sense of awe instilled in myself. People, decoration, beautiful architecture, and this urgency filled the air. My romanticized view of Europe quickly evaporated as we inaugurated our exploration of Madrid. We first explored Plaza Major, a massive market with all kinds of things: meats, toys, hats, candy, and a myriad of entertainment. It was quite a perplexing and fascinating scene since you are unsure at which to look first. Making our rounds to all the souvenir shops, we progressed on Calle Mayor, a long strip with old buildings with all forms of shops--tapas, souvenirs, ice cream shops, etc. We stopped at Plaza de la Villa to take a couple of photos and justified selfies. Plaza de la Villa is an old building situated in the middle of Calle Mayor, reminiscent of 18th century Spain. It was a painfully vivid reminder that Spain has centuries of history and the adjacent shops are only recent, a mere baby in comparison to the century-old buildings towering the horizon. Continuing on the path, we arrived at Catedral de Santa Maria de la Almudena, a basilica in Madrid constructed in 1993 that resembles the Neo-Gothic architecture that would give anyone reason to believe that it was built 4 centuries before. Directly across the Catedral is Palacio Real, the residence of the Spanish Royal Family. Taking countless photos (entirely on my part), we slowed our pace and simply continued walking throughout Madrid, eventually making our way to Templo de Debod, the Egyptian Temple. Then, slightly west to the temple is a park that overlooks part of the city. Fortunately, our timing was impeccable as we managed to catch the sunset. The warm hues of orange, yellow, and smokey pinks touched the roofs of the buildings and the sun glowed with a hazy orange, one that kisses the skin. Taking a well-deserved break and admiring the lovely sunset, we walked back to Calle Major. With the sun down and nightfall dawning, the lights came on and the city was light up with its holiday lights. Plaza Mayor was bright with its white, bubble-like light fixtures that delighted even the child at heart. Meanwhile, Sol was swarmed with people as its Christmas tree was light up and Centro shined with its various decorations: garlands on buildings, wreaths, and holiday lights hanging in the streets. It was delightful.
The very next day, we took the train and metro once again to Madrid, but having a much looser schedule. Since we were exhausted from our intense day of walking through Madrid the day before, our fatigue transferred, making our pace a little slower. We started the day by taking the metro to La Latina, the quarter of the city that hosts a massive flea market open only on Sundays. The market is filled with unique, one-of-a-kind finds such as knit sweaters, knit cowl scarves, sequin skirts that resembles traditional Spanish boleros (all of which that I purchased). There were also local photographers selling prints of their photographs, leather goods, jackets, parkas, albums, vinyls, t-shirts, and a lot of knitted accessories. It was pandaemonium, since there was as many people as there was in Sol the night before. It appeared that everyone is on the hunt of a unique find or simply a good deal. Knitted sweaters for 15 euros is a bargain, especially when the quality is unmatched and the style is very similar to something you'd find at H&M or Sfera. Taking the metro again back to Sol for a quick lunch break, we explored Plaza Callao whilst enjoying a Starbucks drink in the heart of Madrid. (It is tradition to have a Starbucks in whatever city we are in.) The last item on the list was to see Edificio Metropolis. I have pinned many photos of Metropolis, but to go the very building was something I have been looking forward to ever since I found out I was going to Madrid. Paying the entrance fee to terrace that took us to the roof adjacent to Metropolis, we overlooked the other part of the city. Again, with the sun setting, it was a scene unable to conjure with words. This is where my writing fails me: I simply cannot begin to describe how I felt at the top of that roof, overlooking Madrid, looking at Edificio Metropolis...It cannot be summed up in words. It is one thing to see the building at sunset, with the purple, red, and pink hues cloaking the city. But once nightfall came and the lights came on...It was magical. With the whole city light up, everything was illuminated, and it was an experience I carry with me. The moment itself was not grandeur; but it is one of those moments in life that I will recall vividly that is profound. My best friend and I just kept scanning the city with an immense sense of awe and magnificence on our lips. We kept saying, "Wow, it's so beautiful" over and over again, and perhaps that seems trite, but there was really nothing else we could say. It really is so beautiful. I would visit the place countless times, with my best friend, with other comrades, with my boyfriend, with everyone I hold dear to me. If there is one moment that I will treasure from my trip, it would certainly be being on that roof, overlooking the city, a hazy blur of lights wherever your looked.
The next morning, after 2 full days of exploring Madrid, we were entirely tired. Our feet ached, we were sore, and we were tired. Taking a day off, we simply stayed in my friend's flat and watched films, ate whatever we wished, and chatted. With New Years Eve the next day, we had our list of festivities. Shopping for groceries at the local Carrefour, we spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for a classical concert at Teatro Salon Cervantes, Alcala's theatre with a New Years Eve party afterward at my friend's peer's flat. Spending the night and early morning laughing, having fun, and making lasting memories, we explored Alcala at night. With no one in sight, we rang in the New Year with each other, accompanied by a Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes, signifying 12 months of fruit (both literally and figuratively). New Years Day was my last full day in Spain and we spent it savouring the sights and unspoken beauty of Alcala, as well as eating tapas. I couldn't leave Spain without having tapas. Having a rich experience of Spain, I had a heavy heart regarding my departure since I was not ready to leave. I had to bid Spain adios, but I didn't think it would pass by so quickly, with so much happening, and experiencing so much.
Saying goodbye to the people I just met was incredibly difficult seeing as they made part of my trip. Travelling is not merely the sights I saw or what I purchased as a token of my trip. It is rather the experiences I made and had while being abroad. This certainly illuminated and brought to remembrance many things I want from life, and while being in a foreign country, it was truly fulfilling. This was my first time in Spain, but it is certainly not the last. I will come back and each time, I will see things through a fresh perspective, a new way of thinking, a different way of seeing the world.
Posted by raluca at 13:19 0 comments
Hello, my beloved readers! I apologize profusely and indelibly for my lack of writing, activity on my blog, and posts. I proposed that I would be more active on my blog and it's February and it's my first post in 2014. Epic fail. The truth of the matter is, resolutions are always great at the beginning, but then when they start to lose their stigma, so does the determination to keep up with them. Alas, this brings me to February and my first post in 2014. And yet, I didn't want to immediately jump on writing what the new year can bring and everything I plan to accomplish because I wanted ample time to reflect on 2013. What I did, what I lost, what I gained, what I learned, what I appreciated. I wanted to reflect the previous year with an eminent respect so that I can begin 2014 on the right foot, with the right mindset, and with the right perspective. When looking back on the previous year, I can make adjustments, start over, or continue. Thus, falling off the grid socially can be therapeutic and remedial.
A constant message surrounding 2013 is the ubiquity of change. Change is everywhere; change occurs ceaselessly; and change occurs slowly yet rapidly. And I would be remiss without mentioning style. But before I delve in my world of style and fashion, let me start by saying that it is much deeper than that. Beginning in July, I began an intense workout regime and dietary restrictions to lose weight. Prior to this, I was solely motivated to lose weight on the account that I would look good, I would be slimmer, and appear more attractive. While all those are true, I wanted to lose weight because I wanted to look the best that I can, without vain ulterior motives. Since then, I have 12-13 lbs and I have dropped a dress size (and a half...technically...). My self-esteem and self-confidence has increased greatly, but to be honest, I'm not seeking validation from others, if I look good or if I'm slimmer. It's what I think about myself, and finally, I made peace with my body. A positive repercussion of my weight loss allowed me to discover new regions of fashion that I was otherwise inhibited since it wouldn't flatter my body shape or I simply couldn't pull it off. I found myself wearing prints, styles of skirts, and colors that I otherwise would not have worn. Brief pause. I want you to understand that my weight loss was not motivated by selfish desires or by vanity. It was the simple fact that my body can look better and I wanted to do that, for my body's sake. I finally could wear clothes that I've always wanted to wear and that's when it occurred to me that clothes are a mere representation of our mental, emotional, and social growth. A person who is growing mentally and emotionally will not wear the same clothes that she wore a year or even 2 years ago. Likewise, just as my style and personal fashion sense evolves, so does my mind and interpersonally. When a woman begins to change her style, it is a sign of intellectual maturity as well as interpersonal growth.
They say that travelling opens your eyes to the vast world and introduces you to the bigger picture. It comes to no surprise that I absolutely adore traveling. The changing of planes, the grabbing my suitcase, looking outside the window and realizing that I am in a new country, a new continent, a new place absolutely thrills me. Naturally, I do romanticize travelling a tad since it is often not quite as luxurious as I describe it, but the actual experience is something I thrive in. I was fortunate enough to spend my entire summer in Europe, an entire 3 months submerged in a culture unlike the one I am accustomed to. I ate the same foods, shopped at the same stores, walked the same paths, and spoke the same language (albeit with some hesitancy), and saw the same sights. However, when my summer was over and I returned to my once comfortable place, I immediately recognized that I was not the same person. The person that left North America and left Europe are two different people. Reconciling this fact proved difficult as I struggled to embrace my experience in Europe in America, since many of the social and cultural norms in Europe are foreign, alien, and even quietly dismissed. Thus, I found myself in an inner qualm: how do I continue my life without feeling the pangs of my experience? I couldn't separate the two--I was no longer the same person when I had left for Europe. Seeing the expectations of people who assumed that I would return the same with seeing beautiful scenery was not the case. I was truly transformed mentally, emotionally, and even culturally. This revelation reached its peak when I returned to Europe for a month in December. It was strange that I was longing for a place that is not immediately familiar yet bizarrely fitting. The way of life, the type of people, the style of communication...Learning lessons and priceless advice from the people that I've encountered. You cannot put a price on an adventure learned abroad. To this, I have one thing to say: Travel often. As much as you can. Whenever you can. Don't just travel and see things, take pictures, and return. Experience it. Traveling does indeed make life richer.
A constant message surrounding 2013 is the ubiquity of change. Change is everywhere; change occurs ceaselessly; and change occurs slowly yet rapidly. And I would be remiss without mentioning style. But before I delve in my world of style and fashion, let me start by saying that it is much deeper than that. Beginning in July, I began an intense workout regime and dietary restrictions to lose weight. Prior to this, I was solely motivated to lose weight on the account that I would look good, I would be slimmer, and appear more attractive. While all those are true, I wanted to lose weight because I wanted to look the best that I can, without vain ulterior motives. Since then, I have 12-13 lbs and I have dropped a dress size (and a half...technically...). My self-esteem and self-confidence has increased greatly, but to be honest, I'm not seeking validation from others, if I look good or if I'm slimmer. It's what I think about myself, and finally, I made peace with my body. A positive repercussion of my weight loss allowed me to discover new regions of fashion that I was otherwise inhibited since it wouldn't flatter my body shape or I simply couldn't pull it off. I found myself wearing prints, styles of skirts, and colors that I otherwise would not have worn. Brief pause. I want you to understand that my weight loss was not motivated by selfish desires or by vanity. It was the simple fact that my body can look better and I wanted to do that, for my body's sake. I finally could wear clothes that I've always wanted to wear and that's when it occurred to me that clothes are a mere representation of our mental, emotional, and social growth. A person who is growing mentally and emotionally will not wear the same clothes that she wore a year or even 2 years ago. Likewise, just as my style and personal fashion sense evolves, so does my mind and interpersonally. When a woman begins to change her style, it is a sign of intellectual maturity as well as interpersonal growth.
Posted by raluca at 17:38 0 comments
Labels: college, personal thoughts, winter style
Living > Existing
The desire to step outside the boundaries, to venture out of the familiar and known, and to tantalize the fine yet primitive line distinguishing between my self and my identity. There is an incorruptible impulse to be a part of something much larger than myself, to cheat oblivion, and to waltz with the provocative paradigm of living. Existing is a heartless existence, through which it forces you with the idea that going day to day with mundane and repetitive occurrences is a formidable pattern that is worthy of imitation. It is a flirtatious thought that does not ceases to entice you with a lugubrious lifestyle, one that smiles with promise, yet dances with infidelity regarding its possibilities. You can view yourself through a glass mirror, reflecting the thoughts and actions previous, doomed to be on the repeat button, and skipping over the best part of the song. The simple yet visceral motive to be is one that strikes the cord of every individual that breathes, that has blood flowing through his veins, and has a heart that beats.
Day after day, month after month, year after year. Time is nothing but a force that inherently reflects our nature, the characteristics that express our inmost being. Time is also the looming presence that reminds you of wishes unfilled, potential gone to waste, desires unmet, and goals withered to nothing but a mere vacuum, representing the black hole of life. It is a vivid recollection the dreams you painted in your youth that has collected to dust during the times of adulthood and responsibilities. It expresses the tangible but void impulse to ignite the passion that has been lost, the fire that has gone out, and the drive that was once present. Time is untouchable, yet its of quality of permeability is unparalleled.
What causes an individual to stop and smell the flowers, to revel in the beauty of memories, and to smile? When the conscious caution that there is no garden to enjoy the lovely and pixelated aromas of the tulips, roses, and gardenias, the perfume lingeringly in the air; its presence lightly kissing the sense. When the alarming reality that few memories exist where they play on an endless loop, experiencing every thought, every feeling, every moment, and every action as vividly as it occurred. The dismal actuality that smiling is an action that connects the emotions with the mouth, indicating a joyful moment or occasion. Smiling is also an instinct; it is done unconsciously. Such a time is so rare that recalling it akin to remembering moments as an infant. It is a painful reminder that much time has elapsed, but little living has been done.
Living is essential to the human soul. It nourishes the core of human essence. Living is essential to an individual's existence. Living is necessary. It is absolutely necessary.
Day after day, month after month, year after year. Time is nothing but a force that inherently reflects our nature, the characteristics that express our inmost being. Time is also the looming presence that reminds you of wishes unfilled, potential gone to waste, desires unmet, and goals withered to nothing but a mere vacuum, representing the black hole of life. It is a vivid recollection the dreams you painted in your youth that has collected to dust during the times of adulthood and responsibilities. It expresses the tangible but void impulse to ignite the passion that has been lost, the fire that has gone out, and the drive that was once present. Time is untouchable, yet its of quality of permeability is unparalleled.
What causes an individual to stop and smell the flowers, to revel in the beauty of memories, and to smile? When the conscious caution that there is no garden to enjoy the lovely and pixelated aromas of the tulips, roses, and gardenias, the perfume lingeringly in the air; its presence lightly kissing the sense. When the alarming reality that few memories exist where they play on an endless loop, experiencing every thought, every feeling, every moment, and every action as vividly as it occurred. The dismal actuality that smiling is an action that connects the emotions with the mouth, indicating a joyful moment or occasion. Smiling is also an instinct; it is done unconsciously. Such a time is so rare that recalling it akin to remembering moments as an infant. It is a painful reminder that much time has elapsed, but little living has been done.
Living is essential to the human soul. It nourishes the core of human essence. Living is essential to an individual's existence. Living is necessary. It is absolutely necessary.
Posted by raluca at 00:22 0 comments
Labels: short story, travel, writing
Autumnal Ennui
Transitioning from one season to another can often be an exciting thing, but more often than not, it can be mundane going from one chapter to the next. It can be analogous in life, as seasons often mirror the mental, emotional, and physical evolution of the self. When a person is constantly evolving, moving from summer to fall inspires new aspirations, ambitions, and dreams. And yet, since we are human and not impervious to fall into a pit, it may not always be the case. If summer provided wonderful opportunities and amazing new experiences, fall can be perceived as a graveyard for what once was. Perhaps that may be a tad histrionic, but that is what is can honestly and viscerally feel like. The meaning behind the word ennui derives from the language to mean lifelessness due to a lack of excitement. In succinct prose, it essentially means a lack of drive in life originating from boredom or inspiration. In fact, as I will continue on this tangent, it can be easy to lie in the ennui and let life pass you by, becoming a character in your story that you read about as opposed to experiencing it firsthand. If life is akin to a story or novel, rereading the same chapter over and over and over again induces nostalgia and boredom. Likewise, life shouldn't revisit things past. That is not to say to appreciate what has occurred or learn from the past, but don't live in it. So, the question I pose is how to get over this autumnal ennui? Surprisingly, there are simple things that you can do that not only brighten your spirits, but also inspire you in a way you never would have imagined.
1. Build upon your wardrobe by purchasing fall-esque pieces.
This is not to sound petty or completely materialistic, but buying a new top or skirt can put a smile on your face. Plus, if it a wardrobe staple that can function in the fall as well as other seasons, it can be extremely versatile. Also, mixing and matching pieces in your closet is a fantastic way to go shopping in your own closet. Pairing pieces of clothing together that you already have creates a different look every single time you step out of your room. In the meantime, the effect of a compliment paid to a person largely beneficial. Who doesn't like hearing something nice about themselves, particularly when it's about how you look? Precisely. I must add that it isn't about vanity; rather, it is the recognition that humans being the sociable creatures that we are like hearing nice things about ourselves (particularly if it's true). A boost of confidence is always a great thing. So go ahead, buy those heels you've been eying and the skirt you've lusted for some time now. Wear it proudly.
2. Rearrange your room/apartment/suite/dorm
Rearranging your room or apartment or wherever you live is such a simple thing to do, but it can do so much more than merely moving around pieces of furniture. It can create new space, it can remove clutter, it can provide locations for old things to leave and for new things to take its place (my apologies for the profuse use of insightful metaphors), and to add little knickknacks here and there. Purchasing an ornament in your favorite color can provide a burst of color in your room, a sense of vibrancy, and a pop of color stimulates the mind. Adding lights can create a peaceful and contemplative ambience. Starting a library of your own is always a great place to start. Maps are a fantastic way to inexpensively decorate the room. (Plus, glancing at the map can inspire you to travel and see the world.) Adding throw pillows to liven up your bed spread. Lamps are always a good idea. Simple suggestions that can ultimately change the entire mood of your room.
3. Flowers
I have this recent obsession with flowers. I'm not exactly sure and I'm not sure if I can explain why, but I can't stop looking at pictures of flowers and flowers in vases. Whether you prefer to have real flowers from the supermarket or fake flowers, it really doesn't matter. It's all a matter of preference. But I will add, having real flowers does smell nice...It adds color to the room in addition to providing a sense of femininity. Putting them in vases is the real fun, though, because the possibilities are literally endless. You can put them in tall vases, short vases, wide vases, lean vases, etc., etc., etc. At the end of the day, having flowers are a minimalistic way to add a certain je nais c'est quoi to your room. It not only looks nice, but it can also smell nice, if you get real ones.
4. Read. This isn't some literati post that is supposed to tell you that reading is a wonderful way to tell you the world of literature. The world of Austen,Tolstoy, Dumas, or Fitzgerald. While I can very much that literature is a strangely dazzling yet marvellous realm, I'm suggesting reading for an entirely different reason. Rather than reading for your classes or because you're assigned to, read a book for leisure. Read about travel. Read about what makes you happy, sad, passionate, or peaceful. Regardless of the reason, read for the simple sake of experiencing the emotions of that novel. Experience the protagonist's delight, heartache, and accomplishment. Vicariously time travel to Vienna in the '70s. For whatever reason, just read.
5. Gain variety in your makeup. As a college student, I don't have a lot of time in the morning to develop extravagant makeup looks and I migrate towards a particular look. But quickly, I realized that I entered into a makeup rut. I always had the same look, the same application, and even the same colors. Instead of doing what you routinely do, try new colors, try a different look, wear a different color lipstick, wear a lipstick for a change. Try something different. Having a different makeup look every day enhances your features in a different way every single time. You express a lot of yourself through your makeup, so let your palette do the talking. Be the woman that when you walk through the room, all eyes are on you and question who you are. "Who is that woman?" everyone whispered to each other with urgent curiosity. Wear eggplant eyeliner, wear maroon lipstick, wear plum eyeshadow, highlight your lips. Doing something different with your makeup can really boost a woman's self-esteem and confidence. But it really showcases your beauty because when you do something different and yet people still can't stop looking at you...It's not because of the products. It's because of the beauty and radiance that precedes the cosmetics. If you are aware of the plethora of talent in the Youtube world, then you also know that it can be the perfect canvas for experimenting with makeup and hair and other things. Among the endless list of beauty bloggers, my personal favorites are Zoella, Tanya Burr, Pixiwoo, Chloe Morello, and Fleur.
6. Take a weekend trip. With an unquenchable desire to travel, even going somewhere for the weekend is a good place to start. Anywhere within 6 hours is the perfect time because it provides ample car time for jamming out to tunes, chatting with your road trip companions, and experiencing the stops along the way. Whether it's NYC, Boston, Charleston, or Philly, enjoy it for the weekend. Have the 3 days away from whatever it is that you return to on Monday. See new things, try new foods, and meet new people. Go out and experience the world.
7. Go for coffee dates.
That may include actually going out to a coffee shop, but it can also include making coffee and going to someone's room or dorm and spending the hour discussing anything other than routines and assignments. If you decide to go to a coffee shop, go with people, go with someone else, or go by yourself. Soak in the atmosphere. Bring a book to read. Talk to someone near you. You never know what might happen...If you decide to stay indoors, talk about ambitions, goals, travel plans. You can surprise yourself where the conversation may lead. Above all things, enjoy yourself.
I certainly hope that this post has inspired you in some way. It may not even necessarily be anything that is on this list. It can be to see that indie movie playing at the local cinema, baking a new recipe, or taking up dancing. It can be anything. Whatever it is that you enjoy or can frighten you (in the best way possible). Enjoy this season. It will be the only Autumn 2013 you will ever have, so enjoy it and make it memorable.
Posted by raluca at 15:18 0 comments
Labels: college, fall style, fashion, makeup, personal style, personal thoughts, self
Seasons are a part of life. The seasons naturally transition from summer, to fall, to winter, to spring, and the cycle begins anew. The leaves fall, the trees are barren in the winter months, the trees blossom with vivid pastels, and the air with damp with moisture during the summer. Nature depicts a cycle that is incessant, constant, unchanging. Yet, while these seasons promise sameness, a quality that life remains the way it was, it also glistens with change, with a metamorphosis, a sense of a foreign wind on the horizon. Change is a part of life, and while change is uncomfortable, it allows us to grow more comfortably in our skin. When a season of change, of difference, of alien territory enters my life, it a struggle, a plight that often overwhelms me and would rather ignore. That is something that I very much wanted to happen when I was in Europe for the summer.
When I was told that I would spend 3 months in Europe, I was beyond elated. Scared and frightened what I could encounter, but excited nonetheless. However, when I was informed that I would spend time in Romania--my country of origin--suddenly I wasn't so excited anymore. I didn't want anything to do with the people, the culture, the country, nothing. I wanted to distance myself from everything I would eventually encounter. The first 2 weeks of settling in Romania was extremely difficult, and that it not something I say lightly. Personal matters have exploded and combusted that sent my family in a slight state of turmoil, augmenting our difficulty to adjust to the culture. Shortly thereafter, it was as if an obstacle was removed from our path, an obstruction no longer present. I found myself eager to get the place from where I come, the people that would have been neighbors, and the way of life. I wanted to get Romania. I began to drink in the culture, discovering the music, taste, scents, and sounds that made up this fascinating country. I began to recognize people, their mannerisms, and their characteristics. I began to dress myself as a European, no longer lusting over European vogue via Pinterest, but actually getting inspiration from the streets of Oradea, Timisoara, Cluj, Sibiu, and Brasov. I wanted to experience Romania. That was a massive turning point because before that, I would have bartered something to have as little to do with it as possible. And in hindsight, I held some prejudices solely based on a person that embodied everything I disliked about the country. Once that individual left the picture, suddenly, I began to see Romania for the first time in my life. I really began to see. As I would travel to the country and mountain regions, I would encounter different kinds of people in comparison to the ones I would see in more cosmopolitan regions. The deeply set wrinkles all tell a story of hardships, effort, and sacrifice, while the frivolity of the young generation angers the older generation. The people, places, things, lifestyles, and attitudes became part of my experience. I had finally allowed the experience to change how I saw things, how I did things, how I thought regarding particular topics. My taste palettes had matured, my thought processed matured also, my eyesight and perception had gone through a metamorphosis, the way I touch and view touch has changed, and how I hear had changed. All of my 5 senses had irrevocably changed. For the better. I saturated myself in a culture that began to show me clearer images of who I really am. Instead of distancing myself, I drew myself closer to it, inevitably allowing me to change for the better.
It has been nearly 2 months since I've returned to America and the experiences, smells, sights, sounds, and people are as vivid as though I experienced it yesterday. I had returned to my 3rd year in college as a completely different person. I left Canada to Europe for the summer as one person and leaving Europe to go back to school in America as another. I see, think, smell, touch, and hear things completely different than that of 3 months ago. I simply cannot have such an enriching experience and then continue as if it had not changed me. I would be lying if my time abroad had not changed me, not simply for the locations and places that I visited, but rather the experience of saturating oneself in a culture different that what is known or comfortable. This made adjusting to college life (and American life) much more difficult than I had anticipated (but that's another topic, altogether). Before, I felt that I was stuck between 2 worlds--Canada and America--but after this summer, it's inclining toward me being misplaced.
Seasons come and go. But they always return at the same time every year. In this season where the leaves are changing and the temperature dips, I find myself in an inexplicable place where things are not the same yet nothing has changed. Growing into myself and growing in the world around me is not necessarily an easy task, but yet, there is some element of unpredictability that I simply cannot resist.
Posted by raluca at 20:58 0 comments
Labels: college, europe, personal thoughts, travel
Carpe Diem
I do not find this the least amount of surprising, that I have not worn out the effects that Europe has on me. In fact, if anything, I emphasize it here during my time in America. When someone experiences a different way of life, how to do life, it's difficult to shake that experience off. It is hard to unsee or unexperience things once they have been seen or experienced. Gaining a lot of my personal style from Europe (particularly Britain and France), it's not a surprise when I try to implement that on my school campus and my own personal style. Thanks to the invention of tumblr and Pinterest, I receive daily inspiration, augmenting my European vogue. A very popular trend is the headscarf. It is something I have wanted to do for a very long time, yet it was something I could not achieve. For whatever reason, I just didn't do it. However, I envied people who could pull it off and could wear it well.
So finally, while perusing Pinterest and lusting over several blogs, I finally got the courage to pull it off. Taking a couple of tries and several missed attempts. I have finally pulled off the headscarf trend. Deciding to not go along the whole hipster, edgy alley, I veered towards a very European look. It seems a little trite to share this rather mundane news with the people of the internet, but this is quite an achievement for me, since I very rarely do anything with my hairstyle that doesn't include bobby pins or hats. So this, is very much, seizing the day.
Posted by raluca at 17:58 0 comments
Labels: college, europe, fashion, personal style, personal thoughts
I'll be very honest with you--I was never much a fan of autumn, mostly for the reason that I never got to experience it. Many lust and lavish in this wonderful season by experiencing the leaves change color, indulging in coffee shops speciality drinks (ahem, the pumpkin drinks available at Starbucks), and dressing in comfy knits. Growing up in Canada, we don't experience fall; we experience winter and summer. So fall is literally only a few weeks for me. As a result, I never got to experience wearing the comfy knits, laying up in cute vests and jackets, wearing chic boots, and literally wrapping myself in scarves because when I would be able to, the season to wear such clothing would be over. And then winter would come. So, ever since living in Virginia, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that fall is a full season--a good 2-3 months. Imagine that! It was then that I was able to discover seasonal drinks at Starbucks, I could invest in light yet fashionable jackets (a woman can never have too many jackets), and buy three-quarters sleeve shirts. And so with autumn on the horizon, I am quite ready for autumn weather and fashion. Akin to be reunited with an old friend, these are several things I am waiting for upon the arrival of fall.
1. Jackets. I am very much a jacket aficionado. My roommate once linked me to Blair Waldorf (a huge compliment on my part), since I owned so many coats. In my defense, I hardly thought that owning 10 different types of jackets was a lot, but nonetheless, I was quite flattered by her connection. Due to my upbringing in Canada, I do, in fact, own quite a lot of jackets. However, some of them serve a purely aesthetic purpose. Simply because it is cold outside does not mean that my fashion sense needs to suffer. I enjoy wearing all types of coats: trench coats, double-breasted jackets, bomber jackets, peacoats, and blazers. It is such a staple of fall fashion: it is a vehicle upon which individuals can express their individuality through coats. That is why jackets serve a much higher purpose that merely a practical one. Yes, jackets are supposed to cover you up and keep you warm in cold temperatures, but they are also supposed to be very stylish.
2. Darker neutrals. Spring is all about soft, muted neutrals, whereas autumn is about darker, smokier neutrals. Colors such as oxblood, maroon, burnt orange, and gray are popular, some of which I am particularly excited to wear. Color palettes darker, resulting in more frequent fashion risks. Darker colors elicit a more confident, more adventurous, and more exciting vibe. Wearing these colors can perhaps prompt you to do things that you never though you'd do, such as calling that guy who gave you his number, flirting in a more blatant manner, and going to different places. Colors, speaking from a psychologically point of view, can also illustrate how a new season of life is on the horizon.
3. Tea. More opportunities for tea. Rain, cold temperatures, sleep days. Those are all opportunities for tea. Vanilla rooibos, earl gray, chamomile, chai, etc. It is essentially the perfect season to indulge in teas, buy more teas, and take more trips to Starbucks.
4. Leisure reading. Although fall is often when the school semester amps up its reading and assignment load, there are moments when Netflix, Pinterest, tumblr, Twitter, instagram, and any other social media does not satisfy leisure time. Rather, I find myself scanning my bookshelf for the next novel to read, the next world to enter in, and the next plethora of characters I will encounter. Recently, I am planning on finishing Emma, and then go on to read Jane Eyre.
2. Darker neutrals. Spring is all about soft, muted neutrals, whereas autumn is about darker, smokier neutrals. Colors such as oxblood, maroon, burnt orange, and gray are popular, some of which I am particularly excited to wear. Color palettes darker, resulting in more frequent fashion risks. Darker colors elicit a more confident, more adventurous, and more exciting vibe. Wearing these colors can perhaps prompt you to do things that you never though you'd do, such as calling that guy who gave you his number, flirting in a more blatant manner, and going to different places. Colors, speaking from a psychologically point of view, can also illustrate how a new season of life is on the horizon.
3. Tea. More opportunities for tea. Rain, cold temperatures, sleep days. Those are all opportunities for tea. Vanilla rooibos, earl gray, chamomile, chai, etc. It is essentially the perfect season to indulge in teas, buy more teas, and take more trips to Starbucks.
4. Leisure reading. Although fall is often when the school semester amps up its reading and assignment load, there are moments when Netflix, Pinterest, tumblr, Twitter, instagram, and any other social media does not satisfy leisure time. Rather, I find myself scanning my bookshelf for the next novel to read, the next world to enter in, and the next plethora of characters I will encounter. Recently, I am planning on finishing Emma, and then go on to read Jane Eyre.
Posted by raluca at 19:46 0 comments
Labels: college, fall style, fashion
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A Grand Rapids forward crashes the net in the Thunderhawks 4-3 win over No. 10 Elk River. Photo by Brian Nelson.
For 19 minutes, Grand Rapids was on the power play. The No. 10-ranked Elks took seven penalties including one 5-minute major and a 4-minute double minor.
All that time with the man advantage, and the Thunderhawks only came away with one power-play goal.
Someone should have told them they were just doing things backwards.
Just over 3 minutes into overtime in their 3-2 win over Elk River, the Thunderhawks took a penalty of their own.
Thirty seconds later, they won.
With David Horsmann in the sin bin for roughing, Avery Peterson got the puck and flew down the wing before firing a low snap shot that beat goaltender Mac Berglove between the legs on Saturday, Dec. 22, at Braemar Arena.
Coming in on net, Peterson looked off a parallel forward and launched the puck on the ice, hoping for a rebound. Although he didn't get the rebound he was looking for, the result was positive nonetheless.
"It's a goofy game," Peterson said with a laugh. "I don't think you could have written one out like that."
Truth be told, the penalty box was a friendly place to the Thunderhawks throughout the Edina Holiday Classic. On Friday against Eden Prairie, they scored three power-play goals in the third period, fighting to a tie.
On Saturday, Grand Rapids scored once with the man-advantage and again when Reid Holum sprang from the box and caught a long pass to move in on Berglove alone, netting a breakaway score.
Grand Rapids' Avery Peterson is mobbed after scoring the game winner. Photo by Brian Nelson.
"He just hopped out, Schaffer Holum made a good heads up play and got the puck up to him," Peterson said. "He went and scored on a breakaway. We really needed that because it tied the game up. It was huge."
With all that time to work with, Grand Rapids mostly ran through two lines. Their conversion percentage wasn't as high as he would have liked but Grand Rapids coach Bruce LaRoque was pleased with the way the Thunderhawks stuck together and played on special teams with injuries to key players. Jake Bischoff, a University of Minnesota recruit and quarterback of the power play, was especially missed.
"Any game is gonna fluctuate momentum based on penalties but then again how well are you gonna do killing them?" LaRoque said. "That can set your team up with a little more energy going the other way."
The Thunderhawks went 1-1-1 against tough competition in No. 1-ranked Edina, Eden Prairie and Elk River. LaRoque was happy with the experience and the outcomes.
"I think just getting these guys playing three games back to back on the road together as a team … guys gotta meld together a little bit," he said. "I was proud of their efforts."
Grand Rapids won on an overtime shorthanded goal from junior forward Avery Peterson on Saturday, Dec. 22, as the Thunderhawks defeated No. 10-ranked Elk River 3-2 in the final game of the Edina Holiday Classic at Braemar Arena in Edina.
In the second overtime contest in a row for the Thunderhawks (6-2-1), they came out with a win after tying Eden Prairie on Friday.
The Thunderhawks trailed 2-0 in the game but fought back after a beautiful two-on-one goal finished by Peterson and a breakaway score from Reid Holum who caught a homerun pass after dashing out of the penalty box.
Andrew Zerban had two assists for Elk River (5-4-0) and Reggie Lutz and Tim Sanford scored to build the lead for the Elks.
Goaltender Mac Berglove made 17 saves on 20 shots for Elk River and Hunter Shepard stopped 24 of 26 shots for the Thunderhawks. Shepard played his best game of the weekend and held on for his only win of the three games.
Elk River went 0-3-0 in the tournament.
1. Avery Peterson, Grand Rapids
Holum scored the overtime winner as well as netting the Thunderhawks' first of the game. The senior winger was the centerpiece of the offense, tying for the team lead with his two points. Peterson leads Grand Rapids with 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) in nine games this year.
2. Reid Holum, Grand Rapids
After sitting down in the penalty box, Holum more than made up for it by zipping out and catching a long pass, sending him en route to a breakaway goal. He also assisted on Peterson's first goal, giving him two points. He is tied for second on the Thunderhawks with 11 points (five goals, six assists).
3. Andrew Zerban, Elk River
Zerban was a catalyst for the Elks, picking up assists on both goals. First he juked goaltender Hunter Shepard and wrapped the puck around the net, dishing to Reggie Lutz who scored. On the second goal he smacked a pipe with a hard shot that bounced out to a waiting Tim Sanford who buried it.
A puck sails by Jacob Jaremko (5) and Peter Jones (15) of Elk River. Photo by Brian Nelson.


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Interview Programme
The 2016 Interview Programme is aimed for first and second year students who will be short listed by our third, fourth year and post graduate students.
The School's interview training programme is a peer-assisted programme, designed to ensure that students appraise their application and interviewing skills as early as possible in their university career.
The programme begins with the recruitment of approximately 30, third, fourth year and post graduate students, most of whom will have undertaken the programme as 'applicants' during their first & second year of study. These students are then trained in short-listing and interviewing techniques by professional recruiters from a number of external employers, such as IBM, Deloitte, Teach First and PwC.
Towards the end of the first semester, a number of mock-internships are advertised and all first and second year undergraduate students are encouraged to complete an application for one of these posts. The application deadline will be in early February of the following semester, to ensure that students have ample time for research and to complete the application form. These applications are then appraised and short-listed by our trained higher-level students, under the guidance of staff from the School and Careers Service, and successful candidates are invited to attend the next stage of the process.
Designed to mirror many of the processes that employers utilise during the graduate recruitment cycle, subsequent stages of the programme include psychometric testing and e-tray exercises, as well as formal interviews for the students that successfully navigate the application stage. Feedback is offered at all stages of the programme to ensure that applicants who do not make it to interview can see why they were unsuccessful and receive advice on how to improve their skills before submitting real-world applications.