text:
Unique Course Provides Immersive Experience with Ojibwe
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Anyone with an interest in Native American history, culture or lifeways is encouraged to explore a pair of complementary course offerings at Penn State in spring and Maymester 2014.
The two courses, CED 497B: Exploring Indigenous Ways of Knowing in the North American Context and CED 497C: Exploring Indigenous Ways of Knowing Among the Ojibwe, offer students a life-changing educational experience.
After 10 years of success, the award-winning Ojibwe cultural engagement course has been re-designed and will be offered as an integrated spring/Maymester experience in 2014.
The class is a collaboration between the Community, Environment and Development Program in the College of Agricultural Sciences, the University Libraries, the World in Conversation and Continuing Education. The course is open to both undergraduate and graduate students at all campuses through online instruction. Faculty and staff and the general public can also enroll.
The course starts in spring Semester with a focused introduction to indigenous knowledge of Native Americans. Then, in Maymester, students embark on a three-week cultural engagement among the Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth Ojibwe of northern Minnesota.
Audrey Maretzki, one of the program coordinators, said the course has applications in a wide range of majors.
Kyle Snyder, a senior pre-medicine major, took the class in 2012. Initially, he said he was inspired to take the class because his grandfather tried to teach him native ways because the family ancestry includes Native American roots.
"It is tough to pick a favorite memory because there were so many good things that happened while I took the entire course," Snyder said.
He said one memory is an experience he had with another student. They were partnered with a native, Murphy Tomas, to stay a night on the reservation. The two students were privileged to be included in building a sweat lodge.
"We were able to finish it just before sunset, and because we were able to finish it, we had a ceremony and actually got to sweat in it that night," Snyder said. "We were able to participate in a sweat ceremony before anyone else in the class. It was so beautiful to experience something outside of the regular agenda, which happened often. It definitely created a bond between everyone involved that I will never forget."
Noelle Meyers-Powell is a senior sociology major, who is minoring in community engagement. She said the class fit perfectly with her major and her minor.
"The class prepared me for most experiences on the reservation. During the face-to-face meetings, the readings, videos, and discussions helped to shape a better understanding of the culture we were going to spend time within," Meyers-Powell said.
"One of the concepts we discussed from the readings was the idea of observation, and how in indigenous cultures that's a very common way for children to learn skills," said Meyers-Powell. "By observing my surroundings and paying close attention, I learned about certain traditions, practices, and protocol during certain events in the Ojibwe culture without hearing a single word of English. It was interesting to learn that way."
"My favorite memory was when we each got to spend a day with a host family on the reservation. While staying at my host's home, I met her children and her grandchildren and learned all about her family. I heard stories about holidays, funerals, weddings and school," she said.
"There was such a sense of warmth and family, even though hours before I was a mere stranger. Introductions in this community were different than they were in the Western world. In this culture, a simple introduction was not simple at all. It, instead, was a window on their lives, their families and who they were as people."
Courses and opportunities to learn about indigenous cultures and peoples are offered by many universities. This course, however, is different because of its "talking-circle" design and intensive field experience, which provides students with an opportunity to learn from and with approximately 25 leading elders, educators and traditional knowledge holders.
To complete an online application, visit http://icik.psu.edu/psul/icik/CED497.html. The spring semester course and Maymester field experience have a limited enrollment, so applicants are encouraged to complete the mandatory application early.
Email Bruce D. Martin at email@example.com if you have questions about the application, course design or content, or field experience itinerary. Email Jenifer O'Connor at email@example.com or Carolyn Andersen at firstname.lastname@example.com if you have questions about the application or registration process.
Enrollment for the 2014 course sequence (CED 497 B/C) has reached capacity. Watch for information about the 2015 Ojibwe class that will be posted on the ICIK website: http://icik.psu.edu.
-- By Andy Elder (November 2013)


text:
Top: Target, 2006
Skirt: Lilla P, 2011
Boots: Target, 2011
Scarf: TJ Maxx, 2006
Belt: Thrifted, 2010
Sling: Sakura Bloom
Round One of the Styleathon - How Becoming a Mother Has Affected My Style.
Top: Target, 2006
Skirt: Lilla P, 2011
Boots: Target, 2011
Scarf: TJ Maxx, 2006
Belt: Thrifted, 2010
Sling: Sakura Bloom
Round One of the Styleathon - How Becoming a Mother Has Affected My Style.
This is beautiful!
Beautiful post! Becoming a mother is truly life changing, on so many levels. I remember going through something similar when I first became a mom. My style changed, mostly because I didn't make myself a priority and didn't have time for it. Today, I have been a mom for 5 years, and I made myself a priority again, my self confidence is so much higher than it used to be and I only recently discovered my style. It feels so good to have "found myself".
This is wonderful.
This is so beautiful. Your words always make me stop and think...and today I will be thinking about how confidence stems from who you are inside :)
Gorgeous and inspiring, as always. Thank you, Aura.
Beautiful is the only adjective I can think of!
This is so beautiful. There wasn't one day that I liked my body or my style before I had my daughter, Avery. For some reason having a baby made me appreciate and love myself in a way I had never known before. I want Avery to grow up feeling comfortable in her own skin and I hope she never wastes time trying to change herself.
Beautiful inside and out. :)
this is simple beautiful....I don't have a little girl just a baby boy and I'm learning to be confident so that one day, he will be too. such a lovely reminder. blessings.
Beautiful, as always. Still trying to "love" my post baby body, but you have a good point. If I'm always down on myself, what will my daughter learn?
Something to think about.
Your posts are always eye opening and encouraging, and I can't thank you enough for your positivity when we all need to practice a little more of it.
much love.
it's probably the most beautiful words about becoming a mom I've ever read...
Thank you for giving words to hopes and dreams. I don't have a daughter -- yet -- but I look forward to this deep inner glow someday, reflected in the eyes of my little one. Gorgeous post!
I recently found your blog and it is just beautiful. I think this post has been the most touching to me so far. I too, and like so many woman, grew up insecure and unaware of the beauty that lies deep within all of us. I still struggle with finding my style and my beauty and appreciate so much that you have found your own. Every day I get closer and one day hope to find the freedom and release that I'm sure you found when you heard that voice inside of you. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your style with us!
This is such a beautiful post. Everything is put together so well and your writing is great.
So beautifully said, thank you for sharing that.
This really makes me smile. You have such a way with words. Really beautiful:)
I'm excited for baby E, 20 years from now, to see these photos of you and her, and of you and Michael before she came along. I love finding photos of my mother and father from when they were younger, as they do not easily share them with me. I hope one day you will share these with her, because you are so beautiful and they are photos that she will treasure.
i have found, the less i "try" the more satisfied i am with myself. isn't that where style comes from? just. being. you.
I did learn something from you, less I try the more I can be happy with myself. I thought that I need to go and try to be like everyone else, with amazing clothes and hair - but these doesn't change anything if I don't feel good. And that is what I learned from your blog in these few years I've been reading. Need to be me.
SO nice to read! Thank you!
What a lovely explanation of your style! It's so great to know that becoming a mother can help one to feel more confident and sure of what is beautiful and important.
"Because I dreamed that looking perfect would make me feel that way"
I will keep this close. Thank you.
Such an inspiring post. Your words are just beautiful!
I found our blog via the styleathon we're both participating in, and I am so glad I did. I found this post particularly inspiring, and the zest and beautiful love you have for life is SO evident. It's contagious. Thank you for this post- it's reminded me of a lot of things, and I am so thankful for that (and you!).
I can't wait to read more.
Your newest reader,
Your words are beautiful, your presentation is stunning and your photographs are dreams waking! I agree with you, now is the time to stop being insecure with our bodies, looks and all our misfortunes. It is now time to be confident in the women we are to show our own daughters that confidece is the most flattering "style" \=) Thank you for your words.
What a beautiful and inspiring post! I loved it!
Your style is so defined (and lovely) for me that I cannot imagine you ever having to search for it.
Beautiful! Thank you
oh aura,
you two are lovely. thank you for your sweet words. it is so, so true that little girls memorize every piece of their mothers - the thing i value the most is what she thinks of me - it is good to remember how important we are to be examples to our children. elodie is so lucky to have you for a mama...
xox elizabeth
Beautiful post!!
i, for one, love your style. in everything you do...your style of writing, photography, dress, as a mother and a wife..your approach to life.
girl...you've got good style.
thanks for blogging - your blog has meant a lot to me in recent weeks, helping me get through some stuff, and reminding me of what's important and that life is so so so beautiful and should be LIVED.
Your beautiful. Much love your way. Xx
such a beautiful post Aura! i love LOVE this!
Girl, you're so gonna kill this Sakura Bloom challenge. These words made me weepy! Great job. :)
wow, 80something dollars for a skirt? With a baby and a stylist salary? Must be nice.
This precious and perfect. Well done Aura. You look amazing and that outfit is beautiful. It reminds me a lot of the images you show of your parents in their youth. You remind me of your mother. Keep up the great work your posts are always uplifting.
I love this post...Your style always looks so put together, with an earthy edge. Elodie is getting more and more beautiful each time you share. xo
You and your sweet baby girl are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. <3
Fabulous way to speak through words and photos, and in between. The mother style is quite a journey...
I think a lot of those feelings come along with age as well. I know the level of worry that I once put into how I looked has taken a back seat to what I do and where my heart is in life. It's a freeing feeling!
these pictures are beyond beautiful. thanks for another lovely post. Would love if you'd check out my latest trend report and outfit post. Thanks love. xoxo
Don't forget to follow on twitter for all the latest celebrity fashion news from an LA stylist.
You were so much more interesting before you got with michael and before you had a child. I used to be a fan of your journal but now it's just too boring and old ladyish
Hi Aura, your blog has been an inspiration to me. I also love taking pictures, but I'm not as good as you as a photografer. You look beautiful and baby E is adorable. I've just started my own blog if you can visit me: lejadin-insideme.blogspot.com
Dear Anonymous #4,
Surprisingly, people grow up. Whenever they do, they have a tendency to wear their emotions on their sleeves just a little less. Prodigious as it might be to remain 21 years of age in body from that time on, I'm terribly proud of the fact that Aura has surpassed her age in wisdom in a way I've witness few to have accomplished.
Hopefully, later in life, you will grow in a way which will allow you to appreciate the things she says. If not, I'm sure a fashion blog or an emo show would welcome you with open, judgmental, and tear soaked arms. :)
Be well,
Since when did a forum for personal expresion become a means of judging someone's life, outlook, clothing choice and finances?
I applaude Michaels response-such devotion is truely precious.
Aura's outlook on life reflects how she is adapting to her circumstances changing.
She is still hauntingly emotionally honest, sweet, funny, and creative.
Thank you for allowing us to look in on your life Aura, it is appreciated by most.
I love this! you are amazing
so beautiful. i love it. can't wait to be a mom one day myself! xo
such a beautiful post... oh my... I hope one day when I decide to become a mother I will have these words of inspiration on my mind... Thank you..
Just beautiful! I am due in a fortnight and feeling ambivalent about my body and self image after the birth. But I know that being a mother wil give me a new perspective and I already have so much more respect for my abilities. Thank you for such wonderful pictures and words.
Beautifully written, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I found you via Danielle's blog and I'm so glad I did. :) <3
Whoa, whoa mean anons! Love you, Aura. Hatersgonnahate.
Also! I'm such a nerd for this babywearing style-a-thon. If you were paying attention, anon #3, ::pushes glasses up:: the $80 skirt was c/o the project's sponsor. Everything else she is wearing is straight from the style beacons of luxury, TJ Maxx and Target. Womp, womp.
Aura is the best! With her words, she have helped me in ways she will never know. I follow this blog diary and every day I receive waves of courage just by reading Aura's words. Thanks Aura for being there and for sharing with us your life! My vote is yours! Thank you once again for helping me.....Big Kiss Ana
So incredibly beautiful! You and baby Elodie, your lovely writing and photos, everything. I'm expecting and I cannot wait to experience everything that comes with motherhood. I'm so happy to have found your blog, you're very inspiring! :)
womp womp right back atcha, johanna. i'm assuming the author as plenty of overpriced clothes. and overpriced baby stuff is the dumbest thing to buy, as they grow out of it so fast. but i guess it's important to splurge on them onesies.
Hi, I'm Melissa and I've loved your blog for a very long time. But this post most recently rang so true to me that I cried. You have an amazing way with words, and although My son is about to be two... I still feel as if I was never who I was meant to be until he came into my life. I have a completly new and stronger sense of self than ever before. I'm young and working hard to grow up and be who he needs me to be. Every day at the end of the day I lay down knowing I'm doing the best for us. I've always battled with my confidence level. But with my boy at my side and my constant trial and error and striving to find myself I feel more beautiful than ever before. Thank you for your inspirational words an your blog. I know I'll read this post over and over as many of your others.
...ich trage meinen kleinen auch am liebsten im Tuch. Es gibt nichts besseres.
Einen schönen Abend,
Too bad you're so boring and old ladyish your blog pretty much sucks. No one reads it, like - no one. And you're definitely not gorgeous.
And nobody is charmed by an old man eating on the floor, or a black-haired baby wearing flowers in her hair or the heritage of Persian food pictured perfectly on a wooden spoon. No one looks for a long time at how you capture light with your camera like it's no big deal.
And NO ONE thinks Michael is hot.
I have read your blog for a couple years and it remains to be one of my favorites. Your photos are captivating as are your words.
As a young 20-something-year-old, I appreciate your honesty and the fact that you choose to share aspects of your relationship with Michael, Elodie, and your family.
Your content has never bored me and I can almost guarantee it never will. Thank you so much for writing such beautiful and kind words.
They are inspiring. xo
Your pictures and words are inspiring. Never let the naysayers tear you down. Just be you and that in itself is a beautiful thing.
This is so incredibly beautiful. I can't get over the magic in the photos that you take.
As always, a beautiful post and beautiful photos. Thank you :)
These are such gorgeous shots! So peaceful, but full of life.
You are pure joy! Even though I don't know you, you feel like a dear friend.
Your so Beautiful!
Isn't wearing your baby amazing? I came to it a little later than a lot of baby-wearing moms, but have worn my son in a variety of slings, pouches, and packs now. Especially handy is our Ergo -- perfect for walking our 125lb Great Dane and 25lb Pom-mix. Especially beautiful is a handmade ring sling from the sister of a friend of mine -- certainly the most attractive hip-carry method! Continue wearing Elodie. My son is nearly 18 months old, and we still love it!
I don't know how often you read comments but I have to leave this here. Yesterday I was on Pinterest and I came across a link to your blog. I was searching for "Maternity Style" and found your post on Dressing the Bump. I am 21 weeks pregnant today with my 3rd child and I'm always looking for fun ways to dress while pregnant without just completely loosing myself in everyday maternity clothes. Long story short I loved the post...am now following your blog. The most exciting thing I discovered is that your daughter's name is Elodie. My second child who is almost 21 months is name Elodie as well. How bizarre that I found your blog and discovered that!! Pretty cool to me. My husband and I picked the name and have been glad we did. Some people still give me weird looks when I say it but I know it is a special name. So anyway. Just wanted to share this with you. Love your blog and your inspiring posts. :)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Company News
MRI Interventions Named 2012 Global Company of the Year in Image-Guided Neural Interventions
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MRI Interventions, Inc. (OTCBB: MRIC), a commercial stage medical device company focused on creating innovative platforms for performing the next generation of minimally invasive surgical procedures in the brain and heart, announced today that it has been presented the 2012 Global Company of the Year Award in Image-Guided Neural Interventions by Frost & Sullivan, a global business research and consulting firm. The award criteria established by Frost & Sullivan included degree of innovation with products and technologies, growth strategy excellence, growth implementation excellence, and leadership in customer value. Based on its own best practice research with industry value chain players, Frost & Sullivan concluded that MRI Interventions outperformed its competitors with respect to every award criterion.
MRI Interventions' innovative product, the ClearPoint® system, provides an integrated platform for performing a range of minimally-invasive neurological procedures under direct, real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance. ClearPoint is an integrated system of reusable components, disposable components and intuitive menu-driven software, which provides guidance for the placement and operation of instruments during neurological procedures performed within the MRI environment. Using the ClearPoint system, a surgeon sees and selects a neurological target, aims the ClearPoint targeting device, and watches in real-time as the surgical instrument is advanced to the target.
"MRI Interventions' ClearPoint system enables neurological interventions which offer distinct advantages over conventional and robotic procedures," said Frost & Sullivan healthcare industry analyst Beulah Devadason. "The many advantages of this system include reduced patient trauma, and reduction in the overall cost and time required for procedures, which further improves profitability for hospitals."
To date, ClearPoint systems have been installed at 16 hospitals in the United States and two hospitals in Europe. ClearPoint systems are in clinical use in connection with MRI scanners from the three major MRI scanner manufacturers, Siemens, GE Healthcare and Philips Healthcare, as well as the two major interventional MR/OR platforms that are manufactured by IMRIS and Brainlab.
"We are honored to accept the 2012 Company of the Year Award in Image-Guided Neural Interventions from such a well-respected organization," said Kimble Jenkins, MRI Interventions' CEO. "This kind of industry recognition is welcome validation that our team's hard work in developing and bringing to market the ClearPoint system is paying off." In 2010, the magazine Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry named MRI Interventions (then known as SurgiVision) as one of the 50 companies to watch in the medical device industry.
About MRI Interventions, Inc.
Founded in 1998, MRI Interventions is creating innovative platforms for performing the next generation of minimally invasive surgical procedures in the brain and heart. Utilizing a hospital's existing MRI suite, the company's FDA-cleared ClearPoint® system is designed to enable a range of minimally invasive procedures in the brain. MRI Interventions has a co-development and co-distribution agreement with Brainlab, a leader in software-driven medical technology, relating to the ClearPoint system. In partnership with Siemens Healthcare, MRI Interventions is developing the ClearTrace™ system to enable MRI-guided catheter ablations to treat cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. Building on the imaging power of MRI, the company's interventional platforms strive to improve patient care while reducing procedure costs and times. MRI Interventions is also working with Boston Scientific Corporation to incorporate its MRI-safety technologies into Boston Scientific's implantable leads for cardiac and neurological applications. For more information, please visit www.MRIinterventions.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 40 offices on six continents. For more information, please visit www.frost.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements often can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these words or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that, to different degrees, are uncertain and involve risk. Uncertainties and risks may cause MRI Interventions' actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by MRI Interventions' forward-looking statements. Particular uncertainties and risks include, among others: demand and market acceptance of our products; our ability to successfully expand our sales and marketing capabilities; our ability to successfully complete the development of, and to obtain regulatory clearance or approval for, future products, including our current product candidates; availability of third party reimbursement; the sufficiency of our cash resources to maintain planned commercialization efforts and research and development programs; future actions of the FDA or any other regulatory body that could impact product development, manufacturing or sale; our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our dependence on collaboration partners; the impact of competitive products and pricing; and the impact of the commercial and credit environment on us and our customers and suppliers. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect MRI Interventions' actual results are described in MRI Interventions' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012. Except as required by law, MRI Interventions undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in MRI Interventions' expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
MRI Interventions, Inc.
David Carlson, CFO, 901.522.9300
SOURCE MRI Interventions, Inc.


text:
She's enjoying the best reviews of her career, he's perennially underutilized. Together, Mila Kunis and Adam Scott could soon be playing third and fourth wheel to a teddy bear.
Kunis and Scott are in talks to join "Ted," according to Heat Vision. The film, from "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, is about a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking stuffed bear who's been by his owner's side for 25 years.
Mark Wahlberg is said to be in final talks to play the lead character, who as a boy makes a wish that his teddy bear (voiced by MacFarlane) would come to life and be his best friend forever. Careful what you wish for, people...
U.S. & World
Kunis earlier today picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her work opposite Natalie Portman in "Black Swan," completing her unlikely ascent as the most successful of the "That '70s Show" alumni. Scott, meanwhile, has finally been getting some traction on his career, with a recurring role on "Parks & Recreation," as well as parts in two upcoming films, "My Idiot Brother" and "Friends With Kids."
"Family Guy" has long been a guilty pleasure, but nothing MacFarlane's done since has really spoken to us. Hope he's got something fresh to bring to the talking stuffed animal genre, 'cuz "The Beaver" looks like it might be great.


text:
If you're troubleshooting a broadband Internet connection issue related to your modem or router, you should ask your ISP certain questions (or check their support website). If you use a modem/router that your ISP did not provide, you should ask the manufacturer of the device instead (or check their support website).
Note: This article applies to third-party broadband modems and routers. If you use an AirPort product, check out the resources available on this page instead.
Before contacting your ISP have the following information ready
- What version of Mac OS X is installed? Mac OS X v10.____.
- Which computers or devices are unable to access the Internet?
- Are the devices connecting wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable, or does it vary by device?
- Which exact make and model of modem and/or router do you use?
- What versions of firmware are installed on your modem and/or router? (If you don't know how to check the firmware version, refer to the documentation that came with the modem or router.)
- Can you connect to the Internet if the modem is connected directly to your Mac via an Ethernet cable?
Questions to ask your ISP or modem/router manufacturer
- Is there a firmware update available for the modem or router?
- If a firmware update is available, how do you install it from your Mac?
- Is there any MAC address filtering active on the modem or router? If so, can that be adjusted or disabled?
- If there is a battery backup in the modem, how can it be temporarily disabled when resetting the modem?
- Can the ISP remotely reset the modem? If not, how can you (accounting for any battery backup).
- Is there a firewall or proxy server active on the modem/router?
- Does the modem provide additional services, such as wireless access or VoIP telephone services?
If so, do you have another way of making or receiving phone calls?
- Does the modem act as a router, or provide wireless services?
- How should the Network pane in System Preferences be configured?
- What IP address range should the modem or router provide?
- Is it possible to replace the modem with a different or newer model?


text:
Jimmy Nelson spent his early days in Nigeria—his father was a geologist for Shell—and his adolescence at a Jesuit boarding school in northern England. He was 16 when he contracted cerebral malaria while visiting his parents in Africa, but when he returned to school he was "treated" with the wrong medicine. The next morning, his hair had fallen out. Two years later, tired of living like an outcast—he'd had enough of being judged by his appearance—he fled to where bald heads were not only accepted, but seemingly the norm. By then, he had also found photography.
Nelson landed in Tibet and began eking out a living by shooting editorial work, mainly in warzones and poverty-stricken corners of the world. Five years later, he had switched to commercial photography—advertising was a specialty—to support a wife and three kids. That was all well and good until five years ago, when the one-two punch of the global financial meltdown and the industry's preference of digital photography over film put a dent in his ability to provide for his family.
Friends and colleagues began to offer advice. You have to go back to the source, they'd say. You have to go back to your passion.
Fast-forward to today. At 45, Nelson is about to release Before They Pass Away, a massive book—both physically and thematically—that's the result of three-and-a-half years spent documenting vanishing cultures. In what is perhaps the most comprehensive contemporary look at some of the world's last remaining tribes, the book chronicles Nelson's experiences photographing 35 populations that have neither adapted to the modern world, nor shown a desire to join it.
Spending up to two weeks with each culture, Nelson would locate, meet, connect with and photograph these "last of the untouched." After a guide or translator made an initial introduction, Nelson would step in to begin forming a bond and eventually get people to pose—in the jungle, on a mountaintop, in a river. Using the 4x5 plate camera, always in soft light, didn't just slow him down and focus his concentration; it enabled him to directly confront his subjects. He would always be positioned lower than they were, and they would be seated or standing higher, above him, like icons. Getting them to remain still for a four-to-five-second shutter was a feat in itself. And stripping himself of his own modern-day arrogance and colonialist nature came with time.
His experience in Ethiopia with the Banna is a good example. The tribesmen were high on khat, he recalls, and holding Kalashnikovs. His way of getting close was by getting small.
"You become inferior and you let them push you around; you do not show fear, but you show vulnerability and insecurity," he says. After that, he would befriend who he felt was the most empathetic one, warm up to him, praise him, bank on his vanity. Once that tribesman had his picture taken, making him feel good and big and strong, everyone wanted their picture taken.
And on it went with, among others, the Samburu in Kenya and the Maasai in Tanzania, the Gauchos in Argentina and the Huaorani in Ecuador, the Nenets of Russia and the Tsaatan of Mongolia. Each location was picked for its geographic remoteness and each tribe selected for its authenticity, rather than its anthropologic vulnerability. (Three regions were purposefully not included: Australia, due to ingrained cultural problems between modern citizens and the aborigines; West Africa, since al-Qaeda-linked militants were running rampant in Mali; and North America where, Nelson says, the tribes haven't fully retained their heritage the way others have.)
The idea of the book, meanwhile, isn't just to show photography, but to create a discussion about the imbalance Nelson sees in the world.
"We're out of context," he says. That doesn't mean we should reset to tribal living, but instead create a dialog with the last of the authentics to see where we went wrong; to learn from the purest source what they're doing right and to take that with us into the future. Nelson doesn't want them to end up as we have, and so he plans to revisit each tribe to start that conversation.
Jimmy Nelson is an Amsterdam-based photographer focused on disappearing cultures. See more of his project at BeforeThey.com.
Andrew Katz is a reporter with TIME covering international affairs. Follow him on Twitter @katz.


text:
Our smartphones, we're being told, are responsible for a big spike in urban crime.
San Francisco transit authorities have even started a safety campaign this holiday season — "Eyes Up, Phones Down" — to focus riders' attention on the issue.
I've got a question: Aren't criminals responsible for crime?
Sure, we probably shouldn't walk down dangerous streets waving $100 bills. But do we need a public service campaign that treats us like infants, reminding us to be street smart when it comes to smartphones?
And doesn't that ignore who's really responsible?
I don't buy the notion that our phones have created a whole host of social ills — distracted driving, the collapse of manners, even our avoidance of dealing with the big questions like, "What is the meaning of life" — because they've turned us into emotionally adrift people who info-snack all day.
It makes some sense that we are in the process of collectively working out the societal changes wrought by the powerful pocket-size computers more of us carry around. Today, 56 percent of Americans own a smartphone, up from 33 percent in 2011, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Smartphones are like "wild animals," said Paul Saffo, a Silicon Valley forecaster. "We have to tame them."
But what we really need to do is tame ourselves. Instead, we abdicate responsibility, and public officials and lawmakers feel they need to tell us how to handle ourselves with new laws, crime-fighting campaigns and general admonishments. The situation is so absurd that it seems that with every gadget, we require an accompanying guide book and set of laws to spell out what being responsible means, given our new powers.
And I also feel that the digitally connected get unfairly bashed for simply using their gadgets. Take, for example, the murder this fall of a San Francisco student on a train. Before he shot the victim, the suspect, according to a police account of surveillance video, pulled his gun out three or four times. No one noticed because they were in a state of digital torpor, police say, absorbed by their smartphones.
The bystanders' behavior has become a national touchstone, sparking a discussion of how we are going to hell with our Samsung Galaxy. But bystanders have always been unreliable and inattentive. And besides, one advantage of taking public transportation is being able to zone out, right?
Those points have been lost in the overheated conversation that we have ceded our basic humanity to devices too powerful for us to control. Read your email and miss the crazed man scratching his nose with his pistol.
I agree with Zeynep Tufekci, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Smartphones with their maps, cameras and various means of communicating have made us safer. Castigating people for relying on the device doesn't make sense. "I think the scapegoating is just that, scapegoating," she said.
Yes, the compulsive checking for email, stock quotes, Facebook updates and Twitter streams is irritating in social situations. It's as if we have all become ER doctors, with life-threatening dilemmas and STAT orders.
It's hard for many of us to just be in the moment. When I want to avoid family drama, I reach for my iPhone — but that's probably a lot like my mother, who'd light a cigarette.
But we don't need a public service campaign or worse, an app, to remind us every 10 minutes to look up and notice what's happening. We know, we know.
Contact Michelle Quinn at 510-394-4196 and email@example.com. Follow her at twitter.com/michellequinn.


text:
Best History Books
Penn Press, Julia Thomas
Shakespeares Shrinehttps://www.theworks.co.uk/p/british-history-books/shakespeares-shrine/9780812223378
- RRP:£10.35 Save:£4.35
- £6.00
If you are looking for History Books online, then you have come to the right place. The Works has some of the Best History Books to choose from on a range of topics from Ancient History through to Social History.
Ancient History – From the Tudors and the Vikings through to the Egyptians and memorable figures in the monarchy, you will find fantastic History Books at The Works.
British History – With some of the Best History Books choose from British War books, Henry VIII, the Tudors and The London Underground.
World History – From weaponry of the world to unforgettable battles and world events, The Works has a great selection of History Books.
Social History – We have the Best History Books on social history with everything from The Suffragettes through to the world of Twitter.


text:
For Russell Westbrook, injury earned admiration
- Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook%27s value was shown when he missed time with injury
- Fiery point guard tore meniscus last April and watched team struggle in playoffs%2C early this season
- Westbrook returned quicker than expected and has re-established himself despite inefficient numbers
For Russell Westbrook to admit he likes being appreciated by the basketball world that once simultaneously loved and loathed him, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard would have to confess to caring about all the endless criticism that used to come his way.
Of course he knows that most people get it now. After his April meniscus tear led to the Thunder falling in the second round last May without him and his subsequent setback surgery in October put another scare into Thunder nation, his absence has made the hearts of even his most ardent critics grow fonder than ever. Scan the media landscape that surrounds him these days, and you'll find enough love letters to stock at least a few Hallmark warehouses.
Post-injury, after the long-overdue realization that his strengths far outweighed his weaknesses and with the Thunder (13-3 entering Wednesday night's game at the Portland Trail Blazers) looking like a title contender again, he was the guy who could wear a tutu on the court and still command respect from all corners. And in what has been the unofficial cherry on top of his image makeover, Westbrook is now being paid handsomely for that funky fashion sense that somehow permeated the pop-culture realm.
Pre-injury, he was seen by some as the guy who shot too much and shared too little — of both the ball and of himself. He didn't help his cause with the news media, often clenching his teeth and oozing impatience during interviews and — intentional or not — feeding into his devil-may-care persona that came in such stark contrast to fellow Thunder star Kevin Durant. And in an unexpected side chapter, he became the guy who took on postgame media sessions with lens-less glasses and funny-looking shirts that became punchline material for the Peanut Gallery types in and around the NBA.
From being a late-bloomer at Leuzinger High School in Los Angeles County to a bona fide NBA star, Westbrook's days of dealing with doubters may finally be behind him. As for getting him to admit that the change in tone warms his ice-cold veins? That's another story altogether.
"The outside voices, and those people, kind of look at (me) in a different way, in a different view, but it all depends on who's saying it, to tell you the truth," Westbrook told USA TODAY Sports. "If it's my teammates, and my teammates appreciate (his play), then I'm good. Everybody else? I don't really care about. It doesn't matter if they appreciate what I do or not. I'm not playing for them."
These are the riddles that define one of the NBA's most compelling characters, this enigma of a man who has returned with all the same fury and fervor as before on the floor but is more fascinating than ever off of it. In some ways, Westbrook is baring more of himself than ever — not the least of which is his recently signed underwear deal that put him on the shelves of stores like Nordstroms and Saks.
His smile isn't as much of a stranger as it was before, even if it's clear his competitive fire still burns much hotter than most. Case in point came Tuesday night, when he was too filled with frustration to conduct this interview after the Thunder barely survived against the Sacramento Kings, but — in a move that may not have happened in years past — agreed to chat by phone a day later when those pistons that drive him had finally cooled. Little by little, it seems, he's letting the outside world in.
"It's just getting older, man; just getting older," Westbrook said of the maturation process. "That's just part of it. Getting older you learn more, you see more, you know who's who. You know who's what."
In other ways, the 25-year-old is the same as he ever was — steely, stubborn, and too smart to let anyone take that infamous chip off his shoulder. This is the quandary that so many elite athletes are eventually faced with, the reality that there's a downside to being fueled by doubt. Once it fades, if it fades, then how does one's edge remain?
Asked if he was finally letting his guard down after all these years, Westbrook chuckled and said, "Nah. My guard is just how I was brought up. That's the only way I know. That's what got me to this point, to where I am now. If that comes down, I'll be in trouble."
It goes beyond the Westbrook narrative, though. As so many stars have fallen all around him, point guard peers like Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose lost to injury and others like Deron Williams simply not what they used to be, the appreciation for Westbrook's talents is nearing an all-time high, in part, because of the landscape that surrounds him. This golden age for the point guard position has been unfairly tainted, and Westbrook suddenly finds himself as the most unexpected of saviors. This, whether he acknowledges it or not, is the silver lining of his story.
Westbrook had, in some weird way, spoiled the public with his presence since coming into widespread hoops consciousness. Before going down in Game 2 of the first round against the Houston Rockets, he had enjoyed an incredible run of health that spanned his high school days in Los Angeles County, his two seasons at UCLA and the first five seasons of his pro career. That's 394 out of 394 possible regular season games, and 45 out of a possible 45 games in the playoffs. When Westbrook was no longer there, the Thunder – who were already adjusting to life without James Harden after he was traded to the Rockets at the start of last season – no longer looked like a team to be reckoned with at the highest levels.
The nitpicking of Westbrook and everything he does or doesn't do will surely return at some point, but it's unlikely to ever be as bad as it once was. To wit: Westbrook's field-goal percentage since returning in the third game of the season is significantly lower than last season (39.3% compared to 43.8%), while his assists-per-game are down (5.6 to 7.4) along with his scoring (23.2 points per game to 20.6) and turnovers are up (3.3 to 3.8), but all the talk surrounding the Thunder is that they've managed to look like themselves as a whole again. The end result, as it should be, will be all that matters.
"He came in just playing good basketball, All-Star level basketball, and he hasn't slowed down one bit," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "He's just fearless. He has a mentality that you better be ready to play tonight, otherwise it's not going to look good for you, and he brings that to the game."
And so long as he's healthy enough to play at all, that's more than enough for the masses.
"(The criticism) was always something that I never really paid attention to personally, because those (people) weren't playing with me," Westbrook said. "My teammates weren't ever complaining about anything I was doing, so I never really worried about it. Obviously it looked different to different people. Everybody wants me to play a certain way and all that, and they think it'd be best if we play this way and we win.
"But it's more than just shots, or how many shots I shot and if I shot more (than others). That ain't the whole game. There's a lot of other things that go on in the game that you help your team out with."


text:
Gremser, Hansel (16th century)
Hansel Gremser, an Anabaptist of whom nothing has been handed down except his confession. He was won to the Anabaptists by Jakob Hutter at Vilnöss, Tyrol, in 1531. When the Anabaptist persecutions in Tyrol were at their height, he was seized and tried. His statements are found in his confession of 1 July 1533. It is located in the episcopal archives at Brixen, Tyrol. He admits having been baptized by Jakob Hutter. Twice he has received communion in the manner of the Anabaptists, the first time in Moravia, the second in Vilnöss. The Brethren take communion as a memorial of Christ, but they do not believe that it contains the true body and blood of Christ. They reject the Mass. . . . The mother of Jesus was a virgin both before and after His birth; they hold her in high esteem, though they know no worship of saints. The images in the church they consider idols; he has himself broken one since becoming an Anabaptist. They reject the oral confessional; sins must be confessed to the entire brotherhood. For his part he would not object to confessing to pious priests. The Anabaptists recognize each other in case of question with the words, "I do Christian works." Their greeting is, "The peace of God be with you." They carry no weapons. All things should be in common. They do not reject the government if it supports the good and punishes the bad. Concerning Gremser's fate nothing is known.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 171 f.
Loserth, Johann. Der Anabaptismus in Tirol. Vienna: F. Tempsky, 1892: 517.
|Loserth Johann
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Johann, Loserth. "Gremser, Hansel (16th century)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 8 Jul 2020. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gremser,_Hansel_(16th_century)&oldid=145311.
APA style
Johann, Loserth. (1956). Gremser, Hansel (16th century). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 8 July 2020, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gremser,_Hansel_(16th_century)&oldid=145311.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, pp. 577-578. All rights reserved.
©1996-2020 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


text:
Identifying, and Valuing First Edition Dr Seuss Books
The following table is an excerpt from our book the Children's Picturebook Price Guide. The estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets.
Any person seriously in the market for Dr. Seuss books should also own a copy of First Editions of Dr. Seuss Books (2002), by Helen Younger, Marc Younger, and Dan Hirsch. Within the hobby, this book is considered the definitive guide to correctly identifying Dr. Seuss first edition books, providing detailed information on each book, along with full color examples of books and dust jackets. Given the cost of making a mistake with Dr. Seuss first editions, the Younger/Hirsch guide is an invaluable resource.
We had been collecting Dr. Seuss first edition books for many years prior to the publication of the Younger/Hirsch book, and in the process had compiled our own list of points to help us identify many of the older first edition books. This list is included in the Children's Picturebook Price Guide
In all cases, we either own, or have had in our possession, the first edition book with the identifying points listed. The information differs in several cases from that presented in Younger/Hirsch, since it is a result of our own research.
We have been posting identification points (points of issue) for Dr. Seuss first edition books on the Identifying Dr. Seuss First Edition Books. In the table below, the book's title is a link to the identification points for the first edition book.
Values for Dr. Seuss First Edition Books
The values are for first edition books, with dust jackets.
Identifying Dr. Seuss First Edition Books Without Dust Jackets
The conventional wisdom among booksellers is first edition Dr. Seuss books cannot be identified without the dust jacket. This used to be true. With the recent discovery of some salient information, today, most of the large format Dr. Seuss books can be identified as first printings without the dust jacket.
There are a couple of cases where the first printing book is indistinguishable from the book used in the 2nd and 3rd printing. In these cases, the book remained unchanged but the dust jacket was changed. Even so, these books still have collectibility (desirability) and value.
To help clarify, from the ABAA's glossary:
In all of the Dr. Seuss books presented, the first edition book can be identified without the dust jackets. In nearly all cases, the book is also the first edition/first printing. In a couple of cases, the book is the first edition/'first or early' printing.
We describe 'Availability' for each of the books. Most of the first edition books are difficult to find in the market. 'Very difficult' means one or no copies are usually available from the internet bookselling sites (ABE, Alibris, or Bookfinder). 'Extremely difficult' means a copy is not usually on the market, however might surface once or twice per year.
It's difficult to price first edition books without dust jackets. A first edition Mulberry Street with dust jacket might sell for $8000 in Very Good condition. The first edition book might sell in the $300-$600 range, so about 1/20th the value of the first edition book with dust jacket.
The Cat In The Hat first edition book with dust jacket would have a market value of $4000 or so in Very Good condition. The first edition book might sell for $50 or so, since it is not too difficult to find.
Since the Dr. Seuss first edition books with dust jacket are too expensive for many children's book
collectors, they might consider the first edition book without dust jacket as an alternative.
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street 1937
Title page with '1937,' Vanguard Press, and copyright page with no additional printings listed. Marco's shorts are white on the front cover; on later printings Marco had blue shorts.
Availability: 'White pants' books are extremely difficult to find.
The 500 Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins 1938
The front endpapers progress from large hats to small hats; the rear endpapers progress from small hats to large hats. On later printings the progression was reversed.
Availability: 'Large-to-small hat' books are extremely difficult to find.
The King's Stilts 1939
Front cover with the yellow text 'The King's Stilts by Dr. Seuss' on a red background covering nearly the entire area. On later printings, the title was reduced in size, with red text on a yellow cloth background.
Availability: 'Large logo' books are very difficult to find.
Horton Hatches The Egg 1940
States 'First Printing' on the copyright page.
Availability: 'First Printing' books are extremely difficult to find.
McElligot's Pool 1947
Front cover has fish with mouth open.
Availability: 'Open mouth' books are very difficult to find.
Thidwick: The Big-Hearted Moose 1948
The first edition boards are red. The book with red boards was used with the first printing dust jacket (with 'starburst') and the second printing dust jacket (sans 'starburst', '200/200' on front flap).
Availability: Red boards books are difficult to find.
Bartholomew And The Oobleck 1949
The first printing book has blue boards. Later printings were changed to red boards.
Availability: Blue boards books are difficult to find.
If I Ran The Zoo 1950
Copyright page with seven lines only, omitting the line "BASED ON MATERIAL WHICH ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN REDBOOK MAGAZINE." Later printings have eight lines, including the Redbook line.
Availability: 'No Redbook' boards books are extremely difficult to find.
Horton Hears A Who 1954
Horton has full ear on back cover and the list of other Seuss titles on the recto of the back free endpaper. Second printings also have Horton with full ear on back cover and Seuss title list on the copyright page.
Availability: 'Full ear/Rear titles page' boards books are extremely difficult to find.
If I Ran The Circus 1956
The first printing book has pink boards. Later printings were changed to red & yellow boards.
Availability: 'Pink boards' books are not so difficult to find.
The Cat In The Hat 1957
Matte boards with single binding signature. Later printings have glossy boards with three binding signatures.
The 'matte cover with single signature' book can be found with the 2nd printing dust jacket (no price on flap) and 3rd printing dust jackets ('195/195' on front flap).
Availability: 'Single signature' books are difficult to find.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas 1957
Back cover with full page advertisement for The Cat In The Hat offered for sale for $2.00.
This book was used on 2nd printing dust jackets (295/295 front flap) and 3rd printing dust jackets (295/295 and 16 titles listed).
Availability: 'Back Ad $2.00' books are not so difficult to find.
Cat In The Hat Comes Back 1958
page states 'First Printing." Also, the snowball to the left of the Cat's tail is only on
the first edition book.
Availability: 'First Printing' books are not so difficult to find.
Happy Birthday To You 1959
The first printing book has a printing error on page 34 (page beginning with "Today is your birthday"), with six white spots that do not appear in later printings.
Availability: 'White spots' books are not so difficult to find.
First Edition, First Printing
It is a complicated subject, the book collecting definition of 'first edition' being 'first edition, first printing.'
As an example, the "conventional wisdom" first edition The Cat In The Hat, with the '200/200' on the front flap, is considered the first printing, while the '200/200' was in actuality used in numerous printings.
"Huh?", you ask. Let me explain.
The Cat In The Hat was first published in March of 1957. The sales far exceeded initial expectations. The '200/200' dust jacket was used on the book into early 1958, and perhaps mid-1958. The first instance I can find of the book's price reduction to '195/195' is in the October, 1958 edition of The Horn Book Magazine (pg. 325), where Random House advertises the first six Beginner Books for $1.95.
It is illogical to believe the initial printing of The Cat In The Hat in March, 1957 was sufficient to supply books for nearly a year of sales, through January or March of 1958. And especially in light of sales being higher then initially expected. Therefore the logical conclusion is there were multiple printings of the '200/200' Cat In The Hat through the course of 1957.
Currently the book collecting community cannot distinguish the initial '200/200' printing from each of the other '200/200' printings, yet we still consider all as 'first edition/first printing'.
The first edition '200/200' Cat In The Hat routinely sells for $3000 in today's market.
© Stan Zielinski
© Stan Zielinski. Author of the Children's Picturebook Price Guide
This work by Stan Zielinski is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License.
In layman's terms, that means you may excerpt, share, and use this material as long as you credit Stan as the author and provide a link back to the specific content page. And do not sell it or use it for commercial purposes.
The information offered on 1stedition.net and the blog is offered free of charge. Any uses, references, and or copies of this website in whole or in part must include the bibliographic citation, including author attribution, article title, date (in the case of blog posts) and link to the URL 1stedition.net. Include the copyright notice.
In no event shall a Creative Commons Attribution License or Stan Zielinski be liable for any damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use of the articles on this website. This website is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Descriptions of, or references to, persons, websites, or businesses does not imply endorsement of that person, website or business.


text:
Gift Guide: Kitchen Starter Kit For Recent College Grads
Your kids, relatives, friends, or good acquaintances have just finished up college and are about to move into their first real place of their own with a completely understocked kitchen. Here are a few of the most basic, inexpensive pieces of kitchen gear that any recent college grad should be outfitted with to help wean them off the dining hall buffet habit.
The items in this kit are designed to be inexpensive, functional, and adequate to comfortably help you cook for one or two people at a time. I've avoided the standard "toaster with built-in egg poacher" or "electric griddle sandwich maker" type items that might be convenient for a week or two, but wear thin very very quickly. Every item on this list is something you'll use every single time you cook. Many of them are inexpensive and won't last a lifetime, but they'll last until your giftee decides to settle down for an upgrade. You can get everything in this kit for $156.74, or if you include the extra-nice-kids gift a grand total of around $306.73.
The Victorinox Fibrox 7-inch Granton Edge Santoku Knife ($27.99)
It seems like more and more these days people are shifting from traditional German or French-style wedge-shaped curved knives into the slimmer, straighter Japanese-style Santoku knives. I personally find them to be far easier to control and much more versatile. The Victorinox Fibrox version has a razor-sharp edge and a comfortable grippy black handle. It's a little light and more seasoned chefs might not like the stamped blade, but it's a great size and weight for a casual home cook or a beginner. A granton edge (those are the little hollows ground into the face of the blade) helps prevent foods from sticking to it, making slicing and dicing a cinch. Its low price tag seals the deal. It's available from Amazon for $27.99.
The Victorinox Fibrox 3 1/4-inch Paring Knife ($8.94)
To be honest, when I was cooking professionally, I didn't use my paring knife all that often, preferring to use my chef's knife for all tasks. These days, however, with a tiny-handed wife and a more, shall we say domesticated outlook on life, I've come to appreciate the convenience of a paring knife for small, every day tasks like cutting off a pat of butter, taking the rind off some citrus fruit, or slicing up some garlic. My wife uses ours for everything. As with the Santoku knife, you could go out and get a very fancy paring knife (see my guide here), but the Victorinox Fibrox 3 1/4-inch paring knife ($8.94 off Amazon) is a fine, inexpensive alternative.
The Calphalon 3-Piece Wood Utensil Set ($9.99)
A good wooden spoon is any cook's best friend. I've seen macho line cooks come close to tears when their favorite wooden spoon finally cracked in half after years of loyal, obedient service. Whether stirring sauces, tasting soups, or making the creamiest possible risotto, with rare exception, the wooden spoon is the the most essential hand tool for any cook. I have a half dozen of various shapes and sizes that I use almost every time I cook. The Calphalon 3-Piece Wood Utensil Set ($9.99) gets you a round headed one for stirring and tasting soup, a flat headed one for scraping up fond and getting into the corners of pots, and a slotted spoon for lifting and testing pasta or other food out of boiling water.
The MIU Slotted Metal Turner ($7.95)
Flexible enough to flip tender pieces of delicate fish without breaking them, yet sturdy enough to get every last bit of a smashed burger off the bottom of your pan, a fish spatula is what you'll find in the knife kit of every professional chef and one of the most indispensable (and luckily inexpensive) tools in the kitchen. It's also ideal for blotting excess grease off of cooked steaks and chops. Just pick up the meat from the skillet, and pat it on a paper towel without even removing it from the spatula before transferring it directly to the serving plate. The wide open slots in the spatula allow grease to drain off easily. I find some of the more expensive brands (Global in particulate) to be too stiff. The MIU Slotted Turner ($7.95) is inexpensive, small, and agile.
The OXO Good Grips Locking Tongs ($11.95)
Restaurant cooks are macho, and restaurant chefs are often diabolically arbitrary. In many high-end joints, tongs are outlawed. Apparently, they can bruise, maim, or disfigure meat. I don't believe a word of it. For the rest of us home cooks, a good, sturdy set of tongs are like a heat-proof extension of your own fingers. Sturdy construction, slip-proof grips (ever try to grab onto a pair of stainless steel tongs with greasy fingers?), and scalloped edges perfect for grabbing everything from the most tender stalks of spring asparagus to the biggest bone-in pork roast, the OXO Good Grips 9-inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs ($11.95) set the bar for quality.
Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10-inch Covered Omelette Pan ($39.95)
So eventually, a home cook is going to want to upgrade to a whole array of pots and pans to deal with multiple cooking situations, but until that time, a single heavy-duty non-stick skillet should do you just fine. The Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10-inch Covered Omelette Pan ($39.95) heat evenly, is perfectly non-stick, and comes with a lid so you can do quick stovetop braises in addition to cooking eggs, sauteeing veggies, or searing meat. Can you get it as hot as a cast iron skillet? Nope. Does it have the browning power of a stainless steel pan? Uh-uh. But for sheer versatility and ease of use, it can't be beat.
The Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven ($49.97)
OK, so this is definitely the most expensive single item on the list, but I have yet to find a heavy-duty Dutch oven that can perform as adequately as the Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven ($49.97) for a cheaper price. With Le Creuset oven ranging up to several hundred dollars, it's certainly the best value. An enamel-coated cast iron Dutch oven is the ideal vessel for slow braises and soups. In the oven, thick walls and a heavy lid make for really great low-and-slow heat transfer meaning your stews and pot roasts will come out more tender and juicy with minimal evaporation during cooking. On the stovetop, tall, wide sides make for easy and splatter-free browning of large amounts of meat and vegetables, with plenty of heat retention. It's great for deep frying, and, for someone hustling job interviews or working long hours to impress the boss, it's big enough to make a big batch of stew or soup on the weekend and dole it out throughout the week.
And If They've Been Extra Nice: The Tramontina 8-Piece 18/10 Stainless Steel Triply-Clad Cookware Set ($149.97)
A high-performance knockoff of All-Clad's legendary cooking equipment, the Tramontina Set ($149.95) consistently scores nearly as well in performance tests, but comes in at less than half the price. I've got both all-clad and Tramontina gear hanging up side-by-side on my pan rack, and to be honest, I don't pick and choose when I'm cooking—both heat evenly and quickly, retain heat well, and are perfectly weighted and shaped. Like the All-Clad, Tramontina pans are made of a layer of aluminum sandwiched in between two layers of stainless steel to offer the heat distribution properties of aluminum along with the retention and stain-free properties of steel. In addition to a 2-quart and 3-quart saucepan, you'll also get a 5-quart Dutch oven and two skillets (8" and 10"). Pretty much everything you need to get cracking. Unfortunately, you can't get most of these pans a la carte, but at this price, it'll make an awesome, life-long gift for the extra-nice college grad on your list.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Archive for the 'courage' Tag
patriotism is the highest form of dissent
along with things like courage, service in the armed forces, unabashed masculinity, and belief in honor and duty.
I find LT G's story of wearing his Guinness socks to his commissioning a little too precious. Oh, he's brave enough to stare death in the face, but for some reason feels he must demonstrate his rebellion against authority or his frail little identity might be crushed. How precious. Is mandatory rebellion meaningful, or merely a conceit?
LT G is the embodiment of transgression in the post-modern world; he is patriotic, courageous, skilled in the use of arms, and honorable. What socks have to do with it I can't begin to fathom, but we all have our little conceits and idiosyncrasies. And, he's cav; what do you expect? At least they're Guinness socks. That shows character.


text:
News & Insights
Thompson Technologies periodically publishes press releases to announce important news related to our business. Thompson Technologies also publishes a quarterly newsletter for its clients and candidates. Be sure to check back from time to time to learn what is new.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
BLOG: For Cybersecurity Professionals, Salary Isn't a Top Priority – It's easy for employers to fall into the trap of thinking today's professionals are just chasing bigger and bigger paychecks. However, a new report has shown that salary isn't the top priority for cybersecurity professionals when it comes to job seeking and sticking with an employer.
BLOG: The Top Skills and Salaries For Top IT Executive Jobs – Whether you're just thinking about a career in IT, starting out on one, or you're a season IT pro – it's always beneficial to know where a career in IT can take you. There are a number of different positions at the top of the IT totem pole, with each job having its own unique requirements, qualifications and compensation.
BLOG: These Technologies Could Disrupt Your Business in 2018 – Technologies like artificial intelligence and computer vision are going to continue disrupting business throughout 2018. These disruptions could come as game-changing systems or simple tech tools. For companies, it's important to understand emerging technologies and the potential impact they could have on their organization.
Your next IT opportunity awaits you. Let Thompson Technologies help you land the perfect job.


text:
Find resources
Disease: Not disease/vaccine specific
- 10 Facts on Immunization
This short summary of immunization facts provides an overview of immunization and a ten-slide presentation on immunization facts.
Author: World Health Organization
Publication date: 2019
- Above Zero: Strategies to Prevent Vaccine Freezing
This four-minute animated video emphasizes the difficulty and importance of maintaining proper temperatures in the vaccine cold chain. The risk of exposing vaccines to freezing temperatures are now known to be significant. These risks can be reduced …
Author: PATH, World Health Organization
Publication date: 2013
- Accelerating Introduction of New Vaccines: Barriers to Introduction and Lessons Learned From the Recent Haemophilus influenzae type b Vaccine Experience
This article, from the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, examines recent efforts to accelerate the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in developing countries, which resulted in a significant surge in …
Author: Hajjeh R
Publication date: 2011
- Access to Vaccine Technologies in Developing Countries: Brazil and India
The authors of this study, published in the journal Vaccine, analyzed advantages and disadvantages of different ways vaccine manufacturers access new technologies. Among the methods considered were collaborations with academia and research …
Author: Milstien J, Gaule G, Kaddar M
Publication date: 2007
- Access to Vaccines Index 2017
The Access to Vaccines Index is a publicly available tool that assesses the world's largest vaccine companies based on their ability to improve access to vaccines. With cross-cutting analyses of each vaccine company's efforts to develop, …
Author: Access to Medicine Foundation
Publication date: 2017
- Achieving Effective Sharps Waste Management in GAVI Host Countries: A Proposed Approach With Estimates of Costs
This document presents an analysis of safer sharps-waste management activities, including practical options using available or emerging technologies. The analysis includes an estimate of the baseline burden of disease from unsafe injection …
Author: PATH
Publication date: 2006
- Achieving the Global Vision for Future Immunization Supply and Logistics Systems: Action Plans
These action plans describe specific activities and strategies designed to help achieve the common vision for the future of immunization supply systems developed by the Cold Chain and Logistics Task Force (led by the United Nations Children's Fund …
Author: World Health Organization, PATH
Publication date: 2012
- Addressing Parents' Concerns: Do Multiple Vaccines Overwhelm or Weaken the Infant's Immune System?
This review, published in the journal Pediatrics, examines questions about the use and impact of multiple vaccines on an infant's immune system.
Author: Offit P, Quarles J, Gerber M, et al.
Publication date: 2002
- Addressing the Vaccine Confidence Gap
This article, published in The Lancet, discusses some of the characteristics of the changing global environment that are contributing to increased public questioning of vaccines, and outlines some of the specific determinants of public trust. The …
Author: Larson HJ, Cooper LZ, Eskola J, Katz SL, Ratzan S
Publication date: 2011
- Advance Market Commitments for Vaccines
This informative fact sheet provides a definition of Advance Market Commitments as a potential financing mechanism for bringing new vaccines to the developing world and also outlines World Health Organization's position on the mechanism.
Author: World Health Organization
Publication date: 2006
- Advanced Adjuvants for Novel Vaccines: Expanding Access to Technology in the Fight Against Infectious Disease
This fact sheet describes the positive impact that adjuvants can have on vaccine efficacy and, potentially, immunization program costs. It also describes PATH's work to expand global access to proprietary and non-proprietary adjuvants as well as …
Author: PATH
Publication date: 2012
- Advancing Vaccine Formulations of Importance to Developing Countries Using New and Existing Adjuvant Technologies
The positive impact of adjuvants on vaccination can be functional and practical. A handful of adjuvants are currently licensed for human vaccination, and a number of new adjuvants have reached advanced development stages. However, access to these …
Author: Blum J, Chen D, Cummings R
Publication date: 2012
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices consists of 15 experts in fields associated with immunization who provide advice and guidance to the US government on the control of vaccine-preventable diseases. This website provides their …
Author: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Advocacy for Immunization
This manual provides information on how to generate and maintain support for vaccination programs, including how to create messages and materials, engage policymakers, and work with the media.
Author: PATH and the GAVI Alliance
Publication date: 2001
- Advocacy for Stronger Immunization Supply Chains
This fact sheet explains why immunization supply chains and logistics are important, and describes PATH's advocacy strategy to raise the political will for stronger supply chains.
Author: PATH
Publication date: 2015
- Africa Routine Immunization System Essentials Project: Technical Resources
The three-year Africa Routine Immunization System Essentials (ARISE) project, which ended in November 2012, worked to build the evidence base on what drives improvements in routine immunization in Africa. Findings from the project's work complement …
Author: JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc.
Publication date: 2012
- African and World Health Leaders Step Up to Close the Immunization Gap
This video highlights the commitment of African leaders to close the immunization gap. It underscores the importance and need to invest in immunization supply chains to ensure that every child in Africa can receive lifesaving vaccines.
Author: PATH
Publication date: 2016
- Albania: Demonstrating the Benefits of an Online Immunization Registry
This document describes how project Optimize is collaborating with the Albanian Institute of Public Health to transform the way immunization data and vaccine stock are managed. The two-year collaboration aims to evaluate the benefits of a supply …
Author: PATH; World Health Organization
Publication date: 2012
- Albania Pilots an Immunization Information System
The Albanian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with project Optimize, developed a registry-based immunization information system. This fact sheet illustrates how the data the new system produces has been used to improve the management of the …
Author: PATH, World Health Organization
Publication date: 2012
- Alianza por la Vacunación
This website provides updated information and services regarding vaccines and immunization in Mexico to health professionals and the general public. Users can find information on specific vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines used to prevent …
Author: Vaccinology Mexican Association


text:
The four members of the pop super group ABBA performed together over the weekend for the first time in decades, according to Swedish media.
Sweden's Expressen newspaper reported the performance took place at a private party in downtown Stockholm.
It was a rare joint appearance for Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad — whose first initials form the letters of the band's name, NBC News reported.
U.S. & World
The music group disbanded in 1982 and last performed publicly four years later. Andersson said that in 2000 the group turned down a $1 billion offer to tour.


text:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Names New CEO
- Published: July 24, 2012
HEIDELBERG, GERMANY | Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, will not be extending his management contract when it expires mid-year 2013, and he will leave the company at the end of 2012 after 13 years in charge. The Supervisory Board unanimously appointed Dr. Gerold Linzbach as Heidelberg CEO effective September 1, 2012. Dr. Linzbach served as chairman and CEO of Symrise AG in Holzminden, Germany, and he was subsequently appointed CEO and member of the management board of D+S Europe and its successor companies in Hamburg.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen says key steps have been taken over recent months to set a new strategic course, a start has been made on putting this into practice to return the company to sustained profitable growth, and the recent drupa (http://www.drupa.com/) has led to the highest quarterly incoming orders in four years for the first quarter of financial year 2012/2013. Schreier and the company's supervisory board believe now is the right time to make the change in order to create new impetus at the very top of the company.
Robert J. Koehler, chairman of the supervisory board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, says, "I would like to thank Bernhard Schreier for his achievements as Heidelberg CEO. He has truly made his mark on the company and has succeeded in guiding it through two major global economic crises and structural upheaval in the printing industry.…He helped transform Heidelberg from a traditional press manufacturer into a solution and service provider in the print media industry." Koehler adds, "In Dr. Gerold Linzbach, we are delighted to have found a successor with international experience to press ahead with the company's strategic reorientation and ensure its return to profitability. Dr. Linzbach has many years of management and capital market expertise, which will help pave the way for a successful future at Heidelberg."


text:
Every summer, when I return home for my vacations, I am hesitant about eating food at roadside stalls because, you know, who knows how unhygienic the food there is? In a role reversal that I still find amusingly ironic, my mother would accuse me of being wimpy and shove a plateful of food into my hands. Her logic—if we are over-protective of our immune systems, they will 'forget' how to respond when hit by a major infection. Blood them in battle, she said.
I'm still going to hold off from the delicious and teeming-with-microbes sugarcane juice on Indian roads, but as it turned out my mother was on the right track. A variant of her statement does apply in the case of allergies in what has been proposed as the 'Hygiene Hypothesis'. Did you know that the incidence of autoimmune diseases (allergies being a prime example of these) is much higher in industrialized countries? Exposure to infectious agents in childhood primes your immune system for a more effective immune response as you grow up. Conversely, an extremely sanitized environment (often seen in industrialized countries) during childhood can make your immune system weak, unprepared to face infections and respond to harmless molecules that then become allergens.
Evolutionary Mismatch
How, and why does this happen? The answer lies in an 'evolutionary mismatch'. Our bodies evolved in an environment which is very different from the one we live in now.
Let's travel back in time for a little bit. In the first stage of human history, members of our species were hunter-gatherers. Our immune systems were constantly being exposed to a host of microbial organisms and worms. Around 12,000 years ago, we started settling down and took to agriculture. We continued being exposed to microbes, and in fact the sedentary lifestyle led us to being exposed to them for longer periods and increased human-human transmission. And then came the Industrial Revolution, bringing with it sanitation, vaccines and the beginning of the world as we know it. Many of the organisms that our ancestors encountered on a daily basis are now depleted from our present-day environment.
'The Old Friends' Hypothesis'
We have grown up in the industrial age, but our immune system has evolved over centuries in the first and second stages of human history. Microbes and worms were so omnipresent that our immune systems learned to tolerate their presence in the body if they were harmless. Reacting to an infection is costly for the body, as we know from the all-pervading weakness we experience after a fever. A wiser route for the immune system was to just let the microbe exist, and simultaneously, the worms evolved to release certain molecules that would down-regulate certain components of the human inflammatory system. In the current environment, our bodies do not contain the micro-organisms that regulated our immune system. Our immune systems thus rise to inflammatory baits in a heartbeat.
It's still a hypothesis, but there's plenty of evidence that supports it. Guts of children with allergies have been found to have fewer numbers of a bacterial species called lactobacillus. Another study in Argentina showed that people with fewer worms called helminths have fewer incidences of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Our bodies are thus not adapted to the environments we live in, leading to this kind of a mismatch. In context of public health, it is not feasible to think of returning to the environments of our ancestors, nor is it feasible to think of infecting allergic patients with 50 hookworms that would downregulate the immune response. However, learning more about the symbiotic mechanisms between our 'old friends' and our immune systems could help design more effective therapies towards autoimmune disorders.
Microbes, immunoregulation and the gut


text:
25% OFF ALL ORDERS Use Code: SITEWIDE25
You have no items in your shopping cart.
We are Poetic. Let's Stay in Touch.
Subscribe for 15% off your first purchase.
You'll also be the first to know about upcoming happenings and promotions.
Receive 15% Off Now
Use Promo Code:
We are Poetic.
Let's Stay in Touch.


text:
Discoveries, navigators, wars and an earthquake
The Portuguese began settling Terceira in 1450, right after the Azores were first found, at the beginning of the Age of Discovery. The first settlements were located near Porto Judeu and Praia da Vitória. During the period of European expansion between the 15th and 18th Centuries, this island was a main stopover for fleets crossing the Atlantic on their way to Africa and America.


text:
You are looking at 1 - 1 of 1 items :
- Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of x
- Finance and Development x
Economies in Transition: Central Asia Achievements and Prospects »
Source: Finance & Development, September 2000
Volume/Issue: 37/3
Series: Finance & Development
Author(s): International Monetary Fund. External Relations Dept.
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Publication Date: 01 January 2000
Keywords: inflation, monetary fund, monetary policy, inflation targeting
For the latest thinking about the international financial system, monetary policy, economic development, poverty reduction, and other critical issues, subscribe to Finance & Development (F&D). This lively quarterly...


text:
Persol -With its evocative name, meaning "for sun", it is the proud heir to a culture of excellence and craftsmanship, a perfect alchemy of aesthetics and technology.
Shop with confidence at World Duty Free
World Duty Free offers exceptional year-round value across its entire product range, so its promise to you is that if you purchase anything from World Duty Free and then find the identical item cheaper on the UK high street within the next 28 days, it will happily refund the difference.
World Duty Free regularly surveys the prices of its fragrance, cosmetics, skincare, spirits, wine and champagne range on the UK high street. An independent company travels the country to find the brands stocked in its airport stores in the shops you typically buy from week-in week-out. It uses these observations to create an Average UK High Street Price; this is the comparison price it shows its savings against.
Typically you will enjoy 20% off the Average High Street Price (where surveyed) on all of World Duty Free's fragrance and non-vintage champagne. You can save up to 50% off selected spirits and you will save the equivalent of VAT on cosmetics, skincare, sunglasses*, watches* and jewellery* (*savings compared to RRP)


text:
In addition to playing a couple hours of "Ocarina of Time–3D" on Sunday, I also picked up and tested out "Alice: Madness Returns". I remember hearing about the first "Alice" game but never got around to playing it; seeing the gameplay footage again last week intrigued me… 'cause you know, sometimes you don't want to play a shooter or a puzzle game, sometimes you just gotta slice and dice your way to… no… no… this isn't going in the direction I intended…er…
I can't compare the sequel to the first game because I haven't actually played the first game, but purchasing the second game gives you the opportunity to start from game one if you'd like, for free (download). I jumped right in and entered the macabre world of "Madness Returns". The graphics are decent–somewhere between "Twilight Princess" and "CoD: Black Ops"–but the actual design of the environment is in no way lacking. Each "area"–for example, the first stage, which somewhat resembles an enchanted forest with too many toadstools, is littered with shells, waterfalls, glowing flowers, bugs–let's just say if I were watching someone play this game it wouldn't be a bad idea to… be under some sort of influence. I should probably include that it's one of those platform/adventure games, so it's a great deal of fun being a view/searching for where to go next. I'd like to note that the cutscenes are done 2D-style, not unlike illustrations pulled from a children's book or a wood carving.
I haven't played as many games as I should have, but I think I've played a fair enough amount to note that the gameplay in "Madness Returns" is very unique, overall. There are many ways to defeat your enemies–I'll start off with your weapons–you see on the cover art she's wielding a fancy butcher knife. It's for slicing and dicing–if you didn't realize by the gameplay trailer I posted, this game is a bit bloody. You also get a pepper grinder for long-range shooting. You can lock onto enemies for easy targeting (pretty helpful), and I have never had to use so many of the XBOX buttons at once. There's a button for shrinking ("Drink Me"), while you're tiny Alice you can see things you normally would not see, good for seeing hints or ways out if you're lost. There's a button for dodging, 2 keys to press when you want to block an enemy's attacks using your umbrella, pressing the analog button does another thing, every single button is used and abused and I've barely even started the 2nd chapter of the game. In fact, I'm only on the 2nd "area" and the environment has completely changed already, including Alice's clothing.
Enough about the gameplay, there are endless youtube videos for that. The story is straight-forward–taking place a few years after her family's death when their house burned to ashes and Alice was the lone survivor, witnessing it all, she now resides in an orphanage, still undergoing therapy. You would think that Alice would never have ventured back into Wonderland, but American McGee says, "No." So here we are, playing as a mentally unstable and very dangerous little girl, in a fairly grim, steampunk-tinged fantasyland, trying to collect memories and forget about the trauma.
I've only played for 2-3 hours so far and barely made it through the first chapter. There are about 6-7 main chapters, and each chapter has about 17-20 sub-chapters. Oh, did I say first "chapter"? I MEANT SUB-CHAPTER. I am going to feel like a fucking accomplished human being after I beat this game, but only for a few moments before realizing how truly pathetic that
is could be.
Sidenote: You can download "dresses" that can enhance certain aspects of your fighting prowess, it's like dress-up with a purpose.


text:
Brodie Retallick has signed a new contract with New Zealand Rugby that will see him take a break from playing for the All Blacks.
The 28-year-old, a World Cup winner in 2015 and the New Zealand and World Player of the Year in 2014, said he made the "big decision" to "give his body a break".
Under the terms of the deal, Retallick will play in Japan's Top League in 2020 and 2021, with an extended family break in between.
He will then return to rugby in New Zealand and play through to the end of the 2023 season and that year's World Cup.
"It has been a big decision to make but I'm grateful to be able to have the opportunity to head over to Japan and experience not just the rugby but for my family and to be immersed in another culture," Retallick told allblacks.com.
"I've been playing high-octane rugby with the Gallagher Chiefs and All Blacks since 2012, and while I've loved every minute of it and my workload has been managed well, I've decided to give my body a break from the New Zealand game, so that ultimately I can extend my career here."
Like England, New Zealand have a policy of not selecting players who play their club rugby overseas.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: "While there's a playing sabbatical during that time – and Brodie will no doubt be missed – it also gives the future All Blacks coaches the opportunity to build even more depth in that position.
"I congratulate NZR on being inventive in their contracting process, as there would have been many offers for him to leave permanently."


text:
Einer unserer Arbeitsbereich-Experten meldet sich innerhalb der nächsten 48 Stunden per E-Mail bei dir.
Home to leading art museums, a powerful financial scene, and a talent pool bolstered by local universities, Fort Worth is a strategic location for growing businesses. Here, WeWork's shared offices offer an ideal home for your next chapter, whether you're a solo entrepreneur or looking to expand operations. Thoughtfully designed, light-filled workspaces foster collaboration, while flexible solutions help you scale at your own pace. If you're ready to start your next chapter in lively Fort Worth, join WeWork today.
Surround your team with the headquarters of giants like American Airlines Group and GM Financial in Fort Worth, which is brimming with opportunities in finance, telecommunications, energy, and tech. No matter what industry you specialize in, WeWork's vibrant workspaces provide the space and support you need to thrive. Our diverse range of all-inclusive amenities including free-flowing coffee, printing stations, stocked kitchens, and a dedicated staff. Plus, our global network empowers you to make connections in this city, and beyond. From rodeos and music festivals, to big business and a dynamic startup sector, Fort Worth offers a winning mix of work and play. WeWork's shared offices complete the experience—schedule a visit to find out more.


text:
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Pressing On
One of mother's major problems over the last twenty years of her life was cardio-pulmonary disease. She had great difficulty breathing everyday, had lonely hours, and had problems with depression. When asked by friends and family how she was doing she always responded cheerfully, "I'm pressing on. God is good."
If you're looking for a history or teaching post today… move along. I'm sorry, it just isn't in me right now. I have several in the works but none where I want them to be for public viewing. Not yet….things whether good or just mediocre take time, you know. Just know that I'm pressing on, and God is good.
It's been a busy weekend. I spent Friday night grading student renderings of a physical map of the U.S. that included eleven different features, a trip to Sam's Club to purchase the makings of a family get-together for Dear Son's belated birthday, and a very nice dinner with Handsome Hubby.
Once home Handsome Hubby checked the mail and awaiting me were the five death certificates I had requested at the time I made Mother's arrangements. While I opened them I remarked to Handsome Hubby that I guess I would place them in the folder I have with her birth certificate until I need them. I immediately thought to myself what a tight little package that would make. A life condensed down to two sheets of information from beginning to end placed in a folder. Mom was so much more than that.
The very nice dinner turned into a back-and-forth odyssey once it lazed around in my system for awhile. All night long I made the short trip back and forth, back and forth until finally exausted I fell asleep. I pondered on the death certificate copies and thought about how much I missed Mom…..not just the nursing home mom of the past few years but the mom from my childhood. The one that held my head when I threw up, handed me a wet washcloth and later on in life would stand outside by the door giving me words of encouragement. Finally, I chastised myself by saying, "Now stop this. You know Mom knows you don't feel good. She see's that your upset and you are worrying her. Don't worry Mom. Stop this." By morning I was still feeling awful but ever the trooper I helped Handsome Hubby load the car and off to his parents we went.
It was a long, busy day but it was nice to celebrate Dear Son's birthday with the in-laws, assorted brothers and sisters, including my own 'doesn't look a bit like me" sister, and a multitude of nieces and nephews. The thought was, "Gee, just when did we accumulate all of these kids anyway?" They were everywhere you stepped or sat.
During the early years of my marriage my mother and 'doesn't look a thing like me' sister often joined all of us over at my in-laws as we celebrated a holiday or birthday. It was nice to have 'doesn't look a thing like me sister' and beautiful neice join us again yesterday. It was nice, but bittersweet. We all missed mother even though she hadn't been able to be with us there for several years.
Earlier this week I had another one of of those weird coincidences. I received a notice from the postman informing me they were holding a package with $1.30 postage due. Well, I was simply intrigued. In my normal manner I forgot to go by the post office for four days before I finally made it, but finally, there I was standing in a line with thirty of my fellow town citizens waiting, waiting, waiting. Finally I had my package. The return address label told me that my package was from one of Mom's good friends who reside out of state.
Eons ago this lady was part of a group of Mom's friends that did PTA work together, lunched together and at least once a month got together with husbands at someone's house or a restaurant for dinner. In fact, this lady's son was the "IT" boy in my elementary school. You know, the little boy that ALL the girls think is cute. Everyone wants to "like" him, "go steady with"him, or whatever today's terminology is. In the 1970s this young man was a "hunk", and my Mom was his Mom's best friend. This meant I got to spend a lot of time with the school hunk and many, many girls were jealous. My claim to elementary school fame….however how fleeting.
I opened the package which contained a card, a small book with a faded cover, and a note from…….MY MOTHER. As I examined everything closer I was overwhelmed with the coincidences in this small package.
First of all it would seem that this book, When You Lose a Loved One by Charles L. Allen, was given to my mother by her friend in 1984 when my grandfather passed away. The friend wrote a message on the inside cover that says,
Dear Geri,
In memory of your daddy who you loved so dearly.
How sweet I thought, and then I looked at what was typed at the top of the page. It appeared to be a normal book dedication written by the author. It said:
In memory of Charles Simpson O'Neal
May 13, 1922-January 16, 1949
Son of Dr. and Mrs. W.S. O'Neal
__________, Georgia
I was stunned. What surprised me first is the birthday…….my birthdate is May 13th. The second surprise was the town where these folks hailed from. You guessed it….the same town where I currently live. In fact, this particular family referred to in the dedication is a very prominent family in the county where I live.
So, Mom's friend sent this book to her when Papa died with no knowledge that my birthday and future town to live in was mentioned.
In 1986 Mom's friend's mother passed away. Mother penned a note and sent the book straightaway to her friend. Mom encouraged her friend by writing,
"Just a note to say I know what you are going through. No one really knows until they experience it. And no one knows the hurt---the pain and anguish of sickness and death until you yourself go through it.
But it always helps to know that others care---and I do.
Mother also wrote down the following passages from the Bible: Romans 8, verse 18 and verse 28; Romans 8, verse 38 and 37; Romans 14 verse 7 and 8; and Romans 15, verse 4.
Mom's friend wrote a second note in the front cover to me this time. It said,
"Your mom mailed this book to me when my mother died, however, I gave it to her when your grandfather died, so, I feel it is appropriate to send it to you in her memory. Your mom was a very special friend who will remain close in my heart. I would not live without the love of my friends----your mom was the best and I will always cherish our friendship."
The words of friends, the togetherness of family, the picture that suddenly falls out of a book and and makes you smile, a long forgotten note that clouds your eyes with tears, various insignificant memories, little coincidences that are much, much more than that…..this is all the stuff of pressing on.
I'm pressing on. God is good.
Posted by EHT at Sunday, August 27, 2006
2 comments:
- CaliforniaTeacherGuy said...
Thanks for sharing the memories and the coincidences. I've missed your blogging for almost a week--and I really don't care what you write about!
You just keep pressing on, Sister. God is good.
- EHT said...
As some of my country-folk family would say-----thanky-thanky for the praisin'
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)