text:
Here's something that hasn't happened since our SPLIT-SECOND SMOKEY post over three years ago: We've actually solved a Mystery Movie before the entry was posted! Advertised as "The picture that shocked the producers of BLOOD FEAST and 2000 MANIACS" -- and sometimes co-billed with those films in the North Carolina and Virginia territory -- KISS ME BLOODY was released by Charlotte-based distributor Dominant Pictures during the 1966-1967 drive-in season and then fell off the radar, an indication that it was a quickie retitling of another movie. A thorough investigation by Chris P. and longtime Temple contributor John Donaldson eventually revealed the film's true identity: the Miami-lensed cheesecake gore flick LOVE GODDESSES OF BLOOD ISLAND (1963), scripted by H.G. Lewis stock actor William Kerwin and first released by Dominant in '64 as SIX SHES AND A HE!
After passing it off as another Herschell Gordon Lewis "Blood" movie, Dominant went back to the SIX SHES AND A HE title and managed to book playdates for it through 1970. The movie fell off the face of the earth soon after and is still considered lost, although Something Weird Video offers an incomplete version (47 minutes) assembled from the footage they've been able to locate. Check it out!
Compiled by John W. Donaldson
and Chris Poggiali

subset: commoncrawl


text:
BRISTOL, Conn. — A prosecutor says the arrest of a Connecticut man is linked to the murder investigation involving former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez.
New Britain State's Attorney Brian Preleski says 27-year-old Carlos Ortiz was charged as a fugitive from justice and has waived extradition to Massachusetts. Prison records show Ortiz is being held on $1.5 million bail at a Hartford jail.
Preleski and other officials declined to release the allegations against Ortiz, who is scheduled to return to court on July 23.
Ortiz was arrested Wednesday in Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Conn. Preleski says the arrest came as prosecutors and Bristol police were helping Massachusetts authorities in the investigation of the shooting death of Odin Lloyd.
Hernandez is charged with murder in Lloyd's death. His attorney calls the case circumstantial.


text:
TweetPeter Carroll is a Scotsman with a penchant for black humour and gritty realism. He lives in Dunblane with his wife and daughter and as well as writing he plays bass guitar. Peter has three novels under his belt so far. His literary heroes include Stephen King, Irvine Welsh and Christopher Brookmyre.
Time to chat with Peter!
What is your latest book?
I'm just about to launch the third in a series of police procedurals featuring Scottish cop, Adam Stark, called Stark Realities. It opens with the apparent suicide of a young woman but, as Stark begins to investigate, all is not as it seems. The bridge featured on the cover plays a pivotal part in the story and the photo was taken by a talented friend, Alan Gray.
What else have you written?
As I said, Stark Realities is the third Adam Stark novel. The first is set in London and called Stark Contrasts, while the follow-up sees him return to Scotland and is called Stark Choices. I've also written a couple of Glasgow gangster novels – In Many Ways and Drivers – and an apocalyptic horror story called Pandora's Pitbull.
What part of writing a novel do you enjoy the most?
I love the flow of ideas; those moments when you think, "Aha! If that happens, then this could happen, and, and, and…"
The least?
I really don't like the physical process of typing! I am not a single finger operator but nor am I a touch typist, so I find it frustratingly slow translating thoughts into sentences.
Some writers edit excessively as they write; others wait until a novel is finished to do the bulk of the editing. How about you?
I edit all the time as I go. I know there are plenty of "gurus" out there who insist you should write it all first, then go back and edit, but I am not comfortable doing that. I like editing actually! I think I'm pretty good at it. This approach helps me recheck the flow of the story, adapt structure, plot and so on as I go, rather than getting to the end only to find a tedious pile of typos, grammatical errors and plot holes!
Please, tell us about your experiences with social media. What are your favorite and least-favorite parts of it?
There are lots of good things about Social Media – advice and other learning opportunities abound, nice people offer help (and I enjoy reciprocating), it can be amusing and let's face it, it's free advertising and marketing.
The only thing I find frustrating is the automation people are increasingly using on Twitter. Just today, someone I added to a list, automatically retweeted my last tweet using some program or other, but it was part of an exchange of banter between me and a Twitter pal that made no sense in isolation and would baffle anyone reading it on its own. A potentially helpful gesture rendered pointless by a computer. The Direct Messaging is another bugbear of mine. Yesterday, a guy sent me a link to his book asking if I'd downloaded my review copy yet. Puzzled, as I didn't recall offering to review his book, I opened his account only to see he'd sent the identical spam email to dozens of his followers. Not cool, so I told him so and unfollowed. Using lists to follow people's tweets used to help clear the wheat from the chafe. However, now people schedule dozens of tweets a day and the list becomes a long procession of repeated tweets, clogging up the timeline and preventing me seeing all those I've picked out as being interesting or whatever.
Did you ever get your review copy of "A"? Getting great reviews. Contact me if you need 1 or get it at Did you ever get your review copy of "A"? Getting great reviews. Contact me if you need 1 or get it at http://amzn.to/RmXnpU #Boston #CIA
What have you done to market your novel and what did you find the most effective? The least effective?
Like most indie writers I don't have a budget for marketing; I just pick up whatever freebies I can as I go. I've added my books to several free promo sites, offered review copies (with only minor success so far), joined Goodreads, set up a website with a blog, and created Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Pinterest profiles.
My Mum is funny; she took it upon herself to contact the local paper, without me knowing, and they have since interviewed me twice. Once, I made the front page! Not a high circulation but nice nonetheless.
My wife got the local librarian enthused enough to go and buy a copy of In Many Ways (the only one on paperback at the moment) for our town library. That was a big moment for me. Finding out someone actually borrowed it was awesome!
I think it's very hard to judge how any of these things directly affect sales, but I definitely saw a rise in sales after the newspaper features. I probably don't use LinkedIn or Google+ enough for them to be having much influence.
Having our work out there to be judged by strangers is often daunting for writers. Do you have any tips on handling a negative review?
The problem with all art is that it's subjective. Two people can have polar opposite views of the very same object, painting, film, book or piece of music. You have to accept this and therefore know that sometime, somewhere, someone will read your book and not like it. You are not alone. Pick a classic book or something by your favourite author and look at the one star reviews they get. If it happens to them, it will happen to you. Assuming there's not an avalanche of poor reviews, you probably wrote something decent.
Have you been involved with the Kindle Direct Program? If yes, do you believe it's worthwhile?
I have, and with mixed results. I think it's an approach that appears to work best with a series; where you can offer the first book for free, as a way in, and hope it leads to increased sales of the subsequent novels. My plan is to do that with Stark and see how I get on.
Where do you live now?
I live in Dunblane – a small, provincial town in central Scotland, UK.
If you had to move to another city/state/country, where might that be?
The only place I've visited in the world that I thought would be a realistic alternative to Scotland was Australia. Scotland is great in lots of ways: people, scenery, wildlife, safety, liberal attitudes, and untroubled by natural disasters — but it rains a lot (and I mean a LOT!) and I would like to see blue skies and sunshine more often.
If you could add a room onto your current home, what would you put in it?
Without doubt, I'd add a recording studio. I love music – I play bass, guitar and a little keyboard and love composing. Having a proper facility to make music would be awesome.
What's the coolest surprise you've ever had?
For my 30th birthday, my wife organized a surprise trip to the Canadian Rockies to go birding and wildlife watching. It was a brilliant trip and how she, my workmates and other family members kept it secret was impressive (and a little worrying!).


text:
5.5 Important Notices
Disability Statement
If you have a disability that may require
consideration by the instructor, you should contact Terri Bassi, the
Director of Disability Services at 724-838-4295 or email@example.com
as soon as possible to develop a plan of accommodation. You should
provide the instructor with a copy of your accommodation plan and
schedule a meeting so that you can be supported in an informed manner.
It is not necessary to disclose to your instructor the nature of your
Archive Policy
In order to fulfill the requirements of the liberal arts curriculum, major assignments completed in this course must be saved by the student, so that they can successfully argue in the capstone liberal arts course, Senior Integrative Seminar, that they have met the University Learning Objectives.
Hill University expects that all its students will practice academic
honesty and ethical conduct. The University regards plagiarism,
cheating on examinations, falsification of papers, non-sanctioned
collaboration, and misuse of library material, computer material, or
any other material, published or unpublished, as violations of academic
honesty. Violators of the code may expect disciplinary sanctions, which
are discussed in the Seton Hill University Catalog, page 30, Code of
Academic Conduct.
Paraphrasing the thoughts or written work of another without reference is also plagiarism. Helpful information is available at the following web site: Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It. (http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml).
Any plagiarism on a draft will result in a zero as the final grade on that assignment. Any plagiarism or cheating on an informal essay, paragraph, or grammar exercise will also result in a zero.
See also "Plagiarism (and Academic Integrity)."


text:
Common Symptoms
Hyperuricosuria is an inherited condition of the urinary system affecting several breeds of dog. The SLC2A9 gene codes for a protein that allows the kidneys to transport uric acid from the urine. Dogs with mutations in both copies of the SLC2A9 gene are predisposed to have elevated levels of uric acid in the urine, hence the name hyperuricosuria. Uric acid can form crystals and/or stones (uroliths) in the urinary tract. Dogs with hyperuricosuria most commonly present with symptoms of recurrent urinary tract inflammation, which include frequent urination, blood in the urine, and straining to urinate. They may also have loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, vomiting and pain. Urinary stones in the bladder can cause urinary tract infections or more seriously, blockage of the Urethra. Both male and female dogs can be affected, but obstruction of urine flow is more common in males due to differences in anatomy. Although an x-ray can be used to exclude other types of stones, urate stones cannot typically be seen using x-rays and must be evaluated by ultrasound. Not all dogs with mutations in both copies of the SLC2A9 gene will have symptoms of disease, though they will have increased uric acid excretion in the urine.


text:
Mango | |
Category | Fruits |
Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Ingredients | Fruit
Mangos are similar to peaches. They should be very sweet and juicy. Low-quality (but not rotten or unripe) mangos are fibrous and have a turpentine smell.
Mangos do not keep well. Non-rotten fresh ripe mangos are very rare. Many mangos start rotting right on the tree. The sliced mango in the picture has in fact just started to rot, as you can see by the dark-appearing translucent area. This mango would have a bit of a funny smell, vaguely like plastic or some sort of cleaning fluid. The translucent area is starting to liquefy. An unripe mango is crunchy, pale yellow on the inside, and not very sweet. Mangos should not have dark spots on the side; these indicate that the mango has started to rot. Mangos generally rot from the non-stem end, from the seed or pit, and from any dark spots on the outside. Black fibers indicate a different sort of rot, also bad.
When purchasing a mango, obviously avoid any signs of rot. A mango should feel solid, but not really hard. A mango should have a noticeable good smell. The small elongated variety with a pointy end will generally be of better quality than the larger and more rounded type.
There are many ingenious ways to open a mango, most failing to let you examine the mango for bad spots. (you can take off the sides and then flip them inside out for example) The more-or-less obvious method is best. Slice off the stem end with a sharp knife. Next, use the knife to help you peel the mango. Dig the knife in a bit at the stem-end cut, creating a pull tab. Peel away from this tab. Repeat all the way around the stem end, then elsewhere as needed. Be gentle in holding the fruit as you do this. Next, notice the symmetry. A mango contains a large flat seed that divides the fruit into two halves. Slide the knife along each side of the seed, cutting the fruit into three pieces. Cut away and discard any translucent areas. If you had to discard anything, rinse the remaining part to get rid of juices from the rotten part. Chop up the fruit as desired. The middle section may give you trouble; if it is good then you might just gnaw it from the seed.
Cooked mangos lose the characteristic mango smell and flavor. This can be desirable if you want a mush that tastes like sweet potatoes. You could serve cooked mangos with meat.
Green mangos are sometimes used in cooking. The whole mango may be chopped or thinly sliced, including the skin and seed.
Mango recipes
editMany people are allergic to mango sap. Drops of sap may be found near the stem end of a mango. Mangos are related to cashews.


text: How Do We Know We Have Come of Age? by Dale M. Kushner | July 1st, 2015 I want to tell you right off that I had every intention of writing this blog about coming of age, what it might mean here and now in the States, and even dip into a look at classic and current coming-of-age novels, of which there are many, and which has, at times been a moniker for my own novel, The Conditions of Love. But true to how my writerly, associative brain works (I'll actually be exploring using the associative mind to deepen one's writing in a workshop I'm giving in July—see events page), I started investigating one thing and it led me somewhere other than where I intended. My mind led me to the HBO series Girls, a show that has garnered much acclaim, as has its author, Lena Dunham, and which, having recently spent evenings in the company of that most deliciously malevolent of couples, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright in House of Cards, and awaiting the availability of the last episodes of Mad Men, in a restless, between-series state of hunting new characters to adore, I discovered Girls. I'd read some interviews with Dunham, heard it was touted as the next Sex and the City, and well, I'm interested in the lives of women and mighty curious about the inner lives and politics of twenty-something contemporary American women. I'm interested in this because I'm a woman and these things concern me, because I have daughters, and because, in part, I write about girls growing into womanhood. Not too far into the pilot episode of Girls, after Dunham's character Hannah Horvath loses her job and is rejected by her parents who refuse to support her, Hannah drops by a buddy's apartment to cheer herself up, and, as therapy or an antidote to despair, has what looks like anal sex. My first thought was—why this sex scene, front and center, naked butt in the air? Sex depicted so dispassionately, so lacking of the erotic, of ecstasy, fury or fetishistic delight, Samantha from Sex and the City would have yawned and walked away. I had to wonder: what is this about? What's the meaning here? Is there meaning? And then I thought—am I watching a rite of passage, a coming-of-age ritual that signifies something I'm too out of it, too focused on the romantic to understand? Is casual, non-emotive sex a marker for a generation that honors irony and detachment, a way of claiming authority over the often urgent needs and drives of childhood, those pressing I needs, I wants of the Id? (Does anyone still talk about Ids?) I had to wonder, what, if anything, marks the transition from adolescence into adulthood for the representative Hannah and her cohort? Gone, long gone are the days in which the start of menses and a woman's ability to bear a child held that stature. Especially now when many girls reach menses at the astonishingly young age of eight, long before they are emotionally mature, physical development outpacing moral, ethical, emotional development, it is impossible to consider an eight-year-old menstruating girl an adult. Losing one's virginity, separating from parents, becoming self-supportive. Marriage, giving birth, at one time these too set the definition for female adulthood. No longer. In other places, rite of passage ceremonies are intact. We do not send our daughters to live for a time with the wise grannies in the Moon Hut; we do not scarify the faces of our young men or set up contests for them to jump over a castrated cow. We do have Sweet Sixteen parties, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, our Quincenaras, but largely these ritual celebrations stay within their communities and do not translate to a feeling of adulthood in the larger world. Girls' Hannah H. is twenty-four, unpartnered and unmarried, broke, and seemingly brimming with despair. From Dunham's portrayal of Hannah, it's difficult to discern if the character considers herself part of the adult world, or not. Something seems to be missing in her self-image that places her between stages of development. But how does she feel? In this age how does one know they've come of age? So my pondering continues. How do we know we have come of age? But then, how do we define middle age or old age these days? Aren't our longer lifespans and the changes in our economy changing how we think of age and aging in general? If only humans had clear stages of development, a discreet and recognizable morphology like the cycles of butterfly development, the lowly earth-bound caterpillar so vastly different in shape and function than the gracefully winged creature that emerges from it. Our human skeleton keeps us bound to one form, but within that form our minds change, our hearts hopefully grow wiser. But we have no rituals or ceremonies, no real way of letting others know this has occurred in us. Or do we? Comments are closed.


text:
Alpha 26″ Tenor ukulele w/ EQ
The tenor ukulele is just a little bit bigger than the concert uke. The overall sound and tone is even fuller than it's smaller brothers. For performers, the tenor ukulele is great because you get a rich full sound, and since you have bigger fret, you're able to reach higher notes on the fretboard. What's more, With bonus 3M cable and built-in EQ , Alpha acoustic ukulele can connect to amplifier and become an electric ukulele easily.
It is cute and handy. Easy to learn and play. And sounds great too. Our ukulele promises to deliver hours of resounding fun as you sing and play your favourite tunes with wild abandon.
Crafted from rich tone woods for a matt natural finish, our Ukulele features meticulous craftsmanship and quality components that others place a premium on. Such as the Mahogany top, back and sides, contoured back, rosewood fretboard, reliable tuners, bone nut and saddle, premium nylon strings, decorative soundhole rosette and pre-installed strap pins on both ends of the body. Also included is a bonus carry bag and tuner to bring your music where it matters most. Among friends and an appreciative audience. So quit procrastinating and start your musical journey with the mesmerising sounds of the Alpha Ukulele.
26 inch electric ukulele
18 frets
Volume control
Tune control (Bass/Treble)
Easy to play without Buzzing
Smooth touch
Sapele body, top and sides
Quality tuners
Straight-through neck construction
Premium nylon strings
OX Bone nut and saddle
Bonus accessories: carry bag, electric cable, tuner, strap, 2 picks, extra string set
Top: Mahogany
Back and Side: Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Bridge : Rosewood
Nut and Saddle: Ox bone
Strings: Nylon
String Attachment: Tie
EQ function:Volume control, Treble, Bass
Finish: Matte Natural
Size:23cm x 7cm x 65cm
Output: 1/4 mono jack
Package Content
1 x ALPHA Ukulele
1 x Carry bag
1 x 3m cable
1 x Ukulele tuner
1 x Extra Ukulele strings set
1 x Ukulele Strap
2 x Picks


text:
The Review
The Paris Review No. 214
Eileen Myles on the art of poetry: "People loved to talk about how Frank O'Hara didn't really care about getting published. That doesn't jibe with my experience." Jane Smiley on the art of fiction: "There weren't too many books by women that were taught in school, so I read those on my own, and the books I read were as accessible as the ones we were reading in school."
New fiction by Ottessa Moshfegh, Chris Bachelder, Patrick Dacey, and Deborah Eisenberg.
Poems by Ange Mlinko, Eileen Myles, Michael Hofmann, Stephen Dunn, Kevin Prufer, Geoffrey G. O'Brien, Nathaniel Mackey, and Linda Pastan. And nonfiction by Robert Anthony Siegel, and James Salter.


text:
Human Rights and Immigration Lawyer Contact Me
Tag: immigration book
Unsung America – PreOrder
Winston Churchill once remarked wryly that history is written by the victors. Perhaps, it was a rather cynical dismissal of those who had fought and lost, those who were easily erased or dismissed from the hegemonic narrative of history. After Read More …


text:
Considering or Dreaming About Buying a Home? How to Pick the Best Mortgage Rate for You
Despite a higher interest rate, homebuyers still flock to the 30-year mortgage.
Sept. 24, 2013 — -- A large majority of homebuyers choose a 30-year fixed rate mortgage when taking out a loan to buy a home, but it may not be the best choice for all households.
Frank Nothaft, chief economist with Freddie Mac, says there are three reasons why homebuyers continually flock to the 30-year fixed rate mortgage: affordability, stability and flexibility.
First, Nothaft explains, the longer term means the principal is paid back (i.e., amortized) over a longer time period.
"That means the monthly payments are lower than on a 15-year mortgage, which is fundamental to making homeownership viable for first-time buyers in their early earning years," Nothaft writes on Freddie Mac's website.
Even though the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was just 2.5 percent last year, the lowest in recorded history, and three-quarters of a percentage point below the 30-year fixed-rate loan, more than 85 percent of the home loan market was dominated by 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been popular particularly in recent times after the housing bubble and crash, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the National Association of Realtors.
Yun said consumers want certainty, and by getting a 30-year fixed rate mortgage while they are in their homes is protection against the uncertainty of other economic factors.
As for the second reason, stability, a fixed interest rate over 30 years also means a monthly principal and interest payment that is predictable to homeowners.
"Moreover, by avoiding payment shock and negative amortization, fixed-rate borrowers are less likely to fall behind on their payments, – a plus for investors too," Nothaft writes.
Why not a longer period than 30 years?
Yun says institutions and homeowners rely on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for both tradition and history.
Also, "People view more than 30 years as lifetime of payments," Yun said. "Thirty years offers a term limit to say, 'At a certain point in my life, I will not have to pay a mortgage.' I think that assurance is comforting."
Yun adds that given the mortgage's standardization and popularity, it makes it easy for Wall Street, or Fannie and Freddie to guarantee those mortgages.
Nothaft said 30-year fixed-rate loan is flexible because it is generally prepayable at any time without penalty.
If homebuyers choose to pay off the loan before maturity, in the case of refinancing or selling the home, for example, they can do so without paying an early prepayment fee, Nothaft said.
"This feature is largely unique to the U.S. as other nations generally require a prepayment penalty for long-term fixed-rate loans on single-family homes," he writes.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is particularly popular with first-time homebuyers or younger people, said Yun. He said homebuyers with greater means or repeat buyers with equity in their home can use their equity as a substantial down payment.
Some people would prefer to go with a shorter term to plan to avoid paying mortgage payments during their retirement years.
However, because the 30-year is more expensive in interest paid, anyone who can afford the higher payment of a 15- or 20-year loan should consider it. For example, a 30-year fixed mortgage of $250,000 at the current rate of 4.5 percent means monthly payments of $1266.71. But the same loan at 15 years and the average rate of 3.6 percent is $1799.51 a month.
You'll pay $73, 911 in interest with the 15-year loan as opposed to a whopping $206,016 in interest with the 30-year loan.


text:
Child Sexual Abuse is predictable and preventable when we surround children with knowledgeable and outspoken adults and we all play a part in the solution.
Predict: is to declare or indicate in advance; especially to foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason.(1)
There are over 39 million survivors of child sexual abuse in America.(2)
From them experts have documented time after time, behavior patterns that appear BEFORE abuse occurs. So, with the right training, we can recognize when children are in danger and put best practices in place to directly reduce the risk of abuse in our homes, neighborhoods and youth serving organizations.
Read more: Youth Organizations: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Best Practices


text:
Following Josh is now available!
Buy your copy here!
Following Josh is the amazing true story of two men going in opposite directions through life while travelling together from China to Europe by rail. It is a memoir of changing from a twenty-something kid into a married adult, and an amusing tour of the countries, cultures, and history they encountered along the way.
How did Ghengis Khan conquer so much of the world...on horseback? And what's that have to do with Beijing's city planning? Why is paintball the perfect game in Russia, and isn't vodka more Polish than Russian? Following Josh does a tremendous job of illustrating history with anecdote, and weaving deft cultural observations with humor, background, and insight. More than a memoir, more than a history, more than a travelogue, Following Josh is a modern adventure story wrapped in a thousand years of history.
Read more about this amazing new book!
The Making of "A Small Town Celebration"
Early last year I was thinking about life and dreams and adventures (both a convenience and job hazard of being a writer/artist) and struck upon the hilarious image of myself wearing a top hat floating over my hometown in a hot air balloon, like a New Yorker cartoon born aloft by antique physics and maniacal laughter. There was a time in Victorian England when the rich and haughty would stroll the arcade--before "arcade" became synonymous with "clanging den of children pumping coins into flickering video game machines"--in their finest Sunday attire, taking such conspicuous and leisurely and conspicuously-leisurely time as they pleased, merely to flaunt their wealth in public. My favorite legend from the era is of an artist taking a lobster on a leash for a conspicuously self-indulgent stroll down a main street of London, making quite the spectacle of shameless attention-grabbing, among the shrieking well-to-do who were engage in the exact same thing while (sans crustaceans) oblivious to the irony.My top-hatted, broke-artist-in-New-Yorker-caricature attire, balloon-enabled image was something of an updated dream inspired by the man, the lobster, and London.
Anyway, it was hilarious to me at the time.
So the thought went, "I can buy a top hat off eBay, I can rent a balloon, but I'm broke, so how can I get someone else to pay for the ordeal?"
I was living in Columbia, Illinois, at the time (for two months on my way to Tennessee, by way of Montana, by way of California, by truck, with wife and camera and gleams in our eyes) and found out that the Celebrate 2009 Committee that was honoring the town's sesquicentennial had just hired a film company to make a DVD covering the year's commemorative events. It made me remember a video from the centennial, of which all I can recall is a beige-tone (were the late 1950s really that brown?) clip shot while driving across the JB Bridge, a Lincoln hood ornament dancing in the foreground as the photographer's hand bobbed in time with the road bumps. There was an image of the town's dance hall, Turner Hall, even more faded in my memory than on that primitively reproduced VHS...and that was about it. I have been assured that the video is spectacular, and wonderful, and just as shaky and strangely-tinged as I remember it, and that plenty of people still have a copy tucked away in their attics and love its memory/idea more than any current utility. What it shows is Columbia, on several ordinary days, during one particular time: the hundredth anniversary of its charter as a town. The modern DVD would focus on the special events, which when I thought about it, was a valid strategy rather divorced from the focus of that original effort: a tape of the town as it was when the photographers had the time to film it, and a DVD of those moments which exist fleetingly among hubbub and bustle and decoration. I felt a surge of love for the tape.
Two other events unfolded in the short time during which I was originally amused by the balloon idea: I recalled that my father had made a little money, and had a lot of fun, doing aerial photography of St. Louis during his halcyon days of working romantic jobs that barely exist anymore (like teaching regular people with an interest in flight, how to fly inexpensive small planes they could actually own, before insurance and liability lawsuits destroyed that market and would-be civil aviators got distracted with more mundane hobbies like cruising the internet). I also happened across a dusty old memory of the town's funeral home, where I saw a few people I knew in uncharacteristic repose and many others in unique states of animation. The walls in their greeting hall and break room have pictures of Columbia through the last hundred fifty years--of saloons long gone and roads since paved and other complementary reminders of the world's habit of moving on without us. I can hardly think of a more appropriate motif for a funeral home, if only because I've never thought about the subject before at all.
The more I thought about those photos--pointedly ignoring related memories of the place--the more of them I wanted to see. There are a few good collections of photographs, in books and calendars and private archives, that show Columbia through the years...but their wonderful historic scope is precisely their problem. At least, it became the problem that vexed my attempts to open those door-like photos and see any farther into their ages. I couldn't, because there aren't more than two or three photographs of Columbia from any one year, in any one collection. To see the home on Main Street that supposedly quartered Union troops during the Civil War, I might find it in the background of a picture from 1884, or front and center in a parade shot from 1979...but not from the 1860s. I couldn't watch the old distillery in town grow up from whatever lot it was before, watch my great uncle get pushed off the roof following a labor dispute, see the main structure burn down, and the damaged auxiliary building eventually reopen as a pizza place, car parts store, Tae Kwon Do studio, and currently, boutique salons and a photography studio. I can see the salons now if I walk down Main Street, of course, but being both greedy for knowledge and lazy, I wanted a premade montage of images from each year to unspool before me...preferably with musical accompaniment to fit the eras.
This, of course, is impossible...and even if I had it, I would want to fast forward through years without change wherein the building looks boringly the same while, just off camera, parts of the rest of town change on uneven and uncoordinated schedules.
And that pokes at one of the central challenges of historic preservation: to be able to search for and find many things, you must document just about everything, which no one ever does because it gets overwhelming and is quite boring. We are biologically programmed to seek interesting stimuli--from the red color of edible fruit in the distance to the movement through the grass of a predator, the same skills updated now to find the McDonald's Golden Arches in the clutter of strip mall neon and the blur of a motorcycle changing lanes into ours. We don't see the grass in the medians, just the signs and the big rigs, and forget even these as we move on, unless something spectacular happens--like a flaming big rig crashing into a McDonald's. This is the kind of thing I want to see in historical montages.
Not endless hours of slow change and creeping evolution, which would be 99% of the content of a thorough documentation of everything.
So laziness and human nature and the understandable desire to do something more productive than repetitively photograph unchanging things on fixed timetables takes over, so that when we take a break from a great-relation's funeral to stare at a picture of a delivery man lowering a wooden barrel out of a horse drawn wagon three blocks over and a hundred years ago, we think "man, what DID town look like back then?" but of course, we can't go farther than the narrow scope of the one picture.
This is another central problem for historic preservation: by the time someone comes along who has a serious interest in some aspect of history, most of the material they would have gorged on--family photos, newspaper clippings--has been lost, forgotten, stored somewhere else, or never preserved in the first place. Troves tend to exist in random places, like birth, death, and marriage records at churches, which are archeological gold for certain pursuits and utterly useless for most others. I don't know how to see the rest of Main Street in the year of that deliveryman, and as desperate as I am to shake that picture left and right, it doesn't work like the camera that took it--I can't shift the focus around to see any more. That's all there is...enticement, lust, no follow through, leaving me to wander unsatisfied back into the viewing room full of broken hearts.
Now the first sign of real trouble like that, the first big setback, would usually send me scurrying to Facebook to make a snarky post or otherwise avoid the problem until I forgot about it and could move on with my day...but that one vexed me. It was rather more important than the banal problems I usually face in a workday notable mainly for its lack of pants (a writer, I have a home office). The problem, as it applied to me, was that it would take far more effort than it should--and still be incomplete--to create anything like that montage of old distillery pictures that I wanted. That interest can be ignored, of course, as can many recreational interests in history, because it wouldn't really serve any purpose beyond the sort of self-gratification that I can get way more easily on the internet or from any of our culture's vast choices in entertainment, edifice, and instant gratification.
But what about those with a legitimate interest in history, like students or civil engineers or academics studying the development of architecture, or fashion, or transportation; those interested in how various transportation revolutions changed the very layout of American cities. There are many theories, lots of maps, and some pictures, but a set of overhead--satellite, airplane, hot air balloon -perspective drawing--images would really help illustrate the point and inform the research. But in towns like Columbia--and we've been blessed by the money and photographers to indulge image making more than many small towns--there is no hope of finding or making any such collection of images of the same thing over many years. Images chronicling these changes can't even be said to be lost--such documentation never existed in the first place.
So, if studying history begins with the art of collecting its remnants in hopes of getting enough material to work with, couldn't we declare some time to be Moment Zero and start a better way of doing things...that didn't involve the mind-numbing business of cataloging everything, repeatedly?
Which sets up a fatal contradiction: you can't anticipate and prepare for all future wants and interests in historic preservation, without preserving absolutely everything...which would be, in a word, impossible. We are the only creatures that bother preserving more of our history than just memories, and in the streamlining effects of this--as anyone who ever cleaned out their attic or basement can attest--perhaps the beasts have something on man.
So, between the poles of not recording things and recording everything, can't we find some hallowed ground to stake, call Moment Zero, and move forward from?
How could we get funding to doing something with it?
And how could any of this get me up in a hot air balloon, wearing a top hat and monocle, drifting over my hometown in an ostentatious sendup of an English rumor?
By talking to John Conrad.
Every town, I'm finding, has a John Conrad; usually several of them, allocated as one per three thousand year-round residents. They are the men and women who grew up locally, sit on just about every board, and tell years worth of stories if you have the time. In the days of Roman architecture, they were called "pillars of the community." They are those who make a town into a community, and they know absolutely everyone.
Columbia's primary John Conrad is, conveniently enough, John Conrad, the co-president of the Celebrate 2009 Committee. I have a modicum of God-given, father-instructed talent with a still camera, which I could angle over the side of a hot air balloon while drifting overhead, snapping aerial photographs that show where the streets go--and don't--and whatever else of future historic merit can be seen from a basket dangling below a glowing orb. If I could pitch a worthy historic preservation idea to John Conrad, he might approve it for presentation to the Committee, who might pay me just enough for the balloon and top hot (I could borrow the monocle).
The above ideas occurred to me rather swiftly, and as momentary flashes of inspiration often do, set me cackling with an unnecessarily evil laugh. I stroked my chin, laughed, and imagined my flight, which would certainly pass over the homes of every teacher who ever fixed me with a patronizing look, which were a few, and every peer who never expected me to soar quite so literally above my humble beginnings, which were many. I wonder how many great achievements were the downrange accomplishments of what began as petty fantasies.
Probably not many.
And the more I thought about it, the more I felt that there really was something here--a rare chance for active historic preservation, which I hold is the act of looking around and trying to document or preserve today what may be of interest tomorrow. It's informed with experience and historic context and precedent, of course, but also involves a lot of guesswork, and takes a sort of intuitive feel that can best be answered by the kind of people who also ask the questions. I wondered what life looked like in 1865. I was able, through my camera and profession, to capture what life looked like in 2009.
So that idea pushed aside the dreams of lobsters and monocles and hot air balloons, as I started wondering what was so worthy today of being preserved for tomorrow...and that gets into a lot of inevitable hubris. Who are we to say that one person is worth remembering, but not another? What is so special about Tiny's Tavern that it should be photographed, specifically this year...other than that it exists, and that if we don't do it now, it won't get done now?
That last part is obvious--what doesn't get done now, won't get done now--but takes on a certain relevance when you think about time's relentless push towards the future. There has always been tomorrow. There always will be tomorrow. We can promise to do all things tomorrow. But we can only do them, actually do something, today. We can't do a blasted thing in the past; plans are not action themselves, and today is tomorrow's history. If we want something done in 2009, we simply must do it in 2009. If we want to have eaten a sandwich, we need to have made and eaten it, and if we haven't yet, can only do so now with apologies for tardiness.
So of course, I could take pictures in 2010, or miss that and do a 2011 version...but there's no time like 2009, to do something in 2009.
Especially when John Conrad likes the idea of taking pictures around town and wants me to present a formal proposal to a committee convened on the singular occasion of the town's 150th anniversary.
Which is what I did. The idea I pitched to them grew out of these thoughts, and used my idea of "active historic preservation" to inform the image of a collection of photographs taken around town that would relatively thoroughly document who the citizens are, where they work, where they live, how they play, what they value, and what they hope for the future. Some of these things are easy, like pictures of homes and schools. Other things, like values and hopes, are difficult--how can you photograph an abstraction?
But we wear our identities quite literally on our sleeves, so I was able to take pictures of hometown pride, t-shirts advertising church affiliation, and the like. The more I saw, the more telltale markers of history I realized exist everywhere--like the "Smoke Eater" air purifier in Gruchala's restaurant, left over from the only-recently-passed-at-that-time days of indoor smoking in restaurants. In confidence, some aspects of the project were too easy--what you're wearing right now is period clothing for whatever age you're reading this...so, I could point out the "period clothing" worn by anyone who happened to be in the frame. The cleverness wasn't in the photograph, necessarily, as it was in the initial realization of what I was actually looking at...and then applying that insight to inform other choices of photographs, like cars (which change every model year, if just slightly), contemporary construction styles on new buildings, and the like. It was a chance to do some visionary work, as I tried to anticipate what future historians would be interested in at some point in the future, based on what I was interested in at the moment...and the kinds of details I realized I was capturing.
That informed a much greater level of conscious approach to the project, where I worked with compositions and juxtapositions and all sorts of nifty things to evoke senses of time and place and importance, but that's the stuff of photojournalism and photojournalistic theory...and one of the rules of art is that you should never talk much about what you think you did, lest you come off as pompous (and worse, both risk being wrong and calling attention to it). So suffice it to say that I immersed myself in images and history, rode great waves of creativity and inspiration, and in all had a helluva lot more fun doing a project of actual merit than I would have from a simple balloon ride.
Though I did take to the air, as such a project demands aerial photography.
My father, long since retired from aerial photography, teaching flight classes at the local aeronautical college, and having anything else to do with flying professionally or even as a hobby, forbade me from renting a helicopter or airplane. This was strange, being an adult, so I blinked at him and waited for explanation.
After a long life spent in and around fixed wing aircraft, losing friends to rotorwing aircraft (helicopters), and crashing at the controls of a military helicopter that malfunctioned during flight training, he has a palpable loathing for and distrust of helicopters. He explained that the sort of passes I would need to make in a light aircraft would be dangerous for any pilot--not for the speed, but its lack, as the camera moving is a bad thing for photographers and the plane not moving is a bad thing for Bernouli's Law--if I could even convince one to try flying that low and slowly over a populated area.
The solution, he said, was that he would get the physical exam required to renew his license, take the (expensive) check rides with an (insultingly junior) instructor, and get his wings back...so he could take me up for the half hour I needed to snap my pictures. It was a huge undertaking for him, at the end of which we found ourselves on the tarmac beside the Cessna 172 propeller-driven aircraft featured on the last page of "A Small Town Celebration." We circled Columbia with the window propped open and the constant whine of the stall warning indicator telling us that we were a mile or so per hour shy of losing engine power and gliding quickly into an urban area...but my father had many years of experience flying exactly at that edge of the performance envelope, and with nary an engine cough or drop of sweat he put me in position after position for great shots. After landing, I asked him about the whining noise of the alarm I actually recognized, and ever the professional, he said with a grin that it was "nothing to worry about."
Those images are in the final version of the book, for which I took over 4,000 pictures of nearly 2,000 subjects and agonizingly culled them to the two hundred or so images you find there today. An attempt was made to be completely thorough; it failed as a matter of course, and necessity. Inclusion, of businesses and people, in that book should be viewed as an honor; exclusion, as nothing at all.
And isn't that a strange nature of blessings--that while they bring no harm, often they are criticized or despised by those who simply were not similarly visited?
The full and "real" archive consists of two identical collections of 150 8x10s each (two, so that over the ages one could be lost or destroyed without the project being lost), with full captions locating the images in time and space--so that years from now, when someone wants to shake the picture sideways to tilt the angle and reveal more, as I wanted to do, they will at least be able to read about the world just off camera and find on a map where the image was taken. The archive also contains a number of big pictures, mainly aerials, that are mounted to acid-free Gatorboard foamcore so that their tiny details might be more easily seen and their perspectives not crushed, wrinkled, or warped by time. These will be on display wherever the Powers That Be want to store or display them...but I created a book to put most of those images into the hands of folks who care about Columbia's history, or small town photojournalism in general.
That book is what I invite you to check out at http://www.blurb.com/books/1405999 Along with the captions and a postscript much shorter than this prologue, the book contains the images I spent 2009 capturing, along with something of the essence of our community.
I invite you to flip through the digital preview of the book, and if so moved, buy a copy through them or by calling my mother (she does Columbia-area local delivery; 618-281-7742). And if you really like it, I'd sure appreciate if you take a moment to vote for it in that website's People's Choice Awards Shameless Popularity Contest, for which there are no prizes, only a clever marketing scheme for them and a desperate hope to be loved for us.
In any event, thanks for reading "The Making of 'A Small Town Celebration' ~ The Essay About the Book." I hope you laughed until you cried and then coughed breakfast all over your keyboard.
Click here to preview it and BUY via Blurb.com
Buy a copy directly from the author! This includes $2 shipping charge for within-Columbia-IL delivery by the author (or his agent).
I report on sports, travel, and local news. I'll cover anything, anytime, anywhere. Let me know how I can serve your publication. |
My fine art photography is on permenant display at Cuban Pete's in Montclair, NJ, and is represented in numerous private collections. I do commercial, documentary, fine art, and other photography by commission. |
I write commissioned biographies and other works of any length (from short narratives to full length books), and have several book-length manuscripts currently under consideration. |


text:
term of use
1. Acknowledgement and Acceptance
1.1 By using the JN Holdings Pty Ltd (RE/MAX Property Specialists) websites (Websites) you acknowledge that you have read, understood and accept the legal provisions in these Terms & Conditions (Terms).
Websites mean any website owned and/or operated by RE/MAX Property Specialists and any social media sites or blogs including but not limited to those on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram or LinkedIn.
1.2 The information contained on the Websites is subject to change without notice. If you are a regular RE/MAX Property Specialists visitor and/or member please check these Terms regularly.
2. Using the Websites
You are responsible and legally liable for your activity, use of and conduct on the Websites.
3. Your obligations when using the RE/MAX Property Specialists Websites
3.1 Trade Marks and Copyright
(a) "RE/MAX Property Specialists" is the trading name for JN Holdings Pty Ltd. All references to RE/MAX Property Specialists include a reference to all of its related entities, authorised licensees and agents.
"RE/MAX Property Specialists Trade Marks" means all trade marks (whether or not they are registered) and trading names belonging to RE/MAX Property Specialists.
(b) Under Australian and international law, the material on our Websites, including all pages, graphics and services, is subject to copyright. You must not:
(i) unlawfully use any of our or our suppliers copyright material;
(ii) pass off content from our site as your own – this includes the practice of 'framing' our site within another site as well as copying and re-using parts of the site; or
(iii) use, modify, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any copyright material, RE/MAX Property Specialists Trade Marks, information, materials, software, products or services obtained from the Websites without our prior written consent.
(c) You may access, use, download and print information and materials displayed on the Websites for your personal and non-commercial use only (including for the purposes of property investment or purchase or lease of commercial property through RE/MAX Property Specialists).
3.2 Unacceptable content
(a) To ensure that using the Websites is a pleasant experience for everyone, you are prohibited from posting any material that, or using the Websites in any way that:
(i) violates any laws;
(ii) is threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene or indecent;
(iii) is false or misleading;
(iv) infringes any third-party rights including copyright, trade marks or other intellectual property rights;
(v) distributes chain letters or pyramid schemes or spam users of the Websites;
(vi) distributes viruses or any other technologies that may harm the Websites, the interests or property of RE/MAX Property Specialists or other users;
(vii) imposes an unreasonable load on our infrastructure or interferes with the proper working of the Websites;
(viii) copies, modifies, or distributes any other person's content without their consent;
(ix) uses any robot, spider, scraper or other automated means to access the Websites and collect content for any purpose without our express written permission;
(x) harvests or otherwise collects information about others, including email addresses, without their consent;
(xi) bypasses measures used to prevent or restrict access to the Websites;
(xii) impersonates any person or entity;
(xiii) in any way makes available using the Websites any material that you do not have a right to make available or which contains viruses or other computer codes, files or programmes designed to interrupt, limit or destroy the functionality of other computer software or hardware.
3.3 Objecting to content
You are solely responsible for any content that you create, transmit or display on our Websites and for the consequences of your actions (including any loss or damage that RE/MAX Property Specialists or any third party could suffer) by doing so.
RE/MAX Property Specialists has the right to pre-screen, review, flag, filter, modify, refuse or remove any or all content from the Websites at its sole discretion. If you find any content that is objectionable please contact the RE/MAX Property Specialists' Privacy Officer, whose details are listed at Section 11.
3.4 Changes to Content
RE/MAX Property Specialists and its suppliers may make improvements or changes in the information, services, products, and other materials displayed on the Websites, or terminate the Websites, at any time without notice. RE/MAX Property Specialists may modify the Websites Terms at any time, and such modifications will take effect immediately upon posting of the modified Terms on the Websites. Accordingly, you agree to read the Terms on a regular basis, and your continued access or use of the Websites will be deemed to be your acceptance of the modified Terms.
3.5 User generated content
If you upload content, you:
(a) (attribution of copyright owner) must include the author and source of the content and ensure you have obtained the necessary rights to use the material in the way in which it is being used;
(b) (indemnification) agree to indemnify us against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from your publishing the content by uploading it onto the Websites in relation to defamation, breach of copyright, trade mark infringement, unfair competition, trade practices, royalties, violation of rights or privacy;
(c) (warranties) warrant that the content is legally compliant and that its publication does not give rise to any rights against or liabilities against RE/MAX Property Specialists, including anything that is capable of a breach of the Australian Competition and Consumer Law Act 2010 or relevant legislation.
If you post materials to or links from the Websites that infringes any third party rights, you indemnify RE/MAX Property Specialists against any loss, liability, damage, cost (including RE/MAX Property Specialists' reasonable legal costs) or expense arising out of or in connection with any failure on your part to obtain any necessary rights, consents, licenses or permissions or your conduct on the Websites.
3.6 Copyright Assignment
You agree to assign copyright in all original content that you post on the Websites to RE/MAX Property Specialists upon publication. Further, you agree to formally record such assignments and that you appoint RE/MAX Property Specialists your proxy as may be required for the sole purpose of completing such an assignment. RE/MAX Property Specialists retains copyright on all content, design and artwork produced for the Websites.
3.7 Consent
If you upload photographs, audio or video recordings of yourself, you consent to give RE/MAX Property Specialists the right to use these photographs and recordings in the production of the Websites. You further give RE/MAX Property Specialists the right to use or reproduce this content, including your likeness, in whole or in part for publicity or broadcast purposes as we reasonably see fit (although we will endeavour to contact you in order to notify you of such use where reasonably practicable for us to do so).
3.8 Linking policy
You are welcome to put links on your site pointing to our Websites but only if all links abide by these Terms. Further, that you agree to immediately remove any links from your websites as directed if RE/MAX Property Specialists deems the links to be misrepresentative of its brand, image and reputation in any way.
3.9 Comments Policy
At RE/MAX Property Specialists we want as many of you as possible to engage in vibrant and lively discussions on our Websites. However, there are limits to acceptable communication and we require that discussions and/or comments posted by users on the Websites are constructive, civilized and relevant.
RE/MAX Property Specialists reserves the right to immediately remove any content that does not fall within these guidelines and, in extreme cases, RE/MAX Property Specialists can suspend or terminate your membership to the Websites.
4. Copyright and Trade Marks Policy
4.1 RE/MAX Property Specialists will action notices alleging any infringement or breach of someone's intellectual property or personal rights within 7 business days of being notified, including but not limited to:
(a) alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable international intellectual property law (including Take Down Notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act); and
b. trade mark complaints.
4.2 RE/MAX Property Specialists will action notices alleging defamatory posts or links about you within 1 business day of being notified.
4.3 RE/MAX Property Specialists reserves the right to remove users and/or subscribers for copyright and trade mark infringement and will use reasonable endeavours to remove any such content (or suspend it pending the dispute outcome).
4.4 RE/MAX Property Specialists is not in any way responsible or liable for any user generated content published on its Websites so long as RE/MAX Property Specialists removes within the time specified.
4.5 If you suspect that your copyright or trade marks have been infringed please email RE/MAX Property Specialists using the details at Section 11.
If you suspect that your copyright or trade marks have been infringed please email the RE/MAX Property Specialists Privacy Officer using the details at Section 11.
5. Privacy
We collect personal information about you when you visit our Websites whether you are registering; signing up for features and functions; participating in surveys, trade promotions and competitions; ordering or purchasing products or contributing to one of our forums. We can use the information that you provide for a number of purposes as referred to in our Privacy Policy.
6. Disclaimers
6.1 General
(a) RE/MAX Property Specialists is not liable to you or any third party for any loss in connection with the use of the Websites or any other linked website (which may belong to any of our authorised agents or approved partners). This general disclaimer is not restricted or modified by any of the following specific warnings and disclaimers.
(b) All information (including but not limited to the property area, floor size, price, address and general property description) on the Websites is provided as a convenience to you, and has been provided to RE/MAX Property Specialists by third parties. RE/MAX Property Specialists has no belief one way or the other as to whether the information contained on the Websites is correct, neither RE/MAX Property Specialists nor its licensors or suppliers (nor their respective directors, affiliates or employees) have checked the accuracy of the information and do no more than pass it on.
(c) You acknowledge and agree that by using the Websites you are using them at your own risk.
(d) RE/MAX Property Specialists does not represent or warrant:
i. that your use of the Websites will meet your requirements;
ii. that your use will be uninterrupted, timely, secure or free from error;
iii. the accuracy of any information obtained by you as a result of your use of the Websites; and
iv. that defects in the operation or functionality of any part of the Websites will be corrected.
(e) Any material downloaded or otherwise, or services obtained through the use of our Websites is done at your own discretion and risk, and you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or other device or loss of data that result from the download of any such material.
(f) RE/MAX Property Specialists excludes all warranties and conditions of any kind whether express or implied to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(g) RE/MAX Property Specialists does not accept any liability (direct or indirect) for any injury, loss, claim, damage or any incidental or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost profits or savings, arising out of or in any way connected with the use of any information, or any error, omission or defect in the information, contained on the Websites.
7. Third party websites
Our Websites may link to third party websites which are not owned or operated by RE/MAX Property Specialists. We are not responsible for the content on, and the terms and conditions pertaining to, these external sites. We do not endorse these sites. We recommend that you investigate these sites' terms and conditions. Furthermore, because RE/MAX Property Specialists' privacy policy is applicable only when you are on the Websites, once linked to another website, you should carefully read that website's privacy policy before disclosing any personal information. In certain circumstances RE/MAX Property Specialists may receive a commission, fee or reward for a hyperlink, pointer or other introduction to a third party website. RE/MAX Property Specialists is not liable to disclose the basis of such commission, fee or reward except as may be and only to the extent required by law.
8. Calculators
The results from calculators supplied on the Websites should be used as an indication only. Results do not represent either quotes or pre-qualifications for a product or service. It is advised that you consult your legal adviser or financial adviser before proceeding with any transaction.
9. Choice of Law/Forum
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Australia without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law. RE/MAX Property Specialists' failure to insist upon strict enforcement of any provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of any provision or right. Any legal action or proceeding between RE/MAX Property Specialists and you related to these Terms will be brought exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction in Australia.
10. Complaints Handling
(a) Lodgment of Complaints
RE/MAX Property Specialists' Privacy Officer will provide reasonable information and assistance to ensure that Complaints are lodged effectively.
Complaints may be lodged by emailing or posting a letter of complaint to the RE/MAX Property Specialists Privacy Officer using the details at Section 11.
Complaints will be acknowledged and Website users will be advised of the progress of their Complaint.
RE/MAX Property Specialists has established, and will continue to develop, quality processes for the effective acknowledgement and processing of complaints.
(b) Response to Complaints
Complaints will be processed in a timely and efficient manner. RE/MAX Property Specialists is committed to continuous improvement and training to ensure that complaints are resolved promptly and courteously.
Managing our customer's expectations realistically is RE/MAX Property Specialists' goal. This involves the careful analysis of each complaint and a resolution offered as soon as practicable.
(c) Review of Complaint Handling Process
RE/MAX Property Specialists' complaint handling procedures and systems ensure effectiveness and we conduct internal reviews to highlight any need for improvement.
(d) Records/ Systems
Complaints will be recorded and analyzed to ensure that our complaint management processes comply with this policy.
Systemic trends and recurring problems will be identified and feedback provided to the relevant departments to improve processes and your customer experience.
(e) Escalation of Complaints
RE/MAX Property Specialists' goal in the area of complaints handling is to finalise complaints as soon as possible. Where necessary, you will be kept informed of the progress of your complaint.
Where RE/MAX Property Specialists has exhausted the channels available to it under these Terms and the relevant Policies to address your complaint, you can escalate your complaint to the Fair Trading Office in your State, or the ACCC.
11. Contacting our Privacy Officer


text:
Kindle paperback links:
Book 1: $8
Pothi paperback (for India only):
Book 1 Rs.500 Book 2 Rs.500 Book 2 Rs.500 Teacher's Guide Rs.500 Answer Book Rs.300
(PLEASE NOTE: this course was originally titled The Cosmic Computer course.)
Written for 11-14 year old pupils (some of the material in Books 1 and 2 is suitable for children from the age of about eight) this course covers the National Curriculum for England and Wales, Key Stage 3. The full course consists of three Textbooks, a Teacher's Guide and an Answer Book.
Each of the three books has 27 chapters each of which is prefaced by an inspiring quote from a famous mathematician, philosopher etc. Also in each book there are historical notes which relate to the authors of the quotes, a list of Sutras and three other short but interesting sections (e.g. Pascal's Triangle, Fractals).
Book 1 deals mainly with basic arithmetic, proportion, decimals, basic algebra and geometry, polygons, area, volume etc.
Book 2 extends this, covering fractions, probability, sequences, negative numbers, percentages, equations, graphs, charts, transformations, bearings etc.
Book 3 develops this further into recurring decimals, square and cube roots, division, divisibility, the musical scale, formulae, simultaneous equations, quadratic equations, proof, similar triangles, area of a circle, nets, conic sections, loci, motion, vectors, Pythagoras' theorem, triples, coordinate geometry etc.
This contains:
A Summary of the book.
A copy of the Unified Field Chart for that book.
Notes on the content of the chapters- advice, suggestions etc.
Mental Tests (correlated with the books) and answers- which allow earlier work to be regularly revised, give stimulating ideas relevant to the current lesson and which develop themes from earlier tests which may ultimately become the subject of a lesson. Extension Material and answers (about 16 per book)- these consist of a 1 or 2-sided sheet given to children who work fast and get ahead of the rest of the class. Many of these are also very suitable for work with a whole class.
Revision Tests and Answers- There is a revision test every 4 or 5 chapters. This includes a mental test of 10 questions.
Games, Worksheets etc.
This contains answers to all exercises and other numbered questions in the text and should be available for pupils during lessons..
THE COURSE has many unusual and attractive features.
1 It is primarily a system of mental mathematics (though all the methods can also be written down) using simple patterns and methods which are very easy to understand and remember. Each lesson starts with a short mental test.
2 It is extremely coherent and unified and uses sixteen simple word-formulae, called Sutras, like Vertically and Crosswise. These formulae relate to the different ways in which the mind can be used and are therefore a great help to pupils.
3 It makes use of a "Unified Field" chart which shows the whole subject of mathematics at a glance and how the different parts and topics are related.
4 The powerful Vedic methods are delightfully easy and fun. Many problems can be tackled in a variety of ways, from right to left or from left to right, 2 or more figures at a time, etc. The techniques are also interrelated which adds to the beauty and simplicity.
Through this mental approach the course encourages creativity and the use of intuition in mathematics, in contrast to the modern, mainly analytic, approach.
Vedic Mathematics is already being taught with great success in many schools and the response to this course has been extremely encouraging.
Book 1: 214 pages. Book 2: 253 pages. Book 3: 281 pages. Teacher's Guide: 255 pages. Answer Book: 82 pages.
Size: 25cm by 19cm.
Paperback. 2010
Author: Kenneth Williams & Mark Gaskell
I found the whole course very interesting and really feel I have improved in Maths. I can now even challenge my dad in Maths Sums and beat him! (That is a great improvement). The Maths games were fun and helped a lot . . . - Deborah, aged 13
P.S.: I have your "Cosmic Computer" books on my desk and use this to prepare for my VM class. I enjoy them a lot. Dr S. Sreenath, Professor of electrical engineering and computer science and Vedic Maths tutor in the U.S.A.
I love these books! I have been learning Vedic maths for about two months now. I purchased the Cosmic Calculator course two weeks ago and I can't put the books down! Great stuff! I am also starting to teach my daughter some of the methods in the books. I also purchased the Vedic Mathematics Teacher's Manuals(all three) to assist me in teaching my daughter. Again, I simply love the course so far and have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from these books. . . . Bill Gaylord, PA, USA
I'm working my way through the Cosmic Calculator, and I'm shocked at how well it's taken me from being a confirmed mathophobe to someone who enjoys math. Thanks for all the work you did to publish this! . . . Richard Shultz, California, USA
From The Teacher's Guide
Vedic (pronounced 'Vaydik') Mathematics is an ancient system of mathematics originating in India in Vedic times. It was rediscovered between 1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960) who studied the ancient Sanskrit texts called the Vedas. The date these texts were written is unknown but the content of the Vedas was passed on by an oral tradition long before writing was invented. The Vedas are said to cover every area and aspect of knowledge, including for example, ethics, grammar, architecture, astronomy. The word 'Veda' literally means 'knowledge'.
Since the publication of his book "Vedic Mathematics" (reference 1) in 1965 interest in this system has been growing and some schools now successfully teach it. Many teachers attending courses and talks on Vedic Mathematics in recent years have expressed a strong interest in teaching the Vedic system in their school, but not without a textbook. This course has been written to meet this need. It is based on careful study and research over the last 27 years and is being tested in various schools.
The Vedic system is attractive to teachers and pupils because it has many striking advantages over the mathematics currently taught. The most significant of these are:
the coherence of the system, the easy and simple Vedic methods,
the emphasis on mental calculation, the use of basic principles or Sutras,
the use of a Unified Field chart, its effectiveness over all ability ranges.
The Vedic system is extremely refined. The methods are simple and complementary, so that for example 'long' division is a simple reversal of the one-line multiplication process; similarly with squaring and square roots.
Anyone familiar with the Vedic system will be aware of the remarkable Vedic techniques: 'difficult' problems or huge sums which can be solved immediately by the Vedic method. These striking and beautiful methods are just a part of a complete system of mathematics which is far more systematic than the modern 'system'. Children are inspired by these delightful techniques and often ask "Why was I not shown this before?". Vedic Mathematics manifests the coherent and unified structure of mathematics and the methods are complementary, direct and easy.
The simplicity of Vedic Mathematics means that calculations can be carried out mentally and this is very much encouraged in the Vedic system. There are many advantages in using a mental system. Starting with a short mental test, the class settle down at the beginning of the lesson and focus on mathematics; they enjoy the challenge of using only their own mind to solve problems; the questions in the test can revise the previous lesson and lessons and introduce ideas to be used in the present lesson. Although the system encourages mental calculation, apart from the initial test at the beginning of the lesson its use in the rest of the lesson is not insisted upon. It is important that the pupil's study is fun and enjoyable and they should not be forced to do what they find too difficult, though the able ones may enjoy doing nearly everything in their head. There are many advantages in a system which emphasises mental mathematics and these are discussed in some detail in the introduction to reference 2.
Learning mathematics should be a delightful experience for all children and they should all succeed in it. The Cosmic Computer course offers a complete system of mental mathematics which can be taught in a holistic way. The straightforward and beautifully interrelated Vedic methods mean that mathematics can be done mentally, and this and the many methods of solution which the Vedic system offers, encourages flexibility and innovation. This in turn leads to the development of creativity and intuition. The Vedic system does not insist on a purely analytic approach as many modern teaching methods do. This makes a big difference to the attitude which children have towards mathematics.
Being naturally creative students like to devise their own methods of solution. The Vedic system seeks to cultivate intuition- having a conscious proof or explanation of a method beforehand is not considered essential in the Vedic methodology. Students are shown general methods and also special methods which apply in special cases. This means they do not rigidly have to follow a certain procedure but have a choice and are encouraged to invent their own methods. Every problem is unique and invites its own style of solution.
The Vedic system does not impose unnecessary restrictions- we can for example work from left to right or right to left; with numbers which are partly positive and partly negative; we can work 2 or more figures at a time and can feel comfortable with long numbers.
These benefits of the Vedic system have been observed where it has been used. Pupils become generally more focused, confident and intelligent.
The Vedic system use a collection of sixteen Sutras (or formulae), given in word form, and some sub-Sutras. These are listed in the front of each book and express fundamental principles which run like threads (the word "Sutra" means "thread") through the whole of mathematics, unifying diverse topics. They are extremely useful in education for this reason.
We use our mind in certain specific ways: we might extend an idea or reverse it or compare or combine it with another. Each of these types of mental activity is described by one of the Vedic Sutras: they describe the ways in which the mind can work and so they tell the student how to go about solving a problem. It is not necessary for the teacher to be familiar with these. It is best not to stress the Sutras- they become familiar after a while, and seem quite natural. As an illustration:
triangle appears here
with the three altitudes drawn in
asked how many triangles there are in this figure you can easily get the answer. There are sixteen of these but did you notice how you could mentally make the various shapes stand out- seeing some lines and ignoring others, and then seeing different triangles- at will? The Vedic formula By Alternate Elimination and Retention describes this attribute of our mind and has many more obviously mathematical applications also (in eliminating first x and then y when solving a pair of simultaneous equations, for example).
The universe appears lawful, at every level, and nature is able to respond instantly to every situation that occurs everywhere in the universe. Nature appears to employ a Cosmic Computer which governs all action with the utmost precision.
The Unified Field chart (invented by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi) is given at the beginning of each Teacher's Guide and shows the whole subject and how it develops sequentially. This means the student can always easily see where they are in relation to the whole. Other subjects- chemistry, computer science for example- all have their own Unified Field chart showing their structure and development, and any part of a Unified Field chart can itself be expanded into a Unified Field chart.
The term "Unified Field" comes from modern Physics and refers to the unified field of all the various forces of nature. This ultimate level of existence corresponds in subjective terms to the self. So the Unified Field is at the basis of creation just as your self is the observer of creation, and therefore any structure, like Mathematics, must unfold from here- from unity into diversity.
As the structure develops from the base the terms get more and more concrete as the three branches of Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry develop. The first level above the Unified Field: zero, equality, empty space, gives a quality of that branch which also has the infinite, abstract quality of the Unified Field. Next, unit, symbol, point give a more concrete base for the development of the three branches. Each of these, with three further concepts allow the development of numbers and number systems, algebraic expressions and geometrical forms. These develop further into all the various areas of Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. In some cases, graphs for example, a topic is a mixture of two or all of the three branches. The large box shows all the various topics studied in the Cosmic Computer books and so the student always knows where they are in relation to the whole. The contents of this box change from book to book, as the topics studied change. The Transcendental Meditation referred to on the chart is a simple technique for bringing the mind to a quiet state where it can consciously experience the Unified Field.
The extent to which this chart is used is left to the discretion of the teacher.
This course follows the requirements of the National Curriculum for England and Wales and at present three books are available.
The course is intended to cover the first three years of a secondary school course (that is starting with 11 year old pupils), but may be suitable for other classes too. Some of the material is very suitable for children aged from 8 years.
The textbook is intended to supplement the course, rather than being used for individual study and the course is intended to be delivered as whole class teaching. The text is however self-explanatory and so the pupil who misses some lessons in school would still be able to continue. The reason for writing the book in this way is more for the benefit of the teacher- who will probably be unfamiliar with the Vedic system.
Lessons begin with a mental arithmetic test of 10 questions (included in this Guide). Answers are given at the end of the test and any difficulties are dealt with. The teacher then introduces the lesson for that day.
This Teacher's Guide gives, in the Notes, any points of special interest for each chapter and other suggestions. (Some additional material will also be found there for Book 1, on geometry.) There are plenty of Extension Sheets for more able or fast pupils and many of these are very appropriate for the whole class to work on. Revision Tests are also contained in the Teacher's Guide and these revise the previous 4 or 5 chapters. There are also worksheets, games etc.
There is also an Answer Book which contains answers to all the exercises and other numbered questions that come up in the text. The Answer Book is intended to be made available to the class to check their work.
Reference 3 is a useful addition to the course as it contains many variations and extensions not covered in these books
These tests (also included in this Guide) are carefully structured so that they
a) introduce new ideas,
b) develop ideas encountered earlier,
c) revise work from the previous and earlier lessons (in this way pupils do not forget
what they have learnt and establish it more clearly),
d) introduce or revise ideas needed in the current lesson.
Underlined questions in the tests, and diagrams, are intended to be written up on the board.
The tests are marked immediately at the end- they can mark their own or exchange with a neighbour. They could record their marks.
Any misunderstandings and errors can be sorted out when they are marked- a quick explanation for each answer can also be given.
The tests can also be diagnostic- the books could be taken in to see who got what right or wrong, and it is useful to ask at some stage of the marking 'who got this right?' (which of course tells you who didn't).
The tests should not be too slow: repeat each question but decline to say it a third time unless for a good reason, then go immediately on to the next question. Occasionally a test can be speeded up (with warning). The tests, and answers, should not take long. Hints or reminders can be given if a question draws a blank response.
The tests are also intended to be flexible: questions can be changed if they are too easy or too hard or if extra revision of some topic is needed (but the aim would be for most pupils to get most of the questions right). It should also be easy to improvise extra tests if there are not enough, even if it means giving an earlier test with the numbers altered. In some of the later tests working out could be allowed for question 10.
1. Tirthaji B.K. (1965) Vedic Mathematics, Motilal Banarsidass
2. Williams K.R. (1991) The Natural Calculator, Vedic Mathematics Research Group
3. Williams K.R. (1984) Discover Vedic Mathematics, Vedic Mathematics Research Group
Contents for Book 1
Introduction 1
1) Arithmetic 3
2) Digit Sums and the Nine-Point Circle 5
The Number Nine 6
The 9-Point Circle 6
Your Lucky Number 9
Digit Sum Game 9 GAME
Digit Sum Problems 10
3) Large Numbers 11
Restructuring Numbers 11
Reading and Writing Large Numbers 13
Millions 14
Billions 16
Make a Number Game 16 GAME
4) Digit Sum Check 17
Addition from Right to Left 17
Sums Involving 'Carries' 18
The Digit Sum Check 18
Subtraction 20
Checking Subtraction Sums 22
5) Number Nine 23
By Addition and By Subtraction 24
6) Numbers with Shapes 27
Square Numbers 28
Factor Pairs 29
Factor Rectangles 30
Prime Numbers 31
The Sieve of Eratosthenes 31
Triangular Numbers32
Cube Numbers 32
Summary of Number Sequences 34
REVISION Test 1
7) Geometry 35
The Right Angle 35
Right-Angles Game 36 GAME
Parallel Lines 36
Drawing Geometrical Shapes 37
Right-angled and Equilateral Triangles 40
8) Symmetry 41
Polygons 43 WORKSHEET 1
Rotational Symmetry 45
9) Angles and Triangles 46
Finding Angles 48
Triangles 49
REVISION Test 2
10) By the Completion 54
Completing the Whole- Fractions 55
Completing the Whole- Shapes 56
11) Doubling and Halving 58
Extending the Multiplication Tables 60
12) Divisibility 62
Divisibility by 2, 5, 10 62
Divisibility by 3 and 9 64
Summary 64
Divisibility by 4 66
Divisibility by 6 67
Divisibility by 15 68
13) Short Multiplication and Division 71
Multiplication 71
Multiplication by 11 72
Division 73
The Digit Sum Check for Division 74
Division by 9 75
14) Powers of Ten and Decimals 77
Adding and Subtracting Decimal Numbers 78
Multiplying and Dividing Decimal Numbers 79
Multiplying & Dividing by Powers of 10 79
Multiplying & Dividing Decimals by 10, 100 etc 81
Metric Units 83
REVISION Test 3
15) Number Splitting 85
Addition 85
Subtraction 87
Multiplication 87
Division 88
Checking Devices 89
Checking Calculations 90
16) Polygons and Coordinates 91
Quadrilaterals 92
Diagonals of Quadrilaterals 93
17) Regular Polygons and Perimeters 95
To Construct an Equilateral Triangle 96
To Construct a Regular Hexagon 96
To Construct a Square 97
To Construct a Regular Octagon 98
Perimeters 98
Perimeter Problems 99
18) All from 9 and the Last From 10 101
All from 9 101
All from 9 and the Last from 10 102
First Extension 103
Second Extension 104
Combining the First and Second Extensions 105
REVISION Test 4
19) Bar Numbers 109
Bar Numbers Game 111 GAME
All from 9 and the Last from 10 111
Subtraction 112
Creating Bar Numbers 113
20) On the Flag 115
Addition 115
Multiplication 118
21) Prime and Composite Numbers 120
Factor Trees 121
An Alternative Method 122
Highest Common Factor: HCF 123
By Addition and by Subtraction 124
22) Proportionately 126
Equal Ratios 126 WORKSHEET 2
Simplifying Ratios 127
Finding Equal Ratios 128
Ratio Problems 129
Splitting in a Ratio 130
Extended Ratios 130
REVISION Test 5
23) By One More than the One Before 132
Squaring Numbers that end in 5 132
Multiplying by Numbers whose First Figures are the Same and whose Last Figures Add up to 10, 100 etc 133
Rounding 135 WORKSHEET 3
24) Algebra 138
Using Letters 138
Brackets 140
Factorising 141
Substitution 142
Multiple Substitutions 144
25) Area 145
Rectangles and Squares 145
Irregular Shapes 147
Composite Shapes 149
Parallelograms 150
Triangles 152
Units of Area 154
26) Volume 155
Capacity 157
27) Planets 160
Planet Sizes 160
Orbits of Planets 161
REVISION Test 6
Contents for Book 2
1) Nikhilam Multiplication 1
Other Bases 3
Numbers Above the Base 4
Proportionately 5
Squaring Numbers Near a Base 6
Multiplying Numbers Near Different Bases 7
A Summary 8
2) Doubling and Halving 9
Multiplying by 5, 50, 25 10
Dividing by 5, 50, 25 11
3) Fractions 13
Top-Heavy Fractions 13
Finding a Fraction of a Number 14
Equivalent Fractions 16
Simplifying Fractions 17
Finding what Fraction One Number is of Another 18
4) Spirals 20
The Isosceles Right-Angled Triangle 21
Spirals from Squares 22
An Infinite Sum 23
5) Decimals and Fractions 24
Converting Decimals to Fractions 24
Changing Fractions to Decimals 25
Comparing Fractions and Decimals 27
Recurring Decimals 27
Block Recurrers 28
Reciprocals 30
Prime Factors 31
REVISION Test 7
6) The Arithmetic of Bar Numbers 33
Addition and Subtraction 33
A Game 34 GAME
Applications in Algebra 36
Multiplication and Division 37
Brackets 38
Nikhilam Multiplication again 39
7) General Multiplication 41
Multiplying 3-Figure Numbers 45
Moving Multiplier 46
Written Calculations 47
8) Algebraic Multiplication 49
Multiplying and Dividing Single Terms 49
Multiplying Binomials 51
Factorising Quadratic Expressions 54
9) Squaring 55
The Duplex 55
Number Splitting 56
Algebraic Squaring 57
REVISION Test 8
10) Sequences 61
The nth Term 62
Sequences involving Fractions 65
11) Probability 66
Certain, Impossible and Uncertain 66
A Game 67 GAME
Scale of Probabilities 67
Possible Outcomes 68
Theoretical Probabilities 70
12) Equations 71
One Step Equations 71
Two-Step Equations 73
Three-step Equations 76
13) Angles and Triangles 78
Measuring Angles 78
Drawing Angles 81
Angles in a Triangle 82
Constructing Triangles 83
Isosceles Triangles 85
Calculating Angles 87
REVISION Test 9
14) Percentages 88
Converting a Percentage to a Fraction 88
Converting a Fraction to a Percentage 89
Important Percentages 90
Converting between Percentages, Fractions and Decimals 90
Finding a Percentage of a Quantity 91
Forming a Percentage 92
15) Forming Equations 94
16) 2 and 3 Dimensional Shapes 97
Dimensions 97
2-Dimensional Shapes 98
3-Dimensional Shapes 99
17) Straight Line Graphs 103
Sloping Lines 105
Gradient Squares 108
Gradients: By the Completion of the Triangle 109
Gradient and Intercept 109
Alternative Method using Substitution 111
18) Charts 113
Frequency Tables 113
Line Charts and Dot Diagrams 114
Bar Charts 115
Pictograms 116
Averages and Spread 117
REVISION Test 10
19) Divisibility 121
Divisibility by 8 122
Higher Divisors 123
By Addition and By Subtraction 123
Cancelling Zeros 125
Divisibility by 11 127
20) Further Multiplication 128
Multiplying 3-figure Numbers 128
From Right to Left 130
4-Figure Numbers 131
Squaring 132
Special Numbers 133
Proportionately 134
Disguises 135
21) Combining Fractions 137
Addition and Subtraction 137
Comparing Fractions 140
A simplification 140
Multiplication and Division 141
A Simplifying Device 143
22) Arithmetical Operations 144
The Order of Operations 144
Two Puzzles 146
Brackets 146
Cancelling 148
Some Revision of Decimals 149
Multplication of Decimals 149
Decimal Division 151
23) Special Division 152
A Short Cut 153
Divisor Above a Base Number 156
REVISION Test 11
24) Percentage Changes 158
Increasing by 10% 159
Percentages Increases 160
Percentage Reductions 161
25) Transformations 163
Enlargement 163
Reflection 166
Rotation 168
Translation 171
26) Constructions 174
Bisecting a Line 174
Bisecting an Angle 176
Constructing Angles 177
The Golden Rectangle 178
The Pentagram 181
27) Bearings 183
Parallel Lines 183
Scale Drawing 186
Bearings 187
Using Bearings 188
REVISION Test 12
Contents for Book 3
1) Recurring Decimals 1
Recurring Decimal Patterns 3 WORKSHEET 4
A Different Denominator 4
A Short Cut 4
Proportionately 6
2) Formulae 7
Rearranging Formulae 10
Applications 11
(a+b)(a-b) 12
3) Squares, Cubes and Roots 14
Square Roots of Perfect Squares 15
Cubing (using Proportionately) 18
Cube Roots of Perfect Cubes 22
4) Straight Division 23
Short Division Digression 24
Longer Numbers 26
Decimalising the Remainder 27
Negative Flag Number 28
5) Equations 31
Some Variations 31
Fractional Answers 32
Two x Terms 33
Forming Equations 35
Quadratic Equations 37
REVISION Test 13
6) Polygons 38
Angle Sum of Polygons 38
Regular Polygons 41
Other Polygon Angles 43
Tessellations 44 WORKSHEET 5
Semi-Regular Tessellations 45
7) Similar Triangles 48
Congruent Figures 56
8) The Musical Scale 57
The Notes of the Octave 58 WORKSHEET 6
The True or Natural Scale 60
Ratios of Notes 62
Another Mode 63
The Ghandava Veda Scale 64
9) Nets and Networks 65
Cuboids and Prisms 66
Pyramids 68
Euler's Formula 69
A Puzzle 71
Networks 71
REVISION Test 14
10) Probability 75
Theoretical Probabilities 75
Relative Frequency 76
Mutually Exclusive Events 78
Expected Number 79
Combined Events 81
11) π 83
To Estimate pi 84
Circumference of a Circle 85
Area of a Circle 86
12) Volumes of Prisms & Pyramids 89
Area of a Trapezium 89
Volume of a Prism 91 WORKSHEET 8
Volume of a Pyramid 93
13) Parabolic Curves 95
A Third Method- By Alternate Elimination and Retention 97
Parabolas 98
14) Sequences 101
Square Numbers 102
Cube Numbers 103
Triangular Numbers 104
A Power Sequence 104
Games and Puzzles 105
The Fibonacci Sequence 108
A Summary 109
REVISION Test 15
15) Loci 110
The Cycloid 112
The Conic Sections 115 WORKSHEET 9
16) Motion 118
Speed 118
Travel Graphs 121
Change of Speed 122
Conversion Graphs 123
17) Auxiliary Fractions 126
Auxiliary Fractions- First Type 126
Denominators Ending in 8, 7, 6 127
Auxiliary Fractions- Second Type 129
Working 2, 3 etc Figures at a TIme 131
18) Surveys 133
Frequency Polygons 133
Pie Charts 134
Grouping Data 136
Designing a Questionnaire 137
Scatter Diagrams 138
Correlation 140
REVISION Test 16
19) Vectors 143
Another Notation 145
Adding Vectors 147
20) Simultaneous Equations 150
Proportionately 153
Solution by Substitution 155
Two Special Types 156
21) Divisibility and Simple Osculators 157
The Ekadhika 157
Osculation 158
Testing Longer Numbers 160
Other Divisors 162
The Negative Osculator 163
22) Square Roots 166
Squaring 166
First Steps 167
Square Root of a Perfect Square 168
General Square Roots 171
REVISION Test 17
23) Quadratic Equations 175
Factorising Quadratic Expressions 176
Solving Quadratic Equations by Factorisation 179
Differential Calculus 180
24) Pythagoras'Theorem 184
An Algebraic Formula 186
Problems 189
The Theorem in Reverse 191
25) Triples 192
Equal Triples 193
Types of Number 194
Perfect Triples 194
The Angle in a Triple 195
Triples for 45°, 30° and 60° 196
Generating Perfect Triples 197
Finding the Code Numbers of a Triple 198
26) Proof 200
Angle Sum of a Triangle 200
Five Proofs using Areas 201
Even and Odd Numbers 203
Representing Numbers Algebaically 205
Nikhilam Multiplication 206
Perfect Triples 207
Quadratic Equations 208
27) Coordinate Geometry 209
Distance Between Two Points 209
Gradient of a Line Joining Two Points 211
Equation of a Line Through Two Given Points 212
Intersection of Two Lines 213
REVISION Test 18
Contents for Teacher's Guide
Introduction 1
Unified Field Chart 6
Summary of Book 1 7
Notes on Chapters 8
Mental Tests and Answers 18
Extension Sheets: Summary 32
Extension Sheets 33
Extension Sheets Answers 69
Revision Tests: Mental Tests and Answers 72
Revision Tests and Answers 73
Games, Pattern Cards, Worksheets 1, 2 and 3 85
Unified Field Chart 98
Summary of Book 2 99
Notes on Chapters 101
Mental Tests and Answers 103
Extension Sheets: Summary 117
Extension Sheets 119
Extension Sheets Answers 151
Revision Tests: Mental Tests and Answers 153
Revision Tests and Answers 155
Games 169
Unified Field Chart 176
Summary of Book 3 177
Notes on Chapters 178
Mental Tests and Answers 183
Extension Sheets: Summary 197
Extension Sheets 198
Extension Sheets Answers 229
Revision Tests: Mental Tests and Answers 231
Revision Tests and Answers 233
Worksheets 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 247


text:
The China Meteorological Administration renewed its blue alert for a cold wave on Tuesday, forecasting big temperature drops and gales across large parts of the country. National Meteorological Center forecasts 6 to 10 degrees Celsius temperature drops in parts of southern China from Tuesday to Thursday.
As a result, some areas in Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Fujian could see their temperatures slashed by more than 18 degrees Celsius, according to the center. The Bohai Strait, most areas of the Yellow Sea, and the northwestern part of the East China Sea are expected to see gales. As a precaution against the temperature change, the center advised the public to reinforce makeshift and tall structures against strong winds.


text:
Imagine your future is a Trade Technology Career- SRJC's Industrial & Trade Tech Program can start you on the path to a rewarding and higher paying career, or, prepare you for transfer to a four-year university.
SRJC's Industrial & Trade Technology Department includes several vocational programs: Advanced Manufacturing (AMT), Advanced Transportation (ATL), Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning And Refrigeration (HVACR) and Welding. All of these programs are supported by local industry and provide program graduates with the skills needed for successful employment.
Vocational education is evolving due to technological advances, certification, competency, and licensing standards required in the industries. We strive to provide the most current educational training and services to both new students and those returning to college to maintain an edge in the workplace.
Outstanding employment opportunities await graduates of our vocational programs. Locally and nationwide there is a high demand for trained, skilled technicians. Let SRJC open the door to the career of your choice.
Top training at affordable costs- SRJC's Industrial and Trade Technology Programs has top notch instructors and a curriculum designed so students can earn either a Certificate of Completion or and Associate in Science Degree in your chosen field in two years.
Scholarship and financial aid- Thousands of dollars are awarded each year to SRJC students. Many industry scholarships are available to full and part-time students who establish a good academic record and demonstrate a commitment to a career. SRJC also provides generous financial aid programs for those who qualify.