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Spring is in the air. Here in Banff, that means spring snow flurries and big, wet, fluffy flakes falling from the sky. We have received a ridiculous amount of snow throughout the month of March, but finally I can smell something different in the air. The end is within sight! It's spring, glorious spring that I sense around the corner.
Oh, springtime.
It's the season of poetry. The season of change, of renewal, of growth, of love! In Banff, it's also the season of sun, rain, snow, ice, mud and wildlife.
Giant Wolf prints - Sunday's run |
I returned from this evening's run, soaking wet after experiencing "4 Seasons in a run". It started blissfully calm, then the wind picked up, then it snowed, then it snowed hard and blew harder: wet/sticky flakes stuck to my clothing, my hair and found there way up my nose and down my throat. And then the sun came out. And then I got wet, sweaty and soaked. I love Springtime in Banff!
The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.
Robert Frost: Two Tramps in Mud Time
Mount Rundle - Monday Night Run |
I was feeling like Superwoman last month and enjoying a steady diet of adventures: lots of long runs, ski touring and power-hiking up some of my backyard mountains. You know, normal Leslie stuff. Then, after a hard training week - my poor tight body seized up and those tight muscles pulled my back all out of whack. So, I've been a bit out of sorts. I've since got the back sorted and have been working on my flexibility like crazy. I Was Gone, But Now I Am Found. Yip! I'm glad to be back in the saddle.
Johnson Lake - Sunday's Run |
The weekend that I put my back out, I read The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo in 3 days. Good Grief. I needed that distraction to maintain some form of sanity. I couldn't sit down, so the computer was out. So, I read the book kneeling, standing, lying and pacing. I walked, I stretched, I soaked in the hot tub and I tried to get some mobility into my stiff spine. It was good to take some days off. I relaxed. I read. I medicated. ;) I went to the chiropractor. And eventually, I got myself moving comfortably again. It was a good reminder that I do need to take better care of little ol' me. It's time to look at what ails me and fix it so I can feel like Superwoman again!
Spring on the back deck |
Also, for the past 6 weeks Keith has been nursing a busted shoulder. My back woes were nothing compared to his injury. While we were last ski touring, he hit a rock under the snow and took a tumble. He ended up fracturing his shoulder and tearing a bunch of soft tissue. He's been a very good patient. Much better than me, truth be told!
Danni and Stormy are Superwomen! |
Danni, Amber and Lora: The C-Team in the house. |
But I digress.
The one thing that seems to constantly be on my brain these days, is the Pacific Crest Trail.
Oh, sweet trail of my dreams.
Normally, I'm the least obsessive person that I know but the PCT has taken hold and won't let go. It's out of control. It's side effect of pouring over information on the computer for hours on end. I've got books, too. There's even a PCT Class of 2012 group of Facebook, so I can connect with all of the other crazy kids out there who are hiking the this year. There's a lot of good energy out there and most of these people are hitting the trail soon and have already done all of their preparations. Me, I'm still researching and have been obsessing over such questions as: What to eat? What to wear? Glasses or Contacts? Daily distance? Resupply? These are the questions I ask myself.
Maybe that is why my back is so sore: too much time on the computer!
I've never been much of a planner or organizer, so it's all a little overwhelming. I keep thinking to myself, Really? Can't I just throw a bunch of shit in my pack and start walking? Resupply along the way? I'm very tempted to just do just this, it appeals to my Path Of Least Resistance nature. I'm also a simple, uncomplicated creature and truthfully, this method might just work well for me. As my friend Kendra likes to say: "What Could Go Wrong?!?"
Apart from sitting at the computer too much, the research phase has actually been a lot of fun. It's got me excited. I bought some new gear. Did I mention, I'm EXCITED? But, I'm trying not to get too excited and focus on one thing at a time. I've got lots of other things to look forward and spring is coming. Like spring, adventure is in the air. :)
I'm taking a short road trip with Angela and Iris to Washington to run the Yakima Skyline 50k. I'm looking forward to an excuse to travel, run, make new running friends and see new trails. Actually, Yakima Canyon is not totally new for me. Last year, I had a misadventure there while on holidays with Keith which involved a lot of mud, zero visibility, my Hoka's being sucked off my feet, 7 hours of running and Keith accidentally going 4 x 4'ing in the mini-van. It was a fun day. I'm looking forward to a return visit, with hopefully some better spring weather. The Mini-van is demanding a return visit.
The Bow Valley and Mount Rundle |
In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the change of season and breathing in all of that good fresh air. Spring is a magical time of year in Banff.
A bluebird comes tenderly up to alight
And turns to the wind to unruffle a plume
His song so pitched as not to excite
A single flower as yet to bloom.
It is snowing a flake; and he half knew
Winter was only playing possum.
Except in color he isn't blue,
But he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom.
And turns to the wind to unruffle a plume
His song so pitched as not to excite
A single flower as yet to bloom.
It is snowing a flake; and he half knew
Winter was only playing possum.
Except in color he isn't blue,
But he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom.
Robert Frost: Two Tramps in Mud Time


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Venezuela's Opec Stand is a Win for Climate Change Campaigners
Environmentalists seem to realize that they have some stake in a fight such as the Ecuador–Chevron lawsuit. That case, which Chevron has recently moved to an international arbitration panel in an attempt to avoid a multibillion penalty handed down by Ecuadorian courts, is about whether a multinational oil corporation will have to pay damages for pollution for which it is responsible. Most environmentalists figure that would be a good thing.
But what about fights between multinational oil giants and the governments of oil-producing states over control of resources? Do people who care about the environment and climate change have a stake in these battles? It appears that they do, but most have not yet noticed it.
In December of last year, Exxon Mobil won a judgment against the government of Venezuela for assets the government had nationalized in 2007. The award was actually a victory for the government of Venezuela: Exxon had sued for $12bn, but won only $908m. After subtracting $160m the court said was owed to Venezuela, Exxon ended up with a $748m judgment. The ruling was made by an arbitration panel of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). On 15 February, Venezuela paid Exxon $250m and announced that the case was settled.
Some background: the dispute arose out of the Venezuelan government's decision to take a majority stake in oil extraction, in accordance with its law. In 2005, it entered into negotiations with foreign oil companies to purchase enough of their assets in order to achieve a majority stake. Almost all the negotiations, with dozens of companies, were successful – with only Exxon and ConocoPhillips going to arbitration (Conoco is still negotiating).
Exxon adopted a strategy of trying to make an example of Venezuela, so that no other government would try to mess with it. Exxon went to European courts to freeze $12bn of Venezuelan assets, but this was reversed within a matter of weeks. They also went to arbitration at the ICC, and at the World Bank's arbitration panel, ICSID (the latter case still pending). But the ICC gave Exxon much less than the Venezuelan government had reportedly offered it in negotiations.
The decision was noted with intense interests among oil industry specialists – and was seen by developing country governments as an important victory for the developing world – but didn't get much attention in the mass media. This is a big precedent – and, of course, there are other countries that will continue to have disputes with oil companies over control of resources.
Why should environmentalists care? Well, for those of us who would like to slow the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, we would like to keep more oil in the ground. That is one reason why most environmentalists would support a carbon tax, which would raise the price of carbon emissions. The main reason that Venezuela insisted on a majority share in these oil projects is that it wants to control production. Venezuela is a member of Opec, and abides by the organization's quotas. If you want to reduce climate disruption, then you have a big interest in whether governments that want to reduce oil production are able to do so.
A higher price of oil due to reduced production by oil-producing countries reduces oil consumption in the same way that a carbon tax does. It also encourages the development of non-fossil fuel alternatives, including solar and wind technologies, which become more economically feasible at higher oil prices. (Of course, higher prices do also encourage non-Opec countries to produce more oil, and Opec members to cheat on the cartel, and a carbon tax would not have that same effect; but this would be an argument for a stronger and more inclusive Opec.)
On the other side, our adversaries have always had the goal of flooding the world with cheap oil, which would greatly accelerate global warming. Before Hugo Chávez was elected in Venezuela, the national oil company (PDVSA) shared that goal with Washington. But as soon as he was elected, Chávez successfully pushed Opec to reduce production, moving oil prices off their deep low point of $11 a barrel in 1998. The US State Department, in a 2002 report (pdf), admitted that the US government "provided training, institution-building, and other support to individuals and organizations understood to be actively involved" in the military coup that briefly overthrew Venezuela's elected government that year. That same report also stated that one of the main reasons for Washington's "displeasure" with Chávez was "his involvement in the affairs of the Venezuelan oil company and the potential impact of that on oil prices".
Of course, it is not politically popular for anyone to appear pro-Opec in the rich, oil-consuming countries. But most environmentalists are willing to support policies, such as a carbon tax, that are not necessarily going to win elections this year. So they should also recognize that they have an immediate stake in the producing states' struggle with multinational companies over control of fossil fuel and other natural resources.

subset: commoncrawl


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Archive for February, 2010
Nature Photography
Capturing Thailand's magnificent wildlife on camera
White-bellied sea eagle in Lam Son National Park
Thailand's breathtaking wildlife and forests has evolved over millions of years into some of the most beautiful and interesting in the world. Photographing these ecosystems and rare animals such as the tiger, leopard, gaur, banteng, wild water buffalo, elephant, Siamese crocodile and tapir, plus a multitude of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects in their natural habitats is a daunting task to say the least. A multitude of different aspects contribute to the difficult and sometimes dangerous pastime of wildlife photography.
Male green peafowl in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
Probably the most prominent is the ever-increasing human population growth and social ills like poaching and encroachment in the protected areas. This alone has taken its toll and the country's wild flora and fauna, from under the sea to the highest mountains, are in serious jeopardy with a slim chance of recovery to the magnificent ecosystems of the past. Present low densities of wildlife depleted over years of intrusion into the forests before any form of protection was implemented is probably the number one reason why so many areas are wiped out and now completely devoid of wild animals.
Pied kingfishers landing on a tree branch in Phetchaburi province
Before World War Two, 75 percent of the nation was still covered in pristine forests. Barely 30 percent survives today and many of these are seriously degraded. Even in 1962 when Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's first protected area was established, many forests still retained their excellent biodiversity with abundant wildlife and plant species but that quickly changed. Continuing human pressure on the natural resources, and the Asian traditional medicine and black market wildlife trade are directly responsible for a disappearing natural world. Climate change and deforestation has also had a serious affect. Subsequently, wildlife has now become scarce and extremely elusive, and difficult to photograph. With no subjects, it can be a tough assignment to capture wild creatures that were once quite common in their natural habitats. However, not all is lost and the present generation should take a positive interest in preserving what remains of the Kingdom's natural treasures before it is too late.
Yellow-cheeked tit with a moth in Doi Inthanon National Park
Nature photography is one of the best ways to record and promote wildlife conservation awareness. Wildlife photographs create a mental image that can improve one's love and understanding of the wonderful world of nature. Many people in the cities have a misconception that Thailand's wildlife and forests has disappeared into the depths of extinction. This is unfortunate and the populace need constant education and re-education plus media projection to uplift their knowledge that many species and habitats do in fact, still survive.
Spider in early morning sunlight in Chiang Mai province
Knowing where to go with the right equipment is just part of the process. Many other aspects are also important and I hope to pass on some of my experiences to our readers that have a desire to try their hand at nature photography. More and more people have taken-up the game and it has now become quite a popular pastime among the younger generation. Men and women of all ages are now seen with cameras chasing down butterflies to elephants, which is inspiring.
Butterfly in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary
Fortunately, some protected areas still remain fairly intact with good densities of flora and fauna. Prey species are abundant and carnivores thrive. These havens for wildlife include time honored Huai Kha Khaeng and Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuaries, Thailand's top nature reserve and World Heritage Site. Due to its size (6,427 square kilometers) and biodiversity, this site is absolutely the best Asian wildlife habitat left in the Kingdom.
Sunset in Laem Phak Bia, Phetchaburi province
Kaeng Krachan and Kui Buri national parks further south along the western border with Burma still retain very good ecosystems with a good abundance of creatures including the mighty tiger just waiting to be photographed. Other protected areas worth visiting include: Khao Yai, Thap Lan, Pang Sida, Nam Nao national parks, and Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in the northeast; Khao Ang Rue Nai and Khao Soi Dow wildlife sanctuaries in the east; Sai Yok, Erawan, Sri Nakarin, Khao Sam Roi Yot national parks, and Umphang and Salak Phra wildlife sanctuaries in the west; Khao Sok, Sri Phangnga national parks, and Khlong Saeng and Khlong Nakha wildlife sanctuaries in the south to mention just a few. There are 14 major forest complexes throughout the Kingdom with over 260 protected areas to choose from.
Asian wild dog by the Phetchaburi River
Thailand's coastline along the Gulf of Siam extends for 1,840 kilometers, and the Andaman Sea for 1, 037 kilometers, and has hundreds of offshore islands that have birds and mammals but because they are surrounded by water, access by local fisherman has taken its toll. The islands of Tarutao in Satun province and Phi Phi in Krabi are in national parks, and are great photographic havens. Underwater photographing in some places is still excellent.
Pig-tailed macaque in Khao Yai National Park
Worth mentioning are Hala Bala and Budo wildlife sanctuaries and several national parks in the Deep South. However, due to on-going extremist instability in the southern region, it is not recommended to visit these areas until peace returns. This of course is unfortunate as some of these forests are very rich in plant and animal life. When it was quiet, some Thai photographers did record the amazing wildlife here, especially the hornbills.
Burmese striped Squirrel in Kaeng Krachan
Finally, in the north there are a multitude of important mountain forests like Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's highest peak. Others include: Doi Lang, Huai Nam Dang national parks, and Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in Chiang Mai province plus Nong Bong Khai Non-hunting Area in Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai province. All are great birding sites. In the Central Plains, Bueng Boraphet Non-hunting Area is good for migratory and water birds.
Common crane at Nong Bong Kai Non-hunting Area
Entry into the national parks and non-hunting areas is quite straightforward where permission is obtained at the gate or from the Department of National Parks (DNP) in Bangkok. However, due to the importance of protecting wildlife sanctuaries as natural biospheres, entry is strictly limited and must be obtained from the Wildlife Conservation Division at DNP.
Sunset at Chiang Saen Lake, Chiang Rai province
Wildlife photography is a difficult hobby or profession to become proficient. Years of trial and error, lost shots, bad exposure, out of focus, no wildlife subjects, equipment failure, expense and many other intricate problems make things difficult for the nature photographer. Travel plans and permission to enter the protected areas is a hurdle that must be crossed before any photographs can be taken. But where there is a will, there is a way and the difficult can be overcome.
Goral kid in Doi Inthanon National Park
Being at the right place at the right time with the right equipment using good technique is the secret to capturing wildlife on film and digital. Patience is one of the most important attributes and knowledge of the subject is also very significant. The most important aspect however, is respect for Mother Nature and all her wonderful creatures. No photograph is worth endangering any animal or plant and this should be everyone's number one priority while in the wilderness.
Kiew Mae Pan cliff in Doi Inthanon
Cameras and lenses in the professional range are expensive but lower-end equipment can also provide very satisfactory results with the right combination, and at a much lower cost. Modern technology like the Digital Single Lens Reflex (D-SLR) is now the ultimate and both Nikon and Canon remain the most popular brands for variety from beginner to professional with cameras, lenses, flash and other equipment.
Banded kingfisher in Khao Yai National Park
Other camera manufacturers such as Sony (Minolta lens mount), Fuji, Pentax, Olympus, Sigma and Leica also offer very good equipment. Aftermarket lenses from Sigma, Tamron and Tokina cost less than the top name brands but also produce very good photographs. Camera brand and model depends on one's budget, entry level and determination to photograph nature. Second hand camera equipment in good working condition is just another way to lower cost.
Muntjac buck posing in Khao Yai
Birds and mammals usually require a long lens from 300mm to 600mm, but if flowers and insects are the subject, a macro lens in 50mm to 200mm with close focusing capability is the ticket. If panorama landscapes and view shots are on the menu, a wide-angle in 10mm to 28mm lens is perfect in a zoom or fixed configuration.
Bird-eating spider in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary
The lens is the most important piece of equipment in wildlife photography. The bigger the glass the better the photo quality as it allows more light to pass through, hence a superior picture. Probably the best lens for all round work on mammals and birds is a 400mm f/2.8 from both Nikon and Canon. The front element is 140 mm (5.5 inches) across. They are expensive and quite heavy when a professional body is attached. But where picture quality counts, there is no better lens then this one for wildlife photographers.
Hog deer buck on the run in Phu Khieo
Photographic technique is still very important but the 400mm f/2.8 due to its large aperture and lens really shine in low-light situations that often occur in the forests of Thailand. Other long-range telephoto lenses are the 500mm f/4 and 600mm f/4. Another very good lens is the 300mm f/2.8 with a 1.4 tele-converter for 420mm with a slight drop in f-stop and cost.
Sambar yearling back lit in Phu Khieo
However, all the above lens and camera combinations are heavy and require the use of a tripod and shutter release for tack sharp photos. Zoom lenses in the 70-200mm f/2.8 or the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 range also make a good choice for the beginner, casual to serious amateur, or the professional. They are other older manual fixed lenses that work well with a modern D-SLR.
Oriental darter in Phu Khieo
Old-time film (negative and slide transparency) in 35mm and 120mm is still a viable format for wildlife photographers. I know a few people who refuse to jump over to the digital age and they are quite happy shooting film. But most photographers I know now use modern digital cameras due to many reasons, primarily instant feedback of the image and data allowing one to capture great photographs without any delay or chemical processing. Everything is now done on a computer including exposure and retouching to printing one's images. Digital has made life much easier for the wildlife, bird or nature photographer.
Lesser whistling ducks in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary
While in the field during the day, I usually set my camera to Aperture Priority (Auto) at 200-400 ISO and 5.6f-stop for most photographs. I also set my camera with –7 (minus compensation) but will adjust accordingly depending on the situation. An important fact with the modern D-SLR when using a long telephoto lens is the ISO can be adjusted to gain shutter speed equivalent to the length of the lens. As an example: when using a 400mm lens, shutter speed should be at least 400 and above with an appropriate aperture. If the speed is lower, the chances of a blurred image are greater.However, it is possible to get acceptable images at a slower speed with the right technique.
Bull elephant at a waterhole in Khao Ang Rue Nai
In the very early morning or late afternoon, I usually bump the ISO up to 800-1000 and open the aperture to its widest. However, digital noise or grain will be a problem for some cameras at this ISO setting. Experiment in different light conditions and find out what works best for your camera and lens combination. I recently photographed a tiger in very dark conditions in late afternoon with my 400mm set at 2.8f-stop and the ISO at 800. The shutter speed was about 250 but by using a heavy tripod and shutter release cable, I got some amazing images of the big cat as he walked through the mineral lick.
Siamese Fireback pheasant in Khao Ang Rue Nai
Macro or close-up photography is probably the easiest to get started in. Equipment cost is lower and subject matter from insects to flowers is everywhere. It does however take proper technique to get sharp images with good depth of field and lighting. A tripod is very important but when one is impractical, handholding the camera and using a flash can produce excellent images. It can become addictive and I really enjoy shooting the little creatures. I normally keep one of my cameras and macro lens ready, especially when traveling in a protected area.
Phu Khieo enscarpment panorama comprising of four photographs
Landscape photography is challenging and again, equipment cost is lower. A tripod and shutter release is also a must for sharp photos, and a spirit level for a flat horizon. It is now possible to stitch several photographs together in the computer and make a panorama or sweeping wide image. When shooting panoramas, set the camera on manual and take a quick series of shots to keep the exposure consistent. Make sure the tripod head is level and swing from left to right while capturing the scene. Another photographic aspect is abstract in nature. The subject matter is unlimited and only limited by one's imagination.
Wild water buffalo bull in Huai Kha Khaeng
Proper exposure is critical to shooting excellent images. The camera's light meter working together with the lens aperture and the shutter determine the finale exposure. However, there are times when the camera needs help to get the best exposure, so you must learn to do that too. Shoot in the RAW file format if possible when using a D-SLR for the best quality image during computer post-processing. Read books and learn about photographic techniques, and how to use computer programs like Photoshop and Lightroom to out-put your nature images.
Great hornbill flying off a fruit tree in Kaeng Krachan
The use of a photo-blind is very important for some species of mammal and bird as most have a circle of fear or certain distance, and they will flee instantly when they see or are disturbed by humans. The blind must be completely sealed off so animals cannot see clear through as any movement in the hide will destroy your chances of getting the shot. One must be absolutely quiet and maintain noise to an absolute minimum.
Indochinese tiger camera-trapped in Kaeng Krachan
Human scent is another problem for wildlife photographers after the large mammals. I usually use gaur or buffalo droppings, when available, and place a plastic bag full of the stuff in front of the blind to cover my scent. It truly works and I have photographed many large animals like elephant, gaur, banteng and wild water buffalo this way. The use of a photo-blind is important as is self-control and patience, which comes with practice and a desire to get a photograph of nature's creatures.
Rainbow over the Phetchaburi River in Kaeng Krachan
Wildlife encounters are usually brief and one must always be ready with camera in hand ready to shoot on a moments' notice. No two days are alike in the natural world and opportunities must be taken then and there if one is to be a successful wildlife photographer. Finally, share your photographs with as many people as possible. It is the least one can do in order to spread a message that Mother Nature is truly worth saving for the future.
Indochinese tiger in Huai Kha Khaeng


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Ben Franklin's Fame: Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon
November 30, 2006
Ben Franklin's Fame is the sixth book in the Blast to the Past series, by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon. This is an early chapter book with occasional illustrations, perfect for 7 to 10-year-olds who like reading about historical events. The premise is that an elementary school teacher, Mr. C, has created a time machine.
"It looks like a hand-held video game with a larger screen and extra buttons. When we put a special cartridge in the back, a glowing green hole opens and we jump through time. Taking the cartridge out brings us home again." (Prologue)
Here "us" refers to a group of four third-graders, Abigail, Jacob, Zach, and Bo, who help out Mr. C by going back in time and troubleshooting for him. You see, an evil former assistant of Mr. C's (Babs Magee) is using her own version of the time machine to go back in time. Babs hopes to convince some famous historical figure to give up on his or her own dreams, so that she can take their place, and be famous. The kids have to go back and talk with the figure that she's targeting each week, and try to convince whoever it is not to give up. They call themselves The History Club.
In this episode, Babs has her sights set on Ben Franklin. In fact, as the story begins, Ben has already disappeared from the history books, to be replaced by a picture of Babs. The History Club has to go back to several points in time, until they can find the place where Babs influenced Ben Franklin to step off of his own path, so that she could step in. They start out at the signing of the Constitution, and move backwards through other milestones in Franklin's life.
Each of the four kids has some special skill that he or she brings to the mission. Zack can relate to Ben Franklin because he, too, has trouble deciding what he wants to do with his life, and wants to keep trying out new things. Jacob needs his computer skills to tweak the time machine, and allow the kids to visit the different time periods and places in Franklin's life. Bo's encyclopedic knowledge about Franklin guides the kids to where they go. And Abigail is the documenter of incidents and follower of clues, who comes up with a critical brainstorm near the end of the book.
This book is a lot of fun. It's filled with facts about Ben Franklin's life that I think kids will find interesting, like the fact that he had 16 older brothers and sisters, and once invented a pair of swim fins for his hands. The description of the signing of the Constitution is both reverential and humorous. For example:
"We knew our time was ticking away, but not one of us could move. We were frozen to the floor. This was it! The signing of the Declaration of Independence." (Chapter 4)
And when Thomas Jefferson is inadvertently knocked to the floor by Zack, Bo steps in.
"Bo knew that this was his chance to help his hero. He straightened his backbone, puffed out his chest, and stepped forward, hand outstretched. Thomas Jefferson took Bo's hand and pulled himself off the floor. "Thank you, son," he said to Bo.
Bo didn't reply. He just stared down at his hand. He was still gripping Thomas Jefferson's fingers. I had to give Bo a little reminder to drop Thomas Jefferson's hand. "Time to go," I whispered.
Bo let go of the future third president of the United States and said softly, "You're welcome." (Chapter 4)
I think that the book strikes a nice balance between making the kids realistic and making them excited about history. I'm interested to go back and read an earlier book in the series in which they apparently meet Walt Disney. What kid wouldn't be excited about that?
In this particular story, I liked the parallels between Zack's inability to focus on a single passion, and Ben Franklin's success in many different fields. I think that a book like this gives kids permission to be third graders, and try out different things, without having to always know exactly where they plan to end up.
Oh, there are some questions I bring to the logic behind the story, reading with my adult eyes (Why can they only time travel on Mondays? Why is Babs limited to visiting a particular list of historical figures in order, that Mr. C can track? If Ben Franklin really ceased to exist as a famous figure at the beginning of the book, why could they all remember him?). But I think that questions like this are inevitable in any time travel story, and it could be that some of these points were clarified in the earlier books. And it doesn't matter anyway. I think that kids will find the story fun, and will pick up some miscellaneous tidbits about history, too. There's a nice letter to readers at the end that clarifies what is fact and what is fiction in the story, and a timeline showing the major events in Ben Franklin's life. I definitely recommend this series for the early elementary school set.
Book: Ben Franklin's Fame: Blast to the Past
Author: Stacia Deutsch & Rhody Cohon
Publisher: Aladdin
Original Publication Date: September 2006
Pages: 128
Age Range: 7 to 10
Source of Book: Review copy from Rhody Cohon
© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.


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Apple will soon shut down its music-focused social network Ping in favor of partnerships with Facebook and Twitter, according to an online report. Since its launch with iTunes 10 about 21 months ago, Ping has failed to gain much traction with users. Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted as much earlier in June during an interview at the D10 conference saying that most Apple customers have decided not to "put a lot of energy" into Ping.
At the time, Cook suggested Apple had yet to decide on Ping's fate, but now All Things D reports that Ping will be shut down with the next major release of iTunes–presumably iTunes 11. The social network is still operational in iTunes 10.6.3, the latest version of Apple's multimedia software, and in iOS 5. But Ping in the developer beta of iOS 6 is currently non-functional; it's not clear if that's a sign of Ping's imminent demise or if Ping will start working in iOS 6 at a later date.
Ping was supposed to be Apple's big push into social with a music-based network built into iTunes on the desktop and iOS devices. Ping allowed you to follow updates from your favorite artists, broadcast your iTunes purchases to friends, share samples of songs you like, and find concert information about artists you follow. Apple described Ping as "Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes."
Ping gained more than 1 million users less than 48 hours after launching, but users soon balked at the service's commercial nature. Apple's social network was more about discovering music to purchase on iTunes than creating digital communities around artists or finding users with like-minded musical tastes. Ping also lacked basic social networking features like a way to broadcast status updates or post interesting third-party content such as a Rolling Stone interview with your favorite band.
Pingville: Social Networking Ghost Town
Ping is still running, but artists and users appear to have largely abandoned it. Of the several artists I follow on Ping such as Coldplay Gorillaz, Ingrid Michaelson, Jack Johnson, Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, and U2, only Katy Perry and Coldplay are still posting to the social network with any regularity. And their connection to Ping is lackluster at best since both are just feeding official tweets into iTunes and doing little else. Lady GaGa, who maintains a massive following on Facebook and was featured during Ping's 2010 introduction, has been MIA on the iTunes-based social network for more than a year.
Apple and Social: The Second Coming
The news that Ping may soon be gone is not surprising and is probably for the best. Instead of trying to grow its own network, Apple has smartly decided to tap into the power of Facebook and Twitter. The company in 2011 launched iOS 5 with built-in Twitter integration to easily post content such as photos and Web pages to the popular service.
With iOS 6 and OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for the Mac, Apple is getting even more social with both Twitter and Facebook integration built right into the new operating systems. Mac users will be able to easily share content on both social networks, receive Facebook and Twitter notifications automatically, and your Facebook friends can be added to your contacts. You will be able to use similar features in iOS 6, and the iPhone 4S and third-generation iPad will also offer Siri functionality to update your Facebook or Twitter status.
So don't despair Ping fans, your social network may soon be gone, but Apple's products are about to get even friendlier.


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Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea)
(Not available for viewing)
Furniture designer Henri Mignet's ultra-light Pou du Ciel (Flying Flea) tandem-wing light plane created considerable controversy in the 1930's. It was built in vast numbers all over the world in more than 300 variants, with a variety of engines. Unstable flying characteristics initially gave it a well-deserved bad reputation.
Development has continued since World War 2, the basic post war single seat version being the HM-290 with a 25 hp Poinsard engine. Recently developed models seat two, and are powered by a 100 hp engine.
It is a very simple design with the rudder providing directional control and by the upper wing pivoting up and down for vertical control. Mignet claimed that anyone who could build a packing case and drive a car could fly a Flying Flea.
The Museum's aircraft was built locally by John Sayle in 1962. Due to the unavailability of European engines, John substituted a 75 hp McCulloch engine that was readily available as surplus from target drones.
John displayed RFH at airshows and generated considerable interest in the type. It made at least one flight, which resulted in damage to the aircraft. RFH was repaired and donated to the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association who in turn donated it to the Canadian Museum of Flight in 1982.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices climbed at more than double the pace of incomes in January, a trend that could ultimately create affordability challenges for buyers.
The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 5.7 percent from a year earlier, a slight increase from the 5.6 percent annual increase in December. Home values have risen 2.6 times faster than average hourly wages, which have improved just 2.2 percent. Supplies of homes on the market have fueled much of the price growth, as low mortgage rates and steady hiring have sparked demand.
Denver, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle each registered double-digit annual price increases.
The index remains more than 11 percent below its mid-2006 peak, when subprime mortgages pushed the market to heights that triggered the Great Recession in late 2007.


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March 8, 2022
One of the best ways to differentiate yourself from your competition in the house cleaning services world is to stay on top of trends.
Trends aren't just superficial fads to follow; they carry the latest innovation in business technology, which can help you cut down on costs, serve your home cleaning services clients better, and take better care of your employees.
Don't get stuck behind – here's what's happening in the world of residential cleaning!
This post is an offshoot from How To Run A Home Cleaning Services Business. Read the main post to learn everything you need to know!
By default, a home cleaning business doesn't seem like it would lend itself to automation, does it?
However, thanks to innovations in business management software, there are growing opportunities to automate redundant and time-consuming tasks in this field.
Automation can help home cleaning services business owners to:
So what can you automate in your house cleaning service business?
Every automated task is one less problem to worry about, which gives you more headspace to scale your business and grow your profits.
With more and more people launching their own businesses, it's becoming increasingly important to provide great customer support.
If your clients aren't satisfied, they can easily find another home cleaning service business with a simple Google search. Don't give them a reason to do so!
There's no excuse for it to be difficult to reach when your clients need your support. There are a variety of customer support tools that can help you create a client care system and implement:
Cost pressure is a pervasive component of service-based businesses. To run a home cleaning business, you need to spend money on products, equipment, and labour – there's no way around that.
But there are ways to reduce cost pressure and ensure every resource is spent wisely.
For instance, innovations in technology now allow you to manage your time more effectively than traditional methods of business management.
More and more home cleaning service businesses are jumping onto this trend – and as a result, they're cutting down on the time it takes to perform business management tasks.
If you're running your house cleaning services business on your own, you are your own bottleneck. Eventually, you will need to hire and train employees if you want to scale.
That doesn't mean the process needs to be difficult and expensive.
Of course, hiring and training home cleaning employees can never come at zero cost, but the more you can streamline the process, the more you can reduce those expenses and improve your bottom line.
For example, why not build an online training system to avoid repeating the same training over and over again?
If you're training new employees yourself, this will save you countless hours. On the other hand, if you are outsourcing this training, creating a reusable online training system will help you cut down on hiring expenses.
Several cleaning products containing volatile organic compounds can be harmful to the environment in a variety of ways.
However, there is no need to harm the environment when greener solutions are now on the market.
Going green can benefit your business three-fold:
Keeping your business at the brink of innovation not only helps you do business better and more effectively, but it can also improve your reputation and generate more revenue in the long run.
Need help getting up to speed on the technology you need to level up your home cleaning services? Sign up for a free trial of PodiumIO and gain access to an all-in-1 business solution that is consistently ahead of the game.


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TORONTO (AP) -- Private equity firm Cerberus is interested in taking a look at BlackBerry's books as a prelude to a possible bid for the troubled smartphone company.
Cerberus is looking to sign a confidentiality agreement with BlackBerry that would allow it to access the company's private information, an official familiar with the situation said Wednesday on condition of anonymity. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the private talks.
BlackBerry announced last month that Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. signed a letter of intent that "contemplates" buying BlackBerry for $9 a share, or $4.7 billion. Fairfax, BlackBerry's largest shareholder, is trying to attract other investors. It's unclear whether Cerebus is seeking to join Fairfax's deal or bid for Blackberry on its own. BlackBerry is allowed to look for other buyers while Fairfax conducts six weeks of due diligence.
BlackBerry shares were down four percent Wednesday before the Wall Street Journal first reported news of interest from Cerberus. The shares finished up four cents, or half a percent, closing at $7.96.
Blackberry's stock has recently traded lower than Fairfax's tentative offer on fears that the deal won't go through or that the final price will end up much lower.
The BlackBerry phone, pioneered in 1999, was once the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers. But then came a new generation of competing smartphones, starting with Apple's iPhone in 2007. The BlackBerry suddenly looked ancient. Although BlackBerry was once Canada's most valuable company with a market value of $83 billion in June 2008, the stock has plummeted, giving it a market value of $4.1 billion, short of Fairfax's offer.
Cerberus has a history of investing in troubled companies, including Chrysler and Air Canada.
Blackberry declined to confirm Cerberus' interest.
"We do not intend to disclose further developments with the respect to the process until we approve a specific transaction or otherwise conclude the review of strategic alternatives," BlackBerry spokeswoman Lisette Kwong said in an email.
The Canadian company last month announced plans to lay off 40 percent of its global workforce.


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pamtohdiff - Man Page
convert PAM image to horizontal difference image
pamtohdiff [pamfile] [-verbose]
This program is part of Netpbm(1).
pamtohdiff takes a PAM (or PNM) image as input and produces a horizontal difference image version of it as output. A horizontal difference image is one where the samples in each row indicate the difference between the sample value in the corresponding sample of the input image and the sample directly above it (in the previous row) in the input image. The horizontal difference image has the property that if a row of the original image is identical to the row above it over a long extent, the corresponding row in the horizontal difference image will contain all zeroes. That makes it compress better than the original image.
Because the horizontal difference samples can be positive or negative, but PAM samples are unsigned integers, the samples in the horizontal difference image PAM are defined to be the difference modulus the range of the input (maxval + 1). This doesn't lose any information, as it might seem, because: of the two differences that could result in the same pamtohdiff output value (e.g. if maxval is 99, +20 and -80 would both result in "20" in the output), only one is possible in context and the other would result, when reconstructing the original image, in a value less than 0 or greater than maxval.
Before the modulus operation, the values pamtohdiff computes are also biased by half the maxval. This is to make the results easier to inspect visually. Because of the bias, you can display the pamtohdiff output as if it were a PNM image. As long as none of your differences are more than half the maxval, large negative differences show up as dark spots, smaller negative differences are lighter, zero differences are medium intensity, and positive differences are light. If you want this to work even for images that have differences that exceed half the maxval, just use ppmdim 50 on the original image. To avoid losing information, though, do a pamdepth to double the maxval first.
Note that because of the transfer function just described, a difference of zero, which is most common, is represented by a PAM sample value in the output of one half the maxval.
The output PAM has a tuple type of "hdiff".
You can use hdifftopam to recover the original image from a horizontal difference image PAM.
In addition to the options common to all programs based on libnetpbm (most notably -quiet, see Common Options ), pamtohdiff recognizes the following command line option:
- -verbose
Currently no effect. This may change in future versions.
See Also
Bryan Henderson
Document Source
This manual page was generated by the Netpbm tool 'makeman' from HTML source. The master documentation is at


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text:
Mark Zuckerberg just became $7.2 billion poorer after a flurry of companies pulled advertising from Facebook Inc.'s network.
Shares of the social media company fell 8.3% on Friday, the most in three months, after Unilever, one of the world's largest advertisers, joined other brands in boycotting ads on the social network. Unilever said it would stop spending money with Facebook's properties this year.
The share-price drop eliminated $56 billion from Facebook's market value and pushed Zuckerberg's net worth down to $82.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
That also moved the Facebook chief executive officer down one notch to fourth place, overtaken by Louis Vuitton boss Bernard Arnault, who was elevated to one of the world's three richest people along with Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.
Companies from Verizon Communications Inc. to Hershey Co. have also stopped social media ads after critics said that Facebook has failed to sufficiently police hate speech and disinformation on the platform. Coca-Cola Co. said it would pause all paid advertising on all social media platforms for at least 30 days.
Zuckerberg responded Friday to the growing criticism about misinformation on the site, announcing the company would label all voting-related posts with a link encouraging users to look at its new voter information hub.
Facebook also expanded its definition of prohibited hate speech, adding a clause saying no adverts will be allowed if they label another demographic as dangerous.
"There are no exceptions for politicians in any of the policies I'm announcing here today," Zuckerberg said.


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New Delhi: The 42nd GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing here today. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Thakur besides Finance Ministers of States & UTs and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance& States/ UTs.
The GST Council has made the following recommendations:
1. Levy of Compensation Cess to be extended beyond the transition period of five years i.e. beyond June, 2022, for such period as may be required to meet the revenue gap. Further details to be worked out.
2. Centre is releasing compensation of ₹ 20,000 crore to States today towards loss of revenue during 2020-21 and an amount of about ₹ 25,000 crore towards IGST of 2017-18 by next week.
3. Enhancement in features of return filing:In its 39th Meeting held in March 2020, the Council had recommendedan incremental approach to incorporate features of the new return system in the present familiar GSTR-1/3B scheme. Various enhancements have since been made available on the GST Common Portal. With a view to further enhance Ease of Doing Business and improve the compliance experience, the Council has approved the future roadmap for return filing under GST. The approved frameworkaims to simplify return filing and further reduce the taxpayer's compliance burden in this regard significantly, such that the timely furnishing of details of outward supplies (GSTR-1) by a taxpayer and his suppliers would –(i) allow him to view the ITC available in his electronic credit ledger from all sources i.e. domestic supplies, imports and payments on reverse charge etc. prior to the due date for payment of tax, and (ii) enable the system to auto-populate return (GSTR-3B)through the data filed by the taxpayer and all his suppliers. In other words, the timely filing of GSTR-1 statement alone would be sufficient as the return in FORM GSTR-3B would get auto prepared on the common portal.To this end the Council recommended / decided the following:
a. Due date of furnishing quarterly GSTR-1 by quarterly taxpayers to be revised to 13th of the month succeeding the quarterw.e.f. 01.1.2021;
b. Roadmap for auto-generation of GSTR-3B from GSTR-1s by:
i. Auto-population of liability from own GSTR-1 w.e.f. 01.01.2021; and
ii. Auto-population of input tax credit from suppliers' GSTR-1s through the newly developed facility in FORM GSTR-2B for monthly filers w.e.f. 01.01.2021 and for quarterly filers w.e.f. 01.04.2021;
c. In order to ensure auto population of ITC and liability in GSTR 3B as detailed above, FORM GSTR 1would be mandatorily required to be filed before FORM GSTR3Bw.e.f. 01.04.2021.
d. The present GSTR-1/3B return filing system to be extended till 31.03.2021 and the GST laws to be amended to make the GSTR-1/3B return filing system as the default return filing system.
4. As a further step towards reducing the compliance burden particularly on the small taxpayers having aggregate annual turnover < Rs. 5 cr., the Council's earlier recommendation of allowing filing of returns on a quarterly basis with monthly payments by such taxpayers to be implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2021. Such quarterly taxpayers would, for the first two months of the quarter, have an option to pay 35% of the net cash tax liability of the last quarter using an auto generated challan.
5. Revised Requirement of declaring HSN for goods and SAC for services in invoices and in FORM GSTR-1w.e.f. 01.04.2021 as under:
a. HSN/SAC at 6 digits for supplies of both goods and services for taxpayers with aggregate annual turnover above Rs. 5 crores;
b. HSN/SAC at 4 digits for B2B supplies of both goods and services for taxpayers with aggregate annual turnover upto Rs. 5 crores;
c. Government to have power to notify 8 digit HSN on notified class of supplies by all taxpayers.
6. Amendment to the CGST Rules: Variousamendments in the CGST Rules and FORMS have been recommended which includes provision for furnishing of Nil FORM CMP-08 through SMS.
7. Refund to be paid/disbursed in a validated bank account linked with the PAN &Aadhaar of the registrant w.e.f. 01.01.2021.
8. To encourage domestic launching of satellites particularly by young start-ups, the satellite launch services supplied by ISRO, Antrix Corporation Ltd. and NSIL would be exempted.


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From: Dan Stevens
Date: Thursday 8:30 am
It was never meant to be like this.
You fell in love with your dog from the first moment he bounced into your life—but you never thought he would be such a handful.
If he's not ripping your shoes to shreds, barking all night long or fighting other dogs in the neighbourhood, he's out there creating a mess somewhere and generally being a chaotic handful.
It's exhausting to deal with—and no matter what you try, your dog won't listen! And despite being a holy terror, he knows how to give you those big ole puppy dog eyes that make you forget everything....
...until the next time he's up all night barking. Oh boy, what are you going to do? You've tried everything—but Fido's immune to just about everything you've tried—and it's starting to look like the end of the road.
The good news is that you're not alone!
My story is just like yours. I'm a dog person, and I thought I could control all dogs—hey, it's my job!—but I had a dog, Barrett, who was all the above and much, much more. In short, he was a terror.
It drove me insane!
If I, a professional dog trainer, had this huge problem with Barrett—what hope has a regular person with other commitments got?
So what are you doing wrong?
Why won't your pet listen to you?
How much more frustration and how many more ruined pairs of shoes can you take?
Behind all these feelings lies the feeling that maybe it's simply not worth it. Maybe it's time to give up—as much as you love your dog, it's too much hassle...
While I was researching, it struck me that for all the information that was out there, none of it was simple.
None of it gave me the step-by-step guidance I was seeking. None of it told me where to start and solve the one problem in my life: stopping my dog's behaviour problems.
Not anymore. With Secrets to Dog Training, I put together a comprehensive system that you can put in action right now and solve all of your dog's behaviour problems.
The best thing?
You can do this in just a few minutes daily!
I'll say one thing. This isn't a complicated book. Why should it be?
Dog training isn't complicated.
This is a book that gives you a system that professional trainers use to ensure that your chaotic four-legged friend is soon the most perfectly behaved good boy you've ever known. All you need to know is the secrets.
Like most of the best secrets, these are obvious once you realize what they are.
This ebook delivers the secrets that top trainers use daily right into your hands—these secrets are the ones that you can use RIGHT NOW to help Fido become the good boy you always know he could be.
This is a comprehensive book with over 250 pages that tells you everything you need to know and do to get your dog on the path to being obedient and happy!
Understand Your Dog and why they behave the way they do. Become a real-life dog whisperer and know intimately what your pet is thinking—and how to command him
Caring For Your Dog's Wellbeing is a vital step: a happy, content and well-nourished dog wants to please its owners and is happy and settled
Training shows your dog who's boss—and help them to feel happy and secure in their place with proven training methods that work and ensure your commands are obeyed every single time!
Information is power and you can never have too much of it—which is why I'm also giving you these four amazing bonuses.
Over 220,000 dog owners vouch for Secrets to Dog Training—just like you they love their dogs and want them to have a great life as part of a happy family.
It's not always convenient to read...and that's why I'm including this audiobook absolutely free. Listen on the go, anytime and anyplace!
There is no substitute for seeing how these amazing commands and methods work in action. You'll see exactly how you need to act and you'll see how experts handle problem behaviour issues and nip them in the bud.
If you want your dog to listen, you need to become The Leader of the Pack. This eBook shows you how to become the "alpha dog" in your household and ensure that your dog looks up to you and obeys you at all times while giving you a stunning insight into your dog's psychology!
You have clear goals, right? You know what you want: a happy, well-behaved dog that listens.
But life's not always that simple: despite having this absolute goldmine of information, things can still go awry. That's normal.
If for whatever reason, you're having the smallest issue implementing the training methods here, you can enjoy unlimited free consultations with me and other professional dog trainers to get to the root of the problem.
I want to help you to help your dog—and I want to make it a fun, easy journey with your dog—and I want to help you in any way possible.
If you're ready to stop disciplining your pet with no well-behaved doggie to show for it...
If you're ready to try a training system that actually works ...
If you're ready to reach out to your dog and communicate with him efficiently while having fun and not tearing your hair out...
You won't need to hire a "professional dog trainer"...
You won't need to spend hours looking up these techniques
You don't even need to worry about losing your dog or your hard-earned cash!
Secrets to Dog Training Course Module |
Value |
Main Secrets to Dog Training book |
$67 |
Secrets to Dog Training video program |
$97 |
Unlimited online consultations in the members area |
$197 |
Secrets to becoming the alpha dog |
$20 |
Secrets to Dog Training Audio book |
$67 |
Other bonus books |
$90 |
Total Value: |
$538.00!!! |
If you cannot—for any reason—get your dog successfully trained using Secrets to Dog Training system and all the bonus information that I'm giving you for free within 60 days, I demand that you fire me as your dog trainer advisor and insist I give you a full refund for wasting your time!
It's only fair.
However, I am so confident that the techniques and methods I outline in Secrets of Dog Training will be successful that you'll instead be contacting me with a testimonial telling exactly how much you have accomplished having found and used my dog training.
YES! I want to order my Secrets to Dog Training course right now!
I understand I will be billed $39.95 today to receive immediate access to Secrets to Dog Training
I will receive instant access to all books, audio and video which I can read and watch 24/7 from anywhere in the world
I can get a refund for any reason—or no reason whatsoever within the next 60 days. Just mail me at email@example.com
Please note: Once you have ordered you do not have to download everything straight away. You will be given a password to re-enter the Members Area at any time.
P.S. Secrets to Dog Training is a single payment membership site. Give your dog the training he so desperately needs today and enjoy learning top techniques that just work.
P.P.S. After signing up, your account will be instantly activated—you can start downloading everything right away, and you'll also be granted instant access to our Members Only Area.


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5 Best Facilities to Work as an Occupational Therapist
By Susan - Monday 23 Mar 9:15 am
Upon deciding to become an occupational therapist, and upon qualification, you are faced with the biggest challenge of your career, and that is first of all deciding where to work and then receiving employment upon making your decision.
Occupational therapists are widely well received and there is a definite demand for those that are efficient and suitably qualified, so finding a job should not be a problem. The big question you need to ask yourself is: Where to apply? If you are not going to set up a private practice, which is probably recommended for University leavers, then you have a wide range of occupational therapy and medical institutions to choose from. From nursing homes to hospitals, to corporate companies that have in house occupational therapists. The choices are numerous and equally as rewarding. Close investigation should be paid to each and every job opportunity and all the benefits that come with each position.
You could choose to join somebody else's private practice as an occupational therapist, and at the same time learn about the successful running of your own business and all the involvement that goes hand in hand with it.
Nursing homes and hospitals can offer competitive salaries for occupational therapists as well as the added incentive of being able to improve the lives of those that are residents in these homes and health care facilities.
On a corporate scale, there are many businesses that have in house occupational therapists to assist in maintaining high levels of productivity amongst employees and to enable for any care that is required on an occupational therapy level to be easily accessible. Working as an occupational therapist for corporate giants will also entitle you to impressive employment packages and commendable salaries and bonuses. Some of the companies that you might have heard of that offer exceptional employment for occupational therapists are:
- Citibank
- Microsoft
- Dell
- Deloitte
- Sears
When it comes to occupational therapist employment positions, there are a few institutions that stand out from the rest. They offer exceptional service to clients and are nationally recognized as leaders in the field of occupational therapy. Not only do they treat their clients with distinction, but their employees are also given the best possible salaries, benefits and are treated with the respect that they have earned. As occupational therapists, it is essential for your employer to recognize the importance of your job and this is most appreciated when it is well received.
The following companies are among those that fit this standard according to occupational therapists:
- Tri-State Hand and Occupational Therapy, Inc. located in Cumberland, MD
- The Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre, a non-profit hospital and research centre in Ohio
- Communicative Health Care Associates Inc, to be found in Boston, Massachusetts
- Wee Care Therapy, Ltd, Dyer, Indiana
Burger Rehabilitation Systems Inc, that have many clinics situated in the greater Sacramento area, Northern California
Posted in: Job Search, Therapy Jobs
Leave a Reply


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4 Bundles With 4x4 Transparent Lace Closure Water Wave Brazilian 100% Virgin Human Hair
4 Bundles With 4x4 Transparent Lace Closure Water Wave Brazilian 100% Virgin Human Hair
4 Bundles With 4x4 Transparent Lace Closure Water Wave Virgin Human Hair
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Size Chart
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These guidelines have been issued as a guide only. If you have a specific sizing question or would like more information, please contact us.
All of our wigs are standard medium, it is 22.5 inches. They are adjustable straps. Normally they can match the head of most people. If you have a very large/small head you can leave a note in your order for that, but it needs a $10 fee for the additional service (we will send you an invoice for the $10), and it needs 2 more days to be shipped out
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How To Care For ItHow To Wash Your Wig
Washing your curly wig regularly helps keep it looking as fresh and natural as possible.
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Static, wearing wig in a wrong method, store wig in a wrong place. It's not strange that wigs will get tangled.
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Every year for the past decade, iconic musical leader and silver fox Craig Taubman has published a sweet little book of inspirations prior to the Jewish High Holy Days. Jewels of Elul is meant to help get us in the mindset of praying, giving and repenting during the extra-cleansing month before Rosh Hashanah, which I find super helpful because the whole New Year thing sort of sneaks up on me. (Maybe that's why I always burn the honeycakes.)
I had the honor of writing a jewel for the very first book (linked here, or scroll to the bottom of this post) and have delighted ever since in the sweet shorts contributed by many wise souls, Jewish and not. (Hey there, Dalai Lama, hey…)
For round 11, Craig asked his legions of fans and followers to submit their favorites, a precious necklace of crowd-sourced gems, if you will: Jewels of Elul: Ten Years of Inspiration is available starting this Friday, Aug. 15, otherwise known as the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul, and will come right to your inbox if you like.
The 29 shorts feature Elie Weisel, Anita Diamant (The Red Tent, y'all!), a whole bunch of rabbis including David Wolpe and Rami Shapiro, Pastor Rick Warren, brilliant feminist filmmaker Jill Soloway, Mary J. Blige, Arnold Schwarzenegger…and me.
Floored, y'all. Just floored. I can barely believe anyone takes the time to read anything I write, and I'm so humbled and honored that this tiny piece of my family's experience has touched so many:
Learning How to Dance by Jessica Leigh Lebos
My mother-in-law's mind is full of holes. She spends most of the day in a placid fog, a place where there's nothing left to do but walk the dog and wonder what's for dinner. Every time it's chicken, she rolls her eyes and kvetches, "We had this last night!" No one argues with her anymore.The situation is undeniably tragic. She's only in her early 60's, has already suffered through cancer and a mastectomy, and her dementia has been diagnosed incurable.
Yet, her disease has set into motion a certain regeneration: Both of her sons have returned to Savannah to help care for her and to assume their roles as men alongside their father, who is finally learning to treat them like the mensches she raised. Her grandchildren — my kids — sit beside her and sing with gusto while she plunks out the same damn Disney song on the piano: "The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the appleseed…"
Whenever there's music, she remembers exactly what to do. She snaps, she swings her arms; she's particularly fond of jazz hands. This is endearing when "Funkytown" comes on the radio and she shimmies around the living room, less so when we're in line at the grocery store and she sashays off in the direction of someone's cell phone. My husband and I have made a family pact to never let her dance alone. Often we resemble a circus without a tent, a multi-generational band of spastic merrymakers getting down to the sound of the garbage compactor. Helping someone keep her grace doesn't always look graceful.
We hold faith that God loves us so, and yet still, still, life hurts. Sometimes healing comes from accepting what is. Hope is learning how to dance with it.
Reading this a decade later, I tear up all over again. My mother-in-law, bless her, still lives and breathes, but the dementia has rendered her bedridden and speechless now for many years.
May all of us dance as long as we possibly can, and may the New Year bring us peace.
Thank you, Craig and Co., and I hope y'all will cherish these jewels as we head into 5776.


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Tumia LAC
Product Code: T12860-29
Product Code: T12860-29
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Suitable for
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The Kent State University Alumni Association honors three full-time faculty members who consistently demonstrate outstanding skills in classroom teaching every year with the Distinguished Teaching Award. This year, Associate Professor of Chemistry Alexander Seed, Ph.D., was one of the recipients of the prestigious award.
"We live in a world of six billion people where knowledgebase is massive and diverse," says Jonathan Tietz, a doctoral student in organic chemistry/chemical biology. "As such, narrow experts are to be expected. So when an educator can surpass typecast roles and function with diversity, it's a very refreshing and valuable thing."
Tietz is talking specifically about Seed.
Originally from England, Seed has been teaching organic chemistry at Kent State since 1996. Seed regularly taught undergraduate organic teaching labs while studying for his doctorate in England. During that time he realized he enjoyed talking with students and explaining theories.
"For me, teaching is both a privilege and a great responsibility, and I am in a position where I can have a profound impact on the life of a student," Seed says. "Winning the Distinguished Teaching Award was a great honor for me, and I am incredibly grateful to my students and the Alumni Association for this recognition. I feel incredibly humbled by this award and I am delighted to have been selected together with Drs. Don-John Dugas and Cynthia Barb."
Organic chemistry has a reputation as a very difficult class. Seed is forced into a balancing act, which he navigates flawlessly.
"Organic chemistry is considered by students to be one of the most challenging areas," Seed says. "My undergraduate courses are often taken by nonmajors, and the first thing I need to do is to engage them and impress upon them the relevance of the subject in their own lives."
His students appreciate his genuine dedication to them.
"Dr. Seed is one of the best professors I have learned from thus far in my college education, both in and out of the classroom," says Hannah Newhouse, senior psychology/pre-medical major. "I found that I appreciated Dr. Seed's teaching gift even more significantly after my time in his classroom had ended."
Seed also realizes that it is equally important to show students that he is approachable and fair so that students feel comfortable enough to come to his office for help. Students have access to 10 years' worth of exams to better help them prepare for tests.
"By devoting my time and patience, I can convince students that I am wholly committed to their learning and success, and this is critical if I am to succeed as a teacher," Seed says. "My job as a teacher is not simply to impart knowledge to my students, but to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that will serve students in other courses and their future careers, and to instill in them a lifelong love of learning."
Seed's colleagues praise his style of teaching and dedication to the education of Kent State students.
"I have watched him develop into a superb teacher who cares deeply about the learning of his students and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his students reach their goals," says Paul Sampson, professor of chemistry.


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We're now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. City Year AmeriCorps members play a critical role in helping students reconnect with their school community, re-engage in their learning and recover from learning loss as a result of COVID-19.
About City Year Providence
City Year, an AmeriCorps program, helps students across schools succeed. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide support to students, classrooms and the whole school, helping to ensure that students in systematically under-resourced schools receive a high-quality education that prepares them with the skills and mindset to thrive and contribute to their community.
A 2015 study shows that schools that partner with City Year were up to two-to-three times more likely to improve on math and English assessments. City Year is funded by AmeriCorps, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year partners with public schools in 29 communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa.
COVID-19 Notice
Our number one priority is the health and safety of our employees and AmeriCorps members and their families; our students and school partners; and the community at large from COVID-19. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for service – all AmeriCorps members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 19, 2021 or by your start date if after November 19, 2021. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or one dose of a single-dose vaccination (Johnson & Johnson).
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or sincerely-held religious beliefs, we will consider requests for reasonable accommodation consistent with our policy, and where we are able to provide such accommodations without undue hardship to the organization pursuant to applicable law. Notwithstanding any language herein, City Year will comply with any state, local, or federal orders, statutes, or regulations that may conflict with the COVID-19 vaccination policy.
What You'll Do
As a First Year City Year AmeriCorps member, your service will focus on coaching and mentoring elementary, middle and/or high school students who are struggling in school. You will help these students earn academic success, improve their attendance, learn social-emotional skills and develop positive behaviors at school. You will plan and monitor individual student progress and also work with teachers on whole class instruction, breakout spaces and other in-class student assistance. With your team, you will support afterschool programming and develop whole school activities to promote a positive school climate and encourage schoolwide student engagement.
Your Role and Responsibilities
As a valued member of the school community you will share in some or all of the responsibilities listed below. If you have not done all these things, that is okay. We don't expect you to come in knowing how to do them and provide 2-4 weeks of training at the beginning of the year to support you. Plus, you will work with partner teachers and school staff every step of the way. If you're interested in the role, we' d love for you to apply so we can learn a bit more about why this might be the right opportunity for you!
To support academic coaching and social emotional development for students, you will:
- Work with identified students 1:1 and in small groups
- Create and implement literacy and/or math focused class content
- Develop literacy and/or math skills varying learning activities by student level, answering student questions and encouraging assignment completion
- Create and implement a behavior management system for students
- Help build a safe, healthy and supportive classroom environment
- Develop social-emotional skills throughout their day, using proven strategies of learning, practicing, reflection and repetition
- Provide attendance coaching, including placing calls to the homes of students to recognize performance, understand attendance issues, and assess technology needs, as applicable
- Collaborate with teachers and team members to collect, record, analyze and monitor individual student progress, participating in facilitated reviews of student data collected and entered into City Year's student data system
- Create an engaging classroom space in collaboration with the teacher, such as leading warm-ups and energizers, creating aspirational or instruction content related posters and videos, etc.
- Represent City Year and AmeriCorps by wearing a City Year-issued uniform, including City Year and AmeriCorps logos.
Support Whole School initiatives to increase engagement with students and their families:
- Support start of day and transition times, such as hallways, recess, morning greeting and end of day departures for students
- Support and/or conduct extended day and virtual programming for students before, during and after school including, but not limited to, academic enrichment and intervention, homework support, recreation and student clubs, service learning, and leadership development
- Provide drop-in or enrollment-based homework assistance to individual students outside of school hours in the schoolhouse or virtually
- Create, support and/or co-lead events or programs that recognize and appreciate student growth and/or achievement in math, literacy, attendance, and behavior
- Engage students, parents/guardians, and/or community members in education or social issues through member led themed events at schools or on virtual platforms
Other Initiatives:
- Lead or participate in occasional physical service projects and school community events that engage other volunteers, which may take place during nights or weekends
- Engage in remote service opportunities coordinated by the local AmeriCorps State Commission with approval from the Impact Manager (supervisor)
- Create team resources such as documenting best practices, creating demonstration videos and video testimonials, creating lesson plans, and designing service projects
Note: As appropriate to the activity and at the direction of the school district, school partner, and/or City Year your service, training and development may be delivered in-person or through a virtual platform such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Classrooms.
City Year Benefits
You will receive:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Curalinc Employee Assistance Program
- Talkspace Therapy Program
- Benefit Advocate Center
- Bi-weekly living stipend
- Workers' compensation
- Relocation support
- Benefits specific to City Year location
- City Year Alumni Association
- University partnerships and scholarships
- Career partners
- City Year / AmeriCorps Uniform parts
AmeriCorps and other federally-issued Benefits
You will be eligible for:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
- Child care benefits paid by AmeriCorps
- Loan forbearance and interest accrual payments for qualified student loans
- Time accrual toward the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, (see Reduction of Education Costs)
- Income-based Loan Repayment Plan (IBR)
Eligibility Requirements
City Year AmeriCorps members are as diverse a group as the communities we serve. We're looking for you if you want to build yourself, give back and are ready to change the world.
Applicants must:
- Be between 17-25 years old
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
- Authorization to work in the U.S. is not sufficient
- Those with DACA status unfortunately are not eligible at this time
- Have a GED or high school diploma, some college experience, or college degree
- Have served no more than three terms in an AmeriCorps state or national program*
- Agree to complete a background check
- Be able to begin City Year by July/August 1, 2022**
How to Apply
Visit the City Year application and submit your completed application online. For more information on how to apply, visit: https://www.cityyear.org/apply-now/.
I'm ready to apply!
Great! We're excited to get to work with you and support our communities together while you learn valuable skills for the future.
Start application Connect with a recruiter Learn moreSubmitting an application of any kind can be a stressful process. Here at City Year, we want to make our application process as smooth as possible.
See the checklistRelated articles
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Read more about Furnishing your apartment on a budget: Tips for AmeriCorps membersCity Year's "Why We Matter" podcast explores the vital role of education and mentorship in empowering young people. Through interviews...
Read more about Why City Year's student success coach network mattersRead more and check the City Year blog to learn the soft skills our corps members gain through a year...
Read more about Top five skills employers want you to have todayA new research project, the City Year Alumni Bridging Study, explores how the national service program AmeriCorps prepares young people...
Read more about National service builds critical workforce, civic and life skills* Individuals may receive no more than the value of two full time education awards. If you have received the equivalent of more than one full time education award, you are eligible to serve and receive a discounted award.
** Certain locations have earlier start dates. Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more details.


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Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 - (ON SALE)
Sirrus X is your ticket to riding more, and to places you never imagined possible. It's a comfortable, capable, "let's do stuff" kind of bike that will inspire you to ride more than you ever have before. With bigger, confidence inspiring tires, a slightly more upright riding position, a super intuitive one-by drivetrain, and plenty of mounts for racks and fenders —it's more than just a solid partner on pavement. Sirrus X is a dialed option when it's time to hit some gravel. We've also equipped every Sirrus X with next-level comfort from our scientifically tested and ergonomically engineered Shared Platform Body Geometry saddle, handgrips, and pedals.
- Lightweight A1 Alloy frame with clean internal cable routing, 3.5lbs (1.7kg) lighter than our Crosstrail Hydro model.
- Maxiumum control through hyper intuitive shifting with 1x8 wide range gearing, and powerful hydraulic disc brakes.
- Float over rough stuff with fast rolling Specialized Pathfinder 42c tires featuring proprietary Gripton rubber compound.


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Previous Lesson
Complete and Continue
Managing Stress, Anxiety, & Depression
Welcome & Introduction
How This Course Works (12:59)
Inspirational Poster: Experience Peace
Congratulations! (0:08)
Understanding Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Understanding Stress, Anxiety, and Depression (30:53)
Inspirational Poster: Depression
How Do You Respond To Stress?
Inspirational Poster: Stress
Congratulations! (0:21)
Coping Techniques
Tiny Steps To Big Change (34:51)
Which Coping Style Is Yours?
5-Step Process To Reduce Tech-Based Stress
10 Ways To Relax That Require 10 Minutes Or Less
Inspirational Poster: Managing Stress
Congratulations! (13:34)
Emotion Regulation Skills
Hacks For Daily Optimism (48:13)
Limiting Negative Self-Talk Tips
6 Ways To Cultivate Optimism
5 Smart, Effective Ways To Protect Yourself From Negativity
Positive Affirmations
12 Ways To Improve Your Mood In Less Than A Minute
Inspirational Poster: Happiness
Congratulations! (60:05)
Self-Care and Self-Compassion (25:10)
Self-Care Checklist
Limiting Negative Self-Talk
Inspirational Poster: Self-Care
Congratulations! (1:02)
Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation Techniques (37:37)
Meditation Checklist
The Power of Meditation
Inspirational Poster: Meditation
What Is Mindfulness? (32:40)
Common Mindfulness Questions
Inspirational Poster: Mindfulness
Congratulations! (0:18)
Exercise For Inner & Outer Strength
The Body & Mind Connection (19:50)
Inspirational Poster: The Body/Mind Connection
Congratulations! (1:53)
The Importance of Setting Boundaries
Setting Boundaries For Yourself (7:52)
Creating Healthy Boundaries
Inspirational Poster: Setting Boundaries
Congratulations! (14:09)
Building A Support System
The Importance Of Building A Supportive Community (46:27)
Living With Social Anxiety
Inspirational Poster: We Need Each Other
Congratulations! (0:29)
Understanding Resilience
Understanding Resilience (17:49)
Inspirational Poster: Resilience
Congratulations! (0:12)
Taking Responsibility
Taking Responsibility For Your Life (20:16)
Inspirational Poster
Congratulations! (0:16)
BONUS: Managing Work Stress and Anxiety
Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression at Work (22:52)
7 Ways To Combat Work Stress
Reduce Stress Through Better Time Management
Stress Tips For Moms
Finding Happiness At Work
Inspirational Poster: Work
Congratulations! (0:15)
Completion Certificate (2:12)
Gift Certificate
Get Paid To Share
Get Paid To Share Your Experience! (5:50)
Inspirational Poster
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Inspirational Poster: Setting Boundaries
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Ancestry Insider covers conference live
On Thursday I tried a grand experiment: live coverage of the BYU Family History Technology Workshop using Twitter. If I can figure out an easy way to do it, I may re-post the coverage here on my blog. But I may not, so if you're interested in hearing what transpired at the BYU Family History Technology Workshop yesterday (Thursday, 12 March 2009), visit my Twitter site, http://twitter.com/ancestryinsider . I've got the most comprehensive coverage of this event that you can find anywhere. Period.
But be warned: the posts are in reverse chronological order! That means you need to start at the bottom of the page and work your way to the top. How confusing! Once you finish a page, click the "Newer" link at the bottom of the page to move to the next page in order.
Here are some starting points from which to work backwards. Click on the link and scan through the tweets until you find the one shown in the list below. Then work your way towards the top of the page and click Newer. On each newer page, start reading at the bottom.
- BYU Family History Technology Workshop 2009 is underway
- Session one is "Handwritten Records: Reading & Recognition." I also look forward with great hope to this session each year.
- John Finlay, Neumont University is the Demonstration Chair. In the next 15 minutes, 15 people will give 2 minutes to introduce their demo
- Session 2 is titled "Data Extraction & Organization." The session chair is Anne Roach, FamilySearch. All presenters are students
- I'm off to lunch now. I won't be taking my computer, so you're not going to get a report of the lunch speaker.
- Session 3. "Record Digitization & Application Interfaces". Session Chair: Bob Leaman, ASU.
- Back from break. Panel Discussion session, "Conversion and Publication of Genealogical Content: Best Practices, Challenges and Unmet Needs"
To see if I'm covering live the Friday-Saturday BYU Conference on Computerized Family History and Genealogy, check http://twitter.com/ancestryinsider . No promises.
Why Mormons Build Temples
At the FamilySearch developers conference on Wednesday, Gordon Clarke mentioned the July 2008 milestone when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorsed mainstream use of the Internet. (See "Blogging at FamilySearch.") Even as Clarke spoke, the Church posted a new video on YouTube that might be of interest to those curious about the Church's intense interest in genealogy.
Given recent public interest in the Church's temples, "Why Mormons Build Temples" gives 3 minutes of information from the Church's point of view. If media coverage has made you curious, I recommend watching the video not so much for the information as for the mood, images and music because these reflect the deep feelings of reverence Church members feel towards temples, which is something you won't get from outside media coverage.


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What do you call somebody who asks a question and somebody who answers a question?
I have exhausted the thesaurus with no real luck... any ideas?
EDIT: It is in reference to this - or any other StackExchange - site in which the question is posed by X and answer is submitted by Y.
EDIT 2: In the context of StackExchange, and the fact I need plurality (something I neglected to mention oooops), I have decided upon "Posters" and "Respondents"...