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Actors Training Center Comedy Troupe Presents ONE WORD: PUNCTUATION POINT! Tonight
The Actors Training Center Comedy Troupe at The Wilmette Theatre, announces that they will perform the original sketch comedy production "ONE WORD: PUNCTUATION POINT!" tonight, May 8 at 7:00 p.m. at The Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway in Chicago; and Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at The Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave. The group will also tour seven Chicagoland schools this spring.
"ONE WORD: PUNCTUATION POINT!" is a hilarious production written and performed by teenage comedians, hot off their recent performances at the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. The ATC Comedy Troupe has performed with professional improvisers such as Vanessa Bayer (current cast member ofSaturday Night Live), Jimmy Carrane, and Cook County Social Club. "ONE WORD: PUNCTUATION POINT!" is Directed by Tim Soszko (Second City, Barrel Of Monkeys, iO) and Produced by Philip Markle (Barrel of Monkeys, Second City, Annoyance Theatre.)
The ATC Comedy Troupe's tour of seven Chicagoland Public School kicked off this week and is done through outreach classes through a partnership with the Right at School. The comedians are performing age appropriate segments from their show along with some improvisation. The schools the ATC Comedy Troupe are touring include King Lab (Evanston), Willard (Evanston), St. Luke's Parish (Skokie), Romona (Wilmette), McKenzie (Wilmette), and Waters (Chicago). Additional performances may also be scheduled.
"ONE WORD: PUNCTUATION POINT!" features Andrew Brilliant (Glencoe), Alexander Frumkin (Indian Creek), Katherine Eschel (Wilmette), Maggie Maher (Wilmette), Miriam Moss (Skokie), Suzanne Stein (Wilmette), Stephanie Reedy (Winnetka), Camryn Rosenstein (Highland Park), Beth Wall (Wilmette), Matthew Wronski (Wilmette) and Jackson Zimmerman (Evanston).
About Author
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London is a fantastic city. Whether you live in England, the UK or further afield, the pull of the capital is undeniable.
The culture, the history, the night life, the restaurants, the people and much more makes London a melting pot of fun, frivolity and fast-paced action, fit for any tourist, whether they're from home or abroad.
Naturally, the usual tourist traps tend to pull everyone in. Don't get us wrong, Westminster Abbey is great, the London Eye is a fantastic way to see the bright lights, and yes, fish and chips is a must-eat dish when in the Big Smoke, but wouldn't it be nice to see London like a local?
Well wonder no more, because this is a guide to the best parts of London that the tourists don't usually see. So take a look at our London hotels, start packing your bag and peer through the eyes of a London local!
1. Give London Zoo the hoof for a city farm
London Zoo has a fantastic range of animals sure, but every capital has a zoo, on the other hand, not every capital has a city farm!
Try Hackney City Farm and enjoy the company of goats, pigs, sheep and donkeys while enjoying the lovely café, and also taking the chance to explore the rest of hip, up-and-coming East London!
2. Skip the London Eye and try Paramount
Ok, so locals won't go to Paramount for a quick pint after work, but if you're looking for a view of London that isn't from a plastic hamster ball (sorry London Eye) then this is the bar for you.
There's no fee to get in – just ask at reception (which makes you feel just like James Bond) and take the lift to level 32 of the Centre Point building. Of course you'll want to try the extensive cocktail list, but when you're sipping on a Martini, looking out over London, you'll know you made the right decision.
3. Forget Borough Market, visit Greenwich Market
Borough Market is a heaving square of fantastic smells (the chorizo sandwiches are worth the trip alone) but the crowds on the weekend can get a bit much.
So, if you're looking for a destination that offers something for foodies, arts and craft lovers and purveyors of fine clothes, then Greenwich Market is for you. You skip the crowds, find the bargains and get to stay in one of our Greenwich hotels if you fancy making a weekend of it.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All
View Single Post
Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Norway
Oddometer: 214
Originally Posted by
I really dont agree with this. I know way too many examples that show that Swedish as the lingua franca of the Nordic countries is a dying historical concept.
My ex wife was Finnish (Swedish Finnish) and I met her when she was at University in Oslo. Until she learned to speak Norwegian, when she first arrived in Oslo, she would speak English. Once she learned Norsk, she spoke sometimes Norsk, sometimes English. Never Svensk.
In an extreme case of the use of English in scandinavia, I know one young Swedish computer programmer from regional Sweden who says he understands his regional dialect of swedish, and Stockholm swedish, but finds other dialects of swedish so hard to understand that he often communicates in english to people from regions of Sweden other than Stockholm or his own. That one shocked me ... A swede who often preferred speaking english to other swedes, subject to dialect. '
Many young Norwegians or Finns I know (dont know about Danes so much) think speaking swedish is old fashioned, uncool and politically charged - Sweden was a former occupier / ruler of their countries. So hate doing it. If you want to annoy a Norwegian, the easiest and surest way I have found is to call him a swede. I think Swedes loved the idea of their language being the lingua franca of the Nordics, but the other Nordics never did - it implied Swedish leadership of the Nordics. Having English as the language of communication between Nordics is much more neutral and carries less political baggage.
EtronX can chime in here, but I would think a Norwegian speaking to a Swede or Dane would usually, these days, speak in English. I imagine most Norwegians understand 90% of Swedish, but for a number of reasons may still prefer to speak English. The average Finn, speaking to a Swede, Norwegian or a Dane will almost surely speak in English.
I think its a generational thing ... This move to English is much more pronounced with the young. Older generations of Finns or Norwegians may still prefer inter-Nordic communication in Swedish. But from what I have seen it seems to be a fading habit, not at all popular with the young.
Well Terry
Up north here we all speak our own language. Except when speaking to the FInns. That's a complete different language and we have to use english. Due to the work situation and the wages in Sweden we get a lot of young people coming to Norway for work. They all speak their native language.
Usually what we say is that it is a bit more easy to understand the Swedes when they talk, but easier to read Danish.
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GB fencers foiled by strong Italian team
August 2, 2012 11:47 am
Britain's women fencers were beaten 42-14 by title favourites Italy in the quarter-finals of the fencing team foil at the ExCeL.
Natalia Sheppard, Sophie Troiano and Anna Bentley had beaten Egypt 45-34 to set up the clash with the three medallists in the individual competition.
The gulf in class was evident as Elisa Di Francisca, Arianna Errigo and Valentina Vezzali - gold, silver and bronze respectively last Saturday - eased through.
Copyright © Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.


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Scientists are calling on the public to help save the world's most unusual creatures, including the bumblebee bat, the golden-rumped elephant shrew and the long-eared jerboa of Mongolia. These, and 97 other species, have been identified as both endangered and having few close relatives, making them genetically unique.
The centrepiece of the EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) campaign is a list of 100 weird and wonderful animals. To draw it up, scientists at the Zoological Society of London in the UK produced an enormous evolutionary tree showing the relationship between every known mammal species on the planet in collaboration with researchers at Imperial College, UK, and the University of Virginia, US.
From this, they selected animals that are most genetically distinct, giving them "evolutionary distinctiveness" scores. They then cross referenced their list with the World Conservation Union's Red List of endangered species to give the species "globally endangered" scores. The product of both scores yielded the ranked list of 100 EDGE species.
"These are one-of-a-kind species," says lead scientist Jonathan Baillie. "If they are lost there is nothing similar to them left on the planet. It would be a bit like the art world losing the Mona Lisa - they are simply irreplaceable."
Reversing decline
The researchers also assessed how much conservation attention each of the species is currently receiving and found that over two-thirds are receiving little or none.
To address this, EDGE will use websites to highlight threatened creatures and encourage the public to sponsor conservation efforts. "This is appealing to the general public to take action to reverse the decline of these amazing species," Baillie said.
EDGE will initially focus on the top 10 Edge species, starting with the Yangtze River dolphin (see image), which may in fact have already disappeared. Listed on the project website as being down to just 13 individuals, scientists visiting the area recently could not find any. "This really highlights the importance of acting quickly," Baillie said.
Bumblebee bat
Also among the top 10 are an egg-laying mammal known as Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, the pygmy hippopotamus, a shy, nocturnal primate with gigantic eyes called the slender loris (see image), and the bumblebee bat, which could be the world's smallest mammal.
"We have 10 species we are focusing on in 2007 but that will change over time," says Baillie. He adds that the goal is to ensure that there are conservation measures set up for the top 100 species over the next five years.
Global warming and human depredations on habitat are cited as the fundamental causes of the problems threatening the EDGE species.
Endangered species - Learn more about the conservation battle in our comprehensive special report.
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.


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Two Nokia Windows Phone 8 Phones With Multi-Core Processors & High-Res Screens Coming This September!
An interesting piece of information regarding the upcoming Windows Phone 8 phones have caught our attention. Reportedly, Nokia is planning to launch two Windows Phone 8 phones this September.
According to a report, first two Windows Phone 8 phones will be out as early as 5th September. These phones will be manufactured by Nokia, one of the strongest Windows Phone OS partners of Microsoft.
These devices will be powered by Microsoft's next generation Windows Phone 8 OS while the hardware itself will be manufactured by Nokia as has been the case with all Nokia Windows Phone devices till date.
The launch of Windows Phone 8 phones is highly anticipated, and amidst the uproar surrounding the same, the Windows Phone 8 phones launch is reportedly datelined for 5th September.
While there is a dearth of technical specifications of these devices, we have learned that the two phones are the next members of Nokia Lumia Windows Phone family. Reportedly, the devices include Nokia Lumia 910 (that was spotted a couple of times in leaks) and Nokia Lumia 920.
In line with hardware support advancements Microsoft has made with its Windows Phone 8 OS, Nokia too has pushed the pedals lighting up hopes of launching Windows Phone 8 phones which will be powered by multi-core processors and support high resolution displays.
These Windows Phone 8 Nokia phones, the first in the series of even more powerful devices Nokia is expected to launch, will also support high resolution imaging since the camera reportedly employs Nokia PureView technology that debuted with the Symbian-based Nokia 808 PureView, the 41MP camera phone.
Several hardware partners including Samsung, HTC and Huawei are said to working on their own hardware that might employ Windows Phone 8 OS. With the launch of Windows Phone 8 OS anticipated in the first week of September, several of these anticipated devices might also surface.
With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Apple's next iPhone anticipated around the same time, how Nokia Windows Phone 8 phones shape Nokia's future remains to be seen. That said, it is quite apparent that the coming has earned quite some fame for its Lumia series of devices, and learning from its mistakes perhaps, it might fare even better this time around.
We will keep you posted as more details surface. Stay tuned!
Join us on our Facebook fanpage, add us to your circle on Google+ or follow us on Twitter to stay updated.


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Term-Life Insurance
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Please visit www.imala.com/lsu/. There you can access enrollment forms, rate information, certificates of coverage, information for FREE will preparation, and additional resources.
Click here for the Hartford Term Life Insurance Certificate
The Office of Group Benefits (OGB) State of Louisiana Term Life
This coverage is offered by Prudential through payroll deduction for State of Louisiana employees and offers two plan options at a flat rate of $0.50 per $1,000 of coverage. The Basic Plan offers $5,000 of coverage. The Basic + Supplemental Plan offers 1.5 times salary up to $50,000.
Please click Prudential Term Life Insurance for enrollment forms, rate information, certificates of coverage, and additional resources.


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The Following is full text of the addressed issued by Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin to the Corporate Council on Africa in Washington, DC.
Good evening and thank you for that kind introduction, Steve. The work that the Council is doing to build business links between the United States and African countries is vital, and I appreciate the opportunity to address this group this evening.
When I spoke at CCA's U.S.-Africa Business Summit last September, we were still assessing the impact of the global economic crisis on Africa. Steep declines in commodity prices, the prospect of fewer remittances, and a drop in capital inflows threatened to undermine the nearly decade long economic expansion in sub-Saharan Africa. Leaders were bracing for a dramatic setback.
Six months later, some of these concerns have been borne out. The IMF estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa grew by only 2 percent in 2009 after averaging more than 5 percent for the last five years. Africa's three largest economies – South Africa, Nigeria and Angola – accounted for the bulk of the decline.
And there has been a significant social cost to the crisis. While we can't know precisely how many people have been pushed into poverty by the crisis, the slowdown clearly reversed some of the gains of recent years.
As elsewhere in the world, including here in the U.S., we have work to do – together – to repair the damage of the past two years.
But at the same time, there are reasons for optimism. The financial sectors of most sub-Saharan African countries largely escaped the turmoil that ravaged our financial system. Low-income countries, while experiencing a lower rate of growth, did not go into recession. And the IMF predicts growth of almost 5 percent this year and almost 6 percent in 2011.
Much of the credit for the quick rebound in African economies can be attributed to the foresight of Africa's finance ministers and central bank governors. In countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique, sound economic policies adopted in recent years reduced government deficits and inflation and facilitated the flow of more credit to the private sector, fueling more robust domestic demand.
So even as we work to repair the damage of the crisis – here in the U.S., in Africa, and around the world – now is the time to look beyond repair and recovery. With a rebound on the horizon, now is the time to get to work building the foundation for long-term, sustainable growth in sub-Saharan Africa. And that means confronting two basic, unavoidable challenges: infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
Everyone in this room recognizes that Africa's acute infrastructure deficit is a significant constraint on growth and direct investment.
When I visited Rwanda last November, I was struck by the vibrancy of the economy. Rwanda has quadrupled exports over the past ten years, led by large increases in its agricultural production, particularly in the coffee and tea sectors. But the country's growth is held back by the high costs of exporting its goods – 50 percent higher, according to the World Bank, than the already high African average. President Kagame speaks --with understandable urgency – about the need to construct a modern rail link between Kigali and the port of Dar Es Salaam.
On the other end of that trade route, in Dar Es Salaam, I saw tremendous lost opportunity as well. Traffic jams on the roads into and out of Dar make the DC Beltway look tame. Ships stretched out for miles along the Tanzanian coast waiting to enter the port of Dar because of antiquated port facilities and burdensome customs procedures.
In South Africa, too, the costs of inadequate infrastructure were clear. I visited the factory of a South African manufacturer who needed reliable grid power in order to power a high tech industrial coating process. But he was deeply concerned about the reliability of South Africa's grid after the brownouts the country experienced in 2008.
Meeting the vast infrastructure needs of sub-Saharan African countries will require substantial investments, and the United States Government is committed to doing its part. Of the $5.1 billion that the Millennium Challenge Corporation is investing in Sub-Saharan Africa, $3.5 billion will go to infrastructure. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has invested nearly $900 million in African infrastructure. The United States Export-Import Bank has completed approximately $1 billion of infrastructure-related transactions in the last 5 years, including a $350 million loan to support rural electrification in Ghana. USAID is also playing a leading role to bring infrastructure deals to closure and create a favorable investment environment.
Alongside those public investments, the private sector is an important part of the solution.
One of the biggest success stories in Africa has been the rapid expansion of cell phone services, led by private African companies.
We have seen the private sector exploring exciting new opportunities in the energy sector, too. I visited an innovative pilot power project on Lake Kivu that removes methane from the lake's depths and converts it to badly needed clean power. A U.S. energy company is helping to scale that pilot up to produce 100 megawatts – significantly increasing Rwanda's generating capacity.
And in Mozambique, the private sector is investing more than $15 billion in major hydro power generation and transmission projects that will help meet not only Mozambique's power needs but those of her neighbors.
Between public commitments of assistance and increasingly important public-private partnerships, African nations will have strong support as they work to tackle the infrastructure challenge.
Of course, resources alone will not guarantee success. Strong governance and accountability are equally important – to ensure that public and private investors alike can be confident in committing their capital.
And at the same time, everyone with an interest in building Africa's infrastructure – African nations, donor nations, private investors – has a responsibility to ensure that infrastructure development does not come at the price of environmental sustainability.
Environmental responsibility should not – must not – not be viewed as a barrier to development. To the contrary, environmental responsibility is vital to the growth and well being of African economies, where the livelihoods of so many remain closely tied to the land.
Approximately 70 percent of families in Africa are dependent on agriculture in one way or another. Achieving meaningful reductions in poverty in Africa will require significant increases in the productivity of Africa's smallholder farmers.
This Administration is ready to help committed African governments achieve that goal. The President has pledged to spend at least $3.5 billion over the next three years on agricultural development. Just last week, Secretary Geithner, his counterparts from Spain, Canada and Korea, as well as Bill Gates launched a new multi-donor trust fund focused on the agricultural sector of low-income countries, and we anticipate that a number of African nations will tap into this fund.
But efforts to improve agricultural production and food security in many African countries and regions are likely to be severely compromised by climate change and climate variability. We have already seen millions of people in East Africa face food shortages as a result of severe droughts that have increased in severity since the mid-1990s. While climate projections involve a great deal of uncertainty, we cannot afford to be complacent.
That is why, in his speech to the Ghanaian parliament last July, President Obama challenged us "to find a route to high growth rates while ensuring environmental sustainability."
The United States is committed to helping find that route. In 2010, our budget contains $595 million to support efforts to develop and deploy clean energy technology in developing countries and we have requested 35 percent more for 2011.
We will support clean energy assistance programs to provide Africans renewable energy alternatives to burning wood and fossil fuels – wind energy in Namibia and Mozambique, geothermal power in the Rift Valley countries, hydroelectric power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the development of regional electricity grids in southern Africa.
U.S. support to multilateral adaptation programs complements these bilateral efforts. The Climate Investment Funds' Pilot Program for Climate Resilience is providing financing to three African countries to help integrate climate issues into their development planning and implementation. The United States contributed $55 million to the program in 2010 and has requested another $90 million in FY11.
And the United States is channeling significant financial resources through multilateral institutions to scale up support for adaptation and clean energy activities in developing countries.
We are contributing to the Clean Technology Fund – $300 million in FY10 and $400 million requested in FY11 – which is developing renewable, energy efficiency, and public transportation programs in South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt, as well as a regional program across North Africa to develop 900 megawatts of concentrated solar power.
We have asked Congress for $50 million in FY11 funding for the Program for Scaling-up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries, a new program to demonstrate how the poorest countries can use renewable energy to expand energy access and stimulate economic growth.
And finally, as you know, the United States is encouraging the multilateral development banks to work with client countries to develop low-carbon energy sources and move away from more carbon-intensive sources such as coal.
These efforts to promote environmentally sustainable infrastructure development are vital to Africa's long-term growth. The United States is committed to doing its part. But again, there is also an important role – and, I believe, significant potential opportunity – for the private sector to partner with African countries and develop more environmentally sustainable power sectors.
Some of you have already recognized that opportunity and are taking the lead. In Kenya, a consortium of private companies is investing in a 300 megawatt wind turbine farm in the Lake Turkana region that, when completed in 2012, will provide nearly 17 percent of Kenya's total installed power. And a number of investors are looking to tap the geothermal energy potential of the Rift Valley.
Through innovation, creativity and commitment, the public and private sectors are already demonstrating that there is no inherent tension between economic development and environmental responsibility.
One more point: As I said here last November, success ultimately depends on African leadership. Without African leadership, nothing the U.S. or the international community does will be enough to address the daunting infrastructure, energy, environmental, and climate challenges facing the continent.
In order to attract private investment in low-carbon infrastructure, African leaders will need to dismantle broader barriers to infrastructure investment. In too many countries in Africa, lack of rule-of-law or nontransparent regulation leads investors to go elsewhere.
And African governments must recognize that they have a stake in preserving fragile ecosystems. In her Nobel Prize Lecture in 2004, Ms. Wangari Maathai called on African government and communities to recognize their role as the custodians of Africa's environment and the links between African cultural traditions and environmental preservation.
There are already positive examples: In Tanzania, the government has introduced new regulations governing small independent power producers. In Mozambique the government has begun to tap its enormous hydropower potential, about 12,500 MW, with the help of foreign investment.
By combining local leadership with American know-how and ingenuity, we can achieve a better future. I hope that this infrastructure conference – and future ones – will be an important part of this partnership. I hope it will remind investors that there are significant business opportunities in Africa and that this continent has enormous potential.
This conference is a chance to affirm that the private and public sectors can partner to increase Africans' access to power while skipping the dirtier phase of development. Together, we must work aggressively to build the infrastructure that holds the key to Africa's infrastructure.
And we must do it while protecting and in some cases repairing the tremendous – and tremendously valuable – natural resources on which so many on the continent depend.
The United States looks forward to partner with African governments to achieve these goals.
Thank you.


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Newbie bread baking question
How would one go about baking multiple batches of bread in a Pompeii-style oven? As the temperature decreases, would you just toss in some more fuel in betwen batches? I'm still deciding between the barrel vault and Pompeii designs, but it seems to me that you could get multiple batches of bread out of a round pizza oven as long as you are willing to take the time to add some fuel between batches. Am I correct? How long would it take to get the temp back up (typically)? I just don't want to regret building a round, thin oven if it turns out that I want to make tons more bread than I anticipate right now. Of course, I know there are easy ways to make the oven a bit thicker without compromising its functionality for pizza.
- Daren
Re: Newbie bread baking question
I'm not a bread baker but I have read where the guys (and gals) usually bake different types of bread based on the oven/hearth temp. They start with bread requiring 550-600, as it cools to 500-550 in goes a more suitable bread for that temp and so on.
One day, when I'm felling really gutsy, I will jump on the bread baking bandwagon.......when I do, I will go straight to canuckjim's bread baking ebook. Jim seems to be a true artist with his breads...at the very least, check out his hundreds of posts. He really knows his stuff. Another more recent member who seems really into bread - Dutchoven- check out his posts. The day is rapidly coming for me to pick their brains on bread.
Good Luck
Re: Newbie bread baking question
While it would be theoretically possible to refire the oven, it really isn't a practical method. As RT points out, most of us simply manage which breads go in when to take advantage of the heat curve. If you're looking for multiple batches, you should consider more mass on your oven, but remember that the penalty is longer firing times and higher fuel consumption. This mass consideration holds true no matter which style of oven you choose.
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Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 29, 2013
Just released ezW2 and 1099 software from Halfpricesoft.com has been created to accommodate service industry establishments to keep them on the business fast track. Even customers new to running a business can easily prepare, paper print or e-file W2, W3, and 1099 MISC forms.
"Print or e-file feature options are available for purchase in EzW2 Software. Also, this tax preparation software will save paper and money for service industry companies with a white paper printing and PDF feature," said Halfprice.com founder Dr. Ge.
ezW2 can fill out, print and e-file forms W2, W3, 1099-misc and 1096. ezW2 software is approved by SSA to print tax forms on white paper which eliminates the needs of the expensive red-ink W2 forms. The new quick efile feature is for customers who want to save time and the environment.
ezW2 software developers believe small business tax software should be simple, reliable and affordable. They intentionally engineered this W2 and 1099 software for business owners who are not professional accountants and payroll tax experts. The improved interface for ezW2 and EzW2 correction software is so straightforward and user-friendly that first time customers don't need an accounting background to start preparing tax forms immediately after installation.
To ensure customer satisfaction, Halfpricesoft.com makes ezW2 software available for free download at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/w2-software-free-download.asp. Customers can test-drive the software along with all if its available features without cost or obligation before purchasing.
Key features of ezW2 software:
Halfpricesoft.com also offers ezW2 Correction software to enable customers to print W2 Correction forms for employees that were previously printed incorrectly for some reason.
Preparing, printing and filing 1099 and W-2 tax forms is no longer frustrating for small business owners. Halfpricesoft.com welcomes customers to download ezW2 application today at: http://www.halfpricesoft.com/w2_software.asp
About halfpricesoft.com
Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting the software needs of small businesses around the world with its payroll software, employee attendance tracking software, check printing software, W2 software, 1099 software and ezACH Deposit software. It continues to grow with its philosophy that small business owners need affordable, user friendly, super simple, and totally risk-free software.


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Hi everybody
I'd like to know if i can restore the backup from Huawei's "All Backup" in this rom. I searched online but i can't find a version of All Backup working on JB.
Thanks in advance ;-)
This is something I really would like to know the answer as well!


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The Effective Lector
by Edward Horodko
When we gather to celebrate the Mass, God is present in the assembly, the presider, the scriptures, and the form of the consecrated eucharistic bread and wine. The first part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, focuses on the scriptures. The lector is the minister who brings these to life for all to hear.
To be able to do this, the lector must first understand the scripture passages and then successfully communicate them to the assembly.
Here are some practical thoughts for the lector on how to bring this about.
Scripture is fundamentally oral and aural. It is spoken and heard. The lector proclaims it, the assembly listens. This is the mechanism which brings the Word of God to life. The lector must be skilled in this form of public speaking and must have mastered the specific reading to play his or her part in this essential process. The assembly must listen and not follow along in their books (unless hearing-impaired). If the Missalettes are used by the Assembly, people should put the them down and listen attentively during the readings so that this essential dynamic of speaking and hearing can occur. An effective lector will be bring so much to the reading with voice and gesture that people will automatically shift their attention away from their booklets if they've not put them down.
To be effective, the lector must be prepared. Technical expertise is essential, as is preparatory study of the particular reading.
Many communities find that the best way to study scripture is with groups of lectors working together, since they can read aloud and listen as they study, and share the revelations that result. This is not be practical in your parish, though, so you may have to study on your own. But even in that case, it helps to read to someone informally, perhaps to a family member, as part of your study. Practicing aloud is essential. Get used to the sound of the readings, and gain insights as you practice.
Start your preparation early in the week before your assigned turn. Begin by understanding the gospel, even though the presider or deacon will probably be reading it. In our current Lectionary, the gospel usually relates to the first reading in particular, so it will provide a context for the first reading. (Occasionally, it also relates to the second reading.)
Prepare for both readings, even if one is assigned to another lector. This will prepare you to substitute if needed. If the lector reads the Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation, prepare those in a similar manner. Remember that these are songs (except for the Gospel verse) and should be sung, not spoken, if possible.
As you study a reading, reflect on its fundamental nature. Is it a letter? A discourse to a crowd? A story? Is it dialog? A poem? A song? A metaphor? A warning? What is the passage's context in its Biblical book? Who wrote or said it? What are the emotions to be conveyed?
To read a reading well, you must have deep understanding. A publication such as the Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers (Liturgy Training Publications, Chicago) is an excellent source for illumination, but be careful that whatever resources you use for your study, you actually make the text your own; be sure you really master it. And whatever you do, do not use someone else's ideas of where to pause, how to inflect, or which words to emphasize. These actions must come spontaneously and honestly from only one place: from what the reading means to you.
As the weekend approaches, review the readings. But don't wear them out by reading them too often. Stop when you feel they really make sense to you, and when you have enough understanding of their historical and contextual significance to bring them to life with authority.
Arrive about a half hour before Mass starts. Consult the other lector if there is one. Look over any intercessions or announcements for you to read, reading them quietly aloud, getting comfortable with any people's names, so you avoid surprises at the ambo. Then read your assigned reading(s) quietly aloud a couple of times, recalling your earlier study, placing the meaning and flow in your "short term memory," reminding yourself of what the material means to you.
Besides the words you say, there are many non-verbal communications important to the lector's ministry. Be attentive to these, since you do them even if you don't notice that you're doing them. Consider your attitudes, your gestures, the tone of your voice, how you go about contacting your listeners with your eyes.
The Procession. When you carry the book in procession, show the assembly you know it contains the Word of God. Walk deliberately while carrying it. Hold it high as you process. At many parishes, the lector "enthrones" the book in a special place (such as on a special stand, or on the altar), making an additional physical statement about its importance.
When you arrive at or approach the place of enthronement, or when you simply arrive at the ambo with it, look like you belong where you are. Convey with your body language that you are aware of the importance of this book. Don't rush uncomfortably to put it down and get out of there. Realize that people are watching you, and that you are silently telling them about this book with the language of your body.
The Body. When it's time to address the assembly, hold your body straight but not rigid. Don't slouch. Look like you want to communicate. Have authority. Be genuine, be unpretentious.
The Feet. Keep your feet firmly planted while you speak.
The Face. Use it to convey meaning, but avoid all artificiality. Be yourself.
The Eyes. Have eye contact with people when you talk to them. But not at the expense of losing your place in the text. Have an awareness of all the people, but talk to them one-to-one.
A good time to establish eye contact is during the opening "A reading from..." Stand still before you begin reading. Put the whole opening phrase in your short-term memory right before you speak it. Create a significant silence before you begin speaking. This will compel the assembly's attention. Look across the entire room as you say the opening phrase. Then pause again and begin the reading.
Have your attention on your "audience" as you speak. If you do this, the eye contact will take care of itself. Have respect for the Assembly, remembering that you are conveying God's Word to God's people in God's presence.
The Hands. If your height and eye-tracking abilities allow, hold the book while you speak to provide a visual reminder of the source of the words. This is good but not essential.
Whether you hold it or rest it on the ambo as you read, you may find it useful to run your finger along the text as you read so you can freely maintain eye contact with the assembly without the risk of loosing your place.
Hand gestures are occasionally appropriate. But use them only if they clearly enhance the reading. Avoid all gestures that do not really help honestly communicate the reading. Never look artificial or "theatrical." The operative word here is honesty. Proclaiming is what you're doing, not exaggerating.
The Voice. The lector obviously must be heard to be effective. To be heard by all in the assembly, you must understand the acoustics and public address system in your church. In most buildings, if you can hear your own amplified voice from the speakers as you speak, you're close enough to the microphone and the system is working adequately. Understand your PA system well so you can use it correctly.
The P.A. System. If your PA system has not been professionally calibrated lately, several lectors should critique the system's performance during a Mass. If the sound is not loud and clear throughout the church, you've got a problem that should be immediately addressed, perhaps by a professional sound engineer. A lector must be heard to be a lector. Also, all people should be heard at approximately the same volume level (presider, lectors, cantor).
For the typical PA system to work well, you must project your voice toward the tip of microphone. And the microphone should be positioned so that you can comfortably see your listeners. Don't ignore the microphone, don't avoid the microphone, and don't be obsessed with the microphone. Use the microphone. Also, note the size of the microphone. Modern high quality microphones can be very small, and this is a good idea at the ambo. A tiny condenser microphone on an unobtrusive black thick wire stand attached to the book stand is a great alternative. It's almost invisible and it sounds better than most big microphones. (A wireless clip-on micro-lavalier microphone is the ideal for the presider.)
When it's time to read, walk to the ambo and take a deep breath as you arrive there. This will calm you and elp you focus your power. Realize that the sound of your voice originates in your diaphragm (your solar plexus). Breath from there as you would sing from there. Do not strain your neck or vocal cords.
Let the power of your voice...
- come from your diaphragm...
- through your vocal cords...
- to the assembled people.
Project the sounds and do not force them.
Even "soft" speakers can and must learn to speak loudly, clearly, and naturally by practicing this.
Understand and utilize the acoustical properties of the church building. In some churches, if you speak too quickly, meaning will be lost in the echoes. If you speak a little more slowly than you think you should, you're probably speaking at the best rate. Ask other lectors to listen carefully to you from all parts of the church and tell you if you're speaking slowly (and loudly and clearly) enough.
Concise articulation is essential. (But do not sound strange, artificial, or melodramatic.) Avoid running words together; they can't be understood that way. Pay some attention to ALL the phonemes (sounds) in the words, and make sure you say them. If a word is strange or difficult for you, repeat it so often during your practice that it becomes easy and natural. Don't let the ends of words or sentences fade softly away; let them all be heard. Don't jumble your words together; let them be distinct. Again, ask other lectors to critique you. Dedicate yourself to being an effective lector.
Mean what you say. If you are not speaking honestly --if the meaning is not coming from you-- do not speak.
Create appropriate drama with body language, loudness, dynamic range, and inflection. But don't overdo it. Use only the drama that comes from meaning.
Use dramatic pauses where they work. Silence makes people to listen to you.
When you tell a story, really tell the story. When you quote someone, take on the persona (the "mask") of that person.
Do not speak in monotone. Use inflection to convey meaning, to bring your words to life.
Always set the opening and closing forms ("A reading from..." and "The Word of the Lord.") apart from the body of text with both a pause and a change of attitude. Remember that they are not part of the reading; don't make it sound like they are. Avoid unnecessary detail in the introduction. For example, just say "A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans..." Don't say something like "Our first reading is a reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans." In other words, don't add things that are obvious. Avoid introducing or summarizing the reading before you start proclaiming it. This gilds the lily, and perhaps inhibits the listener's openness to the Word of God itself. Do not presume to explain what God means.
When you make a mistake, remember why you're there... to convey the Word of God. You're not there to show people that you're perfect, or what a great reader you are. If you ruin a sentence or thought, simply back up and say it correctly. Whatever you do, don't apologize for your mistake; that adds to the distraction, taking people even farther from the meaning you're trying to convey. Don't be embarrassed because you're human.
If no meaning was lost in your error, ignore the minor error.
If you're inexperienced at public speaking, practice projecting meaning into the church building when it's empty. Imagine it's full of people. Listen to your voice fill the church. Get comfortable with the sound. (Have the PA System on.) Understand the physics of being heard in that space. Remember that people will absorb much of the sound of your voice, so you need to be even louder when the church is filled than when it's empty. But don't strain.
Ask yourself these questions about why you're speaking... and get a Yes.
Are you trying to involve people in what you're saying?
Have you done your homework?
Are you using the resources (workshops, books, etc.) your parish provides to enhance your lector skills?
Do you mean what you're saying?
To be an effective lector, you need to...
understand what a lector is...
use the technical skills of good public speaking
be sensitive to the acoustics and electronic sound reinforcement in your church..
convey and create emotions appropriate to the specific readings. Let the readings drive the feelings. Mean what you say.
integrate this spiritual practice with the other spiritual practices in your life, making these readings part of your prayer life.
be warm and hospitable if you also greet the assembly at the beginning of Mass.
remember that ministry is service.
perform your role in the Liturgy of the Word fully prepared, with a mastery of your readings, honestly communicating God's word to God's people.
Ed Horodko's ministries have included liturgist, cantor, music director, and Director of Lectors, most recently at Sacred Heart Church, Olema, California. He is also a lector workshop teacher / leader, and a professional voice actor who has announced nationally in thousands of commercials. Currently he develops and supports Catholic radio broadcasts in the Dioceses of Reno, NV and Sacramento, CA, at Immaculate Heart Radio.
© copyright 1996, Edward R. Horodko. Revised and © copyright 2001.
Published online by Digital Liturgy with permission. Permission is hereby granted for reprinting in whole or part for distribution solely within one parish community. Email email@example.com for information and for other reprint permissions.


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Bonds ties Aaron for NL homer mark
By Rich Draper / MLB.com
DENVER -- Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit career homer 733 on Friday night at Miller Park, tying Hank Aaron for the National League's all-time home run record.
The blast off Milwaukee reliever Chris Spurling in the sixth inning was Bonds' 25th four-bagger of the season and leaves him 22 homers shy of Aaron's Major League mark of 755 career homers. Hammerin' Hank also slugged 22 homers over two seasons with the American League Milwaukee Brewers in 1975-76.
Bonds, who boasts 557 homers in a Giants uniform, has been on an offensive tear over his last 26 games, hitting .400 with nine homers, and he had already doubled twice and driven in three runs prior to the three-run shot off Spurling.
The blast boosted the Giants into an 11-10 lead, and Bonds' six RBIs tied a season high for San Francisco.
Spurling became the 433rd pitcher to allow a homer to Bonds.
Although hitting just .273 overall, improved health -- especially in his knees -- has meant a sturdier platform at the plate, where Bonds can use his legs and arms in a powerful symmetry.
Bonds' homer was his ninth clout in his last 20 games.


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Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook to play against PenguinsContinue reading.
By Brandon Wall | Get In Touch: @walldo | email@example.com By Brandon Wall Sports Pros(e) - September 19, 2013 5:04 pm
Video: Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook ripping field goals at Soldier Field
Charles Rex Arbogast
As part of a promotion for the NHL's Stadium Series, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith ripped field goals from the 40-yard line at Soldier Field today. Seems like a good way to spend your afternoon.
The Blackhawks will play the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field on March 1. It will be the stadium's first hockey game.


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November 6, 2013
These gluten-free soft pretzels bake up with a deliciously brown and crispy exterior and a doughy, tender interior. In this hot pretzel recipe from Jeannette's Healthy Living, olive oil loosens the yeasty dough, and honey can be used in place of egg wash for a beautiful brown crust.
1 cup lukewarm water
1 tablespoon or 1 pack quick acting yeast
1 tablespoon organic sugar
3 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All Purpose Baking Mix or other gluten-free baking mix
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
1/4 cup olive oil
10 cups water
2 tablespoons baking soda
honey, for brushing
kosher salt, for sprinkling on top
For full recipe instructions, click here.
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|« Back to Article
Moraga home open Sunday
| January 18, 2013 | Updated: January 21, 2013 12:35pm
Photo By Coldwell Banker35 Merrill Circle, $1.267 million
This four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home was built in 1991 and has a three-car garage. The two-story home is in the gated Sanders Ranch community of Moraga. St. Mary's College of California is just to the north. Situated on a .93-acre double lot, the home is surrounded by mature oak trees that can be viewed from the home's multiple decks. A gas fireplace with marble surround is found in the living room, and the master suite has two walk-in closets and a tiled master bathroom with jetted tub and bidet.
Listing agent: Elena Hood, Coldwell Banker, (925) 254-3030, firstname.lastname@example.com.
35 Merrill Circle, $1.267 million
Beds: 4 Baths: 3.5 Square footage: 3,263
Open home: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday


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The Easiest Way to Grow . Audio SetThe Easiest Way to Grow . Audio Set
Messages You Will Be Glad to Know by Mabel
These messages seek to show children how to hold onto their true essence and to remain "pure at heart," so they never lose the joy and peace that is their birthright.
Make a difference in a child's life!


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"We will never recognise the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation and therefore there is no legitimacy for Israel," he added.
Meshaal was born in the West Bank but spent all his adult life in exile before arriving in Gaza on Friday for a 48-hour visit – just two weeks after an eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas said it won the short conflagration, which killed 170 Palestinians and six Israelis, mostly civilians. Israel disputes this, saying it not only killed Hamas's top military commander but also destroyed much of the group's arms stockpile.
Israel tried and failed to assassinate Meshaal in 1997. It has largely ignored his visit to Gaza, though the commemorative event was mocked by Israeli officials as a celebration of "25 years of murdering Israelis by rockets and suicide bombings".


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Gurbani is the term used by Sikhs to refer to any compositions of the Gurus. Gurbani is composed of two words: 'Gur' meaning 'the Guru's' and 'bani' meaning 'word'.
Extracts from Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji are called Gutkas (small books) containing sections of Gurbani.
A Gutka is kept covered in a clean cloth. A person must wash their hands, feet and face, and cover his/her head before handling the Gutka. Gurbani should never be put on the floor or in a place which is lower than any furniture upon which a person may sit or lie.
A Gutka should never be taken to any place where any of the four major sins ("bajjar kurehats) are/do take place: sexual relationships outside of marriage, consumption of tobacco products (or any other intoxicants including alcohol), cutting or removal of hair from the body or consumption of meat or eggs.


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Book Search
Hope and Mortality
Psychodynamic Approaches to AIDS and HIV
AIDS has humbled us. Thus observes editor Mark Blechner in introducing readers to this powerful collection of essays on psychodynamic approaches to AIDS. It is the disease, Blechner tells us, that "has forced us to rethink our relation to sickness and health, mortality, sexuality, drug use, and...
Published June 23rd 2015 by Routledge
The Dream Frontier
The Dream Frontier is that rare book that makes available the cumulative wisdom of a century's worth of clinical examination of dreams and then reconfigured that wisdom on the basis of research in cognitive neuroscience. Drawing on psychodynamic theorists and neuroscientific researchers with...
Published August 12th 2014 by Routledge
Sex Changes
Transformations in Society and Psychoanalysis
Series: Psychoanalysis in a New Key Book Series
The last half-century has seen enormous changes in society's attitude toward sexuality. In the 1950s, homosexuals in the United States were routinely arrested; today, homosexual activity between consenting adults is legal in every state, with same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts and ...
Published February 20th 2009 by Routledge


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New energy taxes would raise transportation costs, hurt economy
America's booming energy industry has been a blessing for families, small businesses and the middle class in South Carolina and across the country, creating jobs while other sectors have faltered.
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Welcome to Green Day CommunityRegister now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. This message will be removed once you have signed in.
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I live my life with no pain Just some rage and three kinds of yesFeb 24 2013 08:54 PM


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Call Centers
- Optimizing your Workforce: Recording is just the Beginning
- Recording the Next Gen of 911
- Compliance Recording: What You Need to Know
Call Recording for your Call Center
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Contact us today to discuss how an efficient and reliable call recording system can enhance your Call Center, impact your organization's productivity and improve customer relations.


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interviewBy Faridah Kulabako
Mr Mathias Katamba is the Chief Executive Officer of Finance Trust. He will, however, be leaving the institution at the end of this month after five years of service. Faridah Kulabako caught up with him and he shared his views about Uganda's financial services sector. Excerpts:
You are leaving Finance Trust Bank. Why the career move?
I have given the company five years. It has been growing at an average of 30 per cent per year for the last three years and its now well positioned to be one of the leading domestic financial institutions of tomorrow. A time like this presents the best opportunity for me to leave and pass on the mantle to another person.
What changes have you made at Finance Trust during your tenure?
We have expanded our footprint from 21 to 29 branches. We recently opened a 30th branch in Arua, making Finance Trust the largest Micro finance Deposit Taking Institution by branch number.
Our deposits have also grown by more than four times from Shs6 billion to Shs25 billion. The loan book has grown by close to three times from Shs12 billion to Shs36 billion and the total assets have more than doubled from Shs23 billion to over Shs52 billion. At the same time, the loan portfolio quality has improved significantly from Portfolio at Risk of over 24 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
Notably also, Finance Trust has also received regulatory approval for a Tier one Commercial Banking Licence, which is a major step in the development of the company.
How were you able to achieve all that?
We focused on the most critical elements of the business. Firstly we strengthened the control environment and worked to continuously improve our risk management and compliance. We also put emphasis on improving our customer value proposition and developing the right talent to drive the business. We then strategically expanded our footprint and leveraged technology to increase accessibility and convenience to our customers.
Banks have of late been revising their interest rates in reaction to the Bank of Uganda monetary policies. Aren't these actions affecting financial institutions' loan books?
For now, the effect may be different between the larger borrowers and micro borrowers. The larger corporate borrowers are likely to hold off major borrowing decisions in response to the higher costs, which may lead to a slowdown in the growth rate of the loan books for institutions that target that market. However, growth of demand for micro loans is likely to continue for some time perhaps for some months as micro businesses have a higher level of resilience.
The bigger challenge is that due to the increasing economic pressures, continued borrowing at the lower end might also increasingly be diverted to fund consumption and this is likely to lead to increased default rates in the future, if not managed.
Reduced lending due to falling bank liquidity, increasing interbank rates, a high risk free lending rate and reduced bank risk appetite could lead to a slowdown in the economy as businesses opt not to invest, not to take on new hires and reduce staff, eventually leading to recession.
You are one of the few Ugandan CEOs that the country has had. Why don't bank owners trust Ugandans to head companies?
It's not about trusting or not trusting Ugandans. It's a combination of factors for instance; who owns the factors of production? What is the quality of tertiary education for skills development other than universities and availability of post education corporate grooming? In a globalised world there will be winners and losers.
Winners are countries or communities that have prepared themselves for globalisation and this is purely commercially or business driven.
We need to take deliberate steps to build significant corporate infrastructure necessary to build and groom our human capital. For instance, a number of our professional bankers in Uganda were groomed within Uganda Commercial Bank and if you look around for professional bankers, they have some roots in UCB.
They were groomed for leadership because UCB had a vested interest to develop domestic human capital. It is rare that a foreign employer is aligned in that respect. It is no surprise that most of the Ugandan CEOs of financial institutions work for domestic financial institutions.
These institutions have deliberately groomed and developed local talent. As such institutions grow and as more local role models are developed, they will hopefully churn out a pool of high quality business leaders for the future.
What is the way forward?
We must have a deliberate strategy for human capital development and build strong tertiary institutions for skills development across all industries. We must also foster an entrepreneurial culture to build large domestic businesses to groom our talent for business leadership so that we can stand a chance to be winners in a globalised world.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the local banking industry?
Like all businesses, the industry is affected by the high cost of doing business today. But more from an MDI perspective, which might also hold true across the entire sector, is the availability of skilled talent.
I personally witnessed this three years ago during the banking sector boom. New banks opened shop in the local market and shopped around for talent. The effect was almost immediate as turnover in MDIs increased and payroll costs began to rise. Also a key challenge is the high cost of mobilising small deposits.
How can those challenges be tackled?
Managing costs requires that businesses constantly try to increase efficiency especially through the deployment of innovative technology. Regarding talent, I believe efforts are underway through the institute of bankers to close the skills gap.
Are you totally quitting the banking sector ?
I am certainly not leaving the microfinance environment but using private equity to get deeper and do more. I plan to partner with like-minded people to set up an investment management business that will support development of the financial inclusion space in East Africa.


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As children, we believed we could make anything armed with a black permanent marker and some scrap paper: a house; a new dress for mum; a pet giraffe; etc. PAPERSELF went one step further and thought—why not decorative eyelashes? Inspired by the ancient Chinese art of paper cutting, this pair of eco-friendly, reusable paper lashes are extravagant and enchanting.
Two false eyelashes. Lashes are reusable and can be cut to size to fit your eye. Eyelash glue not included.
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text: Home > Passive Components > Circuit Protection This article was posted on 08/22/2011 Circuit breakers meet UL489 specs The NDB3-100 series of circuit breakers meet requirements for UL489 hydraulic magnetic circuit breakers. The breakers are available in ac and dc trip curves. The hydraulic magnetic overload technology protects the circuit in both overload and short-circuit situations. All circuit breakers are ROHS compliant.The circuit breakers are screw mount and are rated from 1 to 100 A. They have a voltage rating of 230 Vac/400 Vac, and 80 Vdc for one-, two-, or three-pole. (Contact 877-650-5160 for price and availability.)By Paul O'SheaAutomation Systems Interconnect, Mechanicsburg, email@example.com://www.asi-ez.com Learn more about Automation Systems Interconnect Purchase the NDB3100 NDB3-100J415/1LSS1AO NDB3-100 Z2 F120/2LUA2B0-L NDB3-100 Z2 F150/2LUA2B0-L NDB3-100 Z4 100/1LSY8A0 NDB3-100Z4 63/1LUS2A1-L 1 NDB3-100Z4 63/1LUS2A1-L 16604 NDB3-100Z480/1LSS2A1L NDB3-100Z4 80/1LUS2A1-L 16605 Add Comment Text Only 2000 character limit Please login to comment on the article


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Certificates of Deposit
Offering competitive fixed rates in variable terms to meet your needs, Certificates of Deposit (CD's) are a smart choice when you don't need immediate access to your funds and you want a guaranteed rate of return.
There are no monthly or quarterly service fees and no penalty to withdraw accrued interest. Penalties may be assessed for early withdrawals of principal.


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Apply to Teach
Because it is an opportunity unlike any other available to high school and college students, the Breakthrough teaching fellowship is very competitive. For summer 2014, over 160 candidates completed the interview process for 42 positions. The application process is very rigorous. It is modeled after the fellowship experience itself, and it places teachers in several circumstances they will encounter during the summer. To do well, a candidate must present themselves effectively in multiple settings.
Step 1: Do The Research
The first step in applying for the Breakthrough teaching fellowship this summer is learning everything you possibly can about it. Please do the following before beginning an application:
Step 2: The Online Application
The online application is completed through the national Breakthrough Collaborative website. The application will be available in November 2014. In order for Breakthrough Twin Cities to have the right to consider you first, please pick Breakthrough Twin Cities as your #1 site preference nationally. Write your essays in a word document and paste your responses into the online application when you are finished. Follow all instructions closely. Depending on which sites you are applying to, there may be two application deadlines:
Step 3: Recommendation & Transcript
You will be asked to provide the contact information of a recommender during the application process. Your recommendation will be completed electronically. If you are invited to an interview you will also be asked to provide an unofficial transcript in advance of the interview in electronic form.
Step 4: The Teacher Interview Event
Interviews are granted on a rolling basis, so applying early will increase your chances of being invited to an interview! If invited to the interview stage, candidates will need to complete an in-person interview, or the interview alternative.
Step 5: Notification
After interviewing candidates (or reviewing alternative submissions for non-local candidates) we will send notifications. We strive to notify all candidates of their status no later than the first week of April.


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The United States and the European Union have agreed on how the EU's new satellite navigation system Galileo will provide its signal. Political representatives from both sides will sign the first formal agreement at the EU-US summit in Ireland on Saturday.
The two sides have also agreed to mesh Galileo with the US's Global Positioning System (GPS), providing a seamless network of almost 60 satellites that will improve the accuracy of both systems.
The agreement ends a five-year transatlantic dispute, which began when the EU announced plans to build a rival to the US's GPS network. The EU is keen to have a global navigation satellite system that is independent of GPS, which is run by the US military. The EU believes this would greatly stimulate the civilian use of satellite navigation.
But a dispute arose because the US feared that the signal modulation originally proposed for Galileo would interfere with its military operations. This was because the proposed signal partly overlapped an encrypted GPS military signal planned for 2005, known as M-code. The US also claimed that the similarity would impede the its ability to jam all signals except M-code during armed conflicts, for example.
Now the two sides have agreed that the fleet of 30 Galileo satellites, intended to be fully implemented by 2008, will use the signal modulation known as Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) 1,1. The US has also agreed to adopt this signal in its next generation GPS, which consists of about 28 satellites.
Greater precision
BOC 1,1 was recommended by the US but initially resisted by the EU. It preferred BOC 1.5, 1.5, because it would have provided greater precision. Mike Healy of EADS Astrium, the European company contracted to build prototype Galileo satellites says: "In the end Europe moved. It wasn't the absolute optimum solution that Europe wanted, but it was close enough."
Rene Oosterlinck, head of the Navigation Department at the European Space Agency, describes the EU's decision to co-operate with the US as "political". But he says the loss of accuracy that comes from using BOC 1.5,1.5 is "insignificant", as both will provide vastly superior accuracy to GPS.
There is also a substantial benefit to be gained from making the two networks interoperable, he says. "We were not obliged to co-operate with the US, but for both markets it is good to have a system that is truly compatible."
Richard Langley, a satellite communications expert at the University of New Brunswick in Canada, agrees: "It's basically a win-win for both sides. The benefit of having the dual constellation is a lot more significant that the marginal difference between BOC 1,1 and BOC 1.5, 1.5."
A dual system helps to increase accuracy because it doubles the likelihood of a device on the ground being within range of enough satellites to pinpoint its location.
Oosterlinck says this improvement in precision will lead to a greater demand for positioning systems. For example, GPS currently fails to pinpoint devices in built-up areas, but with twice as many satellites, its use in cars and for other location-based applications, would be far more common, he says.
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.


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Remote Video Monitoring: Your Next Recurring Revenue Model
As the physical and electronic security markets dwindle due to residential security, mind it be a single dwelling unit (SDU) or multi-dwelling unit (MDU), remote video monitoring services is the way to make it back.
The traditional blueprint of charging your residential owner a monthly fee for alarm intrusion monitoring is slowly diminishing in North America. Some of the reasons for this are most home owners are PC or technical savvy and more aware of how they can save on monthly expenses. They research every major purchase they are going to make (or think about making). Many end users know they can go around PSEI companies and monitor their alarm intrusion panels themselves via their mobile devices.
The alarm intrusion manufacturers have created this issue themselves by offering IP bridges to their alarm panels. This gives end users more power to use their alarm panels as a personal device. For example, in basic home automation, end users can turn the heat on or off, turn lights on remotely, and receive text messages when their children arrive home. Video can also be provided via the alarm panel or intercom system.
PSEIs now have to find another way to make up their shrinking RMR in the market if they cannot convince the home owners to use their monitoring services.
The way to do this is on the residential (high end market), commercial and industrial side of the business. This is where RVM (remote video monitoring) comes into effect for RMR. RVM is a very efficient way of making RMR as well as offering an ultimate tier service that can help complement the PSEI company and brand as a service provider.
They are many different RVM services a PSEI can offer to its commercial, industrial and residential customers. The key is determining which service is the right one and if it will help meet the customer's expectations.
- Residential remote video monitoring
- Commercial and industrial properties
- Second homes
- Concierge RVM (using video voice system)
- Telephone after hours services
Once PSEIs talks with its customers and finds out what their concerns are, they can develop a sound game plan for a suitable and practical RVM solution. RVM services can be the next big wave in the security industry.
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1 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
Mark….Great start to the story, but you need to go deeper. Video IQ and others are using analytics creatively in this space, although many of those deeply involved, also have a response team to back up the video.
In high end Hoods in Toronto, just walking to the front door will get you a 'visit' from those wearing body armor, increasing security many fold to those that can afford the monthly cost. I have been involved with several firms that have refined this offering, and their clients seemed very satisfied.


text:
Date: 2 years ago
Runtime: 1:05
Views: 61,004
FTM cum, frontal view
For all of those who've requested a frontal view, here it is. Many of you have asked me where the cum is from or what it is: well.... when I had the urethral lengthening surgery, I also had the vagina removed. The surgeon used the anterior aspect of the vagina to create the first part of the urethra, by rolling it into a tube. Therefore, there's some vaginal tissue remaining at the junction of the neo-urethra. Because of this, when I get excited or orgasm, that old tissue still creates lubrication. After I'm done cumming, I can "milk" this "cum" out of my dick, through the urethra by pressing up at the junction of the neo-urethra and following it up to the tip. It's always fun to see how much there is. Don't forget to comment. :)
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(Sunday, December 18th)
Final Score: New Orleans 42, Minnesota 20
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Drew Brees threw for 412 yards and five touchdowns on 32-of-40 passing, leading the New Orleans Saints to a 42-20 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field.
Brees went over the 300-yard mark for the 11th time this season, breaking his own record of 10 set in 2008.
New Orleans played without running back Mark Ingram, who missed his second straight game with a toe injury, but Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory filled the void. Thomas finished with 44 yards and a score on eight carries, while Ivory ran for 74 yards on 18 carries.
"We're still working, we have some things we need to correct," Thomas said. "We talked before the game that we can't beat ourselves. We turned the ball over twice and that's going to hurt us, but I think we played a great game and our offense started to step up to the plate, which we knew was going to happen. We knew we had it in us. As long as we don't stop ourselves we know we're going to be good."
Lance Moore caught five passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns for the Saints (11-3), while Marques Colston brought in eight passes for 91 yards.
Darren Sproles caught five balls for 79 yards and a touchdown, while Jimmy Graham snagged seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
New Orleans has already clinched a playoff spot, and can lock up the NFC South Division title with a win over the Atlanta Falcons next week. The Saints have won six straight games.
Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder threw for 120 yards and two touchdowns to Toby Gerhart, while being intercepted once and completing 14-of-31 passes.
Adrian Peterson returned to action for Minnesota (2-12) after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain, and ran for 60 yards on 10 carries. But the Vikings lost their sixth straight game, the first time that's happened since 1984.
"We obviously have to take advantage of our opportunities," Ponder said. "We didn't do a good job the whole game of keeping the defense off the field. The offense has to play well for those guys and we didn't. To get two fumbles and not put up two touchdowns is not good. As an offense, we have to put points on the board, especially knowing how good of an offense New Orleans has."
Minnesota got on the board first following a turnover by the Saints on the opening possession of the game. Brees completed a pass over the middle to Graham, but he lost the ball and it was picked up by Mistral Raymond and returned 26 yards to the New Orleans 26.
From there, the Vikings were unable to move the ball and Ryan Longwell connected on a 44-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
The Saints got the offense rolling late in the first quarter as Brees led a 10-play, 84-yard drive, capped by a five-yard touchdown strike to Moore to give the Saints a 7-3 lead. During the march, Brees completed all seven of his pass attempts for 77 yards.
Early in the second quarter, the Vikings got a big break when Saints center Brian De La Puente got his signals crossed at the line of scrimmage and snapped the ball past an unsuspecting Brees. It was scooped up by Everson Griffen, who took it back nine yards to the Saints' 21.
Minnesota was unable to capitalize on the excellent field position again, as the Vikings ran three plays for a loss of 10 yards. Longwell connected on another field goal -- this one from 49 yards out to cut it to a one-point game.
On the ensuing drive, the Saints marched 80 yards in five plays -- aided by a huge defensive pass interference call on 1st-and-25, which put the ball on the Vikings' one-yard line. On the next play, Brees threw a perfect back shoulder fade to Graham for a one-yard touchdown strike and a 14-6 edge.
But, Minnesota kept it close on its next drive, going 61 yards in six plays -- sparked by a big 39-yard sprint by Peterson on 3rd-and-1 to bring the ball to the New Orleans 13. Three plays later, Ponder tossed a 10-yard shovel pass to Gerhart for the touchdown to make it a one-point game again with 6:59 to go before the break.
On the ensuing possession, the Saints used another impressive drive -- 76 yards in 13 plays -- and Brees capped it with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sproles to make it 21-13 with 1:33 left before halftime.
Minnesota opened the second half with a three-and-out and Sproles returned Chris Kluwe's punt 22 yards to the Vikings' 44.
From there, Brees hit Graham with an 18-yard completion on first down, then threw a screen pass to Sproles on 2nd-and-4 for 18 more yards to bring the ball to the two. Brees then capped the quick scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to John Gilmore to make it 28-13.
The Saints struck again when Brees connected with Moore on a 47-yard catch- and-run to finish off a three-play, 53-yard drive to make it 35-13 with 10:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Thomas pushed his way into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run early in the final quarter to make it 42-13, and Gerhart rumbled 16 yards for a touchdown with 5:12 left in regulation to cap the scoring.
Game Notes
Minnesota has an 18-9 lead in its overall regular-season series with New Orleans...It was Brees' seventh career 400-yard game and sixth career five- touchdown game...New Orleans improved to 5-3 on the road this season...Brees has thrown for 20-or-more completions in 34 consecutive games and has gone 21 straight quarters without an interception...The Saints converted eight of their 11 third down opportunities, while Minnesota went 4-for-14 on third down...New Orleans outgained Minnesota, 573-207.


text: Gasp! One Direction may soon be short one super cute member, at least if Harry Styles gets his way. I hear the 18-year-old flew out to LA sans this fellow bandmates to meet with producers and film a solo project. No word on if that's a film, commercial or an iPhone video for his grandmother, but one thing seems to be clear: HS is growing up…and out!


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The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has given Sag Harbor's John Jermain Memorial Library (JJML) the green light to move forward with plans to expand the historic Main Street building.
During a JJML board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, August 19 JJML director Cathy Creedon announced the library had been given the go-ahead by the state to proceed with plans to nearly double the size of the library. In June, Sag Harbor Union Free School District voters approved a nearly $10 million referendum to expand the facility.
According to Creedon, as JJML is a "contributing building within the National Register-listed Sag Harbor Historic District," by law, OPRHP must review the proposed building program before any changes or additions are made. Creedon sent out a packet to the state agency just days after the referendum's passage, and received word at the end of July that OPRHP was content with the plan and did not believe it would have an adverse impact on the historic or cultural resources of Sag Harbor.
"Failure to get the 'No Negative Impact' statement held up the Jefferson Street ramp for a number of years, and I hope that this provisional okay this early in the process will help with the required permits," said Creedon.
After receiving that letter from the state, in late July Creedon met with Chris Barletta and Victor Conseco from Sandpebble Builders, the project construction managers, as well as architects Michael Scott, Richard Munday and Erin Gallagher from Newman Architects, which will design the proposed modern, glass 7000 square-foot addition. With surveyors, the library's land use attorney Gil Flanagan and library board president Diane Gaites in tow, the group met with Sag Harbor Village Attorney Anthony Tohill, the village's environmental planning consultant Richard Warren, as well as Sag Harbor Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board (ARB) Chairman Cee Scott Brown and Planning Board Chairman Neil Slevin in preparation for what is expected to be an arduous permitting process.
According to Creedon, the meeting covered a variety of issues including parking, the creation of a parking study, site survey, permitting and environmental review requirements the library will have to meet. Creedon said fieldwork on the site survey, the first step, has begun and bids have been sent out for both a hazardous materials consultant and a parking consultant.
"One thing I came away with is the feeling it is not going to be an easy process," said Gaites last Wednesday.
As diligent as the board was in ensuring the passage of June's referendum, Gaites said the same commitment would be needed to get through this permitting process, particularly in ensuring public support for the project at village meetings.
"It is important to get the public on board," said Gaites.
On Tuesday, Creedon said she hoped the permit process would begin in November or December at the latest.
In other library news, JJML has hired a new research librarian Jessica Frankel to join the staff on a part time basis. Creedon said Frankel will help her work on the expansion of history room materials – a key element in her long-range goals for JJML.
"She has a varied background, with experience as a high school English teacher, a research librarian on Wall Street, a job search counselor for the Brooklyn Public Library and a reference library at the Cutchogue Library," said Creedon.


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Recipe of the month
Festive Tex-Mex Burgers
What's New and Beneficial About Quinoa
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has officially declared that the year 2013 be recognized as "The International Year of the Quinoa." Proposed by the government of Bolivia and receiving strong support from many Central and South American countries, quinoa has now been singled out by the FAO as a food with "high nutritive value," impressive biodiversity, and an important role to play in the achievement of food security worldwide. We realize that quinoa remains unfamiliar to many people, especially in the practical sense of cooking and recipes. But we hope that situation will change, given the remarkable nature of this easily-prepared, nutrient-rich food.


text: Do you have a degree in Wildlife biology? Do have a house cat? You should do some research on Cougar attacks in the lower 48. I have. Like I said, you are more likely to win the lottery twice in one day than get attacked by a mountain lion. My feeling is that Vancouver Island, is well, and island. Cougars are forced into human interaction and therefore become habituated and aggressive. VI has one of the densest populations of cougar on earth. Cats are very afraid of humans. Think about it, if they weren't most anyone hiking in the woods would be an easy meal, easy. Too much human interaction turns curiosity into predation. Never turn your back on a cat. Never bend over and drink water with your back to the woods (this can trigger the predator instinct. Many deer are killed when drinking from a stream. If a cat is stalking you, face it and walk in its direction--- it will take off. This indicates to the cat that you're not afraid and therefore not prey potential. Find deep water. Yes, it's a myth that cougar don't like water, but it is true that it's very rare a cat will go in water where they are forced to swim. As I mentioned, they're looking for weakness. I will say this; whenever I take my kids in the woods, I always make them walk in front of me. That way, I appear to be the weakest link. The bottom line is----- fear is unnecessary.


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To appraise a vehicle, please select a model below:
In the small car segment, the Subaru Impreza is often overshadowed by more popular nameplates. There are two primary reasons for this: the Impreza's higher-than-average pricing and a lack of brand awareness regarding Subaru vehicles. But things are changing and Subaru's sales have been surging in recent years as consumers are discovering that the Subaru Impreza can be an excellent choice among compact cars.
The Impreza's most notable edge is its distinctive powertrain, as this model has always been available with all-wheel drive. This provides it with extra traction in slippery conditions and, on higher-horsepower models, works in combination with the Impreza's well-sorted chassis to provide entertaining handling. The Impreza has always been powered by its unusual horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, which emits a distinctive growl during acceleration. Competitive in most other respects except for the fuel economy of the previous generations, the Impreza is an excellent alternative choice for a new or used small sedan, wagon or hatchback.
Used Subaru Impreza Models
The previous, third-generation Subaru Impreza was mostly offered from 2008 through 2011. We say "mostly" because the WRX and WRX STI models continued on unchanged into 2012. This Impreza was offered as a sedan and hatchback in four main trim levels: 2.5i, Outback Sport, WRX and WRX STI. Depending on the year, there were also some fancier sub-trims -- the WRX Premium, WRX Limited and WRX STI Limited.
The 2.5i and Outback Sport models had a horizontally opposed 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 hp matched to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The WRX got a turbocharged 2.5 that put out either 224 hp/226 lb-ft of torque or 265 hp/244 lb-ft depending on the year, and it came with the five-speed manual. The STI boosted the turbocharged output even further to 305 hp and 290 lb-ft and boasted a six-speed manual. All engines sent their power to all four wheels via the standard all-wheel-drive system.
The Impreza Outback Sport had a slightly raised suspension for better ground clearance and a two-tone exterior paint scheme. Besides its turbocharged boxer engine, the WRX came with specialized wheels, tires and suspension. The STI featured even more performance-oriented hardware, such as stiffer suspension settings, 18-inch tires, Brembo brakes and aggressively bolstered sport seats.
Although this third-generation Impreza ran just four model years, there were some notable changes. The WRX was initially tuned for ride comfort rather than handling prowess, and as such the earlier versions disappointed enthusiasts who expected sharper cornering ability. Subaru firmed up the WRX's suspension for '09 and also boosted engine output by 41 horses to 265 hp. The former engine (224 hp) and suspension essentially lived on as the automatic-only 2.5GT offered for 2009 and '10.
A new grille design arrived for 2010 along with a Limited trim level for the WRX and Special Edition trim/packages for certain models. The following year, the WRX adopted the STI's aggressive styling cues, such as the flared fenders.
Collectors should note that there was a limited-production STI (only 125 units total) Special Edition trim for 2010, which featured the wheels and firmer suspension from Japan's STI spec C model. In exchange for a lower sticker price, the Special Edition did away with some upscale features and as such had halogen headlights, a four-speaker stereo, a single-CD player and manual climate control.
In reviews, we found the standard Impreza capable overall, and in wet weather conditions especially reassuring thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. Acceleration of the 2.5i model was adequate, though the four-speed automatic was disappointing in a segment where five or six speeds were available. Enthusiast drivers would be happier with the WRX, which is almost as quick as the pricier STI and handles very well. But as mentioned earlier, those who prefer tighter handling to a plusher ride should skip the softly tuned '08 model. The STI raises the performance bar slightly, but not really enough to justify its price. Although road noise is elevated at highway speeds, a WRX and even WRX STI still deliver a compliant ride and would make for a comfortable driving companion.
The second-generation Subaru Impreza was sold from 2002-'07. It was available as a five-passenger sedan or a wagon. Mechanically, the two body styles were similar. At its debut, this Impreza was sold in the following trim levels: 2.5 RS sedan, WRX sedan and wagon, 2.5 TS Sport Wagon and Outback Sport wagon.
Powering non-WRX models was a 2.5-liter engine making 165 hp. The WRX had a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine making 227 hp. Transmission choices included a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Imprezas of this period were reasonably well equipped, with the most features and performance-oriented hardware coming on the WRX.
Though all years of this Impreza are highly regarded, there are some changes to be aware of. Models made for 2004 and later benefited from a variety of feature updates, including revised front-end styling, updated suspension components for a better ride quality and more convenience features. For 2006, Subaru updated the Impreza's front styling again and introduced updated engines. The renamed 2.5i trim levels came with 173 hp, while the WRX sedan and wagon gained a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine producing 230 hp.
From 2004-'07, Subaru also sold the ultra-high-performance Impreza STI. This special variant of the sedan came with a 300-hp version of the 2.5-liter turbo engine, a six-speed manual transmission, an even stiffer suspension and powerful Brembo brakes. It also had exclusive features like a driver-adjustable center differential and a water sprayer for the intercooler.
At the time, we found the second-generation Subaru Impreza to be one of the best performance cars available for the money. Though lacking the most up-to-date features and suffering from an increasingly dated interior design, this generation had a fun-to-drive personality that kept it competitive with more modern performance hatchbacks and sedans. The STI, meanwhile, was capable of out-accelerating and out-handling many dedicated sport coupes of the time.
Considering the glorious halo associated with this second generation, it might be somewhat surprising to learn that the Subaru Impreza had a rather meek American debut for 1993. The first-generation model was available as a sedan or wagon and came equipped with a 1.8-liter flat-4 good for just 110 hp. All-wheel drive was optional, not standard. There were three trim levels: base, L and LS. The LS (later renamed LX) came with more equipment, including a standard four-speed automatic transmission and antilock brakes.
Subaru made its first major changes to this generation for 1995. Additions included a two-door coupe model, the Outback wagon and a larger 135-hp 2.2-liter engine option. The larger engine was available only with a four-speed automatic, however. This situation was rectified in '96 when the five-speed manual became available for the 2.2-liter. That year, Subaru also made the larger engine standard on all trims except the low-budget Brighton coupe.
The first-generation Subaru Impreza continued to improve in its later years. For 1997, Subaru brought out an improved Outback model, increased the power output of the 2.2-liter, made AWD standard and dropped the LX trim. A year later, the desirable Impreza 2.5 RS debuted. Though not as powerful as the turbocharged WRX versions that Subaru was selling in other parts of the world, the coupe-only 2.5 RS came with a 165-hp 2.5-liter engine, a sport-tuned suspension, a non-functional hood scoop and 16-inch wheels. It also tied in nicely to the Impreza's success in the World Rally Championship during this time. No more significant changes were made to the Impreza, though a 2.5 RS sedan did arrive for 2000.
If you are looking for newer years, visit our new Subaru Impreza page.


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Lamek Shatilwe, aka Satlam, dropped his much anticipated 16-track fourth studio album, My Fans My Blood on Friday.
According to Satlam, it took him a year to compose the whole album, spending much time on finding the right inspiration to eject his brains on how to inspire his fans. His personal favourite song on the album is Track 7-Helao. "I love this song because it is dedicated to my son who was born pre-mature on January 10, 2013. I spent much time closer to him last year, bringing him up and looking into his eyes all the time. Now he is a big and naughty boy. In addition, this is a song I tried to bring the best out of my singing vocals," says Satlam.
The album has a feel of Afro Pop, Kwaito, Kwiku, Kizomba and Gospel. Satlam tried his hand at producing few of the songs on the album while roping in the experience of well experienced producers in the industry, as well as some upcoming talents. The artists featuring range from upcoming to the best in the Namibian industry. Shekeni, Dorrian, Exit, Pessico, M-Jay, Young T, Tequila, Patrick, J-Kambo and Treckfo are some of the Namibian artists featured on the album. "I believe this is my best album so far. I really worked hard on this one. Interesting thing about this album is that I changed the sound I usually use from one level to another. I tested my voice by singing and it worked well. In addition I brought in different artists with different flavour just to spice up the whole album," he says.
However, there are no shot-cuts to stardom. Satlam more than anyone is well aware of that. Having realised his talent for song writing at a tender age, it was to take many years, major obstacles and sheer hard work to get to where he is today-comfortable, and where he is regarded as one of the best artists Namibia has ever produced. "It was tough in the beginning because when I started out, I didn't have enough money for studio times and for taxis to distribute the firm album, and to pay for all the threads involved. So people thought I wouldn't be able to stand on my two feet but I proved them wrong, here I am with my fourth album," Written by Staff Reporter