text:
Manitoba, province of Canada, one of the Prairie Provinces, lying midway between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The province is bounded to the north by Nunavut territory, to the northeast by Hudson Bay, to the east by Ontario, to the south by the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota, and to the west by Saskatchewan. Manitoba contains more than 100,000 lakes, including Lake Winnipeg, one of the world's largest inland bodies of fresh water. More than two-fifths of the province's land area is forested. Winnipeg, Manitoba's largest city, is the capital. The province's name comes from an Indian word meaning "the god who speaks."
Manitoba became Canada's fifth province when the area that had been the Red River Settlement was admitted to the confederation in 1870. The present-day province straddles the boundary between the Prairie and Central Canada, and it has both a large agricultural sector and a topography similar to those of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. It also has a mixed economy, an urban orientation, and a multiethnic character, all of which are more like Ontario than the Prairie West. While other areas of the Canadian West have experienced economic cycles of boom and bust, Manitoba has maintained a steadier pace. Similarly, the province's political and cultural life has largely avoided the extremes that tend to characterize western Canadian society. Area 250,116 square miles (647,797 square km), of which about one-sixth is inland water. Pop. (2016) 1,278,365; (2019 est.) 1,356,836.
Relief, drainage, and soils
Extreme southern Manitoba is part of the Saskatchewan plain, a land of rich, level prairies and rolling pastures. The Manitoba Lowland to the north is the basin that once held glacial Lake Agassiz, remnants of which include Lake Winnipeg (9,416 square miles [24,387 square km]), Lake Winnipegosis (2,075 square miles [5,374 square km]), and Lake Manitoba (1,785 square miles [4,623 square km]). Upland plateaus, wooded river valleys, limestone outcrops, forests, and swamps mark the area that is drained by the Red River of the North and the Assiniboine River into Lake Winnipeg. Much of this river region is a natural floodplain, which has often been inundated. Modern flood-control measures (particularly the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion) have mitigated the problem.
To the north and east of the lowland is the geologically ancient Canadian Shield, an area of rocks, forests, and rivers. It covers about three-fifths of the province and is drained by the Nelson and Churchill rivers into Hudson Bay. The Hudson Bay Lowland extends roughly 100 miles (160 km) inland as a flat plain of tundra and boglike muskeg. Manitoba's Western Upland is on the Saskatchewan border. The Riding, Duck, and Porcupine mountains form the Manitoba Escarpment, the highest point of which is Baldy Mountain at 2,727 feet (831 metres). Soil conditions change from south to north. In the fertile zone, south and west of Lake Winnipeg, black soils suitable for farming dominate, although there are occasional large sandy areas. North of this region, lower-quality black soil and gray wooded soils are found. Soil in the shield, generally not suitable for agriculture, is characterized as gray wooded, podzol, and peat.
Manitoba has a moderately dry climate with sharp seasonal temperature changes. Winter temperatures of about −40 °F (−40 °C) may occasionally occur in any part of the province, and summer days of 100 °F (38 °C) are not unusual in the southern regions. Average daily temperatures in Winnipeg range from 9 °F (−13 °C) in January to 80 °F (27 °C) in July. Average lows vary from −9 °F (−23 °C) in January to 57 °F (14 °C) in July. Annual precipitation varies from 14 inches (360 mm) in the north to 22 inches (560 mm) in the southeast, with about two-thirds of it falling between May and September. Snow typically covers the ground from November to April in the south and even longer in the north.
Plant and animal life
The southern part of the province was once covered by open grasslands, most of which have been converted into farmland. The southern plains are relatively treeless, except for the river valleys, where stands of aspen, oak, willow, and poplar are common. Manitoba's more than 148,000 square miles (383,000 square km) of forest include open parklands of ash, Manitoba maple, elm, and oak in the south, becoming a mixed broad-leaved and coniferous forest to the north and west and a true northern coniferous forest in the higher elevations. Trees in the north include white and black spruce, jack pine, aspen, white birch, and tamarack. The Hudson Bay lowlands have willow and spruce, as well as moss, lichens, and sedges.
Caribou, Arctic foxes, martens, wolves, otters, lynx, red squirrels, and mink live in the northern forests; deer, moose, cougars, elk, black bears, beavers, weasels, raccoons, red foxes, coyotes, and muskrats inhabit the more southerly areas. Polar bears roam along Hudson Bay. Grouse, prairie chickens, and other game birds live in the uplands, and millions of geese and ducks breed in Manitoba's sloughs and ponds. Fish include bass, pickerel, sauger, pike, trout, and whitefish. Beluga whales inhabit Hudson Bay.
Population composition
Manitoba is home to a number of North American aboriginal groups, including the Assiniboin and Ojibwa Indians (First Nations) in the south, the Cree and Chipewyan Indians in the north, and the Inuit (aboriginal Arctic people of Canada, called Eskimo in the United States) on the Hudson Bay coast. The aboriginal peoples have occupied the region for thousands of years, although historically there has been considerable population movement. In addition, their numbers were greatly reduced as a result of exposure to European diseases, particularly smallpox. In the early 19th century the Métis (people of mixed Indian and European ancestry, whom the Canadian government granted legal recognition as a native group at the beginning of the 21st century) developed a unique plains culture. The early agricultural Red River Settlement attracted a number of Scottish farmers, and improvements to river and rail transportation led to the rapid growth of European settlement between 1870 and 1900. Most early settlers were from elsewhere in Canada, but Icelanders and German-speaking Mennonites also arrived beginning in the 1870s. After 1896 immigration from eastern Europe began in considerable numbers. Manitoba's population declined during the Great Depression in the 1930s and World War II but grew steadily thereafter, largely through natural increase.
Manitoba is noted for its ethnic diversity. There are many ethnic enclaves within the city of Winnipeg. Notably, the north end of the city retains a strong eastern European character, and the St. Boniface district has one of the largest Francophone communities outside Quebec. Francophones established a number of communities south of Winnipeg; Germans settled in south-central Manitoba; and a sizable Icelandic settlement developed around Gimli, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Although more than two-fifths of the current population is of British descent, significant ethnic minorities include Germans, Ukrainians, French, South Asians, Italians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Poles. Roman Catholicism and the United Church of Canada are the largest religious denominations, although there are substantial numbers of Anglicans, Lutherans, Mennonites, and adherents to Eastern Orthodoxy and the Ukrainian Catholic (Eastern rite) church, plus many smaller groups. Winnipeg's Jewish community is the largest in the Prairie Provinces.
Settlement patterns
In the south, Manitoba's countryside has an older, more occupied look than those of the other Prairie Provinces. The development of the Red River Settlement in the 19th century gave the early province a distinctly rural character. The rapid occupation of the agricultural lands between 1870 and 1914 and subsequent expansion into the Interlake and northwest areas maintained the rural dominance. During World War II, however, the rural-urban balance tipped. Since then, the depopulation of rural Manitoba has continued apace, and Winnipeg and the province's network of smaller urban centres have grown accordingly. By the turn of the 21st century, nearly three-fourths of the province's population was urban. Over four-fifths of this urban population (and about three-fifths of the total population of the province) resides in metropolitan Winnipeg.
Other than Winnipeg, the province's main towns are Brandon, an industrial and agricultural centre serving the southwest; Thompson, a nickel-mining and nickel-processing town in the northern forest; The Pas, a trading and communications centre on the Saskatchewan River; Flin Flon, a mining centre near the Saskatchewan border; Churchill, a trans-shipment centre and port on Hudson Bay; Dauphin, a regional service town in west-central Manitoba; Selkirk, the centre of commercial fishing and water transportation on Lake Winnipeg; and several service towns, such as Steinbach and Morden, in the southeastern region.
Demographic trends
Mainly because Manitoba's economy faltered in the late 20th century, at least by comparison with the economies of other western Canadian provinces, there has been a steady out-migration of young people and professionals to other provinces—especially the Canadian West. Immigration to the province now comes mainly from less-developed countries. Manitoba's population also has become consistently older since the end of World War II. The province's birth rate is slightly higher than the national average. As a result of all of these factors, Manitoba's population was barely growing at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Agriculture remains an important sector of the Manitoban economy, though climate and soil types limit agricultural production; indeed, some marginal areas, including the Interlake District, have been farmed for several generations with little success. A significant portion of the province lies north of the 53rd parallel, where the Canadian Shield begins, and has an extremely short growing season. While much of the agricultural production is grain for export, a sizable market gardening sector (cultivation of vegetables and flowers for sale in nearby markets) has developed in the lands bordering the Red and Assiniboine rivers. In addition, poultry, hogs, and cattle are raised throughout the southern districts of the province, and the livestock sector has grown significantly. Wheat remains the province's main crop; others include barley, rapeseed (canola), flaxseed, oats, rye, sugar beets, sunflowers, corn (maize), and canning vegetables. Dairy products, eggs, and potatoes are also important.
Forestry is a key factor in northern Manitoba's economy. More than one-fourth of the province's landmass supports valuable timber, although there has been much devastation from forest fires. Manitoba also has a specialized commercial fishing industry, primarily located around the major lakes—Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Winnipegosis.
Resources and power
The province has a range of resources to draw upon, which has allowed it to diversify its economic base. Numerous mineral deposits, including nickel, copper, gold, lead, silver, cadmium, and zinc, make mining a vital part of the economy. Oil and natural gas have been found in the southwest, particularly around Virden, although the fields are relatively small.
Manitoba also has a huge network of streams, rivers, and lakes with considerable potential for hydroelectric development. Manitoba Hydro, the government-owned utility, has developed a number of large power stations along the Nelson and Saskatchewan rivers, and a portion of the power generated is exported. Moreover, Manitoba has arguably the best wind resources in North America, which the province is in the process of developing.
Manufacturing has overtaken agriculture as the largest sector of the province's economy. The traditional industries are chiefly involved with resource processing: meatpacking, flour milling, and the production of lumber, pulp, and paper. Distilling, printing, textile manufacture, and nickel and copper ore smelting also remain important. Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, the economy was supplemented by technology industries, including the manufacture of aeronautical systems, computers, and electrical equipment. Although no single industry dominates the Manitoba economy, many communities are dependent upon only one industry. In general, Manitoba's non-resource-based industries are located in the Winnipeg area, while those based on resource processing are found throughout the province.
Services, labour, and taxation
The service sector has become the largest single part of Manitoba's economy. Winnipeg, once the commercial centre for western Canada, remains a major financial centre and home to the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange as well as other financial institutions, including insurance companies. The growth of government services also has contributed to the expansion of Manitoba's service sector, as has tourism, which increased steadily at the end of the 20th century, although the province's distance from the centres of North American population remains a drawback. Sportfishing is particularly vital to Manitoba's tourist industry.
Government revenues are derived largely from taxation and federal grants, with a small portion coming from fees and royalties on hunting, fishing, and oil, as well as from other sources.
Transportation and telecommunications
Because of its central location, Manitoba has long been a focus for transportation activity. The construction of transcontinental railways after Manitoba joined the confederation in 1870 stimulated much development in the region. With the growth of roadways and the decline in passenger train traffic in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, however, many branchlines in outlying areas have been abandoned. The province has an extensive network of major highways running east to west (including the Trans-Canada Highway) and north to south, supplemented by secondary gravel roads. The home of many of Canada's major trucking companies, Manitoba has attempted to exploit the north-south corridor opened by international free-trade agreements.
Winnipeg was once the service headquarters for Trans Canada Airlines, the predecessor of Air Canada, and remains a major hub for air travel. Scheduled flights carry travelers from Manitoba airports to major Canadian centres and the United States, while nonscheduled operators provide service to isolated areas of Manitoba.
The railway port and former military base of Churchill on the shore of Hudson Bay provides a short, direct sea route to Europe. The port is open for only 10 weeks, in late summer, however. Waterborne freight traffic plies Lake Winnipeg in summer, and isolated northern communities and logging and mining camps are served by sled trains and vehicles designed for winter roads.
Manitoba Telecom Services is the principal communications carrier in the province. It began as a government monopoly and was privatized in 1996. It now faces stiff competition from other wireless providers.
Government and society
Constitutional framework
Manitoba derives its authority from the Canadian constitution and the Manitoba Act of 1870. The lieutenant governor of Manitoba, appointed by the (federal) governor-general in council, represents the crown; the duties of this office are largely honorary and ceremonial. The functioning head of the government is the premier. The unicameral legislature sits for five years or until dissolved by executive action.
Municipalities are incorporated by the province, and local administration is under provincial control. Each municipality is governed by a council headed by a mayor or reeve. Local government districts are governed by provincial administrators. Greater Winnipeg, consolidated into a single administrative unit in 1972, has an elected mayor and council. Provincial policing is handled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, except in Winnipeg, which has its own police force.
Health and welfare
The people of Manitoba enjoy a relatively high standard of living and access to a wide range of government services. Sanitation and water-delivery systems are part of an extensive public health and safety service. The province oversees medical and hospital insurance programs and provides all Manitobans with free medical insurance. Manitoba has an extensive hospital network, with most specialized services available in Winnipeg or in regional centres. The province also maintains a substantial social welfare infrastructure. Health care and its improvement are among the major political issues in the province.
Elementary, secondary, technical, and vocational schools and universities are a provincial responsibility. Schools are administered by elected boards under the supervision of the Department of Education and are financed by government grants and local taxes. After French-speaking Manitobans fought for their linguistic rights, French was reinstated as a language of instruction in 1970, and immersion programs for non-Francophones became extremely popular, with a doubling of the number of French-speaking Manitobans between the 1970s and '90s.
Manitoba has four universities. The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg is the major academic institution and home to most professional schools. Chiefly an undergraduate institution in arts and sciences and education, the University of Winnipeg is noted for its Institute of Urban Studies. Brandon University is located in the southwestern part of the province. Canadian Mennonite University, an amalgamation of three smaller colleges, was established in 1998 in Winnipeg. Community colleges based in Winnipeg, The Pas, Portage la Prairie, and Brandon operate campuses throughout the province.
Cultural life
Manitoba's diverse population has created a rich and varied cultural life. Ethnic groups—European, Asian, and aboriginal—maintain vigorous attachments to their traditional cultures through schooling, dance, art, music, and crafts. Winnipeg exhibits a variety of cultures; the towns and villages of the southwest have a strong, uniformly British tradition; and ethnic enclaves throughout the province reflect the pattern of initial settlement. Manitoba is noted for its efforts to retain minority languages.
Arts and cultural institutions
Manitobans have a reputation for supporting cultural agencies. Winnipeg is home to a number of major artistic institutions: the internationally famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Rainbow Stage, Le Cercle Molière, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. A major centre in downtown Winnipeg houses a concert hall and a planetarium, as well as the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature.
Manitoba also played an important role in the development of rock music in Canada. In the mid-1960s community clubs in Winnipeg provided crucial venues for a generation of aspiring musicians that included Neil Young and the quintessential Canadian rock band the Guess Who.
Important modern writers include Margaret Laurence and Gabrielle Roy. Painters of note include Ivan Eyre and William Kurelek. Manitoba's most distinguished composer was Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté.
The province maintains a strong sense of its past. The Manitoba Historical Society is the leading agency in that regard. The Archives of Manitoba is a major repository for historical documents, including the collection of the Hudson's Bay Company. There are dozens of historical museums in the towns and cities of the province, as well as a number of historic sites, including the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, located just north of Winnipeg, and York Factory National Historic Site on the shores of Hudson Bay.
Manitobans sponsor and support an exceptional array of community and cultural festivals. Among the more important are the Winnipeg Folk Festival; Folklorama, also in Winnipeg; Gimli Icelandic Festival; the National Ukrainian Festival at Dauphin; the Festival du Voyageur in St. Boniface; and the Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival at The Pas.
Sports and recreation
Professional sports franchises include the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian (gridiron) Football League and a minor league baseball and hockey team. Curling is an important winter sport. In addition to hockey, other major participant sports include baseball, football (soccer), cross-country skiing, fishing, and hunting. Manitoba has one national park, Riding Mountain, and numerous provincial parks.
Media and publishing
Manitoba is served by a number of daily and weekly newspapers, of which the most important are the Winnipeg Free Press and the Brandon Sun. There is a small but lively publishing industry centred in Winnipeg.
The fur-trade era
Aboriginal (Indian [First Nations] and Inuit) peoples, who had lived in the Manitoba region for thousands of years, first came in contact with Europeans through the fur trade. Explorers searching for the Northwest Passage reached Hudson Bay in 1610, when Henry Hudson navigated the east side of the bay to which he gave his name. He was followed by a number of adventurers, including Thomas Button (1612), Jens Munk (1619), and Luke Fox and Thomas James (1631). As a result of the opening of the fur trade in Hudson Bay by French Canadian adventurers Pierre Radisson and Médard Chouart des Grosseilliers, the Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated in England in 1670 and granted a monopoly over the fur trade in an area designated as Rupert's Land. The Hudson's Bay Company established a number of posts along the bay. The company faced tremendous competition from French traders, who, led by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye, reached the Red River in the early 1730s and established a series of posts in the area, including Fort Rouge on the present site of Winnipeg. The French forced the Hudson's Bay Company to expand inland, but the British traders were unable to compete successfully with other traders based in Montreal who eventually organized as the North West Company. That company's agents, known as Nor'westers, came overland into the region and wintered with the aboriginal peoples to facilitate fur trading with them. The agents also worked closely with the Métis and resisted the British company's attempts to establish an agricultural colony at Red River. Several decades of intense competition between the British and French Canadian traders ensued. The bitter, often violent competition culminated in the Seven Oaks Massacre of 1816. Increasing violence and declining profits forced the two firms to merge into the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821.
The successful settlement of the western United States in the 19th century encouraged expansionists in Central Canada to look to the western regions of British North America as Canada's natural hinterland. The agricultural potential of the vast prairie lands west of Red River was documented by two scientific expeditions in 1857: the Palliser Expedition, commissioned by the British government and led by John Palliser, and the (Henry Youle) Hind expedition, authorized by the government of Canada. Negotiations between the Hudson's Bay Company, the British government, and the government of the new Dominion of Canada resulted in an agreement in 1869 to transfer Rupert's Land to Canada. In 1870, under the Manitoba Act, the territory joined the confederation as a province; the remaining lands were designated the Northwest Territories.
The federal government encouraged western settlement by providing land to would-be settlers. There was an initial rush to the new province, but the absence of a rail connection to markets reduced the attractiveness of the region. Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway had reached Manitoba by the early 1880s; however, settlement was delayed by a Métis uprising in 1885 and further slowed by the continued availability of homestead lands in the United States. Nevertheless, some settlers did come during this period, among them Ontario farmers, Mennonite immigrants, and Icelandic peoples. At the turn of the century, immigration to Manitoba boomed, fueled by massive government advertising, social conditions in Europe, and the decline in available land in the United States.
Manitoba since 1900
The immigration boom ushered in an era of prosperity and growth. Winnipeg grew rapidly, becoming the major urban centre for western Canada and earning the nickname "Chicago of the North." Manitoba farmers, aided by reduced freight rates, higher world prices for wheat, and improved strains of grain seed, enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Manitoba's economy was transformed during the early part of the century. A strong agricultural sector, diversified among wheat and other grains, livestock, and market gardening, provided the basis for a rapid increase in the commercial and industrial economy, especially around Winnipeg. Manitoba's boundaries expanded westward in 1881, eastward in 1884, and northward in 1912, mainly at the expense of the Northwest Territories.
The economic boom ended just before World War I, ushering in a depression that lasted through the first years of the conflict. Labour unrest over wages and working conditions arose during the war and peaked afterward with the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. The province was severely affected by the Great Depression of the 1930s, although the problem was more one of prices than of production in the agricultural sector. Nonpartisan or coalition governments ruled the province from 1922 to 1958, when Dufferin Roblin led the Progressive Conservatives into office. The return to prosperity during World War II was matched by a resolve to diversify the province's economic base. The provincial government gained control of natural resources in the 1930s and began to encourage northern development, particularly of mining and lumbering. Government involvement in the economy peaked during the administrations of the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 1969 to 1977 and 1981 to 1986, with major investments in infrastructure and some controversial experiments in direct ownership.
Indicators of the province's future in the 21st century are mixed. On one hand, Manitoba's economy is growing stronger and more diversified. On the other hand, the province's relatively harsh climate is not particularly attractive to new immigrants, and it has suffered from much out-migration.Peter McLintock Ken S. Coates John M. Bumsted
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Native American: The Red River crisis and the creation of ManitobaThe Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC) had initially exploited different territories: the HBC took northern Huronia, Hudson Bay, and the land from the bay's western shore to the Rocky Mountains, while the NWC took the region lying between Lake…
education: CanadaManitoba adopted Québec's dual confessional system in 1871, then changed to a unified, centralized nonsectarian system amid much controversy in 1896.…
Canada: The transcontinental railway…victory in the creation of Manitoba, many of the Métis—finding life impossible with the influx of new settlers—sold their lands and trekked westward to the Saskatchewan River. Even there they were followed by the government land survey. The bison herds were vanishing, and the railway would supersede transport by boat…
railroad: Canadian railroadsIn Manitoba at the turn of the 20th century wheat farmers sought more rail lines, and the province encouraged ramification of the lines with land grants. By the end of the first decade of the century one granger road, the Canadian Northern Railway, promoted a line…
New Democratic Party…to form governments in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia intermittently from the 1940s to the 1990s, in Yukon from the 1980s, and in Ontario, Canada's largest and wealthiest province, in the 1990s. At the national level, however, it enjoyed only scattered success, its support peaking in the 1988 election, when…
More About Manitoba6 references found in Britannica articles
Assorted References
- education
- flag history
- formation
- Native American history
- New Democratic Party
- railroad construction


text:
Teresa G. Kirk, 61, Wabash, died at 2:44 p.m., Thursday, March 7 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was born July 20, 1951 in Wabash to Max F. and Lois (Lukens) Purdy.
Teresa was a 1969 graduate of Manchester High School. She married Norman W. Kirk in Laketon, on June 1, 1969. She was a homemaker, enjoyed collecting Barbie dolls and loved her pug dogs.
She is survived by her husband, Norman W, Kirk, Wabash; two songs, Norman W. "Wayne" (Brenda) Kirk II, Bowling Green and Andrew J. (Candi) Kirk, LaFontaine; four grandchildren, Michael Kirk, Bowling Green, Luke Kirk, LaFontaine, Maddy Kirk, Bowling Green, and Fritz Kirk, LaFontaine; two brothers, Steven (Jonna) Purdy, North Carolina and Danny (Kathy) Purdy, Redlands, Cali. Her sister, Carol Ann Stefanatos, preceded her in death.
Services will be held March 12 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor J.P. Freeman officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawns Cemetery. Friends may call 4-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is to the American Diabetes Association.
The memorial guestbook for Teresa may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There were many maker booths at the inaugural Singapore Mini Maker Faire last year but Ling Ling's booth stood out from the rest because her projects were of a different nature from the majority of the other showcases. Instead of electronics and robotics stuffs, Ling Ling was showcasing her beautifully crocheted bags and gothic dolls.
I was excited to know that Ling Ling is returning because I am an innate craft lover and I am drawn to anything crafty. Hence, I was very curious what she will be showing this time round. It turned out that Ling Ling intended to run a workshop on top of showcasing her work at a booth! Read on to find out the motivation behind her return to the Singapore Mini Maker Faire.
Why the return
I sensed a lot of enthusiasm in Ling Ling when she replied my question on what made her return as a maker (even when it was over email). It seemed like a redundant question that I need not have asked. Ling Ling shared that she is a big fan of the MAKE Magazine and the Maker Faire so she is really keen to be involved. She was also kind to mention that the organisers have been very supportive, helpful and genuinely passionate about crafts and making things. *big smile*
Experience in the inaugural Singapore Mini Maker Faire
When asked about her experience last year, Ling Ling mentioned the good turnout despite being away from the city area. She noticed that people were very interested in the activity workshops, especially the kids. Hence, this year, she was inspired to run her own workshop! *yippee*
However, Ling Ling also observed that the MAKE Magazine's main audience in Singapore seems to be the engineering and science community – circuits and programming kits, rather than the textile crafts. This was lacking in the maker representation in the inaugural Faire, hence she hopes to see more crafters join in this year, and a bigger section for textile and fibre arts. Indeed, this was something that the organising team realised as well, and are making efforts to improve. 🙂
One takeway from last year's Faire for Ling Ling was the network with other fellow makers, who continued to connect online, at Maker Meetups and similar events. So, if you have been a lone maker who would like to know more like-minded people, why not drop by this year's Singapore Mini Maker Faire?
Advice to newcomers
Lastly, here is a word of advice from Ling Ling to all newcomers at this year's Singapore Mini Maker Faire.
"Join us if you're passionate about crafts and sharing your passion… And just enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie! It's a positive spirit and something we really need here in Singapore."
Ling Ling's passion for crafts and the Maker Faire drives us as well, and we hope to bring in more makers from different background and expertise so that there can be more sharing and learning through exchanges between makers.
If you are interested in the previous blog we had posted about Ling Ling, you can read about it here. Her works can also be found here.
Update: Ling Ling will be conducting an "Intro to Crochet for Beginners" on 28 Jul, 12.45pm – 1.30pm, at SCAPE Level 4 (Colony Room).
Fee: $8/participant (Includes yarn and one crochet hook)
No pre-registration required, slots on a first-come-first-served basis. Please make payment at the SMMF Counter at the Colony to confirm your slot.


text:
What's New for Electrical Professionals
Visit the website of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for read only access to the National Electrical Code adopted by L&I
Electrical Currents Newsletter
Get the latest Electrical Currents newsletter as well as copies of earlier Electrical Currents newsletters.
See a list of important dates for the Electrical Program and the Electrical Board's meeting schedule.
After floods & other natural disasters
Find out about Electrical inspections and other frequently asked questions.
Current status of the electrical rule development process
Go to Electrical Rule Development page to find out the status of proposals for changes to WAC 296-46B.
Additional pages you'll want to check out
- Tower Crane Electrical Safety Requirements (141 KB PDF)
What you should know before installing a tower crane.
- Green Power Generation Systems (348 KB PDF)
What you should know before doing any electrical work on Green Power systems.
- Look Up Electrical Violations
Look up a business or individual to see if they are violators of the electrical laws, rules or regulations.
- What
You Should Know About Appliance Installation and Repair
What are the specific requirements — including licensing and permits — for installing or repairing common household appliances? Here are the most common questions — and their answers — homeowners have about appliance installation and repair requirements.


text:
Formula 290 FX Bowrider
Request PriceShow More… Show Less…
Power into deeper waters and sport your style like never before with the superior design of our 290 BR FX. This is where the energy of our Super Sport and Sun Sport models meets the sophistication our FAS3Tech crafts and functionality of our Bowrider series. This is your Formula for advanced water sporting style.
- NMMA Yacht Certification
- 10-year Structural Warranty
- Transferable 5-Year Formula Guard® Limited Protection Plan
- Imron® FX graphic w/Silver Diamond, Black or Blue Metallic hullside and FX graphic accents
- Pressure-treated Perma Panel™ structural hull matrix
- Foam-filled hull cavities
- Chemically bonded & thru-bolted deck-to-hull joint
- Heavy-duty PVC gunwale w/stainless steel insert
- Concealed fiberglass anchor locker
- 316L stainless steel bow rail
- Stainless steel hardware & 316L stainless steel welded rails
- Six custom Formula logo-cast cleats
- Stainless steel fuel fill w/integral vent
- Polished stainless steel engine vent trim
- Two polished Bomar® cabin venting hatches w/screens
- Continuous tinted, tempered curved-glass windshield w/stainless steel top frame & center walk-thru
- Windshield wiper
- Concealed air horn
- 316L stainless steel transom grab rail & ski tow eye
- Clarion® waterproof transom-mounted stereo remote control
- Starboard transom trunk storage & two fenders
- Extended integrated swim platform w/concealed stainless steel swim ladder
- Low maintenance wood-grain vinyl decking in silver on swim platform and transom
- Transom shower
- Continuous molded deck & cockpit liner
- Custom-designed cockpit carpet w/FX logo
- Carbon-fiber composite dash and trim panels in silver, black or blue
- Silver Metallic Imron Dash
- Livorsi Oversized Mega Series guages w/blue LED backlighting
- Dash panel-mounted Ritchie® compass
- Digital depth sounder
- Livorsi chromed shifters/throttles w/in-handle outdrive trim switch
- Safety ignition stop switches w/tethers
- Tilt steering wheel in silver or blue w/chrome accents
- Lockable under-dash storage compartment
- Auxiliary 12V outlet
- Bennett® trim tab switches & indicators
- Fingertip outdrive trim/trailer switches
- Illuminated waterproof chrome on black accessory rocker switches w/E-T-A® circut breakers
- Clarion® AM/FM/CD stereo w/waterproof dash-mounted multi-feature stereo remote control, six 6 1/2" marine-grade speakers w/polished stainless steel grilles & 360W stereo amplification
- iPod™/MP3 port
- Twelve polished stainless steel drink holders w/blue LED lighting
- Cockpit/swim platform blue/white LED courtesy lights w/hand-held remote control
- Weather-resistant cockpit seating in white featuring PreFixx® coating, Tenera® element-resistant thread, DriFast® foam & StarLite® XL synthetic marine panel construction, custom-designed FX embroidered logos and integrated blue LED lighting
- Twin command seating w/dual-position helm & companion seats
- Port lounge w/integrated storage
- Starboard gear storage locker
- Dual-height cockpit table w/filler cushion & four polished drink holders
- Aft-facing sun lounge w/custom-designed FX logo and integrated blue LED downlighting
- Custom embroidered Formula logo duvet for aft cockpit sun lounge
- Molded wetbar w/integrated sink, carbon-fiber composite countertop in silver, black or blue, 24-quart Igloo cooler, trash container & integral 316L stainless steel safety rail
- Demand water system w/20-gallon capacity
- Fire extinguisher
- Disconnect switches for auxiliary & starting batteries
- Battery parallel emergency switch
- Cusotm FX cockpit cover in color-coordinated non-fading Sunbrella acrylic fabric w/SeaMark vinyl undercoating
- Curved, one-piece locking door
- Molded head compartment w/porcelain head unit, 22-gallon holding tank & dockside pumpout, molded vanity, sink w/faucet, mirror, Corian countertop & wood-grain finish flooring
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Twin 377 MerCruiser® Bravo III engines
- Motorized hatch lift
- Courtesy lighting
- Fume detector
- Automatic fire extinguisher
- Thru-bolted engine mounts
- Two marine batteries w/battery retainers
- Active & passive galvanic corrosion protection systems
- Bilge blowers
- Automatic bilge pump
- Bilge high water alarm
- Bennett® hydraulic trim tabs
- Stainless steel props
Contact the Manufacturer
Formula 290 FX Bowrider Specifications
Boat Details
- Price
- Request Price
- Year
- 2019
- Type
- Power
- Class
- Bowrider
- Length
- 29 ft
- Hull Material
- Fiberglass
- Beam
- 9 ft
- Max Draft
- 3 ft 4 in
- Dry Weight
- 8950 lb
- Max Bridge Clearance
- 5 ft 10 in
- Deadrise at Transom
- 22°
Standard Engine
- Engine Type
- Inboard/Outboard
- Drive Type
- Stern Drive
- Fuel Tanks
- 112 gal
- Fresh Water Tanks
- 19 gal
- Holding Tanks
- 22.5 gal
Other Details
- Hull Shape
- Deep Vee
- Hull Warranty
- None
Contact the Manufacturer
The manufacturer will reply to your request as soon as possible.
Related Current Formula Boats
Contact the Manufacturer
The manufacturer will reply to your request as soon as possible.


text:
Maze cartoon caricature of Ahmadinejad's new Ambassador of Death Drone with the Iranian president saying, "Our nuke program is for peaceful purposes ONLY...By the way, this is our new drone, the Ambassador of Death."
Created by Yonatan Frimer
Click here for a printable, hi-res file of Ahmadinejad drone
Click here for the solution to Ahmedinejad caricature maze
Check out more Yonatan Frimer mazes, click this link
Article on the topic of this maze cartoon:
Iran Unveils 'Ambassador of Death' Unmanned Drone Bomber
TEHRAN, Iran – TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday inaugurated the country's first domestically built unmanned bomber aircraft, calling it an "ambassador of death" to Iran's enemies.
The 4-meter-long drone aircraft can carry up to four cruise missiles and will have a range of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), according to a state TV report — not far enough to reach archenemy Israel.
"The jet, as well as being an ambassador of death for the enemies of humanity, has a main message of peace and friendship," said Ahmadinejad at the inauguration ceremony, which fell on the country's national day for its defense industries.
The goal of the aircraft, named Karrar or striker, is to "keep the enemy paralyzed in its bases," he said, adding that the aircraft is for deterrence and defensive purposes.
The president championed the country's military self-sufficiency program, and said it will continue "until the enemies of humanity lose hope of ever attacking the Iranian nation."Click here to read the full story on Fox News


text:
As part of our commitment to the highest standards of professional conduct, our office is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and adheres to the NASFAA Code of Conduct.
Please contact our office for any assistance you require at any point in the financial aid process.
Our Staff
Marc Yambao, Director
Tavares Porter, Counselor
Celia Ford, Counselor
Tanisha Crenshaw, Counselor
Our Address
Our mailing address is:
National University of Health Sciences


text:
Paul Browning needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 101 designs submitted by 31 freelance designers.
I am a full time internet marketer and am launching an online training website teaching others how to build a internet based business just like I have done.
Opportunity seekers.
Business owners
People looking for a home based business part time
The site will be hosted using membership site sofware from membergate.com and you can see their other site here:
The logo is all about the site which is to help people make money on the internet with products, information and services. The logo will be the url of the site which is :
It also needs to say before that Paul Brownings so in full
Paul Brownings [and then a gap and then] http://www.internet-rich.com.
But I would like it to somehow show money making taking place on the internet. I will eventually have the logo used as part of a flash intro where a stick man is sitting at a PC typing on it and money pours out of the PC covering him in gold coins with dollar bills flying in the air but that will be another project.
I like the sites:
I don't want anything cheesy such as the logo looking like money though.
Good luck.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Attorneys for a man who says he is the brother of deceased actor Sherman Hemsley argued Friday that Hemsley was not of sound mind when he signed his will.
Mark Davis, attorney for Richard Thornton, who claims he is Hemsley's brother, questioned the attorney and notary who did Hemsley's will in an El Paso court Friday.
Hemsley, who played George Jefferson on the popular sitcom "The Jeffersons," died of lung cancer July 24.
Davis asked why Julian Horwitz did not consult with a physician about any medication that may have impaired the actor's judgment. He also questioned why Horwitz took instructions from Laura Enchinton, Hemsley's longtime friend and sole beneficiary of the will.
"He said he wanted all of his possessions, whatever they were, to pass to Ms. (Enchinton) Bernal," Horwitz said Friday. "At no point did I ever suspect he lacked capacity, based on my 50 years of experience as a lawyer."
Thornton, of Philadelphia, is expected to testify about his relationship with Hemsley during the trial. Hemsley was born in Philadelphia, but lived in El Paso the last 20 years of his life.
Court documents indicate Hemsley's estate is worth more than $50,000. His refrigerated remains are at an El Paso funeral home.
Robert Almonte, the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas and a friend of Hemsley's since 1999, also testified Friday. He said Hemsley told him Enchinton was his only family.
"I asked about family in Philadelphia, about wanting to go back," Almonte said, recalling one of their conversations. "He said no. He said Flora was his family."
Others who testified Friday, including the witnesses to the will being signed, said Hemsley had full use of his faculties when he signed the will.
Heinz-Ulrich Landeck, a nurse at the hospital where Hemsley was being treated, said "he was always an oriented person of the time and place and who he was."
She said Hemsley visited the nursing station once and "talked about his career, he mentioned (Enchinton) was his manager."


text:
Thanks for visiting us!
Badminton Central is a free community for fans of badminton! If you find anything useful here please consider registering to see more content and get involved with our great community users, it takes less than 15 seconds! Everybody is welcome here.
CCK Sports Hall - Saturdays 5pm to 8pm
Discussion in 'Singapore' started by shuennms, Nov 30, 2008.
Page 1 of 331
Page 1 of 331


text:
A season pass offers great savings over purchasing daily lift tickets. It gives you the freedom to enjoy the mountain when the mood strikes. Avoid the ticket line and go straight to the lift. Come early, catch the freshies and head home when you are ready without feeling obligated to max out the day. It's your pass to winter adventure!
Click here to see all the benefits that come with a Season Pass to 49° North!
If you live outside of the United States and would like to order a Season Pass, please call our Season Pass department at 509-935-6649.
Passes must be paid in full before they can be issued.
Print an Application and Liability Waiver for Mail In Orders
Contact Us | Employment | FAQs | Links
Copyright ©2009-2015 49° North Mountain Resort


text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Speaking a day before International Holocaust Memorial Day, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday insisted that her nation's responsibility for the crimes of the Nazis is "everlasting."
In a video message marking the 80th anniversary of Hitler's rise to power, Merkel stated that Germany has an "everlasting responsibility for the crimes of National Socialism, for the victims of World War II and, above all, for the Holocaust. And this must be made clear from generation to generation and it must be said with bravery and moral courage, every individual can make a contribution so that racism and antisemitism have no chance."
On Sunday, Israel and various other nations, including Germany, stopped to remember the more than six million Jews exterminated in the Nazi Holocaust. International Holocaust Memorial Day was commemorated in Israel at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum in Jerusalem.
Israel is home to nearly 200,000 Holocaust survivors, though that number is dwindling quickly. Sadly, many of these victims are living our their last days in poverty, and far too many have little or no family left to help them.
Many of Israel's Holocaust survivors have come to rely on the generosity and aid of Jews and Christians who both love Israel and are determined that these poor souls who experienced the very depths of human depravity are able to live our their remaining days in dignity.
CLICK HERE if you would like to bless a Holocaust survivor today
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Israel Today
Free to Your Inbox


text:
RICHMOND — Along with investigations by a consortium of federal, state and regional agencies, Chevron's Richmond refinery will have to pass the muster of new city requirements in rebuilding the crude unit that burst into flames Aug. 6.
A unanimous City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution authorizing city staff to "ensure that Chevron uses the highest standards and best technology in the repair of their crude unit."
"It's our duty as a governing body to express expectations of our corporate neighbor," said Councilmember Jovanka Beckles, who co-sponsored the resolution with Mayor Gayle McLaughlin.
The resolution calls on the global energy giant's local refinery to improve safety, pay its "fair share" of taxes, hire more local residents, aid the city in education and economic development initiatives, and expedite installation of air quality monitors in the city, which it previously agreed to as part of a 2010 tax settlement.
Tuesday's resolution comes at a time of increasing backlash against Chevron. The Aug. 6 fire, caused by a deteriorated pipe in the No. 4 crude unit, sent more than 15,000 residents to seek treatment at area hospitals.
In recent days, Chevron has declined to enter into long-term leases for commercial and office space in the city's Marina Bay community and filed a new court challenge to a Contra Costa County property tax appeals board decision last spring that found the Richmond refinery was under-assessed by as much as $27 million. Investigations into the incident are expected to last several months.
The resolution also calls on the corporation to use the "best technology in the repair of their crude unit."
Chevron officials have said the 8-inch steel pipe whose failure caused the fire may have deteriorated due to low-silicon content, which allowed the oil's heat and sulfur to corrode it at an accelerated rate.
No Chevron representatives spoke publicly at Tuesday's meeting, but several residents criticized the resolution as symbolic and vague.
"This is a bold resolution," said resident Don Gosney. "But how do you accomplish this. … What are consequences if they fail? This resolution is so poorly worded it's embarrassing." Resident Andres Soto was among the supporters. He praised the city for being the first agency to vow to impose new standards in the aftermath of the fire.
The Richmond refinery, Chevron's oldest, pays more than $30 million annually to the city in total taxes, said City Manager Bill Lindsay, nearly a third of the city's total general fund budget. It employs about 1,200 people, but fewer than 10 percent are Richmond residents, according to Chevron.
Lindsay said the resolution's provisions were comfortably in the purview of local government.
"The one (provision) that requires a different effort is the best technology in the repair of their crude unit," Lindsay said. "That would require coordination with the (Bay Area Air Quality Management District), but I see nothing troubling from a procedural point of view."
Contact Robert Rogers at 510-262-2726 or email@example.com. Follow at Twitter.com/roberthrogers.


text:
Charles Freeman, the "Saudi-Manchurian candidate," will chair the National Intelligence Council which is responsible for producing National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs). The selection of Freeman is shocking — as much as I distrust Obama on issues pertaining to Israel, I would never have predicted this.
How much impact Freeman will have remains to be seen. It's clear now that Obama does not consider the Mearsheimer-Walt thesis — that American Jews have a stranglehold on the U.S. Congress, and use it to advance Israeli interests at the expense of those of the U.S. — beyond the pale. But then he didn't consider Rev. Wright's views beyond the pale either; he just thought they were "controversial."
The administration clearly contains voices that potentially can counterbalance Freeman. But supporters of Israel, and indeed anyone who disfavors an American foreign policy that tilts strongly towards Saudi Arabian interests, plainly have cause for concern.
Freeman's appointment should also represent "strike three" on National Intelligence Estimates. Strike one was when an NIE concluded that Saddam Hussein's Iraq possessed WMD. Strke two occurred when the NIE was hijacked by those who wanted to pretend that Iran stopped its work on developing nuclear weapons. (This may actually have counted as two strikes — the NIE's conclusion was so far-fetched and policy-driven that even President Obama has always assumed in his public utterances that it is not true).
Now that the NIEs fall under the jurisdiction of a Saudi financed apologist, and an apologist for the Tiananmen Square massacre to boot, they will have zero credibility. This is probably a good thing. If so, it's the only good thing associated with the Freeman appointment.
To comment on this post, go here.


text:
Personal Statements, Resumes, and Letters of Recommendation / looking for advice/ feedback on my PS« on: August 20, 2007, 06:16:12 PM »
I am looking to get some advice on my personal statement, I just finished up my second draft and I really don't want to submit it to one of those online essay editing sites. Any feedback will help me a lot. If anyone wants to help me out please let me know. Thanks.


text:
This Is What Happens to Your Brain When You Get Drunk
We all know what being drunk looks like on the outside (slurred words, erratic behavior, and often drastically lowered inhibitions), but there are actually very specific reactions in the brain that cause these behaviors. Neuroscientist Heather Berlin told us all about them.
Watch Now
- The 100-Year-Old Hidden Castle Tower in NYC Where AMC's CEO Lets Down His Hair
- Inside a Design Icon's Colonial Castle Where Snow White's Dwarfs May Have Died
- This Artist Bends Neon Into Life-Size Sculptures of Wicked Women
- This Japanese Artist's Rope-Bondage Performance Straddles S&M and Art
- This Artist Stocked an Entire Supermarket With 31,000 Felt Sculptures
- Inside Aelfie's Eclectic Williamsburg Loft
- The Horniest Vibrator Scenes From Film and TV
- If You Like Black, White, and Minimalism, You'll Love this Tribeca Loft
- This Artist's Giant Yarn Sculptures Explode With Color
- This Artist Sculpts Human & Animal Blood Into Striking Works of Art
- How Likely Are You to Get Skin Cancer?
- The Most Important Thing to Pack for Labor Day
- Interior Lives: This Upper East Side Apartment Is a Living Work of Art
- How Parkland Survivors and Chicago Youth Are Uniting to End Gun Violence
- What It's Like: My 30-Year Struggle With Antidepressants
- Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Lobster Lady?
- 6 Moms on Motherhood Through the Years
- The Grimes Guide to Space Travel
- How We Made Our Own CGI Influencer in 48 Hours
- Milena and the Technicolor Dog Coat


text:
It looks like your browser is out of date.
To use all features of KLM.com safely, we recommend that you update your browser, or that you choose a different one. Continuing with this version may result in parts of the website not being displayed properly, if at all. Also, the security of your personal information is better safeguarded with an updated browser.
Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Jackson Five, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder: these are only a handful of the names that became world famous with Motown. In 1959, Berry Gordy founded his record label Motown in 2 simple houses on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. Above the door he hung a sign saying 'Hitsville USA'. Arrogant? Perhaps, but he certainly proved himself right.
Gordy borrowed $800 from his family, transformed the garage into a studio and his kitchen into a control room, and the Motown record label was born. The world-famous name is a combination of 'motor' and 'town': Detroit, the centre of the car industry, was also known as the Motorcity, and Gordy preferred the term 'town' to 'city'. The 2 houses where Gordy founded the label now accommodate the Motown Museum.
Shortly after founding his record label, Gordy achieved his first hit. 'Money (That's What I Want)' by Barrett Strong made the music charts in 1960 and reached second place in the Billboard R&B Chart. In the following years, more hits followed, including 'My Girl' by The Temptations, and in 1968 5 of the top 10 records in the Billboard Hot 100 were by Motown artists. The label also radically changed white Americans' view of black music. The new sound fascinated both white and black youth. Soon, Motown, which represented artists who mostly came from the Detroit ghettos, had become the most successful African-American company in the United States.
"Maybe I could create a place where a kid could walk in one door, an unknown, and come out another door, a star – Berry Gordy, founder of Motown"
Hitsville USA was also lovingly called 'Motown U' because the record label resembled a university campus. Artists not only recorded their albums, they also rehearsed their choreographies and were taught etiquette by Mrs Maxine Powell. If the musicians were not working, they hung around on the porch or played baseball and table tennis. Hitsville USA was open 24 hours a day. For many it was a 'home away from home'. After many hits, the label was bursting at the seams and in 1968, Motown moved into a bigger office downtown.
The Motown Museum still exudes the atmosphere of the record label's glory days. Visit the original recording studio (Studio A) and control room where many great artists recorded their albums. Imagine you are a big star and sing a few bars of your favourite Motown hit. Note the linoleum that has been worn down by many feet-tapping artists. The museum is decorated with photos and albums. There are also displays of the original costumes worn by famous artists, including one of Michael Jackson's hats. A visit will make you realize how amazing it is that such a small house generated so many huge hits.


text:
Two Charter Public Schools Being Closed
If only all schools faced the same accountability
A couple of Michigan charter public schools are facing the harsh realities of being held accountable for performance.
The Academy of Flint and Lansing's Learn, Live, and Lead Entrepreneurial Academy are being shut down, because their authorizers determined they are failing to meet their contractual obligations. The schools are closing for different reasons, but both highlight the extra level of accountability built-in to Michigan's public charter schools.
According to MLive.com, Central Michigan University is not renewing the Academy of Flint's charter because the school has failed to meet its prescribed student achievement goals. This is certainly unfortunate for the 400-some students whose parents thought this was the best option for their children, but charter public schools must not only attract parents to stay in business, they must also meet the requirements of their performance contract.
The Learn, Live, and Lead Entrepreneurial Academy does not have a poor student achievement record (it's only been open one year), but failed along other lines. According to MLive.com, the school opened late, missed testing deadlines and failed to post fiscal information publicly. These administrative malfunctions prompted its authorizer, Bay Mills Community College, to cancel its charter. The school's design and mission might hold promise for students, but if it cannot meet transparency and accountability requirements, it will have to shut its doors.
Since most parents actively shop for their children's schools, closing them is always difficult. Every school is some student's best available option. But closing charters for poor performance is necessary and required if Michigan wants to improve the educational opportunities that are available to students.
Since 1996, nearly 100 Michigan charter schools have closed for lack of performance. And closing charters for lack of performance is nothing new. According to the Center for Education Reform, about 15 percent of the charter schools opened nationwide since 1992 have been closed for performance-related issues.
Yet, charter public schools serve less than 10 percent of the public school students in Michigan, limiting the positive effects of this extra level of performance-based accountability.
If the state really wants to get serious about improving overall student achievement by shuttering poor performing schools, it would institute a similar level of accountability for all schools.


text:
Turning to Spain (who just beat Portugal today to move on to the next round) on our tour of nations competing for the World Cup, we decided to use those flavors as a topping for what is maybe my favorite pizza ever. Okay, top three. Yes, pizza is Italian, especially when you make it with an amazing Neopolitan-style whole wheat crust. To make matters worse, we also used Fontina, an Italian cheese. But it is so good with mushrooms. And we're always after what tastes good around here, so there you go.
As for the crust, it looks like I've found my ultimate pizza dough recipe, at least for now. When I wrote about trying an overnight rise so the dough could develop greater flavor, I said I wanted to use this method with my whole wheat dough. It worked so well that I plan to do the overnight rise whenever I can. The whole wheat flour (in combination with bread flour) didn't have any negative effects, and I prefer some whole grain in my pizza dough rather than all white flour.
After doing it this way a couple times, I think the slow rise makes the dough incredibly airy. That, along with using your hands instead of a rolling pin to shape it, results in a higher rise during baking and and a tender, soft-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside finished crust. I love the texture.
I'm going to post the crust recipe on it's own tomorrow so it will be easy to find, but I'll also go back and link it to this post (update: see link to dough recipe below). If you're dying to try it right this second, however, just use your favorite pizza dough recipe and let it rise in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, then quickly knead it into a ball and bring it to room temperature before baking. See what you think!Sherry Mushroom Pizza
This recipe yields a generous amount of topping for a 12-inch pizza. You don't need to be too precise with the quantities while cooking, and it's fine to eyeball your measurements. You want a moist, slightly saucy consistency in the end. You can buy a bottle of good-tasting dry Sherry at liquor and wine stores for around $12. In this recipe, there is no substitute.
Makes one 12-inch pizza
Special Equipment: Parchment paper and a pizza stone
1 Tbs olive oil
8 oz white mushrooms, sliced
6 oz Portobello mushrooms, sliced
Fat pinch of dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup dry sherry
1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1/4 cup reduced fat (or regular) sour cream
4 to 5 scallions, chopped
Coarse cornmeal (optional)
All-purpose flour, for shaping dough
1/2 recipe whole wheat pizza dough, at room temperature
4 oz Fontina cheese, grated
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
Place pizza stone on a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 550F for at least 30 minutes.
Heat the oil in a large skillet on medium. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until they release their water. Raise heat to medium high, add thyme and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until water evaporates. Lower heat and cook until soft and lightly browned. Add the sherry and bring to a simmer. Cook until reduced by a bit more than half. Add chicken and stir to combine. Remove from heat and add the sour cream and scallions, and stir well. You want a very moist, slightly saucy consistency, but mixture should not be watery.
Sprinkle some cornmeal (if using) on a sheet of parchment. Flatten and stretch dough with floured hands and shape into a roughly 12-inch circle (don't use a rolling pin; it pushes air out of the dough, resulting in a flatter, denser crust). Top with chicken mixture and Fontina. Open the oven and slide parchment paper onto the pizza stone. Bake 9-11 minutes, or until crust is browned and cooked through. Lift the pizza stone with oven mitts out of the oven and slide parchment onto a cutting board. Sprinkle with parsley, slice and serve.


text:
Charlene Bayerle 9/30/2004 9:56:43 PMSusan, this is wonderful....awesome shot and work on this image!!!!! #174277
Susan A. H. Cook 10/1/2004 4:54:11 AMThanks Charlene, I looked up your work, and coming from you that's a real compliment. Your photos are phenomenal. #815339
Marta Azevedo 10/15/2004 6:29:33 PMGreat, Congrats #845177
Lori Ditlefsen 10/15/2004 6:35:37 PMWonderful image Susan! Congrats! #845227
Diane Dupuis 10/15/2004 7:23:48 PMLove it! COngrats! #845551
Nancy Grace Chen 10/15/2004 8:17:59 PMArtistic and meaningful. Congrats on your finalist.
Nancy #845973
Donna La Mattino Pagakis 10/15/2004 8:18:39 PMVery cool image!! Well done!! #845976
Deanna Cathcart 10/17/2004 9:51:03 AMAwesome photo!! This one has to be a winner! #850909
Susan A. H. Cook 10/17/2004 3:47:07 PMThanks everyone for your comments, it means so much to hear such lovely things about your work!! #851397
Kathleen Clemons 10/18/2004 2:33:54 PMBig congrats, this is wonderful! #853928
Mary-Ella Bowles 10/18/2004 3:22:25 PMWell being a former little ballerina wanna-be myself, I can really relate to this image. Many congratulations on your win with this heartwarming photo, Susan. Well done! #854221
Wendy Stevenson 10/18/2004 4:53:26 PMCongratulations Susan on your first place win with this wonderful, sweet image!! #854607
Monika Sapek 10/18/2004 5:23:52 PMMany congratulations on your First Place Win with this meaningful image, Susan!
Donna L. Cuic 10/18/2004 5:35:06 PMA priceless image Susan. Congrats on your win.
Barbara Gordon 10/18/2004 7:59:46 PMCongrats! Wonderful and heartwarming. #855249
Susan A. H. Cook 10/18/2004 8:08:45 PMThanks everyone, you're very kind! #855258
Lori Ditlefsen 10/18/2004 8:39:32 PMCongrats on the win Susan! #855341
Evy Johansen 10/19/2004 12:57:27 AMMany congratulations on you win, Susan - Lovely image! #855624
Leanne M.E. Boyd 10/19/2004 3:04:14 AMExcellent shot! Congratulations Susan! #855723
Patrick Campbell 10/19/2004 7:35:37 AMCongrats Susan! #856312
Susan T. Parady 10/19/2004 9:40:39 AMCongratulations, Susan, on your win with this wonderful photograph.
Sue #856514
Diane Dupuis 10/19/2004 5:49:30 PMCongrats on your well deserved win! #857410
Peggy Wolff 10/19/2004 6:32:53 PMLOVE THIS!!!! Congrats on a great win! #857557
Susan A. H. Cook 10/19/2004 6:41:11 PMThanks, you are all too kind. This was my first month entering the contest, so I guess I feel pretty lucky!! I love reading your comments, and looking up your work. Sue - congrats on your win as well - 2 of them!! #857604
Susana Matos 10/19/2004 8:59:41 PMCongratulations! A really great catch!
Leonard Pierce 10/21/2004 5:35:50 PMCongratulations on your First Place win Susan, great job!!! #861731
Kean University Theater, Union, New Jersey
June 2004
Uploaded on 9/30/2004 6:14:16 PM
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Susan A. H. Cook. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
"We have all been moved by the heartbreaking images and stories coming out of Oklahoma," said Bill DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals. "Cardinals Care has established a special fund to help the many children whose lives have been forever changed by this tragedy."
While the recovery needs in Oklahoma are multiple and extensive, Cardinals Care established the Oklahoma Recovery Fund to focus on helping the thousands of children in Oklahoma impacted by the disaster (#care4kidsOK).
"While the immediate needs are disaster response, our Joplin experience showed us the importance of being there for the community as they begin the process of recovery and rebuilding," said Michael Hall, Vice President of Community Relations & Executive Director of Cardinals Care.
The Cardinals, along with Relevant Sports, Chelsea Football Club and the Manchester United Football Club have collectively pledged more than $135,000 to the fund and are asking fans to help.
Click the "Donate Now" button below to make a donation to Cardinals Care. Funds collected through Cardinals initiatives benefitting the victims in Oklahoma will be distributed by Cardinals Care to help children. Please make the contribution in honor of Oklahoma when filling out the donation form.


text:
18 May 2017
BLUEPRINT 2017 - cinnamon joe
Cinnamon Joe will be at Blueprint again for 2017 and here are flyers from many of their talented artists. Paul and Andrea Turk who run Cinnamon Joe are also the organisers for Blueprint.They are now about to do their 3rd Blueprint show and in this amazing short amount of time they have grown from 12 to 60 studios and have a very exciting mix of illustrators and pattern designers. In fact they have had to create 2 shows running back to back to accommodate all of the studios who wanted to participate this time. Scroll down to see the Cinnamon Joe artist flyers and posters designed by Luan Thomas who they represent and Laurie Brochard at Epluche.
Posted by bowie style at 8:00 am
Labels: BLUEPRINT, DESIGN STUDIOS
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Water Damage Removal and Repair
Specialists to make things right again.
When you need help now, call us. We'll have one of our experienced local technicians on site within 60 minutes or less in most cases. We'll handle the whole process from A-Z.
– Water Removal, Sewage Removal
– Property and Content Drying Out
– Odor Removal, Disinfecting and Decontamination
-Full Damage Assessment
– Full reconstruction
– Direct to to insurance billing
When water damage emergencies happen, it's a very stressful situation so you need to make sure that you can count on who you hire. It's much more than the water removal from a home or commercial property. Some companies may get hasty and only topically look at what needs to be done instead of assessing the full extent of the water damage. We leave no stone un-turned. Some may simply do what the insurance company pays for, but you pay the price for that when mold problems arise in the future.
Various forms of water damage can come from many sources including major storms that can cause flooding to more minor issues such as backed up window wells, sump pumps that fail, sewage backups, toilet backups, washing machine overflows, water heater leaks, water pipes that burst, etc. We are trained and can handle any sewage backup, flood damage, water removal and water damage restoration situation, small or large across the United States.
Water Damage Tips, Do's & Don'ts
In the event that your home or property experience a water damage emergency, here are some tips to ensure your safety as well as minimize your losses as much as you possible can until professional arrive.
- Don't wait to call a water damage restoration specialist, the longer you wait, the more damage will be done to hardwood floors, drywall, contents, wet carpet, etc.
- Don't vacuum up the water with a regular vacuum
- In the event of basement water damage, don't enter the basement until you or the professional at your location is sure it is safe. You may have contaminated sewage water in your basement and if the water is deep enough as in flood damage situations, you may risk electrocution.
- Don't use electrical appliances near the water damage
- Stopping the source of the water damage is key.
- Shut off power to the area where possible.
- If you are experiencing a sewage backup,a plumber or sewer and drain technician may need to be contacted first to ensure the sewer is free and clear and the backup is handled before the sewage cleanup and restoration process begins.
- Stop the water if you can. If it is due to water pipes, locate the water shut-off valve in the home or building and turn it off.
- Ensure you are wearing rubber soled boots as slipping and falling is common
- Remove things from the area and move them to a dry location to minimize damage until we get there with the equipment to dry out your equipment, articles and other contents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does it take for my property to dry?
A. This may vary depending on many factors and can be from a few days to a week or more depending on severity. We'll help to determine how long the process will take. Although the process may be an inconvenience, it is necessary to ensure your property is drying out correctly to ensure no future mold or water damage problems.
Q. What will happen to my hard wood floors that were damaged in the flood?
A. As with all of the property, the hardwood floors will be evaluated for damage. In a lot of cases, after utilizing our dehumidifiers the wood floors can take on their original shape. This process may take weeks however. In many cases hardwood may need to be refinished and can be as severe as a full replacement. .
Q. Can you dry my furniture and salvage it?
A. Once furniture is completely dry, your furniture is examined. It is common for furniture to be replaced, and in some cases it can be salvaged.
Q. What do I need to move during the dryout process?
A. We will let you know what to remove, but much can remain where it is.
Q. My walls/ceilings/drywall have flood damage, does this need to be removed?
A. Again, we will determine that for you. In some cases we may remove a section of the wall or ceiling for ventilation.
Q. Will you save my carpet?
A. Carpet is generally replaced in a water damage restoration situation after the water removal process has occurred. Of course, depending on the type of water damage you would not want the carpet to be salvaged, such as in a sewage backup and sewage removal process. This would be contaminated and removed and disposed of. Carpets will stain and bleed depending on the color, as well as many other wet carpet related occurrences where it will be removed and discarded.
Q. What will happen to my rugs?
A. If it is a valuable rug such as an Oriental rug, etc., there are ways to handle the rug to dry it out, minimize the colors bleeding as well as odor removal.
Q. How is this paid for?
A. Property owners are responsible and in the event of an insurance claim, you would have to contact your insurance provider for the details.


text:
Fabric Content: 87% Nylon, 13% Spandex.
Care Instructions: Lining: Cotton 91%, Spandex 9%.
Machine wash cold. Do not bleach. Do not tumble dry. Lay flat to dry. Do not dry clean.
We are here to help. We'll walk you through a fitting or address any other questions you may have to ensure you get the garment that is right for you. Contact our fitting specialists at (888) 621-9956, Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:30 CST.
Your shopping bag is currently empty.
Be the first to know about exclusive offers and new arrivals!


text:
If the rumors are to be believed, Google is working on a top-secret project to launch a pair of reality glasses, according to various reports.
The idea is to pull in data from Google Maps and other location-based services directly to your eyeballs. (Why take the time to pull out your smartphone?) The glasses are also said to have a built-in camera.
Think of it as a real-life version of the futuristic heads-up display seen by Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the Terminator movies.
So we got to thinking, what would Google's glasses look like in the real world?
We reached out to designer Federico Ciccarese of Ciccarese Design for the answer. He's the same guy who came up with those cool concepts for Apple's rumored TV and the next iPhone.
Get the latest Google stock price here.


text:
Divisional Sections
ALCTS Acquisitions Section Meetings
Acquisitions Section Committees are meeting together on Saturday, January 12. If you are interested in joining an Acquisitions Section meeting and would like to sit in on the committee meetings, please join us
Saturday, January 12
Doubletree, Symphony Room
Committees: Acquisitions and Organization Management, Education, Policy and Planning, Publications, Research and Statistics, and Technology.
The ALCTS Acquisitions Section -- Acquisitions Managers and Vendors Interest Group is pleased to present the following session at ALA Midwinter:
"Locations and Dislocations in Technical Services: Coping with a Move Offsite"
Date: Sunday, January 13, 2008
Time: 1:30-3:30pm
Location: PCC Room 105B
As library space becomes pressured by information commons, collaborative study areas, coffee shops and full stacks, technical services operations are increasingly being considered for relocation-- to outside the library or even entirely off-campus. Whether those moves are permanent or temporary (e.g., for renovations), the effects of disruption, distance, and impact on technical services workloads can be significant. How have Acquisitions managers coped with these changes? How have their vendors and agents been able to help?
Join us as an experienced panel of two librarians and a vendor discuss their experiences with this growing henomenon. Some of the topics we expect to cover include: physical change of address; timing of first redirected shipments; impact on approval review procedures; opportunities for new workflow layouts; communication issues, and many others.
The panel includes:
Mary Page, Head of Acquisitions, Rutgers University Germaine Wadeborn, Manager, Print Acquisitions, UCLA Library Kittie Henderson, Account Services Manager, EBSCO Rick Lugg, R2 Consulting, Moderator
The panel's presentations will last about one hour, leaving at least 45 minutes for questions and discussion. We look forward to a lively session, and to some practical advice from both panelists and audience members who have confronted this issue.
Rick Lugg and Lauren Corbett, Co-Chairs
ACRL Western European Studies Section Meetings
Information about all of our meetings (only one is closed) is available on the WESSwiki. Of special note is the WESS Happy Hour, which anyone interested is welcome to attend!


text:
Always wanted to listen to music whilst swimming or in the shower? Now you can with our amazing Waterproof MP3 player!
This small and compact player is waterproof up to a depth of 3 metres and includes a set of waterproof earphones, an extenstion cable, travel pouch, USB cable and handy armband which keeps the player in a secure place whilst swimming.
Available in 4 vibrant colours - Pink, Blue, Green and Yellow
Make a Splash with Maxell Waterproof MP3 Player!


text:
The residency team invites you to download and read the Workload Optimized Systems: Tuning IBM POWER7 for Analytics Redbooks publication.
This publication addresses topics to help clients to take advantage of the virtualization strengths of the POWER platform to solve system resource utilization challenges and maximize system throughput and capacity while helping our clients set up environments to analyze large amounts of data.
This IBM Redbooks publication contains the following table of contents:
Chapter 1. Introducing analytics on IBM Power Systems
Chapter 2. Implementing Cognos on IBM Power Systems
Chapter 3. Implementing IBM SPSS on IBM Power Systems
Chapter 4. Preferred practices
This IBM Redbooks publication can be downloaded at the following website:
There is greater focus to provide our clients with the systems, solutions, tools, and best practices to manage and extract information from large amount of data stored in their enterprise.
The residency team looks forward to reading your comments on this publication, and on the topic of analytics.


text:
Fatty Soprano - Hold Me Down [Unsigned Hype]
Hold me down official music video by Dpc movements artist FATTY SOPRANO , follow Fatty Soprano on twitter @fattysoprano ,C.N.A.D MIXTAPE COMING OUT SOON ,FEATURING FRENCH MONTANA ,GUDDA GUDDA FROM YOUNG MONEY ,BIZARRE FROM D-12 ,and BISHOP BRIGANTE .
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Taylor Swift to Participate in Grammy Nominations Concert From Australia
Taylor Swift will still participate in the annual 'The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night' even though she is out of the country on one of the overseas legs of her Red Tour.
Swift will beam in from Sydney, Australia in order to participate in this year's festivities, making it a truly global affair. Details about exactly how she will be involved are somewhat scarce, but the news of Swift's involvement is revealed in the 30-second spot posted above.
Last year, Swift co-hosted the event, which mixes performances from artists of all genres with the announcement of the nominees in all of the major categories. Since she is otherwise occupied with tour commitments this year, the wonders of technology will allow her to be a part of the event at a satellite location.
In a way, Swift will bring the Grammy nominations show to Australia and bring Oz to the concert, as well.
The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! concert takes place at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles and airs on CBS on Friday, Dec. 6 at 10PM ET. Be sure and tune in. Keith Urban, who appears on Tim McGraw's 'Highway Don't Care' with Swift, is booked to perform at the event.


text:
Gold's steady decline from early October to a six-month low has many analysts wondering aloud if the long bull market is over. We don't think so.
There has been a cascade of factors over the past five months driving gold down from what was arguably an exaggerated high, culminating in a series of news this past week.
- Improving U.S. economic reports along with a strong global stock market, has led to a sense that gold was no longer so necessary
- There has been an increasing focus on a future end to Federal Reserve stimulus, sparked by mid-December release of Open Market Committee minutes in which "some members" though bond buying would end in 2013.
- The euro has declined sharply this month
- Hedge funds were exiting gold at the end of the year, and several filings last week confirmed this, notably news that George Soros had cut his gold holdings in half, and other funds had sold completely.
- Fed Head Bernanke's comments last week about the improving U.S. economy aggravated concerns that an end to the Fed's stimulus is ahead.
Is it really so bad?
As often occurs, once sentiment changes and a market sets out on a trend, any and every piece of news is read in that light, for gold over the past few months that means negatively. We should put this in context however. The drop from October peak to last week's low is barely 10% in a market that has risen year-over-year for 11 years now. While all of the factors listed above are valid to some extent, they are exaggerated or distorted in my view.
Although the U.S. economy has been improving, you can hardly call it robust while Japan and Europe both reported weak GDP numbers last week. For the U.S. unemployment remains high, as do debt levels. And while stocks have experienced a strong run, the fact that retail investors have started to pour money into equity funds, for the first time since mid-2008, should give a contrarian pause as to how long this rally may last.
Though "some members" of the FOMC thought bond buying would end, the same minutes made clear that the "very accommodative" monetary policy would continue, even after the economy had improved. With the new government in Japan embarked on a new easy money course, and the new Governor of the Bank of England suggesting that more stimulus is needed, easy money is global, and, whether or not policy in the U.S. becomes somewhat less easy, it is difficult to imagine policy here or overseas tightening any time soon. Monetary policy remains very supportive of gold.


text:
Faculty & Staff
Center for Faculty Excellence
The Center for Faculty Excellence is committed to utilizing Universal Design in all major programs including eScholars, Teaching Online Boot Camp, DISCOVERe, as well as assisting faculty when working in Blackboard.
If you would like to know what universal design/accessibility options are available to you, please visit the CFE accessibility web site.
Accommodations in the Workplace
The Office of Human Resources provides workplace assistive devices and support services required by faculty and staff with verified physical, psychological and learning disabilities. Accommodations include assistive technology, alternate formats of text, reading, note-taking, sign language interpreting and campus transportation.
For information about accommodations visit: Assistive Device Program, Guidelines for Requesting a Disability Related Accommodation or call 559.278.2032 and/or visit the Office of Human Resources located in the Joyal Administration Building Room 211 or online at: www.fresnostate.edu/hr/
For additional information, please visit: JAN - Interactive Process Guide, or EEOC - Reasonable Accommodations Guidelines.
Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals
Faculty and staff who are blind or have visual impairments should contact the Office of Human Resources to arrange for workplace accommodations. To inquire about the Assistive Device Program, call 559.278.2364 or visit us online at: www.fresnostate.edu/hr
The Madden Library provides services to students, faculty and staff who need assistance. Call the Reference Desk at 559.278.2174 for an appropriate referral or to set up an appointment.
Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals
Faculty and staff who are deaf or hard of hearing should contact the Office of Human Resources to arrange for workplace accommodations. To inquire about the Assistive Device Program, call 559.278.2364 or visit us online at: www.fresnostate.edu/hr
The Madden Library provides services to students, faculty and staff who need assistance. Call the Reference Desk at 559.278.2174 for an appropriate referral or to set up an appointment.
Accommodation, Alternate Format Statements on Publications and Announcements
Accommodations and alternate format statements may be requested on publications, event announcements and web sites. Materials may be printed in an easy-to-read font size (16 pt) and provided upon request.
Campus Accessibility
For a temporary disabled parking permit (two weeks maximum), contact the Office of Human Resources at 559.278.2364. For longer term disabled parking permission, an individual must display a temporary or a permanent DMV disabled placard or license plate. In both cases, an individual must have a paid campus parking permit displayed.
Blue Curb parking for individuals with disabilities is available in all parking lot locations around campus and can be found on the Campus Parking Map.
For information special access for driving on campus and being dropped off on campus please view the Campus Access Map or contact the Office of Parking and Transportation at 559.278.2950, 2311 E. Barstow Ave or online at: www.fresnostate.edu/police/traffic/disabled
For information regarding accessibility to campus: Buildings, elevators, classrooms, bathrooms, labs, auditoriums, sports facilities, etc. Please contact the Office of Facilities Planning at 559.278.2424 or or view the Facility Accessibility Maps online.
All faculty, staff and administrators who require transportation assistance to and from campus buildings on a temporary or permanent basis due to medical restrictions, should contact Human Resources to participate in the Scout program.
Human Resources will require medical documentation in order to issue a Scout ID card that will provide access to the tram. Participants will be provided a telephone number to arrange for pick-up times. Expiration of Scout ID card is based on medical documentation.
For additional information or participation in the SCOUT program, please contact Human Resources at (559) 278-2032.
Save Mart Center
Please call Patron Services (559.347.3400) for accessibility services. For more information about accessibility services, visit the "Accessibility" portion of the website at: www.savemartcenter.com.
Call or locate an emergency phone to request a safety escort officer or call 559.278.8400. Radio-equipped, uniformed, and trained safety escort officers will accompany persons to their destinations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit the web at: www.fresnostate.edu/police/transportation/escorts.
NOTE: If a safety escort officer is unavailable, a police officer will provide this service.


text:
Former wrestler and 2013 Mariner High School graduate USMC Pfc. Austin G. Mai graduated BCT at Parris Island, S.C., on Sept. 16, 2013, and now has graduated ITB/MCT Nov. 21, 2013, at Camp Gieger, N.C.
He is now stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
His proud parents are Albert and Elizabeth Mai of Cape Coral.
Article Photos
USMC Pfc. Austin G. Mai


text:
Toys nowadays come in different shapes, sizes and features. Some are even electronically powered to satisfy the curiosity of children. But nothing compares to the comfort stuffed animals plush toys brings to children. If you are getting your newborn his first stuffed toy or adding a new one to his animal collection, you can find a cuddly and cute collection of plush toys here.
For your little princess, you can get her a beautiful doll with an adorable outfit. You can also get her a miniature model of a popular cartoon princess. If you want a soft and adorable toy that also promotes interactive learning, you will also find stuffed animals that you can personalize so your little one can be encouraged to sing and play along.
To teach her about the responsibility of having a pet, you can get an electronic puppy. It can bark, wag its tail, adorably tilts its head and even sit for your little one. A leash controller is also available so your little one can take it out for a walk.
For other plush toys, check our collection today!
BabyGiftsOutlet.com is your one stop shop for all your baby product and baby gift needs. We bring the highest quality products from trusted brands and manufacturers at affordable prices so that you can be rest assured that you get the most for your money. Feel free to browse our large selection of baby gifts by narrowing down the color, brand, and price range that fits your needs for your baby.


text:
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Cho-a-lina Ballerina Take 2
9 comments:
- CSIowa said...
- January 16, 2010 at 6:46 PM
- Kelly said...
I can see this one Eileen... Now I will go back and read!
- January 16, 2010 at 6:53 PM
- Kelly said...
So glad you found a perfect fit for her. Now if you can just find some red ballet shoes to match!
- January 16, 2010 at 6:57 PM
- Jen Bay said...
Hurray! It's all about just the right match...
- January 17, 2010 at 12:23 AM
- Beach Mama said...
I'm glad Cholita gave dance another chance and that you found the right teacher for her! My girls do a ballet-tap-tumble class that suits them to a T. Can't wait for more dance updates and photos! SHe looks so happy!
- January 17, 2010 at 6:06 AM
- Miss Ashley said...
So excited for Cholita.
P.S. I've been reading your blog since I read one of your posts at No Hands but Ours.
- January 17, 2010 at 4:49 PM
- Julie said...
AH yes!! Perfect! Summer had her first ballet class this week and it was definitely like Cholita's second class. She loved every minute of it. I don't think it should be any other way!! It was funny though, 2 or 3 of the girls in SUmmer's class were, should I say, ENERGETIC...and Summer was telling them to stop and listen, this all being on her first day! ha ha She probably would've enjoyed the class where everyone had to stay on their dot!
- January 17, 2010 at 9:25 PM
- Alyson (New England Living) said...
Oh, I love that! They just aren't ready for serious ballet at 4. I love that teacher's philosophy!
- January 18, 2010 at 11:47 AM
We put our daughter into tumbling classes when she was 3.5 thinking it would burn energy and keep her from breaking her neck at home. She just got into better shape and spends 20 hours at the gym every week doing competitive gymnastics. So glad you found a good fit for Cholita!
Vonna in Kansas
- January 18, 2010 at 2:35 PM


text:
Honors aside, Avery perhaps best of Fab Four
COOPERSTOWN , N.Y. -- They'll be together again in about two months, just as they were 21 summers ago when they were the Fab Four and the envy of every other big league franchise. They'll gather in Cooperstown, not far from where Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux will become minted members on July 27.
This is about the previous day, though, the Saturday morning of Induction Weekend, the day before all the pomp, circumstance and speeches, the day they get to remember what brought them together. The day they get to be a foursome again.
COOPERSTOWN , N.Y. -- They'll be together again in about two months, just as they were 21 summers ago when they were the Fab Four and the envy of every other big league franchise. They'll gather in Cooperstown, not far from where Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux will become minted members on July 27.
This is about the previous day, though, the Saturday morning of Induction Weekend, the day before all the pomp, circumstance and speeches, the day they get to remember what brought them together. The day they get to be a foursome again.
The foursome is the two 2014 HOF inductees and John Smoltz, who, chances are, will join Glav and Mad Dog in the Hall in 2015. And the "fourth" is Steve Avery, who was the best of them on the mound before his shoulder betrayed him.
Come the morning of July 26, few of those obstacles and detours will matter. In fact, baseball will not necessarily be the focus of the conversation. The Fab Four will be together smiling and putting, laughing and bogeying, enjoying each other, hoping their claims of success on the links won't be challenged by an old buddy's keen memory.
"Golf was good for us," Avery said Saturday morning. "We all loved it. In Spring Training, if it wasn't a day to pitch, we'd play 18 holes, even 36. It was so good for us."
Avery smiled as he recalled some of the moments he still treasures. He was in Cooperstown on Saturday, among a collection of former big league players who had been invited to attend the annual Hall of Fame Classic weekend, including Steve Garvey, Pedro Martinez, Hideki Matsui, Vinny Castilla, Jim Thome, Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Sweeney, Reggie Sanders, Edgardo Alfonzo and other high-profile players. Most of them participated in an abridged game between teams captained by Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Phil Niekro and coached by Eddie Murray, Roberto Alomar, Rollie Fingers and Andre Dawson.
Avery, 44, was comfortable among his peers and pleased to be in their company. He represented the Braves, his team from 1990-96, a club for which he won 47 games in a three-season sequence, 1991-93, and produced one of the most dazzling postseason series ever by a pitcher.
"I'm very proud of what I did in the postseason," Smoltz said by phone Saturday. "But Steve was better than all of us when he came up. He pitched two of the greatest games in one [postseason] series I've ever seen. He won two 1-0 games against a team that could hit."
Smoltz was referring to Avery's starts against the Pirates in the 1991 National League Championship Series. He pitched 8 1/3 innings and eight innings against a batting order that included Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke.
"[Avery] could be that dominating," Smoltz said. "He was young and absolutely unafraid. He'd attack everybody.
"But so much of what he did goes unnoticed now because his career was cut short by injury. I know Clayton Kershaw is not from this planet, but Steve was that level of pitcher before his shoulder gave out."
* * * *
Thoughts of what could have been come from Smoltz and other members of those young and successful Braves teams, not from Avery himself. His prowess as a pitcher was such that, if not for injury, he, too, might have been part of the celebration planned for Cooperstown during the final weekend of July.
Avery was hardly the fourth man in the Braves' rotation in 1993. Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz and Avery combined to produce a 75-33 record in 142 starts. Avery's numbers included an 18-6 record and 2.94 ERA in 35 starts.
"I had my moments. I did my part. I was part of a special team that had two guys who won 300 games and had amazing careers," said Avery. "And John had a great career, too. ...
"We were all together. We weren't good at first, but we got good together and that formed a bond. A lot of it was Bobby [Cox, also being inducted in July]. He was the perfect blend of what a manager should be and made it easier for all of us. And we had so much talent."
Avery spoke of Cox with unabashed reverence, recalling the 1995 World Series.
"A lot of people wanted Bobby to just go with three [starters -- Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz]. But he had me start Game 4. And I won it."
Avery allowed one run in six innings. Two games later, Glavine pitched eight shutout frames in a 1-0 victory, and the Braves won the World Series.
"I've always appreciated what Bobby did," Avery said.
Before the 1996 season ended, there was every indication that Avery's run as an elite pitcher had was over. He was with the Red Sox for two seasons and the Reds for one after that.
"It hurt to see him try to make it back after the shoulder," Smoltz said.
Avery had a short-lived comeback as a reliever with the Tigers in 2003 and then turned to golf.
"Those guys were still in the game," he said. "I wanted to get back in. But nah."
He keeps in touch with the Fab Four by phone and text. Smoltz is scheduled to be in Detroit to work a baseball game on June 6. Avery lives in Dearborn, Mich., so there will certainly be some golf played that weekend. Avery and Smoltz both intend to attend the induction ceremony for Cox, Glavine and Maddux. And another reunion of the four pitchers could happen next summer if Smoltz is elected this winter.
Avery will be the odd man out if Smoltz is elected. And his golf game isn't what it used to be. But he seems like a content man.
He's had his moments.
Marty Noble is a columnist for MLB.com.


text:
IN FRANCE, about 70 percent of water services are privatized. French corporations continue to vie for control of the global water supply. But in 2010, Paris, in a case of "remunicipalization," exited contracts with Paris-based Veolia and Suez Environnement, the world's two largest water service companies.
Veolia is also the largest waste-water corporation in the world. Subsidiary Veolia Water North America is the largest private operator of U.S. municipal water and waste-water systems and controls the water service of about 14 million people.
The city of Jakarta, Indonesia, was recently confronted with a clean-water crisis as supplies run dry and a leaky system loses about 40 percent of its water. The city, with 10.9 million people, decided to buy back control of its water system in June from Suez Environnement.
In the Philippines, there is mounting public opposition to the private companies that control Manila's water systems. In July, the Water for All Refund Movement, a civil society group, asked the nation's supreme court to nullify water privatization deals and to declare them "unconstitutional and immoral." Since privatization in 1997, water rates have increased by amounts from 547 percent to 850 percent, while the private companies have seen ever-escalating profits.
Average water rates in Jakarta and Manila are among the highest of major cities in Asia.
In a world where 18 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, high water prices pose a real threat to human health, and privatization has escalated that threat around the globe.