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Betty Jean Norris, 84, of Highlands, Texas, passed away on Friday, July 5th, 2019 at her home in Lynchburg. She was born on September 26, 1934 in Maud, Texas to William Dozier and Mildred Randolph Bell.
She spent her childhood years growing up on a farm in Redwater, Texas. Known as Jean to her family, she spent many of hardworking days on that farm doing her daily chores to take care of her family. In High School, she loved volleyball, typing, and math. She always said no one could beat her in math and typing. She would always be first to finish and could hear those boys say "there she goes!" After graduating with a class of 12 from Redwater High School, Jean moved to Houston, Texas where she became known as Betty and started working downtown as a typist writing checks for a company TJ Bettis. Betty loved professional wrestling and country music. The country music scene is how she met her husband of 62 years, Francis Ceal Norris, otherwise known as 'Slick.'
The year was 1955, and a country music artist named Jimmy C. Newman introduced Slick and Betty. Slick had invited her to a show 2 weeks later and and she showed up just before midnight. They fell in love and Married 2 years later. They moved to Highlands, Texas and had their 1st son in 1959. Shortly after, built their home in Lynchburg, Texas where Slick still resides today.
Betty started her family and had 4 sons. She spent many years attending sporting events, fishing, and camping. Highlands Little League and Northshore Bowling Alley got to know her pretty well. She was the local Avon lady in Lynchburg and absolutely loved to visit all her neighbors and friends. She later became an avid bingo player. No one could dab a bingo card quite like Betty. She also loved to play the slot machines at the Louisiana casinos. She would say "do whatever makes you happy, as long as it's moral and legal."
Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, W.D. Billie Jr, Johnny Ray, Buddy Quinn, Troy Eugene, and George Edward 'Sonny' Bell. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her caring husband Slick Norris; her children Steve, Mike, Greg, and Chris Norris; her daughter-in-laws Janet, and Patty Norris; her grandchildren Melissa, Ryan, Chris, Katelyn, Montana, Travis, Justin, Jennifer, Jessica, Justin, Jason, Josh, and Jacy; her brother Herbert Lynn Bell; her sister-in-laws Joyce Bell, Kathryn Frudiger, and Rosa Mae Gallik; her nieces Peggy, Lori, Patty, and Judy; her nephews Eddie, Ronnie, Rick and Mark; and her 9 great-grandchildren with more on the way.
Friends are invited to visit with the family on Thursday, July 11, 2019 beginning from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Sterling White Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 12:00pm. Interment will follow in Sterling White Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sterling White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd., Highlands, TX 77562.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty Jean Norris, please visit our floral store.


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Subscribe to Curtis to support his work and read subscriber-only content.
Once a Silicon Valley software engineer, Curtis C. Chen (陳致宇) now writes fiction and runs puzzle games near Portland, Oregon. His debut novel Waypoint Kangaroo (a 2017 Locus Awards Finalist and Endeavour Award Finalist) is the first in a series of funny science fiction spy thrillers. He has written for Ninth Step Station and Machina on Serial Box.
Curtis' short stories have appeared in Playboy Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, Oregon Reads Aloud, and elsewhere. His homebrew cat feeding robot was displayed in the "Worlds Beyond Here" exhibit at the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle. He is a graduate of the Clarion West and Viable Paradise writers' workshops.
You can find Curtis at Puzzled Pint on the second Tuesday of most every month. And yes, there is a puzzle hidden in each of the KANGAROO book covers! Finding the rabbit holes is left as an exercise for the reader.
Fiction Series: Complete 2 Chapters
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Capitalism is dead, long live capitalism?
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Horror Science Fiction Romance get your ass to mars reverse war of the worlds did i just blow your mind
"The time has come," the astronaut said, "to talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing-wax, of presidents and quarantines."
Published Feb 25, 2020 · 4,124 words (15 minutes) · 1 like · 521 views
Fantasy Humor Science Fiction near future cat Basic Income
Bailey the cat provides commentary as his human starts getting her first universal basic income payments. She doesn't quit her job or waste her money on frivolous spending. But she does have to adjust to this change in her life.
Published Jan 29, 2020 · 7,353 words (27 minutes) · 1 like · 3 views
Science Fiction aliens ghosts hawks doves pure energy
Ghosts vs. Aliens!
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Science Fiction space elevator earth orbit disaster!
Another potential for corporate involvement are space elevators and other stations above the Earth such as the setting for our next tale. When her partner passes out, a female astronaut must work to save both of their lives...
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Are you afraid of NO GHOST, though?
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Fantasy Horror network television body snatching pun intended
Once upon a time in Hollywood...

subset: commoncrawl


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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama (November 28, 2018) – Baldwin REALTORS®, the professional trade organization supporting the success and advancement of its 2,300 REALTOR members is giving back to the local and regional area with a donation of over $21,000 this month. During the association's annual Thanks & Giving lunch, $15,000 was donated to local charities: South Alabama Out of the Darkness Walk-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Ecumenical Ministries, Mary's Shelter, Home of Grace, The Shoulder, The Baldwin County Trailblazers for The Walking School Bus, Prodisee Pantry, Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County, and Feeding the Gulf Coast's Backpack Program. Baldwin REALTORS also donated $6,000 to the Florida REALTOR Relief Foundation for victims of Hurricane Michael.
"Baldwin REALTORS recognizes the impact these organizations have on our area, and we want to support these causes because they create strong communities," said Kandy Hines, 2019 Baldwin REALTORS President. "REALTORS believe in strong communities, and we will do anything we can to support what they do."
Thanks & Giving is a time for association members to thank the local charities in the community for their work and to thank members for their hard work and dedication to the association, like affiliate members, committee chairs, and Omega Tau Rho Inductees — REALTOR Emeritus members who have been a REALTOR for at least 40 years.
This year, four Baldwin REALTORS® members were inducted into the Omega Tau Rho fraternity of the National Association of REALTORS.
Membership in the honorary fraternity is represented by the Medallion of Service which is awarded as a token of the high esteem in which inductees are held by their fellow REALTORS and symbolizes the recognition and appreciation accorded to them for their contributions to the National Association of REALTORS and its institutes, societies and councils.
The members who received their medallion from NAR are Sonny Nichols, Associate Broker of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Nichols Real Estate; Bernice Lindsey, Associate Broker of Bellator Real Estate and Development-Eastern Shore; Sherry Bell-Headrick, Associate Broker of Roberts Bros. Gulf Coast; and Ann Gordon, Broker of Atmore Realty and Baldwin Realty Brokers.
About Baldwin REALTORS®
Baldwin REALTORS® is the source for real estate in Southern Alabama. We provide resources, education and tools to over 2,300 professionals across the region. We work to protect the interests of property owners, and our members serve buyers and sellers as REAL Advocates, Advisors, and Experts. REALTORS® agree to abide by a strict code of ethics and are held to a high ethical standard by their peers through their association membership. The term REALTOR® is a federally registered trademark owned by the National Association of REALTORS® and denotes membership in the non-profit Association.


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Interested in Becoming a Brand Ambassador?
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- This Brand Ambassador Forum submission period is defined by the submission date(s) published on the forum page ("Submission Period"). Notwithstanding anything else herein, Pure Essence reserves the right to suspend, modify or cancel the Forum at any time in its sole discretion. In the event of any conflict between these terms and the forum criteria posted on the forum page and/or the Pure Essence terms of Use/Privacy Policy, the order of precedent shall be (a) Pure Essence Terms of Use/Privacy Policy, (b) these Brand Ambassador Forum rules (with Sections 1-8 having conflict priority over Section 9), and (c) the posted forum criteria.
- Each current and validly registered Pure Essence user is entered into this Forum when they (a) successfully upload a video or photo.You hereby represent and warrant that (a) your submitted video or video will not violate any third party intellectual property rights, (b) that you have obtained the proper releases from any individual that may appear in your submitted video or photo, and (c) your video or photo is an original work created for this Forum and as such you have not granted or assigned any rights in or to the video or photo to any third party.
The potential public display and performance of your video or photo on Pure Essence sites and any resulting publicity generated constitutes the sole consideration for the licenses, waivers and releases granted in this section. By the act of submitting a video or photo, you hereby agree to be bound to the Pure Essence Terms of Use and agree to grant to Pure Essence and its designees the license rights in and to the video or photo (or portions of the audio/video contained within your submitted video) as set forth in the Pure Essence Terms of Use.
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- Participating, you agree to be bound by these official rules and to accept Pure Essence's decisions as final in all matters relating to this Brand Ambassador Program. If you are submitting a video that includes a minor, you represent and warrant that you are their parent or legal guardian and grant Pure Essence with all the appropriate rights associated with the minor to effect the license rights set forth in the Pure Essence Terms of Use. Prior to the provision of any commissions or other consideration hereunder, Pure Essence may request proof of age and full written consents and releases from the parents of any minor.
- 2. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By participating in this Brand Ambassador Forum, entrants agree that Pure Essence and their respective companies, affiliate and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotion agencies, and all of their agents, directors, officers, representatives, shareholders and employees will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, death, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from participation in the Brand Ambassador Forum or acceptance, possession or use of any items that may be provided in connection with this Brand Ambassador Forum. Pure Essence is not responsible for printing or typographical errors in this Brand Ambassador Forum or any related materials. If Pure Essence determines, in its sole discretion, that there is any suspected or actual electronic tampering with this Brand Ambassador Forum, or if technical difficulties compromise the integrity of the Brand Ambassador Forum, Pure Essence in its sole discretion, reserves the right to void any video or photo submissions obtained fraudulently or cancel or modify the Brand Ambassador Forum. Any deliberate attempt by a Brand Ambassador applicant or any other individual associated with the applicant to damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operation of this Brand Ambassador Forum is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Pure Essence reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Pure Essence and their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and Internet access providers are not responsible for incorrect entry of information, or technical malfunctions of any telephone network, computer equipment, software or any combination thereof, user profiles or information that have been tampered with, human error, or lost/delayed data transmission; or transactions that are processed late or incorrectly or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunction.


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The Collector (The Jungle Book)
Regular price €0.00
Signed and dated by artist 70x42cm fine art print on 320GSM archival paper. *comes with COA from Random Gallery (unframed)
Exclusively available from Dec 6th to Dec 10th, world wide shipping.
Disponibile esclusivamente dal 6 al 10 Dicembre, spedizione gratuita in italia.


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Introduction: Organize a Messy Desk
Hey everyone, it's Momo. I haven't been making instructables for a while because I've been very very sick. Anyways, today I'm back and I'm going to be showing y'all the best way to tackle a messy desk. I haven't cleaned my desk for at least 3 years and I was ready to reorganize because when things look better, you feel better.
Step 1: Put on Some Tunes
Listening to your favorite music can make cleaning your desk a fun activity instead of an unwanted choir. I suggest any kind of upbeat dance-y songs that really motivate you ;)
Step 2: Don't Let Your Phone Distract You!
If you're listening to music on your phone, don't pick it up, because it can distract you. Try to set it aside and tell yourself you won't touch it because it really can set you back.
Step 3: Take It On
If you want to clean out a messy desk, it'll take hard work and dedication to get the job done!
Tackle it one drawer at a time. I'm starting with the top drawer.
You have to really commit if you want to clean up. It'll take a while (depending how long it was since your last clean was) so you need to make sure you're ready, so that you don't have a roomful of junk everywhere!
Step 4: Make Piles
It's easy to organize when there are separate piles for different places. For example, the top pile, I'm moving out of the room, like to the kitchen, bathroom, etc.
The left pile, I'm keeping in my desk.
The right pile is trash.
As you go, you may need to make your piles more specific
Step 5: Organized!
After you finished pulling everything out and organizing it into piles, begin putting the pile back in that you wanted to keep there.
Step 6: Tackle Each Drawer One at a Time
Each time you empty a drawer, add more to your piles to stay organized.
Create new piles of necessary.
Take boxes or containers and empty them out one at a time.
Step 7: After You've Emptied the Desk...
Begin putting the designated pile back into your desk orderly.
The piles will begin to decrease and you'll start to feel a lot better!
Step 8: Finished!
Put the rest of the piles into their designated places and you're done! You'll begin to feel a lot better after your desk is cleaned out and organized.
If you haven't already, subscribe, become a member of the farm family and give a family its wings! Love y'all •_£
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6 Discussions
A really tough one - organization is always a challenging task, but well done!
Thank you so much! I cleaned my pin board too. Who new it would make the room look a lot more tidy?!?
thank you. this really helped.
Momoluv, thanks for the instructable. Your contribution is a positive one. Be blessed with great health and keep your generous spirit.
I vote for you
great instructable


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Waffle Weave Leather Bag
Regular price $38.00
So much character to this classic piece. Waffle weave flap with button snap and zip closure. Interior zip pocket and brass buckle adjustable strap detail. Lovely vintage condition with minimal wear.
Measures 11x12.3 with a strap that hangs 20"
Genuine leather
Condition: Overall lovely vintage condition, some very minor scuffs typical of minimal vintage wear


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Light City 2017 is officially back. The festival's vibrant Light Art Walk has transformed the Inner Harbor into an illuminated creative carnival, with conceptual creations to ponder and interactive ones for light art lovers of all ages.
First up is "Argo," designed by Baltimore's own Jann Rosen-Queralt, Marian Ochoa and Kirsten Walsh. Sitting feet from the water in front of the Maryland Science Center, the structures use projected light from in front of the museum and LED lights from within, as well as reflections from the harbor. According to its description on Light City's website, it "addresses events formed by and affecting water, and how Baltimore's water systems are precariously changing."
"Impulse," crafted by Toronto-based Lateral office and Montreal's CS Design, "is a set of 15 illuminated see-saws" installed on the lawn just south of the Maryland Science Center. Each one is activated sitting on either end, and projects sound from speakers. Onlookers were already partaking in the interactive piece as soon as it was up last night. After all, who can ignore a four-person illuminated teeter-totter?
"The Pool [Reflect]," by New York-based artist Jen Lewin, is equally enticing. The collection of pebble-like circles glows at all hours of the day and changes hues as observers stand atop each piece. Light City's description explains it best: "Imagine a giant canvas where you can paint and splash light collaboratively or watch the floating clouds and skyscape shift in a Monet-esque reflection."
"House of Cards," by Israeli studio OGE Group, contains no conspiring fictional politicians but rather features 128 stacked light boxes shaped like playing cards and containing faces of famous figures. The light within each is constantly shifting, making it a game to watch and wait to see where the shadows and illuminated sections will appear. It's hard to miss, sitting at the corner of Light and Pratt streets.
"OVO," an egg-shaped sculpture comprising an intricate wooden frame, LED lights and a mist machine, was crafted by OVO Collective from Belgium. It sits front and center on the short walkway next to the U.S.S. Constellation, framing spectacular nighttime views of the Inner Harbor facing Federal Hill to the south, the Domino Sugar sign to the southeast and the National Aquarium one pier over to the east.
Another interactive piece called "Kinetic Kauchii/Dekosofa," by Baltimore's Formstone Castle Collective invites users pedal around on a mobile couch with affixed ornamental lanterns and a commemoration of the iconic Japanese woodblock print "The Great Wave" on the back. Per Light City: "The DekoSofa's aim is to inspire questions about community, neighborhood engagement, and sustainable transportation, as well as remind people of the inseparable relationship between humans and the Chesapeake Bay."
"Our House," by Belgian artist Tom Dekyvere, uses illuminated neon fibers along the National Aquarium's suspension bridge connecting Piers 3 and 4 to decorate the harbor with beams of light. Here's a view capturing some of them cast out over the water.
"Light Happenings Part II," by Baltimore performance art group Labbodies, is a resurrection of the first rendition from last year's inaugural festival. These structures contain historical themes aglow with neon, to "examine some of the most tragic moments in history and their connection to contemporary acts of violence in the United States," per Light City's website.
Last in our tour, we have "Drift," a water bound installation by Berlin- and New York-based artist Stephanie Imbeau. The piece is a collection of glowing umbrellas sitting on top of three sailboats that achieve a new character at night when playing off reflections from the water.
These are just a few of the 22 pieces of the Light Art Walk in this year's festival. Our photos aren't bad, but it's worthwhile to see them in person down in the harbor. We can guarantee you'll capture a view of the waterway that you may only get once.
- Friday Afternoon Headlines: Hogan working on a book; A huge, high-profile crowd for Cummings' funeral in Baltimore; and more - October 25, 2019
- The city is throwing Gervonta 'Tank' Davis a parade tomorrow - October 25, 2019
- Friday Morning Headlines: Councilman files resolution to fix 311 app; Suspicious envelope sent to WBFF-TV; and more - October 25, 2019


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Exploring the Creative Possibilities of Awkward Space in the City
Jones, Hannah. 2007. Exploring the Creative Possibilities of Awkward Space in the City. The Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning, 83(1), pp. 70-76. ISSN 01692046 [Article]No full text available
Abstract or Description
This article will propose that the achievement of a sustainable practice of everyday urban life is directly linked to the creative potential of the awkward space that emerges and punctures the cities we circulate. To tune in a holistic design of the urban landscape the article considers the city as a living system, a complex assembly of flows, structures, connections and owners. Awkward space emerges amongst the organisation of these parts and as such speaks of the city's synergy. Focusing on a space squeezed into existence between two buildings can draw attention to the design of the structures surrounding that space and open up questions concerning how the city is self-regulating itself as a whole so as to work towards designing more holistic solutions. The article will propose how an active awareness of the unconsidered spaces in between buildings can help to re-vision and dynamically map a more contextual, sustainable, creative and engaging design of the public realm.


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Quick Links
Poetry Archives
Category Archives: Translation Corner
2017 West Chester University Poetry Conference
I had a great time at both 2016 and 2017 West Chester University Poetry Conference. It gave me a great opportunity to meet many fine poets. I was happy to translate some works by them … Continue reading
Posted in English Poetry, Events, Poetry, Translation Corner Tagged 2017 west Chester Poetry Conference, Poetry Conference Comments Off
poetry by six Governor General's Literary Awards winners
No 3 issue for Chinese/English Poetry Zine: Anna Yin (星子安娜)'s translations of works by six Governor General's Literary Awards winners (Patricia Kathleen Page, Milton Acorn,George Elliott Clarke, Rosenblatt Joe, Richard Greene, Al Purdy) No 2:七位海内外诗人双语作品分享 No 1: 七位北美桂冠诗人作品欣赏 (Works by Seven Poets Laureate … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Publish, Translation Corner Tagged Governor General's Literary Awards winners Comments Off
David Mason and Cally Conan-Davies's Poems, translated by Anna Yin
David Mason, American poet, former Poet Laureate of Colorado. He teaches at Colorado College. His poetry, prose and translations have appeared in such periodicals as The New Yorker, Harper's, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, The Wall Street … Continue reading
Posted in English Poetry, Poetry, Translation Corner Comments Off


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This is the world's most immaculate McLaren F1
McLaren is flexing its official Certification program by MSO again this year, by showing off chassis F1 #63 in a freshly-restored and newly-certified state. You can see it in person at Hampton Court Concours d'Elegance 2019 next week.
The restoration took 18 months, and involved a full engine and transmission rebuild, and a complete interior retrim.
On the inside, new leather and alcantara trim is complemented by a new steering wheel taken from MSO's stockpile of original parts. The owner kept the original wheel as a memento – so cool.
Following the rebuild, the BMW V12 engine was even dyno-tested to make sure it produced figures befitting an F1.
Other parts were also sent back to their original suppliers for refurbishment and rebuild. The dampers went back to Bilstein while the driveshafts and hubs were also refreshed by their original supplier.
The result, after those 18 months, and 3,000 man-hours, is a near good-as-new McLaren F1, track-proven and complete with a certificate of authenticity and history file. The owner even got a scale model created from a laser scan of the car.
MSO's certified program is pretty well the closest thing anyone will get to experiencing taking delivery of a brand new McLaren F1. The catch is that you have to own one to send in for a restoration in the first place…
"Just 12 months ago we announced the MSO McLaren F1 Heritage programme with the unveiling of F1 25R, resplendent in Gulf Racing Colours", said Ansar Ali, Managing Director, McLaren Special Operations.
"Following an extensive restoration, which was very much a labour of love for our team, it's an honour to now display chassis 63 at the Hampton Court Concours d'Elegance.
"With the work the team has carried out, this car will continue to fulfil the original brief for the McLaren F1; to create the world's finest road car."


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Expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program
What would you do if your flood insurance was cancelled overnight?
What if it was through no fault of your own and was caused by YOUR elected officials?
The current authority period of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) expires at the end of this month: September 30th, 2011. If this program expires, YOU may be left without flood insurance protection. Certain members of congress are working to reauthorize the program and allow it to continue operating normally. If it is not reauthorized in time, the program will officially lapse at 12:01AM on October 1st, 2011. If this occurs, you will not be able to renew, make changes to, or increase coverage limits to your policy during the program lapse.
If you are concerned that your current or pending flood insurance policy is to be effective after the 1st of October, please make sure to call your agent. Make sure you work to process all changes and pay any required premiums prior to this date. Once premiums have been paid and/or coverage changes have been made, they will not be affected by the lapse unless it were to continue for a significantly longer period of time than it has in the past.
As independent insurance agents in Colorado, we also have access ot other flood insurance products that are not issued by the NFIP. Should you be adversely affected by our government's inability to renew the program, please contact our office in Arvada. We are glad to discuss your other options and help you obtain a new policy as quickly as possible.


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Meet the New Members of Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020
The latest season is now streaming on Netflix Japan.
Fans of the hit Japanese reality show, TERRACE HOUSE, will be excited to know that the new season has started streaming on Netflix Japan last May 14. The new series is titled TERRACE HOUSE TOKYO 2019-2020 and takes back the show to the country's capital. Former seasons of the show were shot in Shonan, Tokyo, Hawaii, Karuizawa.
For those who have not watched the Japanese reality show yet, it features six strangers -- 3 boys and 3 girls -- living in one house. The show captures the friendships and relationships formed inside the house. From forging bonds between the housemates to dealing with misunderstandings and drama, TERRACE HOUSE is quite an entertaining show to watch.
For TERRACE HOUSE TOKYO 2019-2020, the first six members are illustrator Kaori Watanabe (female, 28), actor Shohei Matsuzaki (male, 25), actress Haruka Okuyama (female, 24), musician Kenji Yoshihara (male, 31), fitness trainer Risako Tanabe (female, 21), and part-time employee Ruka Nishinoiri (male, 20). Will they become friends? Will they find love? We'll have to wait and see as the season unfolds.
Meet the new members of TERRACE HOUSE.
This season's opening theme "Graves" is from the three-piece band CHVRCHES from Glasgow, Scotland. They are set to perform at Fuji Rock Festival and Summer Sonic in Japan. They released their debut album The Bones of What You Believe in September 2013 and their sophomore album Every Open Eye in September 2015.
CHVRCHES' "Graves" is this season's opening theme.
TERRACE HOUSE began as a series broadcasted on Japanese TV from 2012 to 2014. The previous series TERRACE HOUSE BOYS & GIRLS IN THE CITY, TERRACE HOUSE ALOHA STATE, and TERRACE HOUSE OPENING DOORS are all available to stream on Netflix.
Livestream by Netflix Japan
Produced and copyright by Fuji Television Network, Inc. and EAST ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Originally published on PRTIMES.


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What are HIPs?
High Impact Practices (or, HIPs) are a collection of strategies for teaching and learning that are supported through research linking them to increased retention, completion, and satisfaction rates of students. When done well, HIPs provide intentional and integrative approaches for learning that encourage transference of skills and the creation of meaningful connections between experiences (Watson, Kuh, Rhodes, Penny Light, & Chen, 2016).
The list below was initially curated by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, and has since been reviewed annually by the National Survey of Student Engagement.
Many schools now build into the curriculum first-year seminars or other programs that bring small groups of students together with faculty or staff on a regular basis. The highest-quality first-year experiences place a strong emphasis on critical inquiry, frequent writing, information literacy, collaborative learning, and other skills that develop students' intellectual and practical competencies. First-year seminars can also involve students with cutting-edge questions in scholarship and with faculty members' own research.
The older idea of a "core" curriculum has evolved into a variety of modern forms, such as a set of required common courses or a vertically organized general education program that includes advanced integrative studies and/or required participation in a learning community. These programs often combine broad themes—e.g., technology and society, global interdependence—with a variety of curricular and cocurricular options for students.
The key goals for learning communities are to encourage integration of learning across courses and to involve students with "big questions" that matter beyond the classroom. Students take two or more linked courses as a group and work closely with one another and with their professors. Many learning communities explore a common topic and/or common readings through the lenses of different disciplines. Some deliberately link "liberal arts" and "professional courses"; others feature service learning.
ePortfolios are the latest addition to AAC&U's list of high-impact educational practices, and higher education has developed a range of ways to implement them for teaching and learning, programmatic assessment, and career development. ePortfolios enable students to electronically collect their work over time, reflect upon their personal and academic growth, and then share selected items with others, such as professors, advisors, and potential employers. Because collection over time is a key element of the ePortfolio process, employing ePortfolios in collaboration with other high-impact practices provides opportunities for students to make connections between various educational experiences.
In these programs, field-based "experiential learning" with community partners is an instructional strategy—and often a required part of the course. The idea is to give students direct experience with issues they are studying in the curriculum and with ongoing efforts to analyze and solve problems in the community. A key element in these programs is the opportunity students have to both apply what they are learning in real-world settings and reflect in a classroom setting on their service experiences. These programs model the idea that giving something back to the community is an important college outcome, and that working with community partners is good preparation for citizenship, work, and life.
Why use HIPs?
Benefits of HIPs
Students who participate in High Impact Practices have shown evidence of several positive benefits. This was further supported by the findings of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) report published in 2007.
- Increased persistence & GPA
- Deep approaches to learning (richer more lasting connections to materials)
- Higher rates of student-faculty interaction
- Increased critical thinking and writing skills
- Greater appreciation for diversity
- Higher student engagement
(Kuh, 2008) (NSSE, 2007)
Traits of effective HIPs
The associated benefits of High Impact Practices rely heavily on effective implementation. When done well, HIPs include each of the following elements:
- Considerable time and effort requirements for students
- Facilitated learning outside of the classroom (real-world applications and relevance is highlighted)
- Meaningful interactions between faculty and students
- Collaboration across disciplines and cultures (experience diversity)
- Frequent and substantive feedback
- Reflection and integrative learning opportunities
(Kuh, 2008) (Hobbs & Kropp, 2018)
AAC&U – Association of American Colleges & Universities, (2017). High-Impact Educational Practices: A brief overview. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/leap/hips
Hobbs, P. and Kropp, E. – Faculty Focus, (2018). Leveraging High-Impact Practices at the Course Level. Retrieved from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/leveraging-high-impact-practices-at-the-course-level/?st=FFdaily;s=FF181015;utm_term=FF181015&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Leveraging+High-Impact+Practices+at+the+Course+Level&utm_campaign=FF181015
Kuh, George D. (2008). High-impact educational practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why they matter. AAC&U, Washington, D.C.
NSSE – National Survey of Student Engagement, (2007). High-Impact Practices. Retreived from http://nsse.indiana.edu/html/high_impact_practices.cfm
Watson, C. E., Kuh, G. D., Rhodes, T., Penny Light, T., and Chen, H. L. (2016). Editorial: ePortfolios – The Eleventh High Impact Practice. International Journal of ePortfolio, Vol. 6, No. 2. Retrieved from http://www.theijep.com/pdf/IJEP254.pdf


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A meeting between mocking, grotesque beings seated at the table in 'The Good Judges' (1894). A crowd of deformed faces appears in 'The entry of Christ into Brussels in 1889' (1898). Neither god nor motherland nor puppets with heads feature in the prints by James Ensor. The deformities he depicts are very similar to those of a century earlier, in 'La Lealtad', 'La lealtad', 'Porque esconderlos' and 'Duendecitos', some of the 'Disparates' of Francisco de Goya.
Artists separated by time but very united in social criticism, especially in their graphic works. This 'crossing of minds' has never been seen before but it is now taking place at the Carmen Thyssen Museum in Malaga in an exhibition which is small but has great substance and impact.
The Sala Noble in this museum in Malaga city contains 40 prints by the artist from Aragón and 12 by the Belgian creator in a display which places before the spectator the bravery of both men in the face of political and ecclesiastical censure.
"Both Goya and Ensor showed their souls in graphic work. In the case of Goya, for example, there is a great difference between his work as a chamber artist at Court and these prints which are filled with social criticism," said the artistic director of the Thyssen Museum this week, Lourdes Moreno, at the presentation of the exhibition which continues until 28 January.
She also pointed out the novelty of this exhibition in relating the works of Goya and Ensor. The link is the ferocious social criticism of both artists, one in the 18th century and the other in the 19th and 20th. "They were both also part of the group of artists who expressed their unrest," she explained, about an exhibition in which the works are sombre and macabre but luminous in terms of formal and intellectual relations between the two artists.
These communicating links are evident in a display which puts the works by both artists alongside each other. There are the 'Masks (The mocking death)' (1922) by Ensor , with 'Folly of Fear' and 'Disparate cruel' (1816-1819). The same contorted faces, the same social background under the sinister caricatures, the same fleshless view of man and society, the same defeat of reason faced with superstition, the same debacle of solidarity against moral plunder.
Didactic postcards
These works were also planned as didactic postcards, in the same way Goya claimed for his 'Caprichos' and 'Disparates'. The exhibition, includes works by Goya from the Fine Arts Museum in Cordoba and is sponsored by the Daniel Pastor Abodagos law firm.
Lourdes Moreno also stressed the pioneering character of Goya's work in the formal aspect, because he worked with nitric acid and aquatint first and then retouched it with a burin, which was an unusual technique.
"Goya achieved a nocturnal ambience in the scenes by using aquatint, a technique with which he modernised the etching procedure and which enabled him to suggest dark scenes and mysterious atmospheres, where nightmares come to life and fill the mind of man with fear," she explained.
And there are more mirrors. 'Modo de volar' by Goya together with 'Christ tormented by demons' (1895) and 'The exterminating angel' (1889).
"Because of their rawness, the etchings by Francisco de Goya and James Ensor are still able to move and surprise the spectator today. And as a display, this innovation of the sombre world of dreams by both artists, with their indisputable mastery of printing, shows a powerful skill in drawing and technique, which few other artists were able to achieve," said Lourdes.


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Christmas is almost upon us, and for musicians, Christmas time means Messiah time. Forget about the fact that Handel's stirring oratorio of 1742 is more centred upon the Easter story than it is on Christmas (and indeed the Dublin premiere was in April). These days, the Messiah has become the figgy pudding of December's musical feast, meaning that professional musicians can easily notch up a double-figure performance tally each festive season.
However, there's something about the work that keeps it fresh and inviting, even to a performer on their umpteenth December rendition. We've asked Askonas Holt artists to reflect upon what that Something is, and also to tell us about their memorable experiences of performing it. On the latter point, their collective top tip must surely be, do not underestimate the potential for disaster attached to a Messiah tour of Spain…
Iestyn Davies, countertenor
"Handel's Messiah is like an old friend who pops around once a year. When you finish December, it's not that you never want to hear another one again, but you do think, "time to change the record". Then, the following December, you blow the dust and cobwebs off your copy again, and all the work's familiarity comes flooding back. The choruses are just so incredible. There's also something about the opening chords of the sinfonia: it's one of those ominous chords that says, 'you're in for a long evening….'.
One memorable performance I did was with Harry Christophers and The Sixteen, touring Spain in December. We flew from Valencia to Madrid, to do the Messiah in the palace at El Escorial. However, when we arrived in Madrid, not a single suitcase had arrived with us. It was the day of the concert, so we had to perform in whatever we had travelled in. Mid-way through the performance, I remember looking around at the choir; one of the countertenors had a Nike T-shirt with a big tick on it saying, "Just do it". In front of us, Harry Christophers was conducting with a Ted Baker T-shirt on. Meanwhile, the audience were very, very plush, all in their fur coats! At the end of "The trumpet shall sound", the bass soloist, on a dare, changed the line "We shall be changed" to "We shall get changed". He got a telling off from Harry Christophers for that!
Catherine Wyn-Rogers, mezzo-soprano
"The Messiah was always central to all the choirs I sang in; the Chesterfield Philharmonic, Derbyshire singers, the Bach Choir …and to the choirs in which my mother and grandparents sang too. My first professional engagement was a Messiah in Swadlincote Methodist chapel, where the ladies didn't wear a uniform but they did take their hats off'!
I've done all styles, from baroque-instrumented orchestras through to the Mozart orchestration, to the Prout and Beecham/Goossens, played by the London Philharmonic, complete with clarinets, trombones and the rest. Likewise, I've performed it both with small professional choirs, and huge 'come and sing' versions where half the Royal Albert Hall were singing. I've also taken part in fully-staged performances. Somehow the work lends itself to all of these approaches, with its glorious mix of joy and grief, drama and spirituality. I loved singing in the choruses, and I adore being a soloist. It has been a recurring motif throughout my career. A sign of just how much it means to me is that the finale of my wedding was a hearty rendition of the 'Hallelujah chorus'!"
Jennifer Johnston, mezzo-soprano
"Pretty much my first ever professional gig was a Messiah, with an amateur orchestra, and a choir singing from scratch. I won't say where it was, other than it was somewhere in England…. The soloists didn't rehearse with the choir. So, we got to the concert, sat through a pretty dire first half of the piece, and then we got to the 'Hallelujah chorus'. Now this, of course, is one of the most famous pieces in the entire world, but when the choir opened their mouths and started to sing, it was not just unrecognisable, but completely butchered to the point where we couldn't hold on to the giggles. Literally, the four of us soloists, our heads disappeared down into our laps as quickly as possible, and we shook our way through it! It's the only time I've ever, ever laughed in a concert, and I've never encountered anything like it since.
I'm always happy to see the Messiah in my diary. Each time you perform it you find something new, and no matter how many times you hear it, it remains just as beautiful. If you look out into an audience, there's always a sense of wonder from them too. I love the fact that it's in English, so linguistically there's no barrier. Obviously that 'Hallelujah chorus' is a very special moment, and utterly thrilling to hear".
John Mark Ainsley, tenor
"Handel really knew what he was doing when he wrote the Messiah. The music is intellectually rigorous, but it also has that direct access to the buttons in the bit of your brain that gets excited and moved. In other words, it goes straight in at solar plexus level.
A few years ago, I did a staged version of the Messiah at the Coliseum with English National Opera, and the one thing I found absolutely extraordinary about every single performance was when we all sang the final chorus. Normally, as a soloist you're stood apart from the chorus, but in this production the soloists were distributed amongst them on the stage, and standing in the middle of that great wedge of sound that an operatic choir can produce is the most extraordinary feeling: it's like the whole thing is going through you. I'd forgotten that since my days as a young teenage tenor at the choral society at home in Worcester. So, that was a rare privilege.
One of the things about the Messiah is that in the few years after it was first performed, Handel wrote all sorts of alternative arias for people. So, as a soloist, it's always as well to check who's singing what. I have had the experience of sitting next to a colleague soprano who, when it came to one of the arias usually sung by tenor, sat firmly in her place until I had to say, "You're on, this one's you!" She was quivering as she stood up!"
Neal Davies, bass-baritone
"Back in 1998, I was on a big Messiah tour of Spain with the Gabrieli Consort. We did something really ridiculous like nine performances in ten days, and on about performance seven we had to get from Murcia, in Southern Spain, right up to in La Coruña in Northern Spain, changing flights in Madrid en route to get there for a performance at about 8pm. However, we got fogbound in Madrid, and at about 7.30pm we still hadn't taken off. So, our Spanish audience just went off for a long dinner, and waited for us to turn up. I think we probably started the performance at about 11 o'clock at night, and when I had sung my tune ('The people who have walked in darkness'!), I'm afraid I went to sleep on the stage. When I woke up, I turned to Charles Daniels who was next to me, and he was asleep as well! It's the only time I've ever fallen asleep on stage.
Still, the music is wonderful, and it does have something to say even if you're completely exhausted and would rather be in your hotel room having a sleep. No matter how many times you've sung it, there's always some point in the performance where the music, or the performance, or what a certain performer does, or just seeing an audience reaction, lifts it and makes it all feel worthwhile. My favourite bit that I sing is "The trumpet shall sound". My favourite part of the whole thing (and it's not because it's the end) is the 'Amen chorus'. Even if it's been a really long, tiring day, that always raises the spirits.
You also always have the thrill of, are the audience going to stand up to the 'Hallelujah chorus' or not. It's the waiting game you play with everybody else on stage. Sometimes, people sing along, which is hysterical. And then of course we're obliged to stand up with them and hum and sing along, otherwise they look a bit disappointed. It's what they've come for, to stand up. They love it. It sort of proves to everyone that they know the piece and they know the traditions. On another long tour, this time with Les Arts Florissants, we ended up on the 23rd December at the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and just one man stood up for the entire 'Hallelujah chorus'. We came to the conclusion he was probably the British ambassador!"
Robin Trischler, tenor
"When I was studying singing at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, passing by a certain street in Dublin would often cause me to pause: the first performance of Messiah was given in the Music Hall on Fishamble Street in 1742, sung by the massed choirs of the two Dublin Cathedrals. The Music Hall was demolished long ago and the street is now lined with modern apartments and offices, but as a student I couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to be amongst the audience over 250 years ago, hearing the 'Hallelujah chorus' for the very first time. Today, every April 13th, and no matter what the weather, Our Lady's Choral Society erect a small stage where the Music Hall used to be, and sing Messiah to hundreds of supportive Dubliners. I have been fortunate enough to have performed this piece over a hundred times across the world, and to have witnessed the universal appeal and adoration of this work. Still though, there is something special about performing at these annual Dublin commemorations. The ownership of this Oratorio is now truly global, but a critical moment of its history will forever belong to this small corner of Dublin".
Paul Goodwin, conductor
"I conducted a memorable performance with a boys choir from Germany called the Tölzer Knabenchor. We were on a tour of Spain, and they all went out for a meal before the performance and fell ill. I remember conducting the piece as, one by one, the boys' faces gradually went green, then they stopped singing, and literally ran offstage to throw up. This happened over a period of about twenty minutes, and by the end I was down to about six or seven sopranos, and six or seven altos, who were these little guys: it was only the youngest boys who seemed to survive. Perhaps they didn't have the same meal as the ten-year-olds. My memory is of not seeing them, but seeing the width of their mouths as they opened as wide as they could to sing their hearts out. It was absolutely glorious to see. That was a very bizarre and wonderful moment.
I have a very large facsimile of the conducting score that Handel had at the end of his life. He did five or six different versions of the Messiah, and they're all marked in. I like to do a particular version all the way through, as he did it then, rather than doing as some do and making cuts. Then actually, if you keep everything in and do it his way, the architecture makes it feel shorter than a cut version".
© Charlotte Gardner
Messiah performances around the world:
Brindley Sherratt with Handel & Haydn Society, Boston (28-30 November)
Neal Davies and Iestyn Davies in Munich (29 & 30 November)
Robin Tritschler and Joelle Harvey with North Carolina Symphony (5 – 7 December)
Sophie Bevan, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and John Mark Ainsley with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Royal Festival Hall, London (9 December) and Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona (15 & 16 December)
Robert Murray and Jonathan Lemalu with the Academy of Ancient Music: Barbican, London (10 December), Madrid (16 & 17 December) and Ghent (19 December)
Neal Davies in Ulster (12 & 13 December)
James Rutherford at the Royal Albert Hall, London (14 & 19 December)
Rebecca Evans – Cardiff Polyphonic Choir (14 December)
Neal Davies and Jennifer Johnston in Huddersfield (16 & 17 December)
Iestyn Davies with New York Philharmonic (16-20 December)
Paul Goodwin with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in Milwaukee:17, 18, 19, 20, 21 December
David Soar with BBC Singers (19 & 20 December)
Neal Davies and Iestyn Davies with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in London (22 & 23 December)
Nathalie Stutzmann, Susan Gritton, John Mark Ainsley and Brindley Sherratt with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, 10 January 2015


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Asymmetrical Earrings- Sterling Silver Drop Earrings
Asymmetrical Earrings- Sterling Silver Drop Earrings
Out of stock
These star inspired asymmetrical drop earrings are cute and sweet. The star shape is adorned with tiny cubic zirconia with one stud earring paired with a drop earring. Typically, long earrings are known as a formal jewelry design, however the trendy style of this earrings will make wearing these casually incredible cute and fashion forward.
Materials: Sterling silver, Cubic Zirconia
Drop Earrings Length: 1 inch
Stud Size: Approx 0.3 inch
- Reviews (1)


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Now, I just recently won this off Yahoo Japan Auctions yesterday (yes, I checked, and the sizing is good): Patrick argues it's not really my style and it really doesn't look 'me' (and frankly, I agree) but I want to wear something like it once and see if I look alright. Even if I AM fat and may be unable to pull it off. Besides, I can always sell it off on eBay if I dislike how I look in it hehehe..
Now, I've been searching through eBay for more GothicLoli stuff (simply cos it's easier to use the search functions) and I found these two dresses that I like.
First off is this one, which costs £50 for both the dress AND the shipping:
I really really like the bit where ribbons form an X over the collarbones. However, I see major problems with this dress. A: My arms are huge. Can you just imagine how they'll look in that type of armholes?? Not that I usually care. I wear that sort anyway! hahaha.. B: That style really really emphasizes on the boobs. Seriously. My chest will look like torpedoes in that dress! (or so I feel). C: I'm not sure that colour suits me well. I mean, sure, yeah, we can order it in different colours. But I like this one! However, if I don't get this colour, I'll probably get it in white or cream, simply because it's such a 'me' colour. Ling, what do you think?
Secondly, we have this one, which is similar to the first dress, but with more details. It costs EU83, including shipping. Which one do you think will be more flattering for me?
Lastly, we have this dress, which also costs £50 including shipping:
Simple and sweet. Only thing is I really hate the idea of me wearing a short jacket, so the probability of me buying/wearing this is really low. Just thought I'd post a picture, though :P
Sooooooo... To buy or not to buy? For the first picture, the pink dress, I'm planning to buy chunky lolita shoes to match. Will probably venture to Camden Town to get them, but if I can't find suitable white shoes (or a matching shade of pink), I've found a pair online that would look good with it.Someone's got alot to confess before Easter~~ (=^_^=)"


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|Can you see evidence of a spider?
|Here the trap-door is open and you can see the spider's tunnel.
|Here you can see the perfect fit of the lid and some silk on the lid and in the tunnel.
Below are two pictures of adult male cork trap-door spiders, Ummidia audouini, found on earlier dates. I typically see them in the summer wandering about, maybe looking for mates. They are intimidating in appearance, but if there is a spider that would make you say "Cool Spider", this is the one.
|Cork trap-door spider, Ummidia audouini, found last summer with Cincinnati Museum Center Science Camp students.
| Cork trap-door spider, Ummidia audouini, crawling on the wall of a building on the preserve. This is a scan of a photo taken 17 years ago.
If you'd like to learn more about spiders, a great new guide, Common Spiders of North America, written by Ohio arachnologist, Richard A. Bradley, is available on Amazon.com. It's the best illustrated spider guide I've used and it encompasses a wide variety of spiders one might encounter. Rich is a wonderful teacher and also has a spider website found here: http://spidersinohio.net/
Posted by Mark Zloba


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Doing business in IT
Are you interested in working at XCES?
Do you see possibilities in using your talent in our company? Read our company profile, why we exist, what we have to offer, our products and services and especially what we stand for.
At this moment we have no job openings but you can always send a cover letter with your up to date resume to firstname.lastname@example.com, to the attention of André van den Berg.


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This literally takes 5 mins to cook, about an hour in the oven and tastes rather good. I remember my mum cooking this when I was younger so it brings back good memories, its also quite cheap but full of goodness.
Mix together: chicken legs & thighs, chop potatoes, onion & mushrooms into large chunks, garlic to taste (you can chuck them in whole or sliced), olive oil and curry powder. Put it in the oven (approx. 200 degrees) for 60mins til chicken is cooked. That's it!
Tips: up to you how much you want of each, but use the curry powder more as a seasoning rather than full curry flavour. Don't bother peeling the potatoes.


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Initial thoughts on the Earth Tones presetAn Adobe Lightroom preset collection by The Preset Factory
So here is something I've been planning on writing for a little while now.
Late Autumn last year, I stumbled upon a company called The Preset Factory. I was on the look out for some cinematically inspired presets for Adobe Lightroom and they popped up on my Facebook feed (the wonders of online advertising and algorithms).
I purchased the presets, which I was quite impressed with (nice orange and teals – when I get the time, I will write review of them too). But then afterwards, I was alerted to their new preset pack, Earth Tones.
So once again, I bit the bullet and made the purchase. I have a wedding booked for this year which will be taking place in a woodland inspired venue, so I figured that this preset pack would be perfect for that.
Featuring 15 presets, inspired by the faded natural palettes of nature, they are intended to add a warm, nostalgic look to your images.
I have to say, I am quite impressed with them.
Set-up is a pretty simple process, you download an installer from your account on their website and it takes care of everything for you in a matter of minutes.
While I have yet to use them for any wedding work, I have played around with the presets on a number of my own photographs and some images I have taken on various other assignments.
Naturally, being called "Earth Tones", it'll come as no surprise that the presets are at their strongest when used outside in natural light. While I am still not too sure about how well they play with studio images in artificial light, I think with more work on my part there is some potential there (see images "Karryn and Bobby" and "Grace"). They certainly have a distinct look to them that I quite like.
When you first apply the preset, it doesn't always "click" – but with some playing around of the white balance and exposure settings, the images can and quite often come to life.
Some of the presets have a little too much grain for my liking. I don't really see the point in replicating film grain when working digitally. Film colours, yes, but grain? Why? I just don't get it. But that's a personal thing on my part.
On the whole, I'd say it's quite a solid selection of presets, which at £14 can't really be grumbled at.
For more information about Earth Tones and the Preset Factory, go here. Should you wish to purchase the Earth Tones presets, use the code EARTH15 for 15% off.


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University of Maryland Has Three AWSM Interns
The Association for Women in Sports Media has been offering sports media internships to college students for 26 years. In the past, two students from the University of Maryland AWSM chapter were awarded internships: one in 2010 and one in 2005. This year alone, three of the eight total internship winners were Terps.
Past internship winners have gone on to successful careers in the industry: Chelsea Janes, now the Washington Nationals beat writer for The Washington Post, interned for MLB.com as a Yale student in 2012. Jamie Erdahl, a sideline reporter for CBS Sports, interned for ESPN in 2011 as a student at American University. Rachel Nichols, a sports anchor for CNN, interned for The Washington Post in 1994 as a Northwestern University student.
Meet the three University of Maryland students who will be interning at some of the country's top sports news organizations:
Burton is a junior broadcast journalism major. She is a multimedia reporter for The Diamondback as well as a writer for the Maryland chapter of HerCampus. She interned with ESPN West Palm radio, where she was able to learn about television production through the local TV station as well as sports radio. She will join USA Today's audio team in the spring before working in production at CNN Sports over the summer.
What are you most excited about doing during your internship?
I am most excited to learn about all of the different aspects that go into making a live CNN broadcast. I am also excited to meet some of the amazing journalists that work for CNN.
What are you hoping to get out of the internship?
I am hoping to learn as much as I can about the journalism industry by being thrust into real world situations and soaking up as much information as I can. I also hope to leave the internship with CNN with a boost in confidence in my skills and a whole new network of connections and mentors.
How do you think being a Merrill College student prepared you for this internship?
Taking broadcast classes has been extremely helpful in preparing me for this internship. I have learned the basics of shooting and editing video, which will help me further my knowledge at my internship in the production field. Merrill has also given me the confidence to introduce myself and network with some of the greats in this industry.
Callie Caplan: USA Today Sports
Caplan is a junior journalism major. She has covered gymnastics, women's lacrosse and field hockey for The Diamondback at the University of Maryland, and will cover the men's lacrosse beat in the spring. She previously interned for ESPN 980, PressBox, and WJZ – CBS Baltimore over the past two summers. This summer, she will intern at USA Today Sports, assisting with writing, digital, and social media.
What are you most excited about doing during your internship?
I'm really excited to work at a big outlet. In my other internships, I've worked closely with one professional in a smaller setting. I've learned so much from them, so having access to even more journalists and editors in a national setting should be even more valuable. Also, the Rio Olympics are this summer and USA Today has strong Olympic coverage, so I'm excited to experience that from the newsroom. Though this isn't at USA Today Sports, I'm also looking forward to the AWSM convention in July to network and learn from so many professionals and some of my biggest role models.
What are you hoping to get out of the internship?
I try to start every internship with an open mind. Every opportunity I'm fortunate enough to have in journalism is a chance to learn and get better, so I'm hoping to build on the skills I've developed so far, and hopefully have a successful summer with such a great organization.
How do you think being a Merrill College student prepared you for this internship?
Merrill College really emphasizes getting professional and hands-on experience. Having the required internship credits has helped me branch out from class and covering Maryland sports. Plus, having a campus outlet like The Diamondback has taught me how to cover a team and dig beyond the basic story lines.
Pavlech is a broadcast journalism major who graduated in three years and is now pursuing a master's degree. She is a member of the University of Maryland women's basketball team and has previously interned with Comcast SportsNet. This summer, she will be interning with the MLB Network in Secaucus, N.J.
What are you hoping to get out of the internship?
I'm looking forward to gaining more experience out in the field and in the newsroom. I know a fair amount about baseball, but not as much as I do about basketball so it will be fun to switch it up a little bit.
How do you think being a Merrill College student prepared you for this internship?
As a student-athlete, I haven't had a lot of internship opportunities due to the time commitment of basketball. Luckily, the classroom scenarios at Merrill College are set-up and taught based on real world newsroom settings. I also had an internship last summer with Comcast Sports Network. It was a great experience, and the people I worked with really helped me learn a lot.


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The Holocaust is a dark historical event that can be hard to comprehend for most people let alone kids. Some parents may find it easier to visit particular sites offering educational and interactive resources than talk about the events with their children. For families wishing to introduce their kids to the topic here are some suggested… Read More
Seven Moving Places to Teach Kids about the Holocaust
Top Autism Friendly Travel Spots in Amsterdam
Filled with culture and beauty, Amsterdam is a city that engages the senses. It is easily navigated and is, therefore, a favorite spot for tourists. There are many family friendly and autism friendly activities to be found while strolling through its streets. Below is a list of attractions that are sure to please all… Read More
Visiting Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Amsterdam
During our frequent visits to the different European and American cities, my son would often beg me to go and visit Madame Tussaud's wax museum. Frankly, though I wholeheartedly support going to explore most museums, this genre seemed like the ultimate tourist trap to me and as such, I refused to give in. Although I continuously explained… Read More


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The Don Quixote Piece
Scene 1
Lucia the French girl said,
"I am standing to the side of the stage and Carson and Victoria are seated there near and says Carson,
"'Yeah you really got it together, really had that movement quality.'
"And I was saying, 'Well, all I was able to do was to sell it because it was not working in any other manner.'
"And he was saying: 'What do you mean?'
"And I was saying: 'Well, it was all failing totally. Because of this I was able to give it some element of personality and nothing more. In no way was there technique.'
"And he was looking at me with total surprise and: 'Nobody but the choreographer would even have known anything was wrong.'
"And I say, 'Enough to give me a bad show!' And I am looking at them. And they are seated together. And I am saying: 'Victoria it was your choreography and I do not want to have to change it on the stage. For me this is a sin; this is a barbarism.'
"And Carson was saying, 'But you did it so beautifully.'
"And I said, 'But it should not be done in this way never.' And I am looking at them with total surprise. And I am saying to myself here I am wanting to ask for your pardons and you are saying to me well done?! I do not understand your point of view. I do not see your perspective.
"'I changed the choreography. That should not happen in no moment on the stage,' I said.
"And Victoria said, 'Yeah well, you see, sometimes things happen and it's wonderful, you see, that you can recover from it so well.'
"But each night? Each night this happens. What I am saying is that I was convincing them that it was bad. You see?"
Beth chortled. Beth chortled and leaned slightly over the cafe table. It was one of Lucia the French girl's countless endless stories. Between them sat two near-empty espressos, two packs of menthols, an ashtray half full of their own cigarette ends, a lighter, and a wee saucer proffering a lonely bite of bundt cake. Lucia the French girl leaned back as she spoke, her arms crossed pontificatingly, her sharp Gallic tongue flickering behind her teeth with professional affront.
"My god! You have to understand that this was not acceptable. It is not acceptable to me as a performer, as an artist, to perform some work with the knowledge that I have to appear on the stage and invent it all on the stage because my partner finds himself so timorous in front of the audience. He has never been able to do it well in the studio, and it was worse on the stage. Help me with this, please. You see?"
"So I take it you won't be doing a guesting for them again."
"Never! It was a barbarism. I am not an improviser. By the name of god! A performance like that should not be improvisation. I was trying to ask for their pardons and they were telling me well done!"
"He was right though, you know," Beth interrupted. "It was convincing. I couldn't tell. You did pull it off. And Jacob really liked it, too. He said you were beautiful."
"He said that?"
"Yeah," Beth answered. Beth paused then as if to speak again; paused in an attempt to break Lucia the French girl out of her raconteur rhythm, hoping to end Lucia's telling and re-telling of the guesting fiasco. "I wish you could stay in town and see our show," she finally offered, establishing a foothold in the silence.
"But, I know. Two weeks..."
And a lull fell here as Beth's stratagem worked, as Lucia the French girl let the story go, as Lucia reached for that last bite of bundt cake.
Beth watched Lucia consume the bite of bundt cake. Hungrily, Beth watched Lucia consume the bite of bundt cake.
The cafe sat across the street from the studios of Ballet Vovoshka. Class had just ended. The two dancers were disheveled still, still in threadbare sweats and tattered t-shirts over leotards and leggings. The damp nap of hair at their ears and temples had aired and grown wispy. Beth smoothed hers back with the tips of her fingers as she eased aside her empty demitasse and turned the foothold she had gained into possession.
"Jacob said the other day," and she checked herself here, checked herself with an ironic smile, "that you reminded him of an Ingres."
Lucia quirked. Her eyebrows rose. And the unspoken "really" hung for a moment, not neutrally, not seeking a confirmation, but soliciting maybe a repeating or rephrasing or expounding of the compliment. Beth nodded as she lit another menthol. The smile on her puckered lips was still ironic.
"God almighty, don't tell him I told you," she began. "I'm surprised he even told me. It just slipped from him. I saw he regretted it as soon as he said it. He was telling me of a painting in that temporary exhibit at The Paseo, the Ingres, said the face reminded him of a model he used for a short fiction. He got distant. He left me like he does sometimes. I slipped in--half out of curiosity, half out of wickedness--'Who was it?' He said your name and then with the saying of it came back. He looked at me angrily, as if I had tricked him. Then his anger turned to regret. Then he tried to cover it all by changing the subject, asked about Cynthia's birthday or something like that; something transparent and unbelievable which showed me just how upset he was at his gaffe. It was marvelous. It felt like a victory of sorts."
"But does it not bother you?"
But Lucia the French girl knew better than this. And Beth knew Lucia the French girl knew better than this. This was Lucia the French girl indulging herself, Beth thought. Beth tapped the ash off the end of her menthol--this third since class--and contemplated the mild surprise she felt swirling within her. Lucia was generally inured to flattery. Beth mused a long moment--solidly, thoughtfully. But she was very content, very confident. She looked Lucia squarely in her oval face.
"I will never doubt him. If it were merely the vows that bound him to me, I might. Who wouldn't. But this...code," and she tapped again at her menthol. "This discipline he has is stronger than any promise a man could make to God or woman. It sounds like hyperbole, I know. But I've witnessed it. I've seen this. His conscience is iron-clad."
Lucia the French girl's self-indulgent smile lingered. It lingered as Lucia weighed Beth's bold words, as she studied Beth's familiar face. Then Lucia's smile hardened toward a look more inward and penetrating.
"What do you think?" Beth asked then, moving on. "Too bad your guesting didn't happen two weeks later. You would have had no excuse to miss our show."
Lucia flicked at the lighter. Lucia flicked at the lighter. It lit. Lucia lit a menthol.
"So ugly that flight, my Beth," she said distantly. "And I am able to see you dancing it in my mind. How many times have we seen Cynthia's Midsummer?"
Lucia the French girl looked hard at her friend then. She exhaled.


text:
Thriller • A woman and child are found locked in a basement, barely alive, and unidentifiable: the woman can't speak, there are no missing persons reports that match their profile, and the confused, elderly man who owns the house claims he has never seen them before. The inhabitants of the quiet street are in shock—how could this happen right under their noses? But Detective Inspector Adam Fawley knows nothing is impossible. And no one is as innocent as they seem...
Ghost Virus by Graham Masterton (Book Review)
Horror ● The girl had been staring into her mirror all morning before she picked up the small bottle of sulphuric acid and poured it over her forehead. Samira was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. What could have brought her to this?
The 7½ Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (Book Review)
Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others...
Book Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers
· YA Thriller · A missing girl on a journey of revenge and a Serial—like podcast following the clues she's left behind. Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead...
Tied To Deceit by Neena H. Brar (Blog Tour)
On a drizzly August morning, the inhabitants of the hill town of Sanover, Himachal Pradesh, wake up to the shocking news of the murder of the exquisite, secretive, malicious, and thoroughly immoral Devika Singh...
The Loneliest Girl In The Universe by Lauren James (Book Review)
Romy Silvers is the only surviving crew-member of a spaceship travelling to a new planet, on a mission to establish a second home for humanity amongst the stars. Alone in space, she is the loneliest girl in the universe until she hears about a new ship which has launched from Earth – with a single passenger on board.
Watching You by Shannon Greenland (Blog Tour & Intl Giveaway)
Viola's always been that girl from that family, so a scholarship to a prestigious private school in Florida was supposed to be her ticket out of poverty and into a brand-new life. But Viola's secrets have followed her. Her relationship with the intelligent and gorgeous Riel should have been the salvation she needed—he understands her troubled past better than anyone. But then weird things start to happen...
Tea Tuesday #7: Eid, Edelweiss and Life Goals
Life this week Eid this year fell on the weekend. It's the 1 to 3-day festival Muslims celebrate after a month of intermittent fasting. Usually, my family doesn't celebrate it with much fanfare as it's just us but this year we decided we'd put more emphasis on celebrating it, while still keeping it casual. Originally,... Continue Reading →
Nikita (TV Show Review & Highlight)
Show Blurb: Nikita is an American TV series focusing on Nikita, a woman who escaped from a secret government-funded organization known as "Division" and, after a three-year hiding period, is back to bring down the organization. Developed by Craig Silverstein, this 2010-13 series is based on the 1990 French film Nikita and the 1997 television series, La Femme Nikita.... Continue Reading →


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Arctic Wolf
Hunt #35
The Arctic wolf hunt remains one of our most exciting. The winter tundra is cold and extreme, but it also offers a majestic beauty unlike anywhere else in the world.
Our adventure begins by vehicle, along the extensive ice road systems that run through the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The same systems made famous by "Ice Road Truckers." You will enter regions impossible during any other season, and track caribou, just like the wolf does.
You will stalk, chase or lie in wait for your target. When you spot a wolf, you and your guide may switch to a snowmobile, give chase and bring the wolf in range. The rest, as always, will be up to you.
Your accommodations for this hunt may be in one of our comfortable, heated, polar tents or one of our simple hunting camps located all along the ice roads. You will nourish yourself with freeze-dried food.
Each hunter has two tags, but the focus is to make sure that both hunters get a wolf. Arctic weather is variable in hunting season and hunts may not be exactly as described.
6 days $6,500
*Second wolf may be taken for $1,500 trophy fee


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March 25 is one of the most important dates of Hellenism throughout the world since it marks both the anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the Ottomans and the Feast of the Annunciation, a significant celebration in the Orthodox Church.
The Feast of the Annunciation marks the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during which he told her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
More importantly, since it occurs nine months before the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day, the Annunciation marks the actual incarnation of Jesus Christ – the moment that Jesus was conceived and that the Son of God became the son of the Virgin.
The festival celebrates two things:
- God's action in entering the human world as Jesus in order to save humanity;
- Humanity's acceptance of God's will in Mary's freely-given acceptance of the role of being the Mother of God
March 25 is the name day of all those called Evangelia, Evangelos, Angela, Angelo, Maria, Marie, Maree, Mariah, Mario, Theotokis, Panayiota, Yiota, Panayiotis and other derivatives from Evangelismos (Annunciation).
The story Annunciation is told in Luke's Gospel, 1: 26-38.
"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her."


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Three Tournaments Croquet at Hamptworth....
Winchester CC Secretary Keith M Ross played in 3 consecutive tournaments at Hamptworth.
In the first Open Doubles AC with Ivor Nunn on Sat-Sun July 28th and 29th, the pair won just one match out of 5, Richard Dickson and partner won the competition.
In the second tournament, an Open AC Handicap event limited to handicaps 6 to 14, Keith won 4 out of 5 matches but lost in the final to Paul Wolff of Bluebery by 14 to 23 pts.
On the 3rd competition on August 11th and 12th, the Wilts Open GC Level Play tournament was won by Richard Dickson of Hamptworth. Keith was fairly level after 2 days play winning 5 games and losing 7! His handicap remains at 2; he was pleased to beat a handicap 1 player once!


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Lot 1201: Gandhi, Manilal
Lot 1201: Gandhi Manilal: (1892-1956) Son Of Mahatma K. Gandhi, Editor Of The Indian Opinion, A Gujarati-English Weekly Publication In Durban, South Africa. A Good Autograph Statement Signed, Manilal Gandhi, Two Pages, Slim 4To, S. S. Karanja, 18Th November 1949. Gandhi Writes A Biographical Account, In Part, 'Second Son Of Mahatma Gandhi. Born October 1892. Brought To South Africa By Father 1896. Returned To India 1901. Came Back To South Africa 1904. Took Active Part In The Passive Resistance Movement Led By Father Against Racially Discriminatory Laws Enacted Against Indians By The Government Of The Union Of South Africa. Went To Prison Several Times Until Settlement Was Arrived At In 1914.…Learnt Hand Spinning & Hand Weaving In Pursuance Of The Movement Led By Father To Revive Village Industries In India For The Emancipation Of The Starving Millions. In 1916 Was Sent By Father To South Africa To Help In Conducting "Indian Opinion" - Paper Founded By Father In 1904 For The Social, Moral, Educational And Political Advancement Of Indians And For Promoting Better Understanding Between Indians, Europeans And Other Nationalities In South Africa….Took Active Part In Civil Disobedience Movement Led By Father Against The Salt Tax In India. Spent Nine Months In Prison….Took Active Part In Passive Resistance Against Asiatic Land Tenure Act, Enacted By The Government Of The Union Of South Africa, With A View To Humiliating Indians As A Race By Segregating Them And Ruining Them Politically, Socially And Economically….Have Never Been To School. What Knowledge I Possess I Have Gained From Experience. I Am On My Way To The World Pacifist Meeting To Be Held In India In December And Promoted By Those Who Believe In Bringing Peace To The World By Following The Principles Of Non-Violence And Opposing All Forces Which Tend To Promote Violence'. A Statement With Remarkable Content, Not Least For Its References To Mahatma Gandhi. Some Extremely Minor Wrinkling And Very Light Age Wear, About Vg. International Autograph Auctions' Autograph Auction October 2015 Saturday, 3rd October 2015 Estimate: £200-300
Added from autographauctions.co.uk
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Welcome to my Blog!
I hope we will come to be friends as we share recipes and crafting ideas! I have been oversharing on social media for years. But I decided I need to start a blog so as to have all the space I want to share photos of my projects that I work on and to talk about veganism or even just posting about mom struggles. And since I am newley vegan I am having to learn how to make foods I have little to no experience with and it is exciting as well as frustrating.
About 6 months ago I began meal prepping so I would no longer have to eat fast foods or cafeteria food from the hospital. Since my son was 2 months old I have been also caring for my grandmother while she underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments for lung cancer.
I was 50 pounds over weight and I was determined to get my body back. I joined a gym but was not good about my diet for the first 4 months. After watching friends on instagram share their meal prep methods I figured I would give it a try!
Now this blog is not intended to shove veganism down anyone's throat. I love to share the food I make and as of 3 weeks ago I only make plant based foods.
I had been a vegetarian as a youth but was unable to go vegan. After 4 years of being a vegetarian I became apathetic and started eating meat again. I have also been practicing yoga since I was about 17 and I know that yogis and buddhists alike do not eat animals because they believe we are all connected and that all life is precious. I want to embody kindness and be more like this in my everyday life. But in order to retrain my brain so to speak I decided I needed to re educate myself on veganism. After watching several documentaries I now feel that I would be healthier and happier if I no longer consumed animal products. I recomend if anyone is interested in learning more I will list these movies below
- Vegucated
- What the Health
- Cowspiracy
- Forks over Knives
- Earthlings (warning very graphic but true)
I am currently waiting on my MIL to get here so she can play with the baby so I can clean the kitchen and begin to cook meal prep. I'll post again soon!


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Never mistake silence for weakness. Remember that sometimes the air stills, before the onset of a hurricane – Nikita Gill, Her Silence
I tried to write this post on a Friday night. I leaned back in my bed, opened up a blank page on my laptop and stared at the cursor, blinking at me tauntingly; I think it knew it would be stationary for a while.
I was listening to the thunder crash around me, half wishing I was outside being soaked in it. I was talking to a new friend about sky poetry. I was thinking about eyes and what is silently projected through them. Is this why my Dad likes being around his new friend and her children, because when he looks at them he doesn't see the (albeit unintentional) resting anger, resentment, maybe even fear, like he might when he looks at us? I was thinking about a guy who mocked me during last semester for not holding his eye-contact. He scared me with his too-many questions that I didn't know how to say no to. I was thinking that I can't actually recall the eye-colours of my friends, because I don't focus on their eyes enough. Maybe my mind wanders too far during conversation. Some people tell me I'm attentive and a close listener. They're wrong. I'm never present. There's too much to think about.
I used to write about snakes. Not the type that betray you, not those with stealth who sneak up on you in disguise. We forget that snakes are enchanting and alluring, as well as dangerous and deceitful. That's the first thing the Bible got wrong. Vipers, with mere bright slits for eyes, who ferociously leapt out at you in anger, and a basilisk, whose huge eyes would never blink, but froze my insides if I dared to make eye contact. So I don't do that anymore. With some people.
I came across a photograph of a basilisk and me recently. Quite the charmer, with the deadly gaze to go with it. I mutilated it. I tore the picture, over and over, and scrunched up the little pieces. I shoved them back in their little slot in the album. That memory is still there, in its physical form – because sometimes you need proof of old dreams – but now he can't look at me.
The snake-scales have become
Leaf, become eyelid; snake-bodies, bough, breast
Of tree and human
-Sylvia Plath, Snakecharmer
I never did figure out what this post was supposed to be about. I was too lost in thought to compose something structured, with planned meaning. It will come, though. Until then, I can see my cursor blinking at me hungrily in my reflection, when I stare at my own eyes in the dimmed screen.


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Just sat in front of the system wondering
where to start from, What kind of report I am
expected to give on the tour.
Well I am following my instinct!
Hmm . . . where do I start from? . . .
How do I say thank you for all the wonders
shown to me by God?
As I decided that I shall go no further
looking for Him, my business going beautiful
but my inner man in shambles because I needed
certain questions answered.
Nobody understood me. No where to turn to.
My heart yearns. Oh how it yearns for
understanding, knowledge wisdom. I get
glimpses sometimes but I needed to put
it in one "whole" picture. ..."but how?"
Who, what where is God? How do I become one
with God? It was the birth of an idea that
if I am a part of God then I must be a mini
After that, it was a whole new experience of
correlating my souls yearning to the teachings.
A whole new world.
A new fantastic point of view.
No one to tell me no, where to stop ,
or say that I am only dreaming.
A place where dreams come to life.
And so was the birth of one of my dreams


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1623 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60647
$30 / sq. ft.0 USD
Listing information updated today (9/30/2020)
West Town
Neighborhoods: River West, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Noble Square, East Ukrainian Village
Comprised of several distinct Chicago neighborhoods northwest of the Loop, West Town is a thriving community that has experienced extensive development over the last decade. The community includes the neighborhoods of Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, East Village, River West, Fulton…Learn More
CTA Rail
at Damen (0.09 miles away)
Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest, Milwaukee District North, North Central Service, Milwaukee District West, Union Pacific West
at Clybourn Metra (0.65 miles away), Clybourn, Western Ave Metra, Western and others