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The Distinguished Graduate Award was Mr. Richard D. McConn, a member of the Class of 1966. Following his graduation, Mr. McConn served the Air Force as an intelligence officer. At a very junior rank, he was assigned to Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado, as the Chief Instructor of the Mobile Computer Training Team that pioneered intelligence data collection in the Air Force. Subsequent assignments took him to Washington D.C. where he served in the office of the USAF Vice Chief of Staff and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and then as a White House Aide to the President. After leaving active duty, he remained in the Air Force Reserve and served in a key position in the office of the USAF Chief of Staff. As a civilian, through talent and hard work, he built a multi-million dollar international logistics enterprise that is known for integrity and ethical conduct. Currently, he owns several companies with offices in Morocco, Tunisia, UAE, Jordan, Pakistan, Germany and Taiwan. Throughout his life, he has been a strong supporter of education. In his home state of North Dakota, he established an Aerospace Scholarship Endowment at the University of North Dakota. Seeing the need for additional opportunities for Academy graduates to prepare themselves for leadership positions in America, he established the McConn Scholars program which sends 2-3 active duty USAFA graduates to Georgetown University for a Master's Degree in Public Policy. After finishing their degree, these graduates spend at least the next year serving on a Congressional staff. The result is to give future senior officers a thorough understanding of how the U.S. government works. Mr. McConn was a founding director of the USAFA Endowment and was influential in getting Congress to pass the law which enabled the establishment of the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation, a non-profit entity that will raise money to operate and improve the Academy's intercollegiate athletics programs.
Mr. Bishop has been at the forefront of a very niche, yet critical field in aviation since 2008. Mr. Bishop is a FAA certificated Powerplant Mechanic and a FAA Bronze Award Recipient. Mr. Bishop specializes in the field of T53 turbine engine TA-7 Main Fuel Regulators and PTG-3 Overspeed Governors.
Upon starting Southwest Fuel Systems in 2008, he has worked tirelessly with the OEM, Triumph Engine Controls, to ensure the highest quality standards in the industry. He is also noted by the OEM as a TA-7 and PTG-3 Subject Matter Expert and certified instructor consistently sought out for training, trouble shooting, and general knowledge within this critical area of helicopter maintenance by both the OEM and field users.
Mr. Bishop has received critical acclaim for his training of engineers and technicians at Triumph Engine Controls, and from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for his expert training and participation during the CAL-Fire industry event.
- 1993-99 Aircraft Powerplant Repairer, United States Army
- 1999-01 Turbine Engine Technician, Pueblo Airmotive (Timken Overhaul Services)
- 2001-07 Turbine Engine/Fuel Systems Manager, Timken Overhaul Services
- 2008-Current President, Southwest Fuel Systems
- 2000 NOV Certified by Triumph (formerly Chandler Evans) as a TA-7 and PTG-3 Technician
- 2010 FEB Certificated FAA 145 Repair Station
- 2011 FEB Certificated Triumph Authorized Service Center


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Si aún no formas parte de la comunidad:Crea tu cuenta
Accede a tu cuenta con:
480 BC. The King of Persia Xerxes declares war to the Greek states that have not surrendered before him. General Themistocles, a convinced democrat, leads the fleet that will fight in the Straight between Salamis and Athens to stop expansionist plans of Xerxes, the terrible King of Persia who wants to dominate all East. Themistocles' fleet, formed by brave Athenian and Spartan soldiers, defeats the enemy, superior in number, after a brutal battle. The cunning of warrior Arthemisia and her betrayal to Xerxes will be crucial in the final battle.

subset: commoncrawl


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Although the article is from 2009 — I totally agree with the premise of Pico Iyer's "The Joy of Less" in the NYT, and here is a quote that sums up the main point:
I had been lucky enough at that point to stumble into the life I might have dreamed of as a boy: a great job writing on world affairs for Time magazine, an apartment (officially at least) on Park Avenue, enough time and money to take vacations in Burma, Morocco, El Salvador. But every time I went to one of those places, I noticed that the people I met there, mired in difficulty and often warfare, seemed to have more energy and even optimism than the friends I'd grown up with in privileged, peaceful Santa Barbara, Calif., many of whom were on their fourth marriages and seeing a therapist every day. Though I knew that poverty certainly didn't buy happiness, I wasn't convinced that money did either.
I actually found this article via an article on AlmostFearless as a result of a Tweet by Steph at 20sTravel. Not sure how she found the article given it's about a year old — but glad she did because I found both to be good reads.
As some of you know, I'm living quite a nomadic lifestyle right now and happier than I've been in a long time. I have many people who ask me "how can I do what you do and work from anywhere?" For starters, it didn't just happen. I put a lot of time and effort into my role at Zillow.com over the past 4 1/2 years — and I can certainly tell you working virtually for companies back in the states would be a LOT more difficult without the reputation and network I built while working at Zillow. I'm working for 3 people (Jim at Virtual Results & YouReach Media, Justin at Diverse Solutions, and Steve at RealBiz360) who I've known for years and built a certain level of trust with. That said — traveling for a living can be done even if you don't work wirelessly from a laptop like I do. This summer in Santorini, there were at least 15 or 20 expats (probably more) living in Perissa Beach working at restaurants, bars, or hotels in order to fund their stay there.
The real trick is just deciding what makes you truly happy. Once you know what you want to do and where you want to end up, you'll find a way to make the rest of the pieces fall into place. So, if you think traveling the globe will make you happy, just quit your job and do it — and figure out the details on the way.


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Endorois decision on indigenous peoples' rights informs high level regional meeting in Africa
The land rights of indigenous peoples and human rights of minority communities were discussed in Kampala, Uganda on 4th March 2011 during the first East Africa Regional Dialogue on Minority Community Rights. The event came as a result of the collaboration of many national and international organisations including the United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda, Forest Peoples Programme, Minority Rights Group International, Institute for Law & Environmental Governance, Uganda Land Alliance and Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment. The dialogue was attended by representatives of indigenous peoples and minority communities from throughout the East African region as well as government and civil society organisations from Uganda and Kenya. Honoured guests included the Minister of State for Gender and Culture from Uganda and the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, former Commissioner of the African Commission Bahame Tom Nyanduga, representatives from the African Commission's Working Group of Experts on Indigenous Populations/Communities, as well as indigenous leaders from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania.


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Posted January 16, 2009on:
- In: diary | jalan2
- 6 Comments
I went to lowyatt yesterday.
We went there to survey some stuffs, including my new hp to be 😀
I wish to buy a laptop, b4 i fly.
bt havent make up mind of which laptop i shud buy.
thinking of HP laptop, wif AMD X2 Core Dual wif 250GB Sata HDD, 6 cell battery, ATI 3078 MB graphics, Lightscribe DVD RW, etc2.
and its concluded tat Compaq CQ40 has the best price.
Da price quite nice, 2230rm, including lotsa gifts given out including 250/320GB external HDD and 4GB thumbdrive.
We met a frenly bro explained everythin tat we din even think of, luckily we met him at his booth.
we have his namecard, somehow, we'll buy from him mebe. he gave us gr8 offer and since we're students, da price wud be ok for us. but im looking for the limited edition, Compaq CQ45.
Da design is nicer 😉
But, we'll c how.
I surveyed few things to buy b4 the trim start wic are:
1. Printer: HP Deskjet F4280 All in One, 188rm.
2. Thumb drive: Kingston Data Traveller 8GB, 48rm.
3. External hard disk: 320GB SATA, 180rm.
Oh ya, b4 we went home, we went to sg wang n of course to surrvey my new hp to be.
it jez arrived ere in malaysia, cant wait to buy 1.
bt b4 i made up my mind to buy tis hp, i hv few choices in mind, which were samsung omnia, iphone, and samsung F480. afta chit chattin wif dat guy at takacom, he said nokia wd b better off to grab.
da price at takacom was 1450rm, original nokia set.
bt at nokia dealer da price was 1499rm.
im hoping to buy at nokia centre; long term service, etc2.
My hp to be model is: Nokia 5800 Music Edition.
I will buy it b4 da sem starts 😀
and dy promised to someone, to buy and go wif him.
6 Responses to "Lowyatt"
mana tag nyer?
ops.. tak cite pon nk fly ke mane..
huhuh, looking for new laptop ek,
actually sama ajer laptop mana mana pun, laptop nie tahan lama. depending on how u use it. kalau setakat untuk buat assingment, surf internet any laptop will do …. tapi kalau u into graphic designing stuff, gaming and extensive programming please make sure u have enough memory & CPU processor for it …
just dropping by …
u can buy tube at rm1400 only or below at lowyatt


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Stand Back, It's the Friday MuscleWatch!
And at the gym, it's extremely satisfying to watch my numbers climb, as I increase my loads pound by pound, day by day. It's true what they say about the phenomenon known as "muscle memory": lost muscles really do come back a lot faster the second time around.
What a relief it is to finally be rebuilding, my body AND my life.


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1 In recent weeks, Ed and his readers at the Dizzies have been discussing the persistence in literature of the ouroboros, the ancient symbol of the snake that eats its own tail, a metaphor for circularity and infinity. I remembered that discussion late Wednesday night as I was reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and came across the following scene, which finds Luna Lovegood leading Harry into Ravenclaw's common room:
[Luna] knocked once [on the eagle-shaped door knocker], and in the silence it sounded to Harry like a cannon blast. At once the beak of the eagle opened, but instead of a bird's call, a soft, musical voice said, "Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?"
"Hmm . . . What do you think, Harry?" said Luna, looking thoughtful.
"What? Isn't there just a password?"
"Oh no, you've got to answer a question," said Luna.
"What if you get it wrong?"
"Well, you have to wait for somebody who gets it right," said Luna. "That way you learn, you see?"
"Yeah . . .Trouble is, we can't really afford to wait for anyone else, Luna."
"No, I see what you mean," said Luna seriously. "Well then, I think the answer is that a circle has no beginning."
"Well reasoned," said the voice, and the door swung open.
The phoenix or the flame? The head or the tail of the snake? An ouroboros in Harry Potter, almost . . . but not quite.
2 On the train and around the city the past week, I've seen dozens and dozen of people reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But I've also seen, just today, people reading Jacob Burckhardt's The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Colleen McCullough's Fortune's Favorites, Anna Karenina, Walden, Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer, Gregory Maguire's Wicked, The Turn of the Screw, and, as seems to be the case any time I get on the train, The Kite Runner.
So almost everyone's reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . . . but not quite.
3 In the introduction to his fascinating City of Laughter: Sex and Satire in Eighteenth-Century London (2006), Vic Gatrell writes about a gentlewoman named Lady Worsley:
In 1782, nearly a dozen prints circulated in fashionable London that were not at all designed to trump her high standing and connections. Costing a shilling plain or two shillings coloured and exhibited in printshop windows, they were bought by the great if not the good in malice and delight.
In one, by the up-and-coming caricaturist, James Gillray, entitled Sir Richard Worse-than-sly, Exposing his Wifes Bottom--O Fye!, a man hoists another man on to his shoulders to allow the latter to peep through a bathhouse window at the naked Lady Worsley as she washes herself demurely. In bluff military fashion, the peeping man remarks to the other below: 'Charming view of the back settlements, Sr Richard.' 'Good lack! my lady,' her attending maid exclaims in alarm, 'the captn will see all for nothing.'
The print illustrated a scene that had been revealed during a suit Sir Richard Worsley filed against the captain referred to in the print, Captain Bissett, for "criminal conversation" with Lady Worsley. According to Gatrell:
The court heard that while Worsley was quartered in the military camp at Cox's Heath, Lady Worsley had often used the nearby bathhouse at Maidstone. On one occasion her husband had tapped on the bathhouse door, saying 'Bissett is going to get up to look at you.' Hoist Bissett up to the window Worsley duly did, for him to gaze on her nakedness.Perhaps needless to say, given this revelation the court found Worsley's suit less than convincing and awarded him only a single shilling in damages for the adultery.
The story is similar to the famous tale told by Herodotus about Candaules, King of Lydia, and his friend Gyges:
Now this Candaules became enamoured of his own wife and therefore thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. One of the members of his personal guard, Gyges the son of Dascylus, was an especial favourite of his, and Candaules use to discuss his most important concerns with him; in particular, he used to keep praising his wife's appearance, because he thought she was so beautiful. Candaules was destined to come to a bad end, and so after a while he said to Gyges, 'Gyges, I don't think you believe what I tell you about my wife's looks--and it's true that people trust their ears less than their eyes--so I want you to find a way to see her naked.'The proposal made Gyges extremely uncomfortable, but Candaules was his king, so he allowed Candaules to hide him in the queen's bedroom. A painting of the scene, below, features in Anthony Powell's Temporary Kings; his characters encounter the painting in Venice, which allows Powell to use the tale to highlight a pair of his favorite topics, sex and power.
{"Candaules, King of Lydia, Shews his Wife by Stealth to Gyges, One of his Ministers, As She Goes to Bed" by William Etty}
The queen discovered Gyges in her chambers and, ashamed, told him,
Gyges, there are now two paths before you: I can leave it up to you which one you choose to take. Either you can kill Candaules and have me and the kingdom of Lydia for your own, or you must die yourself right now, so that you will never again do exactly what Candaules wants you to do and see what you should not see. Yes, either her or you must die--either the one whose idea this was or the one who saw me naked when he had no right to do so.Gyges was horrified, but he realized he was trapped. He opted for killing Candaules (for which the queen already had a suspiciously well-developed plan), took the throne, and reigned as King of Lydia for thirty-eight years.
The result of the revelation of Sir Richard and Lady Worsley's immodesty, on the other hand, was of much less consequence: public embarrassment, the creation and sale of a variety of satirical prints that they surely knew were hidden in the sideboards and bedsteads of their supposed friends, and the revelation, according to Horace Walpole, that Lady Worsley had "enjoyed the favours of thirty-four young men of the first quality."
The story of the Worsleys is almost an analogue for the story of Candaules and Gyges . . . but not quite.
4 I'll end with a passage I read on the train on the way home today, from Tolstoy's Hadji Murat, in which Tolstoy is writing about Tsar Nikolai I.
{Portrait by Franz Kruger of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, 1852}
The constant, clear, vile blatancy of the flattery of those around him had brought him to the point where he no longer saw his contradictions, no longer adapted his actions and words to reality, logic, or even to simple good sense, but was absolutely certain that all his instructions, no matter how senseless, unjust and mutually incompatible, became entirely sensible, just and mutually compatible simply because it was he that gave them.
I have to confess that it's only wishful thinking that lands this passage in the Department of Almost But Not Quite.
Sadly, there's no not quite about it: put that passage in one of Ron Suskind's books about the Bush administration and you'd never think it the slightest bit out of place.


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Defining Religion
The word religion both in modern usage, but also biblically, tends to be employed in a variety of ways. In one of the few times the word is utilised in the New Testament, James in his epistle tells us what true religion is: 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.'(1) In this piece I'll be using the word 'religion' in its purely negative sense as opposed to genuine spirituality or 'faith'.
Humans are in their most foundational aspects spiritual beings. We were made to live in fellowship with our Creator and when our yearning for authentic spirituality is not met in Christ humankind inevitably resorts to various surrogates, one of the most notable of which is religion. We see the constant conflict between faith and religion all throughout Scripture but more generally in the world today. Jesus, after a ministry in which he was constantly opposed by the Pharisees, ultimately impacted against the religious system that brought about his death. Likewise, when studying Jesus's teachings and parables we see that they are above all a polemic against every religious practice that seeks to usurp a living relationship with God.
But now we come to the point of this essay, namely how our treatment of animals relates to religion. Anyone who has been involved in any form of animal advocacy, whether secular or Christian will almost undoubtedly have come up against strong religious opposition. I believe it is imperative to try and understand better what religion actually is and what its goals are if we are to advocate more effectively for animals.
The Constantinian Fall
Christianity took a radical turn for the worst in the 4th century. After centuries of alternate persecutions and peace, the Emperor Constantine decided to make the Christian Church the official religion of the Empire. Christians in a very short time went from being a persecuted minority that heroically defied the most powerful Empire in the world to wielders of significant power. At the same time the pagan religious system that buttressed the Roman Empire was fused together with Christianity in order to form a new state religion:
From the standpoint of the history of religion, the former public claims of the Christian Church had their source in the public claims in the Roman state religion. Beginning with Constantine, and then consolidated in the legislation of the Emperors Theodosius and Justinian, the Christian religion took over the social place of the old Roman state religion. The Christian religion became the cultus publicus. It became the protector and preserver of the sacra publica. According to the classical view of the society, it is the supreme duty (finis principalis) of human societas to see that the gods are given their due veneration […] When the Christian faith took the place of the Roman state religion, then of course the public state sacrifices ceased, yet their places was taken by Christian prayers of intercession for the state and emperor. Thus the Christian faith became the "religion of society". It fulfilled the supreme end of state and society. Hence titles of the Roman emperor-priest were transferred to the pope.(2)
But one wonders if the public sacrifices of Rome really did end. Could it be that this ritual has in some ways continued underground within the Constantinian state religion that emerged from this period, and later came to be known as 'Christianity'? Meals within most Christian churches seem to inevitably be based on meat products, and this appears to be an almost sacred aspect of the weekly fellowship. When we observe the billions of creatures killed every year for no apparent reason it's only natural to ask, 'to whom or to what were these sacrifices offered?'(3) Scripture tends to identify the Roman Empire as a tangible manifestation and archetype of the Babylonian system that governs the world. Jesus, after all, 'suffered under Pontius Pilate'(4) and was crucified, a typical Roman form of execution. If there ever was a symbol that authentic faith should be weary of it's ancient Rome, and the religious forms through which it has survived.
(1) James 1:27
(2) J. Moltmann, Theology of Hope , Harper & Row, New York, 1967, p. 306.
(3) A question reminiscent of Hegel's on the philosophy of history, albeit in a different sense.
(4) The Apostles' Creed.
Stay tuned for Part Two in a couple of days (for those who would like to read the entire article at one time, go here: Challenging Religion)
Thank you for reading and following our blog! Please share with others, and any comments or questions are welcome. Blessings ~ Marcello


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About Ed Stephens
Since 1974, Ed Stephens has been, year after year, one of the top producing Real Estate agents on the San Francisco Peninsula. Among his many achievements are:
- Over 2 Billion Dollars in lifetime sales.
- Rated in the top 1,000 of over 45,000 Coldwell Banker agents.
- Member of the exclusive Coldwell Banker International Presidents Elite.
- Earning, many times over, the designation of number one agent for buyer controlled sales for the Coldwell Banker North office.
- Consistently, a member of the Top 100 out of approximately 3,000 San Francisco and San Francisco Peninsula Coldwell Banker agents.
To survive and thrive in Real Estate Sales, an agent must have client satisfaction. Ed Stephens offers the kind of service and level of expertise that results in Client loyalty. His goal is just not one transaction but to work with clients again and again; when their families grow, children move away, and all the other changes that affect everyone's lives.
Thank you so much in helping us find our dream home. Your wisdom and kindness throughout the years has been an invaluable asset to our family throughout the years. We're so lucky to be able to work with you.
Ambie Valdes and Toby Mao


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As the attempted armed coup in Turkey dies down, we try to decipher who was behind it and why did they do it.
It's been four days since relatively quiet ambience of Turkish capital Ankara was destroyed with the noises of tanks, guns and helicopters.
What was earlier seen as an army coup, it brought the world to a standstill because it was unexpected not just for the world but also for Turkey itself.
Who was behind it?
The earliest reports said it was US backing army generals who tried to overthrow the president and take charge, the reason given was simple- Turkey was not cooperating with the US in the fight against ISIS.
This led to another speculation, that the army was supported by ISIS, although government officials have vehemently denied this claim a certain section believes that ISIS did have a major role to play in this whole debacle.
President Erdogan blames Islamic religious leader Fethullah Gulen for starting the unrest but it comes as no surprise to anyone since Erdogan has for long blamed Gulen for trying to do something of this sort. Gulen has openly criticized Erdogan's policies and has been pretty vocal in his desire to establish the 'Caliphate' again.
This is where it gets complicated!
Once friends, Gulen and Erdogan are now bitter enemies. Gulen has huge mass support in Turkey, he runs schools, hospitals and other welfare institutions, thus for him to start a coup is easy since his followers are everywhere- in the army, government and courts.
But Gulen was one of the first to condemn this coup and Erdogan's decision to not let Gulen enter Turkey is also seen as an attempt to save the condition from deteriorating.
Turkey now has a divided army.
Thousands of soldiers have been arrested and hundreds of judiciary members removed since Friday's uprising, which left at least 290 people dead and more than 1,400 injured in a chaotic night of violence.
The arrests include the commander of the Incirlik Air Base. The United States uses the airbase to launch airstrikes on ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
If the army generals truly wanted to seize power, then the reason is evident- they wanted the control Erdogan had taken from them. Turkey has a strong and politically active army, but since Erdogan took power he has controlled the army and its management. The coup is a retaliation of his methods.
The motive has been unclear but it is guaranteed that the coup was backed by external forces and the roots of coup ran deep into the army. Turkey needs to strengthen itself against further such attacks if, ISIS is truly the mastermind.
Read On:
Venezuela Crisis: How Bad Is It And Why Should India Be Worried?


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I know. You are so busy that your head is spinning. You have just handed in your final progress reports (maybe) and you have 3 field trips to go and I come knocking on your door or send you an email. Ugh. I am the LAST person you want to talk to.
Who am I? Your school Learning Support teacher or Resource Teacher or whatever your school district chooses to call the person who supports the students in your school who need that extra help. I am usually part of your school based team (SBT) and we have been busy too. One of our jobs is deciding where the best fit is for those students for next year.
.....and we picked you!!!!! You will have one or more students with IEPs in your classroom next year. This may be new to you or maybe you have done this many times but I just want to encourage you to start planning ahead for next year using a different approach.
Maybe you have heard of Shelley Moore? If not, you can google her while you are sitting on the beach. I just want to suggest that over the summer you consider using her approach; planning for those students with different learning needs FIRST and all else will follow. Kind of a mind-altering concept! Here are some suggestions to do that planning.
My first suggestion is to visit SETBC's online self-directed course called Curriculum for All. There are five modules that attempt to answer the following question, "How can we, as educators, strategically and collaboratively plan to provide an inclusive learning environment for all students, regardless of grade, content or cognitive ability?" The course was developed by Shelley and is full of great information and ideas for planning an inclusive learning environment. It will fill you in on the why's and the how's!
My second suggestion would be to go directly to Shelley's blog "Blogsomemoore - Teaching and Emplowering ALL Students". She has handouts, videos and other resources you can go through that will give you an overview of her ideas.
My third suggestion (if you already have an idea of how to do this and want to get right to work) would be to go to her Template page. Here you will find, free for your use, all the tools, templates and strategies to get going. For example, she has the Class Review template (Brownlie & King, 2000) which will help you get to know your students and the Unit Planning Pyramid to really be able to use our new BC Curriculum with your whole class.
My last suggestion would be to talk to this year's teachers before you leave for the summer and perhaps even arrange for a visit for your new students to your classroom if at all possible. Yes, things may change over the summer but the more you know about each other ahead of time, the easier the September start will be. You could even put together a short picture story telling your new student(s) about what the first days in your classroom will be like.
My role as a Learning Support/Resource Teacher is to help you every step of the way. Please ask me questions and invite me to come in. If I don't know an answer, I will find out. Together, we can make next year the best year ever for ALL your students.
Have a wonderful summer, I know you have earned it!
ACEs and Education
AVERsive childhood events (aces) - do you have students experiencing toxic stress in their lives
I have so fortunate to have a dream position with the New Westminster School District. I support and provide resources to students who are struggling in school. I also work with their teachers, parents and other support people, both school and community based. My position is called District Behaviour Support Teacher.
As I am both a certified teacher and a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), I usually find it quite straightforward to help school-based teams determine the function of the behaviour (FBA) and write a Positive Behaviour Support plan to help the school teach the student new, more beneficial skills.
However, I have a few students that are not making progress despite everything the school, community, medical profession and home are trying to provide. I have gotten to know the children and their families well as we have now worked together for years. These are young children who have so many strengths and it is heartbreaking to see them in emotional and physical distress, day after day and not able to learn or interact with their peers.
I recently accompanied a young mom to visit her child's psychiatrist. The psychiatrist told her that she should be satisfied that her child is staying at school all day under the supervision of caring people. That's all she can expect. Really? He doesn't have a severe intellectual disability or autism. He is creative, kind and imaginative. He WANTS to learn. And yet, he is totally unable to take part in any type of learning or activity with his peers without shutting down or exploding. We've been through assessment programs and have a huge Case Management team. We're following their recommendations. What are we all doing wrong? Are we doing anything wrong?
Even more distressing is that this is not an isolated scenario in our school district.
Helping these children will mean a very steep learning curve for parents, school professionals and me. I'll attempt to share the information and resources that I have found helpful in this blog and on my website. Together, perhaps we can make some positive changes for these very vulnerable children.
Today I received a link to an excellent article which explains some of the brain science behind trauma, toxic stress and ACEs. www.acesconnection.com is a great source of current information.
The Developing Brain & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Thanks to an explosion in scientific research now possible with imaging technologies, such as fMRI and SPECT, experts can actually see how the brain develops. This helps explain why exposure to adverse childhood experiences can so deeply influence and change a child's brain and thus their physical and emotional health and quality of life across their lifetime.
Read the entire article at
Do you have students who have similar struggles? Let's share this journey together. Please comment below.
I am all about the power of providing students with the knowledge and tools they need to be able to regulate themselves throughout their days. I respect Dr. Stuart Shanker for the amazing work which he, the MEHRIT Centre and the Canadian Self-Regulation Initiative have done in this area. I am also in awe of Leah Kuyper, whose simple idea for a program called the Zones of Regulation has benefited so many students and teachers.
Here are my top ten strategies for encouraging self-regulation in the classroom. Top Ten Strategies
top ten strategies for calming, energizing and organizing your students!
New Years Resolutions - bank accounts and bucketfilling: building "good will" with students
"Pairing" is an ABA word for building trust and a relationship with another person. It is a fundamental prerequisite for teaching. Fortunately, most individuals want to build relationships with others. It is part of our basic makeup as social beings. In a school setting, it looks like eager, excited students arriving in the classroom each day, ready to interact with others, able to sit and listen to the teacher, willing to learn and complete work for the satisfaction that it brings to themselves and others. These students find building relationships motivating and rewarding. Their buckets are already usually pretty full. They can keep them full by filling others' buckets.
However, there are more and more students who, through no fault of their own, arrive at school either without the motivation or the skills (or neither one) to build and maintain relationships. These students with "holes" in their buckets or are without the means to fill their own buckets These students need our help! I just read a saying "The empty bucket makes the most noise!" How true this is.
For more on Bucketfilling in your classroom, start at http://www.bucketfillers101.com/.
If the student has autism or another developmental disability, we may need to build relationships with them through external reinforcement. This means identifying items and activities that they enjoy and then being the person to provide them with no strings attached at first (noncontingent positive reinforcement). Once the student identifies you as "the giver of all good things" you have taken the first steps towards establishing a relationship and building goodwill. Only then, can you start asking the student to complete tasks or activities that are easy for him and that he already knows how to do. Learning new skills and completing difficult tasks require a solid relationship where the student trusts that if they finish work, they will be rewarded with an activity that they enjoy, or in other words, is reinforcing. When we build this trusting relationship, interactions with us become reinforcing as well.
The best way to do this is by routinely finding out what the student likes (called a preference assessment) providing these activities and items on a consistent basis and slowly increasing the difficulty of the requests made of her..
However, it is not only students with autism who may need help building positive relationships with their teacher. Any student who finds learning or interacting with others challenging may need support. This could be a child with a learning disability, ADHD, ODD, trauma or frequent school moves. It could also be a child who finds life outside the classroom to be more rewarding, such as a talented athlete, video gamer or avid reader.
They may also need positive reinforcement more frequently than others. Learn Alberta lists Positive Relationships as the number 1 way to support effective, positive classroom management. www.learnalberta.ca/content/inspb2/html/1_positiverelationships.html
Another way of looking at this is described by Christopher Pugliese and Eran Magen in an article published February 2016 in ASCD Express, called "A Relational Bank Account That Pays Dividends".
When you ask a student to do something he or she would not naturally do (for example, asking a hesitant student to offer an answer, or asking a student who is inspired to sing in the middle of your lesson to work quietly), you are making a withdrawal from the relational account, because you are asking the student to do something that the student would prefer not to do. If your relational account balance is high, the student will cooperate willingly. If your relational account balance is low, the student may cooperate—reluctantly. If your relational account balance is insufficient, your request will be denied." (read more)
Relationship Deposits, Withdrawals and Overdraft
The article goes on to describe relational deposits and withdrawals and how to avoid overdraft. This is such a straightforward way to think about interacting positively with your students. Relationship deposits are made when you:
Relationship withdrawals happen when you ask a student to behave in any way which is different than they already do, which is the definition of learning! A relational bank account uses withdrawals to further strengthen trust between individuals. However excessive withdrawals happen when you repeatedly ask a student to complete tasks or activities which they feel are too difficult or not meaningful or act in a way towards them which they see as being mean or disrespectful. Another way to look at this is bucket dipping.
Relationship overdrafts will occur when you have made more withdrawals than deposits. When this happens a student may refuse to cooperate with a request even if it is reasonable and they are capable. If you try to force compliance by threatening, bullying or coercing, the results can be unpleasant. The student may learn to comply only when under pressure and require stronger and stronger consequences. They may develop negative associations with either the activity or yourself and power struggles are a definite possibility.
How to Strengthen Relationships in Your Classroom
1. DO NOT treat all students the same. Learn about individual strengths and challenges, interests and dislikes and use this knowledge.
2. Make relationship deposits whenever possible. A typical student requires at least a 4:1 ratio of deposits to withdrawals. A student with challenges consistently requires more. Think of a bucket with holes in it. The more holes the more deposits that are required while you work on plugging the holes.
3. Make your withdrawals purposeful and the smallest required to achieve your goal.
4. Find a way to replenish your deposit account as soon as possible after a withdrawal.
5. If you are dealing with an overdraft situation, consider asking for support from your School Based Team, especially if you have tried to fix the situation and it has not gotten better.
6. Look into strengthening relationships in your entire school by using the free resource from The Center for Supportive Relationships - available here at your next staff meeting or professional development day.
Consider applying this model to all your relationships - professional, volunteer and family. Making relationship deposits can become a positive habit. When withdrawals do occur, having a large balance results in more cooperative relationships, a willingness to support one another, less stress and greater respect and enjoyment. What a great way to keep everyone's bucket full!
What a great way to start the New Year!
For more information check out
Positive Attention Data Sheet - http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/modules-archive/module1/handouts/2.pdf
Starters for Giving Positive Feedback - http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/modules-archive/module1/handouts/3.pdf
Almost every classroom has one or two (or sometimes more) students who are very good at avoiding work and activities that they are unwilling or unable to do. They may engage in acting out behaviours that interfere with the learning of others and result in being removed from class or passively but defiantly sit and not complete the work. Either way, the work does not get done and learning does not take place.
There are many reasons why a student is not able to work at a particular moment. Having a classroom strategy in place to handle those times will be helpful.
Most teachers have at least heard about or used Time Out. Time Out can either mean that the student is removed from the class or that reinforcement is not available to the student for a period of time. In either situation, the teacher decides when a Time Out is needed and is considered punishment for inappropriate behaviour. During the most common, Time Out from the class, a student is placed in the hall, another teacher's classroom or sent to the office. Time Out from reinforcement occurs when a student is not allowed to participate in a classroom management system that rewards appropriate behaviour with points. Time Out occurs after inappropriate behaviour happens.
Time Away is different. Used as a preventative measure to support self-regulation, Time Away is an agreement between a student and a teacher that the student can decide a particular activity or learning task is too difficult or that he or she cannot complete it at that time. Rather than engaging in disruptive behaviour, the student has the option to leave the task or activity and move to a spot in the classroom which has been set up for such times. The student stays in that spot until they feel they are ready to start on the task, at which time they move back to their desk.
Time Away can also be called "cooling off", "calming down" or "taking a break". The specific place in your classroom can also have a name such as the "Peace Place", "Calm Zone" or Cool Down Corner.
Using the Time Away strategy should be discussed and taught in the similar manner as other classroom routines.
Once you have all the pieces in place, practice your own words. According to Diana Browning Wright (2008), teacher, psychologist and behaviour analyst, the conversation that you have with a student who needs some "Time Away" could sound like this,
"Sarah, I am really pleased that you came in from recess on time and sat down in your desk. However, I have noticed that you seem very upset and unable to get started on your math work, even though we talked about the problem at recess and I have helped you with a few questions. You know that when you aren't feeling like you can do school work you can always move to the Chill Zone. Take a minute and think about your two choices, 1) start your work or 2) chill out for a while. I'll be back in a minute to see what you have decided."
It is important to call the student by name and mention positive behaviours they have already displayed. Point out the problem behaviour and remind the student that you have already tried to work together. Give the student the power to pick between two acceptable choices and time to think. If the student chooses Time Away, be sure to provide a positive acknowledgement and assistance if required when they return to their desk.
You could have a sign in sheet for students who use the Time Away space or just keep track for yourself. If a student is spending a lot of time, a call home to discuss the behaviour is definitely in order. Review of the academic demands and support in place for the student may be necessary as well.
The Time Away strategy works best in a classroom with effective classroom management and a positive, respectful and trusting relationship between students and adults. There are many examples of Time Away on the internet which provide pictures and resources. Time Away can provide a safe and appropriate option for students who struggle with self-regulation without disrupting the learning taking place in your classroom.
Also available in the Fall 2016 MyPITA Newsletter
Wright, D. B. "Time-Away: A Procedure To Keep Task-Avoiding Students Under Instructional Control." Pent Forum (2008):29-33. Positive Environment Network of Trainers (PENT), California Department of Education Diagnostic Centre, Southern California, 2008. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. <http://www/pent.ca.gov/beh/rst/timeaway.pdf>
Additional Resources
Time Away VS Time Out - The Classroom Safe Place
The Responsive Classroom Time Out
The Classroom Calming Corner
My new position
I am so excited to begin my new position with the New Westminster School District. Probably the biggest difference between my work as a behaviour analyst/teacher in Calgary is the size of the District. The Calgary Board of Education was huge - over 14,000 teachers, 100,000 students and 225 schools. New Westminster, by comparison, is tiny. We have 9 elementary schools, two middle schools and one secondary school. There are about 6000 students altogether. It is small in area as well (about 15 km squared), so it is an easy drive from one school to the next (except for trying to cross the Queensborough Bridge at rush hour!) The city is rapidly growing in size and a third middle school is being built.
My position will be to support students with significant behaviour challenges in regular classrooms and their teachers, support staff and parents. This is different from other school districts where I have worked. There are no separate programs for students with special needs. What I have seen already is the huge investment of time and energy that principals, teachers and other staff provide in planning and providing supports for these students rather than a single special education teacher. This is teamwork in action. A bonus is the availability of District Administrators to discuss issues and provide guidance.
My position is to help these school-based teams to access already available supports and work with outside agencies to be more effective and efficient and provide direct supports to students when needed.
I'm looking forward to the challenge!
And That's a wrap!
I can't believe an entire school year has gone by. This is the first time that I have taught a primary class and it is amazing how much young children grow and change. I remain a strong believer in the importance of early intervention and intensive programming.
We held on to most of our routines and schedules right until the last day of school and it helped our classroom stay calm and in control even though we had lots of Buddies drop in to say goodbye and drop off gifts for their friends. On Thursday we invited our two Grade 3 friends, Tita and Trish to join us for a wrap-up party with McDonalds' lunches. We had a great time!
Thank you to all the parents, teachers and students who helped us throughout our first year at Monterey Park. A very special thanks to Shauna, Veronica and Mona for your hard work, dedication and understanding. You have been wonderful to work with.
Mrs. Crisfield and Music class
We are so lucky to have music and drama specialists in our school. Once a week Mrs. Crisfield, the music specialist, brings her love and knowledge of music to share with our class. What fun they had on Friday. Enjoy it with us!
I Love headsprout!
Evidence-based methods are very important to use when teaching children with ASD to read. Applied Behavior Analysis has lots of research behind it to show it is an effective way to teach new skills. You use the same principles and tools to teach reading. Step 1 is to assess where the student is at. Step 2 is to know where you are going. Then you use prompting, shaping, fading and reinforcement using discrete trial to teach letters, sounds and words. Or you can sign up for Headsprout and let the experts help you out (with onsite assistance from the teacher or EA of course).
Headsprout is based on ABA principles. It is an internet-based online program or computer-assisted instruction (CAI.) It was developed by two leading behaviourists and educators, Dr. Joe Layng and Dr. Kent Johnson from Morningside Academy in Seattle. Although small, there is evidence that it has potentially positive effects on oral language and print knowledge. (What Works Clearinghouse)
Headsprout was recently added to the Learning A-Z family of products which are used by typical students in classrooms throughout the world. Headsprout gives teachers another tool to reach learners who have either come into their classroom without basic reading skills or who are not making progress.
Although I am a believer in using Direct Instruction methods, I purchased a classroom license using my own funds to see if it was effective with my student who was a non-reader. I needed a program which would allow students to work individually with minimal support from a supervising adult. I found it! Headsprout targets the five components of evidence-based reading instruction - phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension strategies. (Whalen, Otaiba, Delano, 2009)
In September, my student recognized a few letters but did not know any sounds attached to those letters. He was very motivated to use the computer and could use a mouse with ease. He could attend to the computer for 10 - 15 minutes although he could become quite frustrated. He required prompting and reinforcement to attend to vocal instructions from the program, say words out loud and not deliberately choose a wrong answer because he enjoyed the visual and vocal wrong answer prompts given by the computer (I so wish there was a way to turn those off!)
Avery now follows his schedule to start the program and completes an entire lesson at one time. We still work together because there are new skills presented each lesson and I use prompting and reinforcement to make sure that he is not making errors. He has progressed from being a non-reader to being able to read 21 simple readers and can sound out new words phonetically. I am so proud of him and would recommend this program to anyone whose child or student meets the following criteria -
1. Has or can learn mouse skills (which are also taught in the first lesson).
2. Can visually discriminate (or tell the difference) between letters.
3. Is somewhat motivated by visuals and music on a computer screen (although I also continue to use edibles and praise when needed).
Avery is verbal and willingly repeats back words and phrases that he hears. This is definitely an advantage but I don't know that it is a requirement. Although my experience may not be typical of other users, I found it to be very useful in my classroom for this student.
I would love to hear how others are doing with the program. Please feel free to contact me at janpalmer27atgmaildotcom with questions, concerns or to share!
This is my fourth year as a District Behaviour Support and Intervention teacher with the New Westminster School District. My focus is on students who are having serious challenges with self-regulation across many domains - biological, emotional, cognitive, social and prosocial - at school, at home and in the community. My role is to provide support to teachers and teams to create an environment for success for the student.
October 2018


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Rikard Olsen Unisex T-shirt "Percy's sneakers" White
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West Michigan produces 10 of state's 50 Companies to Watch
Ten West Michigan companies are among the 50 Companies to Watch in Michigan.
The Michigan Small Business Development Center, or MI-SBDC, will recognize more than 60 businesses at the 12th-annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards dinner in Lansing on May 5.
The Michigan Celebrates Small Business event will also feature the presentation of the Main Street USA Award, Innovation Award and Government Contracting Award.
"Michigan Celebrates Small Business embodies Michigan's entrepreneurial spirit," said Jennifer Deamud, associate state director, MI-SBDC. "The program shines an important spotlight on the success of Michigan's small business community. The awardees being honored have played a significant role in growing Michigan's economy and creating jobs."
2016 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch
Advaita Corporation, Plymouth
Abcor Industries, Holland
Afia, Ann Arbor
Millendo (previously Atterocor), Ann Arbor
Avomeen, Ann Arbor
Banza, Detroit
BizStream, Allendale
Bromberg & Associates, Hamtramck
Cash n Carry Flooring, Traverse City
DeNovo Sciences, Plymouth
Chester Limited, Orion
Clarity Communication Advisors, Southfield
Coastal Automotive, Rochester Hills
Code Blue Corporation, Holland
Collage.com, Brighton
RetailCapital, Troy
Energy Design Service Systems, Whitmore Lake
Firebolt Group, Wixom
Foodjunky, Detroit
Goldfish Swim School Franchising, Birmingham
Hayhoe Asphalt Paving, Holt
Image Data Conversion, Saline
Inmatech, Ann Arbor
Innereactive Media, Grand Rapids
IP Consulting, Kentwood
ITC, Incorporated, Holland
JMC Electrical Contractor, Clinton Township
Local Orbit, Ann Arbor
McCardel Restoration, East Lansing
MMI Engineered Solutions, Saline
Modustri, Grand Rapids
Mopec, Oak Park
Mount Bohemia, Lac La Belle
Neuvokas Corporation, Ahmeek
Parjana® Distributions, Detroit
Public Lumber Company, Detroit
Recruitment Management Consultants, LLC, East Lansing
Red Level Networks, Novi
RightAnswer.com, Midland
RightBrain Networks, Ann Arbor
Service First Logistics, Auburn Hills
Smart Bottoms, Ada
STEWART Industries, Battle Creek
Three Speed Ales, Frankfort
The Service Professor, Grand Rapids
Tome, Royal Oak
Truscott Rossman Group, Lansing
Verdeterre Contracting, Canton
Atriage Software, Okemos
ZeroBase Energy, Ferndale


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- Wildlife
- Wildflowers
- Stinging Nettle
Stinging Nettles are a familiar plant to many of us, often firmly rooted in our memories after our first 'hands-on' experience - a prickling irritation that's not forgotten easily! A very common plant, it can be found growing in gardens, hedgerows, fields, woods and many other habitats. Its preference for damp, fertile and disturbed ground makes it a good coloniser of places enriched by human activities such as agriculture and development. Stinging Nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.
How to identify
To avoid the painful way to identify a Stinging Nettle, look for the hairs on its stem, its drooping, catkin flowers and oval, toothed leaves.
Where to find it
When to find it
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
How can people help
Many of our so-called 'weeds' are beneficial to wildlife, providing food for nectar-loving insects and shelter for minibeasts. Try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of flowers like buttercups in your lawn and Stinging Nettles near the compost heap, and see who comes to visit... To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.


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The Midcoast of Maine is where the mountains meet the sea. What can be more beautiful than being between mountains and ocean? This area offers miles of rocky coastline with endless ocean vistas, historic lighthouses, lobster boats galore, and many art galleries in the vibrant little downtowns. When not shooting, you will find plenty of things to do. I can't possibly tell the story as good as my dear neighbors did in this Maine tourism video:
Our home base is in Rockland, which is the retail center of Mid-Coast Maine and it's experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. Anchored by the first-class Farnsworth Art Museum, one of the finest regional art museums in the country, Rockland is filled with boutique shops, galleries, and a delightful array of gourmet restaurants and quaint coffee shops. It has been called the "Lobster Capital of the World"—both for its importance to the East Coast lobster industry and for the world famous Maine Lobster Festival.
Rockland Harbor is home to more windjammers than any other port in the country. Over a dozen historic schooners sail these waters just as they did a century ago. The sight of a schooner as it sails on parade past the historic Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is a vision to behold.
Outdoor Activities
If you're the active type, there is no end to the excellent hiking, biking, and kayaking in this area. Maine Sport Outfitters is a large sports goods store that would be happy to prepare you for an outdoor adventure, with all kinds of equipment including kayak rentals. There is also a bike shop right in Rockland (Side Country Sports) that rents bicycles. If golfing or fishing is more your speed, there are three amazing golf courses in this immediate area, all with ocean views and fishing opportunities galore. For more activity choices please click here for a full list.
Lodging is not included with your workshops, but there are many great local places to stay. Please contact the motels directly for your reservations. Here are a couple of good links to get you started on your search for the perfect place to stay. Please keep in mind that the workshop home base is Rockland.
Things to See & Do
There are endless things to see and do in Maine in all seasons. Consider extending your stay and taking some time to explore the area further. Here are some links to many of the local tourism pages to get you started.
Local Event Calendar
So much goes on in this neck of the woods and not just in the Summer time. The Midcoast is hopping all year long. Check out some of the local happenings with this handy events calendar presented by the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce.


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Kyle Reese travels through time to save Sarah Connor. The Story Line opens up with the year 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance, continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by Skynet that will attack him from two fronts, past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever. On the verge of winning the war against Skynet, John Connor sends his trusted lieutenant Kyle Reese back through time to save his mother's life and ensure his own existence. But what he finds on the other side is like nothing he ever expected. After being orphaned at age nine by a Terminator, Sarah Connor has been brought up by another Terminator programmed to protect her. This Terminator has then trained her to face her destiny, which she adamantly tries to reject. Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator Genisys is the fifth Part of the Terminator series. The film is scheduled to be released on July 1, 2015.


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human resources
Like all B Corps, we strive to create benefits for all stakeholders, including employees. Our Human Resources services are founded on the belief that engaging your employees helps retain valuable talent, strengthen team dynamics and ultimately, grow your business. FLOW can help you manage your team, be it onsite, virtual or a bit of both.
We'll help bring you in line with regulatory requirements, and go beyond to ensure your practices reflect your organization's values, culture and business goals. We work with clients on an on-going or project basis.
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From its labs in Atlanta and around the world, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists have been dissecting insects and the parasites they leave in humans for more than 65 years. The kissing bug, also known as a triatomine, can be infected by Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. It is not widespread in the United States, but 300,000 people are infected by Trypanosoma cruzi and have Chagas disease.
Chagas can cause cardiac disease including stroke and arrhythmias, and gastrointestinal disease over time. It can take several years to decades for the infection to take its toll on the human heart and stomach.
Most people with Chagas disease have no apparent symptoms, so people infected don't know they have it. When people are diagnosed, with the exception of those who are already very sick, it's easily treatable with drugs the CDC gives to health care providers.
Often people find out they have it when donating blood as blood banks use the FDA's guidelines to test and notify donors. In addition to blood transfusions, the parasite is also transmitted through organ and tissue transplants. CDC has collaborated with transplant experts to publish recommendations for testing organ donors and monitoring organ recipients to prevent Chagas disease so that transplant centers can help protect their patients from the parasite.
CDC estimates that as many as 315 babies are born with Chagas disease every year in the United States. CDC recommends that health care providers test women who could be at-risk and are planning to conceive or already pregnant, as Chagas disease can be transmitted to fetuses and can cause low birth weight, anemia, respiratory distress, and even death.
If a woman is found to carry Chagas disease, CDC recommends that her other children are tested and treated immediately. If the mother was not tested before or during pregnancy, CDC recommends that health care providers test the baby at birth and treat the newborn immediately if Chagas disease is confirmed.
The World Health Organization estimates that more than eight million people are infected in the Americas. Those who have visited or lived in Mexico, Central America, or South America are at particular risk, especially those who have been in rural areas. Although most people with Chagas disease acquired the infection in their country of origin, CDC has found triatomine bugs infected with the parasite in the Southern United States and confirmed that at least 23 people have been infected with Chagas disease here in the United States.
Currently there is no federal requirement for health care providers, blood banks, and organ/tissue banks to report Chagas diagnoses to their state health department, which then report to CDC. Three states have laws — Arizona, Massachusetts, and Tennessee — requiring reporting by their providers and donor banks to their health departments. Prevention and monitoring is complicated by the fact that the disease is relatively unknown among U.S. health care providers.
CDC has been working to educate health care providers about how to diagnosis and treat Chagas disease. For instance, CDC offers providers a free continuing education online course and online diagnostic information. CDC also offers providers diagnostic assistance, treatment drugs, and medical consultation regarding Chagas disease and other parasitic diseases 24 hours a day.
Voluntary reporting shows that people donating blood have tested positive all over the country (see map or figure). Helping people with Chagas disease get their infections diagnosed and treated properly will help reduce the serious heart disease that can develop, thereby improving health, saving lives, and reducing health care costs for the nation. Although Chagas disease is still rarely transmitted in the United States, there is much work to be done to protect people's health through research, policy and partnerships. For more information about the parasite and Chagas, visit http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas.
Dr. Susan Montgomery, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coordinates CDC activities related to Chagas disease and other neglected parasitic diseases in the United States. Dr. Montgomery received her DVM degree from Cornell University and MPH degree from Harvard School of Public Health.


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STARmeterSEE RANK
Down 35,213 this week
Boyd Coddington (1944–2008)
Boyd Coddington was born on August 28, 1944 in Rupert, Idaho, USA as Boyd Leon Coddington. He was married to Jo Andenise Clausen McGee, Diane Marie Ragone Elkins and Peggy Jeanne King. He died on February 27, 2008 in Whittier, California, USA. See full bio »
Born:in Rupert, Idaho, USA
Died:(age 63) in Whittier, California, USA


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Granular Active Directory replication for advanced troubleshooting scenarios
This post introduces an advanced functionality of repadmin.exe which allows us to initiate replication between domain controllers that do not share a connection object. This is useful when you need to be able to predict where a domain controller will replicate from. Think of any scenario where you know you have a 'good' copy of a naming context on one server, and you need to sync that naming context to another server. You don't want to change your Active Directory topology, or introduce manual objects, you just want two domain controllers to talk to each other in an effort to bring one of them up to date.
Short Version
1. Stop the KCC from cleaning up after you while you get replication sorted: Repadmin /options <DC-Name> +disable_ntdsconn_xlate
2. Add a replication connection (not to be confused with connection object) for the naming context we want to get from another server: Repadmin /add <Naming Context> <Dest DSA> <Source DSA> [/readonly] [/selsecrets] (You should see output like: One-way replication from source:DC1.contoso.com to dest:DC2.contoso.com established.)
* The other tip here is to always pull the config partition first. So even if its the domain partition you need, create a connection to the configuration partition and replicate it first.
3. Begin the synchronisation: "Repadmin /replicate <Dest_DSA_LIST> <Source DSA_NAME> <Naming Context> [/force] [/async] [/full] [/addref] [/readonly] "
4. Turn the KCC back on so it can do its thing. Repadmin /options <DC-Name> -disable_ntdsconn_xlate
Long Version
Just to be clear here. We are not building connection objects like those shown in the GUI. See the example below. What we are doing instead is messing with the replication connections on each partition that needs to be replicated by a domain controller. Specifically, we are modifying the repsFrom and repsTo attributes of a partition.
A quick overview of what this example achieves is best explained by this diagram:
I've only kept the relevant info in here, there are actually more connection objects in play than we see in the diagram but you can hopefully see that DC3 is pulling its changes from DC2.
In this example we have decided that we need to pull changes from DC1 to DC3. Lets say DC1 has the "good" copy of a partition we are cleaning up for lingering objects in a forest. We are trying to achieve this:
The first thing to know, is that the knowledge consistency checker (KCC) isn't going to love what we are doing here, and it is going to automatically clean up the replication connections that have no corresponding connection object.So what do we do? We tell the KCC to stay out of it, just for this domain controller and just for now. We can do that using this command:
Repadmin /options <DC-Name> +disable_ntdsconn_xlate
In our example:
Then, we get on with building a direct replication connection (not a connection object) between the domain controllers we need to replicate. We do the configuration partition first, then any other partition we need:
Repadmin /add <Naming Context> <Dest DSA> <Source DSA> [/readonly] [/selsecrets]
In our example (configuration partition) :
(domain partition)
Now we have direct replication connections to the domain controller we want to pull changes from. Notice that nothing changed as far as connection objects are concerned - there is still just the one, replicating from DC2:
What we get instead is a new entry in the "reps-from" attribute on the partitions we are trying to replicate:
The repsFrom and repsTo attributes are what the domain controller actually uses to perform the replication (Remember AD replicates per partition, not per server - so it makes sense that we can have different values here for different partitions).
Notice if I look at the Schema partition (which I didn't add a replication link for) there is only one entry still:
Ok, so now we have the replication link set up for both configuration and domain partitions - lets pull the data across:
Repadmin /replicate <Dest_DSA_LIST> <Source DSA_NAME> <Naming Context> [/force] [/async] [/full] [/addref] [/readonly]
In our example:
(we are pulling both the domain and config partitions)
You can trust the output in the last screenshot where it says that "Sync from dc1.contoso.com to dc3.contoso.com completed successfully". Or you can view your handy-work with repadmin /showreps. Note the extra replication connections you see for the domain and configuration partitions (just a single for the schema and the dns partitions).
Almost done -> remember we disabled the KCC so that it wouldn't mess with our manual replication attempt? We need to turn that on:
Repadmin /options <DC-Name> -disable_ntdsconn_xlate
In our example:
And just to show that the KCC will be ruthless with our connection, we can run - repadmin /kcc (kicks off the kcc now rather than waiting 15 mins).
Now note that our replication connections are taken away by the KCC and we are back to a single source for all naming contexts.
And that's it.
I hope this has been useful for you. It is an advanced troubleshooting technique for AD replication that the CTS guys use when you are in serious replication related trouble. Its not something you would do every day, but its very handy to know when the time comes to get really granular with your AD replication to solve a serious issue.


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Machine learning algorithms benefit from inherent parallelism, deep pipelining and custom precision capabilities that an FPGA provides.
Linear Model Training with ZipML
In our ZipML framework, we are exploring these ideas to accelerate training and inference.
Our FCCM'17 paper (FPGA-accelerated Dense Linear Machine Learning:
A Precision-Convergence Trade-off) studies how to accelerate training of dense linear models, using low-precision data and performing the training on an FPGA. We present both single-precision floating-point and low-precision integer (8, 4, 2 and 1 bit) capable FPGA-based trainers, and study the trade-offs that effect the end-to-end performance of dense linear model training. You can grab both software and FPGA designs presented in this work in our repository:
Inference of Decision Tree Ensemble on CPU-FPGA Platforms
In this work we developed an inference system for decision tree ensembles on Intel's Xeon+FPGA platform. In our FPL'17 paper we explore the design of flexible and scalable FPGA architecture. In addition we combine CPU and FPGA processing to scale to large tree ensembles with millions of nodes. The developed system targets XGBoost, one of the most successful boosted trees algorithms in machine learning. In our future steps, we want to explore using low precision for representing either data or tree node's threshold values, which enables the processing of even larger ensembles on the FPGA at higher performance.


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There are more than five-million people in the United States affected by heart failure and approximately 500,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. This condition leads to the heart becoming too weak to pump blood throughout all the areas of the body. This results in the body being deprived of the nutrients and oxygen that are necessary to keep the body functioning properly. This condition can be either chronic or acute. There are four stages of dying from congestive heart failure and during the last stage, the body ultimately shuts down.
The chronic symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath (particularly when lying down or when exerting oneself).
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Swelling in the ankles,legs, and feet.
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat.
- Decrease is the patient's ability to exercise.
- Persistent wheezing or cough with pink or white blood-tinged phlegm.
- Abdominal swelling.
- Sudden weight gain (caused by fluid retention).
- Nausea and no appetite.
- A reduction in alertness and trouble concentrating.
The acute symptoms include:
- Those symptoms experienced by patients with chronic heart failure, but they begin suddenly, are more severe, and worsen suddenly.
- Shortness of breath that is severe and begins suddenly accompanied by coughing up a foamy, pink mucus.
- Sudden fluid build-up.
- Chest pain.
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat.
Stages of Dying
The four stages of dying from congestive heart failure will affect each patient differently, but there are certain symptoms and affects that most patients will experience.
- Stage 1: During the first stage, also referred to as the initial stage, patients may not experience any symptoms. Most will notice that they become tired a little faster when participating in physical activities, but for most patients this small increase in activity-induced fatigue is too small to cause alarm. Many patients write if off as getting older.
- Stage 2: During this stage, the patient's fatigue often becomes more pronounced when they perform physical activity. Patients may also experience heart palpitations (irregular or rapid heartbeat) during light exercise. In most cases, these symptoms often disappear or lessen when the patient rests.
- Stage 3: During this stage, many patients experience no symptoms when they are resting, but can experience shortness of breath and fatigue when performing some normal everyday tasks and chores. Patients in stage three often find themselves severely limited, or completely unable to exercise or perform physical activity.
- Stage 4: During this stage, which is the final stage, patients find that their day to day lives and normal chores and activities are severely affected. They put additional strain on their heart and experience fatigue, sometimes severe, with any form of exercise or physical activity. Patients can even experience symptoms when resting at this stage making breathing difficult and showing that the heart is not able to function properly.
Methods of Healing. (2010). The Stages of Dying from Congestive Heart Failure. Retrieved on January 24, 2010 from Methods of Healing: https://www.methodsofhealing.com/the-stages-of-dying-from-congestive-heart-failure/
Mayo Clinic. (2010). Heart Failure. Retrieved on January 24, 2010 from the Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061


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At Glasgow Power Steering we understand that having to book your car in to be repaired can sometimes be an inconvenience.
With this in mind, we offer a free drop-off service (within a certain radius of our premises). Simply tell us when you are booking your vehicle in if you need to use our free drop-off service and we will have this arranged for you.


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Dictionary.com wrote:Example Sentences
If abridge has a different weight limit, the limit will be posted.
As one of the primary aesthetic elements of abridge, superstructures should receive significant attention.
Why Humans Still Matter
Miscellaneous Other Topics.
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
Why Humans Still Matter
While looking up the word abridge to make sure I understood more exactly what it means, especially in the sense of the US Constitution, I came across an interesting example of why computers aren't quite ready to take over the world. Below are sample sentences on how to use abridge in a sentence. They are "as found" on the site noted; I did not edit them.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 2190
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:41 am
- Location: Texas
Re: Why Humans Still Matter
I think I may have already mentioned the human translator who translated what he assumed to be a Greek word, Pentecostal, as 50th day people.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
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Mind-bogglingly prolific Greek soul man MSDOS follows up his "Best Of" on Soul Deep earlier this month with two fresh originals. "Sunset" lives up to its name with a delicate piano hook that ripples back and forth in a way that's more common in housier circles but works so well in drum & bass when rolled out in this way. "Retrospective" looks in the rave rear-view mirror to pay respect to a whole range of foundation influences – not just big piano-licking hardcore but jazz, funk and soul, too. Pure audio alchemy.
Sunset mp3, Sunset Wav, Retrospective mp3, Retrospective Wav, Whole EP mp3, Whole EP Wav
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Triumph Park, St Petersburg — residential multi phased complex
Flagship phased development of a residential neighborhoods which, upon completion, will comprise approximately 9,000 apartments, commercial and public areas and will provide good access to both the city and its airport. The commercial areas will include offices and a commercial center with underground parking. The public facilities will include kindergartens, a school and parks. More information>>
- Land area: 41 ha
- Saleable area: 630,900 sqm
- Leasable area: 117,775 sqm
- Planned completion of total project: Q4 2019
- Freehold rights: 100%
Western Residence Perkhushkovo, Moscow region — residential complex — phase I
Development of 77 town houses and cottages in the prestigious western outskirts of Moscow. This project is targeting the growing segment of middle class Russian society who are seeking an improved standard of living.
- Land area (phase I): 11 ha
- Saleable area (phase I): 22,579 sqm (excluding sold houses)
- Freehold rights: 100%
Western Residence Perkhushkovo, Moscow region — residential complex — phase II


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The next stop of my adventure took me to Dallas, TX where I got to spend some time with a dear friend who was there for a conference for work. She lives in Michigan and is from the south, so it was fun to meet her in the south in a new city.
I got in Tuesday afternoon just in time for an early dinner where we were able to make it to a recommended restaurant by KQ for some amazing burgers at Twisted Root. I opted for a Tex Mex burger to step outside my comfort zone and even tried the fried green beans. It was a great welcome to the city with some delish food.
We did a bit of touring the city by car that night and I enjoyed all the lights and sights of historic architecture and iconic Dallas hot-spots.
On Wednesday while my friend went onto her conference I got to take my time doing a little exploring and discovered a fun coffee shop where I settled in for a few hours to do some reading, emails, and to continue to get some final paperwork done for the Peace Corps.
I was able to meet up with my friend, Beth for the afternoon so we could both do some exploring together. We meandered our way through the city to various places including Dealy Plaza and checked out some of the spots they had there for the JFK Memorial and other random things like the large eye ball hanging out in it's own green space in downtown.
We tried 2 Mexican restaurants that day and found that we preferred the local one that had been there since the early 1920's.
On the Peace Corps front of things…I am happy to report that I received my final medical clearance!! After all the paperwork and back and forth to the doctors offices over the past 2 months I am so glad that part is over.


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Have you been taking into consideration buying a 4×4 for the winter or for recreation, but don't want the very same Toyota pickup, Jeep Wrangler, or Ford pickup that absolutely everyone else is driving? The engines of pickup trucks are adjusted in such a way that it can effectively carry out heavy or light weight object. If you're not preparing to carry multi-ton loads or pull a quite heavy trailer, then you almost certainly do not want a full-sized heavy-duty pickup truck. Garage automobile Pickup center, Vente de vehicules d.occasion toutes marques en Espagne.
Tonka trucks have been designed from a number of pressed or stamped metal components that were riveted together to form a complete assembly. There are many advantages of buying used trucks for sal e and most critical issue is you can save money by enjoying very same high quality item to these like new trucks. In the late 1960s, the style changed to a lot more closely resemble Dodge pickup trucks of the era.
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Choose Up Chevrolet Th83 Diesel 4×4 Murah Aja ini dipublikasikan pada 13 April 2014 ten:00:23 WIB. Suppliers of top quality GRP fibreglass difficult tops and challenging covers for choose-up 4×4 trucks. Ricky Beggs, editor at Black Book, researched a handful of pickup models for the cost variance amongst new 4×2 and 4×4 models at 3 years old. You would constantly like to have employed dodge trucks for sale that consumes significantly less quantity of oil, without compromising on efficiency aspect.
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55 ford gasser 430 lincoln powered old skool
1955 Ford Fairlane
|Drive type:
|beefed full manual C-4
|Vehicle Title:
|Item location:
|Lancaster, California, United States
Description for Ford Fairlane 1955
55 ford fairlane gasser. app 2000 mile since build solid ca black plate car. featured in gasser wars magazine #87 seen in other mags including hot rod delux best of show winner from gasser magazine. 52 ford F-1 front frame clip new spring bushings tilt front end motor set back app 8" removeable dog house radiused rear wheel wells new rubber window channels and tinted side glass power door windows professionally straightened and polished stainless trimre-chromed bumper new door handles tail lites. professionally hand lettered [can be compounded off]. chrome15 x 7 15 x 10supreme wheels M&H 28 - 11.5 -15cheater slicks. cloth bucket seats vintage latch type reclothed lap belts rubber floor mats . sunoil pressure water temp trans temp gauges sun-pro volt gauge sun 7K red football dash mounted tach with converted EB9A sending box. 4 point roll bar clip in deist 5 point harness58 chevy fuel tank [ moves fuel weightto RR wheel]1/2 fuel line 3/8 return line holley red pump canister filter. 57 ford 9" rear [buyer can choosetype and ratio]. new driveshaft - HD solid u-joints custom lift bars rebuilt C-4 trans with full manual forward pattern NOS hurst slap shifteraluminum deep pan large cooler 8" Edge 2600 stall converter. speed way tube axle 40 ford spindles 4 wheel disc brakes.59 ford steering box [cross steer] aluminium cross flow radiator no overheating issues.mini starter and power gen altinator.buyer can chooseeithermild or wild 430 Lincoln motorwildJE forged 10;3 pistons NOS crankshaft company beamed "nitro rods" HV oil pump and drive rod. oil passages drilled out for better oiling. isky 505 T roller cam 290 dur 580 lift howards pin oiling roller lifters smith bros 3/8 HD push rods Harland sharp bushed roller tip rocker arms hard chrome shafts mondello ported cylinder heads SS valves PC seals dual springs titanium 10 deg retainers 2 1/8 headers NOS drag fast collector boxes. runs on high test unleaded. runs high 7's low 8's in 1/8 mile mild jahns 9.7 cast pistons rebuilt rods mildisky EE-200 flat tappet solid lifter cam 258 dur 450 lift or stock hyd camrebuilt heads hard seatsadj FE rocker arms [with isky cam] HV pump - hd drive rod oil holes enlarged1 3/4 tri y headers. choice of intakes restored8x2 weianddrag star - Stromberg 94's NOS eelco linkagerestored 6x2 edelbrock - Rochester 2 bblsprogressive linkage home made 2x4 tunnel ram 650 AFB's or single 4bbl holey or AFB.ignition- just re-freshed joe hunt mag with NOS Mallory solid wires or Mallory crab cap dual point -converted topertronix or stock single point. will change towhat ever combo you want. also available 2008 24' carson racer enclosed trailer 4 wheel electric brakes with built in metalwork bench and cabinets $4800 NOTE if you use pay-pal for final payment YOU must pay their fees john 661 951 1862 evespacific time with any questions - comments


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Thursday, August 27, 2009
Rogelio Polesello, Master of Color
4 comments:
You know, I don't need to search in webencyclopedias anymore!ReplyDelete
I just surf over to your blog and I discover and learn about unbelievable artists and places!
PS I hope that I have written without any errors today! Sorry but my english is not that good as my native language (Dutch).
Dear Greet: It is always a pleasure to read your messages, it doesn't matter if your English is perfect or not (mine, for instance, is far from perfect!)ReplyDelete
I want to share with everybody all the amazing artists I met in my life!
- AnonymousAugust 28, 2009 at 12:49 PM
wow...impeccable designs!ReplyDelete
Dear Jason, I agree!ReplyDelete
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Paula Sohl
15 March 2015
Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21
Deeds D0ne in G0d
John 3:16 For God so loved the world… is many people's favorite bible verse. For others it is the greatest stumbling block. These Greek words reporting what Jesus said several decades earlier have been used to insist that certain people are going to hell.
But some people, many people, are already living in a kind of hell, where their options are so bleak they end up deciding to give their children away to someone else to raise in hopes that those children will get enough food and medical care to survive.
In Haiti, clean water, food security and lack of jobs are huge problems for a majority of the population. The desperation contributes to a system rife with corruption in the struggle to survive. But, Haitian people are beautiful and resourceful and resilient and generous. I am so grateful for the chance to have met some more amazing Haitians and to have visited their homeland.
When Haiti achieved its freedom from France in 1804 in the world's first successful slave revolution, the US refused to recognize it as a state for the 60 years until the emancipation proclamation began to end our own practices of slavery. Haiti was shackled with a debt to France equivalent to $20 billion today, which they finished paying in 1947.
Since then US backed dictators incurred more debt for Haiti. Democratically elected Jean Bertrand Aristide, was twice removed from power in military coups involving graduates from the School of the Americas. Aristide's Jesuit understanding of liberation theology and God's preferential option for the poor interfered with the business interests seeking to exploit Haiti's markets.
Haiti, like Palestine in Jesus' day, and the US in this age of war without end and our school to prison pipeline, is held hostage by structural injustice. Individuals as well as these societies themselves deserve deliverance.
Jesus brought his own body into the oppressive system of his day to say and to show that humans can live a life of liberation in the stream and hope of eternal flourishing, rather than cooperating with systems that sentence people to annihilation. He calls himself, in Greek, ton huios tou anthropou
the son of the man, also interpreted as the Human One.
It seems this title was indicating his way of being as a model of one living in deliverance; this is what a fully human life looks like; this is how alive a person can be; here is one who dared to live his life rooted in love and committed to justice. He lived his life in God, doing his deeds in the confidence of liberation. He was one who lived out a preferential option for the poor.
In this teaching in John, Jesus reminds his hearers of when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and were being bitten by snakes. Moses was directed to make a kind of fiery serpent and put it on a flagpole for the people to look at. When they did, they would be healed.
I think of it like a public health poster campaign—a how to for how to deal with the bites; because those fiery serpents of the Exodus account may very well have been the 20-30 inch helminths (or worms) called dracunculus medinensis, also known as serpent worms. They are found in Africa and the Middle East. The larvae are ingested from stagnant water and migrate to the subcutaneous and intramuscular tissues of the legs or arms, eventually rupturing through the skin.
"The ancient method of rolling the worm very slowly, day by day, on a stick, is still used in many parts of the world today…It is very possible that the act by Moses, that of placing a brass serpent on a pole, refers to the primitive method of removing the worm by twisting it on a stick, slowly, until it has been completely removed from the body."
So this comparison is made between Jesus and the snake. Just as the snake was lifted up, Jesus would be lifted up. There is something to be understood in lifting up Jesus as a model: an invitation to commit ourselves as well to his preferred option for the poor and living it out.
So, that is what the Graham family did. They took their bodies to Haiti in January for a week, to show their commitment to and their solidarity with the people of Haiti. We spent important time with their birth families, but we stayed the first 2 days at the orphanage. When we arrived the sun was about to set. There was no power, no food, no running water, no sheets or blankets on many of the childrens' beds, and no one to tuck them in at night.
During our time there we engaged nonstop with the children: with crafts, reading, singing, teaching each other Creole and English, carrying them around, and showering them with the affection that they were hungry for. They especially liked seeing pictures of other children from the Global Ministries calendars. We brought gifts of clothes and toys and stocked their pantry, thanks to your donations.
There was one young man named Jean with developmental delays and very little language. He spent a lot of time alone looking off at the beautiful surroundings of hills and the ocean, close enough to see, but too far away for the children to visit the beach. Jean and I did a special craft together making frames for pictures of birds and when it was done he immediately gave all of his pictures away.
I was struck by his vulnerability and his generosity and was sure to show him attention and respect. I felt as if he was a catalyst for caring there: if the children would respect and protect him, they would continue to build their own legacy of liberation together.
The Graham children showed great love and patience and giving with each child they encountered. Their deeds were done in God as they brought the light of their love and presence to reconnect their own bodies to the challenges of the children at the orphanage.
It was very complicated to make sense of why so many children still live there with so little opportunity while these five now live here with relative abundance: fully Haitian, fully American. I deeply respect each one of these young people on their own journeys of discovering the good work that will continue to be their way of leading liberating lives, doing deeds in God.
On the way back Constance and I talked about how helping to heal Haiti is completely tied up with our own healing of our own conflicts, both in us as individuals, and at the US policy level as we advocate for things like the closing of the school of the Americas and insist on trade policies that don't promote modern slavery. Later in the day she sent me this text of a reading she had found:
"Don't cross oceans for people who wouldn't cross a puddle for you. No, do it. Do cross oceans for people. Love people, all people. No conditions attached, no wondering whether or not they're worthy. Cross oceans, climb mountains. Life and love isn't about what you gain, it's about what you give."
Mama nou, Papa nou, ki nan syèl la,
Nou mande pou yo toujou respekte non ou.
Vin tabli gouvènman ou,
pou yo fè volonte ou sou latè,
tankou yo fè l'nan syèl la.
Manje nou bezwen an, ban nou l' jòdi a.
Padonnen tout sa nou fè ki mal,
menm jan nou padonnen moun ki fè nou mal.
Pa kite nou nan pozisyon pou n' tonbe nan tantasyon,
men, delivre nou anba move.
Paske, se pou ou tout otorite, tout pouvwa, ak tout lwanj,
depi tou tan ak pou tout tan.